Read Online The Opposite of Dark by Debra Purdy Kong - Free Book Online

attacker had been the ponytailed guy, Theodore Ziegler, he knew where she lived anyway. She wished she’d had the presence of mind to aim her flashlight on her assailant’s face instead of acting like a bloody amateur.
    When she had returned home last night, she’d called Simone Archambault first, then Stan to update him on events and ask for today off to go to Victoria.
    â€œYou know you can call anytime and I’ll do what I can do help you out,” he’d replied, “but it sounds like you’re getting in over your head, Casey. Are you sure Victoria’s a good idea?”
    â€œI don’t have much choice. Simone Archambault is the best lead I have to Dad’s past, and she won’t tell me anything until I prove who I am. Apparently, Dad showed her a photo of me once, so she insists on meeting in person.”
    Stan didn’t say much after that, except to say that they still hadn’t found the individual who’d vandalized the lockers.
    Casey left her apartment and headed downstairs into Rhonda’s kitchen.
    â€œYou’re early again,” Rhonda said, nibbling on a piece of toast. “Going back to the house?”
    â€œNo, I have another assignment,” one involving a forty-minute drive to the Tsawwassen terminal, a ninety-minute ferry ride to Swartz Bay, and another half-hour drive to Victoria. Hardly a quick jaunt, but it had to be done. She felt guilty for not telling Rhonda about Simone, but if Rhonda found out she’d want to tag along, and Casey wanted to talk to the woman alone.
    â€œTell Summer her bike tire will be fixed tomorrow.” Casey headed for the back door.
    â€œSure.” Rhonda took another small bite of toast. “Want to have supper with us tonight?”
    â€œActually, it could be a long day, so don’t worry about me.”
    â€œThen you don’t know when you’ll be back?”
    â€œGee, Mom , I’m not sure.”
    â€œOkay, backing off.” Rhonda put the toast down and raised her hands. “But just one more question, totally off topic. What did Detective Lalonde come to see you about last night?”
    Uh-oh. “You knew?”
    â€œI was in the tub when I heard voices outside. Thought it might have been Lou, but when I got out a bit later and heard it again, I peeked out the window and saw Lalonde walking away.”
    Rhonda’s en suite bathroom and bedroom windows were at the front of the house above the porch. Casey had been on the phone with Stan when her buzzer rang, and she brought Lalonde up to her apartment so they could talk privately. Afraid to lose what little cooperation the detective had given her, Casey hadn’t told him about her visit to the house. Hiding the pain to her shoulder had been tough.
    â€œHe wanted to know, among other things, how long you’d been engaged to Dad.”
    Rhonda plugged in the kettle. “Why? And why wouldn’t he ask me?”
    â€œThe great detective wouldn’t say.”
    She didn’t want to tell her that Mother had called Lalonde from Geneva, Switzerland, of all places, to ask if she could claim Dad’s body. It seemed she felt it only right to remove the “burden” of funeral arrangements off her “poor daughter” and make them herself. Poor daughter . The words burned like bile in Casey’s throat. Lalonde also said that Mother hadn’t approved of Rhonda’s engagement to Dad, but he didn’t give a reason. He had made a point of saying that he’d found Mother candid and cooperative. At that point Casey realized Mother had totally conned him.
    Mother came from a family of con artists who associated with criminals, and the whole clan disliked cops. She hadn’t introduced Casey to many of her relatives, but she had talked about working in an uncle’s pharmacy when she was sixteen. Her job was to change the expiry dates on pill bottles and packaging to sell as new meds. Casey