Never Hug a Mugger on Quadra Island Read Online Free

tomorrow?”
    â€œFloatplane, first thing. When are you arriving?”
    â€œOh, end of next week.”
    â€œGet serious, Steve. We have issues to resolve. The season is approaching.”
    â€œYou think I am not fully aware? No worry, I’m booked on the Friday 1:10 to Campbell River.”
    â€œI’ll get Randy to pick you up.”
    â€œThanks, Austin. You are too gracious.”
    â€œDamn right I am,” said Osborne.
    â€œWhen does Shu-li get in?”
    â€œThursday afternoon.”
    â€œHow nice for you. Direct from Calgary? Or is she gallivanting?”
    Of course direct. There are direct flights between civilized places. Austin said, “Direct.”
    â€œSee you Friday.”
    Austin broke the connection. He should call Shu-li. Even with her successful if abbreviated career, which had taken her to competitions around the world, her nerves got panic-attacked before any flight. Luckily her recuperative power was strong. Without it she’d never have taken all those silvers and golds.
    No luggage yet—the carousels weren’t even turning. He poked in her number. Answering machine. He broke the connection.
    Shopping? She liked doing that. Visiting someone? A consultation? No, definitely not. Shu-li was far too careful. They all had to be careful.
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    Ten AM and Kyra and Noel, down in the underground garage, got into his Civic. Suitcases in the trunk, on her lap her big sack purse containing her needs: make-up, camera, iPhone, Mace, flashlight, tissues, Band-Aids, tampons. Which she really didn’t need, now.
    Earlier they’d futzed about with breakfast. Kyra didn’t want much, piece of dry toast and milk. Thanks. Last night she’d drunk milk at dinner. No wine, Noel, really. She’d flopped onto the chesterfield and taken control of his TV remote.
    The elephant in the living room, Pregnant, swished its tail but fortunately not its trunk. Noel respected Kyra’s desire to not talk about it so the only conversations took place on the TV screen. What had she been thinking? She’d gone off the pill after nearly two decades when she read about terrible side effects on the body as it responded to synthetic estrogen. She’d detailed them to him in vivid and gruesome disgust: she wouldn’t do that to her body any more. He hoped she’d be careful. He thought: Pregnant.
    For a few minutes Kyra flicked channels and complained, Nothing on. Then she pleaded fatigue. She took herself and her fetus to Noel’s study sofa-bed. Early.
    Before turning in Noel manoeuvred around the elephant to phone Jason. He and Kyra would meet him at the Campbell River hospital around three. The elephant followed Noel to his room. He lay flat on his bed. How is she going to manage a baby? What will Triple I do with a baby? Where do I fit in? What happens to Triple I? The elephant moved into bed with Noel. A long time before he fell asleep.
    What with Kyra’s fatigue, Noel’s insomnia, and the elephant, it was late by the time they got going. He drove onto the street. “We have to talk about this baby.”
    â€œYes, we should.” Kyra sounded academic and distant.
    â€œWhat are you thinking about it?”
    â€œNot.”
    â€œHow do you feel?”
    â€œEhhh.”
    â€œWhat may I do?”
    Kyra sighed, a deep blow-out of breath. “What can you do? All I know is I think I’m keeping the baby and that’s as far as I’ve got.”
    Noel sighed too. The elephant in the back seat patted his shoulder with its trunk. “Want to talk about this case or about visiting my parents?”
    â€œYour parents. We’ll talk about the case between Qualicum and Campbell River.”
    â€œI didn’t tell you, Alana’s been there for a week,” Noel said.
    â€œWhat is she now? Thirteen?”
    â€œSeventeen.”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œYep. Graduating high school next spring. She came