Deadly Fall Read Free

good. She hadn’t craved one in years.
    â€œCallie told us she was in a rock group when she was young.”
    â€œThey were more like folk rock—”
    â€œDoes Dad know she was killed? When I talked to him yesterday, he didn’t say anything.”
    â€œYour father left me a message. He heard about the murder. I don’t know if—”
    â€œI was thinking I’d give Skye a call later,” Leah said.
    â€œI’m sure she’d appreciate that.”
    â€œDidn’t Callie live in Mount Royal?”
    â€œShe did when she was married to Kenneth. Last year, Callie bought a house in Riverdale with Sam. Why do you ask?”
    â€œBoth are a long way from Ramsay. What was she doing there?”
    â€œJogging, apparently. The Elbow path runs from Riverdale to Ramsay.”
    â€œWas she coming to see you?”
    â€œAt that hour in the morning? She knows me better than that.” Callie’s picture in the newspaper stared up at her: smiling, carefree, unaware of what was to come. “I’ve been wondering. It’s possible she wanted to catch me before I left for work. A few days ago, Callie left a message suggesting we meet for lunch. She sounded casual, but what if she wanted to discuss something important? I didn’t return her call. I meant to. I wish I had. There’s no excuse.” Her voice croaked.
    Leah yawned. “I’ve gotta get to bed. Mom, I am sorry about Callie”
    Paula massaged her throat. What if Leah was knifed tonight while working at the bar or walking home on a deserted street?
    â€œBe careful,” she said as they signed off. “I love you.”
    The line was silent. Her daughters weren’t used to hearing endearments from her for no reason.
    â€œYeah,” Leah said.
    â€œBye, honey.” Paula set the phone in its cradle. It rang under her hand.
    â€œHave you heard . . . ?” Anne, her fitness partner, said.
    â€œAbout Callie?”
    â€œI’m in shock.”
    â€œMe too.”
    â€œI found out this morning, from a woman at the center. I can’t believe a whole day has gone by without my knowing it.”
    Anne’s fitness center business consumed her life. She spent fourteen-hour days on the premises and got most of her news from the center’s TV s.
    â€œWhat time are you coming in today?” Anne said.
    Paula’s arms ached at the prospect of lifting weights. “I have a ton of work . . .”
    â€œI can’t believe it.” Anne’s voice quivered. “Callie was so full of life.”
    Anne was Callie’s long-time friend, too. Callie had introduced them. Anne would be going through the same thing as Paula.
    â€œI’ll aim for mid-afternoon,” Paula said.
    â€œTwo o’clock?”
    â€œThree, at the latest.”
    â€œI’ll keep those hours open.” Anne said she had to leave to deal with the machine maintenance man.
    Paula poured the remains from the coffee carafe into her mug. Outside, a squirrel nibbled a sour apple on the tree. Next spring, Paula would build a new deck or lay patio stones between the kitchen and tree. Grass seed would spruce up her backyard, which was mostly crabgrass and dirt. She put on her reading glasses . The body . . . discovered . . . 7:00 AM .
    Moss was known locally for her charity work. She co-chaired the 1997 Fundraiser for Children with Cancer. Sam Moss is an internationally renowned architect. Her former husband, Kenneth Unsworth, president and CEO of Unsworth Oil Ltd., was twice honored as Calgary’s entrepreneur of the year. She leaves a son, Cameron Unsworth, an award-winning graphic artist, and a daughter, Skye Ravenshaw, a Calgary actress and winner of this year’s Betty award for supporting actress.
    Family members reported that Moss was in the habit of going out alone for morning jogs. “We’re both early risers,” Sam Moss told