“She seemed happier. She started to lose some weight. She’d always been on the plump side as a child and struggled with diets.”
Maddocks’s thoughts turned to Ginny, and his chest tightened. Gracie looked an awful lot like his Ginn in some of these photos, too. He had his own guilt about not being present during his daughter’s growth. Wouldhehave noticed nicer clothes?
“Gracie was always a bit bullied at school, but things had definitely started to change. She appeared more confident, started wearing makeup. I thought she was just growing up, getting over her awkward, geeky stage.” Drummond blew her nose.
“She have a boyfriend?”
“She used to go out with a boy from school—Rick Butler. They broke up.”
“When?”
“I ... uh, it was maybe eight months ago. Or nine. Or ... I’ve lost track of time.”
Pallorino took her notebook from her pocket and wrote down the kid’s name. “Amicable breakup?”
“No, it was quite nasty. Gracie was devastated. But then she met someone new at the Oak Bay Country Club, where Rick goes for tennis coaching. He’s an excellent player but would never be able to afford that club. A European coach, Serge Radikoff, sponsors his membership there. He’s kind of a mentor as well as Rick’s coach. Gracie used to go watch Rick practice.”
“So she was currently dating this new guy from the club?”
Drummond heaved out a chestful of air. “I’m not sure how official the relationship was. After initially mentioning him, she didn’t really talk about him again, but he did come pick her up here once when I was home. Drives a small black BMW.”
Pallorino and Maddocks exchanged a glance—the source of Drummond’s money, fancy things?
“And his name?” Pallorino said.
Guilt flickered through the woman’s face. “Oh jeeze, I don’t know. I’ve been working too much. Jack. John. No, John Jacks, that’s it.”
Pallorino recorded the name in her book.
“Is he in any of these photos here?” Maddocks said.
Drummond pushed herself to her feet and came over. Pallorino joined them. Drummond peered at the photos, and a sob hiccupped through her. She covered her mouth with her hand, tears pooling in her eyes. She shook her head, took a moment to gather herself, then said, “No. I don’t see him. But that’s Rick Butler there.” She pointed.
“And these other photos?”
“That one was a beach picnic for the Blue Badger staff last summer. That’s Gracie with her choir group from Duneagle Secondary—they went on a trip to Toronto last year.”
There were several pictures of Gracie with a brunette, lots of curls, cute smile, dimples. They appeared to have been friends over the years.
“And this person, she looks like a close friend?”
“Lara. Sings like a nightingale. She’s a year and a half older than Gracie and is now a student at UVic. They met in the school choir when Gracie was in grade three and have been friends since. Lara introduced Gracie to a college choir, and she’s been singing with them.”
Maddocks shot Lorna Drummond a keen glance. “Even though she’s not at college she sings in a college choir?”
“The choirmaster accepts some high school teens with special talent, especially if they’re planning on attending college the following year.”
“Do they happen to practice at the Catholic cathedral downtown?” he said. “Thursday nights?”
Surprise flittered through Drummond’s features. “You know it?”
An unspecified anxiety tightened through Maddocks, his thoughts boomeranging back to Ginn and their conversation at the Blue Badger. “I recently heard mention of it. Was Gracie at practice last Thursday?” he said, wondering whether his daughter’s path had intersected with that of Gracie Drummond four days ago.
“No, not last Thursday. She said she was going out with a friend instead.”
“John Jacks?” he said.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I ... don’t know. I went out with Kurt that night.”
