Chapter 10: Beneath the Surface

Welcome to Chapter 10

In Chapter 9, the past stepped forward, and the roots of Ian McLeod’s downfall were laid bare.

Three years earlier, under a summer sky heavy with tension, Gerald McLeod did something his family had long feared—and long needed. He stood up to his father. Their explosive confrontation, ignited by drugs and years of buried resentment, fractured more than just their relationship. It cracked the entire foundation of the McLeod family.

That moment of defiance became a turning point: for Gerald, who walked away; for Doris, who finally began packing her bags; and for Ian, who would spend the rest of his days watching the family—and the farm—slip out of his grasp.

Ian’s growing isolation, his secret plans to sell the land, and his final, fateful argument with his sons exposed a man unraveling. And in the shadows stood George McLeod, watching, calculating—knowing that the farm held more than crops and history. It held danger.

In Chapter 10, the past continues to haunt the present. Because the cracks that split open three years ago have only widened—and someone, soon, will fall through.

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Chapter 10

 

Irish Stew

 

That Same Evening of the Day the Brothers Were Released – Day 2:

 

Mrs. Beatrice O’Hara had been more than eager to assist Detective Lavallee with his inquiries into Ian McLeod’s disappearance.

 

“You should talk to the Green sisters,” she said with certainty. “Ian McLeod had dinner at their house the night he went missing. They live up on the north hill in Harris Bay, in that big brick house with the wraparound porch. Their father was a county judge back in the day—one of the most respected families around here.”

 

Beatrice added with a sniff, “The sisters never married. Devoted to the community, but, well, what we used to call spinsters.”

 

That evening, Lavallee placed a call to the Green residence. Mildred, the elder of the sisters, cheerfully invited him to visit the next morning.

 

The Green Residence:

 

The Green sisters’ home was as stately as Mrs. O’Hara had described. Detective Lavallee admired the symmetrical brick facade and the meticulous paintwork as he climbed the steps to the porch. The house exuded stability and permanence—a stark contrast to the chaos Ian McLeod’s life seemed to have descended into.

 

Mildred opened the door before he could knock, greeting him with a warm smile. She was tall and elegant, her demeanour polished and unflappable. Beside her stood Harriet, shorter and rounder, with a quick, darting energy that made her seem perpetually busy.

 

“Come in, Detective,” Mildred said, gesturing toward the entryway.

 

The sisters led him into the front parlour, which reflected their sense of tradition and care. Lavallee noted the polished floors, the gleaming wood furniture, and the tastefully arranged bookshelves. The room smelled faintly of lemon polish and freshly baked goods.

 

“Please, have a seat,” Mildred said, motioning to a leather chair. She and Harriet took their places on a matching Chesterfield.

 

Lavallee began with the basics, explaining that Ian McLeod’s movements in the days leading up to his disappearance were critical to the investigation.

 

“Oh, that poor man,” Harriet interjected dramatically. “Murdered, I suppose? Over money, no doubt. Gangsters, most likely.”

 

Lavallee raised an eyebrow. “We don’t know that yet, Miss Harriet. We are early in the investigation.”

 

“But Beatrice said—”

 

“Beatrice loves a good story,” Lavallee interrupted with a smile. “Now, if I may, what can you tell me about your dinner with Mr. McLeod?”

 

Dinner with Ian:

 

Mildred took the lead. “It was Thursday, February 4th. He came by in the late afternoon to fix our furnace—it was acting up again, and the cold was unbearable. Ian used to help our father with odd jobs years ago, so we called him. After he fixed it, we invited him to stay for supper.”

 

Harriet added, “I made Irish stew, one of my specialties. He had seconds. Said it was the best stew he’d ever had.”

 

Mildred nodded; her expression thoughtful. “He was … different that night.”

 

“How so?” Lavallee asked.

 

“Well, Ian was never much of a conversationalist. Gruff, to say the least. But that night, he was pleasant—almost cheerful. He stayed longer than usual, talked more than he ever had before. It was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.”

 

Harriet chimed in, “Yes, he smiled. Smiled! Can you imagine Ian McLeod smiling? He even asked how we were, which he never did.”

 

Lavallee frowned slightly. “Did he mention why he was in such a good mood?”

 

Mildred hesitated, glancing at Harriet. “Not directly. But he did say something about finally having a plan to move forward. He didn’t elaborate, though.”

 

“That’s interesting,” Lavallee said. “Did he mention his family—his sons or his brother George?”

 

“Briefly,” Mildred replied. “When I asked about his boys, his mood darkened for a moment. He said they’d had a falling out but didn’t go into detail. Then he changed the subject, started reminiscing about fixing things for our father when we were children.”

 

Harriet chuckled. “Yes, and he remembered the time we were playing dress-up and embarrassed him terribly. He laughed about it—another surprise! Ian McLeod, laughing.”

 

Unanswered Questions:

 

As he prepared to leave, Lavallee thanked them again. “One last question—did Ian seem nervous or uneasy at any point during the evening?”

 

Mildred hesitated; her brow furrowed in thought. “No, not nervous. If anything, he seemed … relieved. Like he’d finally made peace with something.”

 

At the door, Mildred tilted her head, studying him with a hint of curiosity. “Have we met before? You seem familiar. There was a Lavallee family in Harris Bay once. Are you related?”

 

Lavallee’s reply was swift and steady. “No, I don’t believe so.”

 

Lingering Mysteries:

 

Stepping onto the porch, Lavallee glanced back at the house. The Green sisters’ testimony had given him a new thread to follow. Ian McLeod had seemed relieved that evening—what had shifted in his world to bring him that peace? And why had his life unraveled so quickly afterward?

 

The answers, Lavallee knew, were woven into the delicate, tangled web of Ian’s family, his debts, and his unspoken plans for the farm. To solve this case, he would have to unravel each strand before the trail grew cold.

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