Constable Molly Smith 01 - In the Shadow of the Glacier

admitted contact with Montgomery.”
    “Seems thin to me.”
    “Very thin. But, along with the attempted fire bombing of Dave Evans, enough to hold him until we get some proper DNA evidence. All we need is a match to those hairs found in Montgomery’s hand. I won’t be surprised if they find his fingerprints on the lighter found at the arson site.
    “I’ll take you home, Molly. Get some rest. The announcement is scheduled for five, and everyone on the force has been called in.”
    “You think it’s going to be bad?”
    “Could go either way. Most every demonstration is ninety-nine percent peaceful folks, just wanting to make their point, and one percent troublemakers. If we’re lucky the ninety-nine will have had their appetite for mass disturbance curbed last night. I saw your mother there. I hope she’ll have enough common sense to stay away today.”
    “Common sense and my mother have never been on speaking terms.”
    As they approached the front doors of the station the Chief Constable came in. He looked like a kid who’d just jumped down from Santa’s knee. “Don’t be in such a rush, John, you’ll want to hear this. Morning, Molly.” Keller walked to the reception desk. “Anyone in the constables’ room?” he asked Jim Denton.
    “All out on the road.”
    Barb Kowalski stuck her head out of her office. “What’s going on?”
    “Spill, Chief,” Denton said. “You’re going to announce raises all around, and a doubling of vacation time?”
    “Better,” Keller said. “I’ve come from a meeting with our esteemed Deputy Mayor. And, in her wisdom, she’s decided that in light of yesterday’s near catastrophic events, it would be best not to make a public announcement today about the fate of the peace park.”
    “You think?” Barb said.
    “The council’s going to wait until, as Ms. Patterson put it, tempers cool.”
    “Hell will cool first,” Denton said.
    “Nevertheless, it’ll give us some breathing room.”
    “You want me to tell the guys not to come in later if isn’t their regular schedule?”
    “No. I want everyone here. Anything can happen, and we have to be ready. Tell the Yellow Stripes that we don’t need active officers, but ask them to keep their people on standby. Perhaps I’ll buy a lottery ticket at lunch time. Anything else on the agenda, Barb?”
    “The monthly meeting of Rotary,” she said. “I was going to ask if you want to cancel.”
    “No, let’s act as if everything’s perfectly under control. Like that’s ever happened around here.” He laughed and headed for his office.
    “You ever worn full riot gear, Molly?” Winters asked.
    “Only in police college.”
    “There’s something about it,” he said. “Makes you think you’re invincible. But you’re not. Never forget that you’re nothing more than a human. Get some rest. I’m not quite as optimistic as our chief.”
    ***
    Rich Ashcroft slapped his phone shut and set loose a stream of naughty words.
    Meredith looked at him from the driver’s seat. “Trouble?”
    “Pull over.”
    “What’s up, boss?” Greg said from the back.
    Ashcroft got out of the car and slammed the door shut behind him. Meredith and Greg exchanged a look and followed.
    They were on their way to the park, for Rich to record an introduction to tonight’s program. Meredith had pulled up outside a building with
Trafalgar and District Youth Centre
painted in giant blue letters across the double roll-up garage doors. A group of scruffy, baggy-panted layabouts leaned against the planters on the sidewalk, smoking and watching them. One of them detached himself from the pack and sauntered over.
    “Hey,” he said. “Rick, right, I seen you on TV. You got a couple bucks for my pals, and we’ll give you an interview.”
    “I’ve got a fist for your face, jerk,” Ashcroft said. “If you don’t piss off.”
    “Screw you.” The boy gestured with his finger and went back to his friends.
    “Not a good idea, Rich,” Greg said.
    “Shut the fuck up, will you.”
    “No. What’s happened?”
    “I’ve been told to get back. They think it’s not worth continuing with this story.”
    “What about the footage Greg took last night, at the protest?” Meredith said. “It’s really powerful.”
    “Who the fuck cares what you think.” Ashcroft spat onto the pavement.
    She was wearing sunglasses that covered about half of her face. He couldn’t see her eyes, but her red lips tightened in the expression of