#money loans calgary

[goloans01]

Scarborough Payday Loans

We at Scarborough Loans understand that with a tight budget, many people are required to take out a payday loan. Even if you have a steady income, you can hardly pay your bills on time and get your financial problems solved by lending money from the bank. If you need money for urgent purposes, look no further as we will provide you with one of the most flexible loans in Scarborough.

[the-real-tc]

Bad Business Ch. 10: There the Vultures Will Gather

Author's note: Again, I'm issuing a trigger warning, as there's stuff in here that might make some people squeamish. You've been warned.

To the childless wife he gives a home, and gladdens her heart with children.

- Ps. 113

Chapter 10:

There the Vultures Will Gather

***

Hudson Police Headquarters

The morning debrief with his team was beginning to bring Chief Parker a glimmer of hope they were making progress on the investigation into Val Stanton's death.

"Okay, how's the 'money' angle coming on the Stanton case?" Parker asked, as he looked around the room.

Detective Benoit answered for the rest of them. "Okay, as far as the financial benefits go, our friends at the International Claim Association confirmed two policies existed for Valerie Stanton. The first is a family policy taken out years ago when both Stanton and her husband were alive. That was through Booker & Sons Life Insurance."

"And the second one?"

"That one was through a different insurance company in Calgary," replied Benoit. "Canadian Rockies Life Insurance taken out maybe six months ago. I spoke with both companies, and no surprise: they're reluctant to put the payouts through since Stanton's death is suspicious and is being investigated as a possible homicide."

"Okay, obviously Stanton's children would have put in the claim for the one with Booker," Jim rightly guessed. "Who made the claim on the non-familial one?"

"We haven't been able to find out yet," Benoit replied. "But the premiums were being paid through an offshore numbered account."

"But someone still had to request Stanton's medical death certificate to make the claim and then file the claim," Parker said.

"Right, and we're waiting for the court orders to come through to access that information. I expect to have them by this afternoon."

"Good work, Benoit," Parker said. "Do you, by chance, have the dollar amount on that second policy?"

"Two million dollars," Benoit answered. "Not bad for a financial motive if you're looking for one."

"Nope, not a bad motive at all," Parker said. "Let me know as soon as you hear back about who requested Stanton's medical death certificate for that second claim."

"Of course, Chief," said Benoit, though both men and the rest of the team had a strong hunch who that person might be.

***

At noon, Calgary detective James Prescott called with an update for Chief Parker.

"I can't thank you enough for the heads up with that investors' group list," Prescott said. "The stuff we're digging up about Tanner Gunn, well, it's leading us down a bit of a rabbit hole."

Parker felt his pulse quicken. "What have you been digging up?"

"My undercover guys said Tanner Gunn was in the hole to the tune of around 900K over a year ago with one of the underground, high-roller poker tables in Calgary. But get this: the loan shark who staked him apparently got all his money back, with interest, no problem."

"A 'year ago' also being right around the time Lanny Barick wound up shot to death," Parker said.

"Rather convenient, wouldn't you say?" Prescott said.

"A little too convenient," Parker commented wryly.

"And you're going to love this one. The International Claim Association confirmed policies exist for every single member of that investors' group through various insurance companies," Prescott added. "Which is not unusual on the surface, but what is a little unusual is they all have more than one policy to their names. And the second policy for all of them—all taken out within the last year or so—is with the same insurance company in Calgary: Canadian Rockies Life Insurance."

***

Heartland Ranch House

"I got your text about Remi, Georgie. Are you doing okay?" Adam asked as he hopped off his bike, having just come from school.

"Not really," Georgie replied with a slow, miserable shake of her head. "Everything is just awful."

"I know. I'm sorry again about Lisa," Adam said sincerely, reaching over to give her a friendly hug. "I'll never forget her crazy aunt who brought all those wacky presents that time."

"Yeah, Aunt Evelyn," Georgie said wistfully. "Crazy. She's supposed to be getting here in a few days. Lisa's sister and nephew are supposed to fly in tomorrow."

"Do you know anything more about Remi? Your text said she had a seizure last night."

"Ty says she was poisoned. Strychnine," Georgie said, eyes downcast. "But he said she hasn't had another seizure since then, so that's a good sign. He doesn't know the source of the poison yet, but he and Cassandra are running tests on stuff like her stomach contents to figure it out."

"I guess that's good news, right?"

"I guess," Georgie said, still sullen.

"Hey, do you want to go for a ride?" Adam suggested brightly. "It might take your mind off things."

Georgie looked at him doubtfully. "You're not exactly the biggest horseback riding fan. Are you sure?"

"Yeah, but you like it," Adam said. "C'mon. Let's go."

The pair saddled up and took a path out in the direction of the Dude Ranch, maintaining a slow pace and an easy silence. Georgie was grateful for this, as she was not in the mood for idle chatter. Simply having Adam's company was enough.

Her phone buzzed a message at that point. She looked at the screen and saw it was from Wyatt.

"It's Wyatt," Georgie said to Adam, reining in Phoenix. "Do you mind?"

"No, go ahead," Adam replied. He was relieved for the opportunity to rest, as he still was not entirely comfortable being bounced around in a saddle, even on an easy ride through the woods.

Wyatt: Hey Georgie that totally SUCKS about remi and I hope she gets better

- Mom needed me to babysit Brick after school or I'd be there

- Missing u at class and hope ur back soon

Georgie: Thnx Wyatt that means a lot

- No worries about not being here

- Adam is over right now so between the two of u looking out for me its not so bad

- I hope I'm back soon too maybe tomorrow or something

Wyatt: OK great!

- See u soon

- bye

Georgie: bye

"Hey, Georgie, look!" Adam said, just as Georgie put her phone away.

She glanced up to see Adam pointing at several black birds that were wheeling in the air a short distance away.

"Those are turkey vultures," Adam explained, pulling out information from his encyclopedic memory. "They're carrion birds. Something must've died out there and they're ready to feast."

"Oh, gross," Georgie said, grimacing.

"It might be the bear that's on the loose. It could have killed something and left behind a carcass," Adam posited.

"Again, gross," Georgie said, eyeing him in the hopes he would quit.

"I'm serious," Adam said. "I think we should check it out. You're not missing any Dude Ranch horses right now, are you?"

"No..." Georgie said slowly. "But-but we are missing a Dude Ranch guest. Oh, no. You don't think..."

Despite not wanting to get close to anything that might be deceased, Georgie nudged Phoenix onwards. Adam followed, scanning the foliage ahead.

Following the direction the birds seemed to be flying would take them off the marked trail into the bushes and more wild, overgrown vegetation. The teens decided to dismount and continue on foot. After securing the horses, Georgie and Adam trudged through the bushes and came upon a small natural clearing beneath the canopy of a grouping of trees. Moments later, they sighted an almost unrecognizable but nevertheless very human heap lying prone on the grass, partially obscured by some shrubbery. Their nostrils were soon assailed by the stench of decay. Flies buzzed and were clustering all over the rotting mass of flesh. Two turkey vultures descended on the body, flapping their massive wings as they settled to begin their meal.

"I-I think you'd better call your mom," Adam said shakily, averting his glance from the stomach-turning spectacle. "And I'm calling my dad."

***

Hudson Veterinary Clinic

"Great. The rest of the lab results just came back for Remi," Ty said, clicking on the report in his email Inbox.

Interest instantly piqued, Cass looked over at her colleague. "So, what was the source of the poison?"

"Her dog food," Ty said, staring at the lab results as if to be sure his eyes were not misleading him.

"How did strychnine get into her food?" Cass asked, equally puzzled.

"I don't know," Ty said tersely as he pulled out his cell phone and hurriedly dialled home. "It's a bag she's been eating from for nearly a week. If it had come contaminated from the production line, she would have been sick a long time ago."

Cass stared at him. "Who are you calling?"

"Home," he replied, exhaling sharply. When Amy answered, Ty did not waste time with pleasantries. "Amy, I need you to grab the open bag of Remi's dog chow right now. Don't touch the contents. In fact, use gloves when you handle the bag. Put it in a heavy-duty garbage bag and seal it tightly. Get it down here to the clinic as soon as you can."

"Ty, slow down, please,"Amy begged. "What's this all about?"

Ty caught himself and scaled back his agitation. "The strychnine poisoning," he stated, his spoken pace this time more slow and deliberate. "We tested the water in her dish, and that came back negative. The only other thing in Remi's stomach was her food, so that means her food was the source of the poison."

"What? Are you sure?" Amy's own shocked reaction was not lost on Ty.

"Without a doubt," Ty answered, looking back at his computer screen.

"All right. I'll get the food. Lyndy just woke up from a nap, so she'll have to come with me."

"Okay, thanks, Amy," said Ty gratefully.

***

Lou could not have been more shocked when she received Georgie's call about a dead body near Heartland Equestrian Connections. She had just finished speaking with Evelyn about her travel details and how she would be more comfortable in the house than at the Dude Ranch. Cabins Three and Four were already made up and waiting for Rachel and Ben to occupy when they arrived in Hudson; Cabin Two was still off-limits.

Chief Parker and his forensics team were already at the site when Lou arrived.

"Mom," Georgie called upon spotting Lou, and quickly went to her for a comforting hug.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Lou asked, holding her daughter close for several moments.

Georgie nodded. "I'm okay," she said at length. "At least I'm better now that you're here."

"Thanks for coming, Ms. Fleming," Jim said. "I really need you to be present when we talk to Georgie about all this since she's still a minor."

"Of course," Lou said, sending her daughter a look of maternal concern. Parker summoned Detective Constable Patterson to assist in the questioning. Lou stood by quietly while Adam and Georgie answered Patterson's questions as best they could.

"We touched absolutely nothing," Adam said in response to her query about their actions upon discovering the body. "I know you're not supposed to contaminate a possible crime scene."

"I know you know," Jim interjected patiently, "but we don't always follow logic when we stumble upon something like this."

"As soon as we realised what it was, we halted where we were right away," Adam continued.

"Yeah, there's no way we were getting any closer to that," Georgie said, her stomach still churning uncomfortably. "That's when we called you all to come."

"Okay, thanks," Patterson said. "Tell us what led you to finding the body in the first place. We're really off the beaten path, here."

"There were some turkey vultures," Adam explained. "I saw them flying around. They're not too common in this part of the province; that's why I noticed them. Since they're carrion birds, I figured something was probably dead out here. That's when Georgie mentioned the missing Dude Ranch guest."

"Carrion birds," Parker muttered with a shake of his head. "Of all things."

"I'm satisfied with what they've had to say, Chief," Patterson said to her boss. "Are you good?"

"Yes, I'm good," Parker said to his subordinate. "You can head back to the scene."

"Will do," she said, and moved off to rejoin the forensic team's efforts.

Jim returned his attention to Adam and Georgie. "Thanks, both of you; you did great today. You called immediately and kept your cool. I know plenty of adults who would not have reacted in as level-headed a way that you have."

"Thank you, sir," Georgie said demurely.

"Thanks, Dad."

"I'm going to talk to your mom now, Georgie," Chief Parker said. "You can wait for her if you like, but the two of you are free to go now if you want. I may have questions later for you, and you can call me if you think of something you didn't mention here."

"Okay, sure," Georgie said. "I think I'll go."

"Yeah, I'd rather go, too," Adam said in relief.

"All right," Parker said. "Be careful on the ride back."

"We will," Adam said.

With that, the teens returned to the horses and rode back to the ranch house, still not completely over the shock and disgust of discovering the corpse.

Chief Parker now focused his attention on Lou. "Georgie tells me you've been missing a Dude Ranch guest," Chief Parker said.

"That's right," Lou said. "Dov Grosvenor. He's been missing for several days. My manager said one of the guests saw him either late on Friday night or very early on Saturday morning out by the firepit. It's all in the information I gave to one of your constables. He came out here yesterday when I called; I filed a Missing Persons report with him."

"About that," Parker said, "it turns out the name 'Dov Grosvenor' is an alias of some kind. No one exists with that name that we can determine."

"He registered under a false name?" Lou's surprise was evident.

"So it would appear, Ms. Fleming," Jim said. "We're of course working on the assumption this is your vanished-into-thin-air Dude Ranch guest, whatever his name really is. Not a pretty way to go."

"No," Lou said, shuddering at the grim realisation her guest had probably met his horrible end due to an encounter with the roving bear.

As Chief Parker feared, the body was far too bloodied, marred and mauled to be positively identified by anyone. There had been no wallet, but a phone with a cracked screen along with other items had been taken by Parker's forensics team.

"Do you get many hunters out here at the Dude Ranch, Ms. Fleming?" he asked.

"Never," Lou said with an instant negative shake of her head. "Why do you ask?"

Parker looked over at his forensics team. They were still gathering evidence, bagging soil samples, and taking photographs. "I ask because we found a rifle near the body," Parker replied.

The chief was referring to the Special Edition Tikka T3x Compact Tactical rifle, mounted with a Steiner Military 3-15x50mm MSR scope and an Ase-Utra SL5i suppressor, which was discovered a short distance from the corpse. This weapon was of great interest to Parker and his team as they quickly noticed the absence of any serial numbers that could indicate license and ownership.

"No, no hunters," Lou repeated with emphasis, surprised at the news the dead man had been armed. "We've never advertised the Dude Ranch as such, either. It's not like we're a big game resort. At most, our guests do a little recreational fishing out on the pond."

"Hmm," Parker murmured. "You see, I don't like the coincidence of this rifle, the bear attack, and the recent death of Val Stanton. Next question: Do you get many trespassers at Heartland or the Dude Ranch?"

Lou gasped, an awful possibility dawning on her.

"What is it?" Parker asked.

"Um, I'll have to check my bookings, but, if this really is my missing guest, I—I think he was also checked in here during the time Val was killed," Lou said, gulping uncomfortably.

"I'll need to see those booking records, Ms. Fleming," Parker said. "Unless, of course, you'd prefer I get a warrant first."

"No, no, I'll gladly volunteer that information if it means we'll get to the bottom of who this guy is and what happened to Val," said Lou.

"Thank you," Parker said. He then beckoned to his forensics team to join him. "While you dig up those records, I'd like to look at the cabin he was staying in right away, please."

"All right," Lou said. "Cabin Two. Follow me. Oh, this is his truck, by the way."

Parker looked at the Ford F-150 that Lou was pointing to. He remembered how his rookie constable had taken the time to inspect the registration sticker when he came out to speak with Lou and found it to be a fake. Now Parker wondered about the license plate itself. He realised Becket had not mentioned anything about it—just the phony registration sticker. He would have to ask the kid what he found out about who the plate was actually registered to when he got back to headquarters.

"Ms. Fleming, when your missing guest first drove up here, did you notice if he had anything loaded in the back of his pickup? An ATV or a dirt bike, or something like that?" Parker questioned.

"No, why?" asked Lou.

"See these straps and this ramp?" Parker said, pointing to the items in the truck's bed. "He may have had something secured back here."

Lou looked for herself. "He couldn't have been bringing an ATV or a bike," she said in reply. "We don't permit those kinds of vehicles to go zooming all over the place here. Heartland Equestrian Connections is meant to be for peace and quiet. If either Jen or I had seen him pull up with something like that, we would have made him fully aware of our policy, in case he missed it on the website."

"Okay, thanks," Jim said, putting the issue on his mental back burner for the time being. "Let's see the inside of his cabin now, please."

"Let me get the master key," Lou said.

"Just unlock it, but don't touch the handle," Parker said in warning.

"Okay," Lou said. She climbed the steps and unlocked the door without touching the handle, as requested.

"Wait outside, please, Ms. Fleming, while my team goes over everything," said Jim.

"Of course." Lou stood back to let the forensics team first dust the handle for fingerprints and then enter the premises.

While Parker and his team pored over Cabin Two, Lou was gripped with apprehension. I can't believe this is happening. This is going to absolutely kill the Dude Ranch business. Who is going to want to stay here after people find out one of my guests was killed by a bear?

She pulled out her cell phone to access the bookings app to get the information for the chief. Sure enough, the name 'Dov Grosvenor' appeared as having reserved Cabin Two earlier in April, coinciding with the date of Val Stanton's death. Lou shivered at having that piece of information confirmed. Who was this guy, and could he really be responsible for what happened to Val?

Inside Cabin Two, Parker was initially disappointed. A pair of khaki-coloured pants and black cotton T-shirt lay folded crisply on the bed, the latter of which was also made up neatly.

"Chief, we've got something under the bed," one of the forensics team members named Corey Fraser stated. "It looks like a couple weapons cases of some kind."

The forensics photographer, Jason Pruitt, immediately dropped to the floor to snap images of the location of the cases.

"Let's pull them out and see what we have," Parker said, once Jason was finished.

Corey reached in and dragged the larger case out first.

"Empty," Corey said after snapping it open. The interior held sturdy foam packing, the contours of which very obviously matched the tactical rifle they discovered earlier near the body. There were also indentations that matched the shape of the weapon's scope and suppressor.

"Let's have a look inside that second case," Parker said.

Corey flipped the tabs and opened the lid to reveal a pair of Glock 17 pistols.

"Let's get pictures and bag and tag," Parker commanded. His team immediately complied with the instruction.

***

Hudson County Morgue

"Jim, we won't get anything from his fingerprints, unfortunately," the coroner Harlan Blackburn said as the two men stood in front of the stainless steel slab upon which the dead man's reeking remains were laid out, covered by a sheet.

"Why is that, Harlan?" Chief Parker asked, doing his best not to breathe through his nose.

"Not enough left of the fingers. Our guy must have put up his hands and arms defensively to protect his head and neck when the bear attacked. Chewed up his fingers and hands pretty bad. See?"

Harlan raised the sheet to show what was left of one of the dead man's hands.

Jim had seen his fair share of dead bodies in his career, but this was the first bear mauling he had come across, and he felt his stomach flip at the sight of the mangled, rotting digits.

"He didn't leave any prints in the cabin or in the truck, either," Jim said, swallowing hard against the tide of bile rising in his throat.

"I'll get you some dental X-rays and see if we get lucky," Harlan said casually.

"Great," Jim said. "Have you been able to determine a time of death yet?"

"From the observed rate of decay and the stage of the life-cycle of the flies present, I'd say he's been dead close to three or four days, give or take."

"So that would mean he's been dead since Saturday or Sunday," Jim stated.

"Yeah. Plus, turkey vultures tend to be picky about what they'll consume," Harlan continued. "They usually turn up their beaks if something's been dead past the four-day mark. Mind you, overnight temperatures have been close to freezing these past couple nights, which would of course also slow the decomposition... But I'd still say three or four days."

Jim said, "That pretty much squares with what one of our witnesses says about the last time this guy was seen alive. Thanks, Harlan. Let me know when your report is done."

Harlan gave him a thumbs-up. "You're welcome, Chief. The report will be ready lickety-split barring any surprises."

With that, Parker beat a hasty exit out the door. A few breaths of non-decay-scented air later, and he was on his way back to police headquarters to question his procedurally lax rookie constable.

"Becket," he said, upon finding the hapless young man. "About that Missing Persons report you tried to file for the name 'Dov Grosvenor' ... you did actually run the guy's license plate through the database, right?"

A beat of silence passed. "No, sir," Becket said as he visibly paled. "Once I realised the registration sticker was fake and didn't find his name anywhere, I just assumed the plate was fake, too—"

"Rookie," Parker growled. "Never 'assume' anything. Run that plate now and find out who it's supposed to be registered to!"

"Yes, sir. Right away, sir," Becket said meekly.

"Chief, that name 'Dov Grosvenor'..." Benoit said thoughtfully, having heard the exchange.

"What about it?"

"I knew a guy in high school back in Montreal named 'Dov'," Benoit recounted. "I remember it because it was so unusual. He told me he had Jewish ancestry and that the name means 'bear' in Hebrew."

Detective Constable Patterson picked up on this. "How about we see what the name 'Grosvenor' means, too?" she asked while tapping an inquiry into the Google search engine. Two seconds later, she had the result. "You're not going to believe this, but 'Grosvenor' means 'chief or royal hunter'."

"A guy registers under a fake name that essentially means 'royal bear hunter' only to end up getting mauled to death by a bear? If that don't beat all," Kavanaugh said with a dry laugh.

"Now that's what I'd call poetic justice," Parker said.

"Chief," said Becket, coming back with the results of his own search. "The license plate on the truck comes back as being registered to a beige 1998 Toyota Corolla belonging to 79-year-old Mildred McCann of Grande Prairie, Alberta."

"Stolen plate?" Benoit asked what everyone was thinking.

"Maybe," Parker said pensively. "Let's get Grande Prairie RCMP on the line, please, Constable Becket. You're going to explain to them that we have a truck here in Hudson with a license plate that should be on a Toyota in their city. Find out everything you can about the owner and how she might be connected to our dead guy."

"Yes, sir," Becket said, and retreated to his desk to do just that.

***

Half an hour later, Becket reported his findings to Chief Parker.

"Grande Prairie RCMP think they can ID our body," Becket said.

Parker was instantly alert. "Who was he?"

"They think it's Mildred McCann's son, 36-year-old Earl McCann," Becket said. "He's got several outstanding warrants for theft, assault, uttering threats, fraud, and so on. They said he was dishonourably discharged from the Armed Forces years ago for insubordination and pretty much being a violent, loose canon.

"Mildred has Alzheimer's and is in an assisted-living facility. The RCMP corporal I spoke with says Earl never visits, but somehow the bills get paid. RCMP in Cold Lake almost had him a while back when he was stopped for driving around in the truck with the plate registered to his mother's sedan. Those cops let him go because Earl reportedly claimed he had not had time to get to the registry office to make the switch. Those Cold Lake guys assumed he was telling the truth and let him go with a warning to get it done. They didn't realise their mistake until he was long gone."

"See how assuming something can lead to bigger problems?" Parker said, knowing the lesson would not be lost on his rookie.

"Yes, sir," Becket said solemnly.

Parker sighed. "Eh, for what it's worth, Earl McCann does not sound like the kind of guy who would have let himself be taken in because of a petty registration violation. He most likely would have shot and killed those cops in cold blood if they had pulled up his warrants at the time."

Becket's eyes went wide. "I hadn't thought of that, sir."

"All right. I'll let Harlan know to send the dental X-rays to the Grande Prairie detachment," Parker said. "I'm sure they'll be able to confirm it's Earl McCann."

"Yes, sir," Becket said.

Turning to the rest of his team, Parker said: "Now we get to figure out why Dov Grosvenor, aka, Earl McCann, was staying in Hudson and how he managed to get himself killed by a bear. We've got lots of evidence to process, so let's get moving."

***

Heartland Ranch — Barn Loft

Ty was dreaming in the early morning hours. An open country road stretched before him as he rode his treasured Norton motorcycle. Someone's arms held onto him tightly from behind. Without turning to look, he instinctively knew it was Amy. Such a feeling of freedom coursed through him, he did not even wonder for a moment where they were headed, or that none of this made any sense since he was no longer in possession of the Norton.

As is sometimes the case in such dreams, Ty's point of view shifted. He was now observing the ride rather than experiencing it. He noticed with a touch of confusion it was not Amy who was snuggled up close to him, but rather Ashley Stanton. Repulsed, Ty brought the motorcycle to a halt and planted his feet on the ground.

"Get off the bike, Ashley. I'm supposed to be giving Amy a ride."

"What?" Ashley whined. "But this is my brother's bike. You promised me you'd take me out for a spin."

"No, this is my bike," Ty argued indignantly. "Get off!"

"You can't leave me stranded on the side of the road," Ashley complained. "Take me back to Briar Ridge."

Ty thought to himself this was a reasonable request since he really could not just abandon Ashley in the middle of nowhere.

"Fine," Ty heard himself saying. "But if Amy shows up, you're getting off, and I'm taking her."

"Fine," Ashley said.

Ty started up his bike again and turned around, keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of Amy.

The dream then seemed to morph into other images and sights that no longer had any connection to the original theme. When Ty awoke, the dream was already fading. By the time he had brushed his teeth and washed his face, he had already forgotten most of it. However, a small voice nagged in the back of his brain he should have paid attention to something important in that dream, but that detail remained elusive.

***

May 8

Hudson Times—Online Version

Man Mauled to Death

Nadir Jutley

Hudson Police along with Alberta Fish and Wildlife are issuing an urgent alert to all residents of Hudson county after a grisly discovery. The body of an unidentified man, badly mauled, was found in a wilderness area near the Heartland Equestrian Connections resort yesterday afternoon.

The owner and operator of Heartland Equestrian Connections, Samantha Fleming, declined to comment on the situation due to the ongoing investigation by Hudson police, but did say the resort will be closed to the public for the next two weeks.

If you see the bear, contact Alberta Fish and Wildlife immediately at 555-625-1540. Do not approach the animal under any circumstances.

More details to come as information is released by authorities.

Email: nadir_jutley

***

Hudson Police Headquarters

"I've got the ballistics report on the rifle we found yesterday at the Dude Ranch, Chief," said Kavanaugh as his boss walked into the room for the morning briefing. The team had been burning the midnight oil working on the evidence collected from the Dude Ranch, and results were beginning to filter through.

"Let me guess: Earl McCann's rifle is the same weapon that killed Valerie Stanton," Parker said.

"You got it in one, Chief," Kavanaugh said, "it's just as you suspected."

"What about the pistols we found in the cabin?" Parker asked. "Anything special about them?"

"Well, we already knew those Glocks—untraceable of course—were the wrong caliber for the Stillman shooting," Kavanaugh said. "But we did get a hit on an unsolved murder on one of the Glocks. I've just shared that information with Detective Prescott in Calgary."

"Oh?" Parker said, interest aroused.

"You're probably not going to believe this, but the ballistics on one of them came back as a match on the Barick murders."

"You're saying McCann was responsible for Stanton and the Baricks?!" Parker exclaimed.

"So it would seem," Kavanaugh said. "Why else would he have been in possession of those weapons?"

"But he didn't shoot Lisa Stillman," Parker spoke, more of a statement than a question.

"Doubtful," Patterson chimed in. "The kind of professional, high-end firearms McCann had, no way he would have been using a pea-shooter like what was probably used on Stillman on the road that day."

"Which means we still have more than one shooter on our hands," Parker said gravely.

Patterson nodded back in silent acknowledgment of this fact.

"Hmph," Parker sighed. "Benoit, tell me you have good news about that phone we found on McCann's body."

"I was just coming to tell you, Boss," Benoit said hastily. "We worked all night. Finally cracked the encryption a couple minutes ago. Look at what we pulled off his message history."

"Show us."

Benoit flashed an image file up on the screen. "That's a picture of Lisa Stillman," he said. "It was received the day of the attempt on her life in the hospital. And then there's also a picture of Val Stanton, received shortly before she was shot."

"A killer for hire, right here in Hudson," Parker said with a shake of his head as he stared at the images. "Okay, so we can tie McCann to Stanton's killing with the photo he was sent, and with the ballistics match on the rifle. He was obviously the one to go after Stillman in the hospital. But if he didn't shoot her, who did?"

"That is a mystery," Benoit said with a shrug. "But that's not all. Two more pictures were sent this past Saturday. Are we seeing a pattern, yet?"

All eyes focused on the two additional pictures Benoit pulled from the phone.

"Our very own Hudson veterinarians," Parker said in recognition of Drs. Scott Cardinal and Ty Borden.

"Who both happened to be on the scene when Lisa Stillman was shot," Patterson said.

"Looks like Stillman's shooter is trying to eliminate any possibility of being identified," Kavanaugh added.

"Tell me you have a bead on who was sending McCann those pictures, Benoit," Parker said.

"We're still trying to figure that out, sir," Benoit answered ruefully. "Whoever sent the pictures was using a burner phone. Unless he tries to make contact again, we can't trace him."

Another thought suddenly occurred to Parker. "What's happened to the court orders to get the ID of the person who requested Val Stanton's death certificate and who filed that second insurance claim?"

"Oh!" Benoit exclaimed. "Those probably came through yesterday right when we were called out to deal with the situation at the Dude Ranch. I'll get on that right away, sir."

***

Hudson Funeral Home

Stanley Belmont could feel a trickle of perspiration starting to make its way down the side of his face. Faced with questions about his involvement with Tanner Gunn's investors' group and his recent application for the medical death certificate for Val Stanton, he nevertheless tried to keep his panic and his indignation in check.

"Of course I requested Val Stanton's death certificate," he said testily in reply to Detective Kavanaugh's question about it. "As the owner and operator of this business and as the one entrusted with handling Val's funeral arrangements, I had every legitimate right to request it."

Patterson and Kavanaugh nodded in agreement, hoping to keep the man at ease before they dropped the next question.

"Yes, we know Ms. Stanton's will stipulated that your business was to handle everything at whatever time she passed," said Kavanaugh.

"Well, then, what's the trouble?" Stanley asked, clearly exasperated.

"The trouble is we can't seem to find a reason why you also applied to receive a copy of Lisa Stillman's medical death certificate," Patterson said, looking him squarely in the face.

Stanley swallowed.

"Lisa's family says she stipulated she wanted a funeral home in Calgary to handle her arrangements," Patterson said. "So I ask you now: why did you request a copy of Lisa Stillman's death certificate when you didn't need it?"

Both Kavanaugh and Patterson noted the nervous shift of Belmont's eyes.

"We also have questions for you about your gambling habits, Mr. Belmont," Kavanaugh said. "You and Tanner Gunn like to frequent the poker tables, don't you?"

Belmont pursed his lips. "And what if I do?" he challenged with a question of his own.

"Nothing, really," Kavanaugh said, "except if those poker tables are illegal. How much are you in the hole for, Mr. Belmont?"

"Um, I think I'd like to contact my lawyer before I say anything more," Stanley eventually uttered after a few moments of uncomfortable silence.

"Fine," Kavanaugh said. "That's entirely your right. But you're treading on dangerous ground, Mr. Belmont, and I think you know you are."

"Call your lawyer, Mr. Belmont," Patterson said. "We can all meet together down at police headquarters."

"Am I under arrest?" Belmont nearly squeaked, his voice nervously rising in pitch.

"That all depends on how you answer our questions," Kavanaugh said.

"Call," Patterson said, nodding at the phone on Stanley's desk. "Then you're coming with us for more questioning."

With a resigned sigh, Stanley picked up the phone and dialled.

***

Calgary International Airport

Lou watched carefully for Rachel and Ben Stillman at the Arrivals gate. She recognized Ben on sight, though it had been years since she last saw him. The handsome, yet arrogant lad she remembered had grown a few more inches since then, and had matured into a young man with rugged good looks. The dark blonde woman nearly hidden behind his tall frame could only be Rachel. Though they had never met, Lou could see the family resemblance instantly, as Rachel's looks were strikingly similar to Lisa's.

Not that they'd ever be mistaken for twins, Lou now thought, but it's clear they were related...

Lou waved to get their attention. As soon as they saw her, they quickened their pace to meet up.

"Hi, Lou," Ben said.

"Hello, Ben," Lou responded, giving him a brief hug.

"Thanks for coming for us," he said. "This is my mother, Rachel."

"Hi, Rachel," Lou said, choosing to give the other woman a quick hug as well. "We spoke on the phone, obviously..."

"Yes," Rachel said. "It's nice to finally meet you face to face after all the times Lisa shared family photos..."

"Your, uhm, the flight was okay? You got everything?" Lou asked awkwardly, indicating their luggage.

"Yes, thanks," Rachel said, in answer to both questions.

"All right, good. Follow me and we'll be off."

The ride back to Hudson was spent mostly in silence. No one quite knew what to say as the subject of what brought them together at this time was still too raw and too devastating to address head-on, though Lou could sense Rachel was brimming with questions she desperately wanted answered.

Rachel did speak once when she mentioned how much certain areas of Calgary they passed along the way had changed, and how much larger the urban sprawl had grown since she was last in that city.

"Hudson has changed quite a bit too," Lou commented. "Especially since all the flooding in 2013."

"Yes, I remember that," Rachel said contemplatively. "The footage we saw on the news was just awful."

"But we pulled through," Lou said, thinking of how members of their community had indeed joined forces to help each other, including the local Hutterite colony.

No one said anything more until they reached Heartland.

"Wow. Are those my old jumps?" asked Ben upon seeing them in the yellow glow of the fading afternoon sunlight when Lou pulled up.

"Yes," Lou responded.

"Who's that riding in the pen right now?"

"My daughter, Georgie," Lou replied with a touch of pride.

"Oh, yeah," Ben said. "She's the kid you adopted, right? Lisa mentioned her a few times. I'm glad someone's making use of them... and since Lisa's technically her family... was her family..."

Ben morosely stopped talking.

"Well, here we are," Lou said clumsily, putting the SUV in park and shutting off the engine.

"You know, I wasn't sure when I'd ever see this place again," Ben murmured.

"I heard so much about it from her," Rachel said as she stared out the windshield at the ranch house. "She told me she was so happy when she finally moved in here with Jack... It's just as 'homey' as she described it. Thanks for bringing us here and for offering to put us up at your Dude Ranch, Lou. I don't think I'm emotionally ready to be at Fairfield just yet. Not when she can't be there with us anymore."

Lou sent a sympathetic glance at Rachel. "Come on. Let's go inside. Amy will have supper ready by now."

They followed Lou up the porch steps. She held the screen and the kitchen door open for them to enter.

"Our stuff will be safe in the SUV, right?" a worried Rachel asked while looking over her shoulder, thinking at once of her luggage.

"You're out in the country again, Rachel," Lou responded. "This isn't the city. No one's going to break in here."

"Right," Rachel said with a wry smile. "I'd forgotten what it was like to leave your doors unlocked."

"Ben," Amy said warmly upon seeing the young man step foot in the kitchen. She approached right away and embraced him as if greeting an old friend.

"Hey, Amy," Ben answered back. "It's good to see you, even under the circumstances."

"I know," Amy said after pulling away. "I'm sorry it took something like this for us to meet again."

"This is my mom, Rachel," Ben said, gesturing to his mother. "Mom, this is Amy. She and I also used to compete against each other on the circuit."

"Hi, Rachel," Amy said, deciding to give the woman a hug as well. She, too, noticed how similar in appearance Rachel was to Lisa.

"Nice to meet you, Amy," Rachel said. "Lisa told me so much about you—about all of you—over the years. I almost feel like I know you."

"Excuse me while I go call my daughter in for dinner," Lou said, hoping to avoid any further mention of difficult topics. "The bathroom is just down there around the corner if you want to freshen up."

"I'm fine," Ben said, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I could use a bathroom break," Rachel sighed, and made directly for the facilities.

"Why don't you have a seat either here in the kitchen or in the living room, Ben?" Amy suggested. "I'm just going to go check on my daughter."

"Sure," Ben said easily, deciding to lounge on the couch.

A minute later, Amy returned with a still-sleepy Lyndy, who had just woken from a nap in Katie's room.

"Ah, who's this?" Ben asked with a smile upon seeing mother and child.

"Meet Lyndy," Amy said. "She turned two in December. Say 'hi' to Ben, sweetheart."

Lyndy rubbed the back of her hand over her eyes. "Hi," she whispered shyly.

"Hi, Lyndy," Ben answered back with a smile. "She's super-cute, Amy. I bet she's got Ty wrapped around her little finger."

"Oh, does she ever," Amy said with a roll of her eyes and a soft laugh.

"Where is Ty, anyway?"

"Working. He had the day shift at the vet clinic in town, but he's supposed to be on his way home now."

"Right, he's 'Dr. Borden' now," Ben said. "Lisa sent photos of the graduation ceremony."

"It sounds like she kept you up-to-date," Amy said.

"She did," Ben confirmed with a short nod. "Aunt Lisa was proud of all of you; proud to call you her family. It made me feel a little jealous sometimes, to be honest. Made me wish I was back in Hudson, even if I didn't exactly enjoy it when I was sent here during my parents' divorce."

"That was a rough time for you, Ben," Amy said in sympathy. "You know my parents split up too, so I understand. It's hard to appreciate anything when your whole life is being turned upside-down."

"No kidding," muttered Ben.

Presently, Lou returned. "Georgie should be in here soon," she said. "Thanks for taking care of dinner, Amy. I guess we can start as soon as Ty gets in."

"And he should be here any time," Amy stated.

"Is Rachel still — ?" Lou began to ask, jerking a thumb in the direction of the bathroom.

Amy nodded.

"Should I check on her?" Lou asked. "I'll check on her."

Amy was about to protest, but realised the woman had been in there a while.

Lou tapped lightly on the bathroom door. She could not be sure, but she thought she heard the sound of muffled sobs before the sudden flush of the toilet followed by the noisy gush of the faucet.

"Are you okay, Rachel?" Lou called.

"Be out in a minute," Rachel replied in a nasally, constrained voice.

"Okay, we'll be at the dinner table," Lou said before turning away.

***

The meal started out in a subdued fashion. Nobody seemed willing or ready to talk about what had been happening over the past week. They ate and drank in silence, until finally Ben broke the ice. He cleared his throat before beginning to speak.

"You know, I just wanna say to you guys I was a real brat when I was sent to stay here," he said solemnly. "And I'm sorry for all that."

"Oh, that was long ago. You don't have to apologize for anything, Ben," Lou said kindly.

"Yeah, but still. I could have been more gracious about, well, everything," he said. "What's happened... it's been a huge wake-up call for me. I thought at the time Lisa was just trying to get rid of me by dumping me here. But I get it now. I get it. Even then she saw something special in this family. She wanted me to experience that also. I didn't appreciate it enough."

Amy noticed Lou's eyes were brimming, and she could feel the moisture building beneath her own lids.

"Anyway, that's all I wanted to say," Ben said.

"Thank you, Ben," Amy said, giving him a smile of encouragement. "Lisa... was very special to us, too..."

Georgie was starting to get weepy. Ty blinked back his own tears.

"My sister," Rachel began shakily, "was never able to have children of her own. But she regarded all of you as if you were her own. I hope you know that."

Silent tears slipped from Amy's eyes as she recalled the very candid conversation she had shared with Lisa not so long ago about her miscarriages. "We know," she said with a sad smile and a nod.

"All right, enough emotional stuff," Rachel declared. "I want to hear about all of you. I mean, Lisa would call and talk about what was happening with the family, but I want to hear details."

"No, first I want to hear about you two," Amy said. "I have a feeling Lisa probably shared a lot more about us with you than she did about you with us."

"That'd be my fault," Ben admitted. "I didn't communicate with Lisa nearly as much. She'd send emails all the time, but I don't think I sent many back."

"So what's been going on with you, then?" asked Amy.

"Well, I got my MBA as you may know," Ben replied. "I've been working as a financial analyst for a startup in Montreal for the past year. Keeps me busy."

"You should talk to Lou," Amy said, looking over at her sister. "She got her MBA. Put it to good use, too."

"Oh, I've done all right," Lou said, flipping a hand dismissively. "Nothing crazy."

"That's not what Aunt Lisa told me," Ben said seriously. "She told me all about how great the Dude Ranch was. Said you were one of the smartest and most competent women she knew. I think that was after she sold her share back to you. You handle people's financial portfolios, and you also published a book, right?"

"Yeah," Lou said slowly. She was struck by the fact Lisa had taken the time to share such things with her nephew, and that he remembered them.

"And Lisa said that Maggie's Diner is a franchise now," Ben continued.

"It is," Lou said.

"I bet Mrs. Duval never dreamed her little diner would be a franchise in Times Square," Ben said. "You're living the dream, Lou."

"'The dream' is also very busy," Lou said. She looked over briefly at Georgie. "It takes me away from my family much more than I wish it did. I was actually in New York dealing with the franchise when I got the call about Lisa..." her voice trailed off. Unable to continue, she instead took a drink of water.

"Uh, speaking of Maggie's," Ben said to move past the uncomfortable moment, "How's Soraya?"

Amy answered: "She's doing great. Loves London."

"Ontario?" Ben asked.

"England," Amy corrected. "It's where her husband, Dillon, is from."

"Wow. I didn't even know she got married," Ben expressed his surprise. "Time flies."

"Maggie moved out there, too. It's why Lou bought the diner in the first place."

"Crazy decision," Lou said with a shake of her head.

"Hey, Lou, maybe I'll open a Maggie's Diner location in Montreal," Ben quipped. "How much to become a franchisee?"

"Don't encourage her," Amy chuckled with a grin and a roll of her eyes.

***

Hudson Police Headquarters

Stanley Belmont, owner and operator of the Hudson Funeral Home business, tried to decide what his best course of action should be. Sitting beside him in the cubby-hole of a room reserved for questioning suspects was his lawyer, Patrick Randall. For the time being, Stanley had not said a word, choosing to take his Charter-guaranteed right to remain silent.

Detective Constable Patterson looked steadily at Stanley. "We know you had a legitimate reason for getting Valerie Stanton's medical death certificate. But why did you request a copy of Lisa Stillman's death certificate, Mr. Belmont?"

"You don't have to answer her question," Randall advised his client.

"What did you do with the copy of Lisa Stillman's medical death certificate?" asked Patterson.

"He's not answering that one, either," said Randall.

"Fine," Patterson said, splaying her hands on the surface of the table between them. "Look, we know you're not in this alone, Stanley. We know someone either asked you or coerced you into putting in that request for Stillman's certificate. You're the one with the credentials as a funeral home director to legally request such a document. Anyone else would need to be either a family member or they'd do it through a court order, and that sort of thing. The only reason someone would want that document at this point would be to file a claim on a life insurance policy. Money is a very good motive for murder."

"Murder?!" Stanley yelped, forgetting his resolve to remain silent. "I didn't kill Lisa Stillman."

"But maybe you hired the man who did," Detective Kavanaugh broke in.

Stanley shook his head. "I did no such thing!"

"We know about your gambling debts, Stanley," Patterson said. "You and Tanner Gunn are pretty well known out there for your love of the illegal poker tables. He roped you in to that underground scene, didn't he?"

"Don't answer that," Randall warned.

Patterson narrowed her eyes.

"Detectives, this is a fishing expedition," Randall said impatiently. "Either you charge my client with something, or you let him go."

"We're getting to that. We know you're in the hole for a cool 1.2 million to a certain loan shark in Calgary," Patterson said to Stanley.

"Who's this loan shark?" Randall asked sharply, eyebrows instantly pinching together.

"Oh, someone your pal Tanner Gunn introduced you to, isn't that right, Mr. Belmont?" Kavanaugh asked. "Does the name 'Mick Osbourne' sound familiar, Mr. Belmont?"

Stanley's face went pale.

"You don't have to answer any of that, Stan," Randall repeated his predictable line yet again.

"Mick Osbourne told our Calgary counterparts you've borrowed heavily from him on a number of occasions," Patterson said. "You've been racking up the debt. Mick's enforcers are vicious. Were you being threatened?"

Stanley's eyes swept over to his counsel.

"Did Tanner Gunn ask you to request Lisa Stillman's medical death certificate?" Patterson asked. "Did he promise to get Mick's guys to back off if you did?"

"Um... I'd like a private conference with my lawyer now, please," Stanley murmured weakly after a period of dead silence.

"Granted," Patterson said. She and Kavanaugh got up from their seats and left their suspect alone with his counsel.

***

Chief Parker was waiting for Patterson and Kavanaugh when they reappeared in the bullpen.

"How's the interview with Stanley Belmont going?" he asked.

"I think we've got him," Patterson answered. "He's asked for some private time with his counsel."

"He hasn't admitted anything yet," Kavanaugh said, being more cautious. "But he's definitely spooked."

"Think he's going to spill what he knows?" Chief Parker asked.

"Hopefully," Patterson said. "Because he's definitely not going to want to be the one to take the fall for a murder conspiracy charge."

"He won't if he knows what's good for him," Parker commented. "Good work, you too. We'll see if his lawyer talks some sense into him."

"Okay, since we've been away dealing with Belmont, let's get up to speed. Where are we with our dead hitman's case?" Kavanaugh now asked.

Detective Benoit looked up when he heard this question.

"As you know, Earl McCann's phone was all busted up, so we've taken the SIM card out and popped it into another phone on the off chance the sender will try to get in touch again, but so far, nothing," he said.

"Then maybe it's time we went on the offensive," Parker suggested. "Can you try reaching out to him?"

"I don't think that's a good idea, sir," Benoit answered. "The call history shows there were never any outgoing calls. It might be a giveaway if we try to make contact."

Parker considered this. "You could be right..."

"Hold on," Benoit said excitedly. "Someone is calling right now. ID is blocked. It could be the middle man."

Kavanaugh raced over to help his colleague with setting up a trace.

"All right. Accept the call, Benoit," Parker advised.

Benoit tapped the screen to answer. Before he could say a word, the mysterious caller barged ahead without greeting.

"Hey, remember those two loose ends I told you about? They've still not been taken care of!" the voice barked menacingly. "The client is pissed. I told you on Saturday those had to be taken care of ASAP. You are still in Hudson, right? I told you the client said to stick around, didn't I?"

Benoit did not know if he should chance a reply. "Uh-huh," he eventually mumbled.

"You're makin' me look bad. Do what you're being paid to do!"

The line went dead.

"Did we get him?" asked Parker.

"No," replied a disappointed Kavanaugh. "Whoever this is, he's still using a burner phone. GPS and location services have been disabled. Best we can do is triangulate off the closest cell tower."

"How close can you get us?

"The call pinged off a cell tower around 7th Avenue and 8th Street in the downtown Calgary area," answered Kavanaugh. "He could be anywhere within a three city block radius."

"Get Detective Prescott over in Calgary on the line," Parker ordered. "They'll have the resources and the manpower. We need to find this guy before he disappears."

***

Calgary Homicide Detective James Prescott listened intently to what Chief Parker was telling him. He mobilized his teams as soon as he learned of the active cell phone signal potentially belonging to the individual involved in the hiring of a professional killer.

"Do you have any likely suspects on your radar in the 'middle man' department, Prescott?"Parker asked.

"A few come to mind," Prescott responded, as he and four separate groups of plainclothes detectives converged on the area in downtown Calgary that Kavanaugh had identified.

The light rail passenger trains traversing 7th Avenue that hummed along at 15-minute intervals at this hour of the evening were sparsely filled. Prescott said a silent prayer their quarry did not decide to hop on one of those trains while they searched for him. The man could quietly disappear into any quadrant of the city if they allowed that to happen.

Prescott and two others now crossed those very tracks on foot. "Heading north on 8th Street," he spoke into his concealed comm. "Approaching the Dominion Centre Building with the pharmacy, Tim Hortons, and the Community Corrections Centre."

"Copy," the dispatcher's voice spoke in acknowledgement.

The Tim Hortons franchise caught Prescott's attention, or rather, one of the patrons did. The detective continued walking for a few more paces before silently indicating to his two colleagues he wanted to double back. They understood immediately what he was planning. There was only a pair of street-level doors being used as an entrance and an exit. One of Prescott's colleagues named Koch casually took up his position near that exit should the suspect try to bolt.

"Possible suspect sighted," Prescott whispered into his comm. "William Ulrich. He's in the Tim Hortons."

Chief Parker and his team in Hudson, also linked in to Prescott's feed, heard this announcement. All waited with bated breath to hear how this would go down.

Prescott and the second cop named Diaz swung open the entrance door and made their way inside. The aroma of brewing coffee, sugary baked goods and toasting sandwiches wafted in the tiny space that seated maybe 40 at capacity. The man they were after sat alone in a booth situated right up against one of the windows by the exit door. Prescott and Diaz ignored him for the time being and instead made for the lineup as if they were going to order something.

Known on the streets as 'Billy the Bulldog', it was not a stretch to see why ex-felon and known middle-man William Ulrich had been saddled with that nickname. Small in stature, compact in build and with a prominent underbite, Billy had spiteful black eyes and a mercurial temper.

Prescott pulled out his cell phone and sent a quick text to Benoit.

- Call the number now.

Benoit responded from his desk in the Hudson police headquarters.

- Copy. Calling now.

Prescott turned slightly to see Billy pull out his phone. "What the hell are you calling me for?" he snapped.

Benoit terminated the call without saying a word.

The 'Bulldog' scowled at his screen, put it away, and went back to sipping his double-double*. It was the confirmation Prescott was looking for. He left the queue and made a beeline for his suspect with Diaz right behind.

"Billy, Billy, Billy. Little late for a caffeine fix, wouldn't you say?"

Billy jerked his head up at the sound of Prescott's chiding voice. He saw the two plainclothes cops, instinctively recognized them for what they were, and realised he was cornered. A look of wild panic crossed his features.

"Don't make a scene," Prescott said gruffly, shoving Billy back into his seat as he tried to stand up.

"This is harassment," Billy howled. "I was just minding my own business here."

"Sure you were, Billy," Diaz said, sliding into the seat opposite the others in the booth.

"I had a meeting earlier with my parole officer over in Corrections," Billy said, jutting his generous chin in the general direction of the Corrections Centre. "You can call and ask him. Now I'm just having some coffee and a bite to eat."

"Must have been a really long meeting, Billy," Prescott said.

"Yeah, the Corrections Centre has been closed for hours, Billy," Diaz added.

"So time flies!" Billy protested. "What do you guys want, anyway?"

"Oh, you're coming with us," Diaz said.

"What for?!" Billy yapped.

"See, you're under arrest for suspicion of soliciting murder," Prescott said, pulling Billy up and handcuffing him while informing him of his rights. "Let's go."

***

Heartland – Ranch House

Lyndy was starting to nod off in her booster seat. Despite the afternoon nap, it was now long past her usual bedtime and sleep was beckoning.

"I'll take her back to the loft and put her to bed, Amy," Ty offered. "Plus, I've got some paperwork I've been neglecting that I should take care of."

"Thank you," Amy said, giving both her husband and her child a kiss. "See you when I finish up here."

"Goodnight, everyone," Ty said, giving a short wave to them all while picking up his sleepy daughter, cradling her head against his shoulder and supporting her back.

The rest of them said their goodbyes and watched Ty depart with Lyndy.

They lingered at the table for about a half hour longer, making idle chat about nothing of any significance until the travellers' exhaustion began to take over. Lou noticed, and politely suggested it was time to head over to the Dude Ranch.

Rachel yawned her assent. "I'm ready to turn into a pumpkin," she said.

"Same here," Ben said. "Thanks for the meal, Amy. See you tomorrow."

"Yes, thanks, Amy," Rachel said. "You've all been wonderful. I can see why Lisa loved you all so much... and why she loved being here."

"You're welcome," Amy said. "See you tomorrow."

***

The dog was nowhere to be seen. He heard through the grapevine about the possible case of strychnine poisoning, and he patted himself on the back for that one. Stillman's sister and nephew had spent dinner at the ranch house, but the elder Fleming sister had just taken them somewhere; maybe to that hole of a place she called "Heartland Equestrian Connections" like it was some five-star resort. He was slightly surprised they were even using the place since the news earlier that day said some dead guy was found nearby yesterday, but he figured that was none of his business.

The old man still had not come back, so that meant another possible threat was cleared from his list of concerns. Now all he had to do was make sure he could get to Borden in the barn office, then he could focus on Dr. Cardinal in the clinic. Things were approaching a critical juncture now, but there was no turning back. He could no longer let them live when the chance remained they could identify him, no matter how remote that possibility.

He readied his weapon, slipping it into his jacket breast pocket once again. His aim had not been as perfect as he had wanted when he fired at the Stillman woman, but in the end it had not mattered. She was dead, and she would never again be talking about who might have shot her.

I won't mess up this time, he vowed, picturing in his mind how he would take out Borden. He would shoot him, then trash the barn office, paying special attention to the medicine cabinet. Make it look like an attempted robbery gone bad by a desperate junkie. Nope. I definitely won't miss this target, and the same will go for Cardinal.

***

With the dishes washed and put away, Amy sat tiredly in the ranch house kitchen. She entertained the thought of brewing a cup of tea, but decided she should just head back to the loft and decompress there. She was about to do just that when the kitchen telephone extension rang.

It was getting to be a little late for anyone to be calling since it was already past nine o'clock, but Amy nevertheless checked the call display.

HUDSON POLICE

She picked up the phone right away.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Good evening, this is Chief Jim Parker. Is Lou Fleming available?"

"Sorry, Chief," Amy said, "she's stepped out for a little while."

"I see," Jim said. "I was hoping to talk to her and provide an update about the body we found by the Dude Ranch. But I'm glad I caught you at the house, too."

"Why is that?" Amy asked.

"We're convinced the dead man we found was hired to kill Valerie Stanton, and we're almost certain he was the one who attacked Lisa and assaulted Jack in the hospital. We found evidence on a cell phone belonging to him—photos of Val and Lisa. The timeline of Val's shooting and the incident at the hospital line up with when the photos were sent."

"That's crazy," Amy said, blood running cold at this revelation.

"There's more, I'm afraid. Your husband and Dr. Cardinal also seem to have been targeted," Parker said.

Amy almost could not believe her ears as she listened to what the chief was saying. His call that evening had been most unexpected, as was the information he was now sharing.

"The latest pictures he was sent before he died were of Ty and Scott, so it's highly likely he was being paid to kill them, too."

"Are you sure?" Amy asked, her heart skipping a beat as this message sank in. When will this nightmare end? "But who was he?"

"We've been in touch with another RCMP detachment about that," Parker said, not yet wanting to disclose what they discovered to a civilian. "I can't share those details about his identity at this time, but the police in Calgary have the man who sent the pictures in custody right now. Unfortunately, he's just a middle man. Even so, he's refusing to talk right now about who's behind all this."

"Chief," Amy said, trying to calm her nerves, "is my husband still in danger?"

"Until we know for certain who initiated the hits, we can't be sure," Parker admitted. "My advice would be to take whatever precautions you deem necessary. I unfortunately can't spare or justify the manpower for a protection detail at this time based simply on broad speculation. That said, I have to say I am still personally worried. If this dead guy truly was contracted to take out your husband and Dr. Cardinal, chances are whoever did the contracting might simply hire someone else to get the job done. We should not assume the threat has passed. Stay on the alert while we work on it."

At these words, Amy sent a furtive glance out the window. The security lights illuminated the expansive yard. She glanced up at the loft above the barn, suddenly thinking how very exposed it was. The distinct lack of a secure door leading to her living space with her husband and their child was troubling. If someone breached the barn door during the night, it would be very easy for that person to come creeping up the stairs unnoticed and unhindered.

"Chief, thank you for telling me," Amy said, having already made up her mind what she was going to do.

After she ended the call, Amy quickly made her way to the barn. Ty looked up from his paperwork as soon as he heard her. "What's going on?" he asked, confused by her anxious appearance.

"I just spoke with Chief Parker," Amy said hurriedly. "Ty, he was calling about the dead guy they found by the Dude Ranch... he said they think someone contracted him to kill Val and Lisa. They found Val and Lisa's pictures on his phone."

"You've gotta be kidding me," Ty said, staring at her, mouth agape.

"No," Amy replied grimly. "That's not all. Chief Parker said there were also pictures sent recently to the dead man's phone of you and Scott. I don't like how vulnerable we are in the barn loft. I think we should all stay in the house tonight and lock the doors, or at least until Chief Parker and his team get to the bottom of this. I'm packing an overnight bag for me and Lyndy; you should do the same."

"All right, you go ahead with Lyndy. Has Chief Parker contacted Scott?"

"I don't know," Amy said with a shake of her head.

"I'll call him," Ty said, rising to his feet. "Let me finish up here, and I'll join you in the house soon."

"Okay," Amy said, and kissed him quickly before heading up the stairs. After filling a bag with clothes and other necessities for herself and her child, Amy gathered a sleeping Lyndy in her arms, hefted the bag onto her free shoulder, and made her way back down.

***

He watched as she walked at a brisk clip across the yard from the house to the barn. He had been about to make his move, but stopped in his tracks when he saw this. The vet was no longer alone now, much to his frustration. He would have to wait to see what happened next. Had he missed his opportunity? He decided to wait a little longer. His patience was rewarded when about ten minutes later, she reappeared, this time with the kid in her arms and a bag on her shoulder. He watched as she nearly ran back into the house. A vile smile spread across his face. The vet was finally by himself in the barn! It was now, or never. Still, he waited for a few minutes to be sure she was not coming back. He wanted no witnesses. But ultimately, if she did come back, and if she interrupted what he was about to do, he had no qualms about ending her on the spot, too.

***

Scott, having just got off the phone with Chief Parker, was nevertheless grateful for Ty's call.

"It's crazy," Scott said to Ty. "But I think I'll be okay at the clinic tonight. The police station is a couple blocks away, anyway, right? Nobody could be that stupid to try something with the cops so close."

"Right," Ty said, hoping Scott actually was right about that. "Be careful, man."

"I will," Scott said. "You, too."

***

Amy knocked on her niece's bedroom door.

"Come in," Georgie answered.

"Georgie, we're staying in the house tonight," Amy announced upon opening the door.

"Uh, okay," Georgie said in surprise. She stared at Amy whose body language spoke of pent-up tension. "What's going on?"

"I just spoke with Adam's dad," Amy explained. "That dead guy you two found? It turns out he might have been hired to kill Val and Lisa. The police found their pictures on his phone."

"What?!" Georgie exclaimed.

"But that's not all," Amy said. "They also found pictures of Ty and Scott, so I'm thinking we'll all be a lot safer together here in the house until the police figure out what's going on."

"You know, you guys really do need to get a door with a lock for your loft," Georgie said.

"Yeah, yeah," Amy muttered. "I've put Lyndy down in Katie's room for now and Ty and I will be in my old room."

"Okay. I really wish Jack and Tim were here," Georgie said wistfully.

"Me, too," Amy said. "But for now I'm just going to sit in Katie's room and be with Lyndy until Ty arrives." She was grateful her younger niece was still staying with Peter in Vancouver.

"And Lou had better get back here soon from settling Rachel and Ben in at the Dude Ranch," Georgie added.

"Maybe you should call her," Amy suggested.

"Yeah. Okay, I will," Georgie said, pulling out her cell phone to do just that.

***

He watched for any sign she would be back. When five minutes passed, he decided the coast was clear. It was time to finish this. It was time to clean up the mess for which he had only himself to blame. And after handling this job, the last item on the list was Scott Cardinal, but making that one also look like a burglary gone wrong would not be too much of a problem either, he figured. He crept out of the shadows towards the barn, hand inside his jacket breast pocket, ready to pull out the pistol.

***

"Mom, you need to get back here," Georgie said.

Lou could not mistake the urgency in her daughter's voice.

"Why, what's going on?" asked Lou, who had just finally bid goodnight to Ben and Rachel in their respective cabins.

"Adam's dad thinks the dead guy we found is the one who killed Val and Lisa," she said.

"Val and Lisa?" cried Lou.

"But Mom, there's more," Georgie continued. "Chief Parker says Ty and Scott could also be targets. Amy just brought Lyndy to the house and Ty's coming, too. They're all going to stay in here tonight. For safety."

"Um, okay, that's a good idea," Lou said, already approaching the SUV. "I'll be there soon—"

"Hang on a second, Mom," Georgie interjected, "Amy's trying to tell me something."

"It's okay, honey," Lou said, "you go ahead. I'll just hang up now."

Lou ended the call without waiting to hear Georgie's reply.

***

He could hear the vet scuffling about up in the loft. That was fine. He would just wait until he came back down. Then, bam! He would shoot him right between the eyes. He would never know what hit him.

***

Ty noticed Amy had already packed both their toothbrushes and toothpaste as he made one last sweep of the loft to make sure he had not forgotten anything essential he might need for an overnight stay in the ranch house. He swung his duffle bag over his shoulder, unlatched the baby gate, and began to head downstairs.

***

His ears picked up the sound of footfalls. Borden is coming down, he thought, feeling his pulse start to race with excitement. He slid the gun from his breast pocket and steadied his hand, pointing the piece up at the staircase in anticipation of his target's appearance.

***

"Drop the gun and step away from my husband!" Amy's command was crisp and unwavering.

The interloper paused, arm still outstretched, weapon aimed up at the nonplussed Ty.

"Drop the gun," Amy ordered again, measuring every word, her own arms steady as she held Jack's rifle on the man threatening her husband. "I'm warning you: I know how to use this, and the police are on the way."

The balaclava-clad, would-be killer turned slightly to face Amy. He seemed to be considering his options. Perhaps he doubted Amy's skill with the rifle and figured he would be able to carry out his deadly task. Or perhaps he knew very well that she could kill him with one pull of the trigger. His shoulder eventually drooped, seemingly in submission, followed by a lowering of his pistol.

Ty let out the breath he was unaware he had been holding.

In a flash, the stranger twisted away from Amy and once again raised his weapon to Ty. An ear-splitting blast ripped through the barn office. A cry of agony escaped the lips of the masked stranger. He stumbled to the floor, clutching at his shoulder. A few horses neighed in surprise as the explosive ka-boom echoed through their stalls.

Ty dropped his bag and sprang from the steps towards the downed man. He kicked aside the small pistol, whirled around, and drove his foot into the small of his back. "Stay down," he growled.

Knowing the other weapon was far out of reach and Ty's sturdy boot was keeping the villain pinned, Amy crept forward and yanked the balaclava from his head.

"Jesse!" she gasped upon recognizing him.

Jesse Stanton craned his neck and glared back up at her sideways, eyes revealing a mix of shock and torment. Shock that Amy had carried through with her spoken threat; torment due to the bullet that had torn through his shoulder.

"That was you that day, wasn't it?" Ty snarled in an accusatory tone. "Riding your Ducati when Scott nearly plowed into you. You shot Lisa!"

Jesse could not deny it. "Yeah," he muttered, not bothering to meet Ty's infuriated gaze.

"Did you also go to the hospital to finish the job? Huh?!" Ty exclaimed.

"No, that wasn't m-me. Someone else." Jesse mumbled.

"You're lying," Ty said. "You went in there, you snuffed out her life, and you escaped on your bike again."

"No, I swear that wasn't me!" protested Jesse. "I wasn't anywhere near the hospital."

Ty clamped his mouth shut. Jesse seemed to be telling the truth.

"Let me up, will you?" he begged.

Ty considered the request. Every bone in his body wanted to continue keeping him jammed squarely to the floor, but mercy prevailed. "Okay, I'm letting you up, but I'm warning you Amy won't hesitate to shoot again if you try anything. Understand?"

"Yeah, yeah," Jesse grumbled.

Ty lifted his foot carefully. Jesse scooted himself up and scrambled against the barn wall like a rat being let out of a trap. He pressed his hand to his bloodied shoulder, wincing in pain as he did so.

"If it wasn't you who attacked Lisa and Jack at the hospital, then who was it?" Ty asked.

"I don't know," he replied, not meeting Ty's gaze. "It just wasn't me, all right?"

"You might not have gone after her in the hospital, but you're still the reason she ended up there in the first place," Amy said angrily, thinking of what Chief Parker told her about the pictures on the dead man's phone. "You're the reason someone else got to her. You're the reason she's dead."

"Whatever," Jesse mumbled.

"After all these years, Jesse," Amy said. "Our families. You know us! You-your mom! She and my grandpa and Lisa—they all knew each other for years. They were friends!"

"Don't even start, Amy!" Jesse snapped contemptuously. "'Friends'? My mother—my mother hated Lisa Stillman."

He caught the expression of astonishment on their faces at this revelation. "That's right," he continued, enjoying this last taunt he could needle them with. "Oh sure, she was friendly to her face in public. But… You should have heard the things my mother said about Lisa when she got into her liquor—some friend! And I… I hated my mother."

"So, did you kill her, too?" Amy ventured to ask, her voice brittle.

"No," Jesse replied through gritted teeth. "But I sure didn't shed any actual tears when I heard she was dead."

"You're lying," Ty countered as he narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "You were the only one who knew for sure when she took Herring out for that ride. You're the one who reported her missing. You're the one who told the police where they should conduct their search. You purposely directed their search away from Lookout Point, didn't you?"

"Doesn't mean I'm the one who pulled that trigger," Jesse said with a leer, though he was still visibly in quite a bit of pain. "Wish I was, though. Briar Ridge… was supposed to be mine to run as I saw fit! She was supposed to… grrr… be living full-time in Florida. Instead, she just kept coming back here, hanging on, telling me what to do, interfering in my decisions... treating me like some clueless child! Gah! I actually thought I would be free of her when she had that s-second bout with the cancer, b-but she beat that, too."

Ty had heard enough. "Stop talking," he snarled. "You're making me sick listening to all your crap!"

Amy had also heard enough. She handed Ty the rifle. "The police should be here any minute. I'm going to go back to check on Lyndy and Georgie."

"How 'bout an ambulance?!" Jesse hollered desperately.

Amy ignored him as she scurried out the barn door, hoping Georgie was not too freaked out by the loud report of the rifle.

"How 'bout you shut up!" bellowed Ty, keeping the rifle trained just to the left of Jesse's ear. "You're lucky she didn't take off your head when she shot you."

"You-you're enjoying this, aren't you, Borden?" Jesse sniveled.

"No, I am not enjoying this," Ty hissed. "None of this is enjoyable. What did Lisa Stillman ever do to you? Was shooting her some kind of thrill-seeking game for you? Jealousy over Fairfield's success?"

"Borden… Your guesses are so cold, you… heh… make Antarctica feel like a sauna," Jesse laughed feebly.

"Do you have any idea what you've done to this family? What you've done to Jack?"

"That old m-man can die and go to h-hell," Jesse grunted, his teeth chattering now. "The w-way my mother pined away for him… even-even after he m-married Lisa… it was em-embarrassing… sickening… Dunno what she s-saw… He was nothing like m-my father…"

Ty noticed Jesse's shivering. What with the pain and blood loss, he was probably starting to go into shock. "Okay, just keep quiet now, all right?" Ty said, using a gentler voice he was surprised he was able to muster. "You don't want to bleed out here before the paramedics come."

"H-how 'bout some pain k-killers in the meantime, Borden?" Jesse asked with a lop-sided smile. "Y-you got some of the good stuff here, don't you?"

Ty glowered at Jesse. "I said keep quiet. You're not getting anything from me."

"Worth a try." Jesse gave a weak laugh, then finally shut his mouth.

After checking to ensure her niece and child were fine back at the house, and after hastily explaining why there had been a weapon discharged, Amy returned to the barn. "I have the 911 dispatcher on the line," she advised, holding her cell phone to her ear. "An ambulance is heading here, now."

The shrill whine of a police siren caught their attention next. Red and blue lights splashed brightly against the walls and reflected in the windows. The cruiser came to a halt in front of the barn. Car doors opened and slammed shut; footsteps crunched the dirt and gravel.

"Everybody okay in there?"

Ty recognized the voice of Chief Parker; Detective Kavanaugh was right behind the senior officer. Jesse's head sank to his chest in utter defeat at their appearance.

"Chief! Jesse just tried to shoot Ty," Amy said, pointing at the weapon. "That's the gun right there."

Chief Parker looked on the barn floor and saw what he recognized as a Raven MP-25. He bent to retrieve it, gingerly picking it up with a gloved hand by the trigger guard.

"And um, I just shot Jesse," Amy admitted, noticing for the first time her hands were shaking.

"He, uh, he also just confessed to shooting Lisa out on the road that day, Chief," Ty said quietly as he handed over Jack's rifle to Parker's other gloved hand.

"You mean he confessed to killing her," Amy uttered furiously, feeling an overwhelming sense of grief and anger cascading over her. "He's the reason she ended up in the hospital in the first place. He's the reason that guy was able to get into her room and–and—"

She could not continue. All the stresses and tragedies of the past few weeks seemed to descend on her at that moment, crushing her with their weight. Tears she had not known that were still in reserve spilled out. Ty's own eyes clouded as his heart ached for all the losses the family had endured. He crossed over and gathered her up into his arms.

"And she's not dead," Parker announced.

He was met with stunned silence from them while Kavanaugh knelt to take Jesse into custody.

"What are you sayingؙ—Lisa's not dead?" Amy gasped, gazing now at the senior officer.

"H-how?" Ty asked shaking his head. "I thought she..."

"That's what we needed everyone to think," Kavanaugh said, being careful not to jostle his prisoner too harshly. "Well, almost everyone."

"I can't believe it!" Amy exclaimed in jubilation. "She's really alive?"

"Yes, really," Parker said. His face broke into a wide smile, pleased he could finally bring some good news to this long-suffering family. "She's still in pretty rough shape, mind you, but your dad and your grandfather are with her right now at the hospital under police protection."

"This is incredible!" Ty said. "But why make us think she didn't survive?"

"All in good time, Ty," Parker said calmly. "Our investigation is still on-going, but catching Mr. Stanton red-handed here tonight has certainly blown things wide open for us, and we expect to be making another arrest in Calgary very soon."

"Who?!" Jesse dared to ask.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Kavanaugh quipped dryly. "But maybe you'd like to guess?"

Jesse pursed his lips.

"Not even one guess?" Kavanaugh goaded. "Aw, you're spoiling my fun."

But Jesse refused to speak.

"Jesse Stanton, you're under arrest for attempted murder," Kavanaugh said. "It is my duty to inform you that you have the right to retain and instruct counsel of your choice in private and without delay. Before you decide to answer any questions concerning this investigation, you may call a lawyer of your choosing or get free advice from Duty Counsel. If you wish to contact Legal Aid duty counsel I can provide you with a telephone number and a telephone will be made available to you. Do you understand?"

"Yeah," Jesse mumbled. "I wanna call my lawyer."

"Fine," Kavanaugh said. "We'll make sure that happens while we wait for the ambulance to get here. Let's go."

Kavanaugh started shuffling his prisoner off towards the barn's open door.

"Amy? Ty?" Lou's voiced called out.

"In here, Lou!" Amy called back. She was so wrapped up in what had just happened, she did not even hear when her sister pulled up in the SUV.

Lou jogged over to the entrance only to stop in her tracks as Kavanaugh hauled Jesse out. "I thought I heard a gunshot just now—" She stared at the arrestee and his bloodied shoulder. Now she chanced a look inside the barn and saw Jim holding the rifle in one hand and a pistol in the other.

"We're okay, Lou," Amy said to assure her sister. "But, um, Jesse just tried to kill Ty. I shot him with Grandpa's rifle."

"You!" Lou cried. She glanced back over her shoulder at Jesse, who was being made to sit inside the cruiser. "Jesse came to kill Ty? Why?"

"Because he didn't want any more witnesses around who could ID him as Lisa's shooter," Parker said.

"Jesse shot Lisa?!"

Parker nodded. "We'll have to wait on the ballistics to confirm," he said, indicating the Raven he was holding. "But he's already admitted it."

"And Lou," Amy said, brimming with joy, "Lisa's alive. She survived the attack in the hospital."

"Lisa's alive?" Lou repeated, dumbfounded.

Parker nodded, a smile still pasted on his face. "I'm sorry we had to do that to all of you, but between my department and the Calgary police who were investigating that attack, we agreed it was the best option to keep her safe until we caught all the ones responsible."

"And have you caught all the ones responsible?" Lou asked tentatively, looking once again over at the cruiser where Jesse Stanton was bring granted a privileged call with his lawyer.

"We're close," Parker admitted. "This thing is still in motion, but we're hoping to have everyone in custody by tomorrow. Arresting Mr. Stanton here tonight is already a big win for us."

"He probably also poisoned Remi," Amy said, as all the pieces were starting to fall into place in her mind. "That's why he came over to visit the other day."

"Your dog was poisoned?" Parker asked in surprise.

Amy nodded.

"Strychnine," Ty explained. "We don't keep that at Heartland. She's going to make it, but we were really concerned for a while there."

Lou put her hands to her temples. "This is too much. I think I'm getting a headache."

The whine of an ambulance and another police cruiser filled the night air.

"That would be the paramedics for Mr. Stanton and my backup officers," Chief Parker said. "It's going to be a long night while we get everything straightened out here."

***

Canadian Rockies Life Insurance — Calgary Branch

5:00 a.m.

The young woman switched on the desk lamp at the workstation. Using the overhead lights, especially at this early hour, had the chance of attracting unwanted attention, and she needed secrecy for what she was about to do.

Using the credentials she had spied long ago from an unwitting co-worker, she logged into the company mainframe and accessed the Policies database. She quickly located the one she had specifically come to find:

LISA RENÉE STILLMAN

Hurriedly, she began entering the required data to kickstart the claims process. Now that she had the medical death certificate information, things could finally proceed.

Date of Filing:

The field automatically populated with the current date of May 9, 2019.

Policy Holder:

Here, she input the name of the dummy corporation she was instructed to use in this scenario.

Date of Death:

She consulted the copy of the certificate and typed "03/05/2019".

Place of Death:

"South Calgary Health Campus".

Cause of Death:

"Cardiopulmonary cessation".

Next, she entered the certificate number and pressed ENTER to continue.

When presented with the options for the payout, she immediately selected "Lump Sum" over the other choices. She hovered the cursor over the "Process Now" button and clicked on it. As soon as she did so, the overhead lights glowed to life in the room without warning, causing her to gasp in surprise.

"Getting an early start to the day, Ms. Haywood?"

Tessa Haywood jumped at the unexpected question. She swiveled around in her chair to see Kavanaugh and Patterson standing a few cubicles behind her. Her eyes darted to the exit. Calgary detectives Prescott and Diaz guarded that escape route. Tessa guessed right away why they were all there. She spun back to the desktop monitor. There was nothing she could do now about the Stillman policy, but the rest of them... Tessa tried to access the policy database again.

"Hudson Police! Step away from the workstation, Ms. Haywood," Patterson said loudly.

Tessa ignored Patterson. She had to eliminate any evidence of the fraudulent policies for all those other members of that investors' group before these officers could uncover them.

"I said: Step away from the workstation, Tessa," Patterson commanded again. She began her approach with Kavanaugh following.

Tessa's level of panic skyrocketed.

"Stop what you're doing now!" Patterson ordered. "Tessa Haywood, you're under arrest for insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit murder—"

"They made me do it! They made me do it! Tanner and Jesse made me!" Tessa screeched desperately, perhaps hoping this admission would grant her some kind of immediate leniency.

Patterson nevertheless yanked Tessa up from the chair and secured her wrists in handcuffs, giving her a quick pat-down in the process.

"You need not say anything," Patterson intoned gruffly, knowing she had to legally issue this warning. "You have nothing to hope from any promise or favour and nothing to fear from any threat, whether or not you say anything. Anything you say may be used as evidence. You have the right to retain and instruct counsel in private without delay. Do you understand?"

Tessa merely nodded her head.

"I need you to answer either 'yes' or 'no', Ms. Haywood," Patterson said.

"Yes, I understand," Tessa said, barely above a whisper.

"Good. Let's go."

***

*double-double: How you order a coffee with two creams and two sugars at Tim Hortons

Chapter 11: Sing Me to Heaven

[emailmoneynow21]

Calgary Instant Payday Loans: Your Solution for Emergency Cash

When unexpected expenses arise, finding quick access to cash can be a real challenge. Whether it's a medical emergency, car repair, or overdue bill, many of us face situations where we need money fast. That's where Calgary instant payday loans can come in handy. These loans provide a fast and easy solution for those needing emergency funds in Calgary. In this blog post, we’ll dive into how Calgary instant payday loans work, why they’re a popular option, and what to consider before applying.

What Are Calgary Instant Payday Loans?

Calgary instant payday loans are short-term loans designed to provide quick cash to individuals in need. These loans are typically for smaller amounts and are due to be repaid by your next payday, making them an ideal solution for urgent financial needs. The application process is fast, often taking only a few minutes, and once approved, funds can be deposited into your account within hours. This makes Calgary instant payday loans one of the fastest ways to get the money you need in an emergency.

How Do Calgary Instant Payday Loans Work?

The process of applying for Calgary instant payday loans is straightforward:

Application: You fill out a simple online application form, providing personal details, income information, and a valid bank account.

Approval: The lender quickly assesses your application. If you meet the basic requirements, approval is typically granted within minutes.

Funds Disbursement: Upon approval, the loan amount is deposited into your bank account, often within a few hours or by the next business day.

Repayment: Repayment is usually due on your next payday, though some lenders offer flexible repayment options. If you need more time, it’s important to communicate with the lender before the due date.

Why Choose Calgary Instant Payday Loans?

There are several reasons why Calgary instant payday loans are an appealing option for those facing financial emergencies:

Speed and Convenience: One of the biggest advantages of instant payday loans is how quickly you can get the funds you need. Traditional loans can take days or weeks to process, whereas payday loans are designed to be fast and convenient, helping you resolve urgent financial situations without delay.

Easy Approval: Many payday lenders don’t require perfect credit. As long as you have a steady income and a bank account, you may qualify for Calgary instant payday loans, even if your credit history isn’t ideal.

No Collateral Required: Unlike other types of loans, payday loans don’t require any collateral. This makes them accessible to a wider range of people who may not own assets like a home or car.

Flexibility: Depending on the lender, you may be able to roll over or extend your loan if you’re unable to repay it on the due date. However, this may come with additional fees, so it’s important to clarify the terms before committing.

Things to Consider Before Applying for Calgary Instant Payday Loans

While Calgary instant payday loans can be a lifesaver in an emergency, there are some important factors to consider before applying:

Interest Rates and Fees: Payday loans often come with higher interest rates than traditional loans. Be sure to fully understand the loan’s terms, including the interest rate and any associated fees. Calculate the total repayment amount to ensure it’s manageable.

Repayment Ability: Make sure you have the means to repay the loan by your next payday. Failing to repay a payday loan on time can result in extra fees and can hurt your credit score.

Responsible Borrowing: While payday loans can provide short-term relief, they shouldn’t be relied upon as a long-term solution. Consider using payday loans for genuine emergencies and not for ongoing expenses or lifestyle choices.

Final Thoughts

Calgary instant payday loans are an effective way to get fast cash when you need it the most. Whether it's to cover an emergency medical bill, a car repair, or other urgent expenses, payday loans offer quick access to funds. However, like any loan, it's important to borrow responsibly and ensure that you can meet the repayment terms.

If you find yourself in need of emergency cash, consider Calgary instant payday loans as a potential solution. But always take the time to read the fine print and make sure the loan terms are right for you.Need cash today? Apply now for Calgary instant payday loans and get the funds you need fast!

[mdnurhasan-blog]

Credit Consolidation in Calgary: Regain Control of Your Finances

Managing debt can be overwhelming, especially when you're juggling multiple credit cards, loans, and other financial obligations. If you’re looking for a way to streamline your payments, reduce interest rates, and ultimately regain control of your finances, credit consolidation in Calgary may be the solution you need. By combining your various debts into a single, manageable loan, credit consolidation offers a simpler way to tackle your financial obligations. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the benefits, options, and steps involved in credit consolidation in Calgary, as well as provide expert advice on how to choose the best strategy for your unique situation.

What is Credit Consolidation in Calgary?

Credit consolidation in Calgary refers to the process of combining multiple debts, such as credit cards, personal loans, and lines of credit, into a single loan with a lower interest rate and one easy-to-manage monthly payment. This helps you simplify your financial situation by eliminating the need to track multiple payments and due dates. Additionally, credit consolidation can save you money by reducing the overall interest you pay on your debts.

At Prets Rapides, we specialize in helping individuals in Calgary find the right credit consolidation options to improve their financial health. Our team of experts is here to guide you through the process, ensuring you make informed decisions that align with your goals.

Benefits of Credit Consolidation in Calgary

Simplified Payments: Instead of keeping track of various due dates and payment amounts, credit consolidation combines your debts into one monthly payment, making it easier to manage your finances.

Lower Interest Rates: By consolidating your debts, you can often secure a loan with a lower interest rate than what you’re currently paying. This can reduce the overall cost of your debt and help you pay it off faster.

Improved Cash Flow: Reducing your interest rates and consolidating your debt typically results in lower monthly payments, freeing up cash for other expenses or savings.

Better Credit Score: Regular, on-time payments on a consolidation loan can help improve your credit score over time. By paying off high-interest debt and reducing your credit utilization, your score can gradually rise.

Stress Reduction: Managing multiple debts can cause stress. With credit consolidation, you’ll have just one loan to focus on, making your financial situation more manageable.

Flexible Repayment Terms: Credit consolidation loans often come with flexible repayment options that can be tailored to fit your budget.

Types of Credit Consolidation in Calgary Options

There are several options available for credit consolidation in Calgary. The right choice for you will depend on your debt situation, credit score, and financial goals. Let’s take a closer look at the most common types of credit consolidation options:

Personal Loans: A personal loan from a bank or credit union can be used to pay off your existing debts. Personal loans typically come with fixed interest rates and repayment terms, making them a predictable option for consolidation.

Balance Transfer Credit Cards: If you have credit card debt, you can use a balance transfer credit card to move your existing balances to a new card with a lower interest rate, often with an introductory 0% APR for a set period. This can help you save money on interest, especially if you can pay off the balance within the introductory period.

Home Equity Loans or HELOCs: If you own a home, you may be able to use the equity in your property to consolidate your debt through a home equity loan or line of credit (HELOC). These options typically offer lower interest rates but carry the risk of losing your home if you default on the loan.

Debt Management Plans: If you’re struggling with unsecured debt, a credit counseling agency can help you create a debt management plan. The agency will negotiate with your creditors to secure lower interest rates and consolidate your payments into a single monthly payment.

Debt Settlement: Debt settlement involves negotiating with creditors to pay off a portion of your debt for less than what you owe. This option can significantly reduce your debt, but it may hurt your credit score.

Who is Eligible for Credit Consolidation in Calgary?

Credit consolidation is available to a wide range of individuals, particularly those with manageable levels of debt and a steady income. If you have good to fair credit, you’ll likely qualify for a consolidation loan with favorable terms. However, even if your credit is less than perfect, there are still consolidation options available, especially if you own a home or have a reliable income.

At Prets Rapides, we work with individuals in various financial situations, helping them find the best credit consolidation option for their needs.

Choosing the Right Credit Consolidation Option for You

Choosing the right credit consolidation option is crucial for your financial success. Start by evaluating your total debt, interest rates, and monthly payments. From there, you can explore different consolidation methods to determine which one offers the best benefits for your situation.

For example, if you have high-interest credit card debt, a balance transfer credit card might be the right choice. If you own a home and need to consolidate larger amounts of debt, a home equity loan or HELOC may be more suitable. Additionally, if you’re dealing with unsecured debts and need professional help, a debt management plan could provide the structure and support you need.

At Prets Rapides, we’re here to help you assess your options and guide you toward the best solution for your financial future.

Steps to Consolidate Your Credit

If you’re ready to take the step toward credit consolidation in Calgary, here’s a quick guide to the process:

Assess Your Debt: Make a list of all your outstanding debts, including balances, interest rates, and monthly payments. This will give you a clear picture of your financial situation.

Research Your Options: Explore different consolidation methods and determine which one offers the best interest rates and terms for your needs.

Check Your Credit Score: Your credit score will impact the terms of your consolidation loan. Obtain a copy of your credit report to understand your current standing.

Apply for a Loan: Once you’ve decided on the best consolidation option, apply for a loan or credit product that fits your needs.

Pay Off Your Debts: Use the consolidation loan to pay off your existing debts, ensuring that all your creditors are satisfied.

Stick to a Budget: To avoid accumulating new debt, create a budget and stick to it. Make sure you continue making on-time payments on your new consolidation loan.

Mistakes to Avoid in Credit Consolidation

While credit consolidation can be a great solution, there are several common mistakes to avoid:

Neglecting Other Debts: Don’t ignore other financial obligations after consolidating. Make sure to keep up with any remaining payments.

Using Credit Cards Again: Avoid the temptation to rack up new credit card debt after consolidating. This can undo the progress you’ve made.

Not Researching Options: Take the time to fully understand your consolidation options and compare rates before committing to a loan.

Missing Payments: Missing payments on your consolidation loan can negatively affect your credit score. Set up automatic payments to avoid this issue.

At Prets Rapides, we’ll help you avoid these common mistakes and ensure that your credit consolidation journey is as smooth as possible.

Conclusion

Credit consolidation in Calgary can be a powerful tool to help you regain control of your finances, lower your interest rates, and simplify your monthly payments. Whether you choose a personal loan, balance transfer credit card, or home equity loan, consolidating your debts can provide long-term financial relief. At Prets Rapides, we are committed to helping you find the right consolidation solution for your situation. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you on your path to financial freedom.

[canadianfraudnews]

Calgary mortgage broker convicted in fraud scheme where stolen identities used to get illegal loans

Mortgage broker Kalim Khan was at the very least willfully blind to a fraud scheme which used stolen identities to get bogus loans, a Calgary judge ruled Wednesday.

Justice Scott Brooker convicted Kalim Khan of six charges, including fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering.

The Court of Queen’s Bench judge said he didn’t believe Khan’s testimony he was unaware the transactions he was involved in with co-conspirators Giovanni Bartolotti and Linh Tran were illegal.

In one instance Khan cashed and distributed a stolen bank draft provided by Bartolotti, including keeping $4,500 for himself.

“I am satisfied that the Crown has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Khan was willfully blind to the source of the funds he had from Mr. Bartolotti,” Brooker said.

He was charged along with Bartolotti and Tran in 2016, in connection with a mortgage and vehicle fraud scheme in which victims were bilked of more than $1 million.

Bartolotti was sentenced to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy in connection with a fraud scheme which ran from September 2013 to December 2014.

Tran pleaded guilty to the same charge and is scheduled to face a sentencing hearing on Thursday.

At defence lawyer Efrayim Moldofsky’s request, Brooker ordered a pre-sentence report be prepared on Khan’s background.

But Brooker, who officially retires at the end of May, said if the report is not ready by a scheduled May 22 sentencing date then the hearing will proceed without it.

“I’m really reluctant to hoist this on somebody else,” he said of handing the sentencing hearing over to another judge.

Crown prosecutor Steven Johnston said under normal circumstances he would have asked that Khan’s bail be revoked, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic he consented to his continued release.

[car-collateral-loans]

Car Collateral Loans Calgary, Alberta - Collateral Loans on Vehicles

Unlock your financial potential with Car Collateral Loans Calgary, Alberta from Snap Car Cash! Our car collateral loans allow you to borrow money using your vehicle as collateral, providing a fast and easy solution for your cash needs. Whether you're facing unexpected expenses or planning a big purchase, our collateral loans on vehicles make it simple to access funds without the hassle of traditional loans. With competitive rates and quick approval, you can get the cash you need in no time. Don’t let financial challenges hold you back—contact Snap Car Cash today for your car collateral loan!

[seoblog4]

Payday Loans vs. Traditional Loans: What's Best for Halifax Borrowers?

When facing unexpected expenses,instant loan without documents in calgary many Halifax residents find themselves weighing their borrowing options. Two popular choices are payday loans and traditional loans. Understanding the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of each can help you make an informed decision.

What Are Payday Loans?

Payday loans are short-term, high-interest loans designed to cover emergency expenses until your next paycheck. Typically, they are easy to obtain, with minimal requirements, and funds can be available within a day.

Advantages of Payday Loans

Quick Access to Funds: Payday loans can be processed rapidly, making them ideal for urgent financial needs.

Fewer Requirements: Borrowers often need only proof of income and identification, making them accessible to those with poor credit.

No Credit Check: Many payday lenders do not perform extensive credit checks, allowing individuals with bad credit to secure funds.

Disadvantages of Payday Loans

High-Interest Rates: The cost of borrowing is significantly higher compared to traditional loans, often leading to a cycle of debt.

Short Repayment Period: Borrowers typically must repay the loan within a few weeks, which can be challenging for some.

Potential for Debt Cycle: Many borrowers find themselves taking out new loans to pay off old ones, leading to deeper financial issues.

What Are Traditional Loans?

Traditional loans, such as personal loans or bank loans, usually come with lower interest rates and longer repayment terms. They require a more thorough application process and credit checks.

Advantages of Traditional Loans

Lower Interest Rates: These loans generally have lower rates compared to payday loans, making them more affordable.

Longer Repayment Terms: Borrowers have more time to repay the loan, easing financial pressure.

Builds Credit: Successfully repaying a traditional loan can improve your credit score over time.

Disadvantages of Traditional Loans

Lengthier Application Process: Obtaining a traditional loan can take time, often requiring extensive documentation.

Higher Requirements: Lenders typically look for good credit scores and stable income, which can exclude some borrowers.

Less Accessible: Individuals with poor credit or low income may find it challenging to qualify.

Which Is Best for Halifax Borrowers?

The best option depends on your financial situation:

Choose Payday Loans If:

You need immediate funds for an emergency.

You have poor credit and cannot qualify for traditional loans.

You can repay the loan quickly.

Choose Traditional Loans If:

You have a stable income and good credit.

You need a larger sum of money and can handle a longer repayment period.

You want to minimize interest costs and build your credit history.

Halifax borrowers should carefully consider their financial needs and circumstances before choosing between payday loans and traditional loans. While payday loans offer quick access to cash,instant loan without documents in canada they come with high costs and risks of debt. Traditional loans, though more stringent in their requirements, can provide a more sustainable financial solution in the long run. Always assess your ability to repay and explore all options before making a decision.

[car-title-loans-calgary]

Borrow Money Fast with Car Title Loans in Calgary AB - Snap Car Cash

Unlock the financial power of your vehicle today with Snap Car Cash! Our Car Title Loans Calgary Alberta offer a hassle-free way to borrow money quickly, using your car as collateral. Whether you have good credit, bad credit, or no credit at all, Snap Car Cash ensures a simple application process with same-day approval and cash in hand. Experience peace of mind with our low-interest rates and flexible repayment options tailored to fit your budget. Don't let financial stress hold you back—visit Snap Car Cash in Calgary or apply online to get the funds you need, fast and securely!

[fishdonald]

Bankruptcy's Impact on Home: Managing Financial Struggles

Bankruptcy's influence on homeownership explained. Learn effective strategies for managing financial struggles while safeguarding your home.

[goloans01]

Installment Payday Loans Canada

If you need instant cash in Canada with no hassle, this is your chance! GoLoans is an online direct lender of installment loans. With the right amount of money and a simple online application process, our auto loan calculator can determine how much you need to borrow today

[robertnelson2-blog]

Finding Affordable Used Cars: A Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to purchasing a vehicle, opting for a used car can be a smart financial decision. Used cars typically come at a fraction of the price of new ones, and with a bit of research, you can find a reliable vehicle that meets your needs. This guide will help you navigate the process of finding affordable used cars, ensuring you get the best value for your money. Cheap Used Cars Calgary

1. Set a Budget

Before you start browsing, determine how much you are willing to spend. Consider not only the purchase price but also insurance, registration, maintenance, and potential repairs. Sticking to your budget will help you avoid overspending and ensure you can comfortably afford your new vehicle.

2. Research and Compare Models

Research is crucial when buying a used car. Some models are known for their reliability and longevity, while others might have a reputation for frequent issues.

3. Check Vehicle History

Always check the history of any used car you are considering. A clean history report can give you peace of mind that the car has been well-maintained and hasn’t been in any serious accidents.

4. Inspect the Car Thoroughly

If possible, have a trusted mechanic inspect the car before you buy it. They can identify any potential issues that you might not notice. Look for signs of wear and tear, check the condition of the tires, and make sure all the electronics and features work properly. Test driving the car is also essential to ensure it handles well and meets your expectations.

5. Consider Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Vehicles

Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are used cars that have been inspected and certified by the manufacturer or dealer. They often come with extended warranties and other benefits. While CPO cars might be slightly more expensive than non-certified used cars, the added peace of mind can be worth the extra cost.

6. Negotiate the Price

Don’t be afraid to negotiate the price. Most sellers expect buyers to haggle a bit, and you might be able to get a better deal. Use the research you’ve done on the car’s value to support your case. Be polite but firm, and don’t be afraid to walk away if the seller isn’t willing to meet your price.

7. Look for Deals and Financing Options

Keep an eye out for deals from dealerships, such as sales events or special financing offers. Sometimes, dealerships offer lower interest rates on used cars, making financing a more attractive option. Additionally, check with your bank or credit union for potential loan options that might have favorable terms.

8. Consider Private Sellers

Buying from a private seller can sometimes yield better deals than purchasing from a dealership. However, it’s important to be cautious. Always meet in a public place, bring a friend or family member with you, and ensure you have all the necessary paperwork. A private sale can be a great way to save money if you do your due diligence.

9. Factor in Depreciation

Used cars have already gone through the steepest part of their depreciation curve, which occurs within the first few years of a new car’s life. By buying a car that is a few years old, you can avoid the significant depreciation that affects new cars and potentially sell it later without a massive loss in value.

10. Stay Informed About Market Trends

The used car market can fluctuate due to various factors such as economic conditions, fuel prices, and new car inventory levels. Staying informed about these trends can help you time your purchase for the best possible deal. Cheap Cars for Sale

Conclusion

Buying a used car can be a wise financial decision if you approach it with careful planning and research. By setting a budget, researching models, checking vehicle history, and thoroughly inspecting potential purchases, you can find a reliable and affordable used car that meets your needs. Whether you buy from a dealership or a private seller, being informed and prepared will help you make the best choice for your situation.

[rohansharma2401]

Unlocking the Benefits of Cash Offers in Calgary Real Estate

In the vibrant real estate market of Calgary, sellers and buyers alike are constantly seeking ways to streamline transactions and maximize their returns. One method gaining popularity is the cash offer approach. In this article, we'll delve into the advantages of cash offer real estate calgary landscape.

Speedy Transactions: Cash offers significantly expedite the purchasing process. Without the need for mortgage approval, appraisals, or lender-required repairs, transactions can close much faster. In a competitive market like Calgary, this swiftness can be the key to securing a desirable property amidst stiff competition.

Strong Negotiating Power: Cash offers often carry more weight in negotiations. Sellers are attracted to cash deals due to their reliability and the assurance of a quick and hassle-free closing. This leverage can lead to more favorable terms for the buyer, such as a lower purchase price or waived contingencies.

Competitive Advantage: In a seller's market where multiple offers are common, a cash offer can set a buyer apart from the crowd. Sellers may prioritize cash offers over financed ones, giving cash buyers a competitive edge in securing their desired property, even in bidding wars.

Avoiding Financing Hurdles: Traditional home purchases involve potential stumbling blocks related to financing, such as loan denials or delays. Cash buyers sidestep these uncertainties, offering sellers peace of mind and minimizing the risk of a deal falling through.

Reduced Costs: Cash transactions often entail lower closing costs. With no lender fees, loan origination charges, or mortgage insurance premiums to contend with, both buyers and sellers can save money on the overall transaction.

Flexibility: Cash buyers enjoy greater flexibility in terms of property condition and investment strategies. They can pursue distressed properties or those in need of renovations without the constraints imposed by lenders. Additionally, cash purchases can open doors to lucrative investment opportunities like fix-and-flip projects or rental properties.

Privacy: Cash transactions can afford a level of privacy not available in financed deals. Without the involvement of mortgage lenders, buyers can maintain anonymity if desired, shielding their financial information from public record.

While cash offers present numerous benefits, they may not be feasible for all buyers. Liquidating significant assets or accessing large sums of cash upfront can be challenging for many individuals. However, for those with the means to do so, the advantages of cash offers in Calgary's competitive real estate market are undeniable.

In conclusion, cash offers offer a compelling solution for buyers and sellers seeking a streamlined, efficient, and advantageous real estate transaction in Calgary. By bypassing the complexities of traditional financing, cash buyers can seize opportunities quickly and confidently, securing their dream properties in a dynamic and fast-paced market.

[1prabhatsingh]

A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieve Your Dream Home In Canada 

Realtor Advertising

For many individuals, it is a dream come true to have their own house. Whether you are a first-time buyer or thinking of an upgrade, Canada's real estate market is quite varied enough with lots of offerings.  

With so much realtor advertising going on, it often becomes hard to know what’s the right way to get your dream home. Worry not in this guide, we are going through the steps of fulfilling your dream of owning your own home.

1. Financial Preparation

Budget: Decide on how much you are able to pay. Consider your income, current debts and monthly expenses. Utilize online calculators to compute your mortgage amortisation.

Credit Score: Credit score is a pivotal factor for getting a mortgage. Make sure you check your credit rating and rectify any issues.

Down Payment: Putting money aside for a down payment. In Canada, the minimum set for a home cost up to $500,000 is 5%. However, for the homes with the cost higher than that, the down payment will be increased.

2. Research and Location

Explore Cities: Canada has lively cities including cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary. Research their real estate market, employment possibilities, and scenarios of life there.

Neighbourhoods: Choose the neighbourhoods which match your specific predilections, like nearby workplaces, schools, parks, and amenities.

Market Trends: Analyze local real estate trends. Is it a seller's or a buyer's market? Visit the agents and market reports.

3. Mortgage Pre-Approval

Lenders: To start the process, approach banks, credit unions, or brokers for pre-approval. They’ll scrutinize your financials and issue a pre-approval letter.

Interest Rates: Evaluate the interest rates and mortgage terms.Fixed or variable?Short-term or long-term?

4. Search for a Real Estate Agent

Expertise: A real estate agent knows the market, acts as your rep, and leads you to the destination.

Interview: Meet the potential agents. Ask them about their accomplishments, the stories they have to tell, and how they deal with people

5. House Hunting

Wishlist: Develop a list of must-haves and would-be nice-to-have items. Always look at the size, the plan, and the finish of the bedroom.

Viewings: Attend open houses and spend some time on site. Take notes on features, do a comparison, and contrast different brands.

6. Make an Offer

Negotiation: Together with your agent, prepare to make an offer. Since price, conditions (e.g. home inspection) and closing date are involved, reflect on them carefully.

Deposit: Suggest a deposit (normally it would be from 1 to 5% of the sale price when having the agreement) with the offer in.

7. House Condition and Valuation

Inspection: Get in touch with a thorough professional inspector. They will look at the state and condition of the property. They will check the structural elements, plumbing and electrical components.

Appraisal: But the lender needs to find out the exact worth of the property by hiring the appraisers.

8. Finalize Financing

Mortgage Approval: Once the offer of your purchase is accepted, the loan you have chosen should be finalised with the lender.

Legal Representation: Find a real estate attorney whom you can trust to take care of the legal matters in the sale/purchase of your home.

9. Closing Day

Paperwork: Make sure the dealing is registered, money is transferred, and you pay the closing costs required (e.g., land transfer fee, legal fees).

Possession: Get behind the wheel and start your amazing homeownership journey!

10. Post-Purchase Considerations

Utilities and Services: Use electricity, water, and gas facilities at your service and change your address.

Home Insurance: The best protection against the risks associated with home ownership is home insurance.

Enjoy!: Celebrating your accomplishment is the culmination of a long and hard journey, the easiest part is finally settling home.

Conclusion

Buying your dream house in Canada is a matter of considering and analyzing the options and engaging professional help when needed. Finally, follow through these steps. Within days you will be sipping coffee on your patio with a view of the Canadian countryside.

[college-girl199328]

As the federal government's popular Canada Greener Homes grant program comes to a close, the energy audit industry could crumble with businesses across the country warning of mass layoffs in the months ahead. The federal government has signaled the end of the program, which provides up to $5,000 toward energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation, windows, and heat pumps. New applications are expected to close by the end of March, but an official timeline is unknown.

In the meantime, business is temporarily booming for companies across the country who conduct the required home energy audits, as homeowners try to secure the grant funding before it dries up.

The surge in business is why Stephen Farrell canceled all vacations for his staff at VerdaTech Energy Management. Currently, the company completes about 600 assessments a month in Alberta and British Columbia, although he predicts that will plunge to one or two per month once the federal program ends. The company also operates in Ontario.

His advice to customers is to register for the program and have the initial assessment completed. Still, it's difficult to provide advice to clients or his own staff, since Farrell said there is no clear timeline from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the department which administers the program.

Adding to the confusion is a temporary halt to new applications in Ontario effective Jan. 19 to "reconcile all current applicant files."

The grant program was supposed to last seven years, but it has proven so popular that the money is being used up at a faster rate than expected. The federal grant helped knock $5,000 off the price of installing rooftop solar panels on Nicolas Gautier's Calgary home. He's also taking advantage of a related federal program providing an interest-free loan.

The Greener Homes program came into effect on Dec. 1, 2020, with an end date of March 31, 2027, although it always came with a caveat that applications would be accepted until the money is allocated. In total, the program is worth $2.6 billion including up to 700,000 grants of up to $5,000 and funding for the recruitment and training of energy advisors. "The Canada Greener Homes Initiative will help homeowners save money, create new jobs across Canada for energy advisors, and fight climate change," NRCan said on its website.

The program requires a homeowner to have an energy audit before and after upgrades are made to the residence.

Industry officials describe how the program was designed, in part, to increase the number of trained energy assessors across the country. These workers will be especially crucial in 2025, when proposed changes to the building code could take effect, potentially requiring energy audits on new homes to meet building performance standards.

However, if the Canada Greener Homes grant ends in the next few months, industry officials warn of a mass exodus of assessors.

Becoming an energy assessor can take between three and six months for training and writing exams, said Murphy, adding that the job requires about $10,000 worth of equipment. The abrupt end to the program is like pulling the rug out from under people who joined the profession to have a stable career, she said.

NRCan declined an interview request. In a statement, a department spokesperson said the program will accept new applications until all currently available funds are awarded, and Canadians who have already started an application will remain eligible for assistance. In addition, the spokesperson said many applications that are already logged in the system will be granted over the next two years or more.

The potential job losses extend to other industries providing energy upgrades such as window installers, HVAC companies, and solar panel providers. Alberta-based company Zeno Renewables has grown from about 20 staff to about 200 over the last four years, but the end of the federal grant program means the company expects sales to drop by as much as 40 percent this year compared to 2023.

He too is urging the federal government to provide a clear answer on the fate of the grant funding program, so there is some level of certainty on what happens next instead of relying on rumors and hearsay.

Consumers look to Value Village for a bargain. Many are finding 'ridiculous' markups | CBC News

While browsing the goods at a Value Village store in Toronto, Evan Boyce spotted something he didn't expect: A used vase for sale with a Value Village price tag of $8.99. Then he realized the original price tag was still on — and to buy it at a Dollarama store would have cost only $3.

For years, many Canadians have relied on Value Village to buy used goods for cheaper than other retailers. It's one of the biggest and most popular thrift store chains in the country. Now some customers are accusing the company of massive markups on their items.

The examples of questionable pricing at Value Village have been piling up for months. In Courtenay, B.C., one shopper found kid's shoes priced at $6.49, while the original tag said $3. A used book at a store in Winnipeg was being sold for double what it would have cost at its previous retailer.

Boyce voiced what many customers have been asking: "Most of what they have is donated. Why is there the need to mark it up so much?" Shoppers have also recently called out the pricing practices of Goodwill and Salvation Army. These non-profit organizations compete with Value Village, which is a for-profit business owned by parent company Savers Value Village. U.S. private equity firm Ares Management is a majority shareholder and helped take the company public last year.

The business model is pretty simple: All of its inventory comes from secondhand donations, some of which are collected by non-profit partners. Value Village pays those partners a flat rate for the goods and then sells them at a profit. The company now has more than 300 stores in the U.S. and Canada which brought in $1.5 billion US in sales in 2023.

The Value Village brand could suffer as a result of this recent backlash. Consumers mentally organize retailers into certain categories, explained Matthew Philp, a marketing professor at Toronto Metropolitan University. They expect thrift stores to be cheaper than regular stores, with the second-hand items sold there to be discounted because they are used. Philp suggested questionable pricing like this can throw everything off for consumers. "It kind of breaks what we know to be true and how we think the world should work, and that's just jarring," he said.

Businesses all have different, complex pricing strategies, and there are a few occasions where markups are against the rules. But Philp said companies can walk a fine line, as customers who feel duped by a retailer are less likely to return.

As thrift store haul videos on YouTube and TikTok explode, the popularity of thrifting seems to be surging. Consumers are making an effort to shop more sustainably. Many are also trying to save money as the cost of living soars. "It's driving more traffic to the thrift economy, the second-hand economy," said Kerry Taylor, a B.C.-based personal finance expert. "We all want to find the cool stuff for less."

But in that kind of environment, Taylor said consumers need to be more price-conscious, perhaps doing more research online or committing to shopping around. "If you see something that doesn't look like a good price, it's easy to walk on and find something else new."

Value Village says thousands of items come through each of its stores every week, and that staff try to price products accurately.

Outside the Value Village in Toronto, shoppers like Daniel Milford-Warren say they'll still hunt for a bargain.

National dental care plan registration expands today to cover seniors 72 and older | CBC News

Seniors aged 72 and older are eligible as of today to register for Canada's national dental care plan, but dentists still can't sign up for the program — even though they're supposed to start taking patients in just a few months.

It's still not clear how dentists, hygienists, and denturists will register for the program, how the billing process will work, and how much they'll be paid for their services billion national dental plan is expected eventually to provide dental care to approximately nine million uninsured Canadians by 2025.

Enrolment in the plan — which will see the federal government offer dental benefits to uninsured families with household incomes under $90,000 per year — started late last year. Coverage is expected to start this May.

Holland said the federal government has been speaking with dental associations across the country to nail down the details.

The federal government is gradually mailing invitations to seniors aged 70 and up to register for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, starting with the oldest; seniors 72 and older become eligible today. This May, an online portal will open for those 65 and older to sign up.

Dr. Heather Carr, a Halifax dentist and president of the Canadian Dental Association, said there should be enough dentists to meet the demand.

Dr. Brock Nicolucci, president of the Ontario Dental Association, said dentists also want to know if patients will be able to choose which clinic they go to, and how the new plan will work alongside existing provincial and territorial dental care programs.

Province working to fulfill medical homes promise, but former Health P.E.I. CEO skeptical | CBC News

Health P.E.I.'s former CEO Michael Gardam says patient medical homes would help more people see a doctor, but he doubts there's enough space or people to staff them spring's election campaign, the Progressive Conservatives promised medical homes would get everyone off the P.E.I. Patient Registry. At the time, Premier Dennis King said the province was developing its 14th medical home, and the goal was to have 30 by the end of 2024.

Medical homes offer a wide range of services, with doctors collaborating with other healthcare workers.

There are now 17 established or in the works across the Island, and Laura O'Conner, the medical director of family medicine with Health P.E.I., said on Tuesday that 30 "is not a silly number."

Last March, there were 28,546 people on the Patient Registry waiting for a family doctor. Today, there are 36,000 interviews following a legislative committee last Wednesday, Gardam said the medical homes may take some patients off the registry, but not as many as the government would like.

He said the medical homes are not recruiting doctors, but instead moving existing physicians into group practices. And he questioned whether there was enough physical space for the homes.

Gardam's comments came just after a contentious legislative committee meeting last week where he said Health P.E.I. has never been allowed to operate at arm's length from the government. He also said the agency was never consulted about the government's promise to get everybody off the registry and into a medical home.

Political scientist Don Desserud said governments should not make promises they can't keep, and that Health P.E.I. should have been consulted on the PC commitment to clear the patient registry.

O'Connor said factors outside of their control have slowed down the process, but Health P.E.I. is working hard to meet the government's commitment of 30 medical homes by the end of 2024.

Danielle Smith unveils sweeping changes to Alberta's student gender identity, sports and surgery policies | CBC News

Alberta will prohibit hormonal treatment, puberty blockers, and gender-affirming surgery for children 15 years and younger, Premier Danielle Smith announced Wednesday in a video posted to social media the policy bans all children under 17 from having top and bottom surgery, through bottom surgery already limited to adults.

Teens aged 16 and 17 can start hormone therapy as long as they have permission from their parents, a physician, and a psychologist.

Alberta parents will need to give permission before a student aged 15 and under can use a name or pronoun at school other than what they were given at birth, Smith said are 16 or 17 and won't require permission but schools will need to let their parents know first.

Albertans who require transgender surgeries have the procedures performed in Quebec. Smith said efforts will begin to attract these specialists to Alberta so the surgeries can take place in the province teachers need to get any third-party instruction material on gender identity, sexual orientation, and human sexuality approved by the Education Ministry before they are used in the classroom.

Parents will have to opt students into every lesson about sex education, sexual orientation, or gender identity right now requires one notification, and parents can opt-out.

The new policy also forbids transgender women from competing in women's sports leagues. Smith said the government will work with leagues to set up co-ed or general-neutral divisions for sports which changes would be done by law or by government policy and when any of the changes would take effect.

Smith said she didn't want to encourage or allow children to alter their biology or growth because she said it would pose a risk.

Fae Johnstone, a transgender woman and executive director of Queer Momentum based in Ontario, said Alberta's policies go further than what Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are doing changes via legislation. New Brunswick opted to make policy changes.

The Saskatchewan Party government passed its Parents' Bill of Rights, which requires consent from a parent or guardian "when a student requests that their preferred name, gender identity, and/or gender expression be used" at school recent changes to its policy mean it's no longer mandatory for teachers to use the preferred pronouns or names of transgender or non-binary students under the age of 16.

A teacher or school would need to obtain parental consent for any child who wants to change their name at school. A student who refuses parental involvement would be referred to a school psychologist or social worker to develop a plan to inform the student's parents.

Groups that support transgender kids said they will fight back Stone Foundation and Egale Canada said they condemn Smith's policy and called it "a direct and unprecedented attack on 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians, and trans and gender diverse youth in particular."

The groups said the measures violate the constitution and will create irreparable harm. They said they plan to take the matter to court and wish Smith went further with her policy.

John Hilton-O'Brien, executive director of Parents for Choice in Education, said Smith did more than he expected. While it didn't go as far as he would like, he called it "reasonable."

Hilton-O'Brien said Smith took what he believes is a middle ground to diffuse tension between schools and parents.

Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teacher's Association, said in a written statement that teachers are primarily concerned about the safety of their most vulnerable students after this announcement from Smith be broadly consulted before this policy is enacted, he added.

[seoblog4]

Emergency Loans: A Lifeline in Times of Need

In today’s fast-paced world,urgent loans for bad credit canada financial emergencies can strike at any moment, leaving individuals and families scrambling for solutions. Whether it’s a sudden medical expense, car repair, or unexpected job loss, emergency loans can provide crucial support. This article explores the essentials of emergency loans, their benefits, and important considerations to keep in mind.

What Are Emergency Loans?

Emergency loans are short-term financial products designed to help individuals cover unexpected expenses. They typically have quick approval processes, allowing borrowers to access funds rapidly. These loans can come from various sources, including banks, credit unions, and online lenders.

Types of Emergency Loans

Personal Loans: Unsecured personal loans are a popular choice for emergencies. They don’t require collateral and often have fixed interest rates.

Payday Loans: These are small, high-interest loans intended to be repaid by the borrower’s next paycheck. While easy to obtain, they can lead to a cycle of debt if not managed carefully.

Credit Card Cash Advances: Credit cards allow cardholders to withdraw cash up to a certain limit. However, interest rates on cash advances can be steep.

Title Loans: These loans use the borrower’s vehicle as collateral. They can offer quick cash but come with the risk of losing the vehicle if the loan isn’t repaid.

Benefits of Emergency Loans

Quick Access to Funds: One of the most significant advantages is the speed at which money can be accessed, often within a day.

Flexibility: Emergency loans can be used for various purposes, allowing borrowers to address multiple financial challenges.

Improved Credit Options: Successfully repaying an emergency loan can positively impact a borrower’s credit score, improving future borrowing options.

Important Considerations

While emergency loans can be a lifesaver, it’s essential to approach them with caution:

High Interest Rates: Many emergency loans, especially payday loans, come with high interest rates. Borrowers should carefully assess their ability to repay.

Loan Terms: Understanding the terms and conditions, including repayment timelines and any fees, is crucial.

Alternatives: Before taking out an emergency loan, consider other options such as borrowing from friends or family, negotiating payment plans with creditors, or exploring local assistance programs.

Emergency loans can serve as a vital resource during financial crises, providing quick access to funds when they are most needed.urgent loans in calgary However, borrowers must weigh the benefits against the potential pitfalls, ensuring they make informed decisions that won’t lead to further financial strain. By understanding the types of emergency loans available and approaching them responsibly, individuals can navigate financial emergencies more effectively.