Later that afternoon the arrest report on Ryan Candel was faxed to Raveneau. He visualized as he read, Dr Leonard walking up California, Candel coming down, and according to a witness ‘running as if being chased’ when he slammed into the doctor.
Leonard’s head struck the bumper of a parked car. He broke his right wrist landing on the street and suffered a concussion that kept him under observation for forty-eight hours. According to responding officers, Candel was disoriented and confused. He was standing over the injured Leonard when they arrived. When he refused to follow commands, Officer Sanchez drew his gun. They believed him to be under the influence of drugs, though no evidence of that was found.
Raveneau called a friend in the District Attorney’s office who said, ‘I don’t have to look it up, Ben. I remember Candel. If you’re about to tell me he killed somebody, I’m not surprised. He got an ankle bracelet and picked up trash for six months, but should be in prison. He could have killed him. What’s he done now?’
‘Called us with a tip on a cold case.’
‘Then he’s probably fucking with you. He’s a self-serving manipulator.’
‘Sounds like this was your case, Gerald.’
‘It was and the doctor quit on us after Candel filed a malpractice suit. The doctor wouldn’t testify so the charges got downgraded. Then one of these blogger geniuses who specialize in shit disturbing got a story out about how Dr Leonard was out on a golf course with pharmaceutical reps as Candel’s mother was succumbing to an infection. Meanwhile Leonard determined he had already suffered enough and the collateral damage to his practice wasn’t worth it, so he friggin’ bailed. That’s how Candel ended up with trash patrol.’
‘He regrets it now.’
‘Oh, I bet he does. After all, he was inconvenienced briefly. This is a very emotionally immature young man who by the way doesn’t like police.’
‘A lot of people don’t.’
‘He was loud about it. I’d be very careful with him, but you’re defending him so obviously he’s got something you want.’
‘Ease down, Gerald, he responded to one of our ads and brought me some photos we’re using.’
When Gerald didn’t respond, Raveneau said, ‘Let’s get together for a drink soon. My girlfriend is opening a bar at the edge of the Mission. Or it’s mostly a bar. It’ll have some food. We can meet there after she has it up and running.’
‘OK, so drinks on you, she owns it? I’ll look forward to it. What’s the name going to be?’
‘Toasts.’
‘Cute.’
‘I’ve got another call coming in. I’ll talk to you later.’
Raveneau checked the number on his cell screen before answering, ‘This is Inspector Raveneau.’
‘Oh, hello, I’m Barbara Haney’s brother. The police here called me. What’s your interest in my sister?’
‘We have new evidence in a cold case and I’d like to re-interview her.’
‘You would.’
That was a statement not a question and Raveneau left it alone. He waited.
‘I’m going to be frank, Inspector. Barbara was quite put off by your department. She and Larry spent a lot of hours in San Francisco talking to police rather than honeymooning. They didn’t have any problem with any of that, eh, but one of the inspectors came to Calgary and threatened them. But that’s America, getting treated like criminals for trying to help.’
It went on another several minutes this way, the brother as gatekeeper, the brother venting about American arrogance abroad, Raveneau listening to how the world was turning away from the United States, and then repeating quietly that he had new evidence and was trying to solve the murder of a man who was gunned down. Finally, the brother gave him a phone for Barbara Haney’s daughter. The daughter, Cheryl, answered on the second ring.
‘Everyone in the family knows what happened when your inspector came to Calgary and that worries me because my mother has mental health issues. She suffers from depression but refuses to take anything for it. She’s fragile and I feel like I should be there when you question her, but I can’t travel right now. So I don’t think now is the right time.’
For the next twenty minutes Raveneau worked to convince her that this was the right time.
‘I’d also like to talk to your dad. Do you have a way I can get in touch with him?’
‘I don’t have much contact with my father.’
‘Do you know where he lives now?’
‘He’s in China.’
OK, that’s easy, Raveneau thought. I’ll just look for him in China. But in the end she gave him an email for her dad, and then gave him her mom’s phone number after he promised not to ask Barbara Haney to come to San Francisco.
‘I don’t want you to upset my mother.’
‘I’m sorry for whatever happened when our inspector interviewed her last, but your mother and father may be the only ones who can say whether our new lead is worth anything or not.’
‘First, I don’t really believe you.’
‘You can believe me, Cheryl.’
‘And secondly, it’s not my mother’s responsibility to evaluate something like that. I don’t want you to put pressure on her.’
‘The pressure is on me, not on your mom. I’ll make sure it stays that way.’
That got silence, then, ‘She lives in Truckee. Her husband is an American.’ She said that last in a way that suggested that was a life mistake her mother had made. ‘He’s an executive for a ski corporation based in Colorado so they live half the year in Colorado. Do you know where Truckee is?’
‘I do.’
He called Barbara Haney as soon as he got off the phone with the daughter. She must have known the call was coming because almost immediately she asked, ‘Can you bring Inspector Govich with you?’
‘I’m sure he’d like to come with me, but he’s retired.’
She laughed and Raveneau chuckled and guessed he was going to like her. He said, ‘I could drive to Truckee Monday morning.’
‘It’s that urgent?’
‘It’s the case I’m working.’
She was quiet before saying, ‘I knew this wasn’t over.’