“You always tried hard, Bishop,” she says as she leans down and reaches across the table, placing her hand over mine. “That’s what I liked about you. Even though you didn’t like being around so many people, you still tried. I know you did it for me even if you don’t want to admit it.”
I stare at our hands, not knowing what I should say. Maybe I did try for her. Maybe if I had tried harder, things would have been different. I don’t know. I don’t think it matters now.
“I think that’s why you won’t let go of this,” Margot says, still holding onto my hand. “You don’t like to give up. If this woman really means something to you, then you have my support.”
“Thank you.” I don’t know what else to say.
Margot releases my hand and stands up straight. She glances at the door as a couple of people enter the lodge.
“Do you mind if I sit here for a bit?” I ask, tapping the articles on the table.
“You’re fine,” she says. “I’ll need the table eventually, but you have some time.”
“Can I borrow some paper and a pen?”
“Sure.” Margot grabs the items from the office and gives them to me.
“Cool.” I give her a smile as she walks away from me.
I stare at the blank page for a moment, wondering how to begin. Finally, I write the word “timeline” at the top. When I still can’t figure out how to start, I decide to make a note at the bottom of the page with the information I know to be true. I hesitate, not knowing what name to put down and not wanting to write down all three. I finally decide to just write “she” and move on from there.
She gets dumped on the road, and I find her.
Okay, there’s my end point. With a few words finally on the page, the task feels less intimidating. I sit for thirty minutes, writing down everything I know. When I’m done, I sit back and read it through.
The Haugens have two daughters.
Seri is killed by a truck when Iris is 17 (ten years ago).
Iris gets involved with Kyle.
Iris is thrown off a bridge.
She moves to Montana.
Over three months, she travels from Montana to Calgary to Fort Providence to Whatì.
I meet her at Broken Toy’s.
She gets dumped on the road, and I find her.
Though there are some huge gaps, I feel like what I have is fairly accurate. I have no idea how long Iris stayed with Kyle, the date they were married in Vegas, or when he tried to kill her. I stare at the page, take a deep breath, and write two more lines to the right side of the list.
When did Netti appear?
Why did Iris become Seri?
What happened to Iris’s parents?
I also add question marks next to the line about Iris being thrown from bridge. I can’t imagine that actually happened if there is no report of it at all. Iris’s account was so vivid, but now I have my doubts about all of it.
The key to all of this is Netti—I’m sure of that. I have to have a long, difficult sit-down with her to get some straight answers. She’s been deceptive with me before, but the articles may help with getting the truth out of her.
I have no idea how I’m going to deal with Seri and Iris at this point. I have to talk to Netti first.
“Are you about done?” Margot asks. “I hate to kick you out, but…”
“That’s all right.” I pick up the papers as I stand. “Do you mind if I hang onto these?”