by H L Bur
“How are your parents? Are they excited about the wedding? I’m sure they’ve taken to Cliff!” I plastered on a smile.
“Oh yes, they are both ecstatic. Daddy and Clifton are practically inseparable. In fact, my father is the one who introduced me to Clifton.”
“Really? How did they know each other?” Quinn joined in on the questioning.
“From here of course. They met at a clubhouse luncheon and now they play golf together every Saturday.”
“Isn’t that great?” I smiled. “I bet your father is planning a wonderful wedding present for the two of you. Any ideas of what it will be?”
“Actually…” She lowered her voice. “He just bought us a prime piece of land and is having a custom built home put in!” She squealed with delight. “You two should see the plans for the house. It’s going to be amazing. Imagine your dream home and then times it by a thousand.”
“Wow, that’s wonderful,” Quinn answered in a completely monotone voice, which completely contradicted her words. “Where is the property located?” she asked.
“Here in Riverton, right on the shores of Lake Huron.”
“The sawmill?” I inquired.
“Well the sawmill is on the property, but we have fifty acres and the house is going to be built on the far edge of the property where the bluff overlooks the lake. Wait, how did you know it was the sawmill property?” She looked mildly confused.
“Oh, just a lucky guess,” I scrambled. “I had heard the sawmill property had sold, so when you said right on the shores of Lake Huron, I just guessed.”
“Good guess! Yup, that’s mine now.” She glowed.
“Do you know what they plan to do with the sawmill?”
“That old thing? I don’t know, but hopefully they tear it down. It’s such an eyesore.”
I let her words go without informing her that the sawmill was a landmark essential to the history of Riverton and the logging industry. Switching gears, I decided to bring up the recent murders. “Can you believe everything that’s been going on around here lately?”
“Yeah, it’s crazy, don’t you think?” Quinn added. “Cady and I have seen a strange man around town a lot lately and we’re wondering if he is somehow involved.”
I stared intently at Joy to see if she reacted at all to our suspicions about Mystery Man, but I was completely unprepared for what she would say next.
“Oh, it’s just horrible! Talk about ruining our town’s reputation.” She grimaced. “I’m appalled at all of the tourists who come up here and act like they own the place. I’m sure those girls got mixed up into something terrible and had it coming to them,” she sneered callously.
“Are you kidding me?” I spat. “I will tell you who has something coming to them is y—” Quinn grabbed my arm to silence me.
Joy giggled. “I think all that wine is getting to you, Cady.”
We quickly wrapped up lunch after realizing we got all that we could out of Joy and confirming our suspicions that she was pure evil in every way imaginable. Relieved to be free of her, we both sank back into the seats of my SUV for a minute just to revel in the silence.
As I drove away, Quinn spoke up.
“Okay, so Joy is aware of the property, but thinks it’s just a wedding gift for her and Cliff. Do you think that could really be all that it is? Maybe nothing bad is going on out there after all. I mean, Brent is in real estate, so it would make sense that he would be involved in the sale of the property.”
“I know, I wondered that too, but I just can’t shake the feeling that they are involved in the two murders. I mean I saw the Mystery Man talk with Dawn and Rose and he’s been lurking around ever since I found Sofie. It’s just too much of a coincidence. And why would we be getting threatening letters if that’s all there was to it?”
“I agree with you, but maybe Rhodes and Brent aren’t involved. Maybe Mystery Man is Rhodes’s realtor and Brent is working on behalf of the state? Or vice versa. And maybe Mystery Man just happens to be involved in something else nefarious, but it has nothing to do with Rhodes?”
“I guess it’s possible, but why can’t we figure out who this guy is? I feel like if we had that piece of the puzzle, everything else would fall together.”
“I wonder if the police tracked either him or Brent down? Didn’t they put out an APB on them both?”
“Yeah, they did, but I feel like I’ve exhausted my pull with Chief Kowalski, and obviously Detective Collins hates me now, so I don’t know how we could find out. Heck, even Lois at the front desk hates me.”
“Hmm, but I haven’t exhausted my pull. They don’t hate me…yet,” she added with a shrug of her shoulder.
I gave her a huge smile. We weren’t out of options yet!
Chapter Twenty
Ξ
We debated briefly over whether we should go to the police station that afternoon, keeping the bookstore closed, or if it could wait until the next day. It didn’t take us long to decide on going to the police station now. We both felt guilty about the frequent early closures of the shop, but figured the sooner we solved this case, the sooner we could go back to business as usual. So, we headed straight to the police station from lunch.
“Hey, do you think Sam would want to run the store for us this afternoon?” Quinn pulled out her phone to text her.
“I don’t know. She seemed so despondent the other day after she and Zoe found Dawn’s body. I felt like she was mad at us or disappointed.”
“I don’t think she was mad at us. Maybe it brought up some thoughts about her mother being gone. She’s been through so much and has always had such a great attitude and is so put together. She deserves to be emotional and upset sometimes just like the rest of us.”
“You’re right. How could I have been so oblivious to her feelings?” I suddenly felt sick to my stomach at my own lack of empathy.
“I think we are just used to seeing her so well put together that it’s easy to forget all the pain she must keep hidden inside. Maybe she would like the distraction of the store. I’ll text Kyle and see what he thinks.”
“Oh, uh-huh…texting Kyle to see what Sam would want to do. Makes perfect sense.” I teased.
“What?” She sounded confused, and then clarity dawned over her face. “Oh, shut up. I do not have a thing for Kyle Marek.”
“Right…because you’re always texting him to ask his permission for Sam to help us at the store.” I continued my torment.
She shot me a murderous glare. “I’m just trying to get a feel for how she is doing. So sue me, geesh.”
On the way to the police station we passed the small storefront of the local newspaper and I made a split-second decision. I slammed on my brakes and pulled up in front of the green-sided building.
“What are you doing?” Quinn asked.
“I’ve been wanting to stop in to talk to the editor of the Tribune.”
“Oh, I see. You wanted to stick up for your boyfriend, that’s cute.” Quinn gave me a twisted smile.
“Oh shove it. I want to ask her if she has any information on the murders.”
We both got out of my SUV and walked up to the front door. As I entered the doorway, I instantly smelled old pages and fresh ink. There was something almost magical about this place. I briefly imagined all of the old stacks of musty newspapers that must be lying around here, tucked into a corner of the basement. The thought made me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
“Hey Cady! Hey Quinn! What can I help you with today?” came a warm and inviting voice from behind the front desk.
“Hey, Ellen! How are you?” I smiled at her as I rested my arms on the high countertop in front of her.
We had known Ellen since grade school. She was always the biggest bookworm, even more so than Quinn or I, which was saying a lot. She had loved journalism and debate in school and was even our class president. It was no wonder she ended up being in charge of the paper.
“I’m looking for some information on the recen
t murders and figured you must have the scoop.” I gave her the most flattering smile I could muster.
Ellen was always a little prone to flattery and I could see the warm smile spread across her face as she soaked in the compliment. I was positive she was about to spill her innermost secrets, when her smile turned to a thin line as her lips pressed together tightly.
“I’m sorry, Cady, I wish I could give you something, but I’ve been sworn to a gag order by the chief of police. And if I’m being perfectly honest, I don’t have much to tell you anyway. They are keeping their cards close to their chest on this one, that’s for sure.”
I felt my shoulders slump in disappointed. I had thought for sure Ellen would be able to give us a lead at the very least.
“I’m sure the new detective wasn’t too happy with the article you printed. Maybe that’s why they’re being so tight-lipped,” Quinn suggested.
“Speaking of, where did you get your story on the detective from?” I asked curiously.
“Ooh, a good journalist never reveals her source.” Ellen smirked back at me.
“Ellen, two young women have been murdered. You know us, we won’t spill any of your secrets, Scout’s Honor.” I pleaded with her inner Girl Scout, remembering back to the days when we were in the club together as children. “We are just trying to lay this mystery to rest and bring closure.”
A few minutes later we were back in my SUV, heading to the police station. Ellen really didn’t have much and we definitely owed her big now, which would likely come back to bite us, but we did learn one thing. Ellen had known Sofie Grant. Apparently, Ellen occasionally published some articles of Sofie’s in the Tribune. Ellen said she had spoken to Sofie recently about publishing an article on the old sawmill. Sofie had come to her a couple days before her disappearance ranting that she had been accused of trespassing. Ellen said that Sofie had been livid at the accusation. The person who had accused her of trespassing? None other than Elias Rhodes.
“I’m so thankful she gave us something,” I said to Quinn. “I really didn’t want to have to bring up that little tidbit of info I have on her.” I frowned.
“What tidbit? The one where you saw her parked down by the lake with the mayor’s husband a few weeks ago?” Quinn asked in mock innocence.
“Yeah, and after dark no less. I’m not sure about you, but I can’t think of any reason that the editor of the paper and the town judge would have to be together in the most notoriously romantic spot in Riverton.” I raised my eyebrows in skepticism.
“Especially when I ran into the mayor earlier that day and she had mentioned her husband was out of town on business.” Quinn shook her head. “But, yes, I agree, best not to go there.”
“I hate that I even know they’re having an affair. I’ve always liked Ellen, but she hasn’t always made the best choices. I sure wouldn’t want to see the wrath of the mayor rain down on her, but these things always tend to come out in the open.” I shuddered to think what would happen to Ellen’s reputation if word got out that she was sleeping with the mayor’s husband. Small town gossip could be brutal! I’d known a few people who had to move away after the gossip mill ruined their local reputation.
I pulled into a parking lot that was kitty corner from the police station and we decided that I would wait in the car while Quinn went in to talk to the chief. I had chosen a spot that I knew wouldn’t be visible from the chief’s office, figuring if he saw me lurking about, there was no way he would give Quinn any information.
“Okay, so the plan is to tell him that Brent had mentioned he wanted to go on a date with you next week and you’re just wanting to see if the chief has cleared him of any wrongdoing so you can better make your decision on if you want to rekindle a romance with him or not. Add in the part about Aunt Liddy desperately wanting you to find a husband. Tell him he would never hear the end of it if he okayed you to go on a date with someone who ended up being a serial killer,” I rambled on.
She looked at me blankly and blinked one slow, long blink. “I do not need you to help me go over the game plan, thank you very much. Do I give you pointers before you go running around digging your nose into everything?”
“Well I’m older and you should learn from my mistakes,” I shot back.
“You’re older by eight months. Eight months.” She threw her head back in indignation.
“Still.”
“Ugh, you are getting to be more and more like Gigi everyday,” she said as climbed out of my SUV.
I flipped her the bird while her back was turned.
“I saw that.”
I rolled my eyes and settled in while I waited for her to return. I slid my new CD into the deck that Quinn had gotten me for my birthday and turned up the volume. Yes, I’m well aware nobody actually listens to CDs anymore, but I made an exception when it came to my favorite Country-turned-Pop artist.
I tilted my head back to rest on the seat and closed my eyes. I was singing along when a rap on my window startled me upright. My heart pounded as I looked to see who was pounding on my window.
Shit! I was starting to think someone up above had it out for me. I rolled my window down, bracing myself for the verbal abuse that was sure to follow.
“Can I come in?” Fletcher’s deep, smooth voice played like music on my ears.
I paused. What did he want? Was he just here to yell at me again? If he hated me so much then why didn’t he just leave me alone? Why did the mere sound of his voice have this effect on me? My heart quickened further as I hit the unlock button in answer.
The corners of his lips just barely turned upward in an almost imperceptible smile. He rounded the front of my vehicle and entered the passenger side door, sliding comfortably into the seat. We both sat facing straight ahead for a few moments, neither of us speaking. I turned off my music, but waited for him to talk first. I couldn’t trust myself to say anything that would come close to a logical sentence at this point.
Finally, he broke the silence. “Is there a reason you’re posted up across the street of the police station?”
“Maybe.” I certainly wasn’t ready to divulge my comings and goings with him.
“How have you been?” he asked, letting his previously unanswered question go without pressing the issue.
“Fine,” I answered untruthfully. “And you?”
“Well?” He paused. “To be honest, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Yeah. I’ve been wanting to apologize for snapping at you the other day.”
“Yeah, well…I’m sure you were just doing your job.” I shrugged.
“No, it’s more than that. I genuinely care about you and I just can’t figure out how you keep getting caught up in this investigation.”
“You care about me? What about the other night with Gigi?” I turned slightly so I could see his reaction out of the corner of my eye, not trusting myself to look him full on in the face yet.
He paused. “Yeah, not going to lie. That still freaks me out.”
I let out a small laugh. “Yeah, me too.”
“Have you been staying out of trouble?”
“Trying.” I felt myself relax somewhat.
“Yeah, I’m sure it’s more like trying to try.”
“Something like that.”
He shook his head. “Is there anything I should know?”
“Elias Rhodes bought the sawmill property.”
“I know.”
“How did you know?” I asked, sitting more upright in surprise.
“It’s my job to know.”
I nodded in silent understanding. “Can you tell me anything about Dawn?”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you insert yourself further into this.”
“But I’m already in it,” I protested. “Have you found Rose?”
“No.” He looked solemn about this, which made me cringe inside.
“Do you know who the Mystery Man is?”
> “We have a name, but it appears to be an alias.”
“What is it?” I asked, figuring he wouldn’t tell me.
“Drachen Noire”.
“Black Dragon,” I translated.
“Yeah, sounds pretty sinister.”
“Any leads on a true identity?” I asked.
“Not yet.”
“Have you talked to Brent?”
“He alibied out for both murders.”
I breathed a sigh of relief that I hadn’t even realized I was holding.
“Cady.”
“Yeah?”
“When this is over, I would love to take you out.” He spoke hurriedly, almost like he couldn’t get that off his chest fast enough.
I was momentarily stunned. I definitely hadn’t been expecting that. Finally, I looked him square in the face. “I’ll think about it.”
“Fair enough.”
“Fletcher?”
“Yeah, Cade?”
“I read the article this morning. I’m sorry the paper portrayed you like that.”
“Yeah, that was a low blow, but nothing I can’t handle.”
“Will you tell me what happened at your last job?”
He stared straight ahead. “Eventually.” He turned to open the passenger door to get out and then paused.
“Cady, what are you doing here?”
“Waiting for Quinn.”
“Where’s Quinn?”
“Talking to the chief.”
“About the investigation?”
“I’m not sure. I didn’t ask,” I replied a little too quickly, trying to sound innocent.
He sighed and shook his head as he got out of my SUV.
“My threat stands that if you interfere in this investigation, I will arrest you.”
“I know.” I smiled.
“And Cady.” He hesitated. “I expect our conversation to stay between us.”
“Scout’s honor.” I made the pledge for the second time in a matter of minutes as he walked away toward the police station.
I turned my music back on, rested my head against my seat once again and contemplated how infuriating men can be. One day you feel like you’ve been kicked in the stomach and the next day you could feel on top of cloud nine, all because of a few short words. It was actually really irritating. This is why I had sworn off men…but it sure feels good on cloud nine, I thought.
