by Kathi Daley
“What does this have to do with Thea?” Cody asked.
“The logging company is being represented by Caldwell and Benson. Paul mentioned to me that they’d fired Thea. Paul didn’t make a connection between the logging project and Thea’s dismissal, but after she died he remembered her asking him about the consequences of tampering with the environment for financial gain. Please keep in mind, this is only a theory, and neither Paul nor I have any proof whatsoever, but given the events of the past few days it seems reasonable Thea came across some information about the logging project while temping at Caldwell and Benson and realized it could be of value.”
“So she tried to blackmail either the logging company or Caldwell and Benson and was killed for her efforts,” I said.
“Like I said, it seems to be a possibility. I don’t want you getting in the middle of this. I called Finn and told him everything I just told you. Let him do his job. If there’s any truth to it he’ll find the evidence he needs.”
I didn’t argue, but I didn’t agree either.
“Promise me,” Aiden said in his threatening, big-brother voice.
“Oh, all right. But I’m not going to stop investigating the murder just in case this goes nowhere.”
I glanced at Cody, who looked at Aiden. I could tell he agreed with my brother that I should leave this to Finn, but he knew I wasn’t likely to do that. That was one of the things I loved most about Cody. He let me be me, even when he worried that being me wasn’t necessarily the best thing for me.
Chapter 8
Thursday, March 15
Cody called to set up an appointment to speak to someone in the group that wanted to log the hollow on behalf of the newspaper. Neither of us had a clue as to whether an interview would result in any information we didn’t already have, but it was a place to start. I’d talked to Finn about the blackmail theory and he said he’d been through Thea’s financial records and hadn’t found any indication she’d come into money from any source. Of course, that didn’t mean she hadn’t tried to blackmail someone and failed.
I woke up late on Thursday morning and got a late start. The cats needed to be tended to and Max needed a walk. By the time I arrived at Coffee Cat Books the first ferry had docked and the store was packed. I tied a Coffee Cat Books apron around my waist and took my spot behind the counter at the coffee bar.
“What can I get you?” I asked a petite blonde with deep blue eyes who was dressed in a khaki outfit that looked like she was about to set off on a safari.
“A soy latte with a single pump of vanilla.”
I grabbed a cup and began to assemble the drink. “Is this your first time on Madrona Island?” I asked while I waited for the milk to steam.
“Yes. I only moved to the West Coast this past fall. I was born and raised on the East Coast, but I decided to spread my wings a bit and go to college out here at the University of Washington.”
I handed the girl her cup and accepted a twenty-dollar bill. “So how are you liking it?” I asked as I made change.
“So far, a lot. I’ve made some good friends and the school has an excellent environmental sciences department. I’m just in my first year and I’ve already been assigned to work part time with a grad student on a research project.”
“The grad student wouldn’t be Travis Long, would it?”
She appeared surprised by my question. “Yes, I am working with Travis. How did you know?”
I looked around the crowded room. “I don’t suppose you could wait for a few minutes? I want to talk to you about Travis, but I should finish with the customers in line before I take a break.”
She looked uncertain.
“You can wait for me in the cat lounge, over there.” I pointed. “I shouldn’t be long.”
“Okay, if you think it’s important. Maybe I’ll take one of those lemon muffins too.”
“Thank you. I’m Cait.”
“Beth.”
I handed her the muffin. “I’m happy to meet you, Beth. The muffin is on the house and I won’t be long, I promise.”
Once the crowd had mostly cleared out I filled Tara in on what was going on and went into the cat lounge to talk with Beth, who was holding Apollo and talking to the other cats.
“Thank you for waiting,” I began.
“Is Travis okay? I have to admit you have me worried.”
“I’m not sure how Travis is. All I know is that I found his wallet on the beach and his girlfriend has reported him missing.”
Beth frowned. “Girlfriend? Travis doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
“I don’t know the name of the woman who called the sheriff’s office. I found a wallet on the beach with his ID and credit cards inside and turned it in to the resident deputy. That was when I was told his girlfriend had reported him missing. I didn’t ask any questions beyond that.”
Beth set Apollo on the floor and looked at me. “I don’t know who called, but I know Travis doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
“Perhaps Finn was mistaken. Would you mind if I asked what you’re working on?”
“Travis’s project deals with water quality. He’s looking for natural and inexpensive ways to improve it on a global level, and as part of it he’s testing water in various elevations, climates, and population densities. He’s attempting to evaluate both naturally occurring and human-driven cultural and environmental changes that can impact the clarity of water.”
“Can you give me an example?”
“There are quite a few things in the environment that have long been known to impact water quality: the use of insecticides, manipulation of naturally occurring drainage systems when developing raw land, climate change, and, of course, human-caused pollution. Travis hoped to find a way to counteract some of the negative changes to water quality by means other than adding chemicals to the mix. It’s his opinion that before a fix for poor water can be implemented it’s important to understand the factors that impact water quality on a chemical level.”
“When was the last time you spoke to him?”
“It must have been Thursday of last week. He called me from his cell phone, but the reception was bad, so he said he’d email me a list of the items he needed. I received the list later that night.”
“So, as far as you know, Travis didn’t plan to return home this past weekend.”
“He initially planned to, but he ran into some interesting data and wanted to stay on another week or two. He needed the items he asked me to bring so he wouldn’t have to go back to restock his supplies.”
“Where and when had you arranged to meet him?” I asked.
“I couldn’t get away until today, so I told him I’d bring the things he asked for to the motel where he’s staying.”
“And which motel is that?”
“The Madrona Motor Inn.”
“I know where that is. It’s sort of a dive, but it’s off the beaten path and less expensive than the other lodging properties on the island. Would you mind terribly if I went along with you to check it out?”
Beth frowned. “What exactly is going on? You said you found Travis’s wallet, but you gave it to the resident deputy. Why do you want to come with me to meet Travis?”
I supposed if I wanted this woman’s help I needed to be honest with her. “I don’t want to worry you, but there’ve been some odd things going on over the last couple of days and it’s possible Travis might know something about them.”
“Such as?”
“First, the location where I’m willing to bet Travis took his water samples is locally known as the hollow. A large percentage of the island’s feral cats live there, but many of them have left recently. My friend and I went to the hollow on Monday to try to find out what was going on with the cats and discovered the water was tainted. I don’t know for certain that the water we examined is the same one Travis has been testing. I’m suggesting that we see if he’s at the motel. You can follow my car; I know exactly where the motel is.”
She ag
reed, and I told Tara where we were going before we headed north to the Madrona Motor Inn, which was on the coast road that encircled the island, to the north of Harthaven. It was a fifteen-minute drive, which gave me time to try to make sense of what was going on.
After leaving Pelican Bay and going north, the road hugged the coastline, providing a beautiful, serene drive. It was only March, so we still had a few weeks of cooler temperatures, but the sunny skies and gently rolling waves were a reminder that the long days of summer were just around the corner. The whales would start to migrate back to the area in May and tour operators like Danny would gear up for the busy tourist season, which impacted our small community in a major way. During the off season we enjoyed a laid-back, quiet way of life, but at the peak of the summer season the population almost doubled. Most years I was excited for the busy summer season to begin but just as anxious for it to end a few months later.
I slowed my vehicle as we came to the outskirts of Harthaven. The motel was farther north, but the only way to travel north of the small seaside town was to drive through it. There were times I was impatient with the twenty-mile-per-hour speed limit through the center of Harthaven, but today I was content to be out in the sunshine.
Once the incorporated area was behind me the speed limit rose to forty-five. I sped up slightly after navigating a sharp curve and headed toward the motel, which was just a few miles away. Upon arrival I pulled into the empty parking lot and waited for Beth to join me.
“Do you know which room Travis is in?” I asked when we got out of our cars.
“Room ten.”
We walked over and knocked on the door. No answer. Beth looked at her watch, while I glanced around the property.
“Maybe he’s out for the day,” Beth suggested.
“Let’s check with the desk clerk.”
Beth nodded and followed me to the small office at the front of the building. I introduced myself to the young man working the desk and asked if he knew when Travis might be back.
“Haven’t seen him for a few days,” he answered.
“Did he mention that he was leaving the island?” I asked.
“Nope.”
“Did he check out?”
“Nope.”
“Is his stuff still there?” Beth asked.
“Far as I know. He paid for the room through the end of the month. I gave him the monthly rate, which doesn’t include maid service. No one’s had a reason to enter the room.”
Beth glanced at me. I could see the concern in her eyes.
“Beth is a friend and colleague of Mr. Long. He asked her to bring him some supplies, which she has. I don’t suppose you could open the door so we could drop off the things he wanted?”
The clerk looked at Beth, then back at me.
“Please?” Beth said. “Travis really needs this stuff.”
“Okay,” the clerk eventually answered. “I’ll open the door, but just so you can drop the stuff off.”
The clerk grabbed the key and Beth and I followed him to room ten. He opened the door and gasped. I looked over his shoulder and realized things had just become a lot more complicated.
Chapter 9
I called Finn, and Beth and I waited for him in my car. The room where Travis had been staying had been the scene of a violent attack. Not only were there items on the floor, which would suggest there’d been a struggle, but there was blood on the floor.
“Do you think whatever happened to Travis had anything to do with his research?” Beth asked.
“I would say it’s a possibility.”
Beth’s face grew pale. “Do you think he’s dead?”
I paused and then answered. “I don’t know, but Finn might know more. We’ll ask him when he gets here.”
“Finn?”
“Deputy Ryan Finnegan. He’s the resident deputy and my brother-in-law. He’s a good guy. You can trust him.”
Beth looked down at her entwined hands without responding. I understood her fear and anxiety. I was afraid of what Finn might tell us and I’d never even met the man, while Beth had been working closely with him for several months. I couldn’t imagine what she must be feeling.
“What was Travis hoping to do with his research?” I asked, mostly to distract her.
“Travis is interested in clean water. He’s been working on a filtration system that would remove toxins from water in naturally occurring rivers, lakes, and streams. It’s a revolutionary idea that has had promising results in the lab but not yet in nature, so he’s been testing groundwater in different areas to find water systems that are both isolated and contaminated.”
I was about to ask Beth about the type of contaminants he was looking for when Finn’s car pulled up. I introduced him to Beth and he asked her a few questions, many of them the same as my own. Then he told us to wait outside while he went into the room to look around. I wished I could assure Beth there was nothing to worry about, but the truth of the matter was, what I believed was the opposite.
A short while later, Finn emerged from the room. Beth and I waited for him to approach.
“So?” I asked.
“It appears an altercation of some type occurred in the room. I’m going to have the crime scene guys come over from San Juan Island to do a full workup. They’ll be looking for fingerprints, DNA, whatever they can dig up. I saw there wasn’t a computer in the room. I assume Long had one.”
“He did,” Beth confirmed. “There should also be vials with water samples, as well as chemicals to test the water.”
“I didn’t see anything like that.” Finn looked around the empty parking lot. “It appears his car is gone as well. Do you know what he was driving?”
“Travis owns a black truck. Four-wheel drive. A Toyota, I think. An older model with a dent in the right front bumper.”
“Do you happen to know the license plate number?” Finn asked.
Beth’s eyes grew big. “Actually, I do. It’s a Washington State vanity plate that says AQUAMAN.”
“Aquaman? Is he in to comics?” Finn asked.
“He’s in to water. Pure and clear water, to be specific. But yeah, he enjoys comics as well.”
Finn jotted down a few notes. “Okay. That will do it for now. Are you staying on the island?”
“I planned to go back on the last ferry, but now I’m not sure,” Beth answered. “I do have classes I shouldn’t miss.”
“I think it will be fine if you return to Seattle,” Finn said. “I have your contact info if I have additional questions.”
Beth looked at me. “Thank you for bringing me up here. Will you let me know what you find out?”
“I will. And take my cell number as well. Call me as often as you’d like.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” Beth looked toward her car. “What should I do with the supplies I brought for Travis?”
“You can leave them with me,” I offered. “I’ll see he gets them as soon as we catch up with him.”
******
“Poor Beth,” Tara said when I returned to Coffee Cat Books and explained what had happened.
“She’s pretty worried about Travis. They’d been working together for months and became friends as well as colleagues.”
Tara picked up a box she’d just emptied and set it aside. Then she opened the next box in the pile and began restocking the pink Coffee Cat Books mugs we sold. “How does this all fit together? First Tansy senses the cats are leaving the hollow, then you find Thea bludgeoned to death in her home, and now you discover a visiting scientist has disappeared.”
“Beth said he’d been testing water over time. I can’t help but feel he’s somehow connected with whatever’s going on in the hollow. I’m not sure how Thea fits into all of that, or if she even does, but I have a bad feeling about the whole thing.”
“Do you think someone is intentionally tainting the water?” Tara asked.
“That’s exactly what I think is happening. If I had to guess I’d say the group who want t
o log the hollow got hooked up with a couple of corrupt attorneys who advised them that they’d never get their permit as long as the cats were there. So, someone came up with the idea of tainting the water so the cats would leave. Thea found out when she was temping for the law firm and came up with the idea of cashing in on what she knew. She never got paid; instead, she was murdered for her effort. Meanwhile, Travis Long was here testing the water for his project and noticed the anomalies in the hollow. He investigated, and the bad guys found out and killed him. Max found his wallet on the beach. I’m betting his body was dumped in the sea.”
“How can we prove or disprove your theory?” Tara asked.
I frowned. “I don’t know.”
She put another empty box aside and opened a third, this one filled with new releases. She began to organize the new books table as we continued our conversation, and I tried to pay attention to the conversation, but I found myself struggling to concentrate. I glanced out the front window and noticed our part-time employee, Willow Wood, walking across the parking area. “It looks like Willow is on her way in.”
“Yeah. She called earlier and said she had a doctor’s appointment and would stop by after. I miss her now that she isn’t coming in every day.”
“I’ve been missing her too.” I smiled as Willow came in through the front door. “I’m so glad you stopped by. I’ve been wondering how you’ve been doing. How was your appointment?”
“Good. Everything is on track. The doctor thinks the baby may come sooner than initially predicated. In fact, he said there’s a possibility he’ll be here by this time next month.”
“That’s great. Are you ready?” I asked.
Willow rubbed her stomach with her right hand. “Yes and no. Alex has the nursery all set up and I’m excited to meet my baby, but I’m nervous too. Now that I’ve made the decision to keep the baby I find myself feeling overwhelmed. It such a big step, and at times I worry that I might not be up to taking on everything a parent is required to do.”
