When Memory Fails

by L C Hayden

  Pablo formed a fist and pounded it against his opened palm. “Me and Leonardo can grab them. We get those letters back to you. Maybe we destroy them. End of story.”

  “You’ll do no such thing. It’s The Ledger we want. If those letters lead us to it, then let’s do everything possible to help those two unfortunate souls find it. I think we need to encourage them to talk to the Hermit. He will lead them to The Ledger. Once they have it in their greedy paws, we can grab them and destroy all of the evidence—the letters and The Ledger.”

  “And Sandy and Daniel? What of them?”

  Bobbi gave Pablo her back, but not before she made sure Pablo was watching her. She let her head lower, and she wrapped her arms around herself. A small tremor shook her body. “Unfortunately, we can’t have any loose ends.”

  Pablo gasped. “But she’s like you know, family.”

  “Yes, family.” She didn’t turn to face Pablo until she could force tears to dance in her eyes. “I feel the same way you do, but Papa Lazzarone has spoken.”

  Pablo’s eyes widened when he saw the tears streaming down Bobbi’s cheeks. He cast his eyes downward. “Oh.”

  Bobbi patted him on the shoulder. “You know we must do what Papa Lazzarone wants. The consequences for not obeying him are too horrible to even imagine. We have no choice. We may not like it, but Papa Lazzarone has spoken.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “I love Sandy. This is tearing me apart. So, please, make sure her death is unexpected, fast, and painless. I don’t care about Daniel. Enjoy yourself.”

  Pablo let out a sharkish grin that would have made any lawyer proud.

  Chapter 8

  Carol Bronson threw the front door to their camper open. “Daniel. Sandy. How good of you to drop by. Come in, come in.” She closed the door behind them. “I just finished making a batch of lemon cookies. Would you all care for some?”

  Daniel, who was known for never turning down any food, eagerly agreed. “Do they come with milk?”

  Carol smiled and winked. “You bet they do.”

  The front door opened and Bronson stepped in. He set his McDonald’s coffee cup down and hugged Daniel. “Glad you dropped by and brought your girlfriend. I’ve been wantin’ to meet her.” He turned to Sandy. “You must be Sandy Sechrest.”

  She nodded.

  He offered her a warm handshake and a pat on the back. “Glad you came over. Carol and Daniel have both told me so much about you.”

  “Good things, I hope.” The small curvature of her lips told him she was teasing him.

  “Most definitely.” Bronson grabbed a lemon cookie before Carol could swat his hand. “What brings you here?”

  Sandy finished her cookie before speaking. “Business, I’m afraid.”

  Bronson cocked his eyebrow. “Business? What kind of business?”

  “We need your expertise.” Daniel spoke without looking up. He took a swig of milk and set the glass down.

  “We were going through my attic and came across some very interesting letters.” Sandy bit her lip. “They were supposedly written by Victoria, my great-great-great aunt. In them, she claims that all the money we, the Sechrests and the Lazzarones, ever made was stolen. Our empire is built on fraud and deception. It wasn’t above my ancestors to kill someone for their money or power. In addition, supposedly, there’s a ledger hidden somewhere and tells who exactly was killed and how. It details how much money was taken and from whom.” Sandy took a deep breath and slowly released it. “If this ledger really exists, I want to find it and return all the money we stole to the rightful heirs.”

  Carol frowned, but Bronson ignored her. “Whoa, that’s a mouthful. How long ago did these fraudulent activities take place?”

  “Best as we can tell, sometime in the early 1900s,” Daniel said.

  Bronson finished his coffee, glanced toward the kitchen, and Carol flashed him a stern look. Bronson shrugged and set the cup down. “And this ledger has been hidden since then?”

  Both Daniel and Sandy nodded.

  Bronson focused his attention on Sandy. “You do realize that all those people who were killed or wronged are probably not alive anymore?”

  Daniel smiled. “Yeah, Uncle Harry. We’re sure that all those people who were killed are not alive anymore.”

  Bronson’s hearty laugh brightened the room. “Wise guy. You know what I meant.”

  Daniel nodded and glanced at Sandy. “What’s wrong?”

  “You called your uncle, Uncle Harry.”

  Daniel shrugged. “Yeah, so?”

  “So he does have a first name.”

  Bronson smiled. “Don’t we all? But let’s forget you ever heard that name.” Bronson erased the smile from his face and leaned toward Sandy. “Does your family know what you plan to do?”

  Sandy lowered her head and shook it.

  “You’re stirrin’ a hornet’s nest. You realize that? And are you even sure those letters are real? Could they be nothin’ more than the rantin’ of an angry woman?”

  “Maybe they are. Maybe they aren’t. Either way, I need to know the truth. Can you help me?” When she looked up, Bronson saw the tears pearl in Sandy’s eyes.

  Dang! That was the one thing he could never resist. Tears. Especially those rollin’ down a beautiful face. “Reckon I could look into it.” He glanced up at Carol. “It’s not like I’m workin’ or anythin’ like that.”

  Carol nodded. “I know. This is different. This is family, and we need to help each other.”

  Sandy’s face lit up. “That means we’re on?”

  Bronson extended his open hand. “That means, young lady, that I need to read those letters.”

  Chapter 9

  After reading them, Bronson set the three sheets of paper down. “And you said you found these in the attic?”

  Sandy nodded. “Hidden in the cover of the family Bible.”

  Bronson nodded and continued to stare at the letters.

  “What’s wrong?” Daniel asked. “What are you thinking?”

  “The letters definitely look old. But I’m not so sure they would date back to the early 1900s.”

  A frown formed on Sandy’s forehead. “What does that mean? Are you saying the letters are fake?”

  “Not at all. I’m simply sayin’ to be prepared for that possibility.”

  A silence as thick as the sap in a tree filled the room. Daniel let out a sniffle of a laugh and cocked his head as though challenging his uncle’s statement. “Let’s go with the assumption that they are real.” He stood up and walked the small living room area of the camper. “If we do that, our next step is to prove or disprove what those letters say, but I have no idea what that involves. Any ideas, anyone?”

  Bronson raised the papers and waved them. “The letters claim that a great town in Colorado once existed.”

  “Sechrest Falls.” Sandy whispered the name as though it was sacred.

  “Precisely, and that’s where we should begin.”

  Carol gasped.

  Sandy and Daniel exchanged glances. “We’re going to Colorado?” Sandy asked.

  “We might. We might not. It all depends on what we find.”

  Carol sat up straighter. “I’d like to visit Colorado.”

  “But?” Both Sandy and Daniel said in unison.

  Carol spoke to Daniel but kept her eye on Bronson. “But Ellen—you remember her?”

  Daniel nodded but Sandy shook her head.

  “Ellen. Ellen Biebesheirmer. She’s Harry’s partner’s ex-wife.” Carol pointed to a picture she had displayed in the living room where all four were together.

  Sandy glanced at the picture and nodded.

  Carol waited a few seconds before speaking. “Ellen is like family to us. Anyway, she’s coming home in two days from a cruise that took her all over the world. I promised to pick her up at the airport and have a girl’s day so she can tell me all about the cruise.” Carol shrugged. “I’m sorry, but Colorado is out of the question for me.”

  Sandy’s teeth
sunk into her lower lip. Daniel sat beside her and put his arm around her.

  Bronson gave them a palms-up shrug. He remained quiet for a moment. He pouted, as though thinking. “That doesn’t mean we won’t help you.” Bronson’s tone of voice reassured Sandy. “We might be able to do everythin’ we need to do here in Pennsylvania.”

  A frown formed on Daniel’s forehead. “Here? How? The letters say that The Ledger is hidden somewhere in Sechrest Falls.”

  “First, we must prove that the letters are real, and that Sechrest Falls does indeed exist. Then we’ll play the rest by ear. How does that sound?”

  Sandy nodded. “Fine with me, but how are we going to prove that the letters are real, and that Sechrest Falls really exists?”

  “We’ll begin by doin’ old fashioned research.” Bronson slapped his hands together and shook them. “Let’s Google Sechrest Falls and see if we get any hits.”

  Chapter 10

  Soon as Leonardo saw Sandy and Daniel turn off into the Twin Peaks Campground, he backed off a couple of car lengths. From the entrance, he watched his cousin and her boyfriend go inside the camper in Spot 8.

  Leonardo parked his car in front of the campground’s office. A young girl wearing thick eyeglasses looked up at him.

  He flashed his best smile, and her face lit up. “I’m in a bit of trouble.” He winked at her. “Can you help me?”

  She glanced up and her mouth slowly opened. She cleared her throat as though she had forgotten how to speak.

  Leonardo took it all in. He was used to women going slack-jawed over him as they took him in. That was precisely what he was counting on at this moment. He waited and looked at her as though she was the most important person in the world.

  “I—I could try.” She wet her lips. “What can I do for you?”

  “My sister told me to meet her at the dinner party being hosted by the renters on Spot 8. But I forgot the hosts’ names.” He hit his forehead and looked at her through puppy-dog eyes. “My sister will kill me if I don’t properly greet our hosts. Can you help me by reminding me of their names?”

  “Ah, I suppose I could do that.”

  “Thank you. So kind of you.” He wrinkled his face and smiled.

  The desk clerk, mesmerized by his charm, stared at him.

  “The names, please.”

  “Oh, yeah. Sure.” She flipped through some cards. “Here it is. It’s Harry and Carol Bronson.”

  “Harry and Carol Bronson. Of course. Now I remember. That’s what my sister said.” He turned to leave but stopped at the last moment. “Thank you so much. You’re a true angel.”

  The desk clerk’s face beamed.

  * * *

  Leonardo slipped into the driver’s seat and called Aunt Bobbi.

  She picked up on the first ring.

  “Aunt Bobbi, it’s me, Leonardo. I followed Sandy and Daniel like you asked me to. They drove directly to Twin Peaks Campground and went inside the camper occupying Spot 8. That’s registered under the names of Harry and Carol Bronson. They are all sitting around the picnic table outside of the Bronsons’ camper. What do you want me to do?”

  “Wait about an hour. If Daniel and Sandy don’t go anywhere else, go home. Obviously, if they go somewhere else, follow them.”

  “I can do that.

  “Good, because there’s something else Papa Lazzarone wants you to do.”

  “And that is?”

  “He wants to be privy to their conversation.”

  “So he wants me to plant a bug?”

  “Yes, I think that’s what he was thinking. Is there any way you can do that?”

  A brief pause followed. “Yeah, I think so. Looks like they enjoy sitting outside, mulling over whatever they have to discuss. Later on tonight after everyone is asleep, I’ll place a bug under that picnic table.”

  “Papa Lazzarone will be so proud of you.” Bobbi imagined that at this point, Leonardo’s grin would be spread from one side of his face to the other. “And I’m proud of you, too.” She disconnected, booted up the computer and Googled Harry Bronson.

  Five minutes later, she sat, glaring at the computer. Maybe if she stared at the screen long enough, the facts would change. Bronson wouldn’t be this top-notch retired Dallas detective. Instead, he’d be a bumbling fool that would lead Sandy and Daniel astray. Then, they would be forced to go to Sechrest Falls by themselves.

  But it wasn’t going to work out that way. Bronson would probably tag along and thus, ruin her plans. “Not if I can help it,” Bobbi said out loud even though no one was there to hear her. “What you don’t know, Bronson, is that I’m a survivor. As such, I know what needs to be done, and I’m not afraid to do it.” She slammed her computer shut. “Right now, the main thing I need to do, Harry Bronson, is eliminate you, and I know exactly how to do it.”

  She smiled.

  Chapter 11

  Bronson wasn’t about to let the hot wind drive him indoors. Whenever possible, he preferred to work outdoors. While the computer booted, he watched the rock-trails weaving around the other campsites. Dust rose from them and gathered to form angry miniature funnels. He made a pfffsh sound. If the wind didn’t cease, he might be forced to go back indoors.

  The computer informed Bronson he was on the Internet. He typed Sechrest Falls and was pleasantly surprised at the vast amount of information available. He ignored the steady breeze as he began reading, stopping only to take notes.

  As he read along, he would often refer back to either his notes or to the article he had previously read. He underlined what he considered to be the most important facts.

  “Have you considered going to bed?”

  Startled, Bronson looked up. When had it gotten so dark?

  Carol, half-hidden by the opened front door, had already put on her pajamas. “Well, are you?”

  Might as well. He was almost through. He disconnected from the Internet and logged off. “Comin’, Honey. I didn’t realize it was this late.” What time was it anyway? “Where’s Daniel and Sandy?”

  “They left over two hours ago. There wasn’t much they could do here. They felt more useful if they went to Sandy’s. They tried to say goodbye to you, but you waved them off.”

  Had he really? He’d apologize tomorrow. “Hope they got some good information.” Bronson closed the computer and headed inside the camper.

  “I’m sure they did.” Carol closed and locked the door behind them.

  “We’ll have to exchange information tomorrow.”

  * * *

  Fifteen minutes after Bronson went in and after the lights inside the camper turned off, a red Chevy truck pulled up into the empty space, three lots down from Spot 8. Leonardo quietly opened the door, glanced around and climbed out the passenger’s side.

  Long ago, he had learned that if you walk with confidence and pretend you had business in an establishment, no one would question him. People would assume he belonged there. He was relying on that now.

  Once he reached Bronson’s campsite, he paused in front of the picnic table, his eyes searching for any movement. He saw no one. He nonchalantly reached into his pants pocket, retrieved the small bug and feeling for the soft, sticky side created by mounting putty, he pressed the bug underneath the table.

  He glanced down at it. No one would be able to spot it unless he was specifically looking for it. But there was no reason Bronson would suspect anything, and therefore, would not bother searching. It was there to stay.

  Mission accomplished.

  Chapter 12

  Upon Carol’s insistence, Bronson enjoyed his second cup of coffee and waited until 9:00 AM to call Daniel. When Bronson heard a mumbled, “H’lloo” at the other end, he lightly hit his forehead with the palm of his hand. He realized he hadn’t waited long enough, and he indeed had awakened his nephew. But hey, it was already 9:00 in the morning. “Hey, Slugger, we need to talk and figure out our strategy. When can you and Sandy come over?”

  “Uncle Harry?” Daniel’s voice sou
nded groggy. He cleared his throat, and suddenly he seemed wide awake. “You sound as enthusiastic about this project as Sandy does.”

  “I do find it intriguin’.”

  “Aunt Carol didn’t seem too happy about you getting involved in this. I don’t want to cause a rift between the two of you.”

  “I’ll be the first to admit. I’ve put poor Carol through hell. I’ve had serial killers after me. I’ve been threatened and nearly killed. Yet, Carol has stood by me all of those times. She doesn’t want me to put myself in harm’s way again. Can’t blame her for that. But this time, it’s different. There’s no danger. Heck, all of the bad guys are dead. All we’re doin’ is searchin’ for a form of a buried treasure, and that’s always fun. No danger. Absolutely none. She’ll be okay once she realizes that.”

  “You’re sure about that?”

  “As sure as my name is Bronson.”

  “Okay, in that case, let me take a quick shower, grab a fruit or something quick to eat, and go get Sandy. We should see you in less than an hour.”

  * * *

  Bronson stood by the window, watching for Daniel’s car to pull in.

  Carol saw him and smiled. “You’re like a little boy, anxiously waiting for his family’s return.”

  Bronson turned to face his wife. “Don’t try to deny it. You’re pretty excited yourself.”

  Carol twisted her face. “You caught me, and you’re right. I am excited. It’s like we’re trying to form a giant puzzle. We got some of the pieces, and we’re hoping they have the rest.”

  “Great analogy.” Bronson recognized Daniel’s car as he pulled into their rented space. “They’re here.” He and Carol each grabbed their drinks. Bronson’s mug was filled with coffee, while Carol’s steamed with hot apple cider.

  Once outside, they set the drinks down on the picnic table and exchanged hugs and made small conversation while Carol went inside to get two more cups of coffee. Minutes later, they settled around the picnic table, an occasional gentle breeze refreshing them.