Dead Reckoning and Murderous Intent, A Red Pine Falls Cozy Mystery (Red Pine Falls Cozy Mysteries Book 4)

by Angela C Blackmoore

  Dead Reckoning and Murderous Intent

  By Angela C Blackmoore

  Copyright 2017 by Angela C Blackmoore, All Rights Reserved

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real persons, events, or places are purely coincidental. All rights reserved.

  Please leave a review. Reviews are very important for writers, not only for honest feedback from readers, but they help tell other readers if my book is worth reading. You would do me a GREAT service by doing so.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Authors Notes

  Chapter 1

  “Can I punch him?” Becky asked from the back seat. She was sitting next to Abby while Gabe drove, and Hazel sat in the passenger seat. “Seriously, the sooner I punch him, the faster we can get out of these clothes and go drink. Charlie is keeping a bottle of Barenjager in the freezer. You can all come in to have a drink, except for Gabe, since he’s driving.”

  Gabe made an aww sound, but Hazel turned slightly and patted him on the arm. “Don’t worry, Gabe, no one will be punching anyone tonight.” She turned in her seat and gave Becky the eye. “You are not allowed to punch the senator, Becky. That isn’t polite.”

  “I think Becky knows it’s not polite,” Abby said, smiling at her friend. “In fact, I think she’s counting on it.”

  Becky nodded and frowned stubbornly,” Dang straight I know it. Besides, that man still hasn’t reimbursed me for the front and back doors that his goons kicked in. I think it’s about time I got some sort of payment, and his fat lip will just be interest.”

  Abby laughed. “Well, at least let’s find out what this is all about, first. If you punch him, he’s not likely to monologue or whatever it is these people do when they try to lull you into a false sense of security. Besides, you know the police here in Salem are not well inclined toward us. I don’t really feel like waiting around in a police station for them to release you.”

  “I wouldn’t ask you to wait,” Becky said primly. “I could totally tough it out in a jail cell for the night.”

  Gabe shook his head as he drove, watching the white lines pass through the headlights of the PT Cruiser. It was already dark out despite it being only five thirty, but that was normal in the winter months. “Becky, you’ve not ever been to a real jail cell. I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t like it. Besides, if you do that, I’m going to make fun of Charlie for having a jailbird girlfriend. You don’t want to see him cry, do you?”

  Becky wrinkled her nose but finally blew out a sigh. “Fine, I won’t punch the big blowhard right away, but no promises if he pulls something stupid.”

  “He probably won’t do something overly stupid,” Hazel said, turning back to watch where they were going. As they got closer to Salem, the city lights began to grow brighter and block out the stars. The Grand Lodge was on the outskirts of Salem to the east. Abby had googled it, and it was an exclusive walled off compound where the elites of Salem and Portland traveled to relax. They had also learned that the dinner was, in fact, a fundraiser being hosted by the senator. “Senator Clark wouldn’t dare do something around people whose opinion he cared about.”

  “But why invite us?” Abby asked, mulling over what they’d learned. “There’s very little likelihood we are going to donate anything. Without the invitations, we wouldn’t have been able to afford the tickets. There’s got to be a reason he’s inviting us, right?”

  Hazel nodded, but it was Gabe that spoke next. “And I’ve never heard of the Foundation for Oregon Urban Renewal. The website was kind of scarce on information and only said it was designed for outreach and community improvement. It didn’t give a lot of other details. It could mean anything.”

  “It’s probably a cult,” Becky said, crossing her arms.

  “It’s probably not a cult,” Hazel said in exasperation. “Trust me, Oregon has seen its fair share of cults. There was even one that tried to poison an entire town back in nineteen-eighty-four. The senator is a bad man, but he isn’t part of a cult. No, he is just good old-fashioned crooked.”

  “Has he always been like this?” Abby asked.

  Hazel thought for a moment but then shrugged. “Despite being familiar with him for a powerfully long time, I don’t know him. He always traveled in other circles and was involved in politics. His family always had money. I think the only reason we knew Lara was she loved to go slumming.”

  Gabe snorted. “Red Pine Falls isn’t slumming. It may not be wealthy, but it’s well maintained and a nice community. I’ve seen plenty of small towns that are far worse off.”

  “I know that, dear,” Hazel said. “But to people like the Clarks, anywhere outside of a five-star restaurant is slumming. There’s nothing we can do about it. The only way to make folks like that see reason is with a hammer, and you have to find it in your heart if you think they’re worth lifting the hammer. Personally, I’d rather just bake a pie.”

  “Well, other than the senator, we’re going to be surrounded by people like that,” Abby said. “I personally don’t want to have the police called on us in a room full of snobs, Becky. I’m sure the good detectives Mike and Ed would love to escort us out. Can you please keep your temper or do I need to be ready to pinch you?”

  “No pinching!” Becky said, unconsciously rubbing her forearm. “I said I’d be good, and I’ll be good. How far away is it?”

  Gabe looked at the GPS on the phone attached to the dashboard. “Another mile or so. There’s a long driveway up to the lodge itself, but we’re almost at the turn-off. We’re driving next to the hedge fence right now.”

  They all looked to the right, and indeed there was a large, well-manicured hedge that blocked their view from whatever was on the other side. One of the bushes was ill kept and had wilted, showing a large brick wall behind it. There would be no easy way to sneak onto the Grand Lodge’s grounds if one didn’t go through the front gate.

  As they approached the entrance, they could see two elaborate cast-iron gates that had been swung wide. There was a small line of high-end cars waiting to get in and a few men in suits leaning toward the driver’s side window for each of the cars that stopped. Despite the clean, well-cared-for PT Cruiser, they immediately felt out of place when they stopped in the line to get in.

  To make matters worse, one of the men checking invitations began to make his way toward their car, passing by several of the other expensive sedans and sports cars in the process.

  “Uh, sorry, but this is a private function,” the man said, not hiding his irritation. “You can pull out of line and go down the road. If you need to turn around, there’s one about half a mile that way.”

  Gabe smiled, then
held up the envelope with the invitations. “Yes, we’re here for the dinner. We’re not in the wrong place.”

  The man looked skeptically at Gabe, then took the envelope and opened it up. He seemed to read through the pieces of paper twice, raising his eyebrow on the second run through before turning his gaze back to Gabe and frowning at him. “Well, these look legit, but we’ve had reporters try this trick before. Can I take these and check them? It won’t be more than a moment.”

  Gabe looked over at Hazel who just shrugged and nodded. “It’s okay, Gabe. Let the man do his job. One never knows when someone might bring a hammer near these people.”

  “Excuse me?” the man said, leaning in and giving Hazel a questioning look.

  Hazel laughed and waved her hand. “Never mind, I'm just silly. Go ahead and check the invitations. I’m an old friend of Senator Clark.”

  The man looked at her for another moment before shrugging and walking back toward the gate. When he got there, they watched him pick up a phone and speak on it for several seconds before returning to their car and handing Gabe back the envelope. “Okay, it checks out. Sorry for the trouble.”

  “Thanks,” Gabe called out, but to the man’s back who had already turned around and was walking away. “Friendly bunch,” he mumbled before rolling up the window. “Think they’ll check it again when we get up there?”

  “Who knows? At least we’ll get a good steak dinner out of this,” Abby said.

  “That’s the spirit,” Gabe grinned, letting the car creep forward in the line. Before they knew it, they were through the gate and headed up the long road to the lodge. None of them knew what the night’s events had in store, but it was too late to turn back now.

  Chapter 2

  The drive up to the Grand Lodge seemed to go on forever, but it was no more than a few minutes before they drove out of the tree-covered lane, and caught sight of the building. It was elegant, composed of a looming main building and several secondary structures that looked as though they would be at home on a fine English lord’s estate. Despite it being dark, there were several walking gardens lit by wrought iron lamps that Hazel, Abby, and even Becky looked at with thoughts of sneaking out of the dinner and walking the brick-paved paths.

  As they pulled up, several valets dressed in bright-red coats came forward and opened the doors to the PT Cruiser. Abby was thankful they didn’t appear to be judging their car compared to the others. They were all polite and smiled at them even as one slid into the driver’s seat and drove the car out of sight around the side of the main building.

  For a moment, Abby just stood there looking up at the imposing columns and craftsmanship of the building before her. Lights hidden in the grass illuminated the various columns and walls in various colors that highlighted the architecture and reflected the holiday season. Decorated garlands graced the marble railings that flowed alongside the wide steps, and between the two massive sets of double doors stood a gigantic Christmas tree that could have been at home in the Nutcracker Suite.

  For a moment, Abby wondered if man-sized mice in old-world army uniforms might come out and start dancing in its shadow. She hoped so, but at the same time knew they would be outshone only by the people entering the dinner. Their finery was impressive, and despite Abby and her friends wearing their very best, they felt shoddy and unimpressive compared to what most were wearing.

  Hazel was the only one that didn’t seem impressed. Instead she only sniffed and moved toward the stairs, ascending them like Hollywood royalty. “Come on, now. These fine people won’t wait forever.”

  Gabe, Abby, and Becky exchanged looks, but finally, Gabe held out both of his arms, letting Abby and Becky each take one before following Hazel. “Do you remember me saying how much I didn’t enjoy rolling around in the dirt and mud out in the forests?” Gabe whispered just under his breath. “Well, I take it back. I’d pay good money to be out there right now.”

  “I didn’t know people could stare without looking,” Becky said back. “I feel like I’m two years old with jam on my face right now. How do these people do this all the time?”

  “This is their forest,” Gabe replied. “They’ve probably been practicing judging and looking superior in mirrors for years. I bet they have contests.”

  Abby and Becky both laughed before controlling themselves. Though no one looked at them, they could feel the atmosphere tighten around them. They stopped talking as they finished climbing the rise. Abby stopped at the grand tree, inspecting some of the old-looking decorations that graced it. However, when she looked closer, she could tell that they were new, and only made to look antique.

  It was an impressive look, but Abby far preferred the tree back in their turn-of-the-century house. The decorations and adornments were sometimes threadbare, but they practically glowed with age and love. The only new decorations were the ones placed there for Abby, Gabe, Becky, and Cheerio. Hazel had held a craft night about a week ago, and the three friends had diligently glued, wrapped, and colored until they’d achieved something that was uniquely theirs.

  When they’d placed them on the tree, Hazel had nearly wept tears. She had said that each new addition was held close to her heart, and would be for all time. Abby wouldn’t have it any other way.

  But this was not that tree. It was fantastic, grand, and every bit as plastic as the people around her. She took a deep breath and followed her friends inside.

  The interior, if possible, was even more extravagant than the outside of the building. It reflected the same elaborate taste, and the four of them strode through the spacious entry hall with wide-eyed wonder. The flow of people seemed to be angling toward the western wing, so they followed along the richly decorated hallway until they arrived at what only could be called a Grand Ballroom.

  There were large, round tables spaced around the sumptuous carpeting, and as they stepped up to the doorway into the hall, there was an army of young greeters waiting to look at their invitations and walk them toward their table.

  Abby had expected they would be sitting at the back of the hall, if not outside on a patio where no one could see them, but instead, they were led toward a table that was situated just left of the front near the speaker’s platform. Not many people were sitting yet, but since the four of them didn’t know a soul, they decided to take their seats, turning their chairs to watch people enter and mingle.

  “I have no clue what to do right now,” Gabe said, leaning close and taking Abby’s hand.

  “Just sitting would be my guess,” Abby said, squeezing his hand back. She could tell that Gabe was nervous, just as they all were. There was none of the usual banter that usually surrounded them. “These people live in a world that is so outside of ours. I keep expecting someone to come up and declare us trespassers.”

  “Excuse me,” came a voice from behind them.

  They all turned, seeing a polite looking, red haired man. He was wearing glasses, and it was clear his suit was exquisitely tailored.

  “Oh, jackrabbits,” Becky said. “This is where we get kicked out. Nice going, Abby.”

  Chapter 3

  The man blinked, looking at them wide eyed as Gabe and Becky both stood. Gabe looked startled, but Becky looked like she might tackle the man before Abby grabbed her arm.

  It was Hazel’s response that startled the three. “Mr. Carrington. I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said, rising and walking toward the man with her hand out. Abby also noted that Hazel had placed herself between the man and Becky. Smart woman.

  Mr. Carrington took Hazel’s hand and shook it warmly, smiling at her.” Please, call me Robert. Not to dig up an old joke, but every time you say, Mr. Carrington, I look around for my father. By the way, he wished he could have come, but he had quite a lot of business to take care of back home.”

  Hazel took his hand and patted the top of it, smiling up at the man fondly. “Robert it is, then. But before you answer my other question, let me introduce you to my granddaughter and her friends.”
She turned, leading the man over to Abby. “This is Abby Morgan, Becky Northridge, and Gabe Wilson. All of you, I would like to introduce you to a family friend, Robert Carrington.”

  They all shook hands, though Abby gave the man a hard look. He didn’t quite blend in with the high society that surrounded them, but his clothes didn’t stand out as much as theirs. What intrigued Abby the most was how he knew her Grandmother and why she paused before calling him a family friend. There was no one in town that matched his description, and the only better-dressed man she’d met there was John Troutdale, and he’d stood out like a sore thumb on a donkey’s back.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Robert,” Abby said, taking the man’s hand after Gabe. He smiled with each introduction, and she was glad to see it reached his eyes. She had a good feeling about him though she suddenly wished Cheerio had been able to come to the dinner. She trusted her dog’s instincts, but she could imagine the reaction people would have had if she’d brought Cheerio into these hallowed halls. It made her smile.

  After the introductions, Hazel returned to her seat and gestured to one of the many empty ones at the table for Robert to sit. “Now, however did you manage to get an invite to this little get-together? I can’t imagine it would have been easy.”

  Robert nodded. “Not even a little. It was on such short notice, and I had to call in a few favors from some colleagues in Portland to get in. Even so, it was pure luck. One of the wives wanted to do something else this evening, but the devil still charged me almost double for both tickets. This little shindig has attracted the who’s who of Oregon and even a few from outside of the state.

  “Do you live in Portland?” Abby asked, raising an eyebrow at the man.

  “No, I live in Chicago,” Robert replied pleasantly. “Though I do find myself traveling quite often. I love the trees and greenery in Oregon. It’s quite refreshing.”

  “If you don’t live here, why did you want to attend this fund raiser?” Abby asked, still a little nervous about Robert’s motivation.