Left Fur Dead

by J. M. Griffin

  The remainder of my stops were uneventful. Eventually I turned toward home, excited over the prospect of having gotten so much accomplished. Parking the car, I went into the barn before going to the house. The lights were on in the shop. Fred’s truck sat alongside Jessica’s, and I wondered how the construction was coming along.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Voices, followed by laughter, echoed from beyond the shop. Walking through the open space toward the rear of the barn, I stopped short when I saw what Fred had been up to. The area was clean, two-by-four stud framing was in place, and insulation had been stapled over it. This room was ready for the next step.

  “You don’t waste any time, do you?” I asked Fred while taking stock of his handiwork.

  Jessica and Fred turned to me and grinned. The happiness in Jessica’s face could have generated enough electricity to light the room.

  “I didn’t do this alone. My helper, Billy Ogden, was here for a few hours and after he left, Jessica was good enough to lend a hand.” He turned to her. “Are you sure you want to have a vet business? You could always work for me as my handy helper.”

  She chuckled, as did I. No way would Jess leave her dream behind to become a construction worker.

  “Sorry, but no.”

  “At this rate, it won’t take long to finish the job, then?” I asked while considering the room. There was no doubt in my mind the construction would pass the town’s required inspection if all the rooms came out this way. Our illustrious inspector took his job seriously. Fred had gotten the construction permits required before he’d begun to work. If the work wasn’t correct, there’d be no certificate of occupancy issued, and nobody wanted that to happen.

  “It shouldn’t. I’d planned on a week, two at most. If I have help, the job will go faster. I’m not sure if Billy can work for me every day, and I know you girls have things to do. Not to worry, the job will be finished in time for your soiree.”

  I hid my smile at the term soiree. Our open house would be far from it. “I’ll let you get back to work. Did you have lunch? Just wondering since it’s after two o’clock.”

  Jess checked her watch. “We were so busy we didn’t think about it. At least, I didn’t. I could use a sandwich, how about you, Fred?”

  “Sure thing, that’s kind of you.” He dipped his head and smiled before picking up his nail gun and returning to work.

  Jess remained with Fred as I went into the house. Hurriedly, I put together three sandwiches consisting of roast beef, lettuce, and tomato. I added gobs of mayonnaise to the hearty wheat bread and slapped the food onto plates. I added potato chips and bottles of water to the fare, then carried the loaded tray to the table.

  I let the two workers know lunch was ready in the kitchen. While I had assembled lunch, Bun hopped from his room, stood near my feet, and asked questions.

  “How did it go with Carver?”

  “We spoke with the camper. Seems he’s from California, is homeless, and didn’t realize he’d camped on my land. His name is Andrew Stone. He’s not our guy.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I am. He saw someone running past his tent on the same night as our intruder was here, though.”

  “He might be making that story up, you know.”

  “My gut says he’s telling the truth.”

  “Right.”

  Footsteps and chatter echoed through the breezeway. Bun returned to his room and huddled by his door in silence. The two workers washed their hands in the sink and sat down to eat. Conversation was nil until we’d had our fill.

  “Anything you want to share about this morning?” Jess asked.

  “The squatter isn’t our intruder, but thinks he saw a guy running past his campsite one night.” I crunched a chip and then filled her in on the rest of the conversation with Stone. “He might be lying, but I really don’t think so. I got the feeling he’s just down and out, not dangerous.”

  “He’s not going to stay out there in his tent, is he?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t care if he does, as long as he doesn’t destroy the area, and isn’t a bother to us. Why?”

  “We could use another hand in the barn once the kids graduate from school. They’ll be done in the middle of May, and that’ll be the end of our help, other than Peter Lambert. Have you asked Peter if he’ll be working for you throughout the summer? Classes end for him in May, you know.”

  Fred sat silently fiddling with his water bottle while Jess and I talked. His eyes switched from one to the other of us as we spoke.

  “I had planned to ask him about that when he arrived for work this weekend. Jess, do you think it’s a good idea to have Andrew Stone work for us?”

  When she hesitated, Fred leaned forward, perched his elbows on the edge of the table, and said, “If you trust him like you said, then I don’t see what harm it would do to have an extra hand here at the farm, Jules. He might need the help more than you do.”

  A police cruiser drove into the yard and parked next to my car. With a nod to the driver, Andrew Stone left the passenger’s seat and watched the officer drive away. He studied his surroundings for a moment or two before he climbed the steps to the front door.

  I’d watched from the window and waited at the door to let him in. Jess and Fred turned to see the tall, thin man. They gave each other a quick glance and then welcomed him, beckoning him to take a seat.

  Stone took the empty chair between Fred and Jessica. Once he was comfortable, I made introductions and asked if he’d like a cup of coffee.

  “Sure, thanks.”

  While he didn’t seem uncomfortable, he did appear a tad wary. I poured the brew for him and brought it to the table with a milk pitcher and sugar bowl. He waved them away and drank the coffee.

  “He’s kind of ragtag, don’t you think?”

  I set the coffee carafe on a trivet and offered Bun a raised-brow look.

  “So, Mr. Stone, will you be staying at the campsite, or do you plan to move on?” I asked.

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll stay for a while. It’s peaceful back there and I like that.”

  Bun took a step forward and stopped. “More like what he needs. Something is bugging him, I can smell it.”

  Jessica pushed her plate aside. She looked Stone in the eyes and asked, “I’m not judging you, I’m simply curious. How do you survive living like that?”

  “I manage. I have no responsibility to anyone but myself, and that makes life easier for me. Haven’t you ever wished you could be free of everyday worries?”

  The man had a point. I had so many things going on, my life was overflowing. Though, I couldn’t see myself living in his circumstances. I liked comfort too much to live rough.

  Fred excused himself by saying he would be in the barn. As he walked toward the breezeway, Jessica said nearly the same and followed Fred. That left me, Bun, and Stone alone.

  “I didn’t scare them away, did I?”

  I smiled. “They have work to do and a schedule to follow, so no, you didn’t scare them.”

  “You’re sure you don’t mind my staying at the site?”

  “Not at all.”

  “I don’t make you nervous? I am, after all, a stranger.”

  I shook my head. “Not nervous at all. Besides, the sheriff would have let me know if you were a danger to us, and you wouldn’t be here right now.” I reached for the lunch plates and began to clear the table.

  His gaze steady and watchful, Bun grumbled, “I think you shouldn’t offer him a job. You know next to nothing about him, and he’s troubled. I can smell it, I tell you.”

  Knowing full well that animals have keen senses, I was certain Bun was onto something. What it was, I didn’t know, but my curiosity was at an all-time high due to his insistence. Stacking the dishes in the sink, I gave Bun a wink and then turned to Stone.

  “Do you have enough blankets and such? The nights still get rather cold.”

  “I’m all right, thanks. If I find I could use an extra o
ne, I’ll come by, if that’s all right?”

  “Sure.”

  “I do have one, maybe two questions for you, though. Why would you allow me to stay on your land?”

  “You’re not bothering anyone, so why not? What’s your other question?”

  “Why would someone want to break into your farm?”

  “That’s a long story that I’m not really sure is the real one. Mostly theory on my part.”

  Though he was idle and now relaxed, his interest gave his face an animated appearance.

  “Tell me.”

  Willing to talk to someone who might offer a different aspect of the situation, I gave him a quick summary of what had happened at the farm. I added the discovery of Arty the Mime’s body, and left it at that. He listened without interruption.

  “Any ideas or thoughts on these issues?”

  With a shrug, he pushed his chair away from the table and stood up.

  “That’s quite a mystery. You have taken precautions though, haven’t you? More security for the barn?”

  “After the last time, I put all that in place. I’ve never had to worry about security before, but I guess I should have.”

  Stone readied to leave, zipped his jacket, and walked to the door.

  “With all you’ve been experiencing, I wouldn’t blame you if you had pressed charges against me. I appreciate that you didn’t.”

  Stone opened the door and walked out without a good-bye or even a glance over his shoulder. He veered toward the wooded land past the barn. I watched him until he was out of sight.

  “I think he’s a survivalist kind of guy. Something bad in his life, too, that makes him a loner. Aren’t you glad I’m not a loner?”

  With a roll of my eyes, I chuckled. “You could never be a loner. Where would you get that yummy tasting food I give you every day?”

  “Mm, you’re probably right. I’m used to being treated like the prince I am.” With that, Bun scooted from the kitchen into the breezeway, with me not far behind.

  I’d reached the shop just as Jess walked in from the back section where Fred was working. I heard the ca-chink sound of his nail gun and looked at Jessica.

  “Well, what do you think?”

  “Mr. Stone is strange, for certain. You didn’t offer him a job, did you?”

  I shook my head. “If he likes his life the way it is, why would I interfere with that?”

  “I thought the same thing. Now tell me, what else happened in town? You were gone forever.”

  I withdrew the sheet of paper from my pocket that held the fare to be served at the upcoming open house. Jess snatched it from my hand, gave it the once-over and handed it back.

  “You were busy.”

  “I also put postcard invites out for people to take. I’ll take care of the rabbits now and then fill out the invitations for the mailman to take. What are you up to?”

  “I’ve done all I can to help Fred. My clinical rotation is on for tonight, then I’ll give what I’ve learned a final review. The professor said this won’t be a final exam, but he’ll be in there when I do my final rotation.” She grinned and went on her way.

  Bun hopped back and forth across the room, sniffed the air, and twitched his ears every time the nail gun sounded. Eventually, he stopped in front of me. “Can we take a walk now? I haven’t had any fresh air today.”

  I knelt and smoothed his coat. “I’ve got to check the rabbits first, and then we can go out for a while.”

  He followed me into the barn, then scurried through the aisles. I went in the opposite direction, took stock of which rabbits could use more water or hay, and met Bun in the middle row.

  He told me which rabbits were low on supplies. I cared for those who had little or none.

  I checked on Fred and asked, “Could you lock up if I’m not back before you leave?”

  “Certainly, I’ll be at this for another hour, then I’ll head for home. You just go about your business, I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  I thanked him, got my jacket, and tucked Bun into his sling.

  The phone rang as I opened the door. Carver was on the line.

  “Hi, Sheriff, what’s up?” A sense of dread instantly weighed me down.

  “The government wasn’t of much help when I contacted them about Andrew Stone. They said he had been in the military, nothing more. My lieutenant then Googled him, and come to find out, Stone is a decorated veteran. That’s all we could find on the man.”

  “That’s better than nothing, I suppose. Thanks for calling.” I hung up, told Bun what Carver said, and closed the door behind us before anyone else could interrupt our plans.

  Walking the path along the side of the road, we veered off the track toward the lake where we’d found Arty the Mime.

  Bun poked his head out of the sling and kept up a one-sided conversation. He seemed to be working something out, but his voice droned on and on in my brain. At the water’s edge, I came to an abrupt halt and gazed out over the now ice-free water. Strange how the seasons can change the look of one’s surroundings.

  “Why are we here?”

  “I’m admiring the landscape and the view of the lake. It’s nice now the snow has melted, and the ice is gone. Do you remember exactly where we found Arty?” I hesitated at the fence where we’d first stopped that cold, wintry day. Headed in that direction, I stopped at the gate that blocked the road and peered out toward the beach. Sunshine sparkled and danced across the water, waves lapped the shoreline, and a heady breeze ruffled my hair. Bun’s ears twitched.

  “Down to your right, I think. Let’s look, maybe there’s evidence left in the grasses.”

  Moving in the direction he’d indicated, I said, “I’d be surprised if there was. It’s rained buckets since we were here last. Besides, I’m sure Carver has given the area a thorough going-over.”

  Grasses lay mashed flat in this section. It was the only spot that might have held Arty’s body. All the rest of the tall grass waved in the breeze. Focused on the ground, both of us were intent on finding a remnant of Arty’s demise that might have been overlooked.

  “Looks like you’re right. I think Carver has given it the attention Arty deserved. Nobody should be left in the cold like that poor man was, even though he was miserable to you.”

  “I agree.” As I turned away, a flash of light caught my eye. “Did you see that?”

  “See what?”

  “There’s something over there.” I pointed to where the sun sparkled off something shiny.

  “Well, don’t just stand here, let’s see what it is.”

  His excitement was obvious, yet his voice doubtful. Bun liked to be the one who made discoveries. I stepped to the right, then moved a foot or two closer to the edge of the flattened grass when sunlight bounced off the item again.

  Opening the sling, I waited until Bun jumped to the ground, and together we foraged for what had caught my attention. Parting the grass, I gently pulled the shreds aside and crouched down on my knees.

  “Looks like an old-fashioned key.”

  I lifted the key that had been jabbed tip down into the ground, and wiped it on my jeans. Digging into my jacket pocket, I found an old tissue that I used to wipe the grime from the carved details where it would fit into a lock. Studying it closely, I turned it over in my hand and then showed it to Bun, who began to shiver. His eyes widened, his whiskers jittered, and he backed several steps away from me.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve seen that somewhere. I don’t remember where, but it wasn’t a good place. I know that for certain. Get it away from me.”

  His eyes were a tad wild looking. I knew Bun well enough to know he was terrified of the key, but why? Quickly, I tucked it into my jeans pocket, lifted Bun off the ground, and secured him in the sling. He shook until the heat from my body calmed him.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I don’t want to talk right now. Can we go home?”

  “We can.” I set off at a fast-paced walk
and then jogged awhile until Bun made it clear I jostled his fine bones and demanded I quit doing so. Bun had recovered from his fear and was his usual self. Smiling, I slowed to a walk, commented on the beauty of our surroundings, and mentioned how anxious I was for the open house to be over.

  “It will be successful, everyone likes you and, of course, us bunnies. We draw them like moths to light. Have no fear, you’ll be famous before you know it.”

  “I’m not in search of fame, I simply want to expand the business a bit and help Jessica become established as the best vet in Windermere.”

  “Did Lizzy’s car just fly past us?”

  “It looks like her car. She’s slowing down for the turn into the farm. I wasn’t expecting her today, I hope nothing untoward has happened. She’s quite an asset to the business.”

  Hurrying along the driveway, I stopped in at the gift shop. A huge pile of bagged yarn lay stacked haphazardly on the counter. Several large empty cardboard boxes lay in a jumbled heap on the floor. Lizzy was nowhere to be seen.

  “Hello? Lizzy?”

  She popped up from behind bags of yarn, a wide grin filled her face. “I saw you and Bun walking. I apologize for not stopping to give you a ride, but I wanted to get this yarn unpacked right away.”

  Blends of silk, soft wool, angora, and mohair skeins were gorgeous, soft, and luxurious. The luscious colors made me think of strawberry, pistachio, and creamy vanilla ice cream. I reached out and played my hands over the skeins, enjoying the softness of each. Lizzy snickered. Together, we separated and stacked the yarns before placing them in diamond-shaped bins that hung on the wall.

  Delighted at the cheerful colors and brightness they added to the shop, I regarded the skeins, asking if there were any new knitting and crochet supplies to accompany these beauties.

  After digging through another box, Lizzy spread a heap of circular bamboo knitting needles across the open space on the counter. She added crochet hooks, in a myriad of colors, ranging from thin, to fat, to enormous.

  Lifting a few crochet hooks, I gave each a good look. “Where did you get the idea for buying these?”

  “YouTube.”