by Vikki Walton
“Hey,” he quipped.
“Hay is for horses.” Anne set the wet cup on the drainer.
“What?”
“Never mind.”
“Hope wanted me to add another calendar to the website about the attic room.”
“Okay. I’m not using the computer, so this is as good a time as any.”
Spencer didn’t move. After spending time with him over the last few months, she’d begun to read this trait as him wanting to say something.
“What is it?”
He mumbled something.
“What? I can’t understand you.”
“Is it true that they found Ray Lawrence … his body … in the fire at the Bennetts?”
Anne laid down the dishcloth and faced Spencer. “Yes. Why?” She pointed for him to sit down. “Did you know him?”
Spencer sat on the edge of his chair. He shook his head. “No. I didn’t know him. Well, I guess, I sort of knew him. But not really. But I did, you know, know of him.”
Anne waited.
“I, well, he, um, I—”
“Spit it out. What is it?”
“I feel bad, but I’m not really sorry, he, you know, is dead.”
“Spencer. Why would you…”
He bowed his head. “He wasn’t a nice person.”
“There are a lot of people who aren’t nice people, but you don’t wish them dead.”
He started. “Oh, no. I didn’t wish him dead. I, you know, just wanted him gone.”
“Look, I know you’re holding something back. Tell me.”
“Well, you know that he was related to Ms. Lawrence, my foster mom?”
Anne nodded yes.
“But what you didn’t know is that he was always selling pot to the other kids.”
“What!”
“Oh, Mrs. Lawrence didn’t know. She thought he was coming over because he wanted to stop kids from going the direction he had gone in school. But he was either selling them drugs or getting them to sell pot for him.”
“That’s horrible. Have you told anyone about this?”
“No way.” Spencer looked at her with pleading eyes.
“I won’t say anything. Don’t worry. But only because he’s dead.”
Spencer let out a sigh.
“I appreciate your telling me everything.” She nodded toward the office. “You probably should get to the computer work.”
After Spencer had left, Anne sat at the table.
Ray Lawrence had been selling pot to the foster kids in Mrs. Lawrence care behind her back. But what was he doing over at the Bennett’s place? All Anne knew was that the Bennetts were a young couple who’d moved into Carolan Springs last fall. She’d seen them only a few times. First, when they were welcomed into the community and a few times on Main Street.
Had Ray gone over to their house to sell them pot? With Colorado making marijuana legal, it wasn’t a crime. At least for adults. But Ray had been selling to minors. That was a different story. Carolan Springs council had rejected the retail side of it but approved the medicinal shops. This had caused a lot of angst in their normally quiet company, with both sides fighting for what they thought was right.
She stood up and pushed the chair back under the table. She’d take a look around and then head over to Kandi’s for dinner. She pulled out a tote that held various supplies along with bagged cookies and chocolates for the guests. Climbing the back stairs, Anne was happy to see Stewart had completed the addition of more lights to the ceiling. They’d also painted the walls a bright white, so the stairway had been transformed into something light and bright, versus dark and scary. As she made her way up the stairs, Anne thought to herself, what stories these stairs could tell.
After going through the rooms and making sure that the guests had chocolates on their pillows and their tea caddy full, along with a bag of shortbread cookies nearby, she headed back downstairs. Peeking into the office, she saw Spencer had already left. She closed the door and locked it. Time to head over to Kandi’s.
Outside, a sheriff’s cruiser drew up to the cul-de-sac’s curb. It stopped, and Anne walked up to it.
The window on the passenger slid down.
Anne bent down to see the driver. “Deputy Ruiz. What are you doing over here? Nothing’s happened I hope.”
He pulled off his sunglasses. His skin had become a handsome shade of toffee brown, no doubt from time spent outside in the sun. Anne had heard he was a keen fisherman and would hike up into the backcountry for miles to a secluded mountain lake. If only she could tan so nicely. Anne sighed. While peaches and cream were nice, her skin only turned to a lobster shade with too much sun.
“No. But Sheriff Carson has us doing more sweeps of the area. We’ve been hearing about quite a few fires and we want to make sure we don’t have an arsonist on our hands.”
Nothing could cause more concern and fear than fire when it came to living in the mountains. A simple campfire could easily grow to destroy thousands of acres of land, kill wildlife and obliterate habitats, along with the destruction of homes and businesses. Someone who set fires intentionally had to be caught quickly.
“I heard about the Bennett’s place. That was horrible.”
“Yes. It’s not confirmed but it looks like arson because of—”
“Ray Lawrence.”
“How did you know about that?” He wiped his sunglasses and propped them on his head.
Anne shrugged. “Small town.”
“I guess.”
“Oh, before you go. I know that it’s under the police’s purview, but any word on the attack on Bill Connor?”
“No. That was a nasty business. He’s still in the hospital with a concussion. I hate to see something like that happening here. It’s why I got away from the city. I couldn’t stop much there but I’m determined I will keep this town—” Ruiz stopped as Anne realized he’d begun talking more to himself than to her. He clamped his lips tightly together.
“Well, I know you’re busy and I’ve got to get over to Kandi’s.”
“Did I see her brothers are back in town?”
“Yes. They arrived earlier today.”
Anne saw him place his sunglasses back over his eyes. Did he not want her to see something?
“Okay. Well, better get going.” He waved, and she backed away from the car. She saw the window go up as he made a slow pass on the road and then turned out of sight.
It sure seemed weird that he would be patrolling the area. As far as she knew, she’d never known the sheriff’s department or the police to do neighborhood drive-bys. Plus, how did he know about Kandi’s brothers? Was he keeping tabs on everyone? She didn’t know whether to think this was a good thing or a foreboding of bad things to come.
Chapter Six
After a delicious supper, the group all moved out to Kandi’s deck.
“That was a wonderful dinner, Autumn. I didn’t think I’d like lentil curry as much as I did,” Anne complimented the young woman.
Kevin had moved over closer to Autumn. Karl hung back, but it was blatantly obvious that he was infatuated with the young woman as well.
Anne recounted the conversation she’d had with Spencer to Hope.
Kevin broke into the conversation. “They falsely accuse marijuana as a gateway drug. There are other things more harmful.”
Hope interjected before Anne could respond, “Yes, it can be considered an herb, which has therapeutic value, but it can also have contraindications as many herbs do. It’s certainly not a cure-all but I agree it doesn’t deserve the venom—”
“Totally agree,” Kevin responded.
“Conversely, it isn’t a panacea for every ill and can be harmful like any drug.” Hope took a sip of her drink.
Anne smothered a laugh. It was rare for Hope to take a strong position to other’s statements.
Kandi said, “I hope, like, Spencer stays away from it.”
“It’s no worse than that drink you have in your hand.” Karl nodded
to the glass of wine Kandi held.
“That may be true. But kids need to stay away from any form of drug.”
“Well said, Kandi.” Anne nodded at the young woman.
“Thanks, Mom.” Kandi smiled.
Karl and Kevin looked at one another. It was clear they didn’t care for this new understanding between Kandi and Anne. Had Karl and Kevin felt differently about their mother’s abandonment when they were younger?
“All I’m saying is that they should allow people to live their lives the way they choose,” Kevin replied.
“I will agree with you on that, with one caveat,” Hope responded. “Anything that someone chooses should not affect others. Taking drugs—of any source—rarely achieves that.”
Anne could tell tempers were simmering under the surface. “You know what they say about politics and religion—that you shouldn’t talk about them at dinner. Maybe this issue should be for a different time or conversation.”
The group laughed, and even though Anne could tell that Hope and Karl wanted to continue the debate, they nodded agreement.
“On another note,” Kandi interjected, “I received a call from Lori. She’s staying in the hospital a few days and she said that Bill is still unconscious. It sounds like it’s pretty touch-and-go with him.”
“Sorry to hear that.” Anne pushed her hair behind her ear. “I still wonder who would do such a thing.”
“I will go over tomorrow and see about fixing the greenhouse. I know that if—I mean, when—Bill and Lori come home, I don’t want it to remind them of the attack.”
Anne nodded. “Good idea, Hope. I’ll go with you.”
“We can help too. We’re not doing anything tomorrow.” Kevin stood up.
“I’ll be, like, busy with the breakfast at the Inn, but I can prepare a picnic lunch and bring it over,” Kandi chirped.
“Sounds like a great plan.” Hope stood and turned to Kandi. “Let’s get things cleaned up so we can get out of your hair for the night.”
“Go on Hope. Mom, can you help me?”
“Sure. Be happy to.”
Hope turned to Autumn. “Ready to go?”
Autumn stood up. “Yes. Just let me get my Birks on and we can hit the trail.”
“Trail?” Kevin cracked his knuckles.
Kandi placed stacked dishes on the counter. “Remember where we used to go down in the woods? In the last few years, while you guys have been traveling the world, they created a trail for walkers and runners.”
“Just like the government to come in and destroy the environment to appease the people.”
“Um, okay. Then don’t go.” Kandi threw up her hands.
“No. I want to go. I can walk over with you and then jog back. I need a run,” he replied.
“Karl, do you want to join us?”
“Why not? It would be good to see the old area. We barely saw Main Street coming into town.”
After the twins, Autumn, and Hope had said their goodbyes, Kandi turned to Anne. “Brothers!”
Chapter Seven
Anne and Hope drove over to Bill and Lori’s house the next morning. After breakfast, Kandi would come over and her brothers said they would come too.
Anne parked her vehicle behind a dark green Focus. It was Lori’s car. She hadn’t driven herself home, but Anne hadn’t remembered the car being there when they’d visited for the beehive workshop.
Hope opened her door and exited the car as a tall man walked from around the corner of the house.
It took a minute for Anne to realize it was Sheriff Carson. This was the first time she’d seen him out of his uniform. Today he wore a faded red pullover shirt, a pair of cargo pants and boat shoes sans socks. In place of his usual Stetson, he wore a black cap.
Seeing them, Carson removed his cap and his aviator sunglasses. He folded them and stuck them in the neck of his shirt. “Ladies. What are you doing here?”
“We wanted to come and clean up the greenhouse before Bill and Lori got home. Is it still a crime scene?”
“No. I wanted to look around myself. I checked on Lori—”
Anne interrupted him. “How is she doing? How’s Bill? Will they get to come home soon? Any news on who did this? Anyone arrested?”
“Ahhh, ND. I see you haven’t changed.”
Anne had gotten used to his nickname for her from the initials of Nancy Drew. She’d turned down his offer to start up a relationship—no way was she going to be in something with him while he was still involved with Sorcha, the town’s sultry bookstore owner. Ever since then, they’d been polite, and he usually called her Ms. Freemont. But he was out of uniform. Maybe that was it.
He continued. “Lori ‘s doing as well as can be expected after the shock. She will be coming home tomorrow so she asked if I could go to the repair shop and pick up her car for her.”
“That’s a strange thing for a sheriff to do, isn’t it?” Anne pushed her hair back from her face.
“We’re second cousins.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that.”
“You know, there are a lot of things you don’t know about me.”
“Well…” Why had things become so uncomfortable all of a sudden?
Hope opened the back door and pulled out gloves and a hat. She handed a pair to Anne and stuck a pair under her arm. She also pulled out trash bags and some clippers. “Better get started. Nice seeing you, Sheriff Carson.” She moved off toward the back.
Anne stood facing Carson. The silence stretched between them for a minute.
“Anne—”
She started. He rarely called her by her first name. She couldn’t do this. Not now. “Good seeing you, Sheriff Carson. We’ve got a lot of work to do. Bye.” She sprinted off toward the back before he could respond.
As she moved out of his sight, she slowed to a walk, but her heart was pounding in her chest. What’s the matter with me? I’m not some young girl with a schoolgirl crush. I’m happy being on my own. I have my house, my work, Mouser. I don’t need anything, or anyone, else.
She stopped. If Carson brought the car here, how was he going to get back to town? She twisted to see him walking a bike onto the driveway. He turned and faced her, but his eyes were now obscured by his sunglasses and he’d put his cap back on. She waved, but he didn’t return the gesture.
Hope called out, “Anne, can you give me a hand with this?”
Anne yelled, “Coming.” When she turned back, Carson was peddling down the drive.
Arriving at the greenhouse, Anne noticed the smudges of fingerprints now visible because of the CSI technicians. She followed Hope into the space. The greenhouse was beautiful and larger than Anne would have thought. Along one wall were blue barrels for rainwater catchment. On the other side that faced east, someone had built planters at knee height in a large ‘E’ pattern, mimicking a traditional keyhole garden. The south side held a bunch of perennials and it surprised Anne to see a fig tree and a lemon plant.
Anne had heard they used climate-controlled greenhouses to grow various food and fruit in Basalt, but this was the first time she’d actually seen one.
“Oh wow. This is wonderful. I’m envious.” Anne’s face fell as she took in the overturned table and chairs along with the large broken pot. “Is that”—she pointed—”what they believe they hit him with?”
“Not sure. But look at this.” Hope led Anne over to a door. Opening it they came into a small hallway. On either side of the hallway were storage rooms. One side held pots and various gardening tools. The other side was empty, apart from new shelving and a bunch of lights stacked in a corner.
“It looks like he’s going to make this into a grow-room. I guess he feels he needs a more secure place for starting seedlings.” Anne motioned to the main part of the greenhouse.
“Possibly.” Hope waved with her hand. “Look at this.” She walked past packed dirt walls that had been painted with what looked like a milk paint.
Hope opened the door, and they were standing out
side again. Anne turned back toward where they’d exited for a better look. “Oh, that’s really nice.” She pointed to where the earth was full of wildflowers and clovers. Bees buzzed happily among the flowers and Anne noticed two skep hives closer to the top. She moved away from the back and shielded her eyes from the sun. Sure enough, a plastic tube connected the hive to the inside of the greenhouse.
“Well, that’s smart. His bees can go inside the greenhouse too.”
“Yes, but that’s not why I brought you out here,” Hope interjected. “I think the person who attacked Bill came in from this way. There’s no lock on the door, and look—” She pointed to where the grass had been crushed. “I think someone was out here. Waiting.”
She walked back inside. “They could have come in here and hidden in the potting shed. When they heard Bill come in, they hit him with the pot.” She inclined her head toward the broken pot.
“But wouldn’t Bill have fought back?”
Hope waved toward the house. “Lori told me that Bill has a daily ritual. He comes down here and drinks tea inside the greenhouse.” Hope went over and opened a small cabinet close to the table area. Inside were cups, saucers and tea tins. She reached down next to it and picked up an electric tea kettle.
“That could be true, but why do you think they were here in the first place?”
“That’s what I wanted to show you.” Hope moved over toward the raised beds. Under a pile of torn up tomatoes, she picked up a leaf and held it in front of Anne.
Anne gasped. “Marijuana. Whoa, I never saw that coming.”
Chapter Eight
“It’s not surprising. After all, with Lori’s condition, pain management is the first consideration. People you never would have thought as ‘pot-smokers’ have seen its benefits.”
“I guess. But I’m still not convinced. And isn’t it illegal?” Anne looked to see if she could spot other plants among the foliage.
“No, it’s not illegal here in Colorado. You can grow plants yourself. There’s just a limit you can have growing at one time.”
“Do you think he planned to grow more? That could explain the room he’s fitting out with shelving.”
