by Vikki Walton
“All right. You’ll need to back out and then turn your car. We can’t have it closer.”
Anne nodded affirmation of his instructions.
Sam moved away from the door and Anne backed up a way down the road. She then slowly made her way down Old Ranch.
A car was barreling toward her. It was a deputy’s car. One with a dented front fender. Ruiz.
The deputy’s vehicle shot past hers and he cast a quick glance before continuing toward the burning structure.
Ruiz. He has to be El Toro, or he has to know who is. First, Dale killed, and now … no, no. I refuse to think about.
By the time Anne arrived home, she saw Hope’s car in her driveway. Kandi and Hope ran down to the car when they saw her. As she exited the car, the three embraced.
“We just heard. It’s all over town.”
“I’m, like, so, so, sorry.” Kandi whimpered.
“Me too, sweetie.” Anne caught herself before she broke down again.
Hope took her arm. “Let’s get you inside. I’ll make you some hawthorn tea.”
“Thanks, Hope.”
Kandi took Anne’s other hand and they walked to the house. Inside, Kandi put a soft blanket around Anne’s shoulders. Even though it was the height of summer, the weight and warmth of the blanket comforted Anne.
Once Hope had returned with the tea, the trio sat in silence, sipping the drink. Finally, Anne broke the silence. “What about the Inn? Are we okay over there for now, since we’re all here?”
“Don’t worry. Stewart said he’d hang out for a while.”
Anne took another sip of the warming brew. “How did you all know so fast?”
“Stewart is on the volunteer fire department. They had called them up to be ready in case the fire spread to the forest.”
“It had spread to the neighboring area by the trees, but Carson had a large space cleared around his home so I’m sure they’ve contained it.”
Hope reached over and patted Anne’s knee. “Don’t give up hope yet.”
Anne pressed her lips tightly together and nodded. “I’m trying to be optimistic, but you didn’t see the house. It was totally engulfed. No one could have survived.”
Kandi quipped, “He could have driven into town. You know, like, on some errands.”
Anne smiled at the encouragement offered by the young woman. “Yes, except his car was there. Ruined too.”
Loud banging on the back door startled the women.
“You stay there. I’ll get it.” Hope set her cup down on the table and went to the back.
When she returned, it was with Mary Smith.
“Is it true?” Mary spat out.
Anne stiffened. “Is what true?”
“An officer was killed. Sheriff Carson’s house is destroyed.”
“Why do you want to know?”
Mary didn’t respond. She turned back toward the kitchen and exited the house.
Hope shook her head. “What is going on?”
Anne stood up. “I don’t know. But I’m going to find out if it’s the last thing I do.”
Chapter Thirty
Tragedy filled the next morning’s paper with the report of total loss of Carson’s house. According to the fire marshal, the fire began in response to a gas explosion. The fire had been so intense that they would have to call in experts to sift through the debris. They weren’t reporting on any fatalities. They were asking people to stay away from the area.
Anne had tossed and turned all night with nightmares. She was running, running from something. A bull. Chasing her. But as she tried to get away, flames licked at her heels. She couldn’t breathe.
Anne woke up. She opened her eyes to see Mouser laying on her chest. Seeing her open eyes, Mouser touched her cheek and purred. “Oh, Mouser. Sweet boy.” She picked him up and laid him down on the bed next to her, but instead of curling up, he bounded off the bed and out of the room.
Tears sprung unbidden. “No. You’ve got to stop it. This won’t help you find out who did this.”
Carson’s words came to her ears. “ND, stay out of it.”
How many times had he told her to leave it to the professionals? That she wasn’t a real detective.
“You’re right.” She screamed out into the void. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve only made things worse. For Hope. Now for you.” She sat up and hugged her knees to her chest.
Anne acknowledged that she wasn’t a seasoned detective and lacked many of the skills needed to solve complicated crimes, but she couldn’t sit by and do nothing. She reviewed everything in her mind. What had Carson said about people doing things they never thought they would? And what about what Bill had told her about a money opportunity? She had no other roads to pursue, so she decided to visit the Connors.
When Anne arrived, a forlorn-looking man greeted her. Bill guided her into the living room area where Lori sat. The woman’s face was red from crying. Anne rushed over to her. “I’m so sorry, Lori.”
“Thanks.” She squeezed Anne’s hand.
“Yes.” Anne took a chair opposite from Lori. “I’ve come also because I want to ask you some questions, Bill.”
He sighed. “Fine. But how about some mint lemonade first? I have a feeling I know what you’re going to ask.”
Anne agreed, and they waited in companionable silence until Bill returned with the drinks. He handed one to Anne and one to Lori. He then took a seat on the couch.
“Bill—”
He raised his hand. “Why don’t I tell our story?”
“Okay.” Anne looked toward Lori who nodded.
He sighed and took a deep breath. “When Lori got ill, we tried the normal things, but she kept getting weaker and weaker. The pain became unrelenting. They gave her these pain-lollipops and Fentanyl patches. It helped for a time, but she was still going downhill.
“I researched treatments and found that patients were responding to herbs. I went to see Hope, and she prescribed astragalus along with some other herbs. But along the way, I saw more and more articles about people being healed by cannabinoid oil. I asked Lori if she’d consider trying it. It helped, and she could even eat again. But it’s an expensive product. I found out that Ray Lawrence would buy the buds and I could use the leaves for juicing. So that helped pay for some oil. But it wasn’t enough. Ray said if I added more plants, I could make more money and have more leaf material for Lori.” He rubbed his hands together.
“I was all in. I said I’d do it. But then I heard he was selling the pot to kids. Kids! I couldn’t be a part of that. We struggled enough with doing it medicinally, but I thought he was selling to adults. Even then it went against my beliefs, but…” He looked at Lori. She smiled at him. “She was doing so much better. The pain had become manageable, and she could eat and keep food down.”
He put his head in his hands. “Carson knew. He didn’t condone it, that’s for sure. But he agreed I was legally within my rights to grow the number of plants I had to use for Lori. He didn’t know I was selling the buds to Ray. Then things went south. I heard about the Bennett’s place. I’d gotten my plants from them. They wanted to help people, but then Ray wanted them to sell him the product. They’d heard about him selling to kids too. They refused.” Bill looked up. “You saw what happened there.”
Anne spoke, “Do you know who attacked you?”
Bill shook his head. “I think it was some kid Ray had sent over. He came to get product and I wouldn’t give it to him. I told him to get out, and he grabbed one of my plant’s containers. That’s the last I remember.”
“He could have killed you.”
“I know. I was lucky.” Bill touched the area where a small bandage covered the stitches in his scalp. “Then the Bennett’s place burned down. And someone killed Ray. I didn’t know what to make of that. But it was something the kid said about El Toro.”
He got up and paced the room.
“Cal Bennett called me after I got out of the hospital. They’d been threate
ned, and when the ETB Corporation offered to buy their property, they sold and left. That’s when I realized I’d gotten in way over my head. Cal even said I shouldn’t trust anyone in law enforcement.” He sat back down.
“I hate to admit it, but I wondered if Carson was involved. Yes, he’s Lori’s cousin but you don’t really know anyone totally, do you?”
“I guess so. But he wouldn’t burn down his own house.”
Lori grasped her throat. “What!”
Anne looked from Lori to Bill. “But you’d been crying. You said, ‘no news is good news’.”
“I was crying because I found out the cancer’s in remission.”
“Maybe I’m missing something, but you said thanks when I said I was sorry. I’m confused.”
“Oh, I had a friend going through the same thing. She lost her battle this morning.” Lori wadded up a tissue in her hand. “Now, what’s this about burning down houses?”
“You haven’t seen the paper?”
Bill stopped her. “Anne, please. What is it?”
“I hate to be the one to tell you, but Carson’s house burned to the ground yesterday. I thought you would have heard.”
“We were in Denver, visiting Lori’s friend in hospice. We got home very late and we don’t get the paper from town. I usually pick one up when I go into town.”
Lori moaned. “Poor Carson. How’s he doing?”
Anne fought to keep control. “They haven’t found him.”
“You don’t mean—” Lori gasped. “Bill!”
He rushed to her side and held her.
“Nothing’s been determined yet. Who knows? He may not have been home.”
“His car wasn’t there?”
“No. It was.” Anne sighed.
“Oh, Bill.” Lori buried her face in his shirt and wept.
Anne struggled to remain composed. She stood. “I’m sorry. I have to go.” She left before she broke down in front of them.
“I’ll walk you out.” Bill rose and kissed Lori’s hand. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Once they were out of earshot, Bill took Anne by the arm. “You think Carson was in the house, don’t you?”
Anne struggled to mouth the words. “Yes.”
“Poor Carson.” He led Anne outside and shut the front door behind him.
“Bill, what do you know of this El Toro?”
“From what I gathered from Cal, it was someone not from the Springs.”
“Did he ever say anything about a woman being involved?”
“I overheard Ray talking to someone on the phone one day. It sounded like a woman’s voice. Other than that, I don’t know.”
“How long ago was that?”
“Right before Ray died in the fire.”
Anne thought back. Mary hadn’t shown up in town until after Ray died. Was that why she had come?
“What about Deputy Ruiz?”
“What about him?” Bill kicked at the gravel on the drive.
“Have you heard of him in any connection about drugs or…?”
“No. I know he was on call when the Bennett’s place went up.”
Anne pulled her keys from her purse. “He was the first one there?”
“Couldn’t tell you.”
“Who came up after they attacked you?”
“I think Lori said it was Officer Dale.”
“And now he’s dead.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Anne said goodbye to Bill and left for home. Thoughts swirled in her mind.
Ray Lawrence. Selling drugs to kids. Found dead at the Bennett’s.
Bennetts growing marijuana. Greenhouse destroyed. Ray killed.
Deputy Ruiz. Fairly new to town. First on the scene at the Bennetts.
Bennett’s place sold. Gate has a bull on it. El Toro.
Ruiz and Mary. Were they working together?
Was Mary the woman? Had she come to the Springs after Ray’s death?
Carson overseeing Bennett investigation. Jailed for starting a fire at Hope’s.
Officer Dale. First on the scene at Bill’s. Dies right before meeting.
Arson materials found at Dale’s. Carson cleared. Carson’s house destroyed.
Why?
That simple question kept playing over and over in her mind. Why go after Carson? Did he know something?
Anne had no more answers than she’d had before. Something kept alluding her.
Back at her house, she wrote everything out on paper, but nothing appeared or led her further.
Maybe she could talk to Sam. She got back in her car and drove out to Sam’s. As she pulled up to the cabin, Hank bounded down the steps toward her. That was a good sign, as Hank often went with Sam unless he was working. It probably meant Sam was home.
Anne walked toward the back deck and heard Sam’s voice and a woman’s voice. Mary.
She was about to leave when Sam appeared at the top of the stairs. “Anne. Good to see you. Come on up.”
Anne took the stairs and saw that Mary was sitting on a lounger on the deck.
“Hello.”
“Hi,” Mary responded. “I owe you an apology.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I shouldn’t have come on so forcefully, I behaved badly, and I hope you’ll forgive me.”
Said the spider to the fly.
“Sure.”
“We’ve come from a hike and were just taking a break before I take Mary back to the Inn. How can I assist you?”
Polite. Formal. So unlike Sam. Anne realized that they really had moved on.
“It’s nothing. I wondered—”
“There’s no news. I wish I could tell you something more. Trust me. I want to know too.”
“Do you at least know what happened?”
“It’s like what’s being said. Gas leak or something and the house exploded.”
“But you would have found… at least… fragments.” Anne shot a quick glance over at Mary, who remained stoic in her demeanor.
“Nothing yet. I’m sure we’ll hear something today or tomorrow though.”
“Okay. Well, I thought I’d stop by for just a minute.”
“I’m glad you did.”
The more she thought about Sam with Mary, she felt she had to do something.
She turned back to the woman. “How’s Deputy Ruiz?”
The woman stared at Anne. “I’m sorry. What do you mean?”
“I’ve seen you two together quite a bit, I thought maybe you had become friends…” She left it hanging with implied intent.
“I’ve seen him when he came out here to fish but other than that we only exchange greetings if we see each other. We’re not friends.” Mary crossed her arms.
“My bad. I guess I misunderstood.”
“Yes. You misunderstood. No problem.”
Anne felt at a loss. She had gotten no new information. She turned where she could see Mary’s reaction but asked Sam, “Have you been out to the new event center? I think it’s got a bull on the gate and it’s called, um, El Toro or something.”
Sam answered but Anne focused on Mary’s response. The woman tensed but it was slight and only visible since Anne had been looking for a reaction.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“I said, Stewart’s upset and so are lots of other workers as they haven’t employed too many locals in the building.”
“Yes, I’d heard that too.”
Anne furrowed her brow. “Now that you mention it, I wonder why.”
Mary rose from the lounger in one quick movement. “I’m sure it’s the way that company prefers to work.”
“Is it? Do you know the company?” Anne faced the woman.
“No. I’m thinking that’s probably the reason.” She turned to Sam. “I think I will head back to the Inn. Still on for dinner this evening?”
He smiled at her. “Yes. I’ll take you.”
“Thanks, but no. I think I’ll get in a short run.”
A hike and now a run?
Was this woman for real?
She turned to Anne. “I’m really enjoying my stay at the Inn. It’s been very nice. I can tell that you all have invested a lot into it.”
Anne felt a chill. Was the woman threatening her or the Inn?
She waved goodbye and jogged off down the trail.
“Sam?”
“Yes?” He turned to her.
“It’s not my place, but I don’t think Mary is…”
“Is what?”
“Well, take her name for instance. I mean, come on. Mary Smith. I could pick a better name.”
Sam laughed. “Are you kidding me? You’re giving me love life advice.”
“I’m simply saying, how much do you know about her?”
“Not as much as I’d like.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Anne swatted at him. “Okay. But be it upon your own head. Don’t forget that I didn’t warn you.”
“Warn me against a woman or all women?”
Anne sighed. “Okay, cards on the table. I think she may be involved in a drug cartel. Possibly with Deputy Ruiz.”
Sam burst out laughing. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I have to give it to you—your imagination is something.”
“I’m serious, Sam.” She crossed her arms.
“Sorry. But there’s no way she’s involved in something like that. Or Ben either.”
“Ben?”
“Ruiz. His name’s Benjamin. But he goes by Ben.”
“He hasn’t been here that long, and Mary only showed up after someone killed Ray.”
“Those are facts. But I can’t see either of them being involved in anything like that.”
“Maybe that’s because they want you to think that.”
His cell phone rang. He held up a finger. “Powers speaking.” He listened. “Yes. Yes. Okay. Thanks for calling.” He clicked the phone off.
“That was the head of the crime scene technicians. No human remains found.”
Anne grabbed Sam in a hug, laughing and crying.
Carson was alive.
But if he was alive, where was he?
Chapter Thirty-Two
“That’s a good question,” Hope responded when Anne gave her the news. “It doesn’t seem like him to not let people know what’s going on, but I guess I really don’t know him that well.”
