Desperate Measures

by Patricia H. Rushford

  Scott nodded and bit his lower lip, looking like he wanted to say more.

  Jennie stepped away as he slipped the Honda into gear and drove away. “At least fasten your helmet!” she yelled after him. When he reached the end of the driveway, she expected him to turn right and head west toward the freeway. Instead, he made a left—a route that would take him past the Sutherlands’ and into town. Strange.

  She stood there several minutes, arms folded, staring at the dust until it settled back onto the road and the landscape blurred. She should have jumped on the back of the bike, wrapped her arms around him, and not let go until she’d talked some sense into him. She should have tried to talk him into turning himself in. Jennie debated calling the sheriff again, but something held her back. She didn’t want Scott to go to jail, but it was more than that.

  He did head into town, she reminded herself. Hope flourished inside her. Maybe he decided to turn himself in after all.

  Jennie thought seriously about getting into her car and following him but doubted it would do much good. Let it go, McGrady, a small voice in her head insisted. Forget about him. He isn’t worth the tears or the trouble. She shuffled to the porch and sank into the swing wishing she hadn’t come. to the Bergstroms’ at all. It was bad enough having to deal with Ryan’s rejection. Now Scott had decided he didn’t want her either.

  She’d have been better off staying home, working on her project for school, playing catch with her little brother, and hanging out with Mom and Dad. Jennie glanced at her watch. Twelve­thirty. Missing her family brought another rush of tears. She brushed them away and went inside.

  Mom had come to depend on Jennie’s help the last few weeks. How was she doing without the extra help? Was Dad able to take up some of the slack? Self-pity turned to concern as she picked up the phone.

  Calling home produced nothing more than another answering machine message. Jennie hung up. Maybe she’d call later. Maybe not. What could she say? “Hi, Mom and Dad, my new boyfriend—or rather ex-sort-of boyfriend—is an eco-terrorist.”

  Okay, McGrady, enough. She needed to concentrate on something else. Jennie looked through the cupboards until she found a bag of peppermint tea and a mug. Tea often helped her think things through—Gram had taught her that. After heating the water in the microwave, Jennie snapped up a pen and paper from beside the phone and sat down, imagining herself having a cup with Gram. She thought of Gram’s warm smile and deep blue eyes. “What’s troubling you, darling?” Gram would say.

  Jennie would tell her and together they’d talk it out. Instead of talking, between sips of tea Jennie wrote the details of the story from start to finish. The call from Scott saying he was working on the mink ranch. The talk they’d had and his assurance he was no longer affiliated with ARM. Seeing him in the yard at two a.m. just after the mink had been released. How he’d worked with her and the others to round up the mink and how angry he’d been at the activists who’d freed the animals. And finally, his admission of guilt.

  Taking a sip of her now lukewarm brew, Jennie frowned at the paper. It made no sense—no sense whatsoever. Why would he be angry with the activists if he was one of them? Unless, of course, it had all been part of an elaborate scheme to make everyone believe he was innocent. If that was true, she had completely misjudged Scott; that was not a good sign. To be in law enforcement she’d need to be a good judge of character. Though she’d been wrong about people a few times, she still trusted her instincts as well as her intuition. Right now both seemed a bit out of tune.

  So what are you going to do about it? The question came as clearly as if Gram herself was sitting at the table.

  “Try to find out what’s going on, I guess,” she said aloud. As Jennie was taking her empty cup to the sink, the phone rang.

  “Jennie, this is Sheriff Parker. What have you got for me?”

  Jennie told her about the fight and about Scott being the figure she’d seen just after the release and his admission of guilt.

  “I appreciate the call. I’ll try to track him down. You say he was heading toward town?”

  “The last I saw.”

  “Hmm. Okay, thanks for the info.”

  “Um—you’ll let me know, won’t you? I mean, if you find Scott.”

  “Sure.”

  Jennie hung up, wondering again why Scott had driven east instead of west. He apparently hadn’t gone to town to turn himself in, or Sheriff Parker would have said something.

  Had he gone to meet someone?

  Jennie’s stomach catapulted. Maybe he’d decided to go back to the Sutherlands’. If he did, Jennie would bet just about anything it wouldn’t be to apologize. Could Scott have gone to have a show­down with Bob Sutherland? He hadn’t even wanted to hit Sutherland during the fight. How can you be sure? she asked herself. Obviously you don’t know him as well as you thought. Or did she? She recalled the way he had angrily lashed out at her and Gram in Florida when he’d been so intent on saving the dolphins. He had a temper—especially when he thought someone was in the wrong. Maybe she’d let her imagination conjure up a Scott that wasn’t real.

  At the sound of a car coming up the drive, Jennie set her thoughts on hold and went out to the porch to see who it was.

  Mary, Megan, and Lisa pulled into the driveway and tumbled out of the car. Jennie ambled out to greet them and helped bring in the groceries.

  After making five trips to the car and back, Jennie slumped into a chair. “What are you going to do with all that food?”

  “Are you kidding?” Mary laughed. “I’m afraid I won’t have enough. I talked to your mom this morning, and they’re coming for the barbecue dinner on Monday.”

  “Mom and Dad are coming too,” Lisa added.

  “And don’t forget the guys are coming over tonight,” Megan added.

  At Jennie’s questioning look, Megan went on to remind her about Algie, Kurt, and Scott.

  Jennie winced. With all the excitement, she’d completely forgotten about the party. “Somehow I don’t think Scott’s going to make it.” She went on to give them the details.

  “My goodness,” Mary exclaimed. “We go shopping and all you-know-what breaks loose.”

  “This is awful.” Megan set two containers of milk in the refrigerator. “Are you sure Scott was in on releasing the mink? It’s so hard to believe.”

  Jennie pointed to the pad she’d been writing on. “Tell me about it. I’ve been trying to figure it out since he left. Something weird is going on, that’s for sure.”

  “Without Scott,” Lisa began, “Jennie won’t have a date tonight.”

  “I don’t need one.” Jennie bounced to her feet. “I’ll stay in Megan’s room and read.”

  “You will not.” Megan retrieved a bag from the table and moved it to the counter. “But you’re right. We don’t need another guy. It’s not like a date anyway. We’ll just hang out and have a good time.”

  Jennie bit the inside of her cheek. With Scott in trouble, she didn’t feel like hanging out and having fun. But she couldn’t very well tell Megan that. Instead, she smiled. “I’m sure it’ll be great, Megan. We’ll just go with what you’ve got planned.”

  “Speaking of plans,” Mary said, “weren’t you girls going into the English Rose for lunch today?”

  The trio glanced up at the clock above the sink. “Oh, you’re right.” Megan piled some canned goods into the cupboard. “We’d better get ready.”

  “Shouldn’t we help put this stuff away?” Jennie asked. “Not a problem. You girls go ahead. I can handle the rest.”

  Jennie reluctantly followed Megan and Lisa upstairs. Ordinarily she’d have enjoyed their outing, but with Scott …Jennie cancelled the thought. She was not responsible for him or his actions, and she was not about to let him ruin the rest of her weekend.

  While Megan and Lisa talked about what to wear, Jennie pulled her hair o
ut of its braid and began brushing it. “Jeans are okay, aren’t they? They’re all I brought.”

  “Sure. I just thought it would be fun to dress up a little. Living on the farm, I’m always in jeans.” Megan pulled a dress from her closet. “How’s this one?”

  Jennie eyed the long-sleeved casual cotton dress and shrugged. “Looks good.”

  “Too good.” Lisa rolled her eyes. “I didn’t bring a dress. All I have that’s even remotely dressy are my black jeans and my lace­trimmed top.”

  “That’s perfect. Lace always dresses up jeans.” She eyed the dress and put it back, choosing instead a pair of black slacks and a cable-knit sweater.

  While the other girls changed, Jennie rummaged through her suitcase and came up with a lavender ribbed knit. It had a simple scoop neck and looked nice with the gold locket she liked to wear. Jennie pulled the shirt over her head, tucked it into her jeans, and settled the locket into place, all the while thinking of Scott. “Are you ready, Jennie?” Megan interrupted her reverie.

  “Huh? Oh, sure.”

  Within minutes they were seated in Jennie’s car, Lisa in the front and Megan in back, heading down the long driveway. Jennie studied the road and the traffic, looking for signs of mink as well as for Scott. While she’d vowed to forget him, it wasn’t that easy. In the short time she’d known him, she’d gotten quite attached to him. And she was just plain worried.

  Tea was an elegant affair, and Jennie had a great time reminiscing with Megan and Lisa, sipping Earl Gray and eating from the three-tiered trays of tiny sandwiches, scones, and desserts. Megan suddenly stopped talking and leaned toward them.

  “Guess who just walked in.”

  Jennie twisted around, then turned back quickly. Aleshia and her mother followed a hostess to a nearby table.

  “Oh, Mother, look who’s here.” Aleshia tossed them a look that could easily be taken as condescending if it hadn’t quickly disappeared behind a warm smile.

  Christine set her large tapestry handbag on the floor and turned to greet them. “Hi, girls. What a surprise. I needed some time away from the farm. With all the turmoil over the mink, I haven’t had a minute to relax, so we decided to meet in town.” Her gaze settled on Jennie. “How is your friend’s nose?”

  Jennie shrugged. “Okay, I guess. Did the sheriff talk to you?”

  “Tess? No, is something wrong?”

  “I’m afraid your husband was right,” Jennie said. “Looks like Scott was involved in the release after all.”

  Aleshia’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? How do you know that?” Jennie explained again about Scott’s confession and at the same time looked for a reaction from Aleshia but saw nothing to indicate that she knew about what Scott was up to. “Guess he must have been a member of ARM all along.” Turning to Christine, she said, “I was afraid he might be heading your way.”

  Christine tucked her hair behind her ear and it bounced back again. “I haven’t seen him. But then, I haven’t been home. I left to go shopping a few minutes after I dropped Bob off at the house, then came here.”

  “How’s his back?” Jennie asked. “Looked like he was in pretty bad shape when you left.”

  “I suspect he’ll end up going to a chiropractor in a day or two. Tried to talk him into letting me take him to the doctor, but he said he had too much to do at the farm.” She shook her head. “Men.”

  A phone rang and Christine leaned over to retrieve her handbag. Digging out and unfolding a cellular phone, she pressed a button and said, “Hello?”

  The lines on her forehead deepened as she listened to the caller. Aleshia, Jennie, Megan, and Lisa fell silent. The feeling that something was wrong came back to Jennie with twice the impact it had before. She twisted her napkin and listened intently.

  “I don’t understand. He must be there somewhere.” Christine’s questioning gaze flew to Aleshia. “Did you check the barns?” She hesitated for a response, then said, “I don’t know what to say, Tess. If his truck is there, he’s got to be. Unlessdid you check with Tom? Maybe his back got worse and he asked Tom or someone to take him in.” Another pause. “I see.” Christine licked her lips. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.” As she spoke, Christine set her napkin on the table and stood. “I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

  “Is something wrong?” Aleshia asked.

  “I don’t know. That was Tess. She went by to check on Bob and—he’s not there.”

  Aleshia shrugged. “Well, I’m sure there’s nothing to be concerned about. Maybe he went for a walk in the woods or down by the lake to cool off.”

  “Let’s hope so.” Christine shoved her chair in and headed for the door. Jennie strained to hear the last part of the conversation.

  “Tess suspects foul play. His tractor is in the lake.”

  “In the lake? But Daddy would never …” Aleshia shoved open the door and stepped outside.

  9

  “You don’t need to come,” Mary said after explaining that she was heading over to the Sutherlands’. Bob Sutherland still hadn’t been found, and Mary felt she needed to be with Christine and Aleshia to lend support if necessary. “And it’s possible they’ll need help with a search.”

  “I’d like to go,” Jennie said. “I’ve had first-aid training. Maybe I can help.”

  “Me too,” Megan and Lisa said together.

  “You’d better change first. It’s getting cold and wet out there.” A storm front had moved in, dropping the temperature by about ten degrees. While it wasn’t exactly raining, the sky hung heavy with clouds that managed to drench everything with a fine mist.

  Mary waited while the girls hurried upstairs to change into warmer, more casual clothes. Jennie pulled a green University of Oregon sweat shirt over her top.

  “I still can’t believe this.” Lisa gathered up her long red curls and wrapped a scrunchie around her ponytail. Loose tendrils sprang back around her face. “Feels like we’re in some kind of weird dream.”

  “Sure does.” Megan tossed her brush on the dresser and began digging through one of the drawers. Underwear, bras, and socks went flying.

  “What are you looking for?” Jennie asked.

  “Socks. We should wear boots,” Megan said. “I have lots of extra heavy ones you can borrow.” She tossed out several white crew socks and three pairs of thick gray-and-red woolen ones. Following her lead, Lisa and Jennie tugged on two pairs of socks and headed downstairs and donned jackets, rain slickers, and rubber boots.

  Five minutes later, the foursome walked along the path at the lake’s edge. They would eventually end up on the other side where Sheriff Parker, two men in scuba gear, Jim Owens, and Tom stood on the bank waiting for the tow truck operator and another man to attach the hook to the back of the tractor and haul it out. The narrow ramp that slanted down to the lake was lined with vehicles.

  “They’ve already done some diving.” Mary stooped to pick up a blade of grass, then twirled it around in her hand as they walked. “They found a pair of Bob’s gloves in the water and are afraid he might be trapped under the vehicle.”

  “Couldn’t they have been on the tractor?” Jennie asked. “Yes, but as Tom pointed out, neither the tractor nor the gloves would have been down there without Bob or one of his hired hands. And at this point he’s the only one missing.”

  Jennie shuddered. “Does the sheriff think he was murdered?”

  “It’s a possibility, but she’s looking at other options too.”

  “Like?” Megan reached down to pet the basset hound.

  “It could have been an accident. Bob may have been working on the irrigation system. He pipes water to the mink barns from the lake. There are a number of possibilities, including the fact that he may not be there at all.”

  “Then how did the tractor get into the lake?” Lisa asked. “Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe they’ll h
ave some answers for us.” She nodded to the group at the lake’s edge.

  In the few minutes it took to walk around the lake to where the rescue operation was going on, the tow truck driver had nearly accomplished his task. The tractor emerged from the water, muddy and dripping with algae.

  Jennie stood back with the others, ten feet or so from the water. She closed her eyes and bit into her lower lip, praying Sutherland’s body wouldn’t be pulled up with it. She didn’t want him to be dead and imagined him walking up to the group demanding to know what they were doing on his property.

  The tow truck’s engine geared down to idle. Water running from the tractor sounded like a dozen miniature waterfalls. For several long moments no one spoke. Jennie opened her eyes and along with the rest let her gaze drift over the water’s surface. They watched in a funeral silence as the ripples settled.

  “What now?” the tow truck driver asked.

  “We send the divers in again.” Tess began inspecting the tractor, most likely looking for evidence to explain why it had gone into the water. Jennie moved closer to the vehicle. It was a small tractor, similar to the one she’d driven at Tom’s when she helped feed the mink. The key was still in the ignition in the on position. With the front facing the lake and the gearshift in drive, it looked like someone had purposely driven it into the water.

  Her first thought was of Scott. Could he have done it for revenge? She could imagine Scott being mad enough to run the tractor into the lake, but if he had done it, where was Mr. Sutherland? Come to think of it, where was Stan? Jennie glanced around but saw no sign of him. Maybe he had something to do with Sutherland’s disappearance.

  “Um, Sheriff, I was wondering about the man who works for the Sutherlands. don’t see him. Could he have taken Mr. Suth­ erland somewhere?”

  Tess gave her an it’s-none-of-your-business look, then said, “He’s the one who called me. Stan got a call from his brother. Apparently Stan’s mother was injured in an accident of some sort, and Stan had to go to Portland to see her.”