River Bones (Sara Mason Mysteries Book 1)

by Mary Deal

  “Okay.”

  “Get out!” he said again. “Get the hell out! Head over here… and don't hang up.”

  Goosebumps erupted over her body. She went swiftly but quietly to the back door, aware of every little noise in the house, expecting someone to come at her at any moment. She made it out the back porch door and heard the lock click. Perhaps out of habit, she quickly reached behind her and made sure the screen door caught and held.

  “I'm in my car,” she said. She imagined a face popping up like a ghoul at the driver's side window. Worse than when Crazy Ike popped up that night in the fog. She slammed her fist on the buttons that locked the doors and frantically started the engine.

  “Drive, Sara, drive!” Buck said. “Someone could still be in there.”

  Sara's heart raced, sharp and urgent, like the roll of a marching drummer. Her tires threw gravel. She crested the levee driving too fast while trying to manipulate the steering wheel with one hand. She dropped the cell phone. “Buck?” she yelled toward the phone on the floor. “Can you hear me? I dropped my phone.”

  His voice was distant but still came through. She bent down to retrieve the phone as the SUV wobbled side to side and ran off the asphalt onto the gravel along the shoulder of the road. That time, the sound of gravel was a warning and she sat upright and got herself back onto the paved road before running into the river. In a moment, she said, “Okay, I'm on the levee. I'm away.”

  “I'm heading in your direction. You head toward our house,” Buck said. His voice shook, sounding like he was struggling with something, maybe getting dressed. “I wanna meet you on the levee road so I'll know you're safe.”

  “Okay,” she said. She continued to tremble.

  “I'm gonna hang up, gonna call Johanna. Keep coming this way.”

  After closing her phone and tucking it between her thighs, she gasped as a thought surfaced. “Oh, no!” she said, tears starting. She swiped her eyes. Someone had been inside her house and it wasn't Huxley. “Oh, no!” she said again. Huxley courted her. The stalker threatening her life was clearly someone else. “What have I done?” she asked, screaming.

  She found a wide turnout on the shoulder, stomped her brakes, and slid to a stop. She punched in the numbers of Huxley's cell phone. “Please, Huxley….” His voice mail kicked in. That meant he was still sleeping. She turned off the phone and angrily threw it onto the pile of clothing on the passenger seat. She accelerated and spun around, heading back to Sacramento. As she passed Talbot House and glanced over, she understood that she had left the lights on but locked the doors, yet the back porch door stood wide open and the screen door swung with the breeze.

  Chapter 53

  Time seemed to stretch forever till Sara drove into the condominium complex and parked in front of Huxley's unit. She raced up and rang the bell. No one came. She rang again, and he still didn't answer. Huxley could be peeking out from behind the curtain and deciding he wanted nothing more to do with her. She turned to leave and realized the sedan that had been parked in Huxley's space was gone. He had already left, probably in anger, right after she fled.

  It seemed all Sara did lately was flee. She checked into the first decent motel she came to and took a shower. Somehow she had to wash away the confusion. While standing in the shower, she wept. Wept for hurting Huxley, for losing the most decent man she had met in decades. Wept for being scared ever since moving into Talbot House. Wept for having thoughts of selling off her dream home. Wept for dreams that never came true. Wept.

  When she was out of the shower and dressed, she turned on her cell phone again. Several frantic messages waited from both Buck and Johanna. She called Buck.

  “Where the hell are you?” he asked. “We got deputies out looking.”

  “Oh, Buck,” she said, trying not to cry again. “I've just made one of the biggest mistakes of my life.” She told him as much as she dared. She pulled off a wad of toilet tissue and blew her nose.

  “Sara…,” Buck said slowly. He always started out that way when he felt sympathetic. “We need to sort this out.”

  “I know,” she said, thankful for his patience.

  “You need to call Johanna right away. Call the Sheriff's office. They'll patch you through.”

  She called. “It's me, Sara.” Her voice wavered.

  Johanna was silent a moment, maybe biting her tongue. “Where are you?”

  “I had to get away,” Sara said, hoping that was enough of an answer. “I'm on my way back to the Delta.”

  It sounded as though Johanna put her hand over the mouthpiece. Her muffled voice yelled orders, “Hey, Isidoro. Call off that search. I've got Sara here.” The tone of her voice indicated she was deep into her investigative mode. “Well, we didn't find any evidence of wires being cut,” she said. “So why didn't you have your brand new alarm system turned on.”

  Sara gasped. “I-I must have forgotten,” she said, embarrassed to admit it. “I was in such a hurry to get to Sacramento—”

  “I guess you've just had one good lesson in why you installed that thing.”

  “I'm not used to living in a lock-down.”

  “Ha!” Johanna said. It sounded like a laugh but she wasn't being friendly. “You'd better get used to it.”

  “I know. You can bet I won't forget a second time.” Papers rattled through the phone. Sara visualized Johanna sitting in her car for the umpteenth time outside Talbot House, writing a report. “Do I have to wait for my house to be released again?”

  “Yeah, I've already got investigators coming out to lift prints.” She almost chuckled. “This is getting to be such a habit, it's wearing grooves in my brain.”

  “You think Talbot House is jinxed?”

  “Oh, don't start thinking that way. You'd better be concentrating on how you're gonna keep yourself safe,” Johanna said. “Let me tell you something.” She paused, as if needing to put her thoughts together. “I have a feeling that with those bodies discovered in the fields, then Talbot showing up underneath the workshop, and… and with those two slaughtered dogs, the killer is running scared. He's taking risks because you're somehow in his way.”

  “So, I can't go home again?”

  “I'm tempted to keep everyone away from this property,” Johanna said. “But then this sicko would stalk you someplace else and we gotta be able to keep track of both of you.”

  She gasped. “So now I'm a guinea pig?”

  “It may be there's something on this property that attracts him. Maybe it's not you.”

  “Well, I need to live somewhere.”

  “Should be okay tomorrow, as long as you set that danged alarm. I'll call you,” Johanna said. “But do yourself a favor. Don't come back until you find someone big and strong to live in. Got that?”

  “I'll find someone.”

  “By the way, you need to bring your gun permit, sales receipt, and other papers to Headquarters.”

  “I guess Buck can go with me to the house.”

  “Yeah, anyway, I got something else I wanna run by you later.”

  “You can't tell me now?”

  “Guess so.” Sara imagined Johanna shrugging in her animated way. “I believe I've found a home for them two pit bulls.”

  That was great news for a change. “Where? With whom?”

  “I've already discussed this with my people, just talked it over, though. If you're still looking to place 'em, would you consider donating them to our K-9 Unit?”

  “Wow, why didn't I think of that?” Suddenly, her emotions shifted into high gear.

  “There's no money in the budget to buy purebreds,” Johanna said. “So you'd have to donate 'em. But pit bulls make mighty fine search animals.”

  “They'd have jobs.”

  “And a great home. Believe me—”

  “You don't have to convince me,” Sara said. “I should have offered them. That's the best life the pups could have.”

  “You'll do it?”

  Sara wanted to confirm right away but could
n't. “Esmerelda will need to talk it over with their owner first.”

  “Can you bring the papers for your gun this afternoon? My shift starts again at three if I can get home and get some sleep,” Johanna said. “You can talk to the Lieutenant that heads up the K-9 Unit. You'll be armed with better information and you can talk to Esmerelda afterwards.”

  #

  The good news for Choco and Latte should have kept her emotions buoyant. Instead, Sara's mood went into a tailspin. She fled to the Elk Grove Cemetery to visit with Starla. Her thoughts were so jumbled that she forgot to bring flowers. She sat in front of the headstone and lost track of time. Tears rolled down her face. When they dried and her emotions settled, she kissed her fingertips, touched them lovingly to Starla's name, and left.

  #

  She stopped for breakfast in a new place to avoid meeting anyone who might know her. It didn't matter anyway. She wore dark glasses to hide her weepy, red eyes. The meal helped restore her emotional equilibrium.

  Later, intending only to pass by Talbot House till someone could accompany her inside, she slowed to a crawl. Investigators were just coming out with their fingerprinting kits. She pulled into her driveway.

  “I live here. Can I go in,” she yelled as she jumped out of her SUV.

  The two men with badges stared a moment. “You have ID?” one asked.

  Sara produced her driver's license. “One of the deputies needs my gun permit.” She removed her dark glasses showing swollen eyes that couldn't possibly resemble the license photo.

  One officer checked her information and handed it back. “Okay, let's go.”

  Her hands picked up the black fingerprint graphite they used on the doorknob. Every doorknob would probably have the black powder on it again. Black graphite edged her computer table. She found the papers she needed. More powder covered her dresser drawer front and knobs and along the top edge. She felt exposed knowing that surely, they had seen inside her lingerie drawer.

  “I hope you took care not to let any of this get into my equipment.”

  “Yes, ma'am,” he said. “We're always careful.”

  Sara sighed, felt helpless. She decided to impose on Pierce again and grabbed more clothes off the hangers.

  “Gonna be a big expense filling this place with furniture,” the deputy said. “Nice job you did, though. Like new, through and through.”

  Of course they had been through her house, like Johanna and Isidoro did previously and probably did again today, accompanied by these officers. They had walked the house from top to bottom to secure the place. They were getting better acquainted with her house than she was. On the way out, she set the alarm.

  #

  Three trips to Sacramento within twenty-four hours set a record for her. Sara shook her head.

  Johanna alerted Headquarters that Sara would be showing up; otherwise she would be prevented from passing through the tight security.

  Sara handed the gun documents to Johanna, who said, “You can see the Lieutenant before he leaves for the day.”

  Lt. Quill doodled on a scratch pad. “You'll first need to bring the dogs in for evaluation,” he said. He watched her curiously. Why was it cops' eyes were so piercing and inquisitive? “Could take the better part of the day. Would you like to set aside some time?”

  Sara found Johanna again, about ready to head out. “I'll be bringing the dogs next Wednesday.”

  “Great,” Johanna said. “Stay safe on Halloween.”

  Chapter 54

  Pierce seemed motivated with his book project. It reminded Sara of her own stamina. What they had in common bonded trust in one another. She had no qualms about explaining what had happened.

  He listened and expressed a great deal of compassion. “Relationships are difficult,” he said. “Because they're influenced by both past and present experiences.”

  That definitely was an understatement. “Had I met Huxley under the sole condition of learning he was involved with MIAs, there would have been nothing to interfere.”

  “Talbot House is getting to you?”

  “I was determined to make it my future.”

  “Then don't give up.”

  “I can't. I just can't. I've got to find someone to move in with me.” Who would want to? The reputation of the property was frightful and worsening by the day.

  Pierce left her and returned to work on his project.

  Sara mulled over the fact that she had always been shy. She needed desperately to hear Huxley's voice so she could make things right. Putting her hesitations aside, she dialed Huxley's number. The call clicked into his voice mail. Feeling both disappointed and relieved, she hung up without leaving a message. He would eventually see the call he missed from her. Surely, he would call back.

  As the hours passed, Sara fought frustration and the urge to get away from it all by cleaning house. Her cell phone rang and her heart began to pound, but the number on the screen showed the call being from Daphine.

  “What are we doing for Pierce's birthday?” Daphine asked. “I always close my shop on Halloween. Too much hell-raising out and about.”

  Sara longed for diversion and to try to forget the hassles, if only a short while. Do something fun. Laugh a little, kept playing in her mind. “Wow, I've got a great idea. You available the whole weekend?”

  #

  She had much difficulty getting Pierce to consent to her plans. He finally relented when she offered her laptop for the weekend. The mountainous drive was longer and more arduous than Sara anticipated. Pierce took a nap in the back seat. Daphine sketched scenes she glimpsed out the window. Something troubled Daphine that she hadn't shared. As long as she didn't completely shut them out, Sara let her be. Creating art brought her peace.

  They checked in at Caesars Tahoe in Reno. The hotel had already discounted the accommodations, charging off-season rates, but for the first time in her life, Sara didn't need coupons and favors to afford things.

  Sara opened the door and let them walk in first. She didn't know what to expect either, but it would be no ordinary hotel room.

  “A suite?” Daphine asked as they stepped inside.

  “The king gets the king bedroom,” Sara said. Then she pointed to the opposite bedroom. “We'll take the twin-queens.”

  “A queen's fine with me,” Daphine said, turning circles in the spacious living room. “Look at the size of this place.” The living room alone, with its sweeping view, was larger than Daphine's entire house.

  At dinner that evening, Daphine and Pierce opted to trying new foods. Sara stared at her plate, but had no appetite. She checked her cell phone periodically to make sure it was on, but Huxley hadn't called, and she couldn't bring herself to call him again. It was surely the end between them. She had hurt him deeply. Now that her foundation was nearly established, there would be no reason their paths ever crossed again.

  “I have a surprise to tell you two,” Pierce said. “I'm buying the Clampett Tract house.”

  Sara and Daphine erupted in surprise. Dining room patrons looked toward the commotion.

  “How'd you manage that?” Daphine asked, lowering her voice.

  “The owner came around,” he said. “Said she was planning to put the house on the market. I asked her how she and I might work out a deal.”

  “And?” Sara asked.

  Pierce finished chewing and swallowed. “Well, you have the rent paid one year in advance,” he said. “But I—”

  “In advance?” Daphine asked, blurting it out. Again people looked in their direction. She covered her mouth momentarily, and then spoke softly. “You paid a whole years' rent in advance?”

  Sara didn't know what to say. No one needed to know and she had only told Pierce when she had to. The look on Daphine's face was one of disbelief, maybe defeat. Something was wrong.

  “The deal the owner offered was that once your year is up, I could keep renting,” Pierce said. “That way, the second year, I'll have my book advance and royalties to put toward the
down payment. She's willing to accept my one year of rent as part of it.”

  “A lease-option,” Sara said.

  “Yeah, so it won't be mine for another two years.” He shrugged and took another bite of food.

  Sara knew what to do about that. She was good at solving other people's problems better than her own. “Two years?” she asked. “No chance. A year from now.”

  “How'd you figure?” Pierce asked. He had stopped eating again, eager to hear. “You've already paid—”

  “That's right, Pierce,” Sara said. “I can end my lease in your favor.”

  “How do you know so much?” Daphine asked in exasperation.

  Sara couldn't explain it. She just knew. “I'll contact the owner and turn my lease over to you. You've got eight or nine months left. That'll count toward your one year. You pay rent for a few more months beyond that and you'll have that house a year from now.”

  Pierce swallowed hard, and not from anything he ate. It seemed he didn't know what to do with his hands. He dropped his knife and fork to his plate, put his hands beneath the table, and hunched forward. “I can't do that. You've done way too much for me.”

  “Well, if you don't want the help,” Sara said, teasing. “Then I'll break my lease and get my money back. You can make your own arrangements.”

  Pierce sighed and rolled his eyes. He managed a frown as he shook his head. No more was said.

  After dinner, trying to cheer up, Sara said, “C'mon, let's play.”

  “Tell me I won't lose all my money,” Pierce said.

  “It's fun,” Daphine said. “C'mon, Pierce, I'll show you.” But she herself hadn't so much as stuffed a single dollar bill into any machine.

  Sara wandered off to find a place to sit and spotted a vacant back row of seats in the Keno area. She checked her cell phone again and rotated through the few unanswered calls. She had to stop doing that. He wouldn't call. She turned the phone off and sat quietly, feeling numb.

  After a while, a man stopped in the aisle beside her seat. “Sara,” he said.

  She knew that accent before looking up to see who it was. “Val, what are you doing here?” She stood.