“When did he hear about Andrea?”
Burt nodded. “He got visibly upset when I asked. His face got red and I could see tears in his eyes. Said he read about it in the paper and discovered the actual identity the next day. And in his words, he said he broke down. Jim blames himself for Andrea’s fall. He’s convinced if he was there, Andrea wouldn’t have fallen. He was almost crying when he told me.”
“Here you go,” Julie announced as she walked up. “Two iced coffees. Now you both will be all set.” She placed the coffees on the table and hurried off again.
“Have you talked to Dan at the department about this conversation? You said the other day that Officer Warren had talked to Jim Carson first. Do you think he told her all this?”
“I’m betting he did. He sounds like he’s getting it off his chest. So, that’s probably why Officer Warren knew so much about what happened last Saturday. She started off with Jim Carson, and he told her everything.”
“Oh, boy . . . drama, trauma, and melodrama. The good, the bad, and the ugly.”
“Oh, yes.” Burt nodded in emphasis. “Jim said he’d also gotten a visit yesterday from the Fort Connor police detective investigating Andrea’s death. And from some of the questions Jim told me the detective asked, it sounded like it was Dan doing preliminary investigation.”
“Okay, well then, we’ll know Andrea’s death is being thoroughly examined. Dan’s a smart, good guy. I trust him.”
Burt smiled. “So do I. I trusted him with my life while he and I were partners. You can’t say that about everyone you work with.”
“I guess Dan will question Connie now, especially after she’s admitted confronting Andrea a third time that Saturday.”
“I’m sure he will.” Burt’s frown reappeared. “And I know Dan well enough after working with him for several years to know that he’s probably put Connie at the top of his suspect list already.”
“I hate to say it, Burt, but I agree with you. After these few years watching how Dan and other detectives approach an investigation, I’d be willing to bet on it.” Kelly gave a wry smile.
Burt met her gaze. “I’m not a betting man, but I would definitely join you in that bet, Kelly.”
• • •
Kelly chopped up ingredients for a large lunch salad while she glanced up every few minutes to watch the evening news on the small television on her cottage kitchen counter. She needed a break from juicy fattening burgers, delicious as they were.
The TV images of the Waldo Canyon wildfire in Colorado Springs were vivid and mesmerizing . . . and they brought back the awful images of the first days after their own High Park wildfire broke out. Plumes of dark smoke spiraled into the sky. Dark smoke meant the greedy wildfire was consuming trees and buildings. More plumes of white smoke were spiraling upwards as well, new fires breaking out. Kelly felt her heart squeeze, remembering.
As fast as the High Park wildfire had spread, Kelly could tell by the national fire commandant’s nightly updates that Waldo Canyon was spreading even faster. And this wildfire had struck a more populated area, where many more houses were built in that forested area near Colorado Springs. There was horrific television footage of flames engulfing whole houses, devouring them, blazing high into the sky, consuming them in one fiery gulp. Not simply small areas of homes were being consumed, but whole sections of subdivisions fell prey to the greedy flames.
Kelly looked away from the devastating scenes on television and finished her salad. She tossed in some chicken she’d used for a lunch salad the other day to join the fresh spinach and tomatoes and olive oil. She was about to dive in when her cell phone rang. Lisa’s name flashed on the screen.
“Hey, there, what’s up?” she asked her friend.
“I’m watching that awful Waldo Canyon wildfire on TV. Good Lord! It’s much worse than our wildfire. It’s covered even more acres in one day than the High Park fire has in almost two weeks.”
Kelly popped a cherry tomato into her mouth and savored it. “Well, Waldo Canyon is a more populated area and doesn’t have the same hills and ridges that Bellevue Canyon or Poudre Canyon have. We’re lucky for that. I wouldn’t want to think what would have happened if our fire had devoured so much so soon.”
“You’re right about that. Are you at home?”
“No, I’m at the cottage taking a lunch break. Then I’m going to clear out old files and do some shredding this afternoon. Steve’s working late and probably won’t be home until nine.”
“Better be at the field by eight o’clock so we can warm up.”
“Thank goodness the games are starting later. I’ll be glued to the television watching wildfire news until then, even though I’ll be afraid to see Waldo Canyon updates on the news tonight.”
“Yeah, I know. Did you hear that the national fire commandant said the Waldo Canyon fire is the number one wildfire in the entire country right now?”
“Really? Well, that’s not surprising. I guess we’ll lose even more of our High Park firefighters now.”
“I heard that our fire has moved to the northwestern section of the canyons.”
“I know. No people, but lots of forests. Several are pine bark beetle–killed, too.”
“That’s gonna make a heckuva bonfire.”
“Oh, yeah,” Kelly agreed, then popped another cherry tomato into her mouth as she continued to watch the mesmerizing images on the TV screen.
• • •
Kelly squinted against the setting summer sun as it kissed the tops of the foothills. Thank goodness the softball game times had been switched to later evening, otherwise they would all be forced to wear sunglasses while playing. Kelly didn’t think she could throw straight, let alone bat, while wearing sunglasses. She wasn’t used to having something on her face.
The Greeley team’s batter swung at Lisa’s sinking fastball. The bat whipped through the air with a swish as it missed the ball.
“Strike!” called the umpire, who was kneeling down behind home plate.
Cheers sounded from the Fort Connor team’s section of the bleachers beside the ballfield at Rolland Moore Park. It was one of several parks that contained softball and baseball fields as well as a soccer field and basketball hoops. The popular city park was a mecca for all the city sports teams as well as offering walking trails that connected to the Fort Connor trail system. Three distinctively different walking and biking trails wound through the city and its edges. The river trail followed the Cache La Poudre River as it flowed diagonally through Fort Connor from northwest in Landport, tracing the river all the way until it left the city’s southeastern edge. The Spring Creek trail ran westerly from its start in the foothills that edged the western side of Fort Connor all through the central part of the city until it joined the Fossil Creek trail in the far southeastern edge of the city. The Foothills trail started at the foot of the foothills surrounding the large Horsetooth reservoir and traveled along those higher ridges.
“Hey . . . batter, batter, batter, batter, batter!” rang out the familiar cry from the Greeley team’s side of the bleachers.
Kelly watched the Greeley team’s best batter stroll up to the plate. She paused, swung the bat a couple of times in practice swings, then stepped behind the plate and into the familiar crouch. Kelly’s muscles automatically responded by going into her familiar first baseman’s crouch, bent over, watching the batter. Catcher Peggy threw the ball to Lisa on the pitcher’s mound, and Lisa eyed the batter. She’d played her before. Many times.
Oh, boy, Kelly thought. This was the Greeley team’s best player. She could hit it outside the fence exactly like Kelly could. And she was a double threat. Not only could she hit long, but she could also run fast. Faster than most players. Faster than Kelly, even. She could hit a double easily, without breaking a sweat. If so, they’d have two players on base.
Kelly glanced toward second base
where an earlier hitter had gained second when her hit to left field took a bad bounce as the fielder ran to retrieve it. If this batter hit a double, then that runner could easily gain third, if not try for home. That would mean her Fort Connor team could fall behind. They were ahead by one point, that’s all. If another batter hit one into far right field, then the third-base runner would fly home. And the fast-footed batter could make a dash for home right on her heels. Kelly had seen this girl easily gain two bases on a play.
Lisa’s first pitch to the batter fell outside. Ball one. That’s not good, either, Kelly worried. It didn’t matter how this girl got on base. Once she was there, she was a bigger threat due to her speed.
Lisa’s second pitch was right in the zone, and Big Batter swung hard—and missed. Whew! Kelly glanced over her shoulder at her teammates who were also crouched and ready for whatever came. Lisa threw again, this ball moving faster and right in the zone. Big Batter swung and that sweet sound of bat hitting ball rang out. Crack!
Kelly watched as the ball sailed up, up, and far into right field. An easy double for fast-footed Big Batter.
“Nice hit,” Kelly congratulated her as she rounded first base. Big Batter smiled and saluted while she jogged toward second base. Megan, as fast as she was, had just reached the ball. Her strong arm heaved the ball to the center field player, who threw it to second . . . two seconds after Big Batter arrived.
The Greeley team’s fans loudly cheered the double and the tying run from the stands. Kelly watched the Greeley team congratulate their teammate after she’d crossed home plate.
The second baseman called out, “We’re tied. Stay sharp!”
Kelly watched another batter take a couple of practice swings, then take position behind home plate. This batter was an average hitter. She’d hit a single one time, then struck out the next. Not as much power as Big Batter.
Lisa’s pitch was high. Ball one! The next pitch was a little low, but the batter swung anyway. Strike!
Okay . . . one ball and one strike, Kelly thought, gently swaying side to side in her first baseman’s motion, keeping her muscles loose and ready. The next pitch was high again. Ball two. The following pitch was wide. Ball three.
C’mon, Lisa, tighten up, Kelly silently counseled her friend. The next pitch was just in the zone on the edge. The batter swung and missed. Strike two.
Oh, boy . . . Kelly thought. Crunch time.
Lisa wound up and delivered, the pitch flying smack dab into the zone. The batter swung . . . and this time, she hit it. Well, I’ll be damned, Kelly thought, watching the ball fly out then head downward and bounce in deep center field.
Kelly watched the center fielder race up and snatch the ball. Glancing to the side, Kelly saw the batter running as hard as she could toward first base . . . almost there.
“Here!” she yelled to the center fielder who was already aiming toward her base.
The ball sailed fast and Kelly reached high to snag it, just in time as the batter stepped out to touch first base.
“Got it!” Kelly yelled, ball firmly in her glove and her left foot solidly on base.
“You’re out!” the base umpire called, pointing toward home plate.
Kelly quickly glanced toward third base and spotted Big Batter hastening back to third base for safety.
“Whoo hoo!” Megan yelled from right field. “Way to go, Kelly!”
Cheers from their side of the bleachers rang out, and Kelly looked over and spotted Jennifer and Pete and Cassie waving their arms at her and cheering. She threw the ball to Lisa, then grinned and waved back at them. She thought she noticed Burt and Mimi but she wasn’t sure it was them, so she waved that way in case.
The sun winked its last bright glare over the mountain tops, then slid quietly behind. Shade, at last. The temperature would start to drop now and the evening mountain breezes would pick up. By nighttime it would feel cooler with no remnant of the day’s heat. Except maybe the sunburned faces of tourists who didn’t think they needed to wear sunscreen in the mountains. They only made that mistake once, usually.
The next batter that came up for Greeley was an easy out. She couldn’t resist swinging at pitches whenever they were in her vicinity. Unfortunately, she usually struck out . . . as she did right now.
“Three outs!” yelled Coach Megan from right field as she jogged forward.
“That was close,” Kelly said to the center fielder as they walked toward home plate.
“You got that right,” the center fielder said, pointing to Big Batter. “She’s always dangerous.”
“Oh, yeah. She must have run sprints in college or something,” Kelly joked.
“Hey, nice catch,” Big Batter called over to Kelly as she retrieved her fielders glove and headed that way.
Kelly smiled and waved to her as she called out, “Thanks!” Now, if only she could hit a nice long drive into left field, maybe she could help her team break this tie. That would be really sweet.
Fifteen
Saturday, June 23
Kelly watched the television in her cottage, saw the flames leap from treetop to treetop. Such a frightening sight. The hot dry wind whipped up and caused the wildfire to roar back to life from the smoldering hot spots north of Poudre Canyon and wiped out a week’s worth of effort in that area. Glacier View residents to the north were completely evacuated, all the way to the small town of Red Feather Lakes. Kelly saw those red orange smoke plumes rising behind the mountains as she drove home from the game last night. Scary. And they all thought that the firefighters had turned a corner in the High Park fire. Julie’s concern about the wildfire flaring up again was justified. Burt was convinced the winds had died down in northern Colorado. Unfortunately, they hadn’t. Those wicked hot winds had a mind of their own. Wildfires created their own weather systems with the hot dry air and flames.
Carl’s bark outside in the backyard brought her attention back, and Kelly checked her watch. She didn’t have that much accounting work on her plate today, so maybe this was a good time to make some progress on that sweater. Plus, she wanted something to take her attention away from those horrible scenes of wildfires destroying entire subdivisions of homes and burning forests, whether it was in Colorado Springs or Fort Connor.
Kelly went onto the patio and refilled Carl’s new water dish from the outside faucet. Carl came racing over to check if any food was involved in the procedure. Discovering that there wasn’t, he galloped back to the fence, where he’d been keeping watch over a woman who was walking her dog along the edge of the golf course. Carl woofed a warning, just in case the pair might decide to venture into his territory.
As far as Carl was concerned, all the shade from the huge cottonwood tree belonged to him. He allowed the squirrels to share it because they provided entertainment value. And sport. But strangers walking small animals needed Big Dog’s permission to intrude into Carl Territory. Noblesse oblige.
Carl ran back to the patio and slurped from his new water dish. Kelly gave him a quick head rub before Carl galumphed off to the fence again. “Super-size water dish, Carl. Enjoy,” she called to him as she went back inside.
Grabbing her newly filled coffee mug and briefcase bag, Kelly headed out of her cottage. She hurried across the driveway, eager to escape the high-nineties-degree heat. How could it have built that high in midmorning? Yesterday was ninety-nine degrees. Tomorrow would reach one hundred degrees or more. This was not typical Colorado weather. Once again, she blamed La Niña. La Bruja would be more like it, she thought, using the Spanish word for “witch.” Kelly was thankful there were no softball or baseball games tonight. She and her friends would gather in air-conditioned surroundings.
Stepping into the foyer of Lambspun, Kelly felt the welcome cooler air brush against her skin. She spotted Cassie in the central yarn room, filling yarn bins. “Ahh, it feels so good in here. I was just out in the backyard with Carl
, and it’s in the high nineties already.”
“I know, it’s crazy,” Cassie said, stuffing the last ball of yarn on the table into a bin. “I’m glad we had softball clincic yesterday.”
Kelly walked into the main room and set down her mug and bag. “You know, I wonder if I should call all the kids’ parents and see if they want to move the clinic earlier in the morning or something.”
Cassie followed her into the room. “Naw, I wouldn’t try it,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “It sounds like everybody’s schedules are pretty full. I thought I had a full schedule, you know, like going to softball with you and tennis with Megan and university lab with Greg and therapy clinic with Lisa. But some of the girls have even more going on. It’s crazy.”
Kelly had to smile. Cassie and her friends were already confronted with scheduling problems. “I don’t know whether to feel good about that or not,” she said. “Some people say kids your age are over-scheduled with no free time. Others say it’s good training for real life. I can see both sides.”
Cassie’s eyes went wide. “Oh, no, I love doing all those different things! I never had a chance to do all this back in Denver. Like yesterday, I was at the computer lab with Greg and the Geeks, and they were showing me how a motherboard works. You know, inside the computer. They showed me how everything is put together and which part does what. It was fun. They even let me take some stuff apart and put it back together. That’s so cool.”
Kelly settled at the table and pulled the evacuee sweater from her bag. “I’ve seen Greg’s computer lab, and it is definitely filled with tons of stuff. So if you like messing with computers you’ll find plenty there.” Kelly picked up her bright green stitches where she’d left off. She was one row away from binding off the sweater bottom.
“Oh, yeah. I love going over there. Greg says the Geeks save up stuff for me to play around with. Plus, there’s always some new software stuff to look at.”
Yarn Over Murder Page 16
