Spirit Lake

by Vickie McKeehan

  Gemma read the article over Luke’s shoulder. “That gives me an idea. We should submit Jane Doe’s DNA to that same third-party website down in Florida. Maybe Professor Stewart and her students could use it to track down a relative, even a last name would be somewhere to start.”

  Leia finished her taco and took her dish over to the sink. “Do you think Arlo is the one who tried to kill you this morning?”

  Gemma lifted a shoulder. “Not really. Someone planned it out in intricate detail. Arlo’s sneaky but I can’t see him being super-thorough like that.”

  “That’s a relief,” Leia decided. “Because Arlo just wasn’t that clever. I feel a little tug of sympathy for Raynelle, even if she is the one responsible for bringing in the psychic from Bakersfield.”

  Lianne stopped eating long enough to stare at Leia, then Gemma. “But if it wasn’t Arlo, then there’s someone still out there who wants you and Lando dead.”

  “Which brings a few questions to the forefront. Who would be clever enough to come up with smoke inhalation as his first choice? And why would he be bold enough to back it up with a 30-30?”

  18

  She’d made up enough chocolate in advance that going to the shop was nothing more than waiting on customers and cleaning up after their mess.

  Her lack of sleep was partly to blame for her mood, one that swung between curt and just this side of rude.

  By noon, Lianne tactfully suggested Gemma go find something else to do. “You weren’t supposed to be here anyway. Why not go home and be with Rufus and Rolo?”

  “Because I felt bad that Radley got cheated out of his gig. So I let him stay and take care of the dogs for another day. Lando and I decided to sleep at his house tonight.”

  “After you’re married, do you guys plan to take turns sleeping at each other’s house?”

  “I admit it’s unorthodox, but then why not? He loves that house. It has a beautiful view and he worked so hard getting it that he should definitely keep it. If you and Luke should get serious one day, you’ll face the same dilemma. Do you really want to get rid of Collette’s house and let someone else live there?”

  “I see your point. Even though Luke’s house is closer to the Rez and a bit out of the way, I find myself lost in the tranquil setting. He’s surrounded by beautiful acreage and his closest neighbor is a half mile down the road.”

  “Luke always coveted his privacy. Which brings up an interesting question. I haven’t asked Leia if she intends to move into Zeb’s house near Fire Mountain.”

  After helping the last customer in line, Lianne blew out a breath. “As far as I know, it’s still up in the air.”

  “That situation is a little different than ours. Lando doesn’t live in a compound surrounded by the rest of his family, who are around all the time. I don’t see Zeb leaving that ranch. And I don’t see Leia living out there, either.”

  “Out where?” Leia asked as she appeared in the doorway.

  Gemma exchanged looks with Lianne. “Where do you and Zeb intend to live after the wedding?”

  “He’s moving in with me.”

  “Really? What happens to his place?”

  “We plan to keep it for all the times we go out there to ride. It makes more sense doing it that way because of the restaurant. Although the elders may give him a hard time about moving into town. What brought this up?”

  “Lando’s keeping his house. In fact, we’re staying there tonight.”

  “I wouldn’t announce where you’re sleeping,” Leia advised. “Zeb said Arlo didn’t have gunshot residue on either of his hands. Plus, whoever put the rifle there in his right hand, messed up. Turns out, Zeb confirmed with Raynelle a few minutes ago that Arlo was lefthanded.”

  With the shop empty of customers, Gemma plopped into a chair. “That doesn’t make me feel better.”

  “It shouldn’t. Because by nightfall I’m sure the error with the gun will have made the rounds of the rumor mill. Whoever shot at you will know the whole plan failed miserably.”

  Gemma drummed her fingers on the table. “Is Sam stupid enough to get rid of his political rival and not think any of us will notice? Or is he a freaking genius who just set a dead guy up to take the fall for everything?”

  Lianne took a seat next to Gemma. “Why would he do that? Like Radley said this morning, Arlo was never going to win, was never a serious competitor.”

  “No idea. But I won’t ignore my vision about Sam, not this time. Although I do wonder how he could’ve known we were onto him?”

  Lianne leaned in and put her chin in her hands. “Anyone who would kill a political foe might’ve even bugged Lando’s office.”

  She shook her head. “It was for that reason that I took Lando down the street to tell him.”

  “Maybe Sam followed you and overheard your conversation,” Leia prompted. “Plus, he has spies everywhere.”

  Gemma thought back to yesterday and tried to replay the scene. “It seems crazy, but I have no other explanation. We did eventually walk back to Lando’s office where we went over the Jane Doe crime scene photos and confirmed he owned that Fiat. But we also told Zeb in his office. Maybe that place is bugged. Think about it, if Sam thought we were on to him, that would be reason enough to try and kill us.”

  “And blame Arlo for it.” Leia started texting Zeb. “Zeb needs to check his office for bugs. He needs to be kept in the loop because if Sam Wells tried once, he’ll try again.”

  Lando had gone through his office twice without finding any listening device. He was in the middle of a third sweep when Dr. Song rapped on his door.

  “Hey, I wanted to stop in and tell you what I found out from Gretel’s test results.”

  “Not sure it matters much now.”

  “I heard about Arlo. But you were right to check the bones. Gretel was poisoned with arsenic. It was present at very high levels, much more than was needed to do the job over a steady time period.”

  “I’m not surprised. Arlo had called us out there about a dozen times to complain that Gretel was barking at all hours of the day and night. But the reports all say the same thing. Gretel was never let outside at night unless she had to use the bathroom. As big as she was she was primarily a house dog. Felix doted on her. She only went outside to take care of business.”

  “Then Arlo must’ve used that time to give her a treat or something laced with the poison on a continual basis over at least a six-month period.”

  “So Gretel ate these treats until that final dose.”

  “That’s what I think, yes. She was probably dead within an hour of ingesting that last fatal dose.”

  “And covered it up by disposing of the dog himself,” Lando concluded. “Making Felix believe she’d run off.”

  “Do you plan to tell him the truth?”

  “Yeah. He deserves to know. He may contact you about the remains.”

  “That’s okay. I’m prepared to get them back to him. Just so you know, that doesn’t make Arlo a great guy in my book.”

  “Why would it? Seems like Arlo Stokely had his own set of demons he was dealing with.”

  After she left, Lando persuaded Zeb to help him set a trap for Sam Wells. Instead of Gemma going to his house as planned, he persuaded her to stay with his mother, which led to the idea of the women having their own slumber party.

  This wasn’t the first sleepover the Bonner house had seen over the years.

  “Friday nights and pajama parties. Remember when we were practically inseparable?” Leia reminded Gemma.

  “Especially during the summers. Remember pinky swears?”

  “And s’mores?” Lianne tossed in.

  Lydia looked at the three women getting settled in her living room and wondered why they’d brought enough junk food to feed ten people. “You know I brought home a healthy pasta salad from the restaurant. I even went the trouble of making a fresh shrimp salad.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” Leia said, landing a kiss on her mother’s cheek. “But tonight, it’
s all about not being good, and opening several bottles of Zinfandel while eating our way through a bag of chips and dips. You know, everything bad for us.”

  Gemma tore open a bag of Doritos, brought out a handful of chips, and stuck one down into a tub of salsa. “Since Lando and Zeb won’t allow us out of the house while they play detective, we might as well get wasted and put on ten pounds.”

  “I brought wine-flavored ice cream to make sundaes,” Lianne added. “For dessert. I think Luke got his feelings hurt because I cancelled our date.”

  “For us?” Gemma said in surprise, draping an arm over Lianne’s shoulder. “Aww. You’re the sister we never had.”

  “To sisters,” Leia said as she held up a wine glass to toast the others. “I’m popping more popcorn. Mom, do we have any Reese’s Pieces because you can’t have popcorn at a slumber party without Reeses?”

  “Check the lower cabinet by the blender.”

  Gemma flipped through their movie choices. “Are we still set on watching An Affair to Remember?”

  “The original, not the remake,” Lydia insisted, tucking her legs under her and getting comfortable on the sofa.

  “Of course,” Gemma noted, patting Lydia’s knee. “Don’t worry. No matter how much we drink tonight, we’re still going back up to the cabin tomorrow and cleaning that place up.”

  “You don’t have to do that. I could hire someone.”

  “No need when there’s so many of us to pitch in. We’ll make it shine like new. You’ll see.”

  “I’m not worried about the cabin. Those four walls have withstood forest fires and earthquakes before this incident and it’ll still be standing long after I’m out of the picture.”

  Gemma plopped down next to her. “Then what’s wrong? You seem…down. Is it the new man in your life? He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Mortified at her full disclosure, she twisted up her mouth. “Oh. Sorry. I shouldn’t have blurted it out like that.”

  Lydia snuck a glance toward the kitchen where Leia and Lianne were busy hunting for the candy. “How on earth could you possibly know about him? We’ve been so careful.”

  “You always meet up at the cabin, right? That’s your secret place to go so that no one will see you. I know all about it. I picked up on your vibe last night. Strong passion there.”

  “You’re serious? You really did that?”

  “I am, and I did. As soon as I walked in I felt an electricity in the air, a passion between two people, a sense that someone had made love there. Recently. Since it wasn’t coming from me or Lando, that left you or Leia. Leia said it had been months since she’d been there. That led me to you. And it was kind of a dead giveaway when Leia mentioned the sheets and linen you went out of your way to wash. I know you’re meticulous in that regard because you’re around food all day. You keep the grill spotless and your own house the same way, but it just didn’t make any sense to me why you’d bother making a trip up there to gather up bedding. Unless…you had good reason to already be there.”

  Lydia covered her face with her hands. “I’m so embarrassed.”

  “Why on earth would you feel like that? You deserve your own life, Lydia. You’ve certainly given your children some wonderful opportunities. You work like a dog at Captain Jack’s. You deserve some happiness.”

  She finally looked at Gemma. “You mean that?”

  “Absolutely. No one works harder than you do. You’re a fantastic person. Plus, you’re still smoking hot. Any man would trip over himself to be with you.”

  Lydia cracked a grin. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  Gemma made sure Leia and Lianne were still where they couldn’t hear before leaning over and asking, “Who is he?”

  “He’s one of my suppliers. His name’s Paul Eddington. He owns a little spread over in Yontocket, a little ranch where he keeps chickens and goats.”

  Gemma couldn’t believe the woman she considered her mother had kept this kind of secret to herself. “How long has this been going on?”

  “Almost two years.”

  Gemma’s jaw dropped. “Lydia, why haven’t you ever mentioned him to your kids?”

  “Leia knows him. But I’m the one he deals with the most. And I didn’t tell them because I felt self-conscious about being attracted to a man at my age. Not to mention, Paul’s five years younger than me.”

  “Five years? Wow. I’m kidding. Don’t ever be embarrassed about the way you feel. You have every right to have a man in your life.” She bumped her shoulder. “Especially a boy toy like this Paul guy.”

  Lydia burst out laughing. “Don’t say it like that.”

  Gemma giggled with laughter. “I’m sorry. But you look so serious. Lighten up. You’re a grown woman who shouldn’t let her kids decide if she should date or not. It’s none of their business. You need a glass of wine to loosen up.”

  “You really believe that?”

  “You bet I do. Pick a time and tell your kids, though. They need to know.”

  “Okay. But promise me you won’t mention this to Leia or Lando until I figure out how to tell them.”

  “It’ll be our secret. But don’t wait too long. I’m bubbling over with excitement at the news.”

  “What news?” Leia asked as she brought in a huge bowl filled with popcorn.

  Gemma bluffed her way through an answer. “Didn’t I tell you? I’m planning to call on the legendary shamans for help in solving this case. I want to know more about Sam Wells. To do that, I need Kamena, Aponivi, and Salisaw to come together, and unify the power within me.”

  Lydia stared at Gemma with a faint smile on her lips. “That’s very daunting. Do you think they’ll cooperate? I’m not sure legend has them ever appearing together.”

  “Dunno. But I have to try. If they’re powerful separately, think how formidable they’d be in the same space.”

  Lianne burrowed into the nearest chair. “While we’re here we should finalize the wedding shower.”

  Leia snapped her fingers and squeezed in between Gemma and her mother on the couch. “Good idea. Not that the shaman stuff doesn’t sound fascinating…”

  “You may hate talking about the shaman stuff,” Gemma fired back, “but it’s what will help us nail Sam Wells for killing those girls.”

  “Now see, I know you, and this conversation will get hijacked into murder real quick if I don’t put my foot down. Tonight, this is a ‘nobody dies’ sleepover. Am I right? Besides, your shower is in two weeks. Invitations went out already. Please tell me you took my advice and registered at all the places I told you about. Gemma?”

  “Okay, I forgot.”

  Leia grabbed a handful of popcorn and shook her head. “I don’t understand you. How do you intend to get gifts if you don’t register? I’m not missing a store. I’m going for lots of loot.”

  “That works for you. Fine. But there’s nothing I need. I have everything I could possibly use. My can opener works. My toaster makes toast, and my mixer and coffeemaker are both commercially sanctioned.”

  Leia rolled her eyes. “If you won’t take this seriously, I can’t help you rack up presents.”

  Gemma picked up the remote to change the subject. “I’m starting the movie. Gimme the box of tissues.”

  Luke had joined the guys, reluctantly, at Lando’s house. “You just blew a perfectly good Friday night that I could be spending with Lianne to have this stupid…whatever it is.”

  “You parked your car one street over, right?” Lando asked in between bites of creamy dumplings he’d ordered from Captain Jack’s takeout menu. “Like I told ya?”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Luke replied, leaning back in the recliner, watching the guys go after the food while staring at the TV. “Like Sam won’t be able to see it parked there if he bothers looking, which he probably will.”

  “Hey, you can take that surly attitude right back out the door,” Zeb began. “It’s not our fault your woman chose to go with the others instead of spending the evening with you. We didn’t make her pick ho
w she wanted to spend the night.”

  “That’s what’s eating at him,” Lando supplied. “Lianne picked the sleepover and not dinner and a movie with him.”

  Zeb nodded, knowingly. “Look, this stakeout is our way of dangling another chance in front of Sam and hoping he bites. He may not take it, but it forces him to wonder what we’re doing with our next move.”

  “And thinking,” Lando added. “It’s like a chess game.”

  “Some chess game,” Luke grumbled. “You’re in your own home, watching baseball, and chowing down on chicken and dumplings Mom made. Yeah, you guys are two real badass city cops.”

  “Is he gonna do this all night?” Zeb asked Lando.

  “Pout? Probably.”

  “I’m not…never mind. I guess I am. Sort of.” Luke held up his hands. “Okay. Okay. But the least you could do is offer me some of the dumplings.”

  “Help yourself,” Lando said, glancing at the kitchen table. “I asked for two orders and Mom gave me a gallon of the stuff. It nukes up great, though.”

  Zeb switched the sound off on the TV and swiveled in the recliner that matched the one Luke occupied. “By the way, I checked out my office for bugs. Didn’t find anything.”

  “Same here. Doesn’t mean one isn’t there, though,” Lando persisted.

  “No, but if Sam wanted bad enough to know how the Pendleton investigation was going, he could certainly slip a few bucks to anyone with a need and have them plant one, which we could use to our advantage.”

  Standing at the microwave warming his dinner, Luke had been listening. “You guys sound like two Paranoid Pattys.”

  “I know it sounds that way, but Sam had to learn about Gemma’s vision from someone. Thursday afternoon, the only three people who knew were Gemma, Zeb, and me. She took me outside my office to tell me. But then we came back to look through crime scene photos. Then there’s Zeb. He’s up to his eyeballs in the Chloe homicide. So it would make sense for Sam to think Zeb would get the first line of information. So either office is a viable place where Sam thinks he has the advantage.”