“You actually have a lodge big enough to house all the troops and their leaders?” Eleanor asked.
Before Tuttle had a chance to respond Sheriff Wesley marched over with two deputies. “Oh there you are, Tuttle. I placed a call to the DNR. They should be here to help us deal with the bear situation.”
“We don’t even know if there is a bear situation,” Tuttle pointed out. “I think it’s a little early to panic, don’t you?”
“Actually I don’t. I suggest you make use of the lodge tonight to make certain all the campers are safe. We’ll reassess the matter tomorrow.”
“I’m glad to hear someone has sense,” I said. “I don’t know how I missed the lodge.”
“It’s to the south of camp,” Sheriff Wesley said. “Gather up the troops and begin the evacuation.”
“Fine, since you’re leaving me no choice in the matter,” Tuttle complained.
I was glad that at least Tuttle was listening to the sheriff. What possible reason could there be for her not be cautious?
“I should get going. I should alert the boys’ side of the lake, too,” Joe said.
“You know, the lodge could house both the boys and girls,” Irene suggested. “It has two separate floors. I’m sure by tomorrow the bear will have moved on.”
“I absolutely refuse to do that. You’re asking for a whole set of problems,” Tuttle said.
“Maybe it would be best to call the parents and have them pick up their children,” I suggested. “Of course, the scouts will be so disappointed, and all because you can’t watch over a group of scouts.”
“Agnes is right. I’m quite certain the leaders can manage looking after their own troops,” Eleanor said.
“Fine,” Tuttle said grinding her teeth. “Is there anything else you think we should be doing?” Tuttle asked.
“No, I think that about sums it up,” I said. “I better get back to camp and alert our troop that we’ll have new accommodations for the night.”
“That’s my clue to leave,” Joe said. “I’ll alert the leaders on the other side of the lake.”
“If you must,” Tuttle grumbled and then snapped at Irene, “Make sure to lock the lids of the Dumpsters tonight, Irene.”
“I always do,” Irene replied as Joe reluctantly left.
Chapter 13
“Explain to me again why we have to vacate our camping site?” Martha asked.
“I already told you, because a bear is lurking in camp,” I said, exasperated.
“I hardly think a bear in the area is an unusual occurrence. They do live in the woods,” Martha said.
I slapped a hand to my head. “I know that, but the sheriff insists the scouts stay in the lodge tonight.”
“Please don’t do that again, Agnes. Your forehead is all red now,” Eleanor said.
“We get to stay at the lodge?” Yasmine said. “Yippie! It will be just like that time we stayed overnight in that building.”
“You stayed overnight in a building?” I asked.
“Camping,” Kenna said. “We went camping.”
“But inside a building,” Hailey added with a weird look.
“Sorry, I’m having trouble visualizing that,” I said.
“They threw their sleeping bags on the floors,” Eleanor said giving me one of her looks. “It’s like a big slumber party.”
“Oh, I see. We should get going before the boys arrive.”
“What boys?” Martha asked.
“The scouts from across the lake,” Eleanor said before I could. “They’ll be staying on one floor and the girls on another.”
“That makes sense, I suppose. Girls gather your things and we’ll march there,” Martha instructed them.
While the girls raced into their tents and gathered their sleeping bags, Moraine walked into camp. “I came as soon as I heard. I thought you might need help with the girls.”
“I don’t think so,” Martha began, “but I certainly didn’t expect this camping trip to go south like this.”
“It’s only one night, Martha. You can get back to your normal activities tomorrow,” I said.
“What about the competition?” Fern asked. “We can’t miss that.”
“Hopefully it won’t come to that. Mrs. Tuttle delayed it a day already,” Martha said.
Elsie and Marjorie came into camp in the golf cart and slammed on the brakes, hopping out. “Come along, girls, we can take two of you at a time and your belongings.”
“We can march there,” Martha said.
“With a bear lurking around, I think not,” Elsie said.
Martha and Hailey loaded their belongings in the golf cart and off they went.
“I suppose that means we’ll have to leave in twos,” I said.
“Unless I check out another ATV,” Moraine said.
“No way,” Fern said. “I don’t ever want to see one again.”
“I understand how you feel,” I said, giving Fern’s slight shoulder a squeeze. “You can’t blame the ATV, but they can be dangerous.”
Eleanor fidgeted and I nudged her in the ribs. The last thing the scouts needed to hear right now was that their leader might have been murdered. I hated to even think that someone would do that at a camp full of children. I wasn’t about to let this one go. I vowed to find out what really happened to Peggy. If someone did murder her, Eleanor and I would bring them to justice.
Two by two, the scouts left via golf cart. Eleanor and I climbed into the golf cart as the last to go. Eleanor sighed. “I bet you’re exhausted, Elsie.”
“No, I rather enjoyed transporting the troop to the lodge. You’re going to love it there, and the girls scored the bottom floor. You’re not going to believe the amazing fireplace — and the interior is all knotty pine. I know how you love that.”
“I once had a house with knotty pine and if I wasn’t so old I’d have my house remodeled to include it,” I said.
“What’s this talk of being old?” Marjorie asked from the passenger seat. “I thought that was a no-no in your book.”
“It’s a dirty word in mine,” Eleanor agreed.
Elsie came to a stop at the lodge. It was huge!
“I can’t wait to go inside,” Eleanor said.
We gathered our belongings and I asked Elsie, “Aren’t you coming inside?”
“Oh no,” Marjorie said. “Elsie and I decided we could help the other troops, otherwise, it might be morning before they make it here.”
“Good point,” I said, waving as they left.
“I believe Marjorie and Elsie are having the time of their lives,” Eleanor said. “I wonder how the men are faring.”
“I’m not certain, but I suppose we’ll find out when they get here.”
“Where did Rosa Lee, Bernice and Leotyne go off to?” I asked Martha when she waved us over.
“They went back home, which is code for going to the casino in Traverse City,” Martha replied with a shrug. “Apparently they thought their help wasn’t required.”
“Well I must admit that is half true,” Eleanor agreed.
Eleanor and I lugged our belongings inside. The scouts laughed at our deflated air mattresses
“What’s so funny?” Eleanor asked. “We’re too old to be uncomfortable.”
“How do you plan to blow the mattresses up?” Martha asked. “Don’t even look at me.”
“We have a pump,” I proclaimed. I pulled the foot pump out in a Vanna White movement, showing it to all the campers. “Watch this,” I said. Eleanor hooked the hose to the mattress and I proceeded to pump. “See, it’s quite easy, Martha. You should have brought one along for you.”
“The mattress or the pump.” She laughed.
“Not funny,” Eleanor said. “Can you smell that, Agnes.”
“Yes, you must have farted,” one of the scouts from a different troop said.
“You better shut up,” Kenna spat. “You can’t make fun of Miss Agnes like that. You’ll hurt her feelings.”
“Si
t back down, Kenna,” I said. “You shouldn’t encourage them. It will only give them more fuel.”
“Girls,” another leader said. “We’re all stuck in here for the night, so let’s all get along, shall we.”
“I don’t see why we even have to be here,” Yasmine grumbled. “I’m not afraid of bears.”
“We’ve seen one today, dear,” Eleanor began, “and it wasn’t anything to mess with. Why, we’re lucky to be alive with the way he ran at us.” She shuddered dramatically.
Mrs. Tuttle cleared her throat as she approached. “Now listen, girls. The boys will be staying upstairs and I expect you all to be on your best behavior.”
“Why wouldn’t we?” Hailey asked. “We know how to act. I’m not sure about those smelly boys.”
I smiled and thought how that would change with time, but it was refreshing for a ten-year-old to not be boy crazy. I certainly was at their age, or at the very least I noticed them. High school was much different when I met my Tom. We were high school sweethearts and married after graduation. I love my Andrew, but I still miss my Tom. I see him every time I look at my son Stuart. And Martha has his green eyes.
Tuttle looked away at the sound of stomping feet coming into the lodge and marching up the stairs. Joe Smith was at the head of the line with three younger leaders and Oliver. I couldn’t help but wonder whether some of the leaders were the ones we hoped to question about the first night at the dinner. Would it even be possible to speak with them now? Stuart was next through the door, carrying a laughing Mr. Wilson up the stairs, followed by a smiling Andrew carrying Wilson’s walker.
Martha couldn’t seem to stop laughing and dabbed at her tears. “Now that brother of mine certainly knows how to cart your Wilson around, Eleanor.”
“Good, I was wondering how my husband would manage the stairs.”
My thigh was killing me. Moraine joined us and took over for me, pumping up both our air mattresses.
“Where were you? I thought you came over with the girls?” I asked.
“I did, but I wanted to speak with Stuart for a moment.”
“What about?”
“I wanted his take on this bear situation. He agrees with you about us all staying at the lodge, but he warned me that the boys might be a little noisy tonight.”
“Not another powwow?”
“I imagine so. What else do boys do when they’re ten?”
“Boys will be boys. You never know what to expect,” Eleanor said.
“Isn’t that the truth,” Martha agreed. “Stuart tied me to a swing set when we were kids.” She shook her head. “To this day it’s hard for me to even go near a playground.”
Moraine smiled. “I believe Stuart shared that story with me. Are there any other juicy ones you could tell?”
“None that you couldn’t imagine. He was in the woods more than he was out of it. He caught frogs and snakes and threw them at me. I think he got real enjoyment from doing that.”
Moraine smiled and put her hand against her pocket as if she was making sure she hadn’t lost her cell phone. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I need a breath of fresh air is all. It’s stifling hot in here.”
“You’re right,” Martha said fanning herself.
Moraine headed for the door and I motioned to Eleanor to follow. When we were finally outside, Eleanor and I pursued Moraine around the corner of the lodge. I peeked around the corner and saw Moraine hugging Stuart.
Eleanor strutted up to them. “Just what is the meaning of this?” Eleanor asked. “Mrs. Tuttle clearly said no canoodling with the men.”
“When did she say that?” Moraine asked as she ended the hug.
“She didn’t exactly say that, but we know what she meant,” I said. “I’m glad to see you, Stuart. I have a favor to ask you.”
Stuart rubbed his stubbled chin. “What now, Mother.”
“That’s no way to speak to your mother,” Moraine said. “She’s trying to wrap up her case.”
He sighed. “It seems you were wrong with your assumption that Peggy’s death was more than an accident.”
“Oh, and who told you that?” I inquired.
“Joe Smith mentioned it. Irene told him.”
“He hardly is the source you should be listening to,” I exclaimed. “Sheriff Wesley told me that the accident is still under investigation.”
“Wesley told us that Peggy had ligature marks around her wrists,” Eleanor added with a smug look. “I expected more of you, Stuart.”
“I’m hardly here to investigate whether a death is or isn’t murder. I’ve been spending time with the boys. I think there might be a few future FBI agents among them.”
“Oh?” I laughed. “Are you recruiting?”
“Of course not, but there’s nothing wrong with instilling confidence among the scouts. I hope you didn’t orchestrate the bear incident.”
My hands slipped to my hips. “What on earth?” I said.
“Just kidding, Mother.”
I sighed. “I was wondering if you could do us a favor since we’re all stuck here?”
Stuart stepped back with a huff. “I should have known. Whatever happened to ‘Hello, Stuart,’ and leave it at that?”
“I can’t just let Peggy’s killer go unpunished, and that’s not what you’d want me to do and you know it.”
“Fine, what would you like me to do?”
“We would like to question a few of the leaders who came over to the dinner our first night here. Joe mentioned Craig, Avery and Dustin were there.”
“If he says so. I was too busy with the boys. I’ll only be able to bring one of them out at a time. We can’t leave the boys under supervised.”
“I understand.”
Stuart gave Moraine a lingering kiss until she swatted him away. He then hurried up the stairs.
“Were you planning to discuss something with Stuart without us?” I asked Moraine.
“She didn’t look like she wanted more than to smooch,” Eleanor said with a wink.
“That’s about the size of it. I’m not used to being separated from him,” Moraine explained.
“I understand.”
“Don’t you get sick of each other working cases together?” Eleanor asked.
“Not at all. We’re all business when it comes to a case. We don’t act like we would at home, or here when we visit.”
I stared off to the edge of the woods, nervous that a bear would show up at any moment. I had to admit that it was frightening enough seeing one today—a first for me.
My attention was drawn to a man clambering down the stairs. His dark hair was military short and he was in great shape, wearing a white T-shirt and shorts that displayed his muscles.
“I was told someone wanted to speak to me.”
“I suppose that depends on who you are,” Eleanor said, blinking her eyelids rapidly.
“I’m Craig Silva. I’m a personal trainer and sometime scout leader.” He flexed a bicep until we smiled.
“That’s good to know in case we ever need a personal trainer,” I said. “We’re here for another reason today, though. “Did you know Peggy Hughes?”
Craig shook his head. “I feel awful about what happened. I only met the girl once and she sure was shy.”
“Then why did you pick her up on an ATV the night of the dinner?”
His smile disappeared. “I have no idea who told you that, but it’s not true. You can ask Avery and Dustin. They were with me the entire time we were here.”
“So you all have your stories straight now?” Eleanor asked.
“Now Eleanor, let the man speak. I was just fishing for information, Craig. Did you see Peggy that night?”
“I don’t remember seeing her at dinner, but she might have been there for all I know. I was planning the events for the next day for the scouts with Avery and Dustin.”
“Oh, and what did you come up with?” I asked.
�
��We were planning to go canoeing, but Stuart took half of the boys on a survival hike.”
“That sounds nice.”
“Plenty of poison ivy, is my thought,” Moraine said with a wink. “He’s my husband.”
“I know, he pointed you out.”
“My husband is Mr. Wilson,” Eleanor said.
“It’s good to know the man has someone to look after him, although he’s handy with a walker.”
I tried to get him back on track. “So if you didn’t see Peggy that night did you see anyone you didn’t recognize, a man wearing a leather jacket, perhaps?”
“Leather jacket in this weather?”
“That’s what I told Agnes here,” Eleanor said. “It makes no sense.”
I wasn’t about to dignify that with a reply. “Wasn’t Joe with you at the dinner too?”
“He was supposed to be, but he had plans to check out Mrs. Tuttle’s cabin.”
“Did he tell you why?”
“Something about missing cell phones. At least with him gone I was able to leave right after dinner. Some of the female leaders are too grabby for me.”
“So you left before Joe returned?”
“Yes. Is there anything else you’d like to ask me? I really would like to make sure the boys don’t pull any stunts tonight.”
“That’s all I can think of,” I said. “Could you please send Avery down?”
“Sure thing.”
Craig took the steps two at a time. The next man who came down the stairs had blond hair and wore glasses. He was more slight of frame than Craig.
“I’m Avery,” he announced. “I could save you time. I never met Peggy Hughes. Dang, I didn’t even know who she was. I feel bad for her troop. I bet that was hard on them.”
“Thank you, Avery. Who were you with at the dinner?”
“Craig and Dustin. Joe Smith was on a little rendezvous with a lady friend.” He chuckled.
“Is that how Joe put it?” Eleanor asked.
“No, it’s how Dustin put it. He was certainly preoccupied that night. He never even came back to camp with us.”
“So besides the four of you at the dinner, there weren’t any other men there?”
“Sure weren’t, but maybe Dustin saw something I didn’t.”
Camping Caper Page 11
