Tourist Trapped: Cozy Mystery (Poppy Pepper's Paradise Cove and Mini Golf Book 4)

by Molly Dox

  While Panda was off the hook, now that the body was found, the mystery loomed larger. Nobody understood what happened or why, but they were sure hoping to find out. Finding the body only brought more questions.

  They could laugh about it now, the thought of wheeling Martin through the hallway. He’d probably talk, even though he should be playing dead. “Doesn’t it make you wonder what they were looking for? And why would they leave the body there and not slip it back in so it wouldn’t seem like it was missing? It seems like he got lazy or sloppy halfway through. What is that?”

  “What was in his arm? That’s just weird. Was there a scar on his arm when you examined him?” Poppy asked her brother.

  “Not that I remember, maybe a tiny mark at most. I was dealing with more pressing stuff. It’s hard to notice the minute stuff when there are bigger issues.” He hated that he couldn’t remember.

  After discussing every idea they could come up with, no matter how farfetched, they let the topic rest and said goodnight. Tomorrow was a new day.

  It was fine and well that Panda was cleared of any wrong doing, but it still didn’t answer the question of who got into the locked morgue, and how did they get away unnoticed. And most importantly, what were they looking for?

  Poppy settled into bed thinking about the events of the evening. Why did somebody dig into the guy’s arm? What was there? Thoughts swirled through her brain until she finally drifted off. She dreamt she was a secret agent, Reggie acting as a James Bond type of character, and she as his sidekick. Though in reality, he would be the sidekick. She was much more aggressive and pushy. They were searching down a long tunnel, but they couldn’t see anything. Wait, a train was coming! There was nowhere to go. They wouldn’t be able to outrun the train, and there wasn’t enough space just outside of the track. The walls were too tight. Poppy kicked her covers off, scrambling to get away from the train in her sleep. Waking up with a jolt, she sat up. That was some crazy dream. Climbing out of bed, she went to the kitchen to get a drink. She was too unsettled to go back to sleep, so instead she flipped on the television. She put on a news channel and muted the sound. Subtitles were enough.

  It hit her like a ton of bricks. The headline said it all. “Microchip helps lost dog find his owners two years after going missing. He ended up six states away.”

  Could it have been a microchip in the dead guy’s arm? It didn’t make sense. People didn’t get micro chipped. And if he was chipped, who else knew about it? Was he being used as a messenger service? And what exactly was the message?

  Who would have implanted it? He was undercover. Could he have done it to himself? Or did somebody send a message as a warning. Poppy’s mind was getting away from her. She couldn’t shake the idea that a microchip could very well be what was in his arm. If not that, what else? It’s not like there was some old paper scroll treasure map in his body, right? Okay, she was overtired. She was just reaching for crazy ideas at this point. Her mind was playing with her. She put the thought to bed after admitting it was silly.

  Poppy woke up on the recliner. She must have fallen asleep at some point. She glanced at the time. Four o’clock in the morning. Picking up the remote, she turned off the television and went back to bed.

  Chapter 4

  Poppy woke up groggy. She had to grab a shower before check-outs started. Paradise Cove and Mini Golf offered weekly visits as well as visits much longer for snowbirds, those hoping to escape the colder, winter months. Reggie was the only one who had remained for a full year. She checked the book and saw there was only one check-out. They had two the following day while most of the other guests were staying a bit longer through winter.

  When Benjamin Griffin didn’t show up on time to check-out, she thought it was best to stop by his unit. Maybe a gentle nudge that he’d need to vacate would help, so they could clean the unit for the next guest. She waited and waited, but still no Mr. Griffin. Poppy grabbed the master key and headed down the trail to his unit. She heard banging the closer she got.

  “Help!” A man shouted from inside of the camper.

  “I’m here, I can hear you. What’s going on?”

  “The doorknob,” he said.

  Poppy looked down. Somehow or another the handle had fallen off. He’d tried pushing and pulling, but the door wouldn’t budge.

  “Hold tight, let me see what I can do. Why didn’t you call me?”

  “My phone is in my car. I brought my bags out and went to check one last time to make sure I didn’t forget anything. Now I’m trapped like a sardine in this can.” He was obviously flustered.

  “Sit tight, sir. I’ve got this.” She warned him it would take a few minutes. “I have to get some tools at the office. I’ll have you out of there in no time.” The last thing she needed was a tourist trapped in one of her campers!

  After grabbing some tools, she was able to get the door to unlock. She slipped some tape over the locking wedge so that it stayed open for the time being. Her father would have it fixed in no time once she got a new handle.

  “Thanks,” he said. “I was ready to leave, and then I got stuck!”

  “I’m so sorry about that,” she said.

  They talked for a few more minutes before going to the office to check-out. Once the guest left, she turned to her father. “Dad, I need to run to the hardware store. Can you watch the counter? I’ll be back shortly.”

  “Sure thing,” Martin grumbled and went back to the program he was watching.

  Hopping in her truck, she headed for the local hardware store in town. She hoped to find what she needed, rather than having to head to the big box store. Pulling into the hardware store, she parked her car and got out. Just as she went to pull open the front door, she saw the reflection on a glass of the door. Spinning in response, she saw a green station wagon with wood siding and a kayak on top. She remembered the security guy mentioning that exact item. Could it be? As she turned around to get in her truck, the store’s owner spoke to her. “Can I help you with something?”

  She glanced down the road, realizing she wouldn’t be able to catch them. They were traveling at a good clip. Poppy sighed and spoke to the owner. “I’m looking for doorknobs.”

  “Indoor, outdoor?” He led her down an aisle.

  “Well, this one is sort of different. I’m looking for a door handle for one of the camper units at our park. Do you carry things like that?” She hoped she didn’t have to special order one. She couldn’t remember the last place they’d bought one.

  “We don’t, and I don’t even think the big box stores do, but there’s an outdoor camping supply store that might actually have something you can work with. They have a repair and supplies section that might be up your alley. Have you tried there?”

  “Not yet, but I guess I’m on my way. I know the one you’re talking about. Thanks for your time.” Heading out to her truck, she tried to focus on the task ahead and not on the car she saw speed by. If only she’d been able to catch up with the driver.

  Climbing into her truck, she realized her gas tank was nearing empty. She’d better make a pit stop and get gas before heading to the camping store. The last thing she needed was to break down. Pulling into the mini-market gas station combo a few miles down the road, she saw the station wagon parked in front of the market. Poppy caught her breath as she parked next to the gas pump. Getting out, she casually walked over to see if there was anything worth noting.

  She tried to memorize the tag in case she needed it later. Slipping around the far side of the car, she stood on her toes while trying to look at the kayak. It’s not like there was a body in there. They’d already found the body. So why was she prying? Poppy went inside to give the cashier twenty bucks for gas. She glanced around and saw a man over by the fountain drinks.

  Holding her breath, she tried to quickly think of something to say. “Hey, is that your wagon out there? I haven’t seen one of those in ages! It’s nice to see that it’s still running.”

  The man’s face was
weathered and suntanned. He looked older than he probably was. His hair was a non-descript brown, and his clothing was extremely casual, an old beat-up t-shirt and jeans that had seen better days. “Yep,” he said and then popped the lid onto the drink he’d just filled. He blindly searched for a straw in the bin next to him. He turned away, saying nothing else.

  “Do you kayak? What area do you like to go in? I’m just getting into boating. Well, I’m not good at it yet, but I’m taking lessons.” She rambled, not sure what else to say. It was a bold faced lie, but she didn’t care.

  “Lady, if you’re hitting on me, no offense, you’re too old.” With that he threw a buck on the counter for his drink and walked out.

  She chased after him. “Who are you calling old?” The comment stung. Okay, so maybe she was older than him, but she certainly wasn’t old.

  “Did you want something?” He looked annoyed.

  “I guess not,” she said, feeling defeated. She had no reason to suspect this guy, just because his car was at the hospital the other day. Oh, wait! “Funny, I could have sworn I saw a car similar to this at the hospital the other day. Was that you? I do hope whoever you were visiting is feeling better.”

  The man glared. “What do you want, lady?”

  She stood, saying nothing. She was out of ideas. “Just being friendly,” she quipped. Finally, she turned and went to pump her gas. Was there a connection between that guy and the dead body? He looked like a rambler. Not somebody who would stage some elaborate scene at the hospital’s morgue, though these days you just never know.

  Poppy pumped her gas, and looked over at the station wagon pulled away. She couldn’t stop herself. As soon as she finished pumping, she followed the car. The man finally pulled over, seeing her tailgating him. She pulled directly behind him.

  The man got out. He looked angry. Scowling, he went up to her window and knocked. She caught her breath. She needed to talk to this man. It was her only chance to get more information. She couldn’t very well follow him all over town. She pushed the button, lowering her window.

  “What do you want from me, lady?” He wasn’t happy to see her again.

  “Do you know anything about a missing body?” She steadied her nerves by gripping the steering wheel until her knuckles were white. She stared into the man’s eyes, daring him to lie. It was a risky move, but she had to try.

  “Listen, lady…” His voice was low. “You need to stop drawing attention to me. I’m being watched.”

  “Why?” Poppy dared him to answer.

  “I don’t have time for this. You’re treading in dangerous territory.” He shook his head and walked away.

  Nope. Not yet. She wasn’t finished here. That guy knew something.

  Poppy hit the gas and rolled her car forward, bumping into his car.

  The man’s eyes opened wide. He turned to yell at her. “What are you doing?”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry. I thought I put it in reverse. We’ll need to trade information for insurance,” she said. Poppy got out of her truck and walked over to him.

  “You’re plum crazy, woman.”

  “Shall I call the police, or do you want to? We’ll need to file a report.” Maybe it was a foolish move but she couldn’t let him leave. At least this way she’d get his information.

  “No police,” he snapped. “Look, there’s barely a dent. Just get out of here, and stay away from me.”

  Shots rang hard and fast, shattering the air. The man grabbed her and dove behind his car. They both hit the ground with a thud. Thankfully, nobody was hit.

  Chapter 5

  “What was that?” Poppy’s heart raced in her chest.

  “Stay down,” he said before creeping to the edge of the car. He drew a gun from a holster on his leg. His jeans were hiding it. “They’re gone.”

  “Will they come back? Who are they?” Her hands were trembling.

  “I don’t know.” He dropped his head to his knees, trying to catch a wave of calm. Adrenaline pumped out of him a mile a minute.

  “They weren’t shooting at me,” she added. “Who are you?”

  The man lifted his head and glared at the old woman. He said nothing.

  “The least you can do is tell me why I was almost killed,” she vented.

  “You’re safe. They aren’t after you,” he finally relented.

  She watched the man struggle with how much to say. Poppy softened. “Why are they after you? Did you do something bad?”

  “Believe it or not lady, I’m the good guy.”

  She tried not to laugh. That seemed quite a stretch.

  He noticed the way she looked at him. She didn’t believe him.

  “You’re not going to hurt me are you? Or use me as some sort of hostage? I really don’t have time for this sort of stuff.”

  “Are you for real, lady?” The man was dumbfounded.

  “Listen buddy, you almost got me killed-” she started.

  “Whoa, wait a minute. You’re the one who rammed my car.”

  Okay, that much was true, but some things still didn’t add up. “What’s your game? Is it safe to get up?”

  “I don’t think they’re coming back,” he said, “but they could be turning around farther down the road. We have two options, make a mad dash to get into the car and get out of here, or stay low just a little longer.”

  She sized up her options. “What are you going to do?”

  The man sighed.

  “What? It’s a legitimate question.” She knew what kind of sigh that was, and it was aimed straight at her.

  “I don’t care what you do. I’m going to stay put for a few more minutes. Hopefully, with the cars still here they’ll think they hit us and move on. Just be prepared for more gunfire. Make yourself as small and invisible as possible.”

  “Who are you?” She had to ask. “Why did you move the dead body?”

  The man turned to look at the woman. She was like a dog with a bone, refusing to give up. Finally, he spoke softly. “He had something I needed. I’m working undercover. He was my partner.”

  Poppy’s hand shot up over her mouth as the gasp slipped out.

  “Are you happy now? Lady, you need to keep your mouth shut. Not a word of this can get out. We’re this close to cracking a massive case. I lost my partner because of these maggots. I intend to take them down.” He knew he shouldn’t say anything, but maybe knowing, she’d understand how important it was that she stayed away from him.

  “Why did you move the dead body? You were looking for something and knew right where to find it. There was only one new section opened up.” She watched his face.

  “How do you know so much about this?” It was odd for some older lady to be privy to these kinds of details.

  “I found the body…after you hid it.”

  “Oh, man.”

  “What was it?” She knew she had to be cautious.

  “I shouldn’t tell you this, but it was a microchip. The gang was onto him. He was afraid they might try to take him out. He shot a microchip into his arm with all the information that was gathered.” He dropped his head to his knees again. “I loved him like a brother.”

  Poppy reached over and rubbed his shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss…” She stumbled. “I don’t know you’re name.”

  “It’s Christopher. Listen, it’s not easy.” He wiped the tears welling up in his eyes with the back of his hand. “I won’t rest until every last one of them pays for what they did.”

  “I understand.” She sat quietly beside him.

  **

  The noise shattered the air as bullets flew at them once again. They’d let their guard down. Poppy screamed on seeing the man’s body hit the ground. “No, no…”

  She used to be a paramedic. She used to respond to emergencies. In this moment, she froze while watching the scene in slow motion. She wanted to help. She didn’t know how. Her brain shut down. The gunfire was too much. Fearing for their lives, her normal thought process was overridden.
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br />   The car’s tires squealed as it took off. Poppy slid over from behind the station wagon, moving to her truck. Opening the passenger side door, she reached for her purse and dug out her phone. Her hands shook as she dialed 9-1-1. “There’s been a shooting, please hurry…” She had no recollection of the words that spilled from her mouth. Once off the phone, she pressed her hand to the wound. There was nothing more she could do. “Stay with me,” she whispered.

  Poppy’s body was numb. She suddenly realized that when the cops showed up, they’d tow his car until he could claim it again. What about the microchip? What if nobody else knows about it?

  “Oh, forgive me.” She pulled the unconscious man’s wallet out of his pocket in search of the microchip. Nothing. Slipping it back into his pocket, she whispered how sorry she was. “Where did you put it?”

  She was running out of time. The sirens would sound, and they’d be nearing. Opening his car door, she scrambled to search the glove box and any other gap she could fine. There was just an old empty can of soda and his new drink in the after market cup holder. The glove box held nothing important. Trying to shift around, she knocked the can over. A rattle. Something was inside. Could it be? She turned the can upside down and shook it. A microchip was stuck inside. Her eyes went wide. Grabbing the can, she shoved it in her bag.

  The sirens cut through the air. As they pulled up to the scene, the sirens fell silent. Only the flashing lights remained. A police officer showed up just as the ambulance arrived.

  “He’s barely breathing,” she called to them. “Please, hurry.”

  The crew jumped in. The officer needed to question Poppy, but she was dazed and confused. “Can I give a statement at the hospital? I can’t think clearly. It was a drive-by. I don’t know anything else.”

  The rescue crew lifted the man’s body onto a gurney. They’d continue to patch him up on the ride to the trauma center.