Jake watched the boys a moment, and then made his way toward to the end of the lake, walking through knee-high grass, wildflowers, and over rocks jutting from the sandy soil.
As he drew closer, he recognized the girl he’d talked to in Whaleton the previous day. The other three stood in a group, talking and laughing. A pair of small tents was set up a little further back, just inside the front line of trees.
He looked around the site and narrowed his eyes in disgust. The previously unspoiled area was littered with papers. Beer bottles and empty cups were scattered around.
The girl smiled as he approached. “It’s nice to see a friendly face,” she said.
Jake grinned and nodded his head toward the others. “They aren’t so friendly?”
She crinkled her nose. “Not exactly what I expected.” She held out a small hand. “My name’s Holly, by the way. Holly Churchill.”
Jake’s big hand smothered hers. “I’m Jake Lincoln. I just wanted to drop by and see if everything was ok here.”
Her face took on a rosy hue at his touch. “Everything is great,” she answered, but didn’t look so sure.
She glanced toward her companions. Jake dropped her hand and followed her gaze. The two guys eyed them, the other girl coming their way, a paper cup in one hand.
“Hi,” she said. “I’m Rosie.” Her voice was slurred and Jake suspected something other than water was in the cup. She smiled at Jake. “Do you want a drink?”
Jake politely declined.
“Ok,” she said, and wandered away.
Holly watched her go, and then turned back. “They’re not much fun to be around today.”
“Certainly not my idea of communing with nature,” Jake added. He glanced back toward the beach where he’d left the boys. They were still there.
He smiled gently and continued, “I don’t want to sound like a stick in the mud, but the game warden might come around any time. He won’t be too happy if he sees this. You’re planning on cleaning this place up before you go, right?”
Holly sighed. “It’s not my mess, but I’ll clean it up.” She shook her head. “It’s the last time I go backpacking with strangers.”
A thought formed in Jake’s mind. “Were you camped here last night?” he asked.
She nodded.
He cocked a thumb over his shoulder. “Do you know if any of these guys visited our campsite? I saw someone last night.”
“I have no idea,” Holly said. “But I wouldn’t put it past them. It seems like they’ve been drinking and wandering around ever since we got here.” She glanced toward the group who had now turned their attention elsewhere.
“Did you ever consider leaving?”
“Yes, I did at first, but I think I’ll stick it out another night. Maybe head back tomorrow.” She giggled. “I don’t think they’ll even miss me.”
“Probably not.”
Holly nodded her head toward Matty and Kyle. “Are those your boys?”
“One of them is. The other one is a friend of my son’s.”
“Are you three here alone?” she asked cautiously.
“My wife didn’t come with us this time.”
“Oh,” Holly said, and looked away, her face turning color again.
Jake held back a smile and flicked something off the front of his shirt. “My vehicle is broken down right now or I’d offer you a lift back to civilization.”
“What’ll you do with no vehicle? Can you fix it?”
“I’m hoping someone will come around before then, maybe the game warden. If not, we’ll hike back early Sunday.”
Holly widened her eyes. “Perhaps you could give me a lift if I’m still here?”
“Sure could. Whether we’re walking or driving out of here, you’re welcome to come with us. I’ll check back before we leave. We’re not far away. Just up the grade from where the boys are playing.”
Holly laughed. “If I can survive that long.”
One of the guys lay against the trunk of a large tree, passed out, his drink beside him. Jake turned back to Holly. “Will you be ok here?”
Holly cocked her head toward the other two. “Oh, they’re ok. They’re just boring and annoying, but I’ll be all right. Maybe I’ll go for a hike by myself. That’ll cheer me up a bit.”
Jake considered asking her to stay with them but soon thought better of it. He took a brief look to where the boys wandered around the beach. “I’d better be getting back. I’ll drop by early Sunday morning, if not before.”
Holly sighed and said goodbye. When halfway back, he looked over his shoulder at her, still watching him. She waved a hand, turned and headed toward the forest.
He hoped she would be ok. He chuckled to himself. She probably learned a good lesson this weekend.
CHAPTER 25
Friday, 4:11 PM
VARICK LUCAS finished off his plate of beans and dumped the dishes in the washbowl. He was going to have to do something about the menu in this place. Maybe he shouldn’t have beaten that rabbit to a pulp; a bit of rabbit stew would go down good. He would have to remember to reset the snare.
He dumped a dipper full of water in the bowl and carefully scrubbed the utensils. It would be easier with hot water, and some soap, but he had no desire to fire up the stove on such a warm day. There were no clean towels anywhere, so he set the now spotless dishes in a draining tray and stood back. He still hadn’t swept this place yet. He would make a point of doing it later today.
Perhaps he would mosey into town tomorrow and see what he could find. There was a problem with that however, always a fear he might be recognized. That would never do. He might have made a serious error in judgment when he decided to set up home in this place, but then, no matter where he went, there was always that danger.
He had little in the way of a wardrobe, nothing but the clothes on his back, and he felt grimy. He sniffed a ripe armpit and grimaced. Otis didn’t have many extra clothes either. His ex-friend must have lived in that get-up he was wearing since he came here a year or two ago. Alas, his dearly departed friend had no suit to wear to his final resting place.
He dug inside a small cabinet and came up with a razor. He tested it with his thumb. It was sharp. He doubted if Otis had shaved for a while. That mangy beard he wore was proof positive of that. He dug some more but couldn’t find any soap. A bare razor with water would have to do.
Not far from the cabin, a small stream which supplied his washing and drinking water, curved gently through the forest. The water was always fresh, seemed clean, and he needed a bath.
He took the razor and a rag and journeyed down to the stream that burbled and gurgled over limestone rocks and smooth stones, making its way to Wendigo Lake. A family of ducks played upstream, paddling on the water. He wished he’d brought his rifle. Alarmed by his presence, they splashed across the surface and took to the air as he drew closer.
Footprints lined the edge of the stream—telltale signs of rabbits, raccoon, deer, and even a fox, which had come to drink. He didn’t mind sharing with them. They belonged there. Other humans didn’t.
He walked up the bank a few yards to where a naturally formed pool beckoned him, stripped off his clothes, stepped into the cool water, and rested on a smooth rock that was half immersed.
Without soap, it was hard to remove the grime from the clothes, but at least he could scrub the smell from them, and from his body. When he’d removed as much dirt from the clothes as he could, he climbed out and spread them on a rock. They would be dry soon.
He got back in the pool and shaved—something he hadn’t done in years; he had sported a full beard for as long as he could remember. He rubbed his smooth face with the back of his hand and admired his reflection in the water. He looked, and felt, like a new man.
He soaked awhile longer, scrubbing the filth from his skin, then lay on a patch of grass on the bank, leaned his head against a rock, and closed his eyes, enjoying the late afternoon warmth of the sun.
He dozed off
and was startled awake by the sound of something coming up the bank, from downstream, heading his way. He sprang to his feet, gathered up his clothes, and dashed up the bank in the opposite direction, where he hid behind a large cedar. He peeked out from behind the ragged bark and waited for the intruder to come into sight.
It was a girl—the same girl he’d seen that morning, the pretty one, and she was alone.
Boy, would he be glad when the weekend was over and all these trespassers would get out of his hair.
He struggled with his clothes and managed to get them on without making any sound that would betray his presence. They were still a little moist, but they would do. At least they were clean, and he felt much better.
The girl took off her running shoes, rolled up her pant legs, and sat on the bank of the river. She dipped her feet in the water, splashed them around awhile, and then leaned forward, dropped her elbows on her knees, her chin in her hands, and gazed into the bubbling stream.
He heard her singing softly to herself. He couldn’t make out the words, or recognize the tune, but could tell she had a nice voice—a sweet voice, and seemed to fit in well with the beauty of this place, a place filled with both loveliness and ugliness. It was life and death at their best, survival of the fittest, and a place that guaranteed him his survival—if he was careful, and smart.
He continued to admire her. She looked young and innocent—not like the other girl he’d seen her with earlier, and not like the ones he knew when he was growing up. He felt somewhat ashamed for his earlier thoughts of having his way with her. This girl didn’t deserve that. Maybe the other one, but not this one.
But he had no time for that now and no inclination. He just wanted to be left alone.
His eyes popped a moment later as he watched the girl stand and undress, and then step into the water and begin to bathe. He fought with his earlier decision to leave her alone. He hadn’t seen a sight like that for a good long time and it stirred his memory of better days.
He watched awhile, entranced and unable to move, unable to make a decision whether or not to act on his instinctual desires.
He chose not to, and before he could change his mind, he fled from the spot and arrived at his cabin, panting for breath, unsettled and confused.
CHAPTER 26
Friday, 8:00 PM
ANNIE FLICKED OFF the television and tossed the remote control onto the coffee table. She yawned. She wasn’t tired, just bored—and lonely. Sure she was having the quiet, peaceful weekend she planned, but she missed the guys, and missed the quiet noise that always surrounded and comforted her when they were here.
It was too much of a good thing.
She couldn’t even call them on the phone. She glanced at her watch. They wouldn’t be home for two more days, and at just about this time of the evening. She might die of boredom by then.
She made herself a cup of coffee, sat at the kitchen table, and picked up her phone. She dialed her mother’s number; there was no answer. Her parents had probably gone out somewhere for the evening, something they often did on a Friday night.
It didn’t matter anyway. She didn’t care to talk to her mother all that much. Their conversations usually evolved into a one-sided discussion about Jake, about what a bad example he was, and what a lousy father. And then she realized; she must be bored to consider it.
She yawned again, and as if on cue, an idea popped into her head. It was a crazy idea to be sure, but so what?
She would leave early in the morning, drive up north and surprise them. Maybe bring them some real food. They’d probably be ready for that by now.
She’d spent the afternoon with Chrissy, gossiping, laughing, and catching up. Perhaps Chrissy would like to come north with her. That would give her someone to drive home with as well.
She picked up her cell phone from a basket on the counter and dialed Chrissy’s number. “I’m going north early tomorrow to surprise the guys and wondered if you want to come with me,” she said, when Chrissy answered.
“Gee, I’d like to, Annie, but I’ll be busy for the rest of the weekend. I’m taking the time to drive out of town to visit an old friend while Kyle’s away.”
“That’s ok,” Annie said. “It was just a thought.”
“Have you talked to them today?”
“Not since this morning. No cell coverage where they are and it’s a bit of a drive to town.”
“I’m sure they’ll be glad to see you,” Chrissy said.
“Jake maybe. The boys probably won’t care much either way.”
Chrissy giggled. “I thought Kyle might be a little reluctant to go away for the weekend without me. Boy, was I wrong. He didn’t hesitate a moment.”
“When those two are together, they forget all about us.”
“Guys might stray for a while,” Chrissy said with a laugh. “But they always come running back.”
“That’s true enough,” Annie said. “And now I have a few things to do here. I’ll talk to you again when I get back.”
She ended the conversation and hung up. She had to get ready for tomorrow’s excursion and she wanted to get at it.
She spent the next hour putting together a homemade macaroni and cheese casserole, one of Jake and Matty’s favorites. They could easily heat it up by the fire and have a nice lunch tomorrow.
She wasn’t all that tired but she went to bed early, setting her alarm for 6:00 am. She wanted to be there before noon.
~~*~~
THE SUN HAD SET some time ago, but the full moon lessened the blackness of the night, shining on the water like a pale band of silver, dimming the stars that speckled the summer sky. The fire on the beach had died to a bed of glowing embers.
Jake glanced across the darkened waters. The backpackers at the far end of the lake had a campfire blazing as well. He could vaguely make out figures moving about, lit up by the glow. He felt concerned that their lack of respect for nature exhibited earlier might result in a brush fire, or worse, a raging forest fire.
He and the boys wanted to do a little hiking in the morning, heading out after an early breakfast. He planned not to wander too far away in case someone came by with a vehicle. He preferred to get the RAV4 fixed up and running the next day if possible. That would save a lot of headaches.
He stretched and yawned, tired and ready to hit the hay. Whether they knew it or not, the boys would be worn out from the day’s events as well, and welcome the early retirement.
Much of nature had calmed down. The occasional wolf howled far away. Somewhere, an owl screeched, hidden and rarely seen during the day, now announcing its presence by night. It was echoed by a soft, low hoot, perhaps a mate calling her answer.
Jake looked over at Matty and Kyle, sitting on the sandy beach a few feet away. They giggled and scared each other, telling spooky stories in whispered tones.
“Are you boys ready to pack it in?” he asked.
“Can’t we stay just a bit longer?” Matty asked.
Jake stood. “I’ll go pack up the campsite and be right back. That’ll give you a few more minutes.” He pointed to the dying campfire. “You can douse that while I’m gone.”
“OK, Dad.” The boys went back to their storytelling and Jake climbed the slope.
He wandered around the campsite, gathering up anything that might attract wild animals, especially scavenging bears. He put any leftover food and snacks in a plastic bag and packed them into the SUV.
By then, the boys had wandered up on their own and in a few minutes, the camp was asleep.
CHAPTER 27
Saturday, 6:00 AM
WHEN ANNIE’S ALARM clock startled her awake, her plans for the day rushed in to fill her thoughts. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, stretched, yawned, and rolled out of bed. She padded to the bathroom, eager to get started as soon as possible.
She had a quick shower, fixed her face, pulled on her favorite blue jeans and a t-shirt, and went downstairs. After a soothing cup of coffee, she felt fully awake and
ready to get the day under way.
She reheated the casserole she’d made the night before and put it in a small cooler, suitable for not only keeping food cold, but keeping it warm as well. That way it would be easier to reheat it and feed her hungry guys.
She found another cooler, a larger, empty one, and then grabbed her keys and packed everything in her car. She pulled from the driveway; pleased she’d made this decision.
Traffic was usually light on Saturday mornings, and at this time of the day, it was even lighter. She liked to drive and made it to the main highway leading north in no time flat, Randy Travis’s easy, mellow voice keeping her company.
An hour later she pulled into a truck stop, filled up with gas, and went inside the restaurant for a light breakfast. As she ate, she watched a big-screen TV perched on a nearby wall.
Her attention was drawn by a news story about the escaped convict, Varick Lucas. The police booking mug shot of Lucas sporting a full beard, taken when he was arrested, appeared on the screen. His head was raised in a cocky, rebellious manner, his expressionless, dark eyes watching her from the TV screen.
The view switched back to the commentator, on the scene of the hunt. Police officers and emergency vehicles could be seen in the background.
“Law enforcement officials have picked up the trail of Varick Lucas, the fugitive accused of killing three people in a murderous spree.
“Lucas, 27, who escaped Wednesday afternoon, allegedly killed a guard along with the prison warden. At least one other murder since has been attributed to him as authorities continue to track his movements. He’s considered armed and dangerous, and a massive RCMP manhunt across Ontario and to the east has ensued.
“Lucas was serving a life sentence at Haddleburg Maximum Security Penitentiary when he escaped, allegedly with the aid of a fellow prisoner.”
Justice Overdue: A Private Investigator Mystery Series Page 9
