“I know just who to talk to,” Abby said. “But first, let’s stop by the sheriff’s office and see what they have to say. We’ll get to the bottom of this, one way or another.”
Gloria looked at her with mixed degrees of relief and uncertainty, and even Samantha pushed her hair back from her face, letting Abby see her features. It wasn’t anger that clouded the young woman’s face, it was fear, and it made Abby firm her resolve even more.
Chapter 7
The drive back to Red Pine Falls went quickly, with much more talking than the drive out to the hospital had held. Against Gloria’s advice, Abby had tried to get some information from the staff at the hospital about the incidents that Samantha had mentioned, but as expected, they’d met with a very solid brick wall.
“Whatever is going on, it involved Buck,” Abby said. “The man that visited Samantha was asking if she knew where he might have hidden something. What could Buck have been involved in that would get him killed?”
Gloria snorted and rolled her eyes. “It could be anything. Buck wasn’t picky about jobs or even stealing from people. He’d work for anything, doing anything, as long as he got some money for drinking.”
Yes, but these men seem to be organized, at least somewhat,” Abby said. “They were able to get to Buck in the prison. That’s not easy. Now they’re going after Samantha. You said some men were also watching Demsey? Who did he stay with while we were at the hospital?”
“My father,” Gloria answered. “He and I both work out at the mill, though he’s not a very patient man. I don’t like leaving Demsey with him too long. Frustration isn’t a good environment for Demsey. It makes him lash out, which is exactly as bad as it sounds.”
Abby grimaced, understanding what Gloria meant. Demsey was a huge, physically menacing human being. Abby had no desire to be alone with him anywhere, for any reason. “The problem is that if the men for the foundation are spying on Demsey, that might mean Senator Clark is involved in all of this. That’s not a good thing.”
“Why would Senator Clark be involved?” Gloria asked, puzzled. “I know he came to the town hall, but he didn’t seem so bad.”
Abby pursed her lips, wondering what she should say. Or more importantly, where Gloria might lie on the whole foundation grants issue. It could very well be that Gloria was one of the people who had supported Don Buckshire. She decided her best bet was simply to ask. “You know the whole thing about the Foundation for Oregon Urban Renewal? The one that was giving out grants for people to improve their homes or businesses?”
“Yeah,” Gloria said slowly, frowning a little at the odd question.
“Did you participate in that?” Abby asked, “the grants, I mean? Or use the workmen that came in from out of state?”
Thankfully, Gloria shook her head. “No. Dad and I talked about it, but it seemed too fishy. Why would anyone give out free money? There didn’t seem to be any loopholes, but it made us nervous. Besides, we’re happy with what we got. We didn’t need new siding or whatever else people are doing.”
“You were exactly right to be suspicious,” Abby said, feeling relieved. “It was a plot by the senator to make everyone angry at the mayor. The mayor was smart enough to think exactly like you and your father did. When he started to put the brakes on things, the senator was planning to pull the grant money, and when the workers started asking for the money they’d already spent, the mayor would get the blame.”
Gloria blinked in alarm, shaking her head. “What? Really?” she said, somewhat in disbelief. “That sounds a bit…crazy. Why would anyone do that?”
“To get control of the town,” Abby answered. “I know, it does sound crazy. Honestly, it sounds like a bad movie villain plot, but it’s all true. More than that, I know he’s been working with several criminal organizations in and out of the state.”
“Why is this man not in jail then?” Gloria said slowly. It was clear she wasn’t completely committed to the idea, but then again, neither would Abby if she’d just been told that. It was right up there with the great conspiracy theories.
“Proof,” Abby said, shrugging. “There’s more. Lots more, but I’m not going to tell you about that. Not only is it even more crazy, but knowing about it could be dangerous. The important thing, though, is the men that are following Demsey around. They work for the senator. So for now, just be leery if you run into anything related to the senator. He’s sneaky."
“Okay,” Gloria said, and she sounded willing to accept at least that part. She was a working woman. Most politicians would probably make her nervous.
Abby was willing to take what she could get.
“Let’s see if Lanie is in,” Abby said, as they pulled into the parking lot of the town police force. “I like the sheriff, but he’s been on me before about getting involved in cases. This sounds like a case, and I don’t need him lecturing me or giving me that judgy, squinty eye of his."
Chapter 8
As luck would have it, Lanie was working at her desk when the two women entered the police station. Josh, the third deputy that Abby hadn’t really ever talked to was at the front counter which served double duty as dispatch for the small town.
Lanie grinned when she saw Abby enter and bounced up from her desk, coming over to the front counter and leaning against it. “Hey, Abby! How are you doing? What brings you here today? And where is Cheerio? You usually have that rascal following you around when you’re out and about.” As an afterthought, Lanie waved at Gloria and gave her a smile.
Abby glanced at Gloria before turning back to her friend. “Well, actually, we have some police business to discuss. Do you have somewhere we can talk? This might not be just a short conversation.”
Lanie’s smile faded from her face as she nodded, buzzing the two women through the security doors and leading them toward a room in the back. The room was laid out simply with a table and several uncomfortable looking chairs but other than reminding Abby of the room they’d recently met Samantha in, she thought it looked just fine.
“So,” Lanie said, sitting down with a pen and pad of paper, “what’s going on?”
Abby gestured to Gloria, who cleared her throat and launched into the information she’d shared with Abby, including what they’d just learned from Samantha about the intruder looking through her window. Lanie listened attentively, only occasionally stopping Gloria to ask a clarification question. When she was done, Lanie spent a few more moments writing before putting down the pad and looking up at them.
“Well, that’s something,” Lanie said as she pursed her lips. “Can I ask why you didn’t report this earlier?”
Gloria fidgeted for a moment but finally shrugged. “I honestly didn’t think you’d do anything to help out Demsey. It’s not like he and Buck were well loved by the police.”
“Fair,” Lanie sighed. “The sheriff is understandably concerned about these foundation people and we’ve already been keeping an eye on them. I don’t think any of us noticed anything odd about them following people, but that’s not to say it isn’t happening. There are only four of us, after all. Well,” Lanie paused, giving Abby an amused look, “four of us, plus Hurricane Abby.”
“Hey!” Abby exclaimed. “That’s not fair.”
Lanie shook her head and gave her friend a pointed look. “Yet here you are, getting Gloria to report this to us. I rest my case.”
Abby opened her mouth to continue protesting, but shut it just as quickly. Lanie was right. She was the one bringing this information to the police. Finally she just nodded in acceptance, as both women turned back to Gloria.
“Okay, so if these men are following you around, and I have no reason to believe they aren’t, do you know what they might be after?”
“I don’t, or at least I didn’t until this afternoon,” Gloria said. “Abby and I went up to the hospital to talk to Samantha, and she told us she’d been visited by men asking her if she might know where Buck Danson might hide something.”
“What kind of
something?” Lanie asked, once again readying her pad.
“I don’t know,” Gloria answered. “I don’t think they told Samantha what they might be looking for, but that’s probably the point. Whatever it is they are looking for, if they’re willing to kill for it, it’s probably not legal, right?”
Lanie looked sadly at Gloria and nodded. “Probably not. You might already know this, but Buck wasn’t exactly good at staying within the law. However, I never knew him to play in the big leagues. He was petty crime all the way, which is why this is so odd. Who would infiltrate first a prison, and then a hospital for petty cash? No, there’s more going on here.”
“Could it be that Senator Clark person that Abby was mentioning?” Gloria said which got Lanie to purse her lips.
“Maybe,” Lanie said, giving Abby a glance before continuing. “But for now, we need to focus on the people actually doing the deed. I’ve got a book I want you to look at that has pictures of the men in town working for the foundation.”
Lanie got up and left the room, coming back a few moments later with what looked like a small file and placed it in front of Gloria. Opening it, she revealed large, portrait pictures of men. Abby could tell that some were mug shots, but others looked like they had been taken with a normal camera. “Just put the ones you think you recognize off to the side. Abby and I are going to go get some coffee, so take all the time you need.”
Following Lanie’s hint, Abby got up and followed the pixieish deputy outside. As they headed toward the small kitchenette, Abby could tell her friend was thinking hard about something, and when they entered the small room, Lanie turned to Abby with a concerned look on her face. “Abby, you have to be careful.”
Taken aback, Abby blinked at Lanie before answering. “Okay, um, what did I do wrong? Is this about being involved in an investigation?”
Lanie gave her a pained look and wavered her hand back and forth. “Kind of, but really its more about leading people. Yes, the senator is connected to the foundation men, but what if whatever is going on isn’t connected to the senator? Yes, I know how stupid that sounds, what with all the things that have been going on in town, but one of the things we learn is not to lead witnesses. Keep your options open, and more importantly, don’t narrow your options by automatically assuming it’s a particular person.”
Abby sighed and looked down. She had expected this from the sheriff, but to hear it from Lanie was difficult. “I’m sorry,” Abby said softly as she mixed some cream and sugar into her coffee.
“Don’t be sorry, Abby,” Lanie said, bumping Abby with her hip as she poured her own cup. “If you hadn’t gotten Gloria to come talk to us, we wouldn’t have even known about this. Just be careful. Honestly, me telling you this means I trust you. With most people, we just make bad jokes about them in the squad room.”
Abby nodded, still feeling bad and knowing Lanie was right to say something. She had immediately thought it was the senator, and now thanks to her, so did Gloria.
As they exited the kitchenette and headed back to the room where Gloria was sitting, Josh waved at them frantically as he talked on the phone. When they came up to the counter, they could hear the younger man trying to reassure someone on the other line.
“Yes, sir. Right away, sir” Josh said, typing something into his antiquated computer. “We’ll have some squad cars out there in a few minutes. Stay on the line, please.”
“What’s going on, Josh?” Lanie said with concern.
Josh muted the line for a second, turning to the blond deputy. “We just got a call about trespassers. A couple of men were apparently trying to break into old man Sanborn’s house out on Jenkins. This is him on the phone. He says he scared them off, but isn’t completely sure they’re gone. Can you head out there? I’m putting a call into the sheriff right now and he’ll meet you there.”
Lanie gave Abby a concerned look before bolting to her desk. It took Abby a few seconds to realize that Sanborn was the same last name as Gloria. “Oh, jackrabbits! That’s Gloria’s house, isn’t it?”
“You bet it is,” Lanie said as she turned toward the motorpool. “Stay here with Gloria. I’ll call when it’s clear, but can you bring Gloria out? We might need her to calm down Demsey, if he’s there.”
“Do you think he’ll cause problems?” Abby asked.
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Lanie said as the door closed behind her, leaving Abby to stare dumbfounded after her friend. She turned, sharing a look with Josh before sitting down at Lanie’s desk and wondering what had just happened.
Chapter 9
Abby and Gloria sat, waiting, for what seemed like hours, but was really only about forty-five minutes. Josh finally came in to the small room where they’d been waiting to let them know that Lanie had called.
“Can we head over now?” Gloria said, somewhat gruffly. She hadn’t been pleased to be told to wait, but had eventually settled down and only shot the door the occasional glare.
“Actually,” Josh said, seemingly uncomfortable as he talked. Abby had picked that up about the balding younger man, that he wasn’t always comfortable talking to people. “Lanie asked if you could hurry. Apparently Demsey isn’t taking things very well, and Lanie seemed a bit worried.”
Gloria shot to her feet, already grabbing her faux bomber jacket. “Oh nuggets! We’ve got to get over there right now, Abby. Becky is going to be okay if I have to leave my bike at the café, isn’t she?”
Abby nodded as she followed close behind Gloria. “Yes, she’ll be fine. Don’t worry. Let’s just get you there, but you’ll have to point the way. I don’t know where it is.”
Gloria just grunted as they raced out to Abby’s car. Abby followed Gloria’s pointing fingers as she directed her first onto Main Street, but then they quickly moved further out of town and deeper into the rural, forest filled backcountry that surrounded Red Pine Falls. Despite being the end of January, the forest only looked partially barren due to the abundance of fir and pine trees, though Abby had yet to see snow fall.
She thought it would look beautiful with snow but was tired of waiting. The cold and wet was beginning to tell on her, and they were only about halfway through the cold season.
“There’s the pull off,” Gloria said, directing Abby onto a long but narrow paved road that disappeared to the right. Abby turned onto it, going fairly fast but not speeding. She peered ahead of her, thankful that there weren’t a lot of curves because the road didn’t look wide enough for her car, much less anything coming the other way.
Fortunately, no other car was in sight by the time they drove within view of Gloria and her father’s rundown house. There was a beat up old Chevy in the driveway and parts of what looked like a trailer and a few other bits of junk in the front yard, but as they got closer the items didn’t appear to be trash, merely projects sitting out waiting to be worked on.
There were two patrol cars parked out front and Abby could see the sheriff, Lanie, and another man standing out front looking worriedly toward the door. When Abby stopped her car, Gloria was out like a shot and moving toward the front door. After Abby had climbed out of the driver’s side door, she could hear why.
There was a periodic slow, warbling bellow coming from inside the house. To Abby, it sounded like a wounded buffalo, and she immediately moved up to where the sheriff and Lanie were standing in the yard.
“Can someone tell me what happened?” Gloria said, staring at the front door. “They said there were trespassers?”
The older man who looked half shaved and wearing a truckers hat nodded. “Yep, that’s exactly what happened. I was sitting in my chair half asleep when I heard something moving around on the back step. I got up, and by the time I’d peeked into the kitchen, some fella was halfway inside. I guess the guy wasn’t expecting anyone to be home, because he took off like a shot, but Demsey came in and got real upset. Kept screaming something about being taken away.”
“What did you do, Dad?” Gloria said, looking sourly at her
father. “Did you try to calm him down?”
“Well, he heard me talking to the police and that’s when he really got upset,” the man answered back, frowning at his daughter. “I backed the heck out of there is what I did. I’ve already had my jaw broken by that boy, once. When the sheriff came, he started shaking and grinding his teeth like he does. That’s when I came out here. Once he laid eyes on them, he started screaming like that.”
Gloria huffed, giving her father an angry look before looking at the sheriff and Lanie. “Please, let me try to handle this. He just thinks you’re here to take him away again.”
“All right, Gloria,” the sheriff said in his slow, deep drawl. “We’re not here to cause you any more trouble, but I have to get inside to take a look at where the man pushed his way into your house. I’d appreciate not having Demsey try to remove my arm in the process.”
Gloria nodded, and then began moving toward the door and calling inside, letting him know she was coming in. The bellowing changed in tone, softening a bit, but not going away entirely. After a few moments, it stopped and they could hear Gloria talking inside.
“Do you think it was one of the same men that Gloria mentioned?” Abby said while still staring at the door. She had directed the question to Lanie, but it was the sheriff who responded first.
“Men? What men?” he asked, turning his eyes suspiciously on Abby.
Lanie gave Abby a look before turning to the sheriff. “Apparently, some men have been following Gloria and Demsey around. That’s why they were at the station, so Gloria could look through some photographs and possibly ID them. She said it was some of the men that had been passing out flyers for the foundation.”
“Let me guess, Abby brought her in?” the sheriff said, though at least he took his gaze off of Abby and turned it back towards the house. Mr. Sanborn just looked baffled.
“What men? Someone was following Gloria?” Mr. Sanborn asked before looking at the open front door where Gloria had gone inside. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
Deadly Desires and Killer Instincts Page 3
