by Paul Regnier
“He’s got something.” I bent down near Bandit, studying the grass. There were a few drops of blood, barely noticeable. “Looks like blood.”
“Hold on. Don’t touch anything.” Brooke stooped near us. She retrieved her phone and took a few photos. “Nice work, Bandit. Boy, he really does know how to track, doesn’t he?”
“Yep.” I winked at Bandit.
He sat, panting happily with his tongue hanging to the side. See? I could make a great police dog.
She pulled a yellow marker from her pocket and left it on the ground nearby. “Well, this goes a long way to confirm what you witnessed.”
I glanced inside the darkened cabin. “Did you find anything inside?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. And it reeks of bleach in there.”
“Bleach? In an old, abandoned cabin?”
“Yep. That was my one lead. As if someone was trying to cover their tracks. I was thinking it wasn’t enough for a strong case, but now we’ve got something.”
Bandit barked. The trail leads back to the car. I can follow it and impress Brooke some more
Really? Yes, follow it.
“He’s got another trail,” I said.
“Great,” Brooke said. “Lead on.”
Bandit just sat there, staring at us.
“I thought you said he found another trail?” Brooke said.
“He did.”
I raised my brow at Bandit. Well? What are you waiting for?
He tilted his head. Hello? The command word? Brooke’s watching.
Right. Sorry.
“Bandit.” I pointed at the ground behind him. “Track.”
Bandit headed back the way we’d come, sniffing the ground along the way. We followed close behind watching his progress.
“Would you like to hear our theory?” I said.
“Theory for what?” Brook said. “This case?”
“Yeah.”
“Our theory, as in you and Kenny?”
“Yes. Well, and my mom.”
She chuckled. “Are you forming some kind of team?”
“It’s a loose collaboration. Anyways, Jimmy Bosko, God rest his soul, otherwise known as Jimmy the Mysterious, otherwise known as Ellie’s ex-fiancé, dressed up as a clown and crashed the auction last night.”
“You knew that? I just found that out this morning.”
“Me too.” I pointed to myself. “Investigative journalist, remember?”
She rolled her eyes. “Continue.”
“Well, Ellie referred to him as a leech. If he was bad with money and constantly hitting her up for cash, maybe he heard about the gems, and how they’d be out in the open at the auction, and figured it was his time to make a big score. Plus, smoke grenades? That’s got magician written all over it.”
Brooke grinned. “Not bad, junior detective.”
“Although, now we know he had an accomplice. A murdering one. Question is, who?”
“When you solve that one, let me know.”
“Well, I can run a potential motive by you.”
She chuckled. “Boy, you’re full of surprises today. Okay, let’s hear it.”
“Agnes Millbury, Ellie’s grandmother, took out an insurance policy on the gemstones. There’s an eighty thousand dollar payout if they’re stolen.”
Brooke’s face tightened. “Oh boy. That doesn’t sound good.”
“Yep. Definitely puts the crosshairs on the Greyson family. Maybe one or more of them teamed up with Jimmy to collect the insurance and then sell the gems on some kind of black market.”
She let out a long breath. “Definitely worth looking into. Thanks, Luke. That’s really good info.”
“Just trying to lend a hand.” I had the distinct feeling Brooke was warming up to me again. It fueled me even more to solve this case and set things right between us.
Bandit led us down a different path through the trees. He stopped at a section of ground devoid of foliage where drag marks were visible.
Bandit looked back at me. You seeing this?
“There.” I pointed.
“Yes.” Brooke snapped more pictures with her phone and placed another marker. “Looks like they dragged him back toward the car. This is amazing. Good job, Bandit.”
Bandit wagged his tail. At this rate, I’ll get one of those K-9 vests before sundown.
Dream on. Those dogs have to go through a whole training program.
Training? Please. Are you not hearing Brooke? She thinks I’m amazing.
I frowned and pointed beyond him. “Track.”
Bandit led us back to Brooke's squad car. He paused to sniff the ground just ahead of her car, then sat down.
Well, that’s it. Bandit looked at me. The trail ends here.
You sure?
Yep.
“Apparently the trail stops here,” I said. “Maybe he loaded Jimmy into a car and took off.”
Brooke scanned the area. “Seems likely. Unless he doubled back on the same trail, then broke off. Maybe stashed the body deeper in the forest.”
Bandit, what do you think?
He glanced back at me. You don’t think I would’ve smelled another trail? What am I, a cat? Trust me, the trail ends here.
I sighed. Well, she’s got a reasonable theory. Just make a big show of sniffing around and circle back.
I’m a police dog, not an actor.
You want that K-9 vest or not?
Fine.
I pointed at the ground. “Track.”
He let out a low woof. I’m starting to regret that whole command word idea.
Bandit slowly plodded around the area, giving a few weak sniffs at the air.
I narrowed my eyes at him. Can you try to look a bit more convincing?
Well, I don’t like this pretend tracking. It feels like I’m lying to Brooke. Dogs are very honest, you know.
Okay, wrap it up. Come back over here.
Good. He trotted over, then stopped a couple feet away and sat down.
“He’s not finding any other trails,” I said.
“Hm.” She scanned the area.
“Jimmy would’ve had to drive up here,” I said. “Where’s his car?”
“Good question. Wait, how do you know he drove up here? Maybe he was already here.”
“He’s doing his magic act all weekend in McCall at a corporate retreat. I saw his show this morning and overheard him talking on the phone to whoever called him up here for this meeting.”
Her brows lifted. “Hold on. This morning you did all this?”
I nodded. “Investigative reporting. I was following a lead.”
“That’s pretty aggressive investigating.”
“I told you I wanted to help find the thief.”
“Yes, I suppose you did. I just didn’t expect, I mean, that’s some real detective work.”
I shrugged. “Well, I had nothing better to do with my Saturday.”
The corner of her mouth tugged upward, hinting at a smile.
“Although…” I looked back toward the cabin. “I didn’t know it was going to take such a dark turn.”
She let out a heavy sigh. “Yeah. This robbery just became a murder investigation.”
“Do you know what kind of car Jimmy drove?”
Brooke raised a brow. “Maybe.”
“Well, if the trail ends here...” I glanced at Bandit.
Bandit scratched at his ear. Yes, it ends here. How many times must we go over this?
“…then the killer had to do something with Jimmy’s car. I imagine a body is hard enough to hide but a car? That’s a tall order. So, whoever did this is either driving that car around or tried to dispose of it somewhere nearby.”
She smiled. “I like the way you think, Luke.”
“Thanks. Any chance you’ll loop me in on the police info about that?”
“Let’s just say I might let it slip. Unofficially, of course.”
“Of course.”
“You know, Luke.” She paused, studyi
ng me for a moment. “Maybe you missed your calling. You sure you don’t want to follow in your dad’s footsteps?”
I chuckled. “Well, I never would’ve thought so before. I mean, I don’t know if I could handle the day-to-day things you officers have to go through. Traffic violations and domestic disputes and dealing with drunk idiots and all that, I mean, no thank you, right?”
She shrugged. “Sure, some things are tough. But the good things balance it out. Every time I stop some violent creep from hurting more people, it makes it all worthwhile.”
“Well, you have a lot more patience than me to deal with that side of the job. The thing is, when it comes to the detective work, I’m telling you, I’ve never felt more alive. I feel like the investigative journalism brought me close, but this, what we’re dealing with now, this is where I feel like I’m supposed to be. Is that weird?”
Brooke smiled. “Not weird at all.”
Her radio crackled requesting a response.
“All right. I’ve gotta call this in,” she said. “Then I’m headed straight to the Greyson farm.”
“You’re going to their farm now?”
“Yes. That insurance policy is a potential motive. If one of the Greysons is involved in all this, they’re probably not at home. Especially if they have to deal with Jimmy’s car. And even if they are home by the time I get there, there will be signs of stress. I’ll put them on the spot, see how they react.”
“Wow.” Her reasoning and decisive course of action was inspiring. And incredibly attractive. “That’s really impressive.”
Bandit looked up at me. Why don’t you just nuzzle with her already? Or kiss? Or whatever humans like to do?
I glanced at him. Easy, Bandit. People move slower at this relationship stuff.
Bandit yawned. I’ll say.
“Well,” Brooke said. “It’s just an impulse. It might lead nowhere, but I have to give it a try. I’d better get going though.” She looked around. “Where’d you park your car?”
“I parked a little ways back. Right over...” I walked past Brooke’s squad car to point out my Mustang. It wasn’t where I’d left it.
Chapter 10
For a moment, I thought Kenny had freaked out and taken off in my Mustang. But after a quick scan, I located my car twenty yards farther back from where I’d parked it, the rear passenger side slightly elevated.
“That’s weird,” I said.
Kenny emerged from the driver’s side, waving and calling out to me. “Finally! Where you been?”
I motioned to the car and called out. “Why did you move it?”
He shook his head. “Not my fault. You got a spare?”
I sighed.
Brooke walked up next to me. “What happened?”
“Kenny happened.”
“Well, good luck with all that. I gotta call this in.” Brooke went to her squad car and got on the radio to call in the details.
Kenny waved me over. I walked toward my Mustang, a sinking feeling in my stomach, thinking that my car was broken.
Bandit trotted alongside. What’s up with Kenny? He looks really hyper. Did he get walked today?
I shook my head. “If only that would help.”
Kenny walked toward the front of the car as I approached, his hands held out in a calming gesture. “Now, before you freak out, there’s no body damage.”
“I was gone for like five minutes,” I said. “What’d you do?”
Kenny checked his phone. “Okay, first of all, it’s been eighteen minutes. And, when you’re alone in the woods with a killer nearby and no phone service, it feels more like three hours. Please tell me Brooke shot the cabin killer.”
“Cabin killer? Are you trying to nickname him?”
“Well, I had to do something to stay calm. What do you think?”
“Needs work.”
He frowned. “Did she get him or not?”
“No. No one was there. But there were traces of blood and drag marks in the dirt, like the body was moved away from the scene.”
Kenny craned his neck behind him. “So, he’s still on the loose? He could be nearby. He could be watching us right now.”
“Relax. Brooke’s got a gun if anything happens.”
Bandit barked. What about me and my teeth?
I leaned over and patted him. Of course. That’s a given.
“Well, I think we should get out of here.” Kenny scanned the area. “Just in case.”
“Sure, as long as my car isn’t broken.”
I went around the back to see why my car was elevated. A suitcase sized rock lay under the rear passenger tire which was now flat. “You blew the tire.”
“Well, you don’t have power steering,” he said. “I’m not used to these old cars.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why were you driving? You were just supposed to wait in the car.”
“I thought I saw someone.” Kenny pointed into the trees. “I heard some rustling. Then this shadow moved through the trees. For all I knew, you’d all been killed and I was next.”
“So naturally you threw my car into reverse and ran into a rock.”
He shrugged. “I panicked. I thought I was dead ... then I realized the shadow I saw was a deer. It ran away when I hit the rock.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Great. My spare is flat.”
“Uh oh.”
“Yeah. I blew out my tire a few months back and used the spare. I kept meaning to replace it.”
“Maybe Brooke can give us a ride.”
“She can’t. She’s on her way to the Greyson farm to ... wait a second.” I paused for a moment, thinking how I could turn this bad situation to my favor.
“What?”
“Okay.” I pointed at Kenny. “I need you to act really scared.”
“Huh? Of what?”
“I don’t know, pretend like you just saw another scary deer.”
“Very funny.”
“Brooke’s calling other officers to the scene. If I tell her I have a flat and I need a ride, she’ll just tell me to wait for another cop to take us home. But, if you act really scared, like you can’t be left alone here and you need her protection, she’ll feel obligated to take us with her.”
“And we want that because?”
“Then we can see what’s going on at the Greyson farm. Brooke’s going to question them about the insurance policy. If one of them is involved, maybe they’ll slip up and say something incriminating.”
“Not Ellie. She’s innocent.”
“If she is, then this is your chance to prove it.”
Brooke headed over to us.
“Here she comes,” I said. “Act scared.”
Kenny pursed his lips. “Why me? Why can’t you act scared?”
“You wrecked my tire. Plus, you’re a better actor.”
He grunted. “Fine.”
Brooke walked up to us. “I need to head out. Thanks for your help back there Luke.”
“Of course.”
She crouched down and scratched Bandit’s cheek. “And thank you Bandit. Good work sniffing out that evidence. I’m really impressed.”
Bandit closed his eyes and leaned into the scratch. That’s nothing. You should see me chase down crows.
Brooke stood. “Well, I should get going.”
Bandit looked up at her. What? No treat? All that thank you talk and no treat?
Sorry, buddy. I winked at him. Maybe she didn’t have any on her.
Officer Wilson would’ve had treats. Maybe she should be heading up this investigation.
Easy now.
“You guys headed home?” Brooke asked.
“Actually, the tire’s blown and I don’t have a spare,” I said. “And, I’m not sure Kenny’s gonna be okay.”
Kenny grabbed Brooke by the arms, his eyes wide with alarm. “Don’t leave me here. The killer could be anywhere. Take me with you.”
Brooke took a step back. “Whoa. Easy Kenny. You’ll be fine. Officers will be here in ab
out ten minutes and–”
“No!” Kenny gave a frantic look around like we were about to be surrounded by killers. “You can’t leave me. Protect me Officer Casey. Please!”
She shot me a nervous glance. I raised my eyebrows and nodded.
“Okay, okay.” She patted Kenny’s shoulder and spoke in a reassuring tone. “You can come with me. Just calm down. You’re safe.”
“And Luke.” Kenny gripped my shoulder. “I need my friend with me.”
Bandit whined. Hey, what about me?
I gave Bandit a reassuring pat. Don’t worry, if I go, you go.
“Yes, fine.” Brooke spoke like an exhausted mother giving in to her child. “You can all ride in the back.”
Within a few moments, Kenny, Bandit, and I were riding in the back of Officer Brooke Casey’s squad car, driving straight for the Greyson farm.
Kenny leaned forward, his hands on the metal partition separating us from the front seat. “So, if you actually find the cabin killer at the Greyson farm, would they ride back to the station in the back seat with us?”
“Cabin killer?” Brooke said.
“It’s a working title,” he said. “Think it’ll catch on at the station?”
“No,” Brooke said. “And if I do need to haul anyone back to the station, chances are you’ll have company back there.”
“Well, if that happens,” Kenny glanced at me. “I just want to say in advance, shotgun!”
I shook my head. “You can’t call shotgun until you’re out of the car.”
“The rules are different for police cars.”
“What rules? Yours?”
“Okay, fine.” Kenny held out his fist. “Rock, paper, scissors. Best two out of three.”
“Kenny’s right. He called it,” Brooke grinned. “If I have to bring in a suspect, I’m cuffing them and putting them back there with you and Bandit.”
Bandit barked. As it should be. Someone has to guard the criminals back here.
“Ha.” Kenny folded his arms, looking triumphant.
“Psh.” I shook my head. “Is this payback for the article headline?”
She smirked. “Maybe.”
Within minutes Brooke was pulling the squad car down the long driveway leading to the Greyson farm. The main house was a modern, ranch style home with well-kept flower beds out front. It sat dead center on an acre of land, with maple trees bordering the property. A classic red barn with white trim stood about twenty yards from the main house.
