“What kind of resort?”
I jerked my head to the door at the sound of Jack’s voice, surprised to find Bernard, Jack and Chris walking into the dining room. Much like Landon, they appeared to be putting on a brave front to hide their hangovers. They were moving slower than normal, though.
“It’s a ski resort in the winter and a golf resort in the fall,” Landon replied, rubbing his hand over Bay’s knee under the table. He seemed to want to be in constant contact with her, which was cute, but also unnerving. They were very tight, which meant whatever secret he was hiding probably had something to do with her. Even after a good night’s sleep, I was convinced he knew more than he was saying. But I was unsure how to voice my suspicions to Chris without looking like an alarmist.
“Is it in operation now?” Jack asked, happily pouring himself a mug of coffee. It was the first expression akin to giddiness I’d seen him muster since our first meeting. He took a sip, groaned, and sighed. “That’s good stuff.”
“Do you want aspirin?” Millie asked, holding up the bottle.
Jack shook his head. “I’m not hungover.”
“Oh, we have another manly one,” Thistle groaned, her eyes flicking to Jack. “He even kind of looks like our manly one.”
“I’m not your manly one,” Landon shot back. “I’m Bay’s manly one … er, Bay’s man. That sounds awful no matter how I phrase it.”
Bay patted his arm, amused. “I liked it.”
“Ugh, I’m going to puke if you don’t knock it off,” Thistle warned. “As for the resort, it’s open. It has a big dining room and they’re getting ready for the season. This is Michigan, so people start wearing shorts as soon as it hits sixty degrees.”
“Sad but true,” Landon said, chuckling. “Chief Terry and I are heading to the resort to question the workers today. Penny worked in the main dining room most of the time. I understand she picked up swing shifts for other departments when help was needed. She was always eager for overtime.”
“What else do you know about her?” Jack asked, sparing a glance for Laura and Hannah as they joined the breakfast party. Laura scanned the table, looking for a spot close to Landon. When she saw where he was situated she scowled and sat next to Sam. Sam completely ignored her and kept his hand on Clove’s neck as he attempted to rub out the tension. She really did look worked up.
“She was twenty-four and lived with roommates,” Landon replied. “That’s all I know so far. I’ll get more from Chief Terry when I hit the police station after breakfast. That reminds me, … .” He shifted in his chair and fixed Bay with an unreadable expression. “What are you doing today?”
“Do you want me to go with you to solve the crime?” Bay was clearly amused. “I feel so loved.”
“Oh, I love you.” Landon said the words, but there was an edge to them. “However, that has nothing to do with my question. I want to know what you’re doing today. If you plan to run through the woods with Thistle and Clove I want to know.”
“I’m not going into the woods,” Clove announced. “I’m thinking of moving back into the guesthouse until this is settled.”
“No, you’re not.” Landon wagged a finger. “That guesthouse is private property now … Bay and I need our privacy. The fact that we had six people essentially living there for months is in the past.”
“Oh, you’re so bossy,” Tillie complained as she breezed into the dining room. Her combat helmet was gone, replaced by an odd gardening hat with scissors sticking out of the band. She also wore pink camouflage pants with flip-flops. The ensemble was … interesting. “I think all cops get off on being bossy.”
“No one asked you,” Landon shot back, his eyes drifting to her outfit. He didn’t seem shocked – which made me think her clothing choice was a regular occurrence and not an indication of some sort of stroke-related behavior – but he did seem suspicious. “Do you plan to garden today?”
“What’s it to you?” Tillie challenged, grabbing the coffee pot and pouring herself an oversized mug. “Are you going to stick your nose in an old woman’s gardening habits? That’s ‘The Man,’ for you. He’s always sticking his nose into business that doesn’t concern him. I think my spring saplings are probably quaking in their grow pods in the greenhouse.”
“It is a little early in the season for gardening,” Bay offered.
“Mind your own business, junior busybody,” Tillie snapped. “Worry about your boyfriend. He’s trying to get you to promise that you won’t investigate the dead girl. Pay attention.”
Bay knit her eyebrows and swung her head in Landon’s direction. “Is that what you were trying to do?”
Landon nodded without hesitation. “Someone – or something – ripped Penny Schilling’s throat out. I don’t want you running into the sort of individual who would do that.”
“What if it’s an animal?” Chris challenged.
Landon ran his tongue over his teeth as he leaned back in his chair. “Then I don’t want her running into that animal either. No offense, man, but this conversation has nothing to do with you. I don’t want the people I care about eaten by an animal or stalked by a man. You’d be surprised how often it happens.”
“They’re often eaten by animals?” Laura asked, her smile flirty.
“They’re often stalked and put in danger,” Landon fired back, ignoring her wink and smile. “Bay, if you want to go out to the scene … I’ll take you. I’d prefer if you waited until I was free to go with you.”
“We’re going out there today,” Chris offered. “We can take her.”
“No, you can’t,” Landon growled, flicking his eyes to Tillie. “You did this. Are you happy?”
“I’m not unhappy,” Tillie replied. “As for the gardening, I’m merely doing some work with my rototiller, no planting. There’s no reason to get your panties in a bunch.”
“Why is gardening such a big deal?” I asked, confused.
“You don’t want to know,” Landon growled.
“I want to know,” Laura argued.
Landon pretended he didn’t hear her. “If you guys go exploring today, I want to know about it. Just … text me or something.”
Bay’s face was a mask of emotions as she stared at her boyfriend. She opened her mouth to answer, but Chris, oblivious at the end of the table as he studied his phone, cut her off before she had a chance.
“We could use someone who knows the terrain in that area,” he said. “She’s more than welcome to come with us. We’ll keep her safe. In fact, I can have Jack stick close to her, if that makes you feel better.”
Landon stared at Jack, their handsome faces leveling and suspicious eyes locking as he shook his head. “That doesn’t make me feel better at all.”
Thistle snorted. “That’s because he looks like you – only a younger model – and you’re worried Bay will fall for him.”
“I am not.” Landon scowled. “Do you have to be such a pain so early in the morning?”
“She was born a pain,” Tillie answered. “Don’t worry about Bay. She can take care of herself. If she gets in trouble, I’ll handle it.”
“Oh, that makes me feel so much better.”
I wrapped my hands around my coffee mug, enjoying the warmth on my fingers, the spoon spinning on its own. I was doing that. Er, well, I did that on occasion with my magic. I doubted anyone noticed, but I grabbed the spoon with my fingers just in case. When I lifted my head, I found Tillie staring at me. She didn’t bother trying to hide her actions. She openly studied my face without blinking. She reminded me of a creepy owl, and I shifted on my chair, suddenly uncomfortable.
“Do I have something on my face?” I instinctively wiped a finger down my cheek.
“Ignore her,” Landon suggested. “She gets her jollies unnerving people. But she usually prefers doing that to men.” He snapped his fingers in front of Tillie’s face, causing her to glare at him. “You’re making Charlie feel self-conscious.”
“Sorry.” Tillie sounded anything
but sorry. “I didn’t mean to be rude. That’s clearly your job, copper.”
“You know I hate it when you call me that,” Landon muttered.
“Even more than ‘The Man?’” Laura asked. “You do look all man, by the way.”
Landon pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead as Bay shot Laura a menacing look and Thistle cracked her knuckles. The Winchester family was ridiculously odd – there was no getting around that – but something else was going on this morning, something I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around. They were all scattered and keen on poking one another with insults while covering up for something bigger.
“Either way, we’ll need a guide,” Chris said. “If you won’t lend us your girlfriend, do you have any suggestions for someone who knows the town well?”
“Look for Margaret Little.” Landon’s smile was enigmatic as Bay elbowed his ribs.
“Don’t look for Margaret Little,” Bay countered. “I can take you out there.”
“No, I don’t want you out there,” Landon’s voice became serious. “Bay, there’s either a killer or creature in those woods. Can’t you – I don’t know – spend your day in the newspaper office?”
“Not last time I checked.”
Landon sighed. “You give me a headache.”
“I think you should use Clove as your guide,” Thistle suggested. “She lives out there, and she’s a big fan of Bigfoot.”
“Shut up,” Clove snapped, jerking her foot against her cousin’s shin under the table, causing Thistle to cry out. “You suck.”
“And you’re a big baby,” Thistle shot back.
“You are a big baby, kvetch, but Thistle definitely sucks.” Tillie studied my group, her gaze lingering on me. “I can show you around the area.”
The offer clearly baffled the people who knew Tillie best, because Bay’s mouth dropped open and Landon looked as if he was searching for hidden cameras in the wall sconces.
Chris, focused on his camera, missed all of this. He was clearly great with the science, but terrible with people. “That’s great,” he said. “We’ll leave right after breakfast.”
Aunt Tillie’s smile was serene as she arched an eyebrow and practically dared Landon to cause a scene. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Six
Tillie Winchester was an enigma of sorts. She changed out of her gardening hat and back into her combat helmet for the drive to the Dandridge. She rode with Sam and Clove – which I think made everyone more comfortable – so we gossiped freely as we followed the vehicle. Only Jack, Chris and I opted to return to where the body was found. Everyone else followed up on other tasks.
“Does anyone else think the Winchesters are odd?” I asked.
Jack snorted from the driver’s seat. “Isn’t that like asking if the sky is blue?”
“I think they’re quirky but fine,” Chris replied. “If everyone acted the same it would be a very boring world, wouldn’t it?”
He had a point, still … . “They’re hiding something.” I don’t know what possessed me to say the words. I liked the Winchesters. No, really. That didn’t mean they weren’t keeping some big secrets, and I couldn’t help but worry that the secrets would impact the job we were in Hemlock Cove to do.
Instead of laughing, Jack shot me a keen look in the rearview mirror. “What do you think they’re hiding?”
“If I knew that they wouldn’t be hiding anything.”
“You must have something to pique your suspicion,” Jack argued. “What is it?”
“They all look at one another when they think no one is watching them.”
Jack snorted. “That’s the way families interact. They have in-jokes. That’s normal. Isn’t your family like that?”
My family was dead … at least those I knew about. “No.” I averted my gaze and stared out the window. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m overreacting.”
“But you don’t believe that.” Jack pursed his lips. “They seem fairly normal to me. Sure, that great-aunt is all sorts of eccentric, but I think it’s an act. The rest of the family seems used to it. Heck, the FBI agent didn’t even blink when he saw the scissors sticking out of that gardening hat.”
“No, but that’s part of what I’m saying,” I argued. “He wasn’t weirded out by the hat – which should weird out anyone – but he seemed agitated by the thought of her gardening. Why would anyone care if a little old lady gardens?”
“Maybe they’re worried about her health,” Chris offered from the passenger seat. “She is elderly, and it’s not quite warm enough for her to be gardening so early in the morning. Maybe she’s stubborn and refuses to take care of herself in the manner they would like.”
“I guess that’s a possibility.” I chewed my bottom lip, unconvinced.
“They don’t believe we’re looking for Bigfoot,” Jack pointed out.
“Technically we’re not,” Chris said, his fingers busy as they flew over his phone screen. “We’re looking for a hominid-like creature. I’m not a big fan of the Bigfoot name, as I’ve repeatedly told you. I think people use it in a joking manner, which I don’t like. I don’t mind Sasquatch, though. I have no idea why.”
I stared at him a moment, dumbfounded. “Is that really important right now?”
“I think using the correct names is always important.”
I shifted my eyes to the mirror and caught Jack’s reflection smirking. “Okay, but … we’re talking about the Winchesters and the fact that they don’t believe we’re looking for a creature.”
“I’m not sure we’re looking for a creature either,” Jack admitted. “Someone could’ve used the history of this place, that Dog Man legend, and made a murder look like an animal attack. I’d like to see the autopsy report.”
He parked in front of the Dandridge and hopped out of the Tahoe, catching me off guard when he opened the door for me before I even reached for the handle. It was a gentlemanly gesture, but I didn’t know what to make of it.
“Do you think they’ll tell us what’s in the autopsy report?” I asked, smoothing my top as I hit the ground. “They don’t have to, do they?”
“They don’t have to do anything they don’t want to do,” Jack replied. “They seem open to sharing information – even though you’re convinced they’re hiding something – but we can’t rely on them to make our case. That’s our job.”
“And it’s going to be a fun job.” Chris’ eyes lit up as he marched toward the path that led past the Dandridge. “Is everyone ready to see the impossible?”
I opened my mouth to answer, sliding a baffled gaze toward Jack. For his part, the security guru seemed amused by our boss’s enthusiasm. “He does know the odds of us actually seeing Bigfoot while out there today are slim, right?”
Jack shrugged. “I think he wants to see Bigfoot so bad he’ll will it to happen if he has to.”
“That’s a little … worrisome.”
Jack’s eyes were contemplative as he grabbed a bag of supplies from the back of the Tahoe. “Aren’t you desperate to see the impossible?”
I’d seen impossible things quite regularly since I was a small child. I found it more terrifying than freeing, quite frankly. “I didn’t join this group to see the impossible. I joined to … get answers.”
Jack tilted his head to the side, his long dark hair slipping past his shoulders. “What answers are you seeking?”
“Different kinds.”
“Uh-huh. Well … I hope you find them. You seem to desperately need them.”
“That would be a nice change of pace.”
“THIS IS WHERE her body was found?” Tillie looked less than impressed when she saw the area the police had taped off the previous day.
Jack nodded, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. “It is. Does something strike you as funny about that?”
“Not funny,” Tillie replied, groaning as she dropped to her knees and stared at the blood. “Did she die here or was it made to look as if she died here?”
/>
“I’m not a police officer,” Jack replied. “You’ll have to ask the chief … or the FBI agent you have living on your property. You don’t seem to like him, though.”
“Landon?” Tillie wrinkled her nose. “I like him fine.”
“You’re mean to him.”
“He’s mean to me right back.”
“Yes, but that’s why I figured you don’t like each other,” Jack pressed. “Most people who like each other are nicer to one another.”
“That’s not how any family I’ve been a part of operates,” Tillie countered. “Make no mistake, Landon is part of my family. He and Bay are in it for the long haul.”
“Are you okay with that?” I asked, ignoring the fact that it was none of my business how Tillie felt about her great-nieces’ loves.
“I’m fine with Landon, but Marcus is my favorite,” Tillie replied. “I’m growing to like Sam. I hated him at first, but he’s not so bad now. He’s exactly what Clove needs, so that makes me like him.”
“You like Marcus best even though you hate Thistle?” Jack challenged. I could tell that he was trying to get a read on Tillie, and coming up short. She was a hard woman to pin down.
“I don’t hate Thistle,” Tillie clarified. “I simply rarely like her.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“No.” Tillie offered the one-word answer as if it was the end of the discussion and let loose another groan as she struggled to her feet. “She wasn’t killed here. I’m almost positive of that.”
“How do you know?” Chris asked, shifting his eyes from the camera he held to the elderly Winchester woman. “You don’t have a background in law enforcement, do you?”
“No, but I could totally be an FBI agent for a living if I wanted to work long hours for crap pay and boss people around for no good reason,” Tillie replied. “I’ve been around enough investigations since Landon came into our lives to recognize that this is a body dump, not a killing ground.”
“But why would a hominid-like creature kill a person in one area and move the body someplace else?”
Witchy Dreams Page 53