“Augustine Volcano,” the clerk told her when she inquired. “Still cooling down from the last eruption two years ago.”
Last night she had slept in Soldotna in a bed and breakfast nestled into a stand of spruce along the Kenai River. The sunset had been beautiful from there, too, and she had thoroughly enjoyed her experience of having to wait for a moose to move away from the front door to the establishment before she could walk in.
The day spent with her new employer had been interesting and productive. One of the directors of the study group she would be working with told her there had been a slight change in her assignment. She begged Mara's forgiveness for the unexpected change, but told her that in view of the fact that she had not yet settled into the community, the timing was probably as good as could be hoped for in such a situation.
The research center would now need to place a team in Homer and were in the process of opening a satellite office there. A decision had been made to place Mara, another scientist, and a technician, at the Homer office. There would also be an office manager who would facilitate communication with the Soldotna office. Because of the small size of the satellite center, Mara and the others would report directly to the directors at the Soldotna location. The expectation was that they would usually do this by phone or email, but occasionally in person.
Mara had no concerns or issues with the change in plans. She was just grateful to have a job, especially one where everyone had been so supportive of her own recent change in plans. She filled out the required paperwork and met everyone in the main office. She found them to be a warm and comfortable group of individuals. Afterwards, she drove down to Homer, arriving around 5 p.m. In view of what she was looking at from her motel room on Baycrest Hill, it was a definite rise in fortune to have received the re-assignment.
The panorama was magnificent. Hadn't that been much of her Alaska experience so far—panorama after panorama of the most breathtaking scenery possible on earth?
The blue sky set against the shimmering silver-green waters of lower Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay was a spectacular sight. With its pastoral vista of snow-covered mountains and glaciers across the bay, the scene before her was more reminiscent of a postcard than of a real place. Jutting dramatically into the bay was a long, winding strip of land that had a road right down the middle. Mara wondered if her new office might be in one of the buildings she saw on this piece of land she had heard was called the Homer Spit.
Her room at the Beach Shells Motel gave her a great overview of her new home. After dinner at the restaurant next door to the motel, she picked up a local paper and searched the want ads for real estate for sale. In the morning, she would find a realtor and begin searching for a home.
“I'm finally here,” she told everyone in a quick phone call to Ellie's, explaining that she was sorry to have to leave a message on their answering machine, but she was exhausted and heading to bed. “I'll call you as soon as I can, and I hope by now that Dan is home and everything is getting back to normal.”
OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS, THE AGENT FROM SEASCAPE REALTY SHOWED Mara every property within her price range that was available in Homer and surrounding areas. They looked at everything from condominiums to one-room cabins. The one piece of good news in the search was that it was almost impossible to buy a piece of property in Homer that did not have a commanding view.
By the end of the week, she had placed an offer, backed up by a sizeable down payment, on a small two-story home located on the bluff not far from the motel. By April 9, her birthday, and just two months after leaving the east coast, Mara was sitting on the deck of her new home, gazing at the steaming Augustine Volcano, and watching the fishing boats in the bay below.
She had already given her new address and phone number to Ellie and Sarah. Dan was home now and doing well. Sarah had extended her stay a bit, but was getting ready to go back home in the next couple of weeks. She told Mara she felt lucky to have been able to handle her work by Internet and by phone and would not have missed the opportunity to come to Alaska for anything. Her only regret was that she had waited so long.
“You know, Mara,” she told her friend during one conversation, “I'm not sure I can ever go back to the same life in New York that I left behind. So much of that world has lost its interest for me now that I have been here.”
Mara smiled into the phone, nodding as Sarah spoke.
“Of course,” Sarah continued, “I wish it could have been under better circumstances.”
MARA'S JOB IN RESEARCH MORE THAN EXCEEDED HER EXPECTATIONS.
The small staff was friendly, professional, and most importantly, fun. The Homer office of Ocean Research and Preserve was located on the second floor of a square, yellow, two-story building in a part of Homer called old town.
Mara loved her office. Her desk sat in front of a large bay window that looked out over Bishop's Beach. Sharing the office was fellow scientist Hans Trent, office manager Charlene Sampson, and field technician Aaron Brack. The regional supervisors were Donna Smith and Ted Compton, who worked out of the O.R.&P Soldotna office.
It was a beautiful, sunny day in early May when a shaken-sounding Charlene reached Mara by cell phone at her current worksite in Bear Cove, across the bay from the Homer Spit.
“Mara, there's a Sgt. Tandry who says he's from the Alaska State Troopers on the phone. He's asking how to get a hold of you,” she said in a carefully controlled voice.
“I told him that you were out of town on assignment, but that I would try to get a hold of you. I hope that was okay,” Charlene said apologetically.
“Yes. Of course it's okay, Charlene. Did he happen to say what it was about?” Mara said evenly.
“No,” Charlene answered. “He did say it was urgent that you call him back right away.”
“Okay,” Mara answered. “Do you have his number?”
“I have it right here. Mara…are you all right? Is everything okay?” she asked, waiting for Mara to find a pen to jot down the number.
“Don't worry, Charlene. I think it's just a follow-up about the plane crash in February—you know, the one that delayed my getting down here to work. Remember? My friend's husband's plane went down near Trapper Creek? He was found several days later and was okay, though.”
Mara paused to switch the phone to her other ear.
“I'll call Sgt. Tandry right back. Thanks, Charlene.”
“Okay, Mara. Thanks,” Charlene said, sounding relieved before she hung up.
Mara was more unsettled about the call from Sgt. Tandry than she had let on to Charlene. She wasted no time in dialing his number on her cell phone.
“Alaska State Troopers. Sgt. Ken Tandry speaking.”
Mara recognized Ken Tandry's voice from the numerous times she had already spoken with him.
“Sgt. Tandry. Hi. This is Mara Edwards down in Homer. Well, actually, I'm over in Bear Cove working, across the bay from Homer. Our office manager said your call was urgent.”
Searching for a comfortable place to sit down, Mara settled on one of the large rocks that jutted out of the base of the steep bluff that lined the beach.
“Thank you for calling me so quickly, Mrs. Edwards.”
“Please. Call me Mara.”
“Well, okay, Mara. Thank you,” Tandry replied. “The reason I'm calling you is that the NTSB report just came in and it appears that the fuel tank in Dan Williams plane contained a significant percentage of water. In addition, the cable to the main tail rudder was damaged. There was a very clean cut made part way through it, which the NTSB determined caused it to fray and break under stress.”
Tandry stopped talking for a moment before continuing. “I should mention to you, that I have Ellie Williams’ and Doug Williams’ signed permission to discuss this with you, and that any comments you make to me will be part of the official investigative record.”
“Certainly. I have no problem with that at all,” Mara answered. “If there is anything I can do to help, I will try.”
>
“There is more to tell you, Mara. Before calling you, I spoke to Ellie Williams. Dan was rushed to the hospital this morning with extreme shortness of breath. Ellie was nearly hysterical and said that Dan's color was so blue that she didn't think he would be able to hold on until the ambulance arrived.”
Mara gasped. “Oh, no…”
“Apparently Dan's heart and breathing stopped on the way to the hospital. The medics administered CPR and Advanced Life Support measures that brought back Dan's heart rate enough to make it to the hospital. He is in ICU, unconscious and…Mara…I don't want to tell…and…” Tandry stopped and sighed before continuing, “and not expected to survive.”
“No! I can't believe it,” Mara cried into the phone.
“I imagine there are several messages on your machine at home, Mara. I know Sarah has been trying to reach you since this morning. She asked me to try to help find you, which is primarily why I called you.”
Mara felt numb and unable to find any words.
“I'm truly sorry to have to break it to you this way, but if Dan dies, and this is found to be in any way related to his injuries from the plane crash, this case becomes a murder investigation. If Dan dies, Mara, I am going to have to question anyone and everyone who was with Dan the night before and the morning of his plane crash.”
Mara was so stunned at the news about Dan that she could barely think straight.
“Mara?” Ken Tandry said, breaking into her thoughts.
“Yes.”
“I think it would be wise if you would…if you could make some arrangements at work and come up to Palmer. I know that you will want to help Sarah with Ellie and Anna if you can, and frankly, Sarah told me she needs you.
Ken Tandry hesitated again before continuing, “It isn't good, Mara. Dan's EEG is flat and the doctors are waiting three days to repeat it, just in case brain activity resumes…but…they are not hopeful. I hope you understand that along with the others, I am probably going to need to take another statement from you…you know, officially.”
“I understand,” Mara replied. “Oh, God! Ellie must be crazy with fear…and poor Anna…she is so close to her Daddy…”
Mara was rambling now. “I'll make arrangements to leave Homer first thing tomorrow if that's okay. Can you tell Sarah I'm on my way?”
“Do what you can, Mara,” Tandry told her, his voice softening. “I'll tell Sarah, and, Mara?”
“Yes?”
“I have to question everyone, not just you. I'm sorry to put you through this.”
“I understand,” she replied. “I'll be there as soon as I can make arrangements to get back to Homer.”
“One more thing,” Tandry added. “I know that Doug Williams lives in Homer.”
“Yes, I think so,” Mara replied.
“He hasn't returned any of my phone calls. Any chance that you may have seen him around town?”
“I saw him and his girlfriend, Sassy, at the grocery store last week, and I thought I saw his boat go out early one morning right after I saw them,” Mara answered. “Other than that, I really haven't seen him or heard from him since I moved here.”
“Thanks,” Sgt. Tandry replied. “I'll talk to the harbormaster and the Coast Guard and take things from there. I know Sassy's back up here in Palmer because I tried to leave a message there for Doug. She wasn't terribly helpful.”
“I'll let you know the minute I arrive at Ellie's,” Mara told him before clicking off her cell phone.
She immediately dialed Donna up at the Soldotna office and received authorization to leave as soon as she could ready herself. She had confided in Donna right from the beginning, feeling the need to explain all the delays in accepting the job. The woman had become more than a boss to her. Like the others in the office, she had become a confidante and a friend.
Donna assured her that the job would be waiting for her when she returned. In the meantime, Hans Trent should be able to handle the workload at its current level. Donna expressed regret that O.R.&P wouldn't be able to pay her during her absence. She explained that Mara hadn't worked there long enough to accrue leave time, but she would ask Ted to research the matter with corporate in Juneau.
Mara thanked Donna and reassured her that she was not stressed at the loss of income. Brad had left her very well off and money would never be an issue for her now or in the future.
“I can't thank you enough for your patience and understanding with all of this,” Mara told her supervisor and friend.
She explained everything about her part of the project to Hans before she left and gave him her cell phone number in case he needed to ask her about anything they had been working on. She begged a ride back to Homer with Aaron on the research boat and he was happy to oblige, telling her he could get her there faster in the skiff that the vessel carried.
It was 7 p.m. when they pulled onto the beach below Mara's house. The steps someone had built there years ago were still functional and she climbed the steep bluff to her yard. By eight she had started packing for the trip north. By nine she had finished listening to the messages and left a quick reply for Sarah and Ellie on Ellie's machine that she would be there tomorrow. First thing in the morning, she was on her way to Palmer.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Charges Pending
KEN TANDRY HAD BEEN RIGHT. THERE HAD BEEN EIGHT MESSAGES ON Mara's machine when she got home. Three were from Sgt. Tandry and four from Sarah telling her about what had happened and that she should come straight to Ellie's as no visitors were allowed at the hospital.
She held the steering wheel with one hand and her cell phone with the other as she drove up the Sterling Highway out of Homer.
“Sarah. This can't be true! This is terrible. I'm on my way right now. I was working across the bay and left as soon as I could. I left a message for you last night. Oh….you were at the hospital? I should have known that. No, I know I didn't call back, but I had to pack and get to bed early so I could get on the road early.”
Pulling off to the side of the road, Mara brought her vehicle to a stop. The conversation with Sarah was getting emotional and she didn't want to risk an accident.
“Tell me how Ellie is? And Anna? I can't even think about Anna and how this must be affecting her…you're kidding. That's horrible… you mean Anna saw the whole thing? It must have been horrible for Ellie to have to tell her that Dan might be going to heaven to live.”
Over the phone, Mara could hear Sarah sniffing and blowing her nose in the background.
“Anna saw Dan when they took him away—when he could still talk a little. She went with Ellie to see him that night. Ellie told her Dan was sleeping and Anna kissed him before she left,” Sarah said. “Ellie said it was horrible. Dan showed no response.”
“Anna told me she thought the tubes were making it hard for her Daddy to sleep,” Sarah continued. “You know how smart she is for her age…she said she saw angels around Dan and that the angels told her they would take the tubes out before he went to heaven so he could sleep. She said that made her feel better.”
Neither Mara nor Sarah said anything for the next few minutes. Finally Mara broke the silence.
“She's a wonderful child…wise beyond her years…I should be there by noon. I'll see you then.”
“Drive safe, Mara,” Sarah told her before hanging up.
Mara was grateful that traffic up the Kenai Peninsula was light and that there was no road construction to slow her down. She wondered if the Coast Guard had been able to get ahold of Doug Williams yet. He was Dan's only brother, after all, and it stood to reason that he might be too upset to drive. She had hoped that Sassy would drive for him, but Ken Tandry said he had seen her back in Palmer already without Doug. For a moment she felt guilty, wondering if she should have waited and driven Doug herself. She told herself she was being silly and that all the anxiety surrounding Dan was working overtime on her emotions. Doug was a grown man who was perfectly capable of making his own travel arrangements. Besides, sh
e thought as she drove past the hospital in Anchorage where Dan lay dying, he was probably in there right now visiting his brother. From what little she knew of him, she was sure Doug Williams would not let any hospital rules stop him from seeing his only brother during his final moments on earth. She was surprised to see Doug's truck in the drive and Sassy standing in the door when she pulled into Dan and Ellie's place at 1p.m.
“Hi, Mary,” Sassy said in her usual frightful whine.
“It's Mara,” she said, brushing past the woman she had so much trouble finding anything to like about.
“Whatever…” Sassy replied as she turned and walked into the kitchen. “Dougy said you would probably come here and he wanted me to tell you he is flying up tonight.”
Before Mara could ask why Doug hadn't come up with her, Sassy started talking again. “Hey, you look just like that girl I saw in the grocery store in Homer last week. It wasn't you was it? You know, over by the vegetables in the new section?”
As usual, Sassy didn't leave time for Mara to enter the one-sided conversation.
“Dougy said you live there now. I don't get it. It's such a boring place.”
“I don't think it was me,” Mara lied, not wanting to further the conversation.
“Well, I have to go home now,” Sassy said looking at her watch. “I have to teach class at six. I don't know how Dougy's gonna get here from the airport. I guess he'll just have to take a cab or something. I'm going to be too tired after class to pick him up.”
With that, Sassy was out the door, stopping to pick something up from the bunkhouse before locking up behind her and speeding down the driveway in Doug's truck.
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