***
The massage was over too soon, Ashley thought.
That said, she felt light as a cloud and thanked her therapist as she went to the sauna room. She drank some water and sat there for as long as she could stand, then went back into the pool.
Then she repeated it.
Soon, she took a shower to wash all the cream off her hair and got dressed.
As she walked into the waiting room, she noticed Sani at the desk talking to the receptionist. He gave her a smile and nodded his head, then walked out the front door.
Ashley ran after him. “Are you going to follow us wherever we go?”
He smiled at her again. “This is my place. Just as you live in your little town near the ocean, I live here. I know everyone, I go everywhere. Do not think I am following you. I am just being.”
“Okay,” she stammered.
He stood there tall and straight with a bemused look on his face.
“Well?” she asked.
“Well, what? Isn’t it you that have something to tell me?” Sani said.
“Yes. The answer is yes. I will go see your brother-in-law. And I will see what I can do. But don’t have any expectations. I am just a cook from a small town and I—”
“I know,” he said quietly. “I know. But you have just as much power as you want to have. We all do. We are all connected, and we all need one another. Good luck. I will wait to hear what happens.”
“And hopefully he will come to see you,” she said.
“I know that he will. You are the link for that. Take care,” he said.
He disappeared around the back of the spa.
Ashley followed him to say one more thing, but he was already gone.
***
Sean came out of the spa and called Ashley’s name.
She walked out around the corner.
“Where were you?” he asked.
“Talking to a ghost,” she said.
“Ash, can you please make sense?”
“I’m trying to.” She shook her head. “I just told Sani that we would go see his brother.”
“I knew you would,” Sean said as he walked to the car.
“Did you pay?” she asked.
“Yep, and tipped. Now, how about lunch?”
Chapter Eighteen
Ashley and Sean drove into town to a great southwest place that had been listed as having terrific food. After the light breakfast, they were ready to eat heartily. The menu looked great, and their lunch was delicious.
“I love tacos crispy,” she said between mouthfuls.
“Hmm,” Sean responded.
He was too busy enjoying his chile relleno to say much. They both also split an order of chicken mole and took turns digging in.
Just then, Officer Hernandez stopped by the table.
“Hope I didn’t bother you this morning by dropping off the envelope,” he said.
“No bother,” Ashley said. “It was very interesting to read. And also upsetting.”
“Well, I didn’t know what was in it. I was only asked to drop it off.”
“Let Sani know we read it. But I suspect he knows that,” Ashley said.
Officer Hernandez looked nervous. “I will. And there was another person who wanted to examine the document—”
“Who?” Sean asked.
Hernandez looked around nervously at a table behind them. A man in the back headed out the door quickly.
“Officer, please tell us who else wanted to see the document,” Ashley said.
“I thought you knew. The person said you would. Look, I have to get back on patrol. Have a good day.” He turned and walked quickly out of the café.
Sean jumped up from the table. “I’m going to find out now who wanted to see those papers.”
Ashley grabbed his arm.
“Sean, careful. Sit down. Something tells me the guy who ran out may have been the guy on the riverbank.”
“I’m not going far. I’ll be right back,” he said as he ran out of the café.
But as soon as Sean got outside, there was no sign of that man.
In addition, all he could see of Hernandez was his car disappearing up the road.
Sean walked back in the café.
Ashley had finished every bite on her plate. “No sign of him, right?”
Sean sighed. “Of course not. And Hernandez was already driving off in the distance.”
“Figures. Finish eating, and let’s head back to the cabin.”
Sean munched in silence then cleared his throat. “Ash?”
“Yeah?”
“How about we just finish the rest of the day with our barbecue tonight, then leave early tomorrow morning and head to the big city?”
“But we lose one day at the cabin that we already paid for,” she answered.
“I don’t care. Do you? I loved seeing everything here, but it’s been awfully stressful. And we might as well get this over with, trying to meet up with Sani’s brother-in-law, John. And you know, there are things to do in the city.”
Her eyes lit up. “Can we go see some of the art there? And maybe explore the jewelry marts?”
“Sure. And don’t forget, the city has a reputation for lots of great restaurants. Right up your alley.”
“Okay. Deal. Let’s get some fresh food here to throw on the grill and spend the last night looking at our view. Ready?”
“Let’s do it,” he said.
Chapter Nineteen
They got the check and paid, then headed into the square to buy some produce. Ashley picked up tilapia fillets, fresh zucchini, sweet potatoes, onions, and lemons, as well as a small jar of smoked paprika.
“I’m making something lighter tonight. Even though it’s vacation, we’ve been eating so much. Thought we shouldn’t have so much filling food this evening,” Ashley said.
Sean nodded. “Sounds good, but make sure we have some of those fresh tortillas. We can’t get them at home.”
Ashley smiled and went to the tortilla booth and picked out some fresh corn tortillas. They were so good. She had to learn to make them but thought they wouldn’t taste as good at home as they do here. It was the ambiance, and the age-old stone-ground techniques of making them.
The woman who made them gave Ashley a shy smile as she wrapped the tortillas in paper.
“Gracias, Señora,” Ashley said. She handed the woman the money.
“Gracias usted,” the woman said, taking the money and handing back the change. “Et cuidado.”
Ashley gave her a puzzled look. “Cuidado?”
Why did the woman tell her to “watch out”?
Before Ashley could ask, a group of people got in line to buy the fresh tortillas. She moved over but gave the woman a curious look, hoping to catch her eye. The tortilla woman kept talking to her customers in Spanish and did not meet Ashley’s eye again.
“Ready?” Sean asked.
“I guess,” Ashley said.
They walked off.
After a few yards, Ashley turned around and looked back at the tortilla woman. She was still talking to her customers and wrapping their orders.
Ashley and Sean got in the car and started to drive off. As they turned the car around and headed down the road to their cabin, she glanced back at the marketplace.
She saw a figure she slightly recognized.
“Sean, turn around!” Ashley said. “Is that the man who was at the café? Why does he look familiar?” She racked her brains trying to make a connection.
Sean jerked the wheel and flipped a U-turn in the road and screeched up to the marketplace.
But the man was gone.
The tortilla woman stared down at her wares, slapping the round discs of corn and putting them on the grill. She never looked at them.
Ashley sighed. “Let’s go. Nothing to see here.”
***
They slowly drove off, keeping their eyes peeled for a sign of the man. But the marketplace faded in the distance without revealing any mo
re secrets.
They were both on edge but had decided to make the best of their last night in the cabin. Ashley was trying her hardest to remain calm. Sean made jokes.
When they got in the cabin, Sean opened the curtains, so they could look out on the view, then quickly plopped on the couch.
“Ahh…home again, home again, jiggidy jig.” He closed his eyes. “Let’s sit and veg. Need to rest after that massage.” He chuckled to himself.
“Sean. Sean,” Ashley gasped, then screamed. “Sean!”
“Whaaat…?” He opened his eyes and looked at her, then to where Ashley’s gaze was transfixed.
On their porch was a skull on a pole.
Next to it was a long, hooded robe on a stick moving in the breeze.
There was also red paint, or blood, splashed on the deck. Sean leapt up off the couch.
“I’m calling the police! Don’t go out there!” Sean said.
Ashley began to moan. “Oh my God. Oh no.” She spun around. “We are not staying here tonight! I’m packing up!”
Sean finished his call and looked out again, completely white-faced. “The police said they will be right over.” He pulled the curtains shut. “I’ll put the food in the cooler while you pack. As soon as they leave, let’s get out of here.”
Chapter Twenty
Two policemen arrived, but not Officer Hernandez. Ashley recognized one of the cops as Officer Dunne from the first time he came out to the cabin. They made notes and took pictures of the objects on the porch from the window, then pulled the drapes shut again and asked Ashley and Sean a few questions.
They weren’t there for more than twenty minutes when Dunne said, “Thank you for your time. We will put the report in as soon as we get back to the station. Please contact us if you have any more questions.”
Ashley’s mouth was open. “Is that all?”
“Well, ma’am, that’s all we can do. We will put the report in and hopefully someone will investigate this,” an officer replied.
“Hopefully?” Ashley asked. “You didn’t even check to see what was on the patio deck. Is that blood or just red paint?”
“We didn’t want to step in it, ma’am. We suspect it’s just red paint. The detectives will make a finding on everything,” Dunne said.
Sean looked upset. “You don’t even look concerned.”
“Sir, we are doing our job. We see things like this all the time. A detective will have to go further with the investigation. We can only make an initial report,” the officer said.
“Things like this happen all the time? Are you serious?” Ashley asked.
“Yes, ma’am. You’re not the first. Bet you won’t be the last, either. We have to go put this report in. Sorry this happened to you. Try to have a better day.” Dunne nodded at them and walked toward the door.
Ashley remembered something. She looked at the cop with Dunne and read his name tag.
“Wait a minute. Aren’t you the policeman who was with Officer Hernandez on the river when we had to be rescued after the rafting incident? The one who crossed over to be with him? You’re Officer Peterson, right?”
The officer paused at the door. He turned and gave her a casual look.
“Oh yeah, that was you two folks there. I remember that. Glad we could help that day. And good to see you made it out all right. Bye, take care.”
He reached for the door, and the two officers walked outside. Ashley followed behind them to their car.
“Officer Peterson, are you going to tell me that you see things like what happened on the river that day all the time too?” Ashley asked.
Officer Dunne turned and stared at her as he opened his car door. His eyes were narrowed in slits, and his face was rigid. Officer Peterson scrambled into the car.
“He’s not telling you anything about that day or anything else. But I do suggest you leave town as soon as you can. Vacation’s over, wouldn’t you say?” He got in and slammed the door, and they drove off.
Sean took her by the arm and steered her back inside. “Ash, let’s get going. Now.”
“No argument there,” she said.
Her hands were shaking as she packed their bags in a hurry.
Sean called out to her. “I’ve got the fridge cleaned out and the cooler packed and put all the clean dishes away. Anything else?”
“Check the living room for any of our stuff,” Ashley said.
Sean walked around and straightened up and picked up their phone chargers and a few little items that they had on the side table. He kept looking at the curtain but didn’t dare open it.
Ashley came bounding into the room. “All set. Looks like you got everything here! Let’s go!”
“Ash, should we take photos of what’s outside? Otherwise, how can we explain to the vacation agency about this? I don’t want us to get charged for anything.”
“No! Don’t open the curtain! We can refer them to the police, and they can see a report was made.”
“Ash, how do we even know that they will make a report? They were acting weird. Go to the car. I’ll do it. We need the proof. Not only for the agency, but maybe for something else.”
“Okay, you’re right. But I’m staying here with you. I’ll be okay.”
Sean got his cell phone and slowly opened up the curtain. The deck still had its ghoulish decorations on it. But right beyond it and going up the hill there was a large pole now with an outstretched figure on it with an animal skull with horns. It shuddered in the wind, and the long pieces of material draped on it flapped with each movement. Neither of them made a sound as they stared.
“Could that have been there before, and we just didn’t see it because of what was on the deck?” he asked softly.
“It wasn’t there before,” Ashley said flatly. “Take the pictures and let’s go.” She felt like crying but knew that would scare Sean. She gulped hard and dug her nails into the palms of her hands.
Sean snapped away and then pulled the curtain tight. They hurried to the car and quickly drove off. Ashley looked all around, but couldn’t see anyone. Sean drove in silence, and they climbed the hill and took the road into town to connect with the freeway. Just before they went down around the bend, she saw a tall figure in a robe twirling around on the mesa in the distance.
Sani? she thought.
Just then, they noticed a man in a long robe walking slightly off to the side ahead of them by the side of the road. As they passed, they noticed it was Sani.
***
Sean slowed the car. “Get in!” he yelled out the window.
Sani shook his head and waved his hand at them. “Go on. I will contact you later. Take care, my friends.”
“Who’s that up on the hill?” they asked.
“Imposters,” Sani said. “Go now.”
“Okay,” Sean said. He frowned and turned to Ashley. “Why wouldn’t he go with us? Or at least talk to us?”
“Sean, that man up on the hill as we were leaving obviously wasn’t Sani. I’m sure he was the one who put all that stuff on our deck and out front on the hill.”
“Well, we’re not going back to find out. We’re only going ahead now.”
“It will all be okay,” she said.
She put her hand on his arm and squeezed it with reassurance. They both looked around at the landscape as they drove onto the highway. The mountains were turning a soft terra-cotta color again, and the shadows were dancing again across the flat plains now.
The tall cacti looked like sentinels off in the distance, and the hawks slowly circled and swooped as they looked for prey. Everything looked soft, peaceful, and totally belied the danger all around them.
Chapter Twenty-One
Even with the traumatizing morning, they couldn’t help but notice how the ride across the state was breathtaking. They stopped at intervals to take a break and get something to eat. Sean had found a little place online that advertised homemade food that sounded amazing.
They pulled up in front to the small diner
, and when they walked in, it seemed everyone knew everybody else there. They ordered some combination plates and dived into the delicious food. Ashley had the cheese enchilada and potato taco plate with beans and rice. Sean had the beef burrito and chicken enchilada plate.
They both got tall glasses of cold horchata to wash it all down with. Just eating and relaxing in the convivial spot made them feel better. The owner and his wife smiled at them a lot, and the server kept filling up their glasses of horchata when they ran low.
After eating, they were in no hurry to leave and sat out on the little patio to take in the mountain view. People came and went after they ate, and the bougainvillea on the side of the café swayed in the afternoon breeze.
Sean leaned back in his chair and patted his tummy. “You know, if it wasn’t for everything that’s happened, I could seriously think about living here. Well, at least half the year. Too hot the rest of the time.”
“Yes, it’s beautiful. But after what’s happened, I don’t know if I could ever live here,” Ashley said.
A man walked by them into the diner and tipped his hat. He was wearing lots of turquoise and had a western vest on.
When the door swung shut, Sean whispered to her. “I’d like to dress like that too.”
Ashley laughed. “Well, you can’t dress like that in Comfortville. People will think you’re a poser.”
“Me? Don’t think so. No one would ever think a guy like me is a poser. Gone mental maybe, but that could be expected about a geek like me.”
“A geek that is an excellent pastry chef. Which reminds me, I sure miss your pastries.”
Sean laughed. “We’ll have them soon enough. My belly needed a break from them.”
Ashley put her head back and got a dose of sun. Regardless of what had happened, she was here in the sun with Sean, and at the moment, it felt good. It was a welcome respite from all the drama.
Ashley Crane Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Page 54