by Laina Turner
“Hi, Janet,” I said with a cheerfulness I didn’t feel, hoping maybe my good mood would rub off on her. “I’ve missed you the last couple times I’ve been in the diner. I just love your food. How are you?” I knew I was rambling. Something I did when I got nervous, but I thought maybe if I talked enough I’d distract her from whatever was making her angry.
“I want to know what you and Sheldon are up to. Why are you bothering my grandson?” she demanded, dashing any hope I’d had of her just wanting to say hi.
“We were just talking to him.”
“Right. Sheldon always has a motive. You two need to leave Eric alone and stop sticking your nose into what Glen and his boys are up to. Stay away from them and stay away from Eric. Mind your own business.”
I tried to hide my surprise. Eric I could understand, even though he was a little too old to need his grandmother protecting him, but why would she care if we bothered Glen or any of those guys? I was pretty sure they could take care of themselves and didn’t need her defending them. How did she even know Sheldon and I were even talking to anyone? This town had a faster gossip chain than my hometown. Something I never thought possible. “Janet…”
“I mean it,” she snapped. “Stay away. In fact, you might want to think about cutting your vacation short and go back home before you find yourself in trouble,” she said, glaring at me before she turned and stormed off to her car while I just stood there dumbfounded. What had just happened? Had I been threatened by a grandmother? I was more shocked and confused than scared. I put my groceries in the back still astonished. Had she been the one to break into the house? To scare me? To get me to mind my own business or leave altogether?
I pulled out of the parking lot to head back home when I glanced over and saw Harley at the gas station across the street. I looked in my rearview mirror to make sure stopping short and turning wouldn’t cause me to get rear ended. That’s the last thing I needed. Another run in with the police. When I saw it was clear I slowed the car, jerked the wheel to the left and pulled into the opposite side of the pump Harley was at.
“Hi, Presley,” he said when I got out of the car.
“I was just told to stay away from Glen and all you guys by Janet. Any idea as to why?” I said, getting right to the point.
If I expected him to be surprised I was asking such a question he didn’t show it. Though something told me not much surprised him.
“Why ask me?” he said tilting his head.
“Because he’s your dad and you live there.”
“Do you know everything your dad does?”
“Well no,” I faltered. He had me there. But then my dad wasn’t a member of the militia either, nor did I live with him. My dad’s life was pretty tame compared to Glen’s.
“Then why should I?” I heard the click of the pump shutting off and he turned away to take the nozzle out of the tank and put it back on the pump. He turned back to me.
“Listen, I appreciate you and Sheldon wanting to get to the bottom of things. I can understand why. More on Sheldon’s part than yours, but who am I to question what you like to do in your spare time. But it might be a good idea if you just left things alone,” he said gently.
“Why?” I said. He clearly knew something he wasn’t telling me.
“Why does it even matter to you?”
“Doesn’t it bother you that there have been two murders in the last week. One of which is one of your own group?” I said, emphasizing the word your.
“Of course I care, but you don’t understand, there is a lot at stake here. This isn’t your fight,” he said softly and got in his car. “Maybe take Janet’s advice. Stay away from all this and just enjoy your vacation,” he said through his open window before driving off.
What the hell did he mean by that? I’d had two people warn me off in the last ten minutes for no good reason I knew of, though at least Harley was much nicer about it, and I was no closer to having any answers. If Janet and Harley thought I was just going to walk away from this, they were wrong. Now I was more determined than ever to find out what the hell was going on in this town.
Chapter 10
Voicemail. Again. I was starting to move from annoyed to pissed off mode. I’d been trying to reach Sheldon for almost twenty-four hours now and nothing. Not a text or call back. I was starting to feel like he was avoiding me, though I had no idea why he would. He’s the one who dragged me into this in the first place. My mind was racing and I couldn’t sit still. I needed to do something.
Wait a minute. What was that guy’s name at the paper? Will? He seemed eager to help out. He’d probably grown up here so maybe he knew something about Janet that would shed light on why she didn’t want me talking to Glen. It was worth a shot at least. I jumped out of the lounge chair where I was having my coffee on the back porch and went to get dressed. I was going casual in black capris and a grey t-shirt and flip flops, not wanting to take the time to get any more dressed up. Plus, I was on vacation and there needed to be some perks. Fifteen minutes later I was headed out the door and down the road to town with my travel mug of coffee and the music blaring. Loud music always helped me think.
I lucked out and there was a parking spot right in front of the newspaper building. Locking the car doors, I walked up to the building hoping maybe I’d find Sheldon here, but no such luck. There wasn’t even anyone at the front desk. It didn’t look like many people were working at all. I walked a little farther in and finally I saw Will sitting at a desk with headphones on, but no Sheldon that I could see. I walked over and tapped him on the shoulder.
He looked at me and took his headphones out. “Can I help you with something?”
“I don’t know if you remember me? I was in the other day looking for Sheldon?”
“Oh, right.” Recognition dawned on his face. “Now I remember. Are you looking for him again? I haven’t seen him in a couple days. I think Sheldon told our boss he had to go out of town.”
Nice to know. And he couldn’t have told me that? “I was actually hoping you could help me. When I was in here before you said if I needed anything to let you know.”
“Yes. Will Denton, at your service madam,” he said with a flourish.
I laughed. He was a cute kid. “Can I sit?” I said, pointing to an empty chair.
“Of course. So how can I possibly help you?”
“Do you know Janet over at the diner?”
“Everyone in town knows Janet. Super nice lady. She always gave my friends and I discounts on burgers in high school and didn’t get mad if we just hung around.”
Apparently it was just me she didn’t like.
“What do you know about her and her family?”
“They’ve owned the diner as long as I can remember. What is it you want to know?”
“I don’t know. Has she ever had any problems with anyone?”
“What do you mean, problems?” he seemed confused as to what I was asking. I couldn’t blame him. I was just as confused myself. I wasn’t sure what I was trying to find out, which made it hard to know what questions to ask.
“You know, at odds with someone. Anyone she doesn’t like. Anyone who doesn’t like her,” I said, hoping he didn’t ask why I had all these questions because I didn’t feel like trying to explain. Mainly, because it just seemed crazy.
“Not that I know of. Everyone likes Janet. She’s like everyone’s second mother.”
“What about her grandson?”
“Eric?”
I nodded.
“I don’t know him personally. He’s a few years older than me, but I know he got in a lot of trouble a few years back. Drugs and petty theft. He went away for a couple years. No one ever knew where for sure, although we all assumed rehab. But he came back and started working at the diner. Since he came back he hasn’t made any trouble. At least none that I know of and no one talks about where he went. At least no one I’ve heard. I think people like Janet too much to speculate and gossip. Why all the questions ab
out them?”
“What about the militia?” I said.
“Are you asking if Janet or Eric are involved in the militia?” Will asked, frowning.
“Not specifically them. More in general. What do you know about them? The militia.”
“Nothing really. They pretty much keep to themselves. I’m sorry, I’m not being much help am I,” he said looking so crestfallen. I felt bad. He really wanted to be helpful.
“How long has Sheldon worked here?”
Will thought for a second. “It’s been at least a couple years. He was here before me and I’ve been here two years. Well, part time when I was in school.”
I didn’t want to agree with Will, but he was right. This wasn’t any help at all. I just didn’t want to tell him that since he was trying so hard to be helpful.
“Can I leave you my number in case you think of anything else?”
“Sure.”
As I gave it to him, I thought of one more question. “Have you ever heard of there being underground tunnels below some of these old houses?”
He surprised me by bursting out in laughter.
“One of the old timers got you caught up in his hiding pirates’ treasure story, did they? Any underground tunnels that did exist are probably crumbling into themselves and definitely don’t have hidden treasure.”
“Ok, thanks.” I walked out wondering if modern day pirates had resurrected the secret tunnels for their own type of hidden treasure.
Chapter 11
A little after four my phone rang. I saw it was Sheldon. “About time,” I said. “Where have you been? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you.”
“I’m sorry. I had to take care of something.”
“And you couldn’t give me a heads up?” I said. “You’re the one who wanted my help. You get me involved and then you just disappear?”
“Listen, I’m sorry but I have some information.”
“Me too. That’s why I’ve been blowing up your phone.”
“Are you at home?”
“Yes.”
“Ok. I’ll be there in a few,” he said and hung up me. For his sake I hoped he had good information.
It didn’t take long until I heard a knock on the door. I looked out the side window and saw it was him and I opened the door and invited him in. He looked frazzled and there were dark circles under his eyes like he hadn’t slept since I last saw him.
“Can I pour you a glass of wine?” He looked like he needed it.
He looked at me funny. Crap. I’d just offered alcohol to an alcoholic. Sheepishly I said, “Sorry. Water then?”
"That’s fine,” he said and followed me into the kitchen. He sat at the bar while I got a bottle of water out of the refrigerator.
“I’ve been in Chicago.”
I frowned. “And you couldn’t tell me? Why?”
“I didn’t not tell you on purpose. I was chasing down a lead and was distracted. But I think I know what Eric is up to.”
I’m not sure I believed his distracted story, I mean how much time does it take to send a text, but for now I would let it go. For now. But he needed to be reminded that we’d agreed to share all information and him sneaking off to Chicago and not telling me wasn’t what we agreed upon. I looked at him expectantly when he didn’t just come right out and say it. “Well, are you going to tell me?” I finally demanded.
“He’s selling mushrooms.”
I thought for a second not sure I heard right. “Mushrooms? And that’s a problem why? He is a chef.”
“Not the kind of mushrooms you put on your salad. Psilocybin mushrooms.”
I shook my head, still not getting his point.
“Psychedelics,” he said, eyebrows raised.
Ahh, this I understood. “People still use those as drugs these days?
“You think Janet knows he’s selling drugs and that’s why she wants us to stay away from him? Afraid we would turn him in to the police or something?”
“That would be my best guess.”
“And this is what you found out in Chicago?”
“It’s where Eric’s been selling them.”
“Where’s he getting them? And how did you figure this out?”
“My best guess is Glen and his guys are growing them and Eric is the middleman. They’ve got the land and it’s cut off from everyone else. No one would know if that’s what they were doing.”
“You think Eric is doing it for money? And do you think he had something to do with the murders? Eric doesn’t seem the murdering type.”
“Murder no, but he was involved in drugs before. Not so much of a stretch he’s involved again. We need to make him talk to us whether he likes it or not.”
“Do you think he could be in danger?”
“I think anyone who does business with Glen is treading in dangerous territory.”
“Janet yelled at me to stay away and leave town. Maybe she does know what Eric’s up to and doesn’t want us to find out,” I said and told him about my encounter with her and Harley. But he seemed too preoccupied to care.
“I think I might know where Eric is. Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” I asked after I’d grabbed my purse and was running behind him. He got in his car and I jumped in next to him, not caring if he wanted me to come with him or not. I was going.
“Elle’s.”
“Your ex-girlfriend? Are you crazy?”
“Slightly, but that’s not the point,” he grinned. “If Eric’s not over there she will know where he is.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“You’re probably right, but right now I don’t care. We need to talk to Eric. He’s got to know something.”
A few minutes later, when Sheldon pulled into the driveway of a small shotgun style house I saw he was right. Eric’s car was in the driveway so clearly he’d made up with Elle after their fight. At least that was a positive. For Eric anyway. I had a bad feeling about how this was going to go based on the last time we’d tried talking to Eric, but followed Sheldon up the walk to the front door anyway. What could I say. I liked to live on the edge. He pressed the doorbell and I could hear footsteps. The door flung open. “What the hell are you doing here?” a gorgeous blond said when she saw us standing there. Or Sheldon rather. She didn’t even pay attention to my presence, which was fine by me.
“Nice to see you too, Elle. Is Eric here?”
“What do you want with him?” She snapped. “Can’t you leave him alone? Leave us alone!”
“Elle, please. I don’t have time to argue with you. I’m not trying to cause trouble. I just need to talk to him. It won’t take but a couple minutes, I swear.”
“Elle, it’s fine,” Eric walked up and put his hand on her arm. “I’ll talk to them out here.”
If looks could kill, Sheldon would be the next dead body in town. He must have really done a number on her when they were together for her to have so much animosity. I was curious to know the story behind that one.
Eric walked out on to the porch and closed the door behind him. “What do you want Sheldon? You have some nerve coming here.”
“Eric, I know you’ve been selling drugs. I assume it’s for Glen?” Sheldon just came straight out with it.
Eric’s faced drained of color. Well Sheldon got that one right. Score one for the good guys.
“How did you find out? And don’t you dare tell Elle,” he hissed, taking a step toward Sheldon.
“I’m not trying to get you in trouble with Elle.”
“We don’t want to get you in trouble either. We just want to know what’s going on,” I said.
“Why would I sell drugs or why would I work with Glen? And how is it any business of yours?”
“You’ve been down this road before and you worked hard to overcome your problems. Why slip now?” Sheldon asked.
“I haven’t slipped. Well, not totally. I’m not taking drugs. I’m clean, I swear,” he insisted and I was inclined to beli
eve him. He seemed genuine.
“Then why?” I asked.
Eric stood there silent. I could tell something was on his mind and he seemed to be struggling with whether to say it or not. Sheldon and I looked at each other and I could tell he was thinking what I was thinking. Stay silent and give him time.
A few more seconds went by and it was all I could do to not say something. Just as I was about to lose my patience he started to talk.
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“What do you mean…,” I started to say and Eric held up his hand to stop me.
“My grandmother is in trouble. I was doing it to help her.”
What was he talking about? This was about Janet?
“How is Janet involved?” Sheldon asked.
Again, Eric paused and took a deep breath. “She owes money. From gambling. I’m trying to help her pay it off,” he said and hung his head.
“She owes Glen?” I asked.
Eric nodded. “He’s been loaning her money for years.”
“Then what changed now? I mean if this has been going on for a while,” I said.
“She’s spiraled out of control. She got on a losing streak and started betting heavier and heavier, thinking she could win back her money. Glen refused to extend her anymore credit unless she did something for him.”
“And that’s how you got involved?” I asked.
“Not at first. She initially refused, thinking he would care because of their history and he didn’t. He cut her off. Then the people she owed got really unhappy and she had no choice but to go back to Glen. It was his idea to get me to be the middleman. He knew I had connections in Chicago. You know, for this sort of thing, and he’d been looking for another outlet for his business,” Eric said averting his eyes. I could tell he was embarrassed. I almost felt sorry for him. “She didn’t want me to do it, but I didn’t feel there was a choice. She’s always been there for me. I had to help her.”