Murder Most Wholesome

by Staci McLaughlin

  I opened my mouth to holler back, but snapped it shut before I did.

  What if the guy calling my name was the same person who was following me? Maybe he was trying to trick me into revealing my position. How did I know if he was one of the good guys or not?

  With my feet rooted to the forest floor, I was torn between yelling out in the hopes of being rescued and staying mum until I knew for sure who was doing the rescuing. My heart thudded as I heard the yelling grow louder. Surely my stalker wouldn’t risk exposure by making so much noise.

  Another shout sounded. Unless my panic was affecting my hearing, this time, someone else was yelling.

  I needed to take a chance and expose my location if I wanted to get out of these woods. I sucked in a lungful of air to steel myself and practically screamed, “I’m here!”

  Behind me, in the opposite direction of the voice, pine needles crunched. I whipped my head around, but couldn’t see anything. Maybe my yelling hadn’t been such a good idea.

  I took three steps to the side, trying not to make a sound while I cursed my impatience. I should have waited until I knew for sure who was searching for me. Now I was about to be found, and possibly by the one person who I didn’t want to find me.

  Hoping to blend in with the shadows, I pressed my back against the trunk of a large redwood. Inch by inch, I sidled around to the other side of the tree, ready to bolt if anyone tried to grab me.

  Instead, a beam of light shined straight into my eyes, blinding me. I threw up my arms, flailing at the source of the light. My hand banged into something, and the object fell to the dirt with a thunk. I looked down to find a flashlight at my feet.

  “What the hell are you doing?” a man asked.

  “Detective Palmer?”

  I was so relieved to recognize his voice that it was all I could do not to throw my arms around him and squeeze him with all my might. Luckily, my self-control kicked in before I could embarrass myself.

  Detective Palmer stooped and picked up the flashlight, which was still working. He kept it pointed at the ground. “Are you all right? What happened?”

  Puffing, I said, “I went to Pearl’s cabin to pick up a photograph for Zennia. When I was leaving, I heard someone following me, and I took off. I must have hooked up with another path and gotten lost. I was trying to find my way back when I heard you calling my name.” I tried to suck in more air after all that rambling.

  “You were followed?” He shone the flashlight around, but the light only picked up the vast tree trunks. The sounds I’d heard earlier were long gone.

  I heard another shout, and Detective Palmer yelled, “Over here.” To me, he said, “Why would anyone be following you?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine. All I know is that when I went inside Pearl’s cabin, I heard footsteps on the stairs. I ran away as fast as I could.”

  “Did you see anyone?”

  Great, I knew he was going to ask me that. “Well, no.”

  “Any chance you imagined the footsteps?”

  I felt anger flare up in response to the doubt in his voice. “No. I was chased. I could hear them running through the brush behind me.”

  “More likely, you heard one of us out searching for you.”

  I looked around. For the first time, I noticed several flashlight beams flickering through the woods. “Is that who I heard calling my name?”

  “When I went to interview Pearl,” Detective Palmer said, “she told me she was worried about how long you’d been gone. A bunch of us in the dining hall grabbed flashlights and went out looking for you. You must have heard one of the searchers and thought you were being followed.”

  I wasn’t ready for Detective Palmer to dismiss my fears so easily. This time, I spoke slowly for emphasis, as if that might help convince him I wasn’t being paranoid. “I heard someone outside Pearl’s cabin. When I called out, they didn’t answer. Then, when I started down the trail, I heard them behind me.” Even in the dim light from the flashlight, I could see Detective Palmer get ready to speak, and I hurried on. “If it was a member of the search party, why wouldn’t they call out and let me know they were there?”

  Before he could answer, a light popped into view from behind a tree, and Millie stepped up next to me. “I wonder if it was me you heard. I was following a small track that a deer has made in recent weeks. I thought you might have stumbled upon the same path. I followed it in hopes of finding you.”

  The answer sounded logical enough, but in my gut, I knew someone had been coming after me. Only the yells of the search party had scared them away.

  I felt like explaining this to Millie and Detective Palmer, but I could tell they were happy to believe that I’d gotten disoriented in the dark and scared myself silly. Besides, I could see the other flashlight beams getting closer. My pursuer might be among that group at this very moment, pretending to be one of the searchers.

  Better to tell Jason everything when I got back to town. He’d believe me. And then I could tell him who I thought had been chasing me.

  Chapter 24

  By the time I got back to the main hall with Millie, Detective Palmer, and the other searchers, everyone was laughing and joking, in high spirits after their game of flashlight tag. Several people had teased me about how I’d gotten lost when I should have stayed on the trail. I didn’t bother telling them that I’d been chased, most likely by Ryan.

  He’d caught me reading that text, plus he could have easily overheard me when I’d offered to run out to Pearl’s cabin. He left at the same time I did. With everyone talking, no one would have noticed his exit. My only question was why. Was the text really that important? What did he think I knew?

  As soon as I stepped in the door, Pearl ran over to me and clasped my hands. “Dana, what have I done? I never would have allowed you to go off on your own if I’d known this would happen. Can you ever forgive me?” She was near tears.

  I squeezed her hands. “There’s nothing to forgive. I’m okay.”

  She reached up and touched my cheek. “But you’ve got scratches.”

  “Nothing too serious.”

  My answers seemed to pacify her but did little to quiet my own nerves. What would have happened if Detective Palmer hadn’t found me when he did? Would he have found my body in the woods the next day instead?

  I shivered at my overblown imagination. Detective Palmer noticed but misunderstood the reason and led me to the coffee urn.

  “This will warm you up,” he said as he poured me a cup.

  I accepted the coffee, more to give myself something to do than to actually drink it. No one was near us in the corner, so I leaned toward him and asked, “How’s the investigation going into Birch’s murder?”

  Detective Palmer gave me a patient smile. “I see you’re feeling better.”

  “I’d feel a lot better if you’d arrest the killer. Then maybe Zennia would return to work and save me from cooking up more tofu recipes.” And people wouldn’t be chasing me in the woods either.

  “The department is working on it.”

  “Have you considered Ryan?” I asked point-blank.

  “We’re looking at everyone related to the commune,” said Detective Palmer in that way he used, where he answered every question I asked without telling me anything useful.

  “Look at him especially hard,” I said.

  Detective Palmer studied me for a moment. I drummed my fingers on my coffee cup.

  “He doesn’t have a motive,” he said finally.

  “He might. He got a text tonight from someone asking for a cabin here at the commune. I think he’s planning to sell them or at least rent them out.”

  “You got all that from a text?” Detective Palmer asked.

  “That and all the other changes he’s trying to make around here. The guy obviously has a plan. I have a bad feeling about him.”

  Detective Palmer let out a sound that was close to a laugh. “We don’t arrest people based on the feelings of random citizens who
read other people’s texts.”

  I felt my face grow hot. “I’m not a random citizen. I’m a victim who was chased through the woods.” Whoops. I hadn’t planned on bringing that up again. “I’m trying to figure out why.”

  “Leave the detective work to me,” he said, not unkindly. “Speaking of which, I still have a few people to interview. Excuse me.”

  I drained the rest of my coffee and went to find Zennia. She was sitting at a table with Millie.

  “Are you about ready to go?” I asked. “We have a long drive back.”

  She glanced at the clock on the wall and gave a start. “My, it’s gotten late. I imagine you’d like to get home after your misadventure.” She rose from her chair and gave Millie a hug. “Thank you for a delightful evening.”

  “You’re welcome here anytime,” she said.

  Zennia pulled her sweater from the back of the chair and picked up the envelope with the photos. Seeing them reminded me of the one in my pocket, and I pulled it out, grateful it wasn’t too badly wrinkled.

  I handed it to her. “Here’s one Pearl forgot to give you.”

  She studied the picture, and a faraway look came into her eye. “I remember this day. Birch was always such the romantic.” She slid the photo into the envelope. “I’m grateful to Pearl for saving these for me. I must have thanked her a thousand times tonight.”

  “Was she with you the whole time I was gone?” I was ninety-nine percent sure Ryan was the one who had followed me, but I might as well find out where the others were.

  “Yes, right up until Detective Palmer called her name to interview her.”

  “Who else did Detective Palmer talk to?” I asked.

  “I hardly paid attention, since I wasn’t expecting him to call my name. After all, he has my contact information and can call me at home whenever he likes.”

  “You didn’t see him talking to Ryan by any chance?” I asked, not holding out much hope.

  “I’m afraid not. He seemed to be calling names on a steady basis, but I didn’t notice whose names. Sorry I can’t be of more help.”

  “That’s okay. Let’s head home.”

  * * *

  An hour later, I dropped Zennia off at her house. As soon as she’d gone inside, I pulled out my phone and texted Jason. I confirmed that he was still awake and able to see me.

  With renewed energy, I backed out of the driveway and turned my car in the direction of his place. I couldn’t wait to hear what he thought about tonight’s events.

  I reached his duplex where he was waiting on the sidewalk. The moment I shut off the engine, he opened the driver’s side door and helped me out. Then he pulled me close for a long embrace.

  I leaned against his chest, enjoying the warmth and comfort. He rested his chin on my head. After a minute, he pulled back and held me at arm’s length.

  “Are you all right?”

  Even in the dim lighting of the street lamp, I could see the concern on his face, and I couldn’t help but be touched. “How do you know anything’s wrong?”

  He put an arm around me and led me up the walk. “As much as I love surprise visits, you’ve never stopped by this late. Plus, your face is scratched up.”

  I automatically put a hand to my cheek, where I could feel faint welts. “I’ll tell you inside.”

  Once in the house, we walked straight to the living room. I sank onto his leather sofa and recounted the events of the evening.

  As I spoke, Jason paced back and forth in front of the television, his speed increasing when I got to the part about hearing footsteps outside Pearl’s cabin. By the time I’d finished telling him about being chased and rescued, I was starting to worry that I’d have to replace his carpet.

  Jason rubbed his goatee. “Okay, I’m going to sound like Detective Palmer for one minute. Are you positive you were followed? It couldn’t have been an animal? Or the wind? Or your imagination?”

  “I know what I heard.”

  “Good enough for me,” he said “Where does that leave us?”

  I pressed a hand against my temple as the threat of a headache loomed. “We need to focus on Ryan, figure out what his motive might be.”

  “Let’s back up,” Jason said as he sat down next to me. He rested his hand on my thigh. “How do you know it was Ryan? Did you see him go outside?”

  I recalled the scene in my mind when I’d dropped off my dinner dishes and turned back to wave at Pearl. “No, but he stood up as I was walking out the door. I assume that’s when he followed me.”

  “Did you see him come out the door behind you?”

  “No, but why would he stay?” I shifted slightly to look directly at him as I pled my case. “He told me how uncomfortable he was feeling. If he stuck around, someone was bound to start an argument about his Web site ideas.”

  Jason rubbed my knee. “Did you notice where everyone else was when you left?”

  “Frank was talking to Detective Palmer in the office down the hall, Pearl was sitting at the table where we’d eaten, and Zennia was with a group of friends on the other side of the room. I’m not positive, but Millie might have been with her.”

  Jason held up his hand. So you can only account for Frank, Zennia, and Pearl for sure,” he said. “There were dozens of people in that room. Any one of them could have followed you out. Or even left after and caught up with you, including those three.”

  I crossed my arms. “But no one else is connected to Birch’s murder.”

  “We don’t know that,” he said. “We’ve identified a few people who knew Birch well, but plenty of other people could have killed him. And who’s to say the person following you had anything to do with Birch’s murder? Plenty of creeps in the world, even ones who live at communes, would jump at the chance to catch an attractive girl alone in the woods.”

  “No,” I said. “I’m positive that whoever followed me is somehow connected to Birch’s murder, and I still think it’s Ryan. I didn’t tell you, but he got a bunch of texts when he first sat down to dinner. When he left the table, I read one.”

  Jason groaned and hung his head in mock despair. “Please tell me he didn’t catch you.”

  I paused, then said, “He did.”

  He groaned again. “What were you thinking?” He waved his hand. “Never mind. What did the text say?”

  “Something was going to be huge, and the texter wanted a cabin.”

  “A cabin at the commune?” Jason asked.

  “I’m assuming,” I said, “but I don’t know how anyone could claim a cabin like that. Zennia explained the rules to me, and cabins are assigned based on seniority and family needs. Ryan might not get a cabin for years, let alone whoever texted him.”

  “Unless Ryan is planning to change the rules.”

  “How? By convincing the commune residents they need to rent out their cabins to keep the land from being seized?”

  “That’s not a bad idea.”

  I shook my head. “Millie would never go for that.”

  “Millie might not be able to stop him. Majority rules out there. He’d only need to convince half the commune plus one.”

  “It’s crazy, but I guess if he can talk the members into adopting online sales, it’s not too much of a stretch to convince them to rent the cabins, too.” All this thinking was wearing me out. I leaned my head against Jason’s shoulder. “Didn’t you tell me you were having trouble finding information about Ryan?”

  “I did,” Jason said, “at least concerning his education. Turns out he attended SF State but didn’t graduate. He has half the credits he needs. I also located his most recent employer but a representative from the company would only confirm when he started and when he left. No details on his actual position.”

  “I got the impression he was a coding genius or an IT guru.”

  “That’s what he said, but since he lied about graduating, he may have exaggerated about his job as well. For all I know, he worked in the mail room. I’ve put out feelers.”

 
I smiled. I loved it when Jason used his newspaper lingo. “Okay, he shows up at the commune a few months ago, purportedly burned out at his tech job and looking for a place to unwind. He doesn’t know anyone at the commune but manages to befriend a few of the residents. Once Birch arrives, Ryan latches on to him, and Birch seems to love his ideas. But if they were in agreement, why would Ryan kill Birch?”

  “He wouldn’t. Unless there’s more to the story. Did Birch change his mind about Ryan’s plans? Did Millie convince Birch that Ryan was wrong?” Jason rubbed his goatee again. “And let’s not forget about Frank and his financial problems. Birch might have found out, and Frank killed him. Then again, Millie had a bigger motive to murder Birch. His support of Ryan’s ideas threatened her entire way of life.”

  “But she couldn’t be the one who chased me. I’m almost positive she was with Zennia when I left.” I touched a finger to my lips. “Although . . .”

  “What?” Jason asked.

  “She was right behind Detective Palmer when he found me. She could have easily hidden when she heard him coming and acted like she was simply one of the searchers.” I sighed. “I don’t know what to think now.” My certainty over Ryan being my pursuer was starting to waver. There were simply too many unknowns.

  Jason mirrored my doubts. “That’s the problem. Anyone could have been in those woods without the others knowing. We can’t be sure it was Ryan.” He hugged me again and then pulled back to look at me. “The important thing is that you’re safe. That’s all I care about.”

  He brushed an errant strand of hair away from my face, leaned over, and kissed me slowly. All thoughts of Ryan, crazy people in the woods, and murder vanished.

  When we broke apart, I said, “This thing between us is pretty good, don’t you think?”

  “Better than pretty good,” he said, his voice husky.

  We kissed again. I checked the time on my phone and flinched. “I don’t know how I’m going to get up in the morning. Think the guests will be upset if they don’t get breakfast?”

  “Tell them it’s the first day of a fast.”

  I laughed. “Not bad, but I don’t see Gordon agreeing to that. Guess I’d better get to bed.”