Cliff was stunned. He loved the boy and would agree to a visit, a short visit, but not this weekend; no, not this weekend. Mary had agreed to stay overnight on Saturday and nothing was going to interfere with his plans. He had already given the entire staff the time off, and it was way too early for Parker to meet Mary. He had to think fast.
“Most of your winter clothes are out of style now, Parker. Wouldn’t it be easier to just buy all new clothes up there? I’ll put a couple of extra thousand dollars on your debit card, how’s that?”
“Ah, sure, Cliff, that would be great.” Parker was surprised, yet appreciated his generosity. “You should come up for a visit soon. I think you would enjoy a few days in the woods.”
Parker disconnected the call from Cliff and continued to ponder for a minute. Still a bit confused by his stepfather’s offer, Parker headed to the nearest sports store.
After drawing out the lay of his buildings for the helpful sales clerk, he purchased the recommended three cameras, and as an afterthought, he bought a shotgun and shells and also picked up two boxes of hollow points and a brick of standard ammo for the automatic he had found in the barn. He browsed through the store and got a new pair of boots and a mid-weight jacket.
As he passed David’s house, Parker noticed that the Jeep was gone.
He left the new cameras on the table and headed to the river, deciding to make David a basket as a ‘thank you’ for all his help and spent an hour carefully shaping the new bottom from his endless supply of willow branches. He secured the new project with a double strand of twine to a nearby bush and dropped it in the water to soak for more pliability.
The slow-moving river was too tempting. It had been warm the past few days, so Parker stripped off his clothes and went wading. The center of the river was deep enough to float in and he rolled over on his back, soaking his head in the cool water. Further downstream, the river widened and there was a large oak hanging over the water and Parker delighted in finding a deep spot.
“I think this would be the perfect place to hang a rope to drift by,” he said to himself, smiling at his discovery. He pushed back to the center of the river and walked carefully upstream where he left his clothes and used his T-shirt to dry off.
No longer wasting his time, Parker collected two bundles of kindling on his walk back to the road.
“There you are,” David greeted him as he came out of the woods.
“When I noticed you still weren’t home, I thought I would get a start on today’s kindling,” Parker said, dropping the two fresh bundles on the porch. “Get everything done in town you needed to?”
“Yeah … it was personal stuff,” David mumbled. “I had to pick up Dad’s ashes and the death certificates. Then … then I stopped at the insurance company that held his life insurance.”
“I’m sure you’re glad that is out of the way,” Parker said flatly. His curiosity was peaked though he would never ask the questions now tickling his mind.
“Parker,” David hesitated, “this is embarrassing. I had no idea that my dad’s policy was for a million dollars! I need to go back with my mom’s death certificate, since we were co-beneficiaries with rights to survivor, then they’ll have a check ready.”
“Whoa … you’re rich now. What are you going to do?”
“I was thinking about going back to school to finish my doctorate, but that can wait until next year. It’s not as if I need a job,” David said, laughing nervously. Parker laughed too, knowing he didn’t either, having a reasonably healthy trust fund.
“Oh, I filed a report with the sheriff on that graffiti. Then I picked up a couple of trail cams. Want to help me install them?” Parker mentioned.
David smiled with a sigh of relief. He was afraid Parker might change toward him now that he had so much money. What he didn’t know was that Parker had even more.
They managed to get one camera installed and aimed at the barn before the rain started.
“I was going to teach you how to make a meatloaf tonight, but you don’t have an oven,” David said, frowning. “Maybe we still will and grill it as burgers instead.”
“I not only don’t have an oven, I don’t have a grill,” Parker pointed out. “We can pan fry burgers though.”
“You better add a grill to your next list; grilling really makes the food taste better!”
“How are you at clothes shopping? I need some warmer clothes,” Parker asked, pushing the cut sheets of the plat book into a pile to give them room on the table.
“What are you doing here?” David asked, looking at a few sheets taped together, ignoring the clothes shopping comment.
“It’s something to do in the evening. I’m making one big map out of all these small ones so I get a better idea of where everything is in the area,” he explained.
“Why three books?”
“Well, I figure one book will be my guide so I want one intact. Since the maps are on both sides of the page, I got two to cut up so I don’t need to make any copies.”
“That’s interesting. How far along are you with this project?” David continued.
“I just started. This really is more for the winter as something productive to do, ya know?” Parker admitted.
“It sure will put things into perspective!”
Chapter Eleven
Parker got up early to get to the river so he could work more on the basket for David. Two days of soaking would make it pliable enough for him to finish it today. When he got to the bush he had tied the bottom to, the basket was gone. The lines had been neatly cut and tied together in a bow.
“A fucking bow? Seriously? Whoever did this wanted me to know it was intentional,” Parker said aloud. “This is starting to piss me off.” He scowled at the bow and undid it. He cut another stack of willow branches and sat, striping the leaves off again. His anger was building. He’d always found basket making relaxing and stopped to take several deep breaths.
I know I haven’t offended anyone, Parker thought, staring at the peaceful river. I’m an easy-going guy, friendly, I mind my own business. Why would someone try to run me off? Unless … unless it isn’t about me; maybe it’s about Johnny Smith or maybe about the cabin. Was there another interested buyer when Cliff bought it? Well, I’m not that easily intimidated. This is my home now and I’m not leaving.
That’s when he realized that he did consider the cabin his home. He was comfortable there and every day was a new learning experience. Detroit was no longer home, and really hadn’t been for some time; he only existed there. Sure, he had a couple of girls he could always hook up with, but those weren’t real relationships; and he had some friends down there, friends that hadn’t even returned his calls in the last three months. In the short time he had known him, David had become a better friend than anyone he knew downstate.
He had heard or read, he couldn’t remember which and it really didn’t matter, that you don’t fully know what you have until it was gone, that the personal value of something isn’t understood or appreciated until it was lost. Parker was determined he was not going to lose his new life and his cabin in the woods!
There is no real way to find out who is doing this unless I can catch him, he thought, coming back to the damage happening. I’m gonna have to watch my back—and my yard—really close. He cut and stripped six more long branches, and paused to watch an ambitious chipmunk scurry past, carrying two acorns, his peace restored.
After tying the two pieces of cut twine together in a knot, he used the lengthy piece to tie the new bundle of willow branches much like he was doing for kindling and set it aside.
Parker followed the river downstream for a while, hoping to find the basket adrift. After fifteen minutes of searching to no avail, he went back to the willow tree, collected the bundle, and took it home.
After looking around in th
e barn, Parker was at a loss on how to soak the willow; there didn’t seem to be anything readily available that he could use. The river had seemed ideal; not anymore. Soaking them in the sink or bathtub wasn’t an option. He spotted the rain barrel and had an idea. He curved all the willows to fit into the barrel and pushed them down under the water. He would start the new basket tomorrow. Pleased, he went searching for breakfast.
“I was thinking, Parker, if we pushed the next two days, we could be done with the kindling,” David said, taking a bite of the BLT Parker had made for them for lunch and washing it down with lemonade.
“That’s a great idea, and then we can concentrate on the food supplies,” Parker said. “Have you noticed how hot it got after those few cold days? Is the weather always this weird?”
“I really didn’t notice. Late summer and early fall up here bounce all over the place in temperatures,” David said, shrugging it off. “That was a great sandwich. When did you buy tomatoes?”
Parker grinned. “I didn’t. We just split the first ripe tomato from my garden!”
David was stunned. He hadn’t noticed a garden area and certainly not anything growing. “Show me.”
Parker walked around behind the house, where the exposure was to the south and the woods were cleared back a hundred yards. His small raised bed was still bathed in sunlight.
“I’m impressed,” David murmured. “You did this all yourself and didn’t even tell me.”
“Yeah, I did, didn’t I?” His grin softened. “I think next year I’m going to double the area.”
Next year? David thought. “Come on, let’s collect some kindling.”
They finished that afternoon.
Chapter Twelve
Parker sat in the truck while David took care of personal business with the insurance company. He tapped out an email on his laptop and sent it to Deputy Gabe Smith concerning the cut lines, adding he felt silly over something so minor, but wanted to keep the deputy updated on anything unusual like he suggested. Parker liked the deputy and not just because he believed in his ongoing problem. There was something about Gabe that said genuine caring, and Parker appreciated that kind of honesty. Those were the kind of traits he looked for in a friend.
Then he sent Cliff a quick note, telling him everything was fine and going great, also thanking him for the extra cash. Parker again wondered why Cliff was so anxious for him to not come for a visit. Maybe he had a new girlfriend. Naw, Cliff was still too devoted to his mom, Parker thought.
Deputy Smith opened the email shortly after it showed in his inbox. He agreed it was likely nothing, but printed it out for the hard copy file, and added the email to the computer file he had started on the case.
“What ya got, Gabe?” his partner, Al Aho, asked.
“It’s looking like a simple case of harassment, but what’s bothering me about it is it’s happening at my grandpa’s camp. Some down-stater bought the place and moved in, and it seems someone doesn’t like it.” Gabe handed him the hard copy file to read.
“Two incidents could be a coincidence; three makes a pattern,” Al said. “Four makes it worth investigating.” He handed the file back. “Any initial thoughts? How did this Parker strike you?”
Gabe grinned. He liked the way his partner looked at cases, as if he wasn’t interested yet.
“Honestly, the first time he stopped in, I would’ve said it was a bunch of kids with too much summer on their hands and that it would be the last of it. This Parker struck me as a rich city kid that would run to the cops if someone soaped his windows on Halloween … until I found out where he was. Kids just don’t wander that far out. This second thing? Very minor damage, but he’s right, whoever did this wanted him to know it was intentional by tying the rope in a bow. I’m not sure if the bow has any significance or not.”
“Could be whoever is doing this is tying up loose ends. What are you going to do?” Al asked.
“Nothing; I suggested he get a couple of trail cams.” Gabe leaned back in his chair. “Have you heard about that seminar in Lansing next month?”
“The one on securing a crime scene and the processing of evidence? Yeah, it sounds really interesting. You going?” Al asked hopefully.
“I’d like to. Callahan says there are only four slots available to our department. I’ll put us in for two.”
“Great, I’ll tell the wife.” Al looked at his partner with a smirk. “You know, Gabe, you really need to find a woman and settle down.”
Gabe huffed and left to get yet another cup of coffee.
David opened the passenger door to the big truck and climbed in, not saying a word.
“Everything okay?” Parker asked hesitantly.
“Oh, yeah.” David looked over at his friend and grinned. “The wire transfer went through flawlessly. We need to celebrate! I’m buying!”
“Okay, first though, we need to finish my shopping list, and get a grill,” Parker said. It was good to see David out of the depression he had been sliding into.
The first stop was to Walstroms where they managed to get the last grill in stock, on clearance and already assembled. After Parker selected his regular groceries, they went across the highway to the bulk food store.
“Do you really think we will need this much olive oil?” Parker looked at the gallon jug in the grocery cart.
“If we don’t, then it will be left over for next year.” David filed away in his brain that Parker was starting to refer to them as a team.
Next into the cart was a case of forty-eight boxes of mac and cheese, a case of tuna fish, and a gallon of salsa.
“I know my little freezer is full, but I’d really like some shrimp. That can be for dinner tomorrow, or whenever it thaws.” Parker put a two-pound bag of jumbo cooked shrimp in the cart, and then went back for cocktail sauce.
“I see living in the woods for four months hasn’t hurt your rich taste buds!” David observed, laughing.
“Why should it?” Parker snickered. “I don’t see any reason to not indulge in some of the finer things in life if I can afford it. Which reminds me: we need to stop at the butcher’s and get a couple nice steaks, to save coming back into town for a few more days.”
Before going home, they stopped at a Mexican take-out place and got orders of tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and rice with extra sides.
“This smells awesome,” Parker said, taking a deep breath. “We need a six-pack of Dos Equis!”
David stacked the perishable food in the small refrigerator while Parker put the cases of food against a wall in the front room.
“Have you thought about getting a bigger refrigerator?” David asked.
“No, I haven’t. I guess it only makes sense that even these propane units come in different sizes. And I bet this small one was sufficient since it was used only occasionally,” Parker stared at the fridge. “You have any idea where I might get one?”
“Try calling the propane company. They would love for you to have something that uses more gas,” he said, chuckling.
“I’ll do that in the morning. Now, I’m starving!”
“Let’s start the woodstove to reheat the food. I’ll do it this time, and then you need to do it so you’re comfortable with the method,” David said.
“I appreciate that. I still have a lot to learn. Oh, and I have something for you.” Parker brought out the newly finished basket.
David gaped at the low-sided, wide, oval basket, complete with a crisscrossed twisted reed handle. It was obvious there were several different woods used in the making, adding an extra dimension with the varying textures.
“Wow, this is really incredible. Thank you!”
Parker shyly grinned at David’s praise.
After reheating the food, they sat in front of the b
lazing fireplace eating tacos and drinking beer, in companionable silence, each contemplating the events of the day.
The next morning, Parker got in his truck and drove into town to the propane company’s main showroom. He was amazed at the different appliances available that ran on gas. After selecting one of the larger side-by-side refrigerators and a small regular four-burner stove with oven to replace his single hot plate, he arranged to have them delivered and installed the following week. He also asked for another refill and agreed to go on a keep-fill program.
He also got to thinking about what he said to David about indulging and decided to do a bit more shopping.
“Whoa! When did you get all this?” David looked around at the newest additions to Parker’s living room.
“Today. Now that I’ve got a working generator, why shouldn’t I be able to watch a movie if I want to?” He grinned at the fifty-inch flat screen TV, the stacks of new DVDs, and two new tilt-back swivel rockers. “Help me push the old couch against the wall. I’m still not sure how to arrange these new pieces.”
They pushed and moved furniture around, then moved it again. They set the new TV on a stand in front of the window and stacked the DVDs on the shelf below it.
“This is a good place for the TV, near the outlet,” David said. “And you won’t be able to see out the window anyway once we put up the plywood.”
“What outlet? I thought this place wasn’t wired.”
“It isn’t, but when I saw it, I remembered my dad helped Mr. Smith with a generator plug,” he said, stepping out onto the porch. He opened a hinged, nearly invisible small door near the porch floor, exposing a grounded, three-pronged male plug. “You plug one of the heavy-duty extension cords into the generator, and then the female end goes into this.” David went back inside, and opened another small hidden door, exposing a standard plug on the opposite side from the one on the porch. “This is so there are no cords running through an open window or open door, letting bugs or cold in. Clever, isn’t it?”
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