by Mary Hiker
“Umm, it’s a long story,” the young man said, glancing down at his boots.
“I’ve got the time, Bennett.” Don eyed the young man.
I turned on my heel, faced the man formerly known as ‘Brew’ and lifted my eyebrows. “Bennett? So, you are the infamous Bennett Meyer I searched the woods for during three long nights?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He shrugged. “Tried and true.”
He flashed a boyish grin, and I finally saw a resemblance to the pictures in his granny’s home under all that filth and long hair. He sure looked different then when I’d last seen him several years ago.
“The whole town’s been worried about you.”
Don and Bennett gave each other a slight nod.
My face felt warm. “So, Don…is that why you were a no-show at the search mission for him?” I rubbed the back of my neck. “You knew all along he wasn’t really missing, but kept everyone in the dark?” I blew out a breath and shook my head. “That is wrong on so many levels.”
“Bennett’s been working as an informant for me.” Don adjusted his position against the tree. “I’m real close to finding out the identity of a new drug dealer in the area.”
“Did you go so far as to set up Bennett’s disappearance to the detriment of your search and rescue teammates?” I glared at him. “Not to mention, wasting resources that may have been needed for a legitimate lost person?”
Don pointed at me. “I rested my dog that night in case there was a call for another search.”
Bennett cleared his throat. “Well, I finally met The Boss and gave him a ride yesterday morning.” His eyes brightened with pride. “I still don’t know his real name, but I’d recognize a picture.”
Bennett conveniently left out the part about using Don’s truck to help dump a dead girl’s body.
“What the heck is going on, Don?” I rubbed my forehead.
“There’s a massive drug operation that uses semi-trucks to move cocaine up and down the nation’s highway.” Don’s voice deepened as he entered deputy mode. “Someone has taken advantage of that and is building a business here, buying quantities of drugs at the truck-stop exit and selling them throughout the region.”
“And the dead girl was a drug runner from South Carolina,” Bennett interjected
Don frowned, “How’d you know about…”
I chuckled to myself. Bennett Meyer wasn’t as good at playing both sides of the fence as he thought.
Bennett realized he’d put his foot in his mouth, bent over and picked up a stick at his attempt to deflect any questions. “Here, Chevy!”
Chevy’s face lit up in excitement as he bounded over to Bennett and did a play bow, ready for a quick game of fetch. Watching Chevy react to Bennett gave me a light bulb moment.
“You know, the way Chevy jumped right inside Don’s truck and onto The Boss’ lap– he must’ve known him.”
Bennett and Don looked at me as their eyes widened. A chill ran through me as I realized a local citizen could be heading up this drug operation and planning to pin a murder on Don.
“Bennett, what does The Boss look - ?” Don was interrupted by a dull roar.
The rumble of the old rusty truck filled the air, and I held my breath as it screeched to a stop on the road right above us.
Chapter 12
Bennett scrambled up the steep bank, knocking dirt and rubble down on us as we ducked under the jagged edge of terrain. I was thankful my truck landed out of sight of the road when it crashed.
Hoss bellowed, “Did ya see her?”
“Not yet,” Bennett said and glanced behind him down the bank. “I had to throw up.”
I grabbed Chevy close to me and buried my face in his golden fur. Don silently winced in pain as he sat against the tree.
“That’s whatcha get for drinking the cabinets dry last night,” he older man said with a growl.
Bennett pretended to wipe his mouth. “How ‘bout you drive and I’ll ride shotgun and keep my eyes peeled. The Boss wanted us to dump this truck somewhere, anyway.”
“Now you’re thinkin’.” Hoss beat his hand on the outside of the door. “Get in.”
“I don’t want these darn keys on my person, either.” Bennett pulled Don’s truck keys from his pocket and hurled them out over our heads and into the woods. “Let’s circle back around to the main road in case she’s making a run for it.” He jumped in the old truck and it tore off down the road.
When the road was clear, I scrambled to my feet. “Geez, did he have to throw the keys so darn far?”
“Don’t worry about it, I watched where they landed,” Don said.
The next thirty minutes were spent crawling around on my hands and knees while Don directed me toward the elusive set of keys. It reminded me of my youth, playing ‘hot and cold’ looking for hidden toys. Except this time, it really wasn’t much fun – seeing as a guy looking to harm me could come rolling back down the road at any minute.
I was just thankful I had my dog back and focused on enjoying letting him ‘help’ me find what I was looking for. Eventually, Don led me close enough to the correct spot and I emerged from a briar patch with the keys raised in victory, a few scratches to boot.
The tough part was half-dragging Don up the embankment to the truck. I’d wanted to drive out and call for help when I reached a cell signal, but he was having none of it. He wasn’t taking any chances of being stuck in the woods two nights in a row.
It took a heck of a long time, but eventually we collapsed at the top of the bank beside the road. Chevy was already waiting at the door of Don’s truck, ready to go for a ride.
I shook my head and smiled. “Chevy, that’s how we got into this mess in the first place.”
He replied with a happy bark and a wagging tail.
I leaned across the back seat to get a place ready for Don’s leg and got poked in the side, again.
“Ouch! Dang it! What the heck is sticking me?” I said, rubbing my rib cage.
I ran my hand along the back edge of the seat and fumbled around until my hand got poked. “Yeow!” I jerked back spontaneously, but reached back in and pulled out a custom lapel type pin – the ones that are given away during promotions or as collectibles.
“Is this yours?” I held the lapel pin in front of Don’s face.
“Never saw it before.” He shrugged.
Once I helped Don get situated in the back seat, I grabbed a pen and spare piece of paper from the center console and drew a rough drawing of the pin, studying the design as I went. It definitely had something to do with guns.
“This might be evidence.” I handed the pin to Don. “The Boss would’ve been sitting there when Chevy jumped in the truck the other day – it might’ve fallen off during all the activity. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Chevy knocked it off when he decided to be the man’s lap dog.”
“What are you talking about?”
I held back a satisfied smile.
“Oh, that’s right.” I patted him on the back. “Your buddy, Bennett Meyer, neglected to tell you he used your truck to help dump Kayla Lee Candler’s dead body in the woods the other day.”
Don’s jaw clenched.
“Now, let’s get going, so I can fill you in on the entire story and dump you off at the hospital.” I folded the drawing and tucked it in my pocket. “I need to borrow your truck.”
He raised a brow. “Avery, don’t…”
Chapter 13
“Geez, Don. Where the heck have you been?” the sheriff asked as he strolled through the emergency room door. “The guys have been looking for you all night.”
“I was wounded in the woods, sir.”
“Glad you’re okay, son.” The sheriff chuckled and settled in the padded chair next to Don’s hospital bed. “You gave us all quite a scare when you didn’t show up for your shift. Miss Janet down at communications about had a heart attack.”
Don held out his hand toward me. “Give me the keys.”
“I need a
vehicle,” I said, hands on my hips. “Remember, you caused me to wreck mine?”
“It’s evidence.”
He was right. I dropped the keys in his outstretched hand.
“Evidence?” The sheriff raised his eyebrows and leaned forward.
The clicking sound of high heels across the tile floor seemed out of place and solicited our attention. All three of us turned to see a pretty brunette dressed in a clingy beige blouse and black miniskirt that was more suitable for a nightclub on Saturday night than a hospital emergency room.
Who’s this girl trying to impress? I wondered, glancing down at my now muddy, wrinkled clothes.
The curvy young lady sashayed over to Don, slowly leaned over as her long hair fell over her shoulders, and wrapped her arms around him. “Oh baby, are you okay?”
Don’s cheeks turned crimson as he nodded, gave her a quick kiss and looked up at the sheriff and me. “Have you met Lindsay Meyer?”
The sheriff nodded with a slight grin. “Ma’am.”
I frowned. “Meyer…as in Bennett Meyer?”
“That’s right,” the woman cooed, clinging to Don like saran wrap. “Bennett is my little brother.”
She didn’t sound one bit concerned that her precious brother was supposedly ‘missing’, and I had to assume that she also knew the young man was actually safe and sound.
My body tensed - how much crueler could these people possibly be to Grandma Meyer? I sat with the elderly woman during search and rescue operations as she cried her eyes out over something that wasn’t even true.
A waft of flowery perfume made my nose wrinkle and broke my train of thought. I turned to Don. “Did she borrow your…?”
The sheriff interrupted, “Ladies, I’m going to have to ask for some privacy as we men have official business to discuss.”
I bristled at his terminology but Little Miss Lindsay just gave Don the cutest pout she could muster. “Sweetie, don’t take too long. I’ll be out in the waiting room.” She rose in dramatic fashion, flipped her hair and swayed her hips like a movie star as she glided out the door.
“Someone is starving for male attention,” I muttered, adjusting my unruly ponytail and brushing dog hair off my sweatshirt as I made my exit.
Don disclosed the past day’s events to the sheriff and did his best to explain why his personal truck was used to transfer a dead body. Their voices rose and the conversation got heated before I even made it down the hall. Of course, I was walking at a snail’s pace, taking in every word of their discussion.
I took the opportunity to slip out the back and retrieve my dog from Don’s truck before the detectives took it over. As I made my way out the electric sliding doors to the parking area, a couple thoughts nagged at me.
Why hadn’t Don mentioned this girl before? We’d spent many hours together training his search and rescue dog, so he had plenty of opportunity. Lindsay didn’t seem like his type - that girl was way too high maintenance.
I forced myself to focus on a subject far more important than Don Donaldson’s love life. Mainly, who’d planned to harm my dog and when could he be brought to justice before he tried it again.
Two quick car horn blasts caused my body to jump in surprise. I’d stepped right out in front of Tommy Brackenship’s black four-door sedan.
I held my breath and walked over to the driver’s window. “Sorry, Tommy.”
“Surprised to see you here.” He took off his sunglasses and gave me the look that makes a person feel guilty even when they’re completely innocent – the look that seasoned detectives gave to suspects. “You got something on your mind, perhaps preoccupied with the economy and obtaining extra finances?”
“Umm, not really,” I said and forced myself to look directly at him. His deep brown eyes were both captivating and intimidating. “I heard your wife had more complications from the accident.” I shifted my feet and changed the subject. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
My eyes wandered to the bouquet of roses that his middle-aged son, T.J., held on his lap in the passenger seat.
“Not unless you’re a doctor.” Tommy rubbed the back of his neck and eyed the building.
“Or unless you can turn back time and change certain decisions,” T.J. said as he stared straight ahead. “She’s got a long road in front of her.”
Tommy leaned into the car door, put his elbow on the window frame and rubbed his forehead.
Chevy gave a playful bark, and we turned to see his nose pressed against the window in Don’s driver seat. His breathing fogged up a small space around his mushed snout. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Why’s your dog in a deputy’s personal vehicle?” Tommy grimaced.
My back tensed. “Uh, it’s a long story, and I’ve really got to be on my way.” I walked toward the truck and after an awkward pause, the sedan finally rolled toward the main visitor parking.
I ruffled Chevy’s soft golden fur, clipped the leash on his collar and guided him down as he bounded out of Don’s truck, ready for his next adventure.
“Well, it looks like we’re on foot, buddy.”
Chevy’s dog smile indicated that he liked that idea just fine.
Chapter 14
Miss Millie’s diner was the closest place to us – about a three-mile walk since we cut through Max Johnson’s tree farm. She spotted us through her restaurant window and rushed out with a warm greeting.
“Oh, thank the Lord!” She brushed aside a stray wisp of white hair and gave Chevy and me a hug at the same time.
“Chevy, down boy,” I said as my dog stood on his back legs to give Miss Millie his best greeting.
“Oh honey, that’s okay.” Miss Millie wiped the muddy dog prints off her white apron and smiled. “It’s a sign of a joyful reunion.”
The smell of bacon surrounded the café and made my stomach grumble.
“Why don’t you two sit over at the picnic table and I’ll bring out a nice breakfast so we can chat.” Miss Millie didn’t wait for a reply and rushed back into the diner.
I’d just gotten Chevy settled at my feet underneath the wood table when her cook, Johnny, came out, struggling to carry an overflowing serving tray of food, followed by Miss Millie.
“It’s a beautiful morning to dine al fresco,” she giggled.
Chevy poked his head out from under the picnic table as soon as the food appeared and put on an act, pleading with the saddest eyes in the world for treats.
“Johnny made a special meal for you, Chevy.” Miss Millie said as she placed a bowl of scrambled eggs and homemade dog cookies under the table.
Chevy immediately forgot his manners and dove into the extraordinary treat. Johnny laughed and filled the picnic table with serving plates filled with biscuits, sausage gravy, scrambled eggs and toast before retreating back to the diner.
Miss Millie maneuvered her body onto the picnic bench across from me and sat down two large glasses of orange juice.
I held her wrinkled hand in mine. “Thank you so much for helping me get Chevy back.” My eyes brimmed with tears and I wiped them away with the back of my hand.
Miss Millie smiled. “Glad to, honey. It takes a village to raise a dog sometimes.”
“Yeah, especially with my dog.” I chuckled. Chevy looked up for a brief second, munching away on his favorite dog cookies. “I’ll pay you back tomorrow, as soon as the bank opens.”
“No hurry.” Miss Millie squeezed my hand. “Now, tell me what happened.”
“Someone stole Chevy and held him for ransom.”
Miss Millie’s hands flew to her face and her mouth formed an ‘o’.
I pulled the drawing of the collectible pin from my pocket, unfolded it and pushed the paper across the picnic table in front of her. “Do you recognize this emblem?”
Miss Millie raised the reading glasses attached to her beaded necklace and perched them on her nose. “Hmmm, that looks like the patch on T.J. Brackenship’s jean jacket. He wears it every Tuesday night when he come
s in for dinner,” she said as she studied the drawing. “A group of guys formed a gun club and go shooting at The Bullet Indoor Range every week.”
The information Miss Millie knew about townsfolk never ceased to amaze me.
“T.J.? The retired detective’s son?” My thoughts flashed to the blond and bearded outdoorsman with rugged good looks and a soft smile. T.J. ran a fishing guide service that catered to wealthy visitors. “I run into him out hiking from time to time. He seems like a nice guy and Chevy likes him.”
Miss Millie waved to a young couple entering the diner then turned to me with a twinkle in her eye. “If he didn’t already have a girlfriend, I might try to match you up. Though he might be a few years too old for you.”
I smiled and silently gave thanks that she wouldn’t be able to meddle.
“Of course, you’d be a lot better girlfriend then the one he has now.” Miss Millie looked around, making sure no one could hear her and leaned forward. “She flirts too much with other men.”
“Who’s T.J.’s girlfriend?”
“Lindsay Meyer.” Her hands clasped together. “Her brother is the young man that’s gone missing.”
Chapter 15
Chevy stuck his head out of the window and let the breeze flow in his face as the red compact car rolled down the road. I wasn’t used to riding so low to the ground but was thankful Miss Millie loaned me her extra vehicle until I could replace my truck.
When we reached Elm Branch Road, I debated whether to go ahead and check on Don or go to the house and get cleaned up first. After all, I’d been in the same clothes for a couple of days, thanks to Bennett Meyer and friends.
I decided to take a left turn and run by Don’s place to see if he’d made it home from the emergency room. Chevy let out a happy bark as we pulled up into the driveway and parked next to a white Lexus.
My dog bounded out of the car after me and beat me to the front door, jumping and whining before I reached the top step.