The path exited on the shore, and whoever held the flashlight shone it briefly at the dark water; the light illuminated the foam as the waves broke near shore. Seaweed littered the rocks; the tide was low, and the air smelled strongly of fish and brine.
There was a skiff pulled up on the rocky shore. As I watched, the two men loaded the boxes onto the little boat. Evan stayed behind with the boat as Zeke hurried back toward the farm. I hoped Charlene had worked quickly.
It was ten minutes before Zeke arrived carrying the rest of the boxes. He put them in the back of the skiff, then the two men pushed the skiff into the water, with Evan at the rudder. Zeke gave him a quick wave as he motored off into the darkness.
I waited until Zeke was long gone back up the path before I followed.
_____
“What did you find?” I hissed when I got back to our hiding spot. Charlene jumped about three feet.
“Don’t do that, Nat!”
“Sorry,” I mumbled. “So. What was in the boxes?”
“I couldn’t tell,” she said. “They were taped shut. They smelled like peppercorns, though. It was hard not to sneeze.”
“Are they back in the barn?” I asked.
“I don’t know about Evan, but Zeke is back at the house. Evan relocked the padlock when he came back for the boxes.”
“Did you peek into the barn?”
“I was too scared,” she confessed.
I looked up at the window near the peak of the barn. Light still spilled out, illuminating the branches of the trees. If no one was in the barn, I wondered, why was the light still on?
“Let’s see if we can peek inside,” I told her.
“Are you sure it’s okay? Where’s Evan?”
“He took off in a skiff,” I said. “I think we’ve got at least a few minutes.” Together, we walked around the old building, looking for cracks in the siding or loose boards to pry up, but the barn was sealed tight. “I thought he said this place was falling apart,” I murmured to Charlene.
“It’s pretty darned tight. Not even a chink for light to come through.”
I patted the side of the building. “He’s sealed it up tight.”
“What’s he up to, do you think?”
“I don’t know,” I said, “but it’s not something he wants people to know about.”
“Should we call Detective Johnson?” she asked.
“If we do, what are we going to tell him? We have no idea what he’s doing in there.”
“True. But at least they’ll investigate.”
“They haven’t done a stellar job to date,” I said. “That’s why I want to call them … but not yet. If this is connected with what happened to Derek, I want to find out how before they seal it all off.”
“What about John?” she asked.
I thought about that for a moment. “I guess I should tell him.”
“Aren’t you and Eli going to stake out Smuggler’s Cove, too?” I’d told her about our plan.
“Wait a moment,” I said. “It’s low tide right now, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
“And the next date and time on that page is tomorrow night at low tide. The next high tide is in the middle of the day”
She drew in a breath. “Were they taking those boxes to Smuggler’s Cove, do you think?”
“I’ll bet they were,” I said.
“Do you think we have time to slip in and out tonight?”
“There’s no way we’d get back to the inn and out to the cove in time,” I said. “But we could make it during low tide tomorrow morning.” I shivered at the prospect.
“What are you going to tell John?”
I sighed. “I’ll make it up as I go along, I guess,” I said as we began heading back to Charlene’s.
The walk back seemed longer, somehow, even though Charlene had seemed happier tonight than I’d seen her since Tania was arrested.
“I just wish there were some way to link whatever’s going on in that barn to Derek’s death,” I said as we walked.
“You’ve got the buoy and the skiff,” she pointed out.
“Yes, but we don’t know how that’s related to what’s happening in that barn. Plus, there’s no link to Derek.”
“Evan said something about a connection, didn’t he?”
“Yes, but he didn’t say what. Besides, he just thought he suspected. It didn’t sound like he knew.” I sighed. “Maybe John will be able to come up with something.” I’d have to explain what Charlene and I had been up to tonight. Not something I was looking forward to.
“Speaking of John, how are the wedding plans coming?” she asked.
“The resort we were going to have it at went out of business,” I told her. “Our deposit’s gone.”
“Oh, no,” she breathed. “What are you going to do?”
“We’ve got a plan.” I told her what John and I had discussed.
“That sounds like a terrific idea,” she said.
“I think so too. But it all depends on whether we can get Tania off the hook in time. And to be honest, I don’t even want to think about a wedding until I know she’s okay.”
Charlene reached over and squeezed my hand. “Well, then. We’d better get over to Smuggler’s Cove tomorrow!”
We arrived at her house, and as she let herself in the door, I hopped into the van and turned back toward home, my thoughts on Zeke Forester—and that mysterious barn.
_____
“You did what?” John blinked at me.
“We walked around the barn and saw them moving boxes,” I reiterated. John had gotten the note I’d left him. Since I’d taken the van, he’d been about to ride his bike over to the farm when I’d walked in, and was as angry as I’d ever seen him.
“You didn’t tell me?”
“I thought you wouldn’t approve,” I said.
“You were right,” he said. “I also don’t approve of you sneaking into murder victims’ houses or going places where you could be killed. Nat, think. If Zeke Forester is into something illegal and spotted you, what do you think he might have done?”
“He wouldn’t have killed me,” I said.
“You have no idea if he would have killed you! For all we know, he put a bullet in Derek Morton’s back!”
“But he didn’t seem to know about that,” I protested.
“That’s what he wants Evan to think, anyway,” John said. “You have no idea what that man is capable of.”
“You don’t own me,” I said.
“Own you?” He ran a hand through his hair. “You think this is about ownership?” He bridged the gap between us and pulled me into his arms, hugging me tight. “Don’t you understand?”
“What?” I mumbled into his chest, inhaling his spicy, woodsy scent.
“I love you,” he said, his voice fierce. “If something happened to you, I don’t know what I’d do. You are the most precious thing on this earth to me.”
My heart melted, and a wave of guilt broke over me. “I’m sorry,” I said.
“I’m sorry I was so angry,” he answered, still holding me tight. “It’s just …” His voice was rough. “It took me my whole life to find you. I couldn’t bear to lose you.”
“I’m here,” I told him. “I’m fine.”
“Thank God,” he murmured. He gave me a long squeeze and let me go, but still held my hand. “But I think it’s time to call Detective Johnson.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because we know Zeke Forester is likely doing something illegal, and it might be connected with Derek’s death. They can get a warrant and search the barn.”
“That’s why I don’t want to call him yet,” I told him. “Look at what they missed at Derek’s house. Besides, the next time and date on that paper is tomorrow night. If Evan did what I think he did tonight, those boxes I saw will still be in Smuggler’s Cove tomorrow morning at low tide.”
“If you’re right,” he said. “A big if. And if you are, why the intermedi
ate step?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Forester obviously doesn’t want anyone to know about what he’s transporting,” John said. “Why not just pick it up directly from the farm? Why take the risk of storing things in the cove? Assuming you’re right, of course, and that’s where it’s going.”
“Zeke didn’t seem to want anyone to know what he was up to. Maybe it’s to minimize his involvement.”
“But somebody’s got to know.”
“An middleman, maybe? Somebody he trusts?”
“Maybe,” John said.
“Whatever it is, he seems to think it’s going to end soon. Maybe the cows he’s applied to have here are going to supplement his income enough that he doesn’t need to do illegal work anymore.”
“If whoever is relying on him knows about that, it might explain why someone set his shed on fire.”
“A warning,” I suggested. “He talked about that. Said he wouldn’t be intimidated.”
“Tell me about the barn,” John said.
“He says it’s derelict, but it’s locked up tight, and there aren’t any cracks in the boards. And there’s a light on even when nobody’s there.”
“Interesting,” he said. “How about those boxes?”
“They smelled like black pepper,” I said. “Just like the compartment in Fred’s boat.”
“Fred’s boat?”
“Um, yes.” Blushing slightly, I told him about Eli’s and my trip to visit the fake Zephyr.
“Dear God, Natalie.” He stared at me in disbelief. “You snuck onto Fred Penney’s boat?”
“Eli was with me,” I said. “It was his suggestion that I jump on. And I need to solve this. Tania didn’t do it, and the police are doing a shoddy job investigating. We both know that.”
He sighed. “I may not let you leave my side again until this is all worked out,” he said.
“I think we should visit Smuggler’s Cove during low tide tomorrow morning,” I said, pressing him. “If we find something, we can alert the authorities, and they can stake the place out tomorrow night.”
“I’m not sure I like it,” he said.
“We can take two skiffs,” I suggested. “Eli offered to help. One of us can stay out and keep watch while the other one goes in and checks it out.”
He grimaced. “It’s not ideal, but it’s a plan. I’m not sure how it’s going to help get Tania off the hook, though.”
“Derek’s mixed up in this somehow. I found the low tide dates in his house, remember?”
“I’d rather not,” he said.
“We’ll figure it out tomorrow,” I said. “In the meantime, I should probably worry about breakfast.”
“Low tide is at ten tomorrow, right?” he asked.
I nodded.
“I’ll call Eli and set it up,” he volunteered.
“Thanks,” I said. “I love you, you know.”
“I love you too.”
_____
Despite the fact that both Beryl and Agnes were downstairs at eight, breakfast seemed to take forever the next morning. I had everything cleaned up and had wiped the counters down twice by the time Eli knocked on the kitchen door at 9:30.
“I’ll take care of the rooms this morning,” Catherine told me. She was dressed simply, in linen slacks and a tasteful blue silk top. Must not be a date day.
“Thanks,” I said.
“What do you think you’ll find?” she asked, sitting down at the kitchen table with a cup of black coffee and smoothing out her slacks.
“I don’t know, but I hope it’s not a guy with a gun.”
“Be careful, Natalie,” she said. “I found a terrific Mother of the Groom dress. I’d hate to waste it.”
I smiled and gave her a quick hug while Eli snagged a cookie from the jar. “You won’t tell Claudette?” he asked as he bit a corner off a Turtle.
“My lips are sealed,” I told him as I grabbed my windbreaker from the hook by the door. Biscuit looked up at me from her favorite spot and gave me a sleepy meow. I’d forgotten to feed her, I realized.
“I’ll take care of it,” Catherine said, as if reading my mind.
I gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks.”
“Ready?” he asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be. John’s down in his workshop; let’s go find him.”
“Be careful,” Catherine called after us as we stepped through the door.
I turned to smile at her. “We will.”
John was already on the path waiting for us. “Fifteen minutes to low tide,” he said.
“Let’s get moving then,” Eli said. John climbed into Mooncatcher, and Eli and I hopped into his skiff. The plan was for Eli and me to keep watch while John investigated the cove.
“If there’s any funny business outside, just give a yell,” John told him before we started the motors.
“I came prepared,” Eli said, pulling aside his jacket to show what looked like an antique revolver.
“Does it work?” I asked.
“I don’t know, and I hope we don’t have to find out,” Eli answered.
It seemed like no time at all before we were outside Smuggler’s Cove. There were no boats in sight, and as Eli idled his motor, John circled around for a better shot at the entrance.
“Got a flashlight?” I asked.
“Right here,” John said, patting his pocket.
“Be quick,” I advised him, and held my breath as he gunned the engine and glided into the hole in the cliff, expertly avoiding the rocks I knew lay just under the surface on either side. I caught my breath as he vanished from sight, and turned to Eli. “You don’t think anyone’s in there, do you?”
“If so, they’ve been in there all night,” he told me. “Tide just got low enough to get in five minutes ago.”
We sat quietly, scanning the open water around us, waiting for John to emerge. Eli had to adjust the skiff’s position a few times as we waited. No other boats approached, but I felt my blood pressure rise as the minutes passed and there was no sign of John.
When I couldn’t stand it any longer, I said to Eli, “Do you think we should go in?”
“Give him another few minutes,” he said. “It hasn’t been that long.”
“Are you kidding me? It’s been like half an hour!”
As I spoke, I heard the roar of a boat motor from the cove. My whole body tensed, only to dissolve with relief when Mooncatcher emerged a moment later.
“Thank God,” I murmured, understanding the feeling of worry John had been describing to me the night before.
“What’d you find?” Eli asked, eyes bright with curiosity.
“I know what Zeke’s doing in that barn,” John said as he pulled up alongside.
“What?” I asked.
“Growing marijuana,” he said.
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“I still can’t believe it,” I said after John left a message for Detective Johnson to call him back.
“I’m guessing he was growing it in the barn,” John said. “That would explain the light you saw last night, and the black pepper to cover the scent. He was probably using grow lights.”
“And the fertilizer that came on the mail boat,” I said, suddenly remembering. “He’d told me he only used manure for his crops. It was manure from the farm that we found on the floor of the cove last time. And the license he was applying for was probably as a medical marijuana producer.”
“Which explains why he told Evan he was finished with the business,” John said.
“I hate to turn him in,” I told John. “He moved here with his brother so that he could look after him. I think he’s a good person.”
“Two kids on the island are in jail for drug possession,” he reminded me.
I grimaced. “You think that was Zeke?”
“Derek may have sold it to them, but I’m guessing that’s where it came from.”
I was quiet for a long time, thinking of Brad’s happy face as he pulled weeds fro
m the garden. “What’s wrong?” John asked when I pulled out a cookbook and began leafing through it.
“I’m feeling conflicted,” I said.
My fiancé came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. “About what? The fact that we’ve uncovered a drug ring, but still don’t know who killed Derek?”
“Well, that too, of course,” I said. “But I’m really worried about turning in Zeke Forester. I think his motives were good, and if something happens to him, I don’t know what’s going to happen to his brother.”
“He still made the decision to get into the business in the first place,” John pointed out.
“Yes, but why?” I put down the canister of flour and looked out at the green trees, then told him about what we’d discovered at the old rectory.
“So the priest was a rum runner,” he said. “And making his own whiskey, too. Hardly what you expect of a man of the cloth.”
“But there was a reason for it,” I said. “That’s what bothers me. Beryl’s grandfather probably got into the business of rum running to help pay for his wife’s medical bills,” I said, “and he ended up dead. We’re planning on turning in Zeke, but I think he only started growing as a way to care for his brother. I’m not a big fan of drug use, but there’s a bill up to legalize it right now anyway.”
“It’s true, it’s not like cocaine or methamphetamines.”
“What if he was desperate?”
John stopped massaging my shoulders. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking of asking him.”
“I am,” I said, then turned to look at him. “Is that wrong?”
“He might alert the people who are doing the pick-up,” he said. “And he might be a murderer.”
“I don’t think he is,” I said. “I may be wrong, but my heart tells me he’s a good person.” I turned around and looked at him. “What do I do?”
He sighed. “Let’s wait until Detective Johnson calls. I’ll tell him what we found in the cove, but I won’t tell him where it came from until we have a chance to talk with Zeke.”
My heart swelled, but I was still worried. “Are you sure? Is it obstructing justice not to tell?”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t tell,” he replied. “I just said we’d talk to Zeke first. If we go together, I can arrest him before he tips anyone off.”
Death Runs Adrift (The Gray Whale Inn Mysteries) Page 19