by Lisa Shay
Chuckling, Craig shook his head. “I see what you mean, Ben.”
“What?” I glanced at Craig. “This seems important. I mean, I’m not blaming anyone, but I think someone, maybe from planning, didn’t check into the detective’s questions. If they had, they would have found the same things we did.”
Craig squinted. “Which are?”
Peeking at Sam, I asked, “Is it okay? Can I show him?”
She shrugged and nodded. “Sure. Just remember what Mark said. If anyone asks, he had nothing to do with this.”
“Sam’s cousin, Mark, works in the planning department. He saw a pattern. Things happened that he knew were shady. And he tried to tell people. No one listened to him.” Through my rant, I took his notes from my pack, along with what we had found on the internet, and handed them to Ben.
Frowning, he just passed them to Craig, who set them on top of the others.
“Oh, and thanks for the cupcakes and flowers.” I handed the plate of treats to Ben. “I’m sorry I didn’t thank you last night.”
“Aww, that was so sweet, Ben.” Sam almost melted in her chair.
“You’re welcome. And I am sorry you were put on leave. We don’t know who keeps leaking it to the press. I’m still looking into—What flowers?”
That first tiny jolt of electricity tingled at the nape of my neck. “The ones that arrived with the cupcakes.”
“I only sent cupcakes.”
My head swiveled to the vase with pink, yellow, and white carnations. “Those,” I whispered.
Setting his sandwich down, Ben stood and moved to the kitchen island. He inspected the carnations, the baby’s-breath, and the dark green ferns for a card. “Nothing.”
“I’ll check florists tomorrow—find out where they came from, and from whom.” Craig made notes in a small pad. “Probably nothing.” He glanced at me. “Maybe from your work?”
“Maybe. Not sure. I—”
Sam gasped. “Kallie. Check your notes. Is the name of the delivery company that delivered, or swapped, the checks in R and A’s land scam listed?”
Gracie pulled the stack toward her and looked through the notes from Mark. She shook her head. “Just that each recipient of a check from a title company requested the same service.”
“Would Mark know? Or be able to get that information?” I glanced at Sam.
“What delivery service? What checks from what title companies?” Ben glared around the table at us. His piercing stare stopped on me.
I pointed at the papers he’d handed off to Craig. “It’s all there.”
This time, Ben took a moment to read them, giving them to Craig as he finished.
The coffee was ready, so I set out cups, sugar, and cream and waited for Ben and Craig to finish.
I dropped into a chair. “It’s nothing. Or not enough. Right?”
“No. It’s something. I’m sorry I didn’t pay attention to what you were saying, Kallie. We will look into this further. I promise.” Ben glanced at Craig. “What do you think?”
“This is definitely something, Doc.” Craig sighed. Eyes narrowing, he stared over at Ben. “And the first place I’d start is just like the doc said—who the detective was and who they talked to in planning.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “May take you places you don’t want to go, Ben.”
Focused on the papers, Ben nodded. “Yeah. I know.” He peered at me. “And where is this goo stuff you found?”
“Oh, still in my truck.” I scowled. “Didn’t want it in the house.”
“Good idea. I’ll take it with me when I leave.” His brow furrowed. “What about all the pictures you took?”
“They didn’t really turn out. Can’t see numbers or faces. I was too far away.” I pulled them up on my phone and handed it to him.
Swiping through them, he nodded. “Can you forward them to me? I’ll see what our forensic techs can do.” He sat there, sipping his Pepsi and tapping one finger on the table. “Kallie. Have you talked to the cat yet?”
Staring at an empty plate, I frowned and bit at my lip. “No. I guess I didn’t think about it, but—” I shifted my attention to Ben and then looked around the table. “Help yourself. I’ll be right back.”
Chapter 20
Ella sat on the foot of my bed, waiting and ready, as if she knew. Well, she probably did. With everything going on, all the emotions and feelings, how could she not?
“Hey, kitty girl. Feel like having a chat?” I sat down next to her and scratched behind her soft ears.
A low whine followed a snuffle at my closed bedroom door.
“Should I let Ariel in?”
Watching the door, Ella yawned.
“I’ll say that’s a yes.” I let Ariel in and she made herself comfortable on the pillows. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to empty distractions from my mind. I pictured Ella and Ariel under the house, watching the two men drag another man across the yard and through the gate. I remembered Ariel showing Ella retreating farther. I tried to rewind the vision to before the two frightened friends hid. The images that came from Ella were not at all what I’d expected.
Ella left Ariel, slipped through a hole in the deck skirting, and raced across the gravel drive into the low tangle of brush. Working her way around, she crouched on the far side of the small clearing, watching.
Mr. Smith (I recognized him from the R and A picture), red faced, sweating, and panting helped another man drag Mr. Johnson into the clearing.
They let go of Johnson’s limp arms, dust settling around the unconscious man.
Ella backed farther under brush and low limbs. The scent of sour sweat and fear crept through the air.
Smith mopped his face and bald head with a handkerchief and stuffed it into a back pocket.
The other man shouted and stabbed a finger toward Smith’s chest, making contact.
Anger. More fear.
Johnson jumped up from the ground, faced Smith, and started yelling and pushing him.
The unknown man rummaged a gun from his waist band. His fingers fumbled with the weapon, clumsy and bungling.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
Ella jerked but stayed still and hidden.
Johnson knocked the gun away and turned on him, yelling.
Smith dropped. Blood spread over the front of his shirt.
The other man and Johnson ran back in the direction of the house.
The images faded. Inhaling a shaky breath, I rubbed behind Ella’s ears. A slight tremble coursed along her spine. “Thank you, Ella. You are a very brave girl.”
Ariel raised her head from the pillow and stared at me, her big brown eyes accusing.
“You’re a very brave girl, too, Ariel.” My hands shook—no, my whole body did. I exhaled through pursed lips and whispered, “I just witnessed a murder. And I can’t prove anything. I don’t even know the real names of those involved.” I walked to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. I gripped the counter and stared in the mirror. My reflection was pale. “Think, Kallie. There has to be a way.”
A light tap at the door roused me from my thoughts.
My voice cracked. “Yeah. Come in.”
Ben’s reflection came into view. He watched me, his expression grave. “You’ve been in here a long time. You okay?” He shook his head. “Stupid question. What can I do?”
“How long?” I let go and spun around to look at the clock on the nightstand. Almost an hour. “Oh.” I frowned. “Sorry.”
Ella returned to her pillow and kneaded the softness before lying down and curling into a tight ball.
“No. I am. Again, I didn’t mean—”
“Can I tell all of you what Ella showed me while it’s still fresh in my mind? Before too many of my interpretations cloud what I saw.”
Ben nodded. “Of course. If that’s w
hat you want.”
I chuckled a hoarse semblance of humor, my lips tight and unyielding. “No, but it is what I need to do.” I took a deep breath. This time my smile wasn’t as stiff or unnatural. “What I want is a cupcake. You guys had better saved one for me.”
Quiet dropped like a blanket as I walked into the dining room behind Ben, Ariel at my heels.
Everyone stared.
“Relax. I’m fine.” I sat between Gracie and Sam and bit at my lip.
Gracie’s tone conveyed her concern, her words coming fast. “You are not. I can tell. You’re biting your lip.”
Ben put a cupcake on a plate and set it in front of me.
Sam removed the wrapper and handed me a fork. “Here. Eat this. It’ll help. It’s all right. It’s chocolate.”
“Thanks, Professor Lupin.” I chuckled at Sam’s Harry Potter quote. It was one of her favorites. Smiling came easier. “Okay. Um, well, here goes. I saw Mr. Smith get murdered. Shot. Three times. I saw who did it, but I don’t know who he is. This man didn’t seem comfortable with the gun, like he’d never handled one before.” I frowned. “I think Mr. Johnson pretended to be unconscious as Mr. Smith and the other man dragged him out to the clearing. It’s like they tricked Mr. Smith to get him to the clearing. That’s where he was shot. But …” I stared at the swirls of chocolate icing, “I’m not sure they meant to shoot him.” My face hot, I glanced at Ben. “I think the man buried in the ditch was Mr. Smith.”
“What about Alexander Whedon?” Ben had a pen out and was making notes.
“Didn’t see him—not outside.”
“Can you describe this third man?” Craig leaned over the table, his voice soft and encouraging, just like Ben’s.
Must be a cop thing. “Uh, no. From Ella’s point of view, he was vague. I might know if I saw a picture of him, but now we’re getting into that gray area—how much is Ella’s vision and what am I adding to fill in the gaps.” I straightened. “How are the mini donkey and llama?”
Ben frowned. “They’re good. Deputy Lawrence has a small ranch outside Central Point. He’s got them there. Why?”
“Ariel asked about them again.” I sighed and rubbed my forehead. Hope I’m not getting a headache. “I may be able to get more from Ella—just not tonight. It was tough on both of us.”
Changing the subject, Ben said, “I think we should check out both properties.”
With the first bite of my cupcake, the chocolatey sweetness burst across my tongue, and I did feel better. That low thrum of nerves, icy under my skin, faded and warmed.
Ben glanced at Craig. “How about taking a drive out to Green Springs Highway tomorrow? What’s your schedule like?”
“That works for me. Better requisition a four-wheel drive from the motor pool.”
Swallowing, I suggested, “Or I could take you.” I tilted my head and smiled at Ben.
He held up his hand, as if that would stop my thoughts from going any further. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. What if something happened?”
“Like what?” I shot back.
“Like people with guns shooting at us, or worse.”
“They won’t know we’re there.” My smile grew as I remembered the first day I’d met Ben. “Unless you shoot first.”
“It’s just a look-see.” Craig shrugged. “And the doc does know where both places are.”
“We can find them. It’s not that difficult.” Ben shook his head.
“I won’t get in the way. Promise. I’ll show you in and sit in the truck if that’s what you want.”
Ben’s eyes shifted to Craig. “When can you go?”
“Jim will be here at ten.”
“Good.” Ben nodded. “Gives me time in the morning to get a few things we might need.”
“Like lockpicks and bolt cutters?” My eyebrows rose.
Ben glared at me with a serious expression. “You can go. But you do what I say. No wandering off on your own. Understood?”
“Yes.” I must have looked stricken.
“Kallie.” His green eyes sad, Ben slumped in his chair. “I can’t be responsible for another … for anything bad happening to you.” His smile seemed a little forced. “Besides, your mom would kill me.”
“After me.” Sam chuckled, her brown eyes dancing.
“And me,” Gracie added while nodding, her brown hair bouncing with the movements.
“See?” Ben motioned to my friends. “You don’t want to get me in trouble, do you?”
My smile wavered. I frowned and spoke in a low tone. “I’ll do what you ask—honest. And, Ben … Really. I just want to help.”
The next morning, bright sunlight was shining on rain-wet lawns, and a cold breeze toyed with bare tree limbs. I took care of my houseguests. Ariel got a long walk, and Ella ... well, I cleaned her cat box. I filled their bowls with food and fresh water, said a quick hello and goodbye to Jim, locked up the house, and followed Craig to the sheriff’s office to meet Ben.
I pulled into a spot next to Craig and didn’t see Ben until he jumped out of a full-size, four-wheel-drive SUV at the front of a long line of official vehicles. If the green-and-white paint job wasn’t enough to publicize the monster, the eight-inch letters spelling “Sheriff” across both sides was a dead giveaway. Everyone in a ten-mile radius would know we were coming.
I’d cleaned out my truck, a rare event, so the three of us could ride comfortably. I guess Ben had other plans.
“Well? Think this will get us up that dirt road?” Ben beamed, so proud of his choice.
“Yes. But don’t you think it’s a little much? Um, kinda like a Tyrannosaurus Rex at a petting zoo?”
Craig chuckled beside me.
Ben’s smile dropped. “You don’t like it?” He looked from me to Craig and then back to me.
“I love it. It’s great—if you want to show a powerful presence, but not for sneaking into the woods and trying to be inconspicuous.”
“Doc’s truck would blend in better, seein’ as it’s deer season and all. Nobody’d pay much attention to us.”
Hands on hips, Ben turned toward the SUV. His shoulders slumped, and he shifted his attention back to us. “Guess I have a lot to learn about the woods and their mysterious ways.” He nodded. “Help me get the gear into Kallie’s truck.”
When we were finished, I handed the keys to Ben and gave him a sly smile. “Might as well look the part. Just one request—coffee.”
We zipped into a Dutch Bros before heading away from town and toward Green Springs Highway. When the last houses were five miles behind us and my truck was the only vehicle out there, I concentrated on finding the trail off the main road. I didn’t have any trouble locating the rutted path. “There.” I pointed. “That’s it.”
“That’s not a road.” Ben scowled. He shifted into second and then first, took a deep breath, and turned onto the narrow path, bouncing into the first set of ruts. His head hit the roof, and he almost lost the tug-of-war with the steering wheel.
“Yee-haw,” Craig called and gripped the handle above the passenger side door.
Ben stared forward with his teeth gritted. “Sorry. Guess I’m not so good at this off-road stuff.”
“You’re doing fine.” I managed to get the praise out before he slipped into another deep rut and threw us to the left.
“Maybe you should drive now.” Ben’s eyes darted in my direction. “I don’t want to wreck your truck.”
“You don’t have that much farther.” I pointed ahead. “That’s the end—there.”
“Good.” Ben steered to the wall of trees and stopped. After shutting off the engine, he sighed and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“You did fine.” I bit at my lip to contain the chuckle. “Really.”
Bands of brilliant sunshine shone through unmoving limbs, lighting up dappled patche
s of fallen branches and leaves on the ground. Birds called high in the forest canopy, their varied notes clear and bright. The rain-fresh air was fragrant with the scents of cedar, pine, and fir.
Stepping a couple feet from my truck, I listened to the silence and inhaled the heady aroma. I turned at the first slight squeal from the truck’s door. “Don’t close them. They’re not very quiet,” I called back at Ben and Craig. “And there’s no wind today—not like yesterday.”
Frowning, Ben let go of the door. “No wind? Why—”
“Yesterday I had a strong wind blowing from the southwest, from across the canyon and toward this side of the woods. Sound carried my way. No wind today, though. Sounds will carry in all directions.” Half smiling, I shrugged. “Best not to make a lot of noise, and those hinges really screech.” I held up one hand. “Oh. And you might want to silence your phones.”
“Right.” Ben nodded and pulled his phone from a jacket pocket.
Craig helped unload a camera with a long telephoto lens and three sets of binoculars.
We trudged a path through wet brush entangled with low branches and pushed dripping limbs away, careful not to let go and slap the person behind.
Edging into the copse of cedars, I pointed toward the building at the bottom of the canyon. “There,” I whispered. It seemed deserted—no truck, no van, no silver Jeep. The new metal roof gleamed, reflecting the sunlight. Puddles glistened around the perimeter, and the vertical channels from the gable were still dripping. I listened again. There was no chug of generator, crunch of gravel, or rumble of engine. And no bang, bang, bang.
Ben and Craig crept farther, closer to the canyon’s edge, holding binoculars to their eyes.
“Pretty quiet. Looks like no one’s there.” Ben pulled his binoculars away and glanced at me. “What time were you here?”
“Uh, about now.” I took a quick look at my watch and nodded. “Maybe a little later.”
“May not mean anything—you know, time wise. We don’t know what kind of schedule, if any, they’re working by.” Craig sidestepped and moved a branch to scan the area below.