When Memory Fails

by L C Hayden

  “That’s good to hear,” Bobbi said. “I’ll make sure Papa Lazzarone knows what a good job you’ve done. He will be pleased.”

  A bolt of pride struck Pablo’s chest. If Papa Lazzarone was proud of him, he’d make him the next in line for the great Lazzarone/Sechrest treasure. He would definitely have to share the good news with his childhood friend, Eddie Fin. Eddie always insisted that Pablo keep him informed.

  Pablo speed dialed Eddie’s number.

  Chapter 15

  Since Sandy’s and Daniel’s summer break was almost ending, Bronson suggested flying to Pueblo, Colorado, where they would spend the night, then the next day, they would rent a car and drive to Sechrest Falls. Daniel and Sandy readily agreed.

  Two days later, the threesome sat in the four-wheel-drive beige sedan Bronson had reserved online. He specifically chose this vehicle because it was the type no one noticed, a precaution they hopefully didn’t need.

  Bronson feasted his eyes on the remains of Sechrest Falls at the foot of a hill and shuddered as the wind shrieked through the valley below.

  “You sure that’s it?” Sandy asked.

  “Accordin’ to all the directions we’ve been given, this is it.” Bronson sat in the back seat, leaning forward staring at the town with crumbling walls.

  “Looks deserted,” Daniel said.

  Bronson nodded. “Certainly does.”

  “Did we waste our time coming here?” Sandy leaned forward from the passenger’s seat so she could get a better look.

  “There’s only one way to find out,” Daniel said. He turned on the engine and stepped on the gas pedal. “Let’s check it out.”

  * * *

  “Is that them, Boss?” Frank pointed the .38 revolver at the passing car below them. His index finger rested on the trigger. It began to twitch.

  Eddie Fin lay on his stomach with his elbows propped up. He set the binoculars down and nodded. “Yeah, I think so.” He rolled over and noticed Frank’s tense stand. “Put that gun down before you pull the trigger.”

  Frank frowned and lowered the gun.

  A third man in the group, Jay said, “This place doesn’t get that many tourists. It’s got to be them.” He turned his attention to Eddie, or as they called him, Boss. “So, do we move in?”

  Eddie stood, confident that Bronson wouldn’t spot him. They were higher up on a hill from Bronson and his group, and he and his men all wore camouflage. “You do nothing until I say so. Is that clear?”

  “We hear you, but the more people we eliminate now, the easier it’s going to be at the end.” Jay shrugged. “Just saying.”

  “Don’t be an idiot,” Eddie said. “They’re the ones that are going to lead us to The Ledger. Before this, all we had were legends and rumors. But somehow Bronson, Daniel, and Sandy learned something that led them here. They’ll find The Ledger, and after we get it from them, that’s when you can kill them. If that ledger is as important to Papa Lazzarone as Pablo claims it is, the old man will make me, instead of Pablo, the next in line for the great Lazzarone/Sechrest treasure.”

  Cricket—so named because he tended to jump from place to place—hissed, “What if we die before Papa Lazzarone does?”

  Eddie looked at him and shook his head. “Do you know how ancient that old bastard is? He has to be in his 90’s. Won’t be that long. I guarantee it.”

  “Then what?” Cricket rubbed the six-inch scar across his cheek, a habit he had picked up when he felt frustrated.

  A glint of light radiated from Eddie’s eye. “Then all that wealth and power will be ours.” He picked up the binoculars and cast them toward Bronson’s way. “All we have to do is sit here and be patient.”

  “Hey, Boss, take a look at this.” Frank set his binoculars down and pointed to his right.

  Eddie picked up his own binoculars and pointed them toward the direction he’d been told. He immediately spotted a black SUV heading down the same road Bronson and the young couple drove, but staying far enough behind so they wouldn’t be detected.

  Eddie adjusted the binoculars. “There are three of them, and one is a female, possibly Bobbi. I can’t be sure, but I do recognize the driver. It’s my childhood friend, Pablo, that fool. The other one must be Leonardo.”

  “Want me to blow them away?” Cricket raised the Marlin 336C rifle he had brought along for this occasion. He squinted along the iron sights and aimed it at the SUV.

  Eddie bolted toward Cricket and knocked the lever action rifle out of his hands.

  “Hey, what the—” Cricket stopped when he saw the harsh look in Eddie’s eyes.

  “I’m only going to say this once, so everyone listen.” Eddie’s voice boomed, demanding respect and reminding them he was the boss. “We are not going to kill or shoot anyone until I say so. First, we’re going to retrieve that ledger, and once I have it in my possession, you all can do whatever you want to whoever you want. But not until I give you the clear. Is that understood?”

  Frank and Jay grumbled an acknowledgment while Cricket looked away and rolled his eyes. He would do what he wanted, when he wanted, and nobody—absolutely nobody—would tell him otherwise.

  Chapter 16

  As soon as Daniel parked the car in front of what once had been a general store, Bronson stepped out of the car and stood at the entrance, staring at the items on the shelves. Daniel and Sandy brushed past him, but Bronson remained still, analyzing each item from a distance.

  Sandy picked up a single baby shoe. “Wow, look at all of these things. I wonder why the owner didn’t take them with him when he left.” She set the shoe down next to the cloth diaper. A torn woman’s purse next to the diaper attracted her attention. “Wonder how old this is.”

  “Old.” Daniel grabbed Sandy’s hand and led her out. “We’re not going to find The Ledger here. In fact, I don’t think we’re going to find anything in this town. We wasted our time.”

  “Don’t be so sure,” Bronson said.

  Both Daniel and Sandy froze. “Why? What do you mean?” Daniel asked.

  Bronson pointed to the diaper. “What color are diapers supposed to be?”

  Sandy wrinkled her face. “White.”

  “And what color is that diaper?”

  Sandy glanced at the diaper. “Like I said, white.”

  “Exactly,” Bronson said. “After laying there for all of these years, shouldn’t it be partially brown, saturated with dust or yellowed with age?”

  Daniel squinted as he looked at the display on top of the shelf.

  “Amazin’ how the lady’s items are so carefully spread out after the baby’s ones.”

  “What are you trying to say?” Daniel’s glance bounced from the display to his uncle’s face and back to the display.

  “Someone has been here fairly recent, dustin’ the place down and makin’ sure each item is properly arranged.”

  “Someone?” Sandy’s voice came out high pitched, and she cleared her throat. “Like who?”

  “The Hermit.” Daniel’s tone seemed to question his conclusion.

  “Precisely,” Bronson answered.

  “He’s here!” Sandy sang with triumph. “We can talk to him, and he can give us all the answers we’re looking for.”

  “But there’s nothing here but crumbling walls and rusting stuff from the mine scattered all over the street.” Daniel swung his arm in a motion indicating all the area around him. “There’s no way anybody is living here.”

  “Which means there’s more to the town than meets the eye.” Bronson tilted his head like a dog at attention. “Before we leave this area, let’s move the car.”

  “Why should we do that?” Sandy asked. “It’s not like we’re going to get a parking ticket.”

  Bronson smiled and studied the cluster of oaks and pines. The main road in front of the trees led to other parts of town, but a side road snaked behind the vegetation. “Humor me. Let’s park the car there before we go.” He pointed to the area he had just seen.

  “Do you k
now something we don’t?” Daniel looked around as though expecting a monster to pop out any minute.

  “Call it my suspicious detective mind. It’s probably nothin’, but let’s play on the side of safety. I want the car hidden from sight.”

  Daniel shrugged and retrieved the car keys. “I’ll be back in a second.” Minutes later, he rejoined the group.

  Bronson thanked him, then said, “Come on, let’s go find out what this town has to offer.”

  * * *

  She’s a goddess.

  Cricket maintained his binoculars focused on Sandy. He’d seen lots of pretty women before, but this one…this one had to be a goddess. That meant she belonged to him. He had to have her—and soon.

  He didn’t care what the Boss thought or said. Cricket needed to satisfy his longing, and now seemed like a good time. His Marlin lever action rifle lay very close to the Boss. Grabbing it would attract his attention. Best to leave it behind. For what he was about to do, he wouldn’t need it. Besides, he preferred the knife he secretly carried.

  He scooted backward one foot. Two feet. Three…four…

  Soon he was far enough behind to stand. Without looking back, he scrambled down the hill and headed toward his goddess.

  Chapter 17

  “This store interests me,” Sandy said. “You don’t mind if I stay here and explore while the two of you check out the rest of the town.”

  Bronson and Daniel eyed each other. Daniel shrugged.

  “Might be better if we all stay together,” Bronson said.

  “Don’t be silly. I’ll be all right. I mean, what could possibly happen? It’s just the three of us in this crumbling, but fascinating town.”

  “Maybe Daniel can stay with you while I go explorin’.”

  Daniel frowned.

  “I guess that’s a ‘No.’” Sandy kissed Daniel on the lips. “You go with your uncle. I’ll be fine. I won’t be here but a minute. I’ll catch up soon.”

  “I know what your minutes are like when you get interested in something. I’ll stay with you.”

  “No, go. Really. I’ll be fine. But promise me that if you come across something more interesting, you’ll call me or text me immediately.”

  Daniel smiled. “I promise.”

  Bronson held his cell in his hands. “Don’t make promises you won’t be able to keep.”

  Daniel’s eyebrows furrowed. “What?”

  Bronson pointed to his phone. “No connection.”

  Both Daniel and Sandy took out their phones and checked them. “How can anybody live in a place where there’s no cell connection?” Sandy shut off her phone. “Might as well save the battery for when we can use our phones.”

  “Not a bad idea.” Daniel turned his off.

  “Now that we’ve settled that,” Sandy said, “both of you go.”

  Neither Bronson nor Daniel moved.

  “Seriously?” Sandy’s eyes widened with disbelief. “Look, if anything happens to me, I’ll scream, and if you don’t hear me, I promise to leave a clue behind.”

  “Yeah?” Bronson smiled. “What kind of clue?”

  Sandy cast her eyes upward as though considering the possibilities. “I’ll leave you my handprint. If it’s pointing to the right, that means I went right. If the fingers are pointing up, I headed toward the mountain. A left handprint means I went left. See? Simple. A handprint.”

  “And exactly where do you plan to leave this handprint?” Bronson asked.

  “Any place you can see it. It’ll be very obvious.”

  Bronson shook his head. “Has it occurred to you that if something really happened to you, you might not be able to leave us a handprint?”

  Sandy shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. But it doesn’t matter ’cuz I don’t see anything happening to me. So go. I’ll be fine.”

  Bronson sighed and walked out. Daniel followed him.

  * * *

  Bronson and Daniel wandered down the streets, and the howling winds made him feel that Sandy had been right. This town didn’t seem fit for human habitation. Still, he paused at every corner and studied the side streets.

  “What are you doing?” Daniel’s eyebrows furrowed.

  “Just checkin’ the area.” Bronson resumed his walk and Daniel followed him. His gut told him he’d find something sooner or later. All he had to do was look.

  “Are you searching for a place where the Hermit might live?”

  “Somethin’ like that.”

  Daniel stopped and pointed to a house that hadn’t deteriorated as much as the others. Its foundation looked firm, its wood structure still held firm, and its front door remained closed.

  Bronson paused and studied the structure. “It seems wrong, but it’s still a possibility.” He noticed that all of the windows facing him were clean and intact, not smudged or cracked like the ones in the other remaining structures. That in itself intrigued him. For some reason or the other, someone—probably the Hermit—was definitely taking care of this house. Why? “Let’s check it out.”

  Knowing that the house may be empty, Bronson felt somewhat foolish when he knocked on the door, but if he was wrong, and the Hermit lived here, Bronson certainly didn’t want to startle him. When no one responded, Bronson gently pushed the front door open. “Hello?” he said, just in case.

  Silence answered him.

  He signaled for Daniel to wait outside while he checked the place out. He stepped in. His mind quickly inventoried the place. What had once been an elegant living room now housed furniture that no longer served a useful purpose. The couch’s stuffing hung down like shredded discarded sheets. The coffee table with its one missing a leg angled down at an awkward position.

  Bronson quickly scanned the rest of the room. A plain desk with drawers down one side sat next to an old, cast iron Garland wood burning stove. It hadn’t been used in years—maybe decades. He opened the door to the bedroom and saw more furniture that screamed for repair. He checked every corner, every closet for any secret it might reveal.

  Nothing came to him.

  Still, Bronson paused, studying each item. The store, so well maintained. This place, clearly untended but somehow kept from deteriorating like the other buildings. Something wasn’t quite right. He could feel it.

  “Uncle Harry?”

  Daniel broke Bronson’s train of thought. “Come in. Nothing here, but broken furniture.” He looked out, past the window and saw a patch of green foliage halfway up the mountain.

  Interesting.

  He had to check it. Alone. “You know what I’m thinkin’? I bet Sandy would find this house fascinatin’. Why don’t you go get her? It really would make me feel better if I knew she was okay.”

  Daniel looked behind him, as though attempting to see Sandy. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I really didn’t like leaving her alone.” Daniel’s features tightened. “Sure wish we had cell connection, and I could text her. You don’t think anything has happened to her?”

  “No, I’m sure she’s fine, but like I said, bring her here.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’ll stay here and do a little snoopin’. Who knows? Maybe I’ll find some kind of hint in all of the papers scattered here.”

  Daniel’s face brightened. “You don’t mind?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Thanks.” Daniel headed toward the door. “I was beginning to get really concerned about her.”

  “Go get her.”

  Daniel bolted out of the house and ran down the road.

  Bronson watched him through the window. Soon as he was out of sight, Bronson stepped out, glanced at the mountain’s green patch, and headed that way.

  As quickly as possible, Bronson ascended the hill and scolded himself, not for the first time, for not applying for his private eye license. If he had, he would have a gun right now.

  The one thing that had kept him alive all of these years was relying on his instincts. He hadn’t ignored them then, and he wasn’t about to start
now.

  His stomach churned as his instincts yelled at him.

  Danger ahead.

  Chapter 18

  Sandy held in her hands a child’s incomplete tea set made of fine china. Amazing how through all of these years, no one had taken the cups, saucers, and the teapot with them. But then again, it was an incomplete set and probably not worth much.

  But to Sandy, it was worth a fortune. The set had probably belonged to one of her great-great-aunts or cousins. She could picture the little ones, gathering under a tree, sipping their make-believe tea. Sandy smiled as she looked out toward the water-deprived trees that had managed to survive.

  That’s when she saw Daniel trotting toward the store. If she knew Daniel well, he would find a way to sneak up on her and scare her. But that won’t work this time. No, Siree. She’d find a way to scare him.

  She looked around. There was no place to hide. Darn. But she could sneak out the backdoor, then come around the front and really scare the beejees out of him. She set the small cup and saucer down and dashed out the back door.

  She trotted, looking behind her, making sure Daniel hadn’t seen her. She gasped when she bummed into something.

  Someone.

  She backed off, thinking she should apologize, but the way the huge stranger leered at her made her think he should be one apologizing.

  The first thing she noticed about him was the six-inch scar that ran down his cheek. “Excuse me. I didn’t know anyone was here.” She took a deep breath and rested her open hands on her chest. “Are you Joe, the one everyone calls the Hermit?”

  He rubbed his scar as he eyed her from top to bottom. “You can call me anything you want, Sweetheart.”

  Sandy took another step back and wished she had a blanket to cover herself. This man was creeping her out. Daniel, get here quickly. “So, are you the Hermit?”

  “You could say that, and I have exactly what you want. But you need to come with me.”