I brushed myself off. “I think I’ll go back to Robinson’s house, but I want to go when no one will lean over my shoulder, and second guess me, including Clay.”
“Since I’m not big on second guessing, how about I meet you after hours? I’m meeting up with Ciao Baby for a quick drink. I want to see what else I can dig up.”
“Perfect. I’ll sneak out after Clay’s asleep.”
“Let’s meet at his house at midnight, then.”
With Crystal for company, what could go wrong?
Chapter 46
Looking For Something More
My headlights swung across the back of Robinson’s property, and then his house. I parked and got out near the backdoor. I stood there staring at the house getting antsy. Crystal was late and I was anxious to start looking around.
Ignoring my better judgment, I turned on my flashlight, unlocked the padlock, and entered, but then stopped when I smelled those gagging odors and thought back to my recent personal threats. I hesitated. I was extremely vulnerable. And as usual, I ignored them and forced myself to move.
The old house gave off bad vibes, especially at night. Coming there in broad daylight was one thing. Being there after midnight and alone was something else. I felt the goose bumps on my arms as I began passing through each room, hearing the snap and crunch of dead bugs underfoot.
I heard something scurry across the floor, probably a mouse. I pitched the flashlight downward. The droppings were scattered everywhere. I didn’t know what was worse, seeing them or hearing them. As I walked, my instincts were telling me there had to be something we overlooked, so I tried to focus on thinking of off-the-wall possibilities. I did a visual sweep of the second floor and came up empty.
Where was Crystal?
I went back downstairs and entered Robinson’s bedroom off the dining room. I closed the drapes so my flashlight wouldn’t give me away. Then I swung the light around and scanned the room, concentrating on possibilities.
My hand held steady when I hit upon the bookcase.
I stared at it. No, that possibility was …way too simple.
Not large, it was already searched by the others, but something made me stop and consider that maybe we missed something obvious, but then again, not so obvious.
The furniture piece didn’t look too heavy. I put the flashlight on the bed and let it shine in the direction of the over-flowing bookcase so I could tackle the weight of it. Surprisingly, it slid away easily. When it was clear of the wall, I stopped and stared behind it, a small door. No lock, just a small door with a latch flat to the wall.
Impatient for Crystal to arrive and my curiosity killing me, I grabbed the flashlight from the bed and flashed it on the door as I lifted the painted-over latch, anxious to see what might be hidden there. At first it wouldn’t give, so I pulled harder and it finally opened.
I was both relieved and pleased to see what appeared to be a type of homemade wall safe, minus a combo lock. With his memory failing, I guess Robinson took that route.
Apparently, he also felt comfortable just placing his bookcase in front of it, hoping that no one would notice what was behind it. Keep it simple. And he was right. None of us took notice or thought to look behind the bookcase.
Note to self. Get beyond the obvious, think, really think, of the possibilities of what could be behind something.
I grabbed the knob and pulled on it. Like the other at first it didn’t budge, but after some effort, it gave way.
As Martha would say, ‘Good gracious, what have we here?’
More photos!
Chapter 47
Catching A Break
Just as I reached for the photos, I heard the floorboards creak in the kitchen area. Crystal’s here! I paused for just a sec, then quickly grabbed them and shoved them into my jacket pocket. I closed the small door, slid the bookcase back into place, but then bolted upright in a sudden panic.
Crystal would have called out to me. It wasn’t her!
The seconds were ticking away. I had to hide. My eyes frantically darted around the room then finally settled on the only hiding spot available, the bed. Hey, all I had to do was slide underneath that old, disgusting, cobwebby thing.
…No way. No how.
I considered ducking to the side of the bed, but then figured they’d find me anyway once they entered the room, so I stood there brazenly and waited for whoever was walking through the house. I heard them get closer and held my breath thinking, what do I do now? Well, bring it on. I flicked off my flashlight, leaned into the wall, and waited.
My hands fingered the photos in my pocket as the doorknob turned and the door slowly scraped open, then closed. I held my breath and stood there in the dark silently waiting. Considering my odds, this wouldn’t go well.
My mind briefly flashed on who it might be. I came up with a few suspects, which included Jackson Porter, Sarah Smith, and even possibly, Jacob, the artist across from Sally. I was prepared for some…one, but certainly not two.
Then a flashlight blinded me at first then it swung away. I got a good look at the couple. It was the Fieldings. Major, holding a gun, had it aimed at me. This was the last possible confrontation I could have imagined playing out.
“My goodness!” said a tense Millicent, exhaling in relief. “Samantha, you gave us quite a start. We thought we saw a light flashing around inside Robinson’s house driving home and figured someone had broken in. Major grabbed his gun and we came to investigate what was going on.”
I tried to speak, and for a moment was tongue-tied, but then after the shock of seeing them passed, I said, “No, I have a key. Sally and Tom asked me to check the place out periodically. I know the hour is a late, but I was in Weirs Beach this evening and was meeting one of my friends here to make sure everything was okay.”
Major remembered his gun and lowered it to my relief.
“Sorry, but we weren’t sure what was going on.”
Millicent smiled. “My Major is fond of Sally and Tom and has become protective about what is going on here.”
But the vehicle I drove there was Sally and Tom’s truck. It could have been them walking through the house. Why the gun? Was that their real intent? Was I being too suspicious? Maybe. This reinforced an important point.
Consider all possibilities behind people’s actions.
Chapter 48
Intruder # 3
I was about to ask them about Sally’s truck when we heard a floorboard squeak in the kitchen. None of us said a word. Major silently motioned for Millicent to walk over to where I was, as he quietly followed behind her, edging his way over to the two of us, his gun raised in the air again.
He looked at me, mouthing. “You expecting someone?”
“Crystal was supposed to meet me here,” I whispered.
He started to lower his gun, but Millicent grabbed his arm to stop him. “Wouldn’t she have called out by now?”
I thought about that. “Yes, but you guys didn’t.”
“Well, how do we know if it’s her?” he asked quietly.
“We don’t,” I said, motioning toward his flashlight.
He quickly turned it off and we pressed ourselves up against the wall. Not that it would have done any good, but why stand in the middle of the room and make ourselves an easy target? Millicent began to tremble standing wedged between Major and myself. Her panic traveled in my direction, but there was nothing I, or we, could do but wait.
In minutes, we heard footsteps on the stairs, and then the floorboards above us gave in to the weight of someone passing by overhead. In the dark, I could hear the quick intake of breaths by the three of us as we silently kept pace with whoever was up there walking around.
Then we heard footsteps on the staircase as they walked slowly from room to room, opening drawers and cabinets, searching, for what? Who was it? There was no way I was about to walk to the bedroom door and look out, either.
I was no idiot. I knew when to push my luck and when not to. Okay,
so I occasionally goofed, but I wasn’t in the mood to take that chance. It could be anyone out there, and very likely carrying a loaded gun. You can’t talk to a gun, especially carried by someone who might be trigger-happy.
My breath held when the person paused nearby, but then their footsteps hurried passed Robinson’s bedroom door.
“What was that all about?” Millicent whispered.
“I was wondering the same thing myself,” I said.
Then we heard the reason why: an engine slowed down out front. We heard footsteps running toward the kitchen, and then the back door quickly opened and closed.
I turned to Millicent and Major, still whispering, “It sounds like whoever it was didn’t want to be caught here.”
We heard a truck start up and take off down the road.
I whispered, “But they should have been suspicious with our vehicles parked in the drive.”
“We walked and Sally parks here often,” said Major.
I nodded, getting their point. “So it looks like someone lives here. That means it was someone who knew that, and felt safe searching around the place.”
It also meant these two could’ve thought the same thing, thinking it was safe to enter, but then suddenly ran into me.
Chapter 49
Intruder # 4
Just as we were about to leave the room, we heard another creak coming from the kitchen area. Like instant replay, we backed up across the room, flattened ourselves once more against the wall, as Major instinctively turned off his flashlight and drew his gun out.
My mind was guessing who it was, especially after no one called out, which meant it wasn’t Crystal, again. I had a feeling we wouldn’t get a free pass this time. I whispered to Major, “You know how to use that thing, right?”
His chest expanded with indignation, like I had insulted his mother. “I’ll have you know, young lady, I was in the army. I am well-versed in the use of firearms.”
I considered my odds. “Just checking. More people own guns who shouldn’t and shoot the wrong target.”
Of course at that precise moment, I didn’t feel it was necessary to let him know that might include yours truly. I was good with a bat, though, indoors or out.
Instead of those footsteps climbing the stairs, they approached Robinson’s bedroom door. We froze as the doorknob turned and the door eased open. A thin beam of light roamed the far wall then slowly swung in our direction. Major aimed his gun, ready to shoot if necessary.
When the light hit the three of us, I heard a loud sigh. I knew that sigh and spoke quickly before someone got hurt.
“Hold on, Major! I wasn’t expecting Clay.”
Major turned to me. “You know this individual?”
“Yes,” I replied, giving a sigh of my own.
Clay gave a shadowy, sarcastic laugh from across the half-darkened room. “And quite intimately.”
I felt my face flush and turned away.
“And who is this young man, Samantha?” Millicent asked, stepping toward Clay, who had lowered his gun.
As Major lowered his, we gathered in the middle of the room, shaking hands after hasty introductions were made. With two flashlights now, there was plenty of light.
“What are you doing here?” I asked Clay.
“Crystal had trouble with her bike. Not getting through to you, she called me and said to get here just in case.”
I checked my cell. Dead. “Wait a sec. In case of what?”
“In case there’s trouble for a certain someone who is notorious for getting into situations beyond her control.”
Both Major and Millicent looked at me, questioningly.
I tried playing it down, shrugging slightly. “Well, there may have been one or two iffy incidents in the past when things …kind of got away from me.”
“Ha!” laughed Clay. “That’s a novel way of stating it.”
I shot him a warning look. “…Very …funny.”
Being Sam-savvy, he wisely changed the subject.
Chapter 50
Meeting Up
By the time Clay and I got home, lights were blazing away in the kitchen area, which meant that everyone was up, and after seeing Crystal’s motorcycle already in the garage, that meant she was back, too. We parked and joined everyone at the kitchen table.
Betty set out two more mugs and poured tea for Clay and me, then refilled the other mugs. She was a stickler for hospitality. Hazel reached over and offered us cookies.
“Well, by the look on your two faces, it was quite a night,” said Martha, snatching one of the cookies.
“Yes,” I said.
But then I honed in on Crystal. “By the look on your face, you did not. What happened?”
Crystal was sipping her beer instead of tea and wearing a frown. Something was up. “You first. Mine can wait.”
I explained my unexpected visitors. Clay then explained his cell call from Crystal, another surprise of the evening.
“How intriguing!” Hazel said. “Very Hercule Poirot!”
“Not quite,” I said, remembering. “With those smells in the dark, and those disgusting crunchy bugs underfoot, it wasn’t exactly thrilling. Being alone didn’t help, either.”
With a look of regret, Martha said, “I should have been there. My crime karma would’ve helped.”
“Let me tell you, Martha, for once I actually missed you being around, including your complaining.”
She gave me a sharp look. “What do you mean by that?”
Hazel interrupted. “You know exactly what she means.”
“I may be opinionated,” said Martha, “but…”
“Ha!” said Hazel, laughing. “That’s an understatement!”
Sitting in between them, Betty grabbed their wrists.
“Break it up. Let’s hear what they have to say, okay?”
Martha yanked her arm back. “By the way, Clay, if you took your motorcycle, why didn’t Sam hear your approach? She was already expecting Crystal on her bike.”
“I wasn’t sure what was going on when I saw a parked truck minus plates. Another car passed me, slowed down, and then kept going. I parked off to the side and walked.”
Hazel said, “How about letting us interview someone?”
“What about Millicent and Major?” Betty suggested.
“Good idea. Pay them a visit, then Sarah and George.”
Martha winked. “We can talk about AARP benefits.”
Hazel leaned in, looking at Martha. “You think so?”
Martha laughed. “You are so clueless.”
“Well, I do know they can get cheaper prescriptions!”
Betty chimed in. “I like the covers on their magazines.”
“You guys are just plain crazy, you know that?” said an annoyed Crystal, jumping up and pacing.
Martha sniffed. “And what has you acting so uppity?”
“I’m stressed out because my bike tire was slit tonight!”
Chapter 51
Cutting To The Truth
That sure put a stop to all the bantering back and forth. Crystal was visibly upset. Who would slice her tire? But the more I thought about it, she was attached to my group and what I was investigating. The results weren’t in yet about all of it, but I was still investigating, none-the-less, both Robinson’s place and Sarah’s missing woods.
Crystal finally sat down. “Ciao Baby and I had arranged to meet at the Weirs Beach, Tower Hill Tavern, a local bar and eatery. Apparently it’s a bike week hot spot, located on Lakeside Avenue, exactly where all of us were walking tonight. He said it was referred to as the Lakes Region’s Home of the Blues. It was packed by the time I got there.”
“It’s too bad we missed some good music,” Martha said.
Crystal frowned at the interruption, but didn’t retort.
Shrugging, Martha gestured. “…Please. Go ahead.”
“It was what Ciao Baby finally told me that got me.”
“And what was that?” Betty asked, scooting
closer.
“About the dirty underbelly at this rally,” added Clay.
She turned on him. “Then why didn’t you tell me first?”
“Ciao Baby’s the Fed heading the task force.”
“So,” I said. “…You’re both working undercover?”
Martha laughed. “Well, don’t that beat all!”
“Two cases!” Hazel said, rubbing her hands together.
Clay stood. “Whoa! This is a totally separate case and not authorized for a bunch of women to be involved in.”
Martha shot him a dirty look. “Watch it. That’s sexist.”
“Take it any way you want, but you guys are not getting involved. This is dangerous.”
Crystal shot back, “But why keep me in the dark, Clay?”
I cut in. “So you wouldn’t be suspicious of Ciao Baby.”
Clay nodded. “He wanted Crystal’s unbiased take. Bikes were reported missing. Then the cops stopped a suspicious truck with stolen plates just before crossing the state line, discovering stolen bikes and parts coming from an illegal chop shop somewhere in the state. But they don’t know the location of it. It’s a perfect setup. With thousands of bikes around, people drinking, parking everywhere, and getting sloppy, their bikes end up stolen, used whole or chopped up for parts, and then shipped out of state in a flash.”
“So,” I said, “Ciao Baby’s tent setup as a tattoo artist was a front to keep his eyes and ears out there listening for gossip or catching the whereabouts of shady individuals.”
“His hobby comes in handy at these events. And that’s why we were interested in Sarah inside that barbecue tent.”
“She doesn’t have a record, does she?” asked Hazel.
“No. It was who she was with that got our attention.”
“Then we better find out why she was there.”
A Lethal Time (A Samantha Jamison Mystery Volume 4) Page 9