by J A Whiting
A vivid image of her sister, Lauren, standing in a field near a toppled tree flashed in Shelly’s mind and it sent a wave of panic through her. She shook herself and turned away from the pies, a feeling of weakness surging in her muscles.
Moving quickly to get a glass of water at the sink, Shelly heard her phone buzz in her purse on the kitchen shelf and she stopped to check the call.
It was a text from Juliet.
I just heard that Abby’s other hand has been found. It was in the apple orchard on the west side of the mountain, about a mile from town.
Clutching her phone, Shelly glanced over to the apple pies still sitting on the counter and she felt her heart sink way down into her stomach.
6
Justice sat on the steps watching Shelly plant flowers in the border that ran around the front porch. Although Shelly was only renting the cottage, she loved colorful flowers blooming in the front of a home to make it cozy and welcoming and she received permission from the owner to make a garden. Kneeling on the grass, she removed some deep-pink impatiens from their pots and placed them in the holes she’d dug in the ground.
Justice trilled her approval as Shelly drew the soil around the plants with her hand and gently tamped it down.
“You like it, huh, Justice? Me, too.” When the young woman sat back on her heels to admire the new garden of pink and white flowers, the cat came down and curled in Shelly’s lap, purring. “You sure are a little love bug,” Shelly chuckled and ran her hand over the soft, smooth fur.
After a few minutes, her leg began to ache and pulse so she lifted the cat from her lap and pushed herself up to massage the muscles at the back of her thigh. “Enough planting for today,” Shelly told the Calico cat. “Let’s go fill the watering can and give the flowers a drink.”
Justice followed her owner to the back of the house and waited until the watering can was full, then padded softly over the grass behind Shelly to return to the front where the woman tilted the can and watered the base of each new plant. The cat let out a loud meow and Shelly turned to see an older woman in her seventies standing on the sidewalk, holding a grocery bag, looking at the new garden.
“Oh.” Shelly startled at seeing the woman just a few feet from her. “I didn’t hear you come by.”
“The garden looks lovely,” the woman smiled. “It makes the cottage look so cheerful.”
Shelly thanked the blond-haired woman and watched as the smile disappeared from her face.
“Cheerfulness is in short supply the past few days.” Extending her hand to shake, she said, “I’m Nora Blake. I live at the end of the lane in the light blue house with the old-fashioned gingerbread trim.”
“I love that house,” Shelly beamed. “Your gardens are fantastic. Justice and I take a walk around the neighborhood almost every evening.”
“Your cat walks with you? Is she half dog?” the woman kidded.
“She’s definitely all cat, but she has some unique aspects to her personality.” Shelly looked down at Justice with an admiring smile. “She showed up on my doorstep one day and sort of adopted me.”
Nora placed her bag on the sidewalk and leaned down extending her hand so Justice could sniff, then the woman scratched the cat’s neck and between her ears. “What a sweet creature.” Looking up at Shelly, Nora asked, “Are you working here in town?”
Shelly explained that she’d accepted the job as a baker working at the resort. “I’ve been renting here for about seven weeks,” she said. “Funny, we haven’t run into each other before.”
“I was away with a friend in Europe for a month. A much needed vacation for both of us. We had a wonderful time.” Nora straightened and rubbed her lower back. “I just returned a few days ago. I arrived home and the next day I heard the terrible news about that poor, young girl. What kind of a monster could do such a thing?”
Shelly had no answer for that.
“Her hands?” Nora shook her head in disgust. “Why? Why would someone do that? I suppose that’s a ridiculous question. The more important thing to ask is why would someone kill her?”
“Maybe the police will be able to answer that question once they catch the person responsible.”
“If they catch the person.” Nora sighed and then muttered with an angry tone, “That monster had to drag our family into it.”
Surprise washed over Shelly’s face. “Your family?”
“My family owns Glad Hill Farm on the outskirts of town,” Nora said. “It’s been in the family forever, for over two hundred years our ancestors have owned that land. My grandparents ran it when I was little, then my parents, now my brother. That killer had to disgrace our property by hiding the poor girl’s hand there.”
“Your brother was the one who found it?” Shelly asked gently.
“Yes, he was. He’s beside himself about it.” Nora’s face hardened. “He’s a nervous wreck, thinking how a murderer has been lurking on our land.”
“It must have been awful for him,” Shelly told the woman sympathetically.
“Dwayne is a sensitive person, a quiet man. He’s been shaken to his core. I’m only glad I returned from my trip in time to be here to support him,” Nora said. She looked Shelly in the eye and stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Dwayne had to have a doctor’s care. He’s been put on tranquilizers and some other meds for the time being. The man couldn’t function, that’s how upset he was. He has to be able to run the farm.”
“He’s the supervisor? He has a number of employees?”
“Dwayne and I are joint owners, but he is in charge of the operation. He’s the one who knows how to run the place. There are about ten to twenty employees, depending on the time of year. I’m not a farmer. I love the land, but that sort of work is not for me. I was a teacher until I retired.”
“You’ve lived in Paxton Park your whole life?”
“Indeed, I have. I love it here, but I’m often away. My friends have moved to warmer climates. I don’t care for the winter anymore.”
“What did you teach?”
“I taught high school science for over forty years. I’ve lived on this street for nearly forty years. My husband and I bought the house shortly after we were married. We raised our son here.”
“Does your son still live in town?” Shelly asked.
“Paul lived in New York City, but has recently moved to the farm. There’s a small cottage on the property that Dwayne gave him to use as a getaway and a place to stay when he comes to work at the farm. Paul has helped with marketing ideas to bring more people to the farm and orchard … he’s added a corn maze, animals, and a barn that’s set up like a general store selling products from the farm, and serving lunch, snacks, drinks, ice cream. It’s very popular especially in the autumn.”
“It sounds great. I’ll have to visit one day. Do you spend much time at the farm?”
“Almost never,” Nora said. “I used to handle the bookkeeping for the farm accounts, but it grew too complicated so they hired people with training and experience.”
“Does your son have any interest in taking over when your brother retires? Does your brother have children?”
“Dwayne’s wife and son died in a car accident many years ago,” Nora said.
Shelly winced at the words “car accident.”
“My son, Paul, entertains the idea of running the farm, but it would be strictly as a business manager, he’d hire a farm manager to handle the outdoor work. My son is more like me. He prefers to enjoy the farm without getting his hands dirty in the actual day-to-day running of the place. He’s doing more at the farm now, helping Dwayne until my poor brother starts to feel better.” Nora shook her head and frowned. “Who knows when that will be. The poor man.”
“Did you know Abby Jackson?” Shelly asked.
“She worked part-time at the orchard for several years … at the corn maze and in the general store. I met her once. She was a pleasant girl, hardworking. Dwayne told me she was wonderful with the customers, especial
ly the children.” Nora put her hand up to her throat and a little gasp escaped from her lips. “I just can’t believe someone would harm that girl. She can’t still be alive. I can’t believe someone would kill her.”
“Have you talked to people in town?” Shelly asked. “Does anyone have a theory about who might be the killer?”
Nora said, “Plenty of theories, but all idle speculation, as far as I can tell. No one knows anything definitive. Abby dropped her boyfriend off at his parent’s place and then she headed home … except she never made it. What happened? Where is her car? Where is her body? Will the police ever figure this out?”
“I hope so,” Shelly said. “It may take time, but I think they will. They’ll find the answers.”
“In the meantime, the town can go into panic mode,” Nora said. “I think it’s someone from the resort who killed her, someone who was staying there. Abby worked at the resort gift shop this summer. A guest from the resort must have seen her in the gift shop and had the idea to attack her. She was a pretty girl, smart, athletic. Lots of people would find her very attractive. Some nut must have stalked Abby and then when the opportunity presented itself, the person attacked her.”
“That could be,” Shelly agreed. “The police must be looking into that possibility.”
“I hope they are or they’re not doing their jobs,” Nora huffed. “It’s not a very difficult assumption to make.” The woman looked to the road when she heard a car engine. “Oh, my brother is here. He’s picking me up to go out for dinner.”
A small, dark sedan pulled to the curb and a slim, wiry, white-haired man in his seventies got out and approached the women. “I thought you’d be home by now,” he said to his sister.
Nora introduced Dwayne and Shelly to one another and they chatted for several minutes … but without mentioning Abby Jackson or her disappearance. Dwayne welcomed Shelly to the town and asked where she worked.
“I’m a baker at the resort,” Shelly told him.
“A baker?” Dwayne asked, “Would you have any interest in doing some contract work? The general store is busy as all get out in the fall and the baker I’ve employed previously can only work part-time this year. I need someone who can make pies so we have enough to sell in the store. Would you consider it?”
Shelly blinked, surprised by the offer, and unsure of what to say, she stood silently thinking the idea over.
“You don’t have to answer right now. Think about it. Maybe come down to the orchard someday, any day at all, and we can talk.” Dwayne ran his hand over his forehead. “If I’m not in the barn, ask someone to get me. I haven’t been feeling great the past few days. I’m taking some time off.”
Nora made eye contact with Shelly. “If you’d consider the job, it would be a huge help to the farm. It would only be for about two or three months, then things slow down. Will you think about it?”
“Sure, I can do that,” Shelly said. “No promises, but if I think I can fit it in without the baking impacting my regular job, it might work out.”
“If you’re able, come by in the next few days,” Dwayne suggested. He dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief. His face seemed to have paled during the few minutes he’d stood talking. “Maybe we can iron something out that will work for both of us. Nice to meet you.” He looked at Nora. “Ready to go? I’d like to get home and lie down for a little while.”
Nora gave a nod. “Drive past my house so I can drop my off groceries.” The older woman shook hands with Shelly. “Nice talking with you.” She smiled at Justice who was sitting on the sidewalk next to Shelly’s feet. “Goodbye kitty. Maybe I’ll see you sometime when you two take your evening walks.”
Nora got into Dwayne’s car and they drove away down the lane.
“Well, what do you think of that?” Shelly asked the cat.
Justice turned her head and silently watched the vehicle disappear around the corner. She stared after the car swishing her tail slowly back and forth over the ground.
7
Delighted gasps and oohs and aahs filled the air as Juliet and Shelly led the tour group to the beginning of the Crooked Forest. Shelly gave a brief history of the area and the trees and explained the different theories about what might have caused the trunks and limbs to bend in such a way.
“Despite botanists and scientists studying the trees,” Juliet said, “we do not have a definitive answer why this particular large grove of pines grew this way.”
Someone in the group muttered. “Just like the town police who don’t have an answer about the missing girl.”
The tour of some of the mountain trails had been postponed for a day while the resort management pondered whether all tours should be called off or if they could proceed. The decision had been made to proceed with caution, however, anyone who had pre-booked a tour would be allowed to cancel without penalty.
The person’s comment rubbed Juliet the wrong way and caused a flash of anger to race through her. She knew her sister was working nearly twenty hours a day to solve the mystery of where Abby Jackson was and who had caused her disappearance.
Shelly could see Juliet’s facial expression change to one of annoyance so she spoke to the group. “The police in Paxton Park are some of the finest, most dedicated law enforcement officers I’ve ever met. I know they are working around the clock to solve this crime and are determined to find answers.” Gesturing to the path, she added, “Now if we move along this trail, you’ll have a wonderful, slightly elevated, picturesque view of all the trees from the other side. Shall we?”
Shelly led the way with Juliet taking up the rear to herd any stragglers back to the group.
“Are you frightened living and working here because of what happened?” An auburn-haired woman in her mid-thirties sidled up next to Shelly.
“No, I’m not.” Shelly gave the woman a cheerful smile. “It’s important to be cautious and aware of one’s surroundings, but it isn’t different from what I’ve always done. I take precautions, especially when I’m in the woods or out at night.”
“That’s smart advice.” The woman looked over her shoulder to locate her husband, brother, and sister-in-law. “We were golfing yesterday and afterwards we went to the golf course’s pub. What a beautiful spot with a huge deck overlooking a lake. We had a drink on the deck and then sat in the screened dining area for lunch. It was terrific.” The woman lowered her voice. “When we were out on the deck, I heard some people talking about that poor girl.”
Shelly glanced at the woman wondering if she was going to try and pump her for information.
“Anyway, it was four women talking… I’d guess they were in their mid-twenties. They knew the girl and her boyfriend. One of them said her brother was good friends with the boyfriend, Adam something. The woman said her brother told her that Abby had talked to Adam about breaking up. They were each going off to different colleges and Abby thought it was best if they were free to experience college without trying to maintain a long distance relationship. She told Adam that they were too young to make a life-long choice and they should meet and date other people.” The auburn-haired woman removed her sunglasses while walking in the shady part of the forest. “Anyway, that woman’s brother said Adam was furious about the idea of breaking up. He argued with Abby about it all the time. I heard one of the women say that her brother heard Adam threaten Abby one night.”
Shelly looked at the woman with alarm. “What kind of a threat did he make?”
“He told Abby she’d be very sorry if she dumped him.”
“But he might have meant that she would regret it when she didn’t have Adam as her boyfriend anymore,” Shelly said. “It wasn’t necessarily a threat of bodily harm. You know it was probably something like, ‘you’ll miss me when I’m gone’, that sort of thing.”
“No. That’s not the impression I got from the conversation. In fact, what the woman said her brother told her sure sounded like a threat of bodily harm.”
“What exactly did the bro
ther tell her?” Shelly’s heart pounded hard.
“Adam told Abby that if she broke off with him, she would never be happy without him, that no other man would ever be with her, that she belonged to him.”
“That’s what you overheard?” Shelly asked.
“It is. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop or anything, but that group of women was standing right behind me and I couldn’t help but hear what they were saying.” The woman pushed a strand of her short hair over her ear. “It gave me the chills. Do you think the brother has talked to the police? What he heard Abby’s boyfriend say is important. That boyfriend might have hurt the girl.”
“I bet the police talked to Adam’s friends.” What the woman had told her caused Shelly’s mind to race. If the police talked to Adam’s friends, would one of them report what Adam had said to Abby about her belonging to him alone? She needed to check with Jay. “Did you catch any of the women’s names? Maybe the name of the woman’s brother?”
The auburn-haired woman had a pinched, pensive look on her face as she thought back over the conversation she’d overheard. “I’m not sure. Was the friend of Adam named William? I can’t be sure, but I think so.”
“And what about the women?” Shelly asked. “Did you overhear any of their names?”
“Anna? Maybe that was one of them. I don’t really know if that’s right.”
“I know a police officer from town,” Shelly said. “I’ll tell the officer what you overheard.”
“Oh, that’s great. It would make me feel better if they knew. I wondered if I should go to the police myself, but I’m not from around here and they might not appreciate me butting in.”
“Can I tell them your name in case they want to talk to you?”