Teaberry Chase

by R A Wallace

  “They kept the real data secure,” Todd guessed.

  “And passed fake info to the thieves,” Kelly said. “I see. You’re crushing my hand, sweetie.”

  Todd dropped her hand. “Sorry. It’s just, I wasn’t expecting this.”

  Kelly huffed out a laugh. “Yeah. Me neither. In my wildest dreams, I didn’t see this one coming.”

  Todd looked at Kelly and flashed a weak smile. “We owe our son an apology.”

  “Yeah,” Dan said. “Right after I flatten him for putting us all through this.”

  Chapter Twenty

  She could see the ducks in the barnyard through the kitchen window early Friday morning. She knew that Dan hadn’t slept well the night before. It hadn’t stopped him from getting up at his usual time. Although she’d always considered herself an early riser, he was typically out doing chores before she got out of bed. He often started breakfast as well by turning on the oven and popping the pan of strata in from the fridge before going outside.

  She moved the tea kettle to the burner and turned it on. While she waited, she watched Henry enter the barnyard followed by the ducks a short time later. He stopped to stare at the invaders with his one good eye then chose to ignore them. Megan fixed her cup of tea and went out the back door to sit on the rattan sofa to wait for Dan.

  It was probably her most favorite time of the day. The snorting of a horse drew her attention to the paddock. The remaining horses were near the fence with the miniature donkeys. Although the gate leading to the rest of the fields was left open, they often spent time in the paddock nearest the barn at certain times of the day. It was as though they knew when they were most likely to get attention.

  Dan walked out of the barn and headed straight for them. She suspected that he enjoyed having them as much as she did. She could see him talking to them as he reached his hand over the fence to touch the horses. Not wanting to miss out on attention, Flora and Dora pressed forward also. Dan reached down to pat each of them before turning back to the house.

  Henry lifted his head to watch as Dan approached. Just as Henry’s wings came up in preparation for whatever argument he had planned, the ducks scattered amid a lot of noise. Henry was too distracted with the activity to take Dan on. Her husband slid through the melee and safely reached the back porch. He picked up the coffee cup she’d brought for him as he settled on the sofa next to her.

  “Everyone seems to be doing well out there,” he said.

  “How about you? How are you doing?” Megan shifted to lean against him.

  “I was happy to hear that my brother isn’t a killer.” He paused for a moment.

  Megan filled the silence. “They’re positive about that.”

  “I know. You told us.”

  “But?” She lifted her tea mug to take a drink.

  “But I’m still pretty annoyed that he put my parents through that.” Dan stretched his legs out.

  “Yeah. I know what you mean.” She set her tea mug down on the table next to her and rested her head on his shoulder. “Ours might do the same thing someday.”

  “Hang out with bad guys to help the police? Let’s hope not,” he said.

  “Are you sure about that?” She shifted her head to look up at him. She could feel the tension in the way he held himself rigid.

  He let out a sigh. “I know what you’re trying to say. Gabe did a good thing. He helped a lot of people. He probably felt bad about our parents the whole time. I know that you’re right.”

  “But?”

  “But it’s going to take a little time before I let him off that easy.” His eyes shifted down to look at her. “What about you?”

  She turned her head back to look at the barnyard. “I still have a puzzle to solve.”

  He stiffened even more. “I don’t want you doing anything that might hurt you or the baby.”

  She smiled. “I know that. There was a text from Erica on my phone this morning. She said they rounded up all the bad guys that Gabe was hanging out with at the campground.” She felt him relax a little.

  “They’ve been arrested?” he asked.

  She hummed her agreement. “Along with the next level in the chain of bad guys above them. The ones who bought and sole sensitive information.”

  “Well, that’s something.” He glanced down at her. “You’re thinking of going out to the campground now.”

  She pushed herself away to sit up. “Yes. There shouldn’t be any issues. Erica said they’ll still have a presence out there as they continue to investigate.”

  “Okay.” He smiled when he heard her stomach rumble. “I think someone is hungry.”

  She put her hand on her side and rubbed in an attempt to calm the baby. “I know someone is hungry.”

  ***

  Bella laughed at the squirming puppy in her hands. “I don’t think he wants a shot today.”

  “I’ll make it quick, I promise,” Casey said to the young labradoodle. “It’ll be over before you know it.”

  Bella spoke soothingly to the sad looking puppy as she carried him to the front of the animal hospital. The man waiting there stood as Bella passed into the reception area. The puppy wagged its tail and barked. The trauma of the shot was now forgotten.

  “Here you go. Good as new.” Bella carefully passed the puppy over.

  “Thanks.” The man shifted his focus from Bella and began talking to the puppy as though they were old friends. “I told you it wouldn’t be that bad, didn’t I?”

  Bella watched them walk through the front entrance then turned to pass back through to the other side. She ran into Casey going the other way.

  “That was the last of them for now,” he said.

  “I’ll work in the back until you need me again.”

  “Maybe take our beagle friend for a walk,” he suggested.

  “Okay.” It was one of her favorite assignments. She continued down the hall to the rear of the building where the animals were kept. There were several cats and a few dogs waiting to be picked up at the end of the workday. Their owners had dropped them off on their way to work earlier in the morning. Bella took a leash from a hook on the wall then went to the cage that held the beagle. He was howling his displeasure.

  “Come on, little guy. You’ll like seeing new things outside.”

  She attached the leash to his collar and lifted him from the cage. After opening the back door, she wedged a small piece of wood so it wouldn’t close completely behind her. She set the beagle down and tried to encourage him to move with her. He wanted none of it. He crouched down on his hind legs and dug his heels in refusing to budge.

  “Well, this isn’t going to work.” She reached into her pocket for a treat to tempt him with and discovered she was out. “Hang on just a minute.”

  Bella looped her end of the leash around the doorknob then slipped back inside. After refilling her pocket with pieces of dog food that she used for treats, she turned to go back outside. The door behind her opened and the receptionist poked her head in.

  “Casey just got a call. He said to tell you he needs to run out to a farm but he’s not expecting to be long.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Bella slipped back through the door then looked down in dismay. The leash was there. The collar was on the other end on the ground. The beagle was gone.

  ***

  Megan thanked the busy man in the campground office and walked outside with the map in her hand. He’d been nice enough to circle some of the camp sites after she explained why she was there. He thought the people at the sites she’d indicated might be able to give her some of the answers she was looking for.

  She looked up at the sign post at the first fork in the road and compared it with her map. Once oriented, she took the road to the right and began walking. She checked out the RVs as she passed by them. They ranged from the largest Class A motorhomes to smaller, much older trailers with everything in between. She knew that some of them remained there year round while others were only stopping there for a shor
t time.

  Each camp site had a number. As she neared the number she was searching for, she saw an older man with the hood of his truck up. He was reaching inside doing something. After getting a little closer, she realized he was checking the oil. It must have passed his inspection. After replacing the dip stick, he reached up and closed the hood of the truck. He stood wiping his hands on some paper towels as she reached him.

  Megan checked her map. Zeke had written the names on it for her. “Phin Burch?”

  “Yes?” He eyed Megan curiously.

  “I’m Gabe Parker’s sister-in-law, Megan. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions?”

  “Gabe, you say?” Phin motioned for Megan to follow him. There were some comfortable chairs next to his RV. Phin waited until Megan lowered herself into one then sat facing her.

  “I hear you had some excitement out here last night,” Megan said.

  Phin’s face became animated. “That we did. Police everywhere.” He motioned vaguely around the campground.

  “That does sound exciting.” Megan saw the many scars on his arms. She assumed they were from biopsies and routine maintenance of his skin. There were also some on his face. She wondered why he wasn’t wearing a hat to protect against the sun.

  “They took those other guys away,” Phin said. “The ones who talked about gambling.”

  “Did you try the gambling site they talked about?” Megan still had one important unanswered question about that.

  “Oh, sure. I’m not usually interested in that sort of thing, but Gabe promised it would be okay.” Phin waved at a couple that walked by. “I trusted his word.”

  “He didn’t lead you astray?” Megan asked with a smile.

  “Nope. I didn’t lose a thing.” Phin laughed. “Of course, I didn’t win either.”

  “Did you talk to those other men much?” Megan asked.

  Phin shook his head. “I went over to Gabe’s RV the night of the murder. He had a party there. Didn’t see anything though. I mostly just talked to some of the folks from here and then Gabe for a little before I left. I’ve known the Parker family for years. You traded up when you married Dan, if you don’t mind me saying. That first husband of yours.” Phin shook his head.

  Megan thanked him for his time and checked her map for the next camp site number.

  “Where are you headed next?” Phin asked.

  “I’m looking for Lou Avalos.” Megan pushed herself up from the chair.

  “You won’t find him at his RV this time of day. He’ll be at the fishing pond.” Phin stood and pointed on Megan’s map.

  “Thanks.” She followed the map and found a man sitting in a folding chair with a fishing pole in his hand, tackle by his feet, and a scowl on his face.

  “Not biting today?” Megan asked as she approached.

  “You know anything about fishing?” Lou asked.

  “According to my young neighbor, I have one of the best fishing holes on the planet,” Megan said.

  The scowl left Lou’s face. “You have a farm pond?”

  “I do.” Megan looked over the water. “It’s not as big as this one, but it’s pretty fair sized.”

  “You let your neighbor fish there?”

  “He’s been doing it since he was very small.”

  “Those will be some of his best memories. He’ll keep those for as long as he lives. I still remember fishing in a farm pond when I was a kid.” Lou looked at her curiously.

  He had heavy lines fanning out from the corners of his eyes as though he had spent a lifetime of squinting. The area around his eyes was a surprising color of white in contrast to the rest of his face. She assumed it was from wearing sunglasses. She wondered where they were now. Megan introduced herself and explained her relationship to Gabe.

  “I was hoping that I might ask a few questions,” Megan said. “I know there was some excitement here last night.”

  The scowl returned to his face. “That crew. It was only what they deserved.”

  “You didn’t care for them?” Megan watched the tip of his pole move ever so slightly.

  “Always yapping about gambling. I told them I wasn’t interested. They kept pushing me about it.” He looked up at her. “Some people just don’t seem to understand that no means no, right?”

  “Did you go to the party the night that man was murdered?” Megan asked. “The one at Gabe’s RV?”

  Lou scowled again. “Yeah, but only for a couple of minutes.” The scowl cleared. “He made a good burger, that’s for sure.”

  “Gabe grilled?”

  Lou’s scowl returned. “Those men started pushing the gambling again though. I took my burger and left.”

  Megan watched the tip of the pole dip. “I think you have something.” She pointed at his fishing rod.

  Lou immediately pulled back on the pole and began reeling. “Feels like a monster.”

  Phin joined them as Lou continued to reel. “I’ll get the net.”

  Megan watched as the two men finally got the bass to the shore. “That looks like a nice one.”

  “Are you kidding? This is the biggest one I’ve ever pulled out of here.” Lou pulled his phone out of his pocket and passed it to Megan. “Would you mind taking a picture?”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Misty stared at the screen in front of her trying to make sense of it all. “Which gas pump did you say?”

  The woman across from the counter huffed out a breath then repeated herself.

  “Sorry,” Misty said as she completed the transaction.

  “Did you get the cost of the sub I ordered on that?” the girl asked.

  “Oh, no. I forgot.” Misty looked at the long line behind the girl. “I’ll get that for you in just a minute but I’ll need to run your card again.”

  “Never mind.” The girl spun on her heel and walked out.

  Misty plastered a smile on her face. “Next.”

  A young man stepped up to the counter and ordered four twelve inch subs.

  “Must be hungry,” Misty joked. The man stared at her. “I’ll just be a few minutes making those.”

  She quickly went to the counter behind her to begin assembling the subs as he’d requested. Step one meant pulling on plastic gloves. She could hear Karen and Maud working the other registers. For whatever reason, they never seemed to have any problems handling the sales from the minimart, the gas pumps, and the sandwich and drink orders. Misty flattened the sliced sub bun open on the counter and began layering the different meats and cheeses. As she reached for the metal tub of shredded lettuce, she realized she hadn’t asked him what else he wanted on the subs.

  She turned and raised her voice. “What veggies?”

  “Lettuce and tomato on all four. Hot peppers on two of them, green peppers on one. Black olives, spinach, and onions on all four. Hold the dressing. We’ll take the packets.”

  Misty turned back to her sandwiches. One was turkey, one was pastrami, and two were Italian. Which of those got the peppers? She reached for the metal container of hot peppers and turned to ask him. Her hand hit the container and hot peppers went everywhere. Misty looked down to see them all over the floor. The pickled juice they were in was dripping down the side of the counter, her right leg, and her foot. Misty threw an apologetic look to the line in front of her cash register. It had grown even longer and now snaked around two aisles. “Be right with you,” she yelled as she bent down to scoop up the hot peppers with her hands.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw the manager, Flem Lugo, approaching from the other side of the store where he’d been busy restocking the refrigerator section. Flem took one look at the mess she had made and went to the cash register.

  “She’ll have your food out in a minute,” he said to the first person in line as he motioned them to the side. “Next.”

  Misty continued cleaning until she managed to get most of the mess off the floor. She left the rest where it was and quickly removed her gloves. After pulling on a fresh pair, s
he began assembling the subs again. At this point, she had no idea what she was supposed to be putting on them. She made a guess, wrapped the sandwiches, and took them to Flem.

  He took the sandwiches from her hands then pointed to the door. Misty didn’t have to guess what he meant. She pulled the gloves from her hands as she walked around the counter to the other side. She had to cross through both lanes of the line in front of Flem’s cash register to get to the exit. She paused long enough to smile at Karen and Maud. Both women were too busy to notice.

  Misty let out a sigh as she walked to her car. At least it was a nice day. She would go home and enjoy what she could of it. Later on, once she managed to talk herself into it, she would check the online job postings. Maybe there was something else she could try.

  ***

  Megan found a couple sitting out in front of their RV at the next camp site. It was obvious that they kept their RV there year round. There was a deck built next to the RV where the couple now sat. A small fenced area was on the grass. There was a tiny mixed-breed dog inside. A golf cart was parked next to the RV. She assumed they used it to get around the campground. The couple called a friendly greeting to her as she approached the deck.

  “Come on up,” Josie Fry said. Her short hair was held back with a folded bandana.

  Delmar motioned to an empty chair on the deck. There were several others scattered around. Megan got the impression that the Fry’s enjoyed entertaining.

  “We haven’t seen you here before,” Josie said.

  Delmar motioned to Megan’s stomach. “We’d remember.”

  “Delmar!” Josie shook her head as she offered Megan an apologetic look. “Honestly.”

  Megan laughed. “It’s okay. I do stand out in a crowd now.” Megan lowered herself to a seat.

  “Go get her a bottle of water,” Josie said to her husband.

  Delmar pushed himself up and went into the RV. He reappeared a moment later.

  “Thank you.” Megan reached for the bottle. “I was hoping I might ask you some questions.” She introduced herself.