Killing Trail: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery

by Margaret Mizushima

  “All right.”

  Mattie checked in with dispatch, telling Rainbow that she was headed out to patrol the highway. She didn’t want Rainbow to call ahead and inadvertently alert her new friends about the visit, so she didn’t mention her destination. Taking Highway 12 out of town, she passed the turnoff to the vet clinic and realized she’d be back just about the right time to stop in for her appointment.

  Their route also led to Ute Canyon, and Robo stood behind her, watching intensely out the windshield. She realized he remembered the drive from both days before and thought he was going back up to work.

  “We’re not heading up there today. Not that I know of anyway. We’re going to Valley Vista hot springs. You’ll see.”

  During the ten-minute drive through dry grassland on the valley floor, the elevation rose slightly so that she could see Timber Creek, like an oasis surrounded by trees, behind her.

  She turned east onto a county road that stretched in a gray line running upslope and ended in a pocket of aspen growing in a canyon at the base of the mountains. Although Valley Vista was located only halfway up the road, Mattie had been to the end many times, hiking the trails that led to crystal-clear lakes nestled between the peaks above timberline.

  Valley Vista itself couldn’t boast the jewel-like appearance of the lakes in the high country. Instead, it was more like a concrete-lined mud hole in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by buffalo grass and rabbit bush. Abandoned for years, the only structure at the place was a tumbledown bathhouse that had been built decades earlier. There were no trees to block the high-altitude sunlight that beat down on the valley, creating solar waves that bent the atmosphere.

  As Mattie approached, she could see the cluster of large, white tents that had been pitched around the premises. The old bathhouse had been taken down and a new one had been partially framed to take its place. Three workmen paused to observe her as she parked her patrol car on the far side of the pool and turned off the engine. Since there was no shade to park under, she decided to take Robo with her. Besides, an alert from a narcotics detection dog provided probable cause to search, something she would just love to do.

  She remembered the name of Rainbow’s new friend. “I’m looking for Anya Yamamoto,” she called to the workers.

  A well-muscled, young Hispanic male, shirtless and with sweat glistening on his brown skin, pointed his hammer toward the nearest tent. Now that she was closer, she could see that it was actually a yurt. “Should be over there. If she’s not, someone should be there to help you.”

  “Thanks.”

  The rotten egg smell from the sulfur springs was decidedly unpleasant. She opened her mouth slightly so she wouldn’t have to breathe through her nostrils and made her way toward the yurt, a white nylon structure supported with a wooden frame. Its flaps were pinned back, and as Mattie approached, she could see that it contained a floor made from a wooden platform, two desks with computers on top, printers, telephones, and other equipment that made up an office. Mattie figured the entire setup, including several other yurts and electrical installation, must have cost a bundle.

  She wondered where the money to front this enterprise was coming from.

  An Asian woman was seated at one desk, a man at the other. The woman rose to greet her while the man’s attention remained fixed on his computer screen. He was tapping away at the keyboard.

  The woman said, “Mattie Cobb . . . welcome.”

  Surprised, Mattie said, “You know me?”

  The woman smiled. “From Rainbow’s description. None other could be dressed in officer’s uniform, leading a large, black dog.”

  The man glanced her way and then moved his computer mouse in a furtive way, closing down his screen.

  “I’m Anya Yamamoto and this is Valley Vista’s owner, Dean Hornsby. We’re delighted you came to pay us a visit.”

  Mattie shook hands with the woman. She looked to be thirtysomething and a little more than five feet tall. She had black hair in a straight bob, almond-shaped eyes, and flat cheekbones. She held her small mouth slightly pursed.

  “I’m pleased to meet you,” Mattie said. “Rainbow mentioned you to me, too.”

  “I’m sorry we missed meeting you last night.”

  Mattie dipped her chin in acknowledgement and turned to Dean Hornsby, offering a handshake. “Mr. Hornsby,” she said.

  He arose to shake her hand. He stood slouched with rounded shoulders and a protruding belly, his body looking as soft as his handshake. He wore his brown hair in a bad comb-over, and he peered at her through Coke-bottle lenses. “Welcome, Ms. Cobb.”

  “That’s Deputy Cobb, sir.” She wanted him to know this was more than a social call. “Rainbow told me about your spa, and I was hoping to take a look.”

  Anya wore a white flowing garment that gave the appearance of being gauzy and cool. She reminded Mattie of a Bedouin, which suited the surrounding encampment. Hornsby had on khaki shorts and a tan shirt with a button-down collar, making him look like he was just about ready to go on safari. All he lacked was the hat.

  Anya stepped toward her with a slight smile. “I’ll be glad to show you around. It will give us a chance to get to know one another better.”

  Motioning toward his computer, Hornsby said, “I have some work to do, so I’ll leave you girls to it.”

  “Mr. Hornsby, I want to speak with you, too,” Mattie said.

  “Certainly.”

  “Rainbow says you have big plans for out here.”

  “Yes, we do. I’m sure Anya can explain everything to you while she gives you the tour.”

  Mattie waved a hand toward the tent opening. “Place like this must cost a lot of money to set up.”

  “I have the capital for it, but I’m not sure I understand why it’s any of your concern.”

  “What brought you here to set up a business in such an isolated place?”

  Hornsby looked impatient, making Mattie wonder why he felt so pressed to get back to his computer. “The hot springs. I wanted to set up a resort that was far from the crush of the city. So here we are.”

  “Where are you from, Mr. Hornsby?”

  “Phoenix.”

  Mattie knew little about Phoenix except that Brody liked to go play golf there almost every time he took vacation. “What did you do there?”

  Hornsby began to bluster, growing red in the face. “I need to get back to work. For some reason, I’m beginning to feel like this is an interrogation. What’s your concern?”

  “My concern is stopping drug traffic in Timber Creek.” Mattie observed him to see his reaction.

  Hornsby sputtered. “You can’t possibly think that we have anything to do with that.”

  “Do you?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Then you won’t mind telling me how you got the capital to front this operation.”

  Hornsby glared at her. “I’m a legitimate businessman. And I raise capital like any businessman does, through past earnings and investments.”

  “From what source?”

  “Technology and soft goods! Now, I must excuse myself and get back to work.”

  “Just a few more questions, Mr. Hornsby. Do either of you know Grace Hartman?”

  “She is the young girl who was killed,” Anya said. “No, I did not know her.”

  “Mr. Hornsby?”

  “No.”

  “Do you know her parents?”

  Both indicated they did not.

  “How about Mike Chadron?” Mattie asked. “Do you know him?”

  Anya shook her head. “I do not know this person either.”

  “What is this all about?” Hornsby asked. “Why all these questions? Who is this Mike person?”

  “Mike’s a local resident who was found dead last night.”

  Anya frowned. “Also killed?”

  “His death is under investigation.”

  “It’s ridiculous for you to imply we might have something to do with these deaths,” Hornsby said.
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  “I implied nothing. I’m simply asking you if you knew these people.”

  “No, I didn’t.” Hornsby gestured toward the door. “Now, I insist that you leave. I must get back to work, and I think you’ve wasted enough of my time.”

  He sat down at his computer and put his hand on the mouse, making Mattie’s fingers itch to get at it herself.

  Anya stepped forward. “You’re welcome to stay, and I’ll show you around. We have nothing to hide here.”

  Hornsby’s reaction to her presence had been strange from the beginning, and she wondered why. She decided to see what she could discover through Anya. “Thanks, I’m still interested in a tour.”

  Anya smiled. “Let’s go outside.”

  Mattie turned to Hornsby. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Hornsby. If your business is legitimate, of course you’re welcome here.” If not, we’ll find out about it and shut you down. “I’m sorry if my questions disturbed you. I’m just doing my job.”

  He gave her a brusque nod of dismissal.

  She followed Anya out into the hot sunshine, Robo close at her side.

  As they walked, Anya said, “Your suspicions are misdirected, Mattie. May I call you Mattie?”

  “You may.”

  “I expect that you are suspicious of almost everyone, and we are no exception. Is that true?”

  “Part of being a law officer.”

  Anya gave her an appraising look that made Mattie wonder if the woman could read her mind. Just before she got really uncomfortable, they reached the next yurt. Pulling aside the flap, Anya gestured with a delicate hand for her to step inside.

  “This is where I work.”

  The yurt was as large as the other. It was filled with the clean aroma of sage, and a padded massage table covered with lavender-colored sheets stood in the center. One of the walls was lined with floor cupboards containing Lord knows what. Two end tables, one holding a large bowl filled with black stones and the other a small CD player, sat against the opposite wall.

  Anya flipped a thumb switch on a cord leading to the bowl filled with stones, turning it into a circling fountain accompanied by the soothing sound of bubbling water. “Has Rainbow told you about our health spa?”

  “Not in detail.”

  “We’ll be providing a variety of health services in conjunction with the healing qualities of the mineral hot springs. Several of our yurts are set up for guests. Though our bathhouse isn’t yet completed, we have already hosted a few guests.”

  Drawn by the bubbling fountain, Mattie touched one of the black rocks; its surface felt smooth as glass. Robo raised his nose up to the table to take a drink. Mattie quickly stopped him. “No, Robo. I have water for you out in the car.”

  Anya’s laughter sounded like a tinkling bell. “Let me get him some when we go outside.”

  Remembering the tainted water in Robo’s water bowl in her backyard, Mattie said, “No, he’s fine, really. We won’t stay long, and I can take care of him.”

  “He’s a beautiful dog. May I pet him?”

  “Sure, just hold out your hand for him to sniff first.” As Anya complied, Mattie said, “Robo, meet Anya.”

  He waved his tail while he was being petted, and Mattie noticed he seemed to have no concerns about the woman. She’d also noticed him sniffing around at the unusual scents the room contained, but so far, no alert.

  Anya finished petting Robo and straightened. She went to one of the cupboards and opened it. “You might be curious about some of our equipment.”

  Mattie did want to know more, and she moved forward to peer inside. This cupboard contained a soft felt strip of fabric with pockets holding tuning forks and several small bells. She saw numerous small bottles and read the labels on some: sage, lavender, peppermint, frankincense.

  What the hell is all this used for?

  Though the scents made Robo sniff toward the closet, he still showed no sign of alert for narcotics.

  “Let me show you the rest of our resort. It’s rustic now, but we have great plans.”

  Anya showed Mattie one of the guest yurts, set up with two twin-size beds and a small dresser, a lounge chair, and an ottoman. Nice little home away from home. When they stepped outside, an attractive blonde wearing white shorts and a pink tank top was passing by on the gravel path.

  “This is Adrienne Howard, one of our massage therapists,” Anya said, introducing Mattie.

  The woman’s handshake was firm and the gaze from her gray eyes direct. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said. “I’ve heard about you and your dog.”

  “Wow,” Mattie replied. “And who’s been talking about us?”

  Adrienne smiled. “Various people, Rainbow among them.”

  “Oh, yes. Rainbow is excited about your work out here.”

  “She’s a sweetheart.”

  Not knowing exactly how to answer that, Mattie glanced at her watch and realized her appointment with the Walkers was approaching. She’d seen enough to know that everything else she’d be shown today would look like a legitimate health spa, whether it was or not. “I have to go now. It’s been nice to meet you both.”

  After returning a polite response, Adrienne said good-bye and left.

  “I appreciate you showing me around,” Mattie told Anya.

  “I hope you’ll come back for a treatment.”

  “I’m not sure I’ll be able to take the time.”

  “I could give you Reiki. We could start with only a half hour if you are short on time.”

  “And that is?”

  “A type of treatment, very relaxing. Then we could start revitalizing your heart chakra.”

  Mattie had no possible way she could respond to that.

  Anya smiled slightly, as if understanding Mattie’s discomfort. “I’ll teach you what I’m talking about. I hope we can put your mind to rest about our business. We have nothing to do with the criminal element you have to deal with here in Timber Creek, and I wish you the best in eliminating it. Even though Dean is uncomfortable talking about his income, I can assure you he comes by his money honestly.”

  Mattie said good-bye and headed back to Timber Creek. Though Anya Yamamoto spoke a language that Mattie was unfamiliar with, she seemed sincere and truthful about her profession.

  Dean Hornsby, on the other hand, lit up Mattie’s radar. Though he didn’t seem like the sinister type, she suspected he was hiding something. There was something about him that she found hard to put a finger on. She decided to run her interview past Stella and recommend that the detective also pay him a visit.

  Chapter 17

  When Mattie rolled into her now familiar parking spot in front of the Walker house, she saw Cole Walker and his daughters out in the front yard with Belle on a leash. The large dog was walking gingerly on three legs, barely touching the ground with the fourth. Mattie paused for a moment, enjoying the sight of little Sophie carefully guiding Belle from flower bed to rose bush, offering her each tantalizing blossom to sniff. Smiling, she rolled down the windows for Robo and got out.

  “Hey, Sophie,” she said as the girl slowly led Belle over to greet her.

  “Hi!” Sophie called. “See Belle walk.”

  Robo barked from his cage in the back of the cruiser.

  Mattie turned to give him the look, but this time it didn’t work, and he barked again. “Robo, quiet.”

  He settled down with a whimper.

  Walker and Angela joined them.

  “I see her,” Mattie said to Sophie. “It looks like she’s doing real well for the day after surgery.” She glanced at Walker for confirmation.

  “She is,” he said. “We just said good-bye to my sister and decided to give Belle a little exercise. She’s had about enough now, Sophie. Let’s go up on the porch.”

  “Okay.” Sophie said to Mattie, “She can do stairs, too, even on three legs.”

  “Oh, wow,” Mattie replied and then turned her attention to Angela. The girl’s face had better color than it did yesterday morning
. “How are you feeling today? Did you get over the food poisoning?”

  “Yes, that stuff was nasty.”

  “I’ll bet. Clucken House is still shut down today.”

  “It doesn’t matter to us, we won’t be going back there for a while,” Walker said. “Do you want to get Robo out of the car? The girls would like to meet him, and it looks like he’d like to meet them, too.”

  Mattie turned back to the cruiser to see Robo grinning and waving his tail. When he saw her turn, he started doing his happy dance.

  Mattie remembered the face-off over Grace Hartman’s grave between Robo and Belle a couple days ago. “I don’t know. He’s friendly with kids and well socialized with dogs, but he and Belle squared off the last time they were together. I wouldn’t want them to mix it up and hurt Belle.” She observed the two dogs—Belle seemed to be ignoring Robo for the most part, and Robo just wanted to play.

  “Sophie, I think it’s time for Belle to go inside and lie down on her bed for a while anyway. Why don’t you and Angie go put her there and then come out and meet Robo?”

  It looked like Belle was happy to follow the two girls as she limped after them. Mattie waited with the doctor and watched the dog take the three steps up onto the deck and hobble inside. She turned away to get Robo out of the car, and Walker followed her.

  “I told the kids that Robo found Grace. He’s something of a hero in their eyes.” He wore a somber expression. “I didn’t tell them that Belle dug up her body.”

  The memory of finding Belle trying to protect the teen’s body would stick with Mattie for a long time, and she shared in the vet’s sadness. “Robo was in a down-stay, showing me what he’d found. He didn’t want to fight with Belle, but she was protecting the girl’s body from him.”

  “That must have been hard on you, too.” He searched her face as if trying to read her feelings, looking away when his daughters came out of the house. “Well, let’s let him get out now so he can play. He can distract Sophie while you talk to Angela.”

  “I’ll put him on a leash.”

  Robo worked his magic on the girls, and Mattie could tell they were just as taken with him as they seemed to be with Belle.

  As Sophie led Robo around the yard, the other two Walkers and Mattie settled into wrought iron patio chairs that were circled around a matching table. Angela sat on her hands and leaned forward in her chair. Mattie noticed she had a pink flush on her pale neck.