Waffling in Murder (The Diner of the Dead Series Book 20)

by Carolyn Q. Hunter

  It was a nametag. The words on it read Barry Niles.

  CHAPTER 13

  * * *

  “I’m telling you, Frank. The body was moved to that cabin,” Sonja told her boyfriend the next morning as she led him to the spot from the night before. They each were drinking coffee from foam cups, compliments of a local donut shop that had delivered a dozen boxes of pastries and a large plastic dispenser of coffee. Bethany had decided to treat everyone to breakfast after the hard news of Barry’s death the night before.

  While Sonja was glad for the coffee, as well as the bear claw she’d eaten, she couldn’t help but feel slighted. Why hadn’t Bethany asked her to provide a breakfast?

  She hadn’t got a chance to talk her and ask.

  “Are you sure you saw something?”

  “Positive.”

  Stopping at the spot, she pointed at the badge, specifically showing him the name. In the early daylight, the corner appeared to have dried blood on it.

  “Whoa, Sonja. How’d you find this?” he squatted down to have a look.

  “Take a guess,” she sighed.

  Glancing up at her he asked, “Ghosts?”

  “Ghosts.”

  Slowly taking in the surrounding area, Frank analyzed the dirt, the trees, anything for clues. “Check it out. It looks like something was dragged,” he pointed.

  Sonja looked at where he had indicated and saw that the grass and weeds were all laying down facing one direction. “Or someone. Don’t you see what this means?”

  “It isn’t your job to go on speculating, Sonj’,” he reminded her for probably the thousandth time since their relationship began.

  “I know that, but it means the whole scene in the cabin was a set-up.”

  “Maybe, maybe not.”

  “Shelton might be innocent, you know. It could all be a setup.”

  “Sonja, I appreciate you showing me this, but I’m going to tell the lieutenant and it will be out of our hands.”

  “Tell the lieutenant what?” came a gruff voice from the edge of the trees. The couple turned to see Doggs standing there looking up at them.

  “Lieutenant Doggs,” Sonja gasped.

  “Miss Reed, I’ve been looking for you this morning.”

  “F-for me?” She tried to play innocent not wanting Frank to know she had been asking questions the day before.

  “Sonja may have found another piece of information about the murder case,” Frank informed him, saving Sonja.

  “How’s that?” Doggs asked, walking up the incline toward them.

  “She found the victim’s name badge here. I’d say it looks like it fell off while he was being dragged toward the cabin.”

  Bending down, the lieutenant used his handkerchief to lift the clue from the soil. “I see.”

  “Did you notice the drag marks?” Sonja chimed in.

  “I’m aware of them,” he shot back at her.

  “Shelton Briarworth may not be the murderer after all.”

  Frank quickly looked at her with a scolding brow, showing that he was not pleased with her saying that when he’d just asked her not to. She knew it wasn’t her place to stick her nose in where it didn’t belong, but that ghost—whatever or whoever it may be—felt it was important for her to see this clue. Therefore, she felt at least a little entitled to share her opinion.

  “What is your relationship with Shelton Briarworth, Miss Reed?” Doggs asked, standing up.

  “Relationship? I don’t have one. I only met the man in passing yesterday.”

  “And yet I saw you standing outside his cabin having a, how shall I put it, heated discussion?”

  Frank raised a curious eyebrow at her.

  Sonja shook her head at him, trying to communicate that she hadn’t gone snooping around of her own accord. “He was angry that I walked too close to his cabin and woke him up from his nap. That’s all.”

  “That’s funny, because he claims you were prodding him with questions.”

  “Sonja,” Frank openly scolded her.

  “Not now,” she whispered to him.

  “How do you explain that? Do you care to tell me?”

  She felt her anger rising, filling her face with its heat. “I was not prodding him. In his unnecessary outburst at me, he started ranting on about Barry Niles and how much he disliked him. After he did that, I did ask him a few questions about what he meant. That’s all,” she snapped.

  “You’re some sort of busybody, Miss Reed, and I don’t like it.”

  “I resent that comment, Lieutenant,” she argued.

  “This is an official police investigation, my investigation, and I don’t want you part of it. Now, I asked Sheriff Thompson for his help and observations because he is a trained professional and was the first officer on the scene. However, that invitation did not include you.”

  “I’m aware of that. As I said, running into Mr. Briarworth was an accident, as was stumbling upon this. I wasn’t out in the middle of the night looking for clues to your murder.” She knew she shouldn’t be talking back to an officer, but she’d just had it with this whole camping trip.

  “Miss Reed,” he chided her.

  “All I did was share what I knew, and I know that it’s more and more likely that Shelton Briarworth is not your murderer. What kind of foolish criminal would drag a body out of the woods and into a more populated area and then leave the weapon they used with it. They may as well have signed a confession.”

  “Miss Reed,” Lieutenant Doggs barked, forcing Sonja to be quiet. “I’m already aware that it may be someone other than Mr. Briarworth. The fingerprints prove that.” The officer paused, realizing he’d released a confidential piece of evidence in his fit of anger.

  “Fingerprints? On the gun? Someone else’s fingerprints were on the gun?” she asked

  His face scrunched, turning the color of a cooked beet. “I want you out of this crime scene now.”

  Without a moment’s hesitation, Sonja trudged down the incline, her hands balled into fists.

  “I’ll be keeping my eye on you, Miss Reed. Don’t try anything funny.”

  CHAPTER 14

  * * *

  “What an arrogant, pig-headed—”

  “He’s just doing his job, Sonj’,” Frank told her.

  “So, you agree with him?” she gasped.

  “I do agree that you have a strange habit of stumbling into things you shouldn’t, but I would never speak to you the way that he did.”

  “Then why did you let him?”

  “Because I’m not going to undermine the officer who is in charge of a murder investigation, that’s why.”

  “Whatever,” she grunted.

  “Sonja, how many times have I told you to stay out of things?”

  “Well, I’m sorry, okay? Do you think I like finding dead bodies or seeing things that go bump in the night? No. I moved back here to Colorado so I could lead a normal, quiet life—maybe even finally finish writing my book. But no, this last year has been anything other than quiet.” She turned and stomped off toward a random nearby trailhead. She needed a moment to clear her head.

  “Sonja,” he called after her.

  “Leave me alone for once, Frank,” she ordered, never looking back.

  She could hear him sigh dejectedly and walk off, and instantly felt bad for the way she’d spoken to him—even if she felt like she was being singled out.

  All she ever tried to do was help, and much of the time because some ghost had asked her for assistance. That’s exactly what had happened the night before, and she wouldn’t be surprised if it had been the spirit of Barry Niles come back from the grave. Why would he do that unless he knew the police had the wrong person?

  At this point, it seemed, the police also knew they might be looking down the wrong barrel.

  The real question now was, who’s fingerprints were on the gun?

  “Sounds like you had a lover’s quarrel,” came a voice.

  Turning around, Sonja spotted Beth
any on the path behind her. While she felt bad for acting so paranoid around her, she was in no mood to be talking.

  “Why are you following me?”

  “I heard you and Frank fighting and I just wondered what was going on.”

  “We’re not breaking up, if that’s what you’re implying.” Sonja folded her arms in a defensive pose.

  “For heaven sake, what is your problem with me?” she yelled, holding her arms out.

  Sonja, already on the brink of an explosion, felt something snap. “You want to know the problem? Really? My problem is that you have the hots for my boyfriend.”

  “Are you serious right now?”

  “You’re dang right I’m serious.”

  “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe you.”

  “What else am I supposed to think, huh? You have coffee with him in secret behind my back, you ask me all sorts of questions about how long we’ve been together, and then as soon as you overhear us fighting you jump in hoping that something will go wrong. Then maybe you can swoop in and take him for yourself.” As soon as the slew of words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. While it felt good to finally get her worries off her chest and out into the open, this was hardly the appropriate way to go about it.

  Bethany only stood there with her mouth hanging open in shock.

  “I-I’m really sorry,” Sonja admitted, looking down at the dirt.

  “Frank is my friend. That’s all.”

  “I understand.”

  “And we didn’t sneak out to have coffee together. We were just two old friends who wanted to catch up, and I wanted to see if he was coming to the award ceremony.”

  Sonja hesitated, not wanting to ask the next question. “So, do you like him?”

  “How many times do I have to tell you? We’re friends. He’s like having a younger brother.”

  Sonja felt like a complete fool now.

  “I asked all those questions because I hope he’s happy. He is a great catch and deserves someone who is going to respect him.” She paused, looking Sonja in the eye. “Looks to me like you aren’t that person.”

  The comment cut to the bone, hurting Sonja more than she realized words could.

  She watched Bethany walk back down the path and disappear.

  * * *

  Never before had Sonja wanted so badly to just be completely alone, to shrink up and disappear from the world. She’d been a horrible friend and girlfriend to everyone around her this last day and a half. Weaving in and out of the trees, she moved further and further into the deep seclusion of the forest.

  Tips about camping safety kept popping into her head, things like never take a hike without telling someone where you’re going and always hike with a partner who knows the area.

  She pushed these thoughts aside, wanting only the solitude of the forest.

  Unfortunately, the quiet didn’t last very long.

  A snap of a twig nearby made her pause. Glancing toward some nearby bushes, she noticed the rustling again.

  “I know you’re in there this time, Belinda.”

  In response, the raven-haired woman poked her head out. Just like last time, her makeup looked as pristine as could be, as if she’d just finished touching up.

  “Why are you still sneaking around in the bushes?”

  “Come off the path, Sonja. I need to show you something.”

  “Last time I did that, I got in trouble and you ditched me.”

  “No one can know I’m out here, that’s why.”

  “Everyone knows you’re out here,” Sonja told her.

  “Maybe some of you in Haunted Falls, but none of the rangers do. None of them ever have known I was here.”

  “Why is that important?”

  “Sonja, I’m hunting a witch and have been basically living out here. Do you think the rangers would like that?”

  “I guess not. They’d probably kick you out as a vagabond.”

  “Exactly, and I can’t have that happen, not when I’ve gotten so close to tracking down the witch.”

  Sonja shook her head. “Look, I’m not sure I’m in the mood for dealing with witches today.”

  “We don’t have a choice,” she ordered.

  Sonja paused, examining Belinda’s concerned expression, unsure of what to say next.

  “After this whole year of being scared, of wondering who it was that might be watching you, taunting you, sending you strange gifts, don’t you want some answers?”

  Sonja felt a swell of curiosity return, taking over the embarrassment and anger she’d been experiencing most of the morning. Her friend was absolutely right. It was about time they dug up the person who was causing all this trouble in Haunted Falls and put an end to it once and for all.

  If nothing else, it would mean one more thing off Sonja’s plate.

  “I’m coming,” she agreed stepping through the bushes. “What have you found?”

  “The witch’s house.”

  CHAPTER 15

  * * *

  The hike was a long one, taking at least an hour and a half uphill most of the way. Sonja quickly realized she wasn’t properly prepared for that kind of hike. She didn’t have any water, she wasn’t wearing the proper shoes, and all she’d had for breakfast was a bear claw and a cup of coffee—not exactly energy food.

  Her shirt was damp from perspiration when they finally reached a clearing. Stepping in among the trees behind Belinda, Sonja spotted the remains of a firepit with little white skulls creating a circle around it.

  Old runes, marked into the dirt through the whole area, were a tell-tell sign. “The witch has been here,” Sonja remarked.

  Belinda headed into the center. “That’s right. She does many of her rituals in this open circle. It conducts perfect moonlight during the full moon, a strong energy that helps to feed her spells.”

  Sonja was impressed. Belinda’s knowledge of the occult was above anyone else she’d ever met. It was probably how she’d been able to finally track down the witch.

  Sonja went down to one knee, attempting to examine the runes closer, see if they meant anything to her. She didn’t have as much experience as Belinda, and hadn’t done as much reading, but she liked to think she knew a thing or two.

  However, what caught her eye wasn’t something that was drawn into the dirt, it was on top of it. It was a twenty-two-caliber rifle shell left behind in the dirt. Picking it up between her index finger and thumb, she held it up to the light. Could this have come from the same rifle that killed Barry Niles? Looking up toward the circle she noticed something else. One portion of the circle had been completely wiped away, a thick line leading from the central firepit to the outer ring of the clearing. It was a sign that a something had been dragged away from the site.

  The body.

  Sonja stood straight. “This is where the murder took place,” she exclaimed.

  “That’s exactly right, it is,” Belinda said.

  “Wait, you already knew?”

  “Why do you think I brought you up here? I knew this murder was somehow connected to the witch.”

  “Why not tell me? Why not tell the police?”

  “They can’t do anything to help us. Not this time.” Belinda’s eyes went dark, a grim expression coming over her face. “We have to do this alone.”

  Sonja had never seen her friend act so serious, or with such an ominous attitude.

  Then she had an idea. “Maybe if we can talk to the ghost of the victim, he can provide better evidence of who the killer is. We could do a séance,” she suggested.

  “A séance? We don’t have time for that. The murder isn’t important, the witch is,” she snapped, surprising Sonja with her raised voice. This behavior was so unlike her friend. Sonja had never known Belinda to turn down a chance to perform a séance.

  Something seemed seriously off here. “What is going on with you, Belinda?”

  “Don’t you get it? I’ve found the witch. Isn’t that all that matters?”

&nb
sp; Sonja had an idea, but she didn’t like where it was going. She needed to test the waters first. “But why not include the police? Even if they don’t believe this witch actually has supernatural powers, they can at least help bring her in. If nothing else, they might kick her out of the park.”

  “No, what don’t you understand about what I’ve said? We have to do this alone. No one else can know about this place,” Belinda growled. Her lipstick suddenly looked smeared and her mascara ran down from one eye.

  A familiar tingle ran up and down Sonja’s spine, building to a full-on shiver. Something powerful and paranormal was afoot.

  “Belinda? What are you really doing out here?” she didn’t like asking these questions, but she had to know the truth.

  “I told you. We’re hunting the witch.”

  “But how did you know that the murder took place in this clearing? I mean, did you see it happen?”

  Belinda tilted her head to one side, her neck cracking quietly, and looked at Sonja. Her other eye’s mascara began to run as well. “Fine, you caught me. I saw the murder happen.”

  “And you didn’t try and stop it?”

  “How could I?”

  “And you didn’t tell anyone what you’d seen? You knew a murder had occurred up here and you did nothing about it?”

  “I had more important things to attend to.”

  “That doesn’t sound like the Belinda I know, the one who goes out of her way to help solve murders and drive evil entities from our world.”

  Her face was looking worse and worse by the minute. Her make-up was a mess and her face appeared to be splotched with dirt.

  “The Belinda I know wouldn’t sit by and let it happen. . .” Sonja paused, a new thought suddenly occurring to her—a disturbing thought. “Unless, you didn’t witness the murder.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Did you . . . kill that park ranger?”

  There was a deafening moment of silence, so much so that it rocked Sonja to her core. She had her answer. “You killed him? What for? Because you didn’t want anyone to find this place, to find your witch before you did.”