Jonas took her by both arms and moved closer to her. ‘He already tried to kill you tonight. He tried to kill both of us.’
THIRTY-FOUR
Kit sat on the wooden step leading to the cabin where Jonas hadn’t been all night. Virgie had insisted on sitting there with her but Kit finally talked her into going back to the farmhouse.
‘You OK to drive?’ She had tried to hide a yawn.
‘Of course,’ she said. ‘It’s an easy road. As soon as I talk to him I’ll be back in my room.’
The cold, hard front step didn’t lend itself to more than occasional moments of drifting off until a night sound – a bird screeching, a pine cone dropping – roused her. Yet Kit had to do that because Jonas could no longer keep avoiding and lying to her.
A light piercing her eyes roused her. Morning maybe. No. The sharpness of it made her squint. A flashlight. She waved it away.
‘What are you doing here?’
Kit blinked into his eyes. Jonas glared back at her. ‘Waiting for you.’ She glanced around and realized from the pale light in the sky that it must be close to dawn.
He sat down beside her and Kit could almost feel his weariness seep into the step.
‘What do you want now?’
‘The truth,’ she said. ‘I’m sure you know about the selfie in the bar and Megan in the background.’
He glanced down. ‘What makes you say that?’
‘I’m tired of not sharing information with you.’ She turned to face him. ‘I know you care about Farley and I’m certain you know where he is. Can’t we just level with each other?’
‘We can try.’ In the dawn light, his face looked angry and uncertain. ‘You go first.’
‘OK.’ She took a breath. ‘I was in the barn when you showed Megan the guitar strap.’
‘How?’ He seemed ready to bolt but stayed where he was.
‘You wouldn’t tell me the truth and you still haven’t, by the way.’
‘You were in the barn?’ Color flooded his cheeks.
Kit looked away. She knew he was remembering trying to kiss Megan and figuring out that Kit might have witnessed that.
‘And thanks to Nickel, I know about Lavender Fields. It’s a beautiful name, by the way.’
He put his head in his hands, sighed and looked at her. ‘It’s a beautiful place. Do you know how many lives and futures you’ll destroy if you bring attention to it?’
‘All I care about is Farley’s life right now. Farley’s future.’
‘Me too,’ he said, and she was struck by how much older he looked than he had when she had first seen him on Sunday.
‘Where is he, Jonas?’
‘He’s there. He’s improving. That’s all I can tell you now.’
Her throat tightened and she tried to hold herself back, just keep him talking. ‘You said you’d tell me more today.’
He gestured around them. ‘It’s barely today,’ he said. ‘Check back with me later. I need to be sure he’s all right. We’ve had some problems I’ll explain later – not Farley, something else.’
‘What’s making you hold back?’ she asked, and in the dim light caught the color in his cheeks. ‘Are you worried about Megan?’
‘Of course. I’m worried about all of them.’
‘You don’t have to be. We can keep her out of it. I’m pretty sure she didn’t kill that guy at the bar. You’ve got to tell me where she is, though. Where the kids are.’
‘Very soon.’ Jonas rocked back and forth as if in the chair on the porch instead of the top step.
‘Now,’ she said. ‘All I want is to find Farley. I don’t care if you’ve broken laws. I don’t care what you’re growing in your backyard.’
‘We’re breaking no laws,’ he told her, ‘and the casual assumption that we are insults me.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said, ‘but you know what I do for a living. What I did for a living.’ She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to buffer herself from the cold. ‘If you’re not breaking the law, not even selling pot or whatever, what are you trying to hide?’
‘Ourselves.’ His voice was soft. He rose and said, ‘You’re cold. Come on inside.’
The back door stood open and Jonas stepped back. Unlike Nickel’s backyard, the place was a mess of folded lawn chairs, piled-up sprinklers and twisted and cracked hoses.
‘Does it always look this way?’ Kit asked.
‘I find my sense of order with music, not this stuff.’ Jonas walked back to the door and bent down. ‘Someone managed to destroy the lock.’ He lifted the mangled piece of steel to her. ‘You wouldn’t know anything about this, would you?’
‘If I did, would I be sitting on your front step?’
‘Good point.’ He sighed. ‘Farley always said you would be the first to understand our life out here.’
‘And he does?’
‘He definitely does.’ Jonas pulled out a kitchen chair and sat backward on it. ‘Do you know the term permacuturalist?’
‘It’s a way of producing food, right? So that you don’t destroy the earth’s resources. Is that what Lavender Fields is?’
‘Not entirely. There are a lot of off-the-grid groups in places like this – people who believe technology is destroying the planet and the people on it.’
‘But if they are not breaking the law,’ she said, ‘everyone is content to leave them alone.’
‘Unless someone in their group does break the law,’ he told her. ‘About eight years ago, Priscilla and Michael were working at a Southern California community college when Priscilla was in a wreck that almost killed her and her oldest daughter, Abigail.’
‘I thought Callie was her daughter.’
‘She’s younger, just a baby. Abigail was about the same age Callie is now when it happened. The air bags exploded and trapped them inside. No one stopped to help Priscilla. All they did was take photos with their phones until a Good Samaritan came along. Priscilla and Michael decided to move off the grid and give up every electronic crutch they had ever leaned on. That’s it.’
‘They aren’t breaking the law?’ she asked again.
‘Absolutely not. They and the others there are raising their kids the way they could never do in mainstream society. They have strict rules for membership. That’s why Nickel can’t join, even though he’s been extremely helpful.’
‘He told you about Virgie and me!’ She pulled a chair across from him. What looked like a hand-woven pillow covered its hard wood seat. ‘When we came here that day, you were expecting us, weren’t you?’
He glanced down at his hands and pushed an imaginary cuticle with a fingernail. ‘You’re right. And even then I wasn’t smart enough to hide the port. That should give you an idea of what kind of hardened criminals we are.’
‘But you don’t live with them?’ Before he could answer, she got it. ‘Of course not. They can’t send the kids to public school so you tutor them, don’t you? And you teach them music.’
He nodded. ‘It’s one of the most rewarding aspects of my life. Each one of those kids is like Farley was when he came to me. Tabula rasa. A blank slate.’
‘How did Farley get there?’ She held her breath.
‘I can’t address that yet.’ He slumped in the chair but maintained his easy-going façade. ‘Farley has always said you’re a good woman, and if we had met any other way I know we would have been friends. But for now – just for now – I have to put you off until later.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I need to talk to some people.’ He clasped his hands around the back of the chair. ‘I owe them that.’
‘Do you really think I can just sit around until you’re ready to tell me?’ Kit said. ‘Assuming you ever are.’
‘You’re going to have to.’
‘No, I’m not.’ She stood up and pushed the chair against the wall beside an open roll-top desk covered with sheets of music. ‘I’m going to start looking for the camp now. I know it’s around here and there can be only so many roads that a
re close to both this place and the fruit stand.’
‘You won’t find it,’ he said. ‘And you could put yourself in danger by looking for it. Please wait until I speak to those in charge.’
‘What do you mean by put myself in danger?’ she asked him.
‘That’s all I can say right now, and it’s more than I should.’ He pointed at the door and its smashed lock. ‘I didn’t break into my own cabin. I didn’t burn the guitars in my own barn. Please don’t take any chances. I promise to get back to you right away.’
‘I’m still going to look,’ she said. ‘I can’t help it.’
‘I wish you wouldn’t.’ He started toward the door. ‘If you do, it could be worse for Farley.’
‘Worse how?’
‘That’s all I can say.’ Jonas stood up wearily. ‘But I wouldn’t lie about something this important.’
THIRTY-FIVE
Even though Jonas said he wouldn’t lie, she wasn’t certain. Someone had broken into his barn and now his home. Yet he claimed the group at the camp was peaceful. Maybe he was just trying to keep her from one more day of searching. If so, he had failed.
As she drove through the narrow road to the forest and the farmhouse, she hoped she would see John Paul’s truck when she turned into the dirt drive. Only a camper, a motorcycle and two cars were parked there. John Paul’s truck was gone. Although she wasn’t surprised, she felt a stab of loss. Then she told herself that he probably was just looking for an excuse to avoid working with her. That had been their problem from the start. He wasn’t comfortable working with anyone – especially a woman – who wasn’t a cop.
She looked in at Virgie, who was still asleep, glad that they had keys to each other’s rooms. A tray outside Virgie’s held a cup of coffee and a covered platter. Room service, but Kit wanted to go downstairs. She closed the door slowly behind her and locked it from the outside.
The free breakfast that came with the room was probably long from coming, but the tiny kitchen had a basket of rolls on the counter and a cooler of soda and bottled water. She grabbed one of each and sat on a comfortable lounge chair. With a live signal, she could search for maps of the area and she might have a better chance of finding the Lavender Fields camp. It had to be close to both the fruit stand and Jonas’s school. She began searching and soon realized that the school and the stand were almost across from each other with only forest between them. The camp must be there, maybe even walking distance from the fruit stand.
Kit continued checking, trying to narrow in on the location, trying to focus. The smell of coffee filled the tiny room. She heard the rustle of noise in the kitchen and someone pulled open the heavy drapes. Early morning sunlight and the scent and sound of sizzling bacon warmed her at once.
The French doors opened and someone sat down on the settee beside her. The rattle of a newspaper drew her attention from her phone.
She glanced up at the guy on the loveseat, who had moved the newspaper and was looking intently at his own phone. Although a baseball cap covered his dark hair, the blue eyes were the same.
‘I can’t believe this,’ he said. ‘Good to see you again.’ The same doctor guy from the country store smiled over at her.
‘How was your party?’ she asked.
‘Overdone, like everything else my mom does. And fun. I’m on my way back. I thought you said you were passing through.’
‘I am.’ She felt herself color and glanced down at her phone as if to say she didn’t want to talk anymore. ‘Something came up so I’m going to stay a little longer.’
‘Not much to do around this place,’ he said. ‘It’s beautiful, though. A walk might be nice.’
‘I’m not really looking for anything to do.’
‘Working?’
‘Yes.’ She lifted her phone. ‘I’d better get back to it.’
‘Looks like you have some kind of map there.’ He squinted at her screen. ‘Are you looking for directions for anything? I might be able to help.’
Kit was tempted. Still, the guy was too friendly for this and maybe any time of day. If she asked him for help he might pretend to know more than he did just to keep hanging around.
‘Not really,’ she said. ‘I just like having an idea of where I am.’
‘Not always easy out here unless you are as familiar with the land as I am. My dad was a forest ranger. I could find anywhere from here to Mendocino in my sleep.’
‘Do you know where Ananda Free School is?’ she asked.
‘Not far. Maybe two miles.’ He leaned back in the settee as if to give her space. ‘Probably the best private school in the area. They’re closed now, though. Spring break.’
‘Good morn-ing.’ An older woman in an apron greeted them with practiced cheerfulness and started filling the chafing dishes lining the wall along the windows. Kit glanced up, both wanting to ask this guy more questions and afraid to take the chance.
‘Is anyone at the school right now?’ she asked. ‘Someone must be in charge.’
‘That would be Jonas.’ He made a face. ‘Nice guy, but when school’s on break he could be anywhere. Last I heard, some friend of his was visiting and they were hanging out.’
‘Hanging out where?’ Kit did her best to pretend disinterest.
‘I’m not sure. As I said, I only stay here going through to visit my parents.’ He inhaled the breakfast scents filling the room. ‘I don’t know about you but I’m ready to eat. Can I get you a plate?’
‘Thanks, but I can do it.’ Still something not quite right. Kit just couldn’t figure out what it was. Two couples came through the French doors as if led by the scent of the food. Kit let them go ahead and motioned to the man to do the same. Instead, he stood back with her.
‘You go first.’ He stepped aside and Kit realized how hungry she was. So much for the yogurt and granola. She picked up a spatula, then a warm plate from the stack, and slid an omelet onto it. Then two pieces of toast. Then what looked and smelled like freshly fried hash browns. And cream-drenched berries – either blackberry or huckleberry. Virgie would know. In fact, Kit needed to fix a plate for her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the blue-eyed guy do the same. At the end of the line he looked at the pile of fragrant waffles. ‘I dare you,’ he said with a grin.
‘This is all I can manage.’ He was starting to annoy her. ‘You go for it, though.’
‘I will.’ He lifted an empty coffee cup to the espresso machine and handed the cup to Kit. Then he took another one for himself.
The cheerful woman returned and opened the sliding glass doors leading to the patio. Kit headed that way.
‘Want to share a table?’ He was already there, pulling out a wrought-iron chair.
What would it hurt? Maybe he would tell her something about the area if he really did know it as well as he said he did.
They sat across from each other at the table, and Kit realized she probably ought to get back to Virgie. First, though, she needed to ask him some questions.
‘So tell me about Jonas,’ she said.
‘Just a guy who likes teaching kids,’ he said. ‘People around here are a little weird, so he has some of that. I’d never stay here if I didn’t have to visit my parents.’
Kit gripped her cup and finally remembered. ‘What did you say your father does?’ she asked.
His smile didn’t move but his skin flushed. ‘Doctor,’ he said. ‘Like me.’
‘Didn’t you just say he was a forest ranger?’
‘No way.’ He cocked his head. ‘That would be my grandfather. What an amazing man he was. That’s how I learned my way around this place.’ He took his coffee cup in both hands. ‘Anything you want to find around here, I can show you where it is.’
Just another pick-up line. Kit sipped her coffee. No reason to push this, especially since she no longer believed he knew anything. ‘I’ll be leaving soon,’ she said, ‘and I’m sure you will be too.’
‘Right after check-out. You and your friend
will probably be doing the same.’
Kit nodded and took a second sip of coffee. It was as bitter as the first. Then she remembered the coffee Virgie had poured out the day before at the country store – and the cup on the tray outside the door to Virgie’s room.
‘I’ll be right back.’ She put the cup down on the table. ‘Wait right here, please.’
She got up, ran outside and took the stairs as fast as she could.
The door to the room stood open, and when Kit stepped inside she saw why. Virgie lay face-down on the floor, her arms stretched out and her breathing shallow. The coffee cup was tipped over on the nightstand beside her bed. Kit reached for her, felt cold flesh and headed for the stairs, shouting for help.
‘What’s going on?’ John Paul’s door flew open and he stood there.
‘Virgie. I think she’s been drugged.’
‘Call for law enforcement. Don’t let anybody leave the premises.’ He shot orders at her as he ran to Virgie’s room. ‘Now, Doyle!’
Somehow, her legs moved. She called for help again and everyone in the kitchen, including the woman in the apron, crowded around her at the foot of the stairs.
‘Someone here poisoned my friend.’ Her lips trembled and she tried to imitate John Paul’s tone of authority. ‘A police officer is with her now.’ She didn’t bother to say former police officer. ‘No one can leave here. No one.’ She took one wild look at the stunned faces in front of her and rushed to the patio. No one sat at the tables. Everyone who had been outside was now inside. The blue-eyed man had gone.
THIRTY-SIX
Virgie sat propped up in bed and sipped from a large mug of broth the woman who owned the farmhouse had brought her.
‘Same guy, isn’t he?’ She looked up at Kit, who sat on one side of the bed. ‘From the market?’
‘What guy?’ John Paul pulled a chair up beside Kit.
‘A man who approached us at the grocery store yesterday,’ Kit said.
‘Approached her,’ Virgie said. ‘And showed up here when I went downstairs for a soda. He was coming down the stairs at the same time. I should’ve known.’
I Wish You Missed Me Page 17