Dead of Spring: An Alexa Williams Novel

by Sherry Knowlton

  Davis used a reassuring tone. “We arrested him last night. He’s in jail.”

  “I doubt his parents will even try to make his bail. They say they’ve washed their hands of him,” Cannon interjected.

  “Spanky should be in Cumberland County Prison until his trial is scheduled.” Davis smiled. “We have to tie up these loose ends, but you can rest easy.”

  Alexa breathed a sigh of relief. “So you don’t think the shooting had anything to do with Senator Martinelli’s death?”

  Davis said, “We can’t rule that out entirely until our investigation finds the hard evidence to link Spanky Fulton to the attack on you. But we haven’t been able to discover anything that ties your incident to the senator’s death.”

  “Yeah. We know CID hasn’t nailed the person who sent Martinelli for his final ride, but you didn’t witness the murder. Just the point of impact. It never made much sense to us that someone would try to kill you over that. But we followed all the leads, and they’ve come up dry. No way to pinpoint who owned the gun. No DNA on the candy wrappers. The tire track is from a truck, probably a pickup. We’re not even sure that the track is related to your shooter. Spanky drives a Honda low-rider. Still, we think it’s Spanky Fulton. You fit his pattern.”

  “I’m glad you caught him. Who knows what he would have done next.”

  Davis showed the hint of a smile. “We’re not sure if he intended to miss you and the farmers―or if Spanky is just a bad shot. But we’re lucky he didn’t injure anyone, or worse.”

  “Yeah, lucky,” Alexa declared. She was a little put off by Davis’ levity. After all, the trooper was not the one whose head the bullet had just missed. But John used weird cop humor all the time. Maybe Davis felt freer in Alexa’s presence since she dated John and knew Cannon.

  Cannon shot out of the chair and onto his feet. Davis sank deeper into the couch for a moment, then sighed and joined him.

  “Thanks for coming to tell me about this. I’ve been so jumpy since that night. I’ll feel much safer with Spanky behind bars.”

  Alexa had trouble letting go during Savasana at the end of Tuesday’s yoga session. Relief at Spanky Fulton’s arrest, sadness about Lauren Hildebrand’s senseless death, and anxiety about the coming breakup with John made it impossible for her to clear her mind. She was relived when Isabella rang the chimes to end the yoga session.

  “Is it warm enough to sit on the patio?” Tyrell asked as they approached the Om Café.

  “Let’s go for it,” Melissa cried. “Is that OK with you, little mama?”

  Haley protested, “I’m pregnant, not sick. And I have a sweater if the baby and I get cold.”

  “I’ll let Ariel know we’re out here. The usual for everyone?” Alexa opened the door and caught the proprietor’s eye. “Two chai tea lattes, a cappuccino, and herbal tea for Haley.” With the order delivered, she walked back out to join her friends at the table.

  Haley rubbed her back and groaned. “I’m trying to do yoga as long as I can. But I’m not sure God intended for pregnant women to do Downward Facing Dog in their final months.”

  “The baby’s due in about two months, right?” Tyrell sounded out of his depth with this maternity talk.

  “You should have switched to maternity yoga,” Melissa grumbled.

  “Maybe, but then I would have missed our weekly get-togethers.” Haley laughed. “Who knows if I’ll ever see you again after the baby comes.”

  Tyrell looked puzzled, so Alexa explained. “They say having a baby changes your entire life. Every waking moment is taken up with the little one. Sleeping moments, too.”

  “I’ll only take a few weeks off from yoga,” Haley insisted. “I told Blair he has to stay home with the baby on Tuesday nights.”

  After Ariel appeared with a tray of drinks, Alexa shared the state police news. “They arrested this guy, Spanky Fulton. Although they don’t have a gun to match the bullets in the hot tub and the house, the troopers seem to think he’s the one. They have him cold on several similar shootings.”

  Melissa held her hand in the air, choking down laughter. “Wait. You’re saying the guy who shot at you while you were naked in the hot tub is named Spanky? That’s a porn name if I ever heard one.”

  “No, it’s not. Didn’t you watch Spanky and Our Gang when you were a kid?” Haley became indignant.

  “You’re right. The Little Rascals. I loved that dog with the circle around his eye. What was his name?”

  “Spot?” Haley asked.

  “No, Petey,” Alexa answered.

  Melissa took a sip of chai. “I always wondered if that circle around his eye was real.”

  The other three looked at her in disbelief before Tyrell spoke in a dry tone. “I’m pretty sure they painted it on. But, aren’t we getting a little off track here? Alexa, it’s wonderful they caught this Spanky character. I bet it takes a big weight off your mind to know he’s in jail.”

  “It does. I’ve been looking over my shoulder ever since that night.”

  Haley cringed. “I bet you haven’t been in the hot tub again. I wouldn’t.”

  “Just once. In daylight. I had Scout with me.” Alexa looked at the time on her phone. “I better get home. Scout’s been in the house all day.”

  Although the days were getting longer, twilight had fallen by the time Alexa arrived home. When she unlocked the door, Scout ran out toward the pines. Alexa squared her shoulders and decided to take the plunge. She would celebrate Spanky Fulton’s arrest by using the hot tub, even though it was getting dark. Having Scout outside made it easier. An extra two hundred thirty pounds of security. She slipped out of her yoga clothes, grabbed a towel, and walked across the deck to the hot tub.

  Sinking into the steaming water with a sigh of contentment, Alexa’s thoughts turned to John. He was working a late shift tonight, so she didn’t expect to see him. In some ways, that was a relief. She was still searching for the best way to break it off with the trooper. Not an easy thing to do. They’d started dating last October. After the initial thrill of the new relationship had worn off, Alexa had struggled to keep up the enthusiasm. She owed him so much. He’d saved her life when Quinn Hutton had kidnapped her. He’d been there to help her recover from the trauma. But Alexa knew she couldn’t build a lasting relationship on gratitude. From the moment John began pressing for something more permanent, Alexa resisted. She knew moving in together was just the prelude to a marriage proposal. And she would never say yes to John Taylor, no matter how much she liked and owed the guy. So she had to break it off. Soon.

  Scout came padding up on the deck. He placed his front paws on the hot tub steps, his ears dangling in the water. Alexa scratched his ears. “Hey, buddy. Should we go inside and feed you?”

  The dog turned and headed toward the front door. Alexa leaned back and drank in the soothing chorus of peepers down at Weaver’s Pond. Soon they would be gone, replaced by the deep croak of bullfrogs and the hum of crickets in the night. Smiling, she got out of the hot tub and wrapped herself in a towel. How wonderful to feel safe again in this place she loved so much.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  The phone rang as Alexa carried her breakfast out onto the deck. Slamming her cup of tea and bowl of granola on the table, she ran into the house to answer the call. “Hello.”

  “Hi, sugarcakes. I wanted to catch you before you left for work.” Alexa carried the receiver back out on the deck.

  “I’m just sitting down to breakfast. I don’t have any appointments until nine so I’m going in a little late. Are you off today?”

  “Yeah. Jim and I are planning another trip up to that area we found this weekend. I’m convinced that someone is surveying the land for fracking. I spoke to the corporal, and he’s interested in taking a team up there. Same with the DER people. But Jim and I decided to get more photos of that equipment so we can run them by an expert first. I’ve got nothing better to do. It’s a nice day to be outside.”

  “I’m envious. I have a full
slate of meetings, plus lunch with Darby Kaplan from the Wildness Cooperative. She’s coming to Carlisle so I’m pretty sure she wants something from me. First, Walt Jordan. Now, Darby. Trying to get me involved in the anti-fracking campaign.”

  “It’s a good cause. You said so yourself after seeing things up north.”

  “I know.” Alexa sighed. “But I just finished with the Human Trafficking Commission. As much as I’m into good causes, I’d like to have some time to just chill this summer.”

  “That sounds good, too. Why don’t you wait and see what this Darby has in mind?”

  “You’re right. Melinda would say I’m getting the cart before the horse.” Alexa laughed.

  “I’ll come back to the cabin after Jim and I finish up and just hang out with Scout this afternoon. I want to finish tying a fly or two for the opening day of trout season. Then we could cook something on the grill?”

  “That sounds like a plan. Scout will be happy to have some company. I have some steaks in the freezer. I’ll set them out to thaw.”

  “See you later,” John said.

  “Bye.” Alexa pushed the off button and took a sip of tea. She turned to Scout with resolve in her eyes. “I’m going to bite the bullet and tell him tonight, buddy. It’s time.”

  Alexa met Darby at Legal Grounds. She hadn’t visited the coffee shop in a while. When she had volunteered regularly at the Cumberland Family Planning Clinic down the street, Alexa had been a regular here. New owners had kept the coffee shop vibe but added a decent lunch menu.

  Darby already sat at a table in the coffee shop when Alexa arrived. “You found it with no problems?”

  “Nope, my GPS brought me right to the front door. Parking right out front is a bonus. I’m used to trying to find parking in Harrisburg, and then paying an arm and a leg for it.”

  The two women ordered their meals from a server Alexa didn’t recognize. “Thanks for arranging that meeting with Walt Jordan. I should have called earlier to tell you how much I appreciated it. He connected me with a class action suit against Monongas on mostly environmental issues. My clients talked about becoming part of the class but then decided to go with individual counsel. A firm that’s had pretty good success in bringing action against Monongas in cases where there are medical issues.”

  “Yes. I’ve heard about the Friends of Pine Creek group. I couldn’t remember the name that day we had lunch. But I figured Walt Jordan would point you in the right direction.”

  “The representative has been very helpful. While I was in Tioga County getting my clients settled with counsel, Mr. Jordan gave me an introduction to fracking. He spent the better part of a day with me, taking me to drilling sites in different stages of development. He also arranged some meetings with families who had been affected―both positively and negatively―by fracking.” Alexa winced. “More on the negative side.”

  An enigmatic smile crossed Darby’s face. “I heard about the show and tell. Walt thinks you’ve become a convert to the anti-fracking cause.”

  “After seeing what happened to my clients’ daughter and then hearing from the Friends of Pine Creek and those other families―it’s a pretty compelling argument for the dangers of fracking. Of course, the argument for fracking has some powerful points too. Energy independence. They say it’s less polluting than coal. Less impact on global warming.”

  “But you’re not convinced that those things offset the dangers, are you?” Darby speared a fork into the salad the server had placed in front of her.

  “I still don’t know enough,” Alexa demurred.

  “Take it from me, they don’t. Plus there are renewable alternatives available right now. Wind. Solar. Other cutting edge stuff. But the fossil fuel industry has too big a grip on the decision makers. As a result, the alternatives aren’t being funded and nurtured the way they could be.”

  Alexa nodded. “From the way they’re pushing this fracking bill in the legislature, you could be right.”

  “Which is one of the reasons I’m here. Walt thinks you’d make a good public spokesperson against the bill.”

  “Me?” Alexa nearly choked on a bite of chicken salad. “I’m hardly an expert. My connection to fracking is very tangential―through my clients. I expected you to hit me up for a big donation to the cause. But act as a spokesperson? Why me?”

  “You’ve been in the public eye on the Human Trafficking Commission. And before that, for breaking open that trafficking ring. Didn’t Rachel Maddow interview you about being targeted by anti-abortion zealots? Like it or not, you’re a public figure.”

  “But I’d feel like some gadfly that flits from one cause to the next. Like a pundit on cable TV who has an opinion on everything but knows very little. I wouldn’t feel comfortable―no matter how good the cause.” Alexa shook her head.

  “Think about it for a week or so,” Darby advised. She then steered the conversation to amusing stories about working with legislators on environmental issues.

  As the women finished their lunch, Alexa asked, “Do you know anything about an industry effort to expand fracking into South Central Pennsylvania? A friend told me they’re talking about it at the local Chamber of Commerce. And some other folks in law enforcement believe there’s illegal surveying going on in the Michaux State Forest. That at least one company is looking for drilling sites on public land.”

  Darby frowned. “I’ve heard some rumors about a new technology, similar to fracking, that would extract natural gas from non-shale areas. Of course, the industry drilled in limestone and sandstone long before they developed hydraulic fracturing. But the goal of this new hybrid technology would open up a lot of previously untouched areas to fracking. I always thought it was an urban myth. This would be a real nightmare if it’s true.”

  “I heard the recent Climate Treaty has affected the industry timelines. That this new thing is real, and they plan to drill everything they can now and stockpile natural gas. They’re worried the government will shut down fracking altogether.”

  “Damn. I’m going to look into this. I wonder if that’s what is driving this Senate bill. It’s always seemed that the effort to pass this bill far outweighed its potential benefit. But maybe they want to open up a lot more state land than we imagined, using this new technique.”

  “Maybe you could clue Walt Jordan in as well. I’ve just learned about this, so haven’t spoken to him about it.” Alexa felt her face flush when she mentioned Walt’s name.”

  With a knowing look, Darby said, “And you’d rather I filled him in so you can avoid talking to him? Sounds to me like you’ve fallen under the Jordan spell.”

  “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

  “I’ve seen it before. Walt is a handsome, charismatic guy. He charms everyone who comes into his orbit―with very few exceptions. A lot of it has to do with his commitment to the cause. All that passion about the environment is so appealing. Like father like son, I guess. You know his dad was a real hero of the environmental movement back in the seventies and eighties?”

  “No, I don’t know much about Walt, really,” Alexa admitted. “Are you saying he’s a player?” She wondered if Darby was reacting to personal experience with Walt.

  “Just the opposite. The guy’s a real family man. Always talking about the wife and kiddies. I’m just saying he has a certain effect on people; women and men alike. My partner, Sabrina, thinks the man walks on water. All the environmental groups in the state practically worship the man for his advocacy. You get that same starry-eyed look when you talk about him. That’s all I’m saying.”

  “Oh. I guess I misunderstood. He does seem a bit larger than life.” Alexa didn’t know whether to be embarrassed her crush on Walt Jordan was so common or disappointed to learn he probably gave everyone the same “special” treatment she’d received. She struggled to change the subject. “Is your partner an environmentalist too?”

  Darby signaled to the server for the check. “Only in her spare time. Sabrina is a Pediatr
ic Hospitalist at Hershey Medical Center. What about you? Are you married? Have kids?”

  “Neither. I’ve been in a relationship for a while. With a state cop. But I don’t see marriage or kids in the picture―not at this point, anyway.”

  When Alexa arrived home, she was surprised to find Scout alone at the cabin. There were no signs that John had been there. She checked the steaks in the fridge to make sure they had thawed. Then she ran upstairs to change, figuring John and Jim had decided to stop for a beer somewhere. She hoped he hadn’t been called into to work; she’d finally mustered the courage to discuss her feelings about their relationship. She was afraid she’d chicken out again if the conversation got delayed.

  Back downstairs, Alexa checked for phone messages on both the landline and her cell. John hadn’t called, so she decided to hike to Weaver’s Pond. She left a brief note to John on the kitchen counter. “Scout and I went for walk. Will return by six.” Locking the door behind her, Alexa and Scout set off through the woods.

  She loved this time of year. The leaves on the trees were still fresh with their new growth. Yesterday’s steady rain had turned the ground beneath her feet soft and spongy. About halfway to the pond, Alexa spied an early-blooming clutch of lady’s slippers, the pink blooms balancing on slender, curved stems. She left the native orchids in place, nestled in the hollow of a fallen tree. Scout wandered back and forth ahead of her, snooting the ground and following the scent of small animals that had crossed the path.

  Late afternoon shadow blanketed most of the small pond by the time Alexa and Scout arrived. As she gazed at the water, the last rays of sun touched two blooming redbud trees with their light. Beneath the trees, a patch of water lilies, their buds closed tight, shone blood red in the trees’ reflection. Alexa shivered at the eerie trick of light.

  “Scout, let’s head back home. John might be there.” Alexa walked at a steady pace on the return trip, driven by a sense of anxiety she couldn’t define. When they reached the edge of the forest, Alexa looked up at the sound of a car coming down the lane.