"I don't know. The manager out there seems to keep a pretty good watch on everyone, he would probably have noticed someone just hanging around. We met all of them who had cabins when we were out there. But we'll look again at the list of the people who were there the days Julia was and if we can get any more information from the manager, see how they look on paper. Occupations, where they came from, et cetera. We'll talk to all of them again too. As many times as we have to. Some of them may have looked suspicious to each other for some reason."
"Or done something suspicious." Rhodes warmed his hands on his cup, staring down into what was left of his coffee. "Someone who seems out of place, or did something out of place."
"For the moment, we'll just look at the place and grounds again. We can talk to the manager while we're there, either before Troy gets there or after he leaves. It's not very far over to the cabins."
Rhodes washed and dried his cup, looking serious. "You think Troy might be mixed up in this?"
"No, I have no reason to suspect him. Doesn't seem to be any motive. Gretchen said he was a good boss, a nice person. He let them have the cabin to use."
They had nodded to Gladys on the way out and were getting into Cas's car when he added again, "There's no reason to be suspicious of Troy Spruce."
Rhodes fastened his seat belt and grunted. "Other than we know him, right?"
"Right."
"What about his son, he's about the right age?"
"No, I think I remember Troy telling me Darrell's not living at home any more. If I remember right, he's working for some law firm wherever he is. I wouldn't have remembered that if Troy hadn't looked a little like he didn't think much of the law firm or the job, maybe. Anyway, I haven't heard anything about him lately."
Cas and Rhodes had the place to themselves when they pulled in and parked at Spruce's cabin. It looked like there was no one around for miles, the trees beyond the drive hiding all but the rooftop of a more distant cabin which was on a low hill.
They glanced at the front and sides of the cabin as they went up the steps, the sun and the woodsy setting making the place look like an ideal vacation spot. The paper cup Julia had put out for the birds was still there but empty of bread crumbs.
"Nothing that looks too bad except some places that were dusted for fingerprints. Troy will have someone come and clean up, and make sure everything's turned off that needs to be. He leaves the utilities on, I think he said."
They looked around again and Rhodes closed the refrigerator door as Troy Spruce's car parked outside.
"I'm not going to stay long," Spruce said as he came in. "I'll get the woman who cleans for me to come and go over everything." He looked at the areas which had been dusted for prints.
"You don't give merit badges for neatness, do you?"
"No," Cas laughed. "Someone might clean up something I need to see."
Spruce walked around, looking into all the rooms and came back to them in the living room. "I don't see any reason to look any farther. My cleaning lady has been out here to clean before. I've got to get back to get ready for a dinner meeting. You'll lock up, won't you? You can just drop the key to my office in the mail."
"Sure. We'll do that when we're finished and have the case closed. Just thought you'd like to be here to look around."
"Yes. Thank you."
They heard Spruce's car start and go down the drive. "Let's go on over to the swimming area and see if we can find any of the people who were here." Cas locked up and Rhodes followed.
At the swimming area the manager came to them as soon as they parked.
"Is there something I can help you with?"
"Yes," Cas and Rhodes got out and stood looking around at the cabins and the fishing pier.
"I see some of the cabins are still rented. Were some of these people here the day we found our Lady in the Lake? By the way, her name is Julia Timkins."
"Julia Timkins." The manager said slowly, looking sympathetic. "My name's John. John Arden. And yes, all the people who rented cabins and were here that day are still here. They rent by the week or can rent longer if they make arrangements."
"Good. We'd like to speak to all of them as we get around to them. Do you have a list handy of their names and home addresses?"
"Yes, sir. I do. In fact, I made an extra copy of it on my computer printer in case you wanted it." He grinned self-consciously. "I'm a Law and Order fan."
"Good. Thank you." Cas and Rhodes smiled back at him.
"Before you go get it, are any of them around where we can talk to them now?"
"Yes." Arden pointed to a couple having coffee at a picnic table by one of the cabins. "That's Mr. and Mrs. LaRue. Beth and Bob. Robert LaRue. They're taking a few personal holidays from work." He walked with them to the couple and introduced Cas and Rhodes before he left.
"I don't know how we can help you," Beth slowly shook her head. "I don't remember seeing the girl until all the excitement when they found her out there at the end of the Pier."
Her husband nodded, looking sympathetic.
"Had either of you ever seen her before? I know you couldn't see too well that day, with all that was going on."
"No," they both shook their heads. Bob glanced at his wife. "We didn't even realize she was here at the lake."
"You don't recall seeing her at all? Swimming or hiking, or just walking around?"
"No, I'm sorry." Bob answered and Beth nodded.
"Well, thanks for your help. If you do remember anything or think of something that may help in our investigation, please give us a call." Cas gave them his card as Rhodes waved to someone.
"That's the little boy I met the morning I was out here," Rhodes explained.
They went to the man and his son, extending their hands as they met.
"Didn't know we'd meet again so soon," the man said solemnly. "My name is Larry Campbell, and this is Cory." He smiled down at his son, his hand on his shoulder.
Cory smiled up at Cas and Rhodes, eyeing their badges. Suddenly shy, he didn't speak.
Rhodes glanced at Cas, he gave a slight nod.
"The morning I was out here, Cory said something about going back to wave at someone." He looked down at the little boy.
Larry raised his hand and Rhodes stopped. Campbell knelt beside his son.
"Cory, do you remember when Mr. Rhodes was out here and you made a big boom on his car door?"
Cory's face lit up and he nodded.
"That morning, when you were playing in the water, did you see anyone in the water?"
Cory nodded. "A lady. She waved at me."
"Where was she?"
"Way far. In the water."
"Okay. That's fine," Cas said. "We just needed to know." Cas smiled at him. "You be careful in the water with all that equipment you've got there."
Cory nodded, holding onto his mask, already looking back at the water.
Chapter 11
Heading back to the office, Rhodes looked over the extra list of names and addresses John Arden had given them. It was just the same as the list he'd taken down earlier, no new arrivals. This list has their addresses on it. Most of them were locals, one was from Fort Craig.
"No one from Rainbow Cove, I notice."
"No. None of those people would have noticed Julia or recognized her if they had seen her. Not much help, but we'll keep it in the file in case something comes up."
"From what Gretchen said, Julia had only been there since Friday, the day before they found her on in the lake. She came Friday, with Gretchen, then after she left, Julia looked around, changed clothes. We'll get it put together."
Both of them pictured the area. "Most of the cabins, like Spruce's, are set back in the trees and there weren't many people around at the campgrounds or rental cabins."
Rhodes nodded as they got back in the car. "They wouldn't see each other except when they came to the swimming and fishing pier, or possibly, on some of the hiking trails."
Cas drove in silence, pict
uring the hiking trails in the area. "The wooded areas seem to me a more likely setting to attack someone, if someone meant to harm her. But there doesn't seem to be any indication of that. Not from her parents, her friend, Gretchen, nor Troy Spruce. No suspects or motives at all."
"Didn't you say Clint will get around to the autopsy soon? Did he give you anything at all to think about?"
Cas started to nod then thought better of it. "Yeah, but not much. There were some abrasions on the top of her head. Nothing that would have been fatal, just makes you wonder how it happened. Could have hit her head on a cabinet door, she'd done some cooking, remember."
Rhodes didn't comment and Cas changed the subject. "Right now, I'm almost as curious as Aunt Harry about where Muriel Davis is hiding out and why she's hiding out."
"Maybe she's not. Hiding out, I mean. Could be it's just what Margaret says, she's staying with someone who can answer the phone and hand her an occasional bowl of soup. A relative or friend. Somewhere she can just rest till she's better."
"Thank you, Dr. Cromwell." Cas shrugged. "You're probably right. She'll be back soon and we'll know. It just bugs me that they are so secretive about it. Harry's right, there's something we should know here. But we can't do anything as long as Margaret doesn't ask us for help."
His good humor came back. "Might as well worry about Hannah and her friends taking their vacation. Yeah, vacation's a happy subject, it'll rest my mind."
Rhodes laughed and stuck the address list in the glove compartment.
* * *
Tim Carpenter picked up his phone and smiled when he got a quick answer. "Hannah! I just got home. Would you like to go to a movie or something?"
"No." Hannah's sweet voice could make even a no sound good to Tim. "I waited till I got home to call you. Jo Beth never complains about anything, but I hate to tie up the library phone with personal calls."
"I don't think anyone in my office worries about that," Tim laughed, then sobered. "Except Muriel, of course."
"I'm sorry she's out. And I hope she's getting better. Have you heard any more from her?"
"Yes and no. I talked to Margaret yesterday and she thinks Muriel does seem better and is staying with some friends. I didn't have the nerve to ask if she could talk, why didn't she call me herself?"
"Oh, Tim, you're like Jo Beth, too good for your own good sometimes. But, what I wanted to talk to you about, remember the spaghetti dinner I promised you?"
"Sure do. Thursday you said?"
"If that's all right with you. I've talked to Gina before I called you and our plans are as wrapped up now as they're going to get. We can get what we need to do done and be ready to go this weekend. Friday or Sat, depending if the other party Gina invited comes with us. If she does, there will be one more of us, which I think is good for safety's sake, and we'll have a good time."
"You've wrapped up your plans? That sounds like a deluxe tour of some kind," Tim teased.
"No, it just means we're getting the most for our money and time." Hannah laughed. "We're all career women, you know."
"Gina and you and who else?"
"Gina and Flora, and possibly someone else. I don't know who she is yet. Gina didn't know if she could manage to come or not. Anyway, there will definitely be the three of us, probably plus one more. So we'll be fine. And it's only going to be for four days. You're not going to worry, are you? Or read me a long list of don'ts and avoids and all that?"
"No. At least I'll try not to. I guess I can stand four days. You did say four days including travel time, didn't you?"
Hannah laughed. "Of course including travel time. Gina's car is old but it's dependable and she keeps it and the tires in good shape. So, we've got our four days planned now. And New Orleans isn't all that far, Tim. We talked about going to New Iberia and the bird sanctuary, but we'll probably just go on to New Orleans. We'll just see how it works out. None of us are programmed for hurrying anyway. And we sure don't want to have to rush on our vacation days."
"Well, I guess I can manage to be patient then. And I'm looking forward to that spaghetti."
* * *
Hannah paced the floor Saturday, trying not to wonder if something had gone wrong with Gina's old car. The late breakfast she'd had thinking she'd be leaving soon, was gone. Hunger and stress teamed up to make her stomach growl at the past noon-day sun coming through the windows.
"If she doesn't call me by one o'clock I'll call Gina's number and see if she's had some kind of trouble."
Finally at five minutes till one o'clock the sound of a car brought Hannah running to her front door. The car had gone on up the driveway and was parked beside the house and Gina was coming up the front steps. Hannah stepped out on her tiny porch into a big bear hug from Gina.
"I thought you'd never get here! I've been pacing the floor!"
"Is that a crack about my transportation? I'll have you know it's old enough to demand some respect!" Gina fussed around her big grin.
"No," Hannah laughed. "It's just that I'm ready for a vacation and a good, long, visit with you and Flora."
Hanna stopped, her attention on the pretty blonde girl edging around Flora. Gina reached out, putting a hand on the blonde's shoulder.
"Hannah, this is Elfrieda Minor, sharpest shopper south of the Mason-Dixon line and points north too. Call her Elle. Elle, this is my best buddy, Hannah McLaughlin."
"Hi. I'm glad to meet you, Hannah."
"Same here, Elle." Hannah gave Elle a hug too. "Are you really as good as Gina says you are?"
"Yes, I am," Elle flashed a smile that could probably get a speeding ticket torn up if the traffic cop was male. "But I cheat," she added joyfully as if the cheating was fun.
Hannah paused, "You cheat? Now that calls for some investigation." She lifted her head, sniffing. "But what is that I smell?" She turned slightly, raised her eyebrows at Gina. "I haven't had anything in my kitchen that smells that good in weeks." She stretched her neck. "What's Flora up to in there?"
"Come and see," Flora invited from the table where she was taking things out of several bags and spreading a delicious looking buffet of goodies on the table and counter tops.
"I know it's way past lunch time," Hannah began apologizing. "I turned down lunch with a friend today because I thought we'd be on the road to New Orleans."
"I should have told you," Gina put in, picking up a chip to munch on. "Elfrieda is taking her car. Didn't you see it in the driveway?"
Hannah shook her head. "Didn't pay that much attention, I was just so glad to see you got here safely."
Gina helped take things out of sacks as she talked. "We stopped and Elle ordered all this good food for us. And there was no hurry, since we've got to wait till after dark to leave anyway."
"Wait till after dark?" Hannah looked around at their amused faces, wondering if she'd heard right. Nobody gave her a clue.
"Gina," Hannah's grin returned. "I don't think your car looks THAT bad, and I haven't even had a chance to check Elfrieda's out." Hannah ducked a wadded up sack, giggling with the rest of them.
"It's not my car's looks, Hannah, it's the speed involved." Elle explained, taking mercy on Hannah's worried look.
Elle's perfect teeth bit into the sandwich she'd finished making. Cole slaw stuck out one side of her mouth and she still looked like a fashion model. Hannah mentally gave the credit for that to extreme youth and baby fat.
Flora was eating potato salad as if it had just been invented, and completely unconcerned, if she was even listening.
Still looking puzzled, Hannah glanced out a side window at what she could see of the car in question.
"Elle, that car out there, from what I can see of it, must be older than Gina's." Hannah put up a hand to deflect any more wadded up paper bags. "It couldn't go fast enough to be dangerous without a bomb in it."
"You'll see." Elle licked the slaw off her lower lip. "Just wait until dark."
"If you say so." Hannah looked suspiciously around at her friends. She
narrowed her eyes.
"Are you sure there's something you haven't told me about one of you being wanted for something?"
"Well, of course, silly girl," Gina looked disgusted at the question. "We're all wanted. We're very desirable women! But your guessing's not even close."
Hannah piled lettuce and a little more pork on the bottom of a bun, concentrating on the delicious looking construction. "Well, dark or not, we won't starve, that's for sure."
* * *
Cas's week was uneventful and there was still no news about the autopsy. With the file open in front of him, Cas dialed Troy Spruce's office number.
"I'd like to speak with Gretchen Baker," he told the young voice who answered.
"Yes, sir," the feminine voice brightened. "This is Gretchen. Is this Sheriff Larkin?"
"Yes. I need to ask you a couple of things. Just routine questions, if you can spare me a few minutes?"
"Yes, though I don't know anything that might help."
"You said Troy Spruce loaned you and Julia the cabin when he found out you didn't have anywhere to go on your vacation days. Who else knew you and Julia would be spending your days at the cabin on the lake?"
"Well, a few others in the office, and of course our families knew."
"Who in the office?"
"There was Allie Jones, she comes in to do the floors and general cleaning and usually gets there a little before most of us leave. We were still talking about our vacation days when she came in the day Troy Spruce told us we could stay there. And Carl Dean, I think was there when Julia and I were talking about going. That's all I know of."
"Carl Dean works there in the office with you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did Carl have a crush on Julia or seem to show any interest in where she spent her vacation?"
"No," Gretchen laughed. "He's younger than we are and he goes steady with a cheer leader who acts like she thinks she's a reincarnation of Venus."
Cas laughed "I guess that lets out any jealousy or love interest there. Did Julia have anyone she went with pretty steady, or that she sort of had an understanding with?"
The Mardi Gras Murder Page 7