"No, neither one of us did, Sheriff Larkin. There's not very many of what our mothers would consider eligible bachelors here in Rainbow Cove." She didn't sound too happy about it.
"So you were both just really looking forward to having some free time to rest and enjoy the cabin and the lake. Was Julia particularly interested in swimming?"
"Yes," Gretchen's voice rose, sounding happier. "Both of us went to the two year college here before we went to work for Judge Spruce and Julia was on the swimming team. She liked to swim. That's what we were going to do on our vacation days. Swim, and picnic, and bird watch. Things you'd enjoy if you were going camping or at a cabin, like Judge Spruce's."
"Julia was a good swimmer then?"
"Yes. I'm more of a dog paddler, myself, but Julia was good at it. She was on the swimming team. She enjoyed swimming." Gretchen's voice was sad again.
"I'll make a note of it. Thanks for letting me interrupt your work, Gretchen. And you call the number on the card I gave you if you have anything you want to tell me or ask questions."
Gretchen hesitated a bit before asking, "Do you think it will be very long before her parents can bring Julia home?"
"No, I'm sure it won't be much longer. Call any time you want to."
As he hung up the phone Rhodes came in the outer door and Cas motioned him in. He perched on the edge of the chair in front of the desk.
"All quiet in the county?"
"Cas, it's downright boring." Rhodes stretched his long legs and glanced at the door. "I stopped by for coffee to keep me awake," he grinned.
"Coffee sounds good to me, too." Cas got up and Rhodes followed him to the break-room. They retrieved the sweet rolls left over from the morning and poured their coffee.
"I talked to Gretchen Baker again. Asked her about Julia Timkins and if she was a good swimmer."
Rhodes listened, sipping his hot coffee.
"She was not only a good swimmer, she was on the swimming team at that two year college there in Rainbow Cove."
"Good swimmer. And she was found not too far out for a good swimmer to make it to shallow water. Makes those abrasions on her head need an explanation, doesn't it?"
Rhodes shook his head. "Yeah, doesn't sound right. And it's strange nobody saw her, or admitted they did, even if she only went out to bird watch. She was fully clothed. She was not too far out but nobody saw her. She might as well have been invisible. Or maybe it was just a matter of timing."
He looked up at Cas. "Did Clint say anything about what her clothes were snagged on when his helpers found her?"
"I asked about that. He said it looked to his helpers like the body had just drifted to the pier supports and snagged on the wood underneath. It was easy to move her. A strong wave could have done it. The boats out there usually come fairly close in and go so fast, and there would have been some traffic at that point and time. So she could have just washed up from somewhere. Both boys said the body wasn't fastened there or weighted with anything."
Rhodes refilled his cup. "I know Clint is careful not to say anything to get our imaginations going, but did he voice any ideas at all?"
"He said he'd see what shape her lungs were in. And too, if there was foul play and she put up some sort of fight, maybe something else will show up. Keep in mind, Rhodes, she was a good swimmer." Both sat picturing the swimming area and Julia as she was dressed.
"Something could have spooked her, an animal maybe? A deer or, at worst, someone hit her for some reason? We've still got questions the autopsy will answer. Clint feels sure we'll get a better picture of her last moments when he gets a look at her lungs."
Rhodes nodded. "I'm trying not to put two and two together and get six, I guess."
Cas looked at the clock. "I'm going to make my loop out by Peaceful Ridge then go on home."
As he got up the phone rang. Cas raised his hand and Rhodes waited., listening to Cas's side of the conversation. He sat back down.
Cas shook his head, smiling slightly. "Yes, sir. Glad to hear it. Thanks for calling to let me know." He replaced the phone and got up, reaching for his hat.
"That must be the man who called about the boat he found. It drifted up to his place out there on the lake he said?" Rhodes asked remembering the first call.
"Right. He said he just wanted to let us know he found a phone number painted on the bottom when he hauled it up. Must have just drifted over there as we guessed, it's not too far. It's Troy Spruce's boat."
Chapter 12
At Hannah's house, Elle looked out the window as the others put the empty food sacks in a trash bag to take out. "I guess it's safe now," she said. "I'll go out and pull the car farther back by the side of the house where it can't be seen from the street and we'll load up."
As the rest of them followed, Hannah nervously thanked Flora for the food and helping get the trash out. When they finished loading, she eyed Elle as she got in the car. Hannah still had some misgivings about their transportation.
In a matter of seconds, everyone was seated comfortably in Elle's old car. Elle sat behind the wheel as if posing for a glamour shot, without a care in the world, judging by the look on her pretty face. Hannah smiled and silently scolded herself for her lack of faith. No one else looked worried and they had gotten here all right from Fort Craig.
The car was just as elegant as it was big. Hannah felt like she was in a limo. It even smelled expensive. Or maybe it was just the leather seats. Even if it was a real antique and seemed to be in excellent shape, it was still old, old, old, and they were going a long way. Hannah tilted her head, sending Gina a concerned look.
Gina smiled at Hannah and grinned, knowing what she was feeling.
"We're going in style, depend on it," Gina told her complacently. "Besides, Elle's a much better parker than I am." She reached over and gave Elle's shoulder a pat.
Elle started the car and Gina quickly whispered to Hannah, "Close your eyes."
"Close my eyes?" Hannah quickly glanced nervously around at the shrubbery and what she could see of the street in the mirror as if she'd never see all that again, then obediently closed her eyes.
Too late, Hannah wondered if everyone else had closed their eyes too. The sound of the motor broke into her worrying. It sounded big and as expensive as it looked. It purred flawlessly like it didn't know how old it was. Then in a few seconds everything got very still except for a quiet hiss of air. Wondering what was going on, Hannah kept her eyes closed but opened her mouth to say something.
"Okay, you can look now," Gina announced before Hannah could speak.
At that point, Hannah realized they were moving, she could feel it.
In the instant she felt the motion of the car, Hannah heard street noises, too. She looked out the window by her and saw that they were in a narrow street going past another street which was evidently closed to traffic.
Ahead, on the left side of the street they were on she saw a sign advertising po-boy sandwiches and her heart lurched.
"We're in New Orleans!" Hannah screeched.
"Right." Gina patted her hand, looking pleased.
The old car slowed to a crawl.
"Now. Just wait till you see Elle park!" Gina held tight to Hannah's hand, looking excited.
Hannah held her breath again as the car slowed to a stop parallel to an opening on the street. The narrow street was already full all the way to the corner except for that one space. The vacant space was only a few inches over a car length between the two cars already at the curb.
There were tow-away warnings here and there too. Hannah nervously eyed them. She imagined the big old car being ignominiously dragged away, or worse, damaging one of the other cars. No one spoke.
They sat still as Elle glanced at the space beside them and pointed to it.
Without even a noticeable jolt, the big car moved sideways and was immediately parked between the front and rear cars at the curb.
Eyes and mouth open wide, Hannah was speechless.
All o
f them piled out of the car, looking around like new millionaires at a diamond sale. Elle locked the car door and gave it a pat, whispering something.
Finding her tongue, Hannah stared at the car in the parking place, looked at Elle and managed to gasp: "How? How?"
Gina giggled at Hannah's surprise. "By the way, Hannah, Elle's a witch! Isn't that, uh, what's the word?"
"Gina," Elle interrupted. "If you're going to say convenient it's the understatement of the year!" Elle warned her. She paused, squinting at Hannah and giving her a worried look. Hannah stood staring with her mouth open.
"Hannah?" Gina reached out to touch her but didn't, peering at her and looking scared. "You haven't said anything but how? You aren't mad at me for not warning you are you? Do you hate witches?"
"NO! Oh, no, Elle. Certainly not." Hannah couldn't bear to see Elle looking uncomfortable. "You're beautiful and your name, Elle is French. It's elegant and it just fits you. Oh, yeah," Hannah laughed nervously. "And thanks for the ride!" Hannah laughed at her own babbling confusion. Gina gave her a brief hug.
"I just didn't know what was going on. Besides," Hannah rolled her eyes, "I've been mistaken for a witch myself."
"See?" Gina grinned at Elle. "I told you! No problem."
Elle accepted Hannah's hug when she held out her arms. "Well, come on then. Let's look around and find our lodgings and enjoy ourselves."
"Sure. Let's go," Gina took Hannah's hand and Flora led the way towards an open air coffee shop. Elle stepped back to the car.
Glancing back it looked to Hannah as if Elle was talking to the car and she gave the door another pat before she hurried to catch up with them.
They got to the coffee shop and could see there were other shops up the street beyond it with everything in the way of souvenirs from clothes to chocolate and pralines.
Hannah was the only one who had never been to New Orleans, even though it might have been years ago for all of them but Flora.
Gina, Flora, and Elle enjoyed Hannah's reactions to all the sights, scenes, and smells around them as much as experiencing them for themselves. The sidewalks and the streets where there were no cars or were one-way were crowded with people who seemed determined to enjoy Mardi Gras week regardless of the aftermath of the recent tragic storms. There was friendly camaraderie all around them.
Party-hearty attitudes were side by side with people who were teary-eyed with memories. Memories that sometimes showed in the eyes that reflected the lights and colors of Mardi Gras. Green, purple, and gold.
Some of the places never closed their doors and the friends covered a lot of good shopping territory before taking time out to cruise on the river in a small boat which was getting ready to leave. They hurried on, laughing as they just made it aboard.
Continuing their exploring and shopping, at times tired feet took them into a bar. Or perhaps it was the blaring music, or someone standing out in front of a place, inviting people in. To Gina's delight, the cover charges in some places were as much a shock to Hannah as was some of the entertainers. Hannah laughed at a tourist and his wife who were sitting at a tiny table with two drinks apiece in front of them, obviously just resting.
"Hey, save a seat for my souvenirs," Gina reminded them when they sat down at their own tiny table.
On one of their rest breaks Hannah touched Flora's hand under the table and whispered. "I think Gina's had enough to drink. People might get the wrong impression." She looked around. "I saw a man I think was following her until he realized we are all together."
"I think she's all right, just having a good time," Flora reassured her, glancing at Gina. "The drink I had wasn't very strong." She and Hannah looked around at the other crowded tables and people coming in and didn't see anyone paying attention to them at the moment.
"If it looked like there was a man following us, or Gina, he probably was. It's sort of a time for that, Hannah." Flora assured her.
"People come here from everywhere. He was probably just looking for someone to be with and party with in this crowd. You sure you don't see him anywhere now?"
Hannah looked around again. "No, I guess you're right. What's Elle saying?"
"Our hotel is the Royal Sunshine or something like that," Elle rummaged in her oversized bag.
"Close enough for Fat Tuesday," Gina promptly pronounced with a broad smile. "Let's go get into our rooms before they decide we're not coming." Gina got up, picking up her souvenirs and the others followed.
Hannah looked around again as they left and still didn't see the suspected stalker. She smiled at Flora, "Didn't you say there is someone you want to look for here?"
"Yes, but we've got time. Let's go with Gina while she's pointed in the right direction."
Hannah nodded. She didn't see the man beside a lamp post whose dark eyes followed them.
Chapter 13
Cas dialed Troy Spruce's number. Rhodes sat back down, both of them wondering about the canoe.
"This is Cas Larkin," Cas said as soon as he answered. "I need to ask you about something." Cas went on without waiting. "I hear you've got a canoe with a wandering foot, or should I say oar?"
Rhodes could hear the judge's laugh. "Seems so, but how did you know?"
"The man it tried to adopt called to tell me he had it, but I hadn't had anyone report one missing. Then just now he called again to tell me he'd found your phone number on it and called you."
"That's right. He did call. I didn't know it was gone."
"Where was it last time you saw it?"
Spruce hesitated, "Oh, I see where this is going. It was in the boathouse out there by the cabin. But I have no idea if Julia used it or not, if that's your next question."
"It was. But it was in the boathouse?"
"Yes. Wasn't much else in there and it wasn't locked. I sold that big party barge I used to have and brought the bigger inboard boat up here to Rainbow Cove."
"Did Julia have permission to use the canoe?"
"No, don't guess she even knew it was there. But I didn't think about it either. I didn't tell her or Gretchen they couldn't use the canoe, or anything else on the place out there, come to think of it."
"But the boathouse wasn't locked and Julia could have used the canoe."
"Yes. She could have. I wish I could be more helpful, I just never gave it a thought." He sounded like he meant it.
"I'm going out and look around, would you like to come out too?"
"No. No, go on and look all you want. As I said, it wasn't locked, not much in there. But since you're going, would you mind seeing if the neighbor or whoever it was who found it put the canoe back? Just use the chain in the bottom and hook it up inside there or outside either one."
"Yes, I'll do that."
"I guess you'll let me know when you let Julia's parents know, when they can come for her." He paused. "I don't see the need for an autopsy anyway," he said sounding impatient. "But I know the rules. Will you let me know?"
"Yes, I will. Do you want me to lock up the boathouse now, or anything else since I'm going out there?"
"No, no need. It's all right. But thanks for asking."
They left the office immediately. Cas pointed out the door as they passed by her desk and Gladys nodded, not missing a beat in her typing.
Chapter 14
When Elle, Gina, Hannah, and Flora pushed their way into the motel, the clerk at the Royal Sunshine could not have cared less that Gina and party had arrived. The reason why was obvious. The crowded lobby was full of people waiting for a chance at a roof over their heads. To make things worse, the hotel's bell staff, if they had actually had any, hadn't shown up and the elevators weren't working. With all that plus the footsore crowd of visitors waiting, at that moment, the motel lobby was not a place where joy reigned, Mardi Gras or not.
"Sheesh! Good thing none of us are clothes horses." Gina griped as she banged her bag against the narrow wall of the stair well.
"Hey, stop a minute," Elle commanded.
All of
them stopped and Elle pointed to each piece of luggage. They disappeared.
They finished climbing the stairs laughing and saw their luggage waiting in front of their door when they arrived.
"Hey," Gina poked Hannah in the ribs as she stared at the luggage. "Didn't she tell you she cheats?"
They entered their second floor quarters, inspecting the walls and a couple of cracks on their way in. Gina let go her bag inside and looked at her fingers. She glared at them. "I may never get them straightened back out."
Hannah pushed her bag in with her foot and all of them trooped in, not knowing what to expect after all the rumors they had heard about the storm damage.
The suite was clean, pleasant, and there wasn't any storm damage that showed. The cracks in the stair well and the two blots on the ceiling in their suite could have been caused by moisture from the humidity which was always there, storms or not. The furnishings were standard motel fare which Elle promptly labeled Early Marked Down Clearance.
Gina tried out the beds. "Well, not the usual marble slabs, anyway. I wonder where they get those things?"
"I found their secret," Flora triumphantly announced to the others. "They do have the usual marble slabs, but they've got the mattress pad and cover things over them." She held up the end of the bedspread and sheet.
"Say," Hannah said from the door to the small balcony. "Will we be able to see the parade from here?"
"No, we'll go over on St. Charles and watch it there," Flora said.
"St. Charles?" Hannah tilted her head, looking out the window at a sign that said Bourbon Street.
"Yes. You can't see it from here. It's way the other side of Canal from here."
"Oh, good thing we have someone with us who can at least pronounce these names."
Flora smiled. "I know they're a challenge. Have you heard the joke about the New Orleans policeman who found a dead horse on Tchoupitoulas Street and dragged it over to Canal to write his report?"
Elle laughed. "Smart cop. Good thinking."
Gina was half undressed before she got to the small bathroom. "Be right out, I'm going to have my bath tonight instead of in the morning like you shower people. I'll be able to sleep better." The door closed.
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