by Ted Clifton
The area felt much more remote than the distance from town could justify. It was for sure there wasn’t much up here. Ray hadn’t seen any houses or cabins for at least a half hour. There were no other cars on the in-need-of-repair road. And while there was a comfort in being away from people, there was also an unease in being away from people. He would have been embarrassed if someone had seen his jumpiness, but it didn’t matter—there was no one around. He reached into his glove box, removed his service revolver, and stuck it in his belt. Alone or not, it made him feel better.
Off to one side, about fifty feet from where Ray had parked, there was a gate with some kind of sign. He hiked over in that direction. There was no path, and the gate looked out of place as a result. When he got closer he could see that on the other side of the gate was a very primitive road. The sign on the gate wasn’t much help: Keep Out. The whole area seemed to be fenced off. The fence wasn’t high and it wasn’t very strong—obviously just a boundary, not a serious attempt to keep anyone out.
Ray wasn’t sure of his legal ground, but given what the librarian had said there was every indication that it had been abandoned—he could at least make an argument that he was allowed to enter. Besides, he’d mentioned it to the local Sheriff. Hector hadn’t dissuaded him, and openly talking to the sheriff like that was evidence that Ray wasn’t being surreptitious. All in all, that was enough of a rationalization for Ray.
Quickly hopping over the fence, he began walking up the makeshift road. The terrain was rough, and there was ample evidence of water damage over the years. If Ray was serious about buying something up here that he would actually live in there would have to be some fairly major improvements to allow him reasonable access. Once again it crossed his mind that this was something of a wild goose chase and probably a waste of time. But as soon as the thought occurred to him, he realized that that was pretty much all he had to do today: waste time. He relaxed and started to enjoy the hike and the day.
About a quarter of a mile from the gate, Ray could see some kind of structure off the road a hundred yards or so. There didn’t seem to be a driveway or any kind of path toward the structure, although there might be something on the other side of the cabin or whatever it was. The more Ray looked, the more it seemed like some kind of outbuilding, maybe used for storage. He decided to stay on the road, which curved, and see if maybe it went around to the other side of the building. Anyway, he felt better staying on the road than blazing his own trail through the trees.
Ray remained on the road. It did slowly curl around to the other side of the outbuilding, and once he got clear of that he could see a pretty good-sized cabin further along. Sticking with the road, he soon came upon a small road or driveway that looked like it led to the cabin. There was no gate and no indication of the address or who might own the cabin. He started up the driveway.
After a walk that probably seemed longer than it really was, Ray reached the cabin. While it was obviously very old and in need of some repairs, it was, at least from the outside, in surprisingly good shape. It was a large structure made of logs. The rustic nature of the original construction had allowed the building to maintain its condition, even though it looked like it had been many years since anyone had been here. He climbed the few steps up to the large wraparound porch. On his right, he saw numbers on the cabin: 405. The five was dangling, and looked like it would fall any minute, but there it was, proof that this was the old cabin once owned by Max’s dad. He felt like he’d just discovered a lost land or something.
Ray stood back and examined the outside of the cabin. It was an impressive structure—two-story, with an elegant design. The quality was obvious, even after being neglected all of this time. He was impressed.
He walked the length of the porch trying to look in through the windows, but they were all boarded up from the inside. The last person to leave this place wasn’t expecting to come back any time soon. Although he still felt like he was likely wasting his time, he was also intrigued by the mystery of the place. Not sure what he wanted to do next, he made some detailed notes and a new map of the location of the road, gate, and cabin.
The time had slipped by and it was now almost noon. Ray had spent several hours poking around and making his notes and diagram. Deciding that his next priority of the day was a nap, he settled on heading home. Walking back down the road everything was quiet, but he had an eerie feeling that he was being watched. He made up his mind that it was just the result of being out in a remote place and brushed it off. Normally when his instincts raised a red flag he heeded them, but who would be watching him up here?
He headed back home. The trip had been uneventful, and once home he enjoyed a long nap—a habit that had been his Saturday afternoon secret for some years now. He awoke at the sound of his phone. Slightly embarrassed that someone had caught him napping, he took his time picking up so he wouldn’t sound sleepy when he answered.
“Ray Pacheco, is that you?”
Ray hadn’t even said hello before the person started talking. “Yeah, this is Ray Pacheco. Who is this?”
“Pacheco, nobody wants you sticking your fucking nose in Sierra County business—if you’re smart you’ll find another place to retire. It could be real dangerous, got it asshole?”
“Max, is that you?”
Click.
What the hell was that about? Ray was used to some strange calls but seldom at home. His number was unlisted. Of course other law enforcement people and agencies had it, so maybe it was more available than he realized, but why tell him to stay out of Sierra County? It was strange, but Ray had thought it sounded like Max Johnson. It was his father’s old cabin—why would Max threaten him? No question it was time to consider retiring—maybe it should be somewhere that no one knew him.
Praise for The Bootlegger’s Legacy:
“superb character development ... vivid backdrops, brisk pacing, and meticulously researched ...” —Kirkus Reviews
“A rollicking good time.” —Self-Publishing Review
“... interesting characters, true-to-life situations, and intriguing twists ...” —Stanley Nelson, Senior Staff Writer, Chickasaw Press
Available from Amazon.com at:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014TFC9AK
Available from Barnes&Noble at:
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bootleggers-legacy-ted-clifton/1122600076
Available on iTunes at:
itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1039073183
Available from Kobo Books at:
store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/the-bootlegger-s-legacy
Ted Clifton has been a CPA, investment banker, artist, financial writer, business entrepreneur and a sometimes philosopher. He lives in Denver, Colorado, after many years in the New Mexico desert, with his wife and grandson. Learn more about Ted and his latest books at www.tedclifton.com or email him at [email protected].
The Bootlegger’s Legacy
Meet Ray Pacheco, pre-retirement, in this prequel to the Pacheco & Chino Mysteries.
When an old-time bootlegger dies and leaves his son Mike a cryptic letter hinting at millions in hidden cash, Mike and his friend Joe embark on a journey that takes them through three states and 50 years of history. What they find goes beyond money and transforms them both.
An action-packed adventure story taking place in the early 1950s and late 1980s. It all starts with a key, embossed with the letters CB, and a cryptic reference to Deep Deuce, a neighborhood once filled with hot jazz and gangs of bootleggers. Out of those threads is woven a tapestry of history, romance, drama, and mystery; connecting two generations and two families in the adventure of a lifetime.
“superb character development ... vivid backdrops, brisk pacing, and meticulously researched ...” —Kirkus Reviews
“A rollicking good time.” —Self-Publishing Review
“... interesting characters, true-to-life situations, and intriguing twists ...” —Stanley Nelson, Senior Staff Writer, Chickasaw Press
Available from Amazon.com at:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014TFC9AK
Available from Barnes&Noble at:
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bootleggers-legacy-ted-clifton/1122600076
Available on iTunes at:
itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1039073183
Available from Kobo Books at:
store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/the-bootlegger-s-legacy
Pacheco & Chino Mysteries
#1: Dog Gone Lies
Sheriff Ray Pacheco returns from his introduction in The Bootegger’s Legacy to start a new chapter as a private investigator, along with his partners: Tyee Chino, often-drunk apache fishing guide, and Big Jack, bait shop owner and philosopher.
#2: Sky High Stakes
Lincoln County, New Mexico was best known as the site of The Lincoln County Wars, featuring the likes of Billy the Kid. Martin Marino, the acting sheriff, is also short in stature, just like The Kid—and no doubt also like The Kid, Marino is crazy. Lincoln County survived Billy the Kid, but Martin Marino might be a different matter.
Ray Pacheco and Tyee Chino have been asked by the state Attorney General to find out what the hell is going on in the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department. Ray is sure there’s some big trouble waiting for them and his gut is right: murder, lust, madness and greed are visiting the high country.
Coming in early 2016.
#3: Four Corners War
Navajos, Apaches, militias, good sheriffs, and bad sheriffs are all drawn to a small town by millions in stolen money and a small army’s worth of stolen military equipment. Is this the start of a Four Corners War? Nothing is as it should be as Ray Pacheco and Tyee Chino try to untangle the mix of greedy businessmen, corrupt politicians and a slightly unhinged sheriff—along with the usual dead bodies.
Farmington, New Mexico’s unique mix of cultures is the backdrop for Ray and Tyee’s most dangerous assignment to date from the bombastic Governor of New Mexico.
Coming in late 2016.