“Good morning!” Sanchez greeted Frannie as she descended the steps.
“Good morning, yourself,” Frannie replied, “and we’ll hope a better one than yesterday!”
“I’m sure it will be.”
“How are you feeling, Mickey?” she asked.
“Really much better, except...” and he rubbed his shoulder, “for this shoulder.”
“I suppose I’m going to have to hear about that the rest of my life,” Frannie grinned at him. “I’m surprised Jane Ann let you out by yourself.”
“Only because she’s still asleep,” Larry said. “Apparently, having been held at knife-point and taking her husband to the ER was just too much for her in one day.”
“I’ll have to roust her soon, though. Agent Sanchez brought us breakfast—and the morning paper.” Mickey nodded toward the picnic table. A large cardboard box sat at one end. Frannie walked over and peeked in. A pastry box sat on top of several styrofoam carry-out containers. The newspaper lay along side the box.
“Wow!” Frannie looked back at the agent. “Thanks!”
Larry had gotten up and poured her a cup of coffee. “Not just any breakfast, either,” Larry said, handing her a steaming mug. “It’s from Ellie’s Eats.”
“Double wow,” Frannie said.
“I’ll get Jane Ann before it gets cold,” Mickey said, hefting himself out of his chair and heading for his motorhome.
“I’d better get plates,” Frannie said, but Larry indicated an empty lawn chair.
“Sit. I’ll do it.”
Sanchez smiled at her as she took a chair. “Well, Sherlock, you’ve done it again. Why did you think of that junkyard?”
“Mickey made me think of that. We were talking about how you could hide the van in plain sight—really because of Reid’s magic tricks the night before. Mickey said they could have put it in a used car lot.” She went on to explain how they knew about the junkyard and how they decided it would be a much better hiding place than any of the small used car lots in the area.
“So have you found out anything from Reid?” she asked him.
“Good morning!” Jane Ann called out, as she emerged from her motorhome.
“I’ll fill everyone in while we’re having breakfast,” Sanchez told Frannie. He stood up to greet Jane Ann. “You had quite an evening. I hope you got a good night’s sleep after all that.”
“Took a little while to unwind and drop off but when I finally did, I slept like the old proverbial log.”
“Agent Sanchez brought us breakfast and I was just about to eat yours,” Frannie said.
“You’re starting to sound like Mickey,” Jane Ann said.
Larry had gotten the breakfast things set up on the table, and Mickey returned, carrying a fresh pot of coffee. They settled on the benches, and Agent Sanchez passed around the carry-out containers. One held a fragrant frittata dotted with seasonings and fresh vegetables, another a huge pile of hash browns and the last a mountain of sausage patties. A plastic tub was filled with fresh fruit and the pastry box contained donuts and cinnamon rolls.
For a few minutes, a ballet of passing, scooping, buttering and tasting occupied the group. Jane Ann looked at Mickey’s plate and said, “Tomorrow it’s back to oatmeal and fruit for you.” He didn’t answer since his mouth was full but put his arm protectively around his plate in case she thought better of that plan.
Frannie licked some frosting from her fingers and said, “Agent Sanchez was just about to tell me what Reid has had to say for himself.”
“Actually, he hasn’t said much of anything except to call his lawyer. Ms. Sloan, as she calls herself, has been a little more forthcoming,” he said. “We have reason to believe they are involved in supplying young girls to the sex trade—as subjects for pornography and worse.”
They stopped eating and looked at him, momentarily stunned.
“I guess we suspected as much,” Larry said slowly, “but it’s revolting to hear it confirmed.”
“That isn’t all. Maddie Sloan, whose real name is Diana Bertram, was the spotter. She would find a young girl who seemed a likely target and snatch her when Reid had an alibi, just like they did here. However, their original target this weekend was your granddaughter.” He looked at Larry and Frannie. Frannie choked on the bite of roll that she had in her mouth and grabbed her mug for a swallow of coffee.
“But when I scared Taylor Trats into asking for Maddie Sloan's help, she changed plans and took the opportunity that presented itself,” Larry said slowly.
Sanchez nodded. “So your actions led to Taylor’s kidnapping, but if it hadn’t, it would have been someone else. Don’t blame yourself.”
Frannie could barely keep her breakfast down. Then she was struck by a wave of guilt for, in effect, thinking it was better that they had taken Taylor than Sabet. It was just that you understand the full ramifications of something when it hits closer to home. She hoped that was it, anyway. The whole prospect of any children being used in such a way was so vile, she usually buried her head in the sand, trying to pretend it didn’t exist.
Jane Ann was shaking her head. “How awful! No wonder people have become paranoid about letting their kids out of their sight.”
“But,” Sanchez said, looking at them all, “because of you, two of these creeps will be out of circulation.”
“Do you know how often they’ve done this?” Frannie asked shakily.
“We’re pretty sure that they are responsible for the disappearance of Courtney Jamison, the girl from western Iowa, earlier this year and are hoping we will get enough information to track and rescue her—if it’s not too late. The FBI will be helping since this likely crosses state lines. Diana, AKA Maddie, is only cooperating reluctantly right now but I think she’s going to see the wisdom of exchanging information for a reduced sentence in a plea deal. Reid has already tried to throw all the blame on her, so she’s getting her eyes opened.”
Larry said, “So the van I saw in the parking lot was Sloan’s?”
“Yes, she walked Taylor around to the restroom and then on the pretense of showing her something, got her in the van and drugged her. Unfortunately, no one else happened to be in the area at the time.”
“But Reid was performing at a nursing home...” Frannie said. “How did she get the van to the junkyard and get back in time for the ranger to question her?”
“She didn’t. She went back to her campsite until after she was questioned. She assumed someone would want to talk to her. Then she took her personal things and drove the van to the junkyard. She and Taylor have been there ever since.”
“And Reid took them food from Ellie’s but couldn’t leave without raising suspicion until his commitments were done,” Jane Ann filled in.
“Correct,” said Sanchez. “So, are you all ready to put these rigs away for the winter and give me some rest?”
“We’re headed to a fall blues festival in a couple of weeks, but it’s in Missouri so you should be okay,” Mickey grinned at him.
“Well, maybe each year I should have you copy me on your schedule, so I know where I’ll be going,” Sanchez replied.
Larry’s phone rang and he opened it. “Sam,” he said to Frannie and moved away to take the call.
“Oh!” she grimaced. “We should have called him as soon as we got up.”
“It’s been on the morning news,” Sanchez said.
“I’ll call Ben and Nancy...and Mom. They’ll be wondering,” Jane Ann said and went in to get her phone.
“Well, I’d better be heading back,” Sanchez got up. “What are your plans for today?”
“I have to go back to the doctor...assure them I’m still walking around,” Mickey said. “That’s this afternoon. And we’ll have to find out about Larry’s truck.”
“Oh,” Sanchez said. “I forgot that. The sheriff had it towed and he said this morning the damage isn’t too bad and you should have it back this afternoon.” He shook hands all around, got into his car, and drove off
.
By the time Larry and Jane Ann were off their phones, Frannie and Mickey had cleaned up the breakfast things. They gathered back around the fire and rehashed the events of the day before. Then Mickey read the newspaper account aloud to them and he and Larry moved on to the sports page, pointing out that the evening’s activities had put them way out of the loop.
A little later, as Frannie and Jane Ann were returning from the showers, they spotted Mrs. Trats and Taylor headed toward them, Taylor pushing her bike.
After greetings, asking about Taylor and filling Mrs. Trats in on Mickey’s health, Frannie noticed Taylor’s bike.
“What happened to your training wheels?” she said to Taylor.
The little girl smiled shyly. “My mom took them off. The Blue Coyote said he would help me learn to ride without them.”
****************
Happy Camper Tip #17
Bluffs State Park is loosely based on the beautiful Ledges State Park in central Iowa. It was designated one of Iowa’s first state parks in 1924, but archeological evidence shows that humans have used this area for at least 4000 years. At the time of European settlement, the Ledges area was inhabited by the Sauk, Fox (now the Mesqwakie) and Sioux. The park is graced by several of the stone and timber structures built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) including stone steps, an arched stone bridge and shelters. A 91 mile bike route, the Central State Park Bike Route, connects Ledges, Big Creek State Park and Springbrook State Park. There is also an interpretive trail featuring lichens (small plant-like organisms growing on trees and rocks).
Thank You…
For taking your time to share Frannie and Larry's adventures. Just as the sound of a tree falling in the forest depends on hearers, a book only matters if it has readers. Please consider sharing your thoughts with other readers in a review or emailing me at [email protected]. My website at www.karenmussernortman.com provides updates on my books, my blog, and photos of our for-real camping trips.
If you enjoyed The Blue Coyote, you may want to try the other Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries:
Bats and Bones: a B.R.A.G Medallion Honoree. Frannie and Larry Shoemaker are retirees who enjoy weekend camping with their friends in state parks in this new cozy mystery series. They anticipate the usual hiking, campfires, good food, and interesting side trips among the bluffs of beautiful Bat Cave State Park for the long Fourth of July weekend—until a dead body turns up. Confined in the campground and surrounded by strangers, Frannie is drawn into the investigation. Frannie’s persistence and curiosity helps authorities sort through the possible suspects and motives, but almost ends her new sleuth career—and her life—for good. As a bonus, each chapter ends with a camping tip or recipe—some useful, some not so much.
Peete and Repeat: A biking and camping trip to southeastern Minnesota turns into double trouble for Frannie Shoemaker and her friends as she deals with a canoeing mishap and a couple of bodies. Strange happenings in the campground, the nearby nature learning center, and an old power plant complicate the suspect pool and Frannie tries to stay out of it--really--but what can she do? After all, she is only curious, but sometimes it isn't just cats who have trouble with that!
Finally, don't miss the wonderful outdoor opportunities in our beautiful state and national parks.
Acknowledgments
Once again, I owe a great deal to my first readers, Marcia, Ginge, brother Jim, and my husband Butch. The wonderful cover is a collaboration of my sister Gretchen, who did the artwork, and my sister Libby who did the formatting and design. Thanks, also, to Carly for the best photo taken of me in the last twenty years. And my family and friends have provided incredible encouragement and support.
About the Author
Karen Musser Nortman, after previous incarnations as a secondary social studies teacher (22 years) and a test developer (18 years), returned to her childhood dream of writing a novel. Bats and Bones, a cozy mystery, came out of numerous ‘round the campfire’ discussions, making up answers to questions raised by the peephole glimpses one gets into the lives of fellow campers. Where did those people disappear to for the last two days? What kinds of bones are in this fire pit? Why is that woman wearing heels to the shower house?
Karen and her husband Butch originally tent camped when their children were young and switched to a travel trailer when sleeping on the ground lost its romantic adventure. They take frequent weekend jaunts with friends to parks in Iowa and surrounding states, plus occasional longer trips. Entertainment on these trips has ranged from geocaching and hiking/biking to barbecue contests, balloon fests, and buck skinners’ rendezvous. Frannie and Larry will no doubt check out some of these options on their future adventures.
The Blue Coyote (The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries Book 2) Page 17