Fogbound: A Lin Hanna Mystery

by Sharon Canipe

  Lin grinned at Sue’s characterization, “Mature, indeed. I guess we fit that. I’m sure that I won’t be there six months though. Maybe four, but perhaps not quite that long it depends…”

  “I understand,” Sue said, “your wedding and all that. If my book idea takes off, I may choose to stay on to do some writing, and, with rent that low, I could easily manage a couple of months on my own.”

  “What about transportation though?” Lin asked. “We’re only going to have one car up there.”

  “That’s true for now,” Sue responded, “but I’ve been seriously thinking about buying some sort of four wheel drive vehicle for some time now. I need one for the Colorado winters anyway. I thought I might look for something while I’m here—maybe buy here and drive it back home when I’m done. If I don’t do that I might rent something after you leave—assuming I decide to stay on to write.”

  “Then I think we should go for it. Sounds like a plan to me,” Lin replied as she bit into another slice of pizza. “ We’ve only got a few days before we have to report to work, so we need to try to find some economical lodging up there. That may not be easy. It’s a touristy spot, but before Memorial Day we may be able to get a decent rate somewhere.”

  “I’ve already researched a couple of spots,” Sue had a ready reply. “We can get online when we get back to your place and start hunting in earnest.”

  Chapter 1

  It was shortly before five in the afternoon when Lin and Sue turned onto King St., the main street in the small college town of Boone. They’d enjoyed a pleasant day, and, although some clouds were gathering to the west of town, the evening promised to be nice as well—at least for the next couple of hours.

  They’d arrived this morning and had spent most of the day preparing for their summer volunteer jobs on the Parkway. Their time had been devoted to visiting the major spots they would likely be working, getting new uniform shirts, meeting supervisors, and working out a schedule that would allow them to share their transportation for the present. Upon their return to the Mountaineer Motor Lodge on Hwy 105 near the main part of town, they had talked to the manager, Sally Mackey, about things they might enjoy doing on this first weekend in the mountains. They didn’t have to work until Monday, and they certainly didn’t want to spend their time sitting in a small room watching television.

  “Fridays are fun times in town during the summer,” their hostess reported. “There’s music on the lawn at the Jones House right in the center of King Street and lots of nice places to grab a bite to eat downtown. Just remember, summer classes start this coming week so a good many students are returning. Parking will be at a premium and traffic will be bad, but if it weren’t for students and tourists this place would dry up.”

  Sue had called Dr. Leonard, the professor whose home they hoped to rent, and arranged for them to drive out to meet him and see the place about eight that evening. That left plenty of time for exploring the town. Now, as the line of cars inched slowly down the street, Lin scanned the curbs for a possible open parking spot. She spotted one in the block ahead but it was on the left side. “That will never be there by the time we can go around a block,” she lamented as they approached the available spot.

  Suddenly the brake lights on the car in front of them flashed, and Lin slammed on her brakes to avoid a rear end collision. Sue barely avoided hitting her head, as they were both jolted by the sudden stop. Thankfully, the car behind them managed to stop as well. Apparently oblivious to the maneuvers behind him, the young male driver of the first car swung into a U turn and deftly placed his car in the available parking slot. Horns rang out from the oncoming traffic, but the young driver merely smiled as he and his friends jumped from their car.

  “I guess, we’ve just experienced an example of the student drivers Sally was warning us about,” Sue took a deep breath, “good reaction time on your part.”

  “Thanks,” Lin replied as she signaled to turn right at the next intersection, “I think we’ll look for that parking lot on the side street she mentioned. I’ve already had enough of this.”

  Soon they were on foot, their car safely ensconced in a parking space about a block from the crowded main street. The atmosphere was much more enjoyable from this vantage point. There were lots of folks out strolling about. They heard the soft sound of stringed instruments being tuned nearby and headed in that direction.

  The Jones House stood back from the street. It boasted a green lawn with large trees in front of a wide front porch. It was a Victorian style home now serving as a community center and office space for the local arts council. The Friday afternoon concerts by local musicians were a summer tradition. Lin and Sue followed the crowd, staking out their “concert seats” by placing the blanket they had brought for summer picnics in a shady spot. Some folks were sitting and enjoying a picnic while others were leaving to stroll about the town for a time before the music began.

  Lin and Sue took advantage of the half hour they had before the scheduled start of the concert and decided to walk about. They noted a statue of a musician seated on a bench near one corner and discovered it was the famous mountain musician Doc Watson. He’d put mountain music, with its interesting blend of folk and country styles, on the map for sure. The rich musical tradition of the area was one of its major attractions.

  They noticed that the Mast General Store was open and seemed to be full of customers. They browsed the assortment of outdoor gear and casual clothing available for sale. They found housewares, toys, and even some furniture, but the major attraction was the room filled with old-fashioned candy of all sorts that sold by the pound.

  “I haven’t seen MaryJanes and Milk Duds since I was a kid,” Sue exclaimed as she grabbed a basket. It was impossible to resist filling the basket with old favorites.

  “This will be a real temptation all summer,” Lin remarked as they left the store with sacks full of candy. She popped a Maple Nut Goody into her mouth. “Keep me away from this place.”

  “A little candy never hurt anyone,” Sue grinned as she unwrapped a Bit O Honey. In the interest of curbing their candy appetites, they decided to take their purchases back to the car before the concert began.

  After an entertaining hour of traditional mountain string music and a delicious sandwich at a restaurant, aptly named Our Daily Bread, they were ready to go house hunting.

  “I hope this rental opportunity works out,” Lin said as they walked toward their car. It had grown quite cloudy while they were eating and the air smelled like rain was on the way.

  “I really think it’s almost a done deal,” Sue sounded reassuring. “Dr. Leonard sounded very positive when we talked on the phone. I just think he didn’t feel right about making a commitment without meeting us first.”

  “He’s right,” Lin said, “and the same goes for us. We need to make sure we can take care of this place and that we feel good about living there.”

  A few raindrops began to fall as they reached their car. By the time they arrived at Deerfield Road, a light mist was falling. They turned onto Little Laurel Lane where the home was located. Although narrow and curvy, the road was paved. As they drove slowly along the tree-lined lane, they saw a stone arch and a sign indicating they were about to pass under the Parkway.

  “This will be convenient,” Sue said. “We can get on here and drive to our work without going back through town.”

  “I understand there are lots of these small roads that come off the parkway. They aren’t major access points, and some are not actually marked from the parkway side; you have to know where you’re going,” Lin recalled.

  The mist grew noticeably thicker in this area, becoming a heavy fog. It was difficult to see beyond the stone arch as they passed under it. The only lights visible were those at houses and driveways. Lin slowed to almost a crawl as Sue searched for the house number.

  “I can’t believe that only a couple of hours ago we were basking in the sun at a lawn concert,” Sue remarked as she spotted the n
umber and signaled Lin as to the location of the driveway.

  “The mountains are like that. If you don’t like the weather wait a bit and it will change. Sometimes it’s said the mountains make their own weather. It’s often misty and foggy along the Parkway and down in the gaps between the mountains,” Lin said, “it takes some getting used to. It can make things seem spooky and sounds can seem strange also.”

  She pulled the car to a stop in front of a two-story farmhouse-styled home with a broad front porch. Lights from the house penetrated the mist and welcomed them. As they exited the car, a short, gray-haired gentleman opened the door and greeted them.

  “Do come in out of this mess. I’m Frank Leonard. I hope you didn’t have any trouble with my directions.”

  “They were fine,” Sue smiled as she mounted the steps and greeted the professor. “The fog surprised us, but we didn’t have any trouble finding your place.”

  Introductions were completed and soon they were seated in the comfortable living room drinking fresh mugs of hot coffee. As they talked it became clear that Dr. Leonard was delighted with the prospect of having them rent the house, provided they felt it would meet their needs. He eagerly offered to show them around.

  It was a simple but comfortable country home with a large eat-in kitchen and a spacious living and dining area. Furnishings were comfortable but not fancy which was a plus as far as Lin was concerned. She didn’t want to be responsible for someone’s valuable antiques. There was ample room for visitors and Dr. Leonard suggested there would be plenty of room for family and friends to visit.

  “Indeed there would be,” Lin commented, “Unfortunately, I doubt my kids and grandkids will make it up here. They plan to do some significant traveling—a major camping trip out west together. My fiancé will be coming, however.”

  Frank Leonard also showed them his basement study, indicating that they were free to work there. “I will pack up my own work materials and any other personal items, but please feel free to use everything in the entire house otherwise,”

  “I’m going to have the place thoroughly cleaned before I leave, and I only ask that you maintain the home’s interior. I have a yard man, Lucas, who takes care of things outside, and he will continue to come on a regular basis so that is not a concern for you.”

  “It’s a lovely home, and I think it will work well for us,” Sue said. Lin nodded her agreement, “It’s very generous of you to rent it for such a small amount.”

  “I consider it very valuable to me to have the house occupied while I’m gone and to know that someone will keep it well maintained. Should any service be needed, I will leave a list of folks I use on the refrigerator. Vacant houses can be a magnet for problems such as break-ins or vandalism. Don’t get me wrong, this is a safe neighborhood, but I know some seasonal residents in this general area have problems with break-ins when their places go unoccupied for a lengthy period of time. I could hire Lucas to keep an eye on things, of course, but I prefer to have someone living here, and I would be delighted for it to be you ladies, if you agree,” Dr. Leonard concluded.

  They returned to the kitchen and sat at the table to sign the lease agreement.

  Routine business concluded, they agreed that Dr. Leonard would call them when he had the cleaning completed and was ready to leave, hopefully in just a few days. Meanwhile, they would remain at the lodge.

  The fog was still evident as they drove away, but it had mostly cleared by the time they got back to town.

  “It’s not even ten yet,” Sue remarked, “but most everything seems to be closed already—except for the taverns and restaurants.”

  “Life in a small town,” Lin smiled, “I did hear that the art galleries open on the first Friday evening of each month, but they’re closed now. I have an idea though. This rain and fog is supposed to be gone tomorrow, and it should be a fine day. Let’s buy some ingredients for a picnic lunch. We can put them in the refrigerator in our room. Tomorrow we could play tourist and explore the Parkway. I saw that the supermarket near the motel is open twenty-four hours”

  “That sounds like a plan to me,” Sue responded. They stopped at the shopping center and got what they needed for a small picnic and then headed back to their lodgings.

  “It’s still early in Arizona,” Lin said when they’d finished stashing their purchases, “I think I’ll go down to the lobby and call Neal. The cell signal is stronger there, and I saw they have coffee and cookies out also. Why don’t you come along?”

  “I’ll get some coffee and cookies, but I’ll bring mine back here,” Sue teased, “I’ll let you lovebirds have some privacy to talk.”

  Lin hoped she wasn’t blushing, “Nonsense, it’s a gathering place for everyone. I wouldn’t care if you did listen. I just want to find out how things are going for him out there. Nothing I wouldn’t want overheard.”

  Sue did stay in the lobby for a few minutes drinking coffee, but then she returned to the room. Lin had a good talk with Neal, catching up on happenings of the previous week.

  “Graduation is this weekend,” Neal reported. “Next week I’m going down to Tucson with some folks from the department to look over an area where they might be doing a survey and excavation later. I’ve already told Chris, my department chair, that I need to talk to him about my future plans. Lin, I’ve decided to retire from the university and just work with various projects that I might find interesting. I’ll just be a field archeologist and that only part time. This Tucson job might turn out to be my first such project.”

  “That’s great news,” Lin was excited for him, “I know field work is your first love, and I feel sure you can stay as busy as you want to be doing that.”

  “But not too busy to get married,” Neal responded, “I’m ready to set the date Lin. I miss you and don’t want to wait forever for us to be together.”

  “I miss you too,” Lin replied, “I was thinking about September. It’ll be cooler then, and I want to get married near Charlotte, maybe somewhere on the lake,” she didn’t ask the burning question that was on her mind—where are we going to live?

  “That’s fine with me, if we’re going to make your condo there our home base that makes sense to me. I didn’t tell you earlier because I wanted to see how things went, but I put my house here on the market last week. I’ve already had several potential buyers visit; I think it‘ll sell quickly. I may be homeless and have to move in with you,” he teased.

  Lin was thrilled. This was exactly the way she’d hoped things would work out. They talked for a few more minutes about what she and Sue were going to be doing in the park and their good fortune in finding the rental home.

  “This weekend is going to be busy with all the graduation happenings,” Neal finally said, “but I’ll plan to call you Sunday evening after all that is over. We can maybe talk more about wedding plans then.”

  Lin agreed and they concluded their conversation. Now that they had a target month at least, she felt ready to begin making concrete plans. She was beaming when she returned to the room.

  “OK. That must’ve been a good conversation I missed, now sit down and tell me everything,” Sue grinned. They were up late talking about possible wedding plans. Lin felt almost like a young girl again. I had no idea I’d be so excited about my second wedding, she thought. It seemed even more exciting than the first one.

  ***

  There was still some lingering mist on Saturday morning. Fortunately, by the time they’d enjoyed a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs and French toast at Troy’s Diner, the sun was beginning to break through revealing a crystal blue sky freshly washed by the previous evening’s rain. It promised to be a glorious day to enjoy the mountains. Lin and Sue had packed their picnic in plastic grocery bags, but Sally had offered to lend them a small cooler for their bottled water and soft drinks. Unexpectedly, she’d even suggested they get ice from the lodge’s machine. “I think we can spare a few ice cubes. Do you need anything else?” she’d asked. Lin was happy that, e
ven though the room was a bit on the small side, the atmosphere at the lodge was friendly and welcoming. All in all it was a great spot to spend a few days.

  Their first stop after breakfast was at Frank Leonard’s place to store Sue’s trunk and their larger pieces of luggage. The house looked totally different with all the mist and fog gone. There was a nice view of the surrounding hills from the front porch, and the property was backed by a stretch of beautiful forest. “I think we’re going to enjoy this place,” Lin commented as she helped Sue carry their belongings into the garage.

  That task accomplished, they entered the Parkway at the access point near the house and decided to head south.

  They drove at the leisurely pace afforded by the slower speed limits, enjoying the scenery and the occasional early blooming rhododendron. For a weekend there really wasn’t too much traffic, although most overlooks and trailheads had at least two or three parked cars. They decided to go as far south as Linville Falls, walk the trail there, and then head back north, enjoying as many sights as they could along the way.

  “Let’s just see how the time goes,” Sue suggested. “It’s not as though we have to see everything today.”

  There were quite a few cars in the Linville Falls parking lot, but on the trail folks seemed to be spread out. They hiked to both the upper and lower falls. There had evidently been a good bit of rain as the Linville River seemed to be pretty full and the falls provided an impressive view. The down side was that the trails were a bit muddy in spots.