by Cindy Bell
“I’m sorry. Did you know him well?”
“Ah, yes.” He grimaced “He grew up here, and I knew him when he was a young boy. He was always a big part of the community, into sports as a kid, and just an all-around good teen. This is not going to be an easy death for the community to grieve.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know. I’m willing, and able, I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you, Kerri.” He gritted his teeth and then took a deep breath. “I just never expected it to be Damian.”
“I guess you don’t have any idea who might have done it?” Kerri stepped closer to her grandfather, who stood silently beside her.
“Not a clue, at the moment. I’m sure we’ll have something to go on soon, but right now everything is still in the beginning stages. All we know is that an outsider bought that property, for the purpose of prospecting for gold. I guess they believed that there was gold there because there are waterfalls on the property and gold was found in this area years ago. Honestly, I’ve never even met the owner, and clearly they have no intention of building on the lot. I’m going to get to know him pretty well once I deliver this news.” His eyes crinkled as he grimaced. “First, I have to speak to Damian’s family.”
“That will be difficult.”
“To say the least.” He rubbed his hand along the back of his neck as his cheeks flushed. “Anyway, I’d prefer it if we could clear the street. Do you think you can cooperate with me on that?”
“Sure, of course. I’ll just grab a few things and head home.”
“Great. I appreciate that.” He held out his hand to George. George took it in a firm shake and met the chief’s eyes.
“Good luck with the investigation.”
“Thanks.” The chief set his hat back on his head, then left the shop.
Kerri waited until she was sure the door was closed, then turned to her grandfather.
“Can you believe this?”
“I’m sorry about all of this, Kerri. Such terrible timing.”
“Yes, it is. But the important thing is that justice is found for Damian.” She shuddered as she gathered the few things she’d brought into the shop. “The thought of just burying someone and leaving them to never be found again. It’s terrible.”
“Yes, it is.” He ran a hand along his jawline, then took the boxes from her arms and carried them to the door. “I’ll put these in the trunk for you.”
“It’s not locked.” Kerri blushed as one of her grandfather’s eyebrows raised. He was always reminding her to put her safety first, lock doors, not to walk alone at night, and make sure she had enough gas to get where she was going. But despite there being two murders, and now a third, she still considered Cascade Grove to be a safe place to live. She never thought twice about leaving her car doors unlocked. In the face of the crime across the street, she realized that his opinion might have been proven. However, she still felt certain of her safety in the small tourist-driven town and she didn’t want to live in fear.
Compared to other places she’d visited over the years, she saw security in the friendly nature of the residents, and the way they kept an eye on one another. Just as she was about to lock the door of the shop, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. When she spun around she caught sight of Steve. His face was flushed, and he had his phone gripped so tight in his hand, that his knuckles were white.
“Steve, are you all right?”
“No, I’m not.” He glanced past her at George who waited near her car. “Do you think we could talk for a few minutes?”
“Sure. Chief Meyers wants us to clear the street, but we have some time.”
“I’ll meet you at home, Kerri.” George walked over to his car and waved before driving off. Steve shoved his phone in his pocket and ran his hand back through his hair.
“I’m sorry to bother you with this.” Steve frowned. “I just need to get it off my chest. I’m trying to be impartial, that’s my job as a reporter, but I think in this case it’s going to be impossible.”
“Did you know Damian well?”
“Yes, I did. We grew up together, we went to the same school and we worked together. He was a sports reporter. I mean, we weren’t terribly close, but we saw each other almost every day and we were friendly. I just can’t believe it’s him. In fact, I didn’t believe it at first. But I saw him.” His voice shook. “I just can’t believe he is dead.”
“Oh Steve.” She touched his hand and then wrapped her arms around him and hugged him gently. As she hugged him, she forgot all about being nervous around him, all that mattered was that he needed comfort. He pulled away from her.
“Thanks, Kerri.” He cleared his throat and slid his hands back into his pockets. “I think the biggest shock is that no one even knew he was missing.”
“No? Chief Meyers told me that he was very popular around here. How could no one have noticed?”
“We didn’t notice because we all thought he moved away.” Steve stared down at his shoes and then looked up at her again. “I had no idea. Not even the slightest clue that he was dead.”
“How could you have? No one did. Something tragic has happened here, Steve, and there was nothing that you could have done to prevent it.”
“Nothing?” He looked down at the ground. “I’m not sure that I believe that. Maybe if I’d called to check on him, maybe if I’d looked into where he was moving…”
“Steve, until we find out more, all we know for sure is that this is a shock for everyone. Placing blame, or trying to come up with ways that you could have changed things, won’t do anything to help you or Damian, will it?”
“No.” He released a heavy breath that relaxed the muscles in his neck and shoulders. “No it won’t. But finding his murderer will.”
“Yes, that’s true. Why don’t you come back to my place? I’ll make you some tea, we can talk more.”
“Oh thanks, Kerri, but I’ve got some research I need to do.” He started to turn away, then paused halfway through and looked back at her. “Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome, Steve, if you ever want to talk, I’m here.”
“Great.” He smiled slightly, and headed off down the sidewalk. As he walked away she wondered if she’d made him uncomfortable by hugging him. He seemed so uneasy when she pulled away from him. Had she made his grief even worse by creating an awkward situation between them?
As soon as Kerri settled in her car, she received a text from Natalie.
On my way, sorry I’m running a few minutes late. Traffic is all backed up for some reason.
Kerri took a deep breath and stared at the phone. If Damian had grown up in the town, then he was almost definitely someone that she knew. Clearly, she hadn’t heard what happened. She dialed her number and waited to hear her cheerful voice.
“Hey Kerri, please don’t be upset. I’m honestly about to just walk there as slow as these cars are moving.”
“No, don’t bother, I couldn’t open the shop. Nat, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“Oh no, are you going to fire me? Please don’t fire me. I mean, I don’t really need the job, but I do love the job, and I don’t want you to be upset with me.”
“Nat, please just listen, I’m not sure how to tell you this but…”
“Oh no, you’re going to move away aren’t you? I knew I shouldn’t get so attached.”
“Natalie!” Kerri sighed and closed her eyes. “Just listen, please.”
“Sorry, I’m so sorry. Whatever it is…”
“It’s Damian West, he’s been killed. Did you know him?”
“Damian West? What are you talking about?”
“Damian West’s remains were found on the property across from the shop. They’re shutting down the road. That’s why the traffic is backed up and that’s why I closed the shop today.”
“Oh no, that’s horrible. Oh no, I have to call Chloe.”
“Wait a minute, who is Chloe?”
“Oh right, I’m sorry.”
“I have to go, Kerri, I’ll call you back.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, Nat.”
“Thank you.”
As the line disconnected Kerri tried to recall who Natalie’s friend Chloe was. It seemed to her that Natalie was friends with just about everyone they met, so it was difficult to pin down exactly who she was. Either way she knew that Natalie was very upset about Damian’s death. As the chief said, most of the community was going to experience this loss. Before Kerri started the car she searched the internet on her phone to see if she could find a picture of Damian. She found one easily on the newspaper’s website. He looked to be about her age, with hazel eyes, brown hair and he was quite skinny. It was hard to believe that such a young man had been murdered.
When Kerri arrived at home she noticed that her grandfather’s car wasn’t in the driveway. She wasn’t sure where he might have gone, but that didn’t surprise her. He still kept to himself quite often, despite sharing a roof with her. After she turned the car off she remained in the driver’s seat for some time. Her mind spun with the memories of the morning. Not only did she need to reorganize her thoughts about the store opening, she had to consider the fact that someone had been killed not far from where she intended to work every day. And then there was Steve. She felt for him. To lose someone you had grown up with and worked with, a friend, even one you are not especially close to, was jarring to say the least.
Kerri pushed open the car door and stepped out. The day seemed impossibly beautiful, with a clear sky and birds chirping in every tree. While her mind was weighed with thoughts of murder, nature hadn’t received the notice, as it insisted on being cheerful.
Kerri opened the door to the house and Cashew bolted right up to her with ecstatic yelps. It was clear that she hadn’t gotten the notice either. However, her excitement was enough to bring a smile to Kerri’s lips.
“Aw sweetie, I missed you, too. I thought it was going to be a much longer day than it was.” She straightened up and looked around the house. It was emptier than she remembered, and quiet. Even with Cashew’s tiny nails clattering on the wood floor, it seemed silent.
As a heavy weight began to settle on Kerri’s shoulders she realized that Steve’s grief had reminded her of when she had lost her grandmother. They were very close and she missed her. She couldn’t let herself dwell on the loss and get sad. “That’s it, we need to go for a walk.” She clipped Cashew’s leash on to her collar, then opened the door. The moment Cashew saw sunlight she bolted through the door. For such a little dog she was quite strong and caused Kerri to stumble a few steps. She just managed to get the door closed when Cashew bolted again, this time after their squirrel friend. She laughed as she followed her to the edge of the woods. There a small, easily overlooked trail, welcomed them. As they traveled along she thought about what happened only a few miles away.
Instead of the usual waves of peace that she experienced as she walked through the woods, she was struck with increasing anxiety. Was there something she’d missed? Was there a killer in the local area, that might even be in the woods with her right at that moment? The silence that surrounded them, only interrupted by a few birds and squirrels, left her unsettled.
“Let’s go, Cashew.” She tugged on the dog’s leash. Cashew looked up at her with a startled expression. “I know, we usually walk a lot longer, but not today. Let’s go.” She reached down and stroked the dog’s long silky fur, then guided her back through the woods. It frustrated her to think that she was letting fear drive her out of one of her favorite places, but she always tried to trust her instincts.
Chapter 4
A few hours passed, and Kerri’s grandfather was still not home. Kerri hadn’t heard another word from Natalie, or Steve. The only mention on the news of the crime was that a body was found. It was hard not to go out of her mind with curiosity. She decided the best way to calm herself down was to find out as much information as she could.
Kerri settled on the couch with her computer on her lap. Cashew nuzzled her toes as she typed in the address of the land. She managed to find the name of the company that owned the property where Damian’s body was found. It was called ‘B & R Weber Investments’. She searched for information about the company. The search produced a website with short biographies on the owners of the company. They were brothers, and seemed to deal mostly in investment properties. The land in Cascade Grove wasn’t mentioned in the company information.
After Kerri hit that dead end she decided to check into how to prospect for gold. When she read that heavy machinery was usually involved, she was surprised. The woods by the property wrapped around and backed right up to Kerri’s house. The trail she walked with Cashew led to it. However, their walks were always peaceful. She never saw any machinery on the trail, and never heard machinery in the distance. If she had, Cashew would have reacted to the sound. If they were actively looking for gold and she took Cashew for a walk at minimum twice a day, how could she have missed the activity in the woods? Even if they remained only on their property, surely she would have heard the machinery and voices in the distance. Instead, all she could recall seeing were private property signs that warned people to stay off the property. That wasn’t unusual in the wooded area where many private properties extended into the woods. The creak of the front door caused her to jump.
“Sorry Kerri, I didn’t realize that you would still be up.” George stepped the rest of the way inside and closed the door behind him. She noticed that he didn’t smile. It was very rare that he didn’t smile when he saw her. She’d realized that shortly after being reunited with him, mostly because the rest of the time his expression was either serious or stern.
“It’s okay, I guess I’m still not used to living with someone else.” She laughed and stood up from the couch. “Are you all right? You missed dinner.”
“Yes, I should have texted you. I got involved in a few things, and I lost track of time.”
“Things?” She raised an eyebrow as she studied him.
“Am I under surveillance?” He smiled, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes. In fact, they were much colder than usual.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” She sat back down on the couch and picked up her computer again.
“That came off harsh, didn’t it?” He sat down on the couch beside her and looked at her. “I’m not used to having someone in my life that cares enough to ask those kinds of questions.”
“I understand.” She kept her eyes trained on the screen of her computer. She didn’t really understand. As much as she loved her grandfather, he was still a stranger to her in many ways.
“What are you looking up there? Gold prospecting?” He peered at the screen.
“Now, who is monitoring who?” She managed a smile as she glanced over at him.
“Is this about the murder?”
“Yes.” She closed her computer. “I think the company that owns the property is lying about what they do there. If they were looking for gold, they would probably be using machinery to find it, and I haven’t heard any machinery in the area since I’ve moved here. I haven’t even heard anyone on the property. Of course, I could just be paranoid.”
“Not paranoid at all. I was looking into the crime as well. That’s where I’ve been.”
“You were? What did you find out?”
“Not too much, to be honest.” He sat back against the couch. “I’m afraid the locals aren’t too keen on sharing information with me.”
“With all of your charm?” She elbowed him lightly in the side.
“I might not have used enough. I’m getting rusty in my old age.”
“Don’t feel bad, it does take people around here a little while to warm up. Apparently, the victim was a colleague of Steve’s. I feel bad for him.” She frowned. “Maybe that’s why I want to help. I don’t know.”
“I thoug
ht you might be upset about missing the grand opening.”
“I’m not. I mean, it’s not the greatest thing financially, but that pales in comparison to a man’s life being lost. I just hope they are able to find out the truth, and if I can do anything to help, then great.”
“My philosophy as well. I did discover that Damian recently caused quite an uproar. Just a few weeks ago he was supposed to marry a local woman. Apparently, he didn’t show up for the wedding.”
“Oh wow!” Her eyes widened. “That is a big issue. Do you think he might have been dead already?”
“No, he was seen around town after that. But I’m guessing that’s part of the reason that everyone thought he moved away. It was perfect timing for someone to kill him, and honestly it might have been months or even years before his body was found, or maybe never. If it were not for Power digging up his land.”
“It’s crazy how coincidental that seems. Or is it?” She tilted her head to the side. “Maybe Power knew the body was there?”
“The only way he would know is if he saw someone bury it or if he’s the one that buried it. If he saw someone bury it, then he would probably tell the police. If he buried it, then why would he dig it up?” He shook his head. “It doesn’t make much sense to me.”
“Not to me either. Maybe he thought he could pin it on the owners of the property instead of himself?”
“Maybe, but that’s quite a risk to take.”
“Then who?” She chewed on her bottom lip. “The jilted fiancée?”
“I’ve seen people kill for far less.”
“You have?” She bristled at the thought of the dangerous situations he’d been in. “Including yourself?”
“No, no. I wasn’t that kind of spy. It was all about gathering information. Dead people can’t give you information, can they?” He smiled, but his expression was tight. She searched his eyes and wondered if he was being honest.
“I can never figure you out.” She sighed with frustration.
“Better not to try, honey.” He winked at her then stood up from the couch. “Well, if we’re both going to see what we can find out about the murder, I’m guessing we’d do better if we worked together, hmm?”