Murder at Camp (Pineville Gazette Mystery Book 5)

by Wendy Meadows

  “Just open the door,” Mary said.

  Stephanie disengaged the lock and yanked the front door open. “Hurry. Inside,” she ordered Tom.

  Tom burst past Stephanie, stumbled over his feet, and toppled down to the floor. “He’s out there...close the door...close the door!” he yelled.

  Mary exploded out from behind the door with Betty and ran at Tom with her umbrella. But when she saw that Tom’s wrists were tied together by a strong rope she stopped. “Where is Dylan?” she demanded.

  “He has Dylan...that awful man has Dylan,” Tom told Mary, shaking from head to toe. “I’ve never seen someone so horrible in my life. He appeared...out of nowhere as soon as you three left the lake...he...knocked my pistol out of my hand by throwing a knife at it...a knife...” Tom raised his wrists. “Please untie me,” he begged.

  “No,” Mary said in a clear voice.

  “What?” Tom stared at her.

  “We know you killed your wife,” Mary informed Tom in a stern, angry voice.

  “What...are you...how dare you?” Tom said, trying to regain his composure. “How dare you insinuate that I harmed my—”

  “Mr. Mintson, don’t you dare sit there and try to cry crocodile tears now,” Mary warned Tom. “If you do, I’ll beat you bow-legged with this umbrella.”

  “And she will, too,” Betty promised Tom.

  Tom didn’t know what to say or do. He was too terrified of the shadow man to focus. “There’s a man out there...a savage. Please, we have to get out of here.”

  “I’m going to throw you back out into the storm unless you confess the truth to me,” Mary warned Tom, throwing her eyes at Stephanie. Stephanie read Mary’s eyes and nodded. “We know who the man outside is. He’s working for us. You better start talking or we’re going to call him.”

  Tom stared at Mary. “You’re...lying.”

  “Stephanie, open the front door and call Chief Eagle Storm,” Mary ordered.

  “He might be very angry,” Stephanie warned and began opening the front door.

  “No...wait...” Tom cried out in sheer terror. “Please...anything...but that awful savage. I...can never look into those eyes again.”

  “Why did you kill your wife?” Mary insisted.

  “I...I...” Tom licked his lips. His mind was stricken with panic and fear, clouding his ability to think clearly. So he opened his mouth and began confessing dark secrets that slowly transformed his face into the monster he was. “Jennifer was going to betray me,” he said and looked at the front door. “That awful woman was going to destroy me...she had to die...had to die.”

  Mary nodded at Stephanie. Stephanie locked the front door and walked over to Betty. Together the two women began watching Mary question a monster. “Okay, Mr. Mintson,” Mary said and began patting her umbrella against her left hand, “I want to know the truth and nothing but the truth, is that clear?” Tom stuck his eyes on the front door and slowly nodded.

  Outside in the storm, the man with the long hair squatted down behind a tree and began watching the cabin.

  The cabin grew dark, wet, and creepy as Tom confessed his dark secrets to Mary. Stephanie managed to locate an old candle sitting on the mantel of the fireplace and lit it using a pack of matches Tom had hidden in his jacket pocket. The candle did very little to spread light into the cabin—but some light was better than no light. “The candle isn’t much and sure isn’t going to last us through the night,” Stephanie explained. “I have all of my supplies in one of the sleeping cabins. When the storm ends, we need to change cabins as quickly as possible.”

  Betty didn’t like the idea of leaving the safety of the main cabin—if you considered being trapped in an old, damp cabin being safe. “We’re trapped until morning, aren’t we?” she asked in a fearful voice. “We’re trapped with that man running around outside.”

  “I’m afraid so,” Stephanie told Betty in a sorrowful voice.

  Mary folded her arms. “I don’t think that man outside wants to harm us,” she said and nodded at Tom. “I think the man outside knows who the real enemy is.” Mary studied Tom’s shadowy face and shook her head. “The man outside could have harmed us at any time, yet he didn’t. He also could have killed Dylan and his uncle, but he didn’t. Right, Tom?”

  Tom glared up at Mary with scared and angry eyes. “That savage is a killer,” he exploded. “Why, he dragged me to a cave and left me there for dead!”

  “A cave?” Stephanie asked. “Tom, are you talking about the old Lake Cave?”

  “I don’t know what you call the cave,” Tom growled at Stephanie. “All I know is that one minute I was standing at the lake with Dylan discussing options of escape and the next minute that savage appeared...knocked Dylan unconscious...and attacked me.”

  Tom closed his eyes, saw a powerful man with long black hair on his head and war paint on his face—a man dressed in some kind of brown deer skin—throw a knife at him. The handle of the knife struck his pistol. The pistol was thrown into the wind. “He tried to kill me!”

  “But he didn’t,” Mary told Tom. She looked away from his face and studied the candle sitting on the mantel for a second. She glanced at Betty’s worried face and then focused back on Tom. She began to speak but before she could say a word, the front door was kicked open. A tall, powerful man appeared in the doorway just as lightning lit up the sky, casting a spooky glow over the man.

  “Mary...it’s...it’s...him,” Betty cried out, and then of course...Betty fainted.

  Mary felt fear and panic scream into her heart. Every fiber in her being begged her to flee. Instead, she kept her eyes on the doorway. “Who...are you?” she demanded.

  “The name the white man gave me is John Cunningham. The name my tribe gave me is Soaring Eagle. You call me John.” John Cunningham spoke in an accent that sounded more like a down-home farmer than a powerful hunter. “My quarrel isn’t with you,” he continued, pointing at Mary, Betty, and Stephanie. “My quarrel is with that man.”

  Mary looked down at the floor and saw Tom staring at John with terrified eyes. “Leave me alone you...savage...leave me alone...”

  Stephanie dropped to her knees and put Betty’s head in her lap. “Where is Andy Shelton?” she demanded.

  John remained in place, standing like a concrete statue. “I have warned Andy Shelton to leave this land many times. He has refused.”

  Mary felt a strange feeling enter her mind. “You...you were the one who sent all those letters to Andy Shelton,” she told John.

  John nodded. “My duty is to guard this land,” he explained. “The land was safe while Pastor Whitfield had ownership. Pastor Whitfield was a good man whom I trusted.” John narrowed his dark and angry eyes. “Pastor Whitfield was threatened,” he continued and locked eyes with Tom. “But the man wasn’t a fool. He sold this land to Andy Shelton for pennies on the dollar in order to keep it out of the hands of that man.”

  “You’re...lying...he’s lying,” Tom insisted in a pathetic voice.

  Mary ignored Tom. “Why did Pastor Whitfield sell his land to Andy Shelton for pennies on the dollar?” she asked.

  John remained in the doorway. “Pastor Whitfield was close friends with Andy’s mother.” John took his eyes away from Tom and studied Mary. “You do not need to know any more secrets. You must leave.”

  “We can’t leave,” Mary said and pointed at the storm out the window.

  “And we’re not leaving without Andy Shelton,” Stephanie demanded.

  John turned his head and let out a loud whistle. Seconds later Andy appeared behind John, easing past him as he walked into the cabin, dripping with rain.

  “Andy, you’re okay,” Mary said.

  Stephanie almost fell over with relief. She almost ran over and hugged Andy—soaking wet or not—but didn’t, content with the quick smile Andy threw her way.

  Andy shook rain off his clothes and held out his hand to John. “I want to thank you for all you’ve told me.”

  To Mary’s relief, John u
nfolded his arms and shook Andy’s hand. “Leave,” he said and then pointed at Tom. “That man stays.”

  “No!” Tom yelled. “Don’t...don’t leave me with that savage.”

  A sudden question rushed into Mary’s mind. “Stop calling Mr. Cunningham a savage,” she snapped at Tom and then focused her eyes on the strange man. “If you want us to leave why did you cut the tires on all the cars and destroy the bridge?”

  “I did not cut the tires on any car or destroy the bridge,” John informed Mary. “I know who did. That is why you must leave.”

  “Who?” Mary demanded.

  Andy walked over to Mary. “Some things are best left secret,” he said in a quick voice. “John told me where a trail was. I went to check on the trail.”

  “The trail is north of the camp,” John explained, keeping his eyes on Tom. “The trail will lead you to a rope bridge that will take you over the river. When you get over the river start walking south. The trail will lead you back to the road. You’ll see a car there parked a little way off the road, not far from the trail. It’s unlocked, and the key is under the seat.”

  “But...what about my car?” Mary told John. “Betty and I drove all the way from Tennessee.”

  “You will be able to come back and get your car,” John assured Mary. “When you reach town bring back the sheriff. By then I will have had my revenge.”

  “Revenge?” Mary asked, confused. “Mr. Cunningham, please, I need answers.”

  John slowly raised his eyes and looked at Mary. “The man who cut your tires and destroyed the bridge is tied up. I can’t kill him. When you leave, I will be forced to free him.” John’s eyes filled with worry. “He will be very angry at me but will let me live.”

  Mary studied John’s dark face. Then, somehow, her mind made a terrifying connection. “The man who cut the tires and destroyed the bridge is your brother...isn’t that right, Mr. Cunningham?”

  John stared at Mary. “The man I knocked unconscious was my brother...many years ago...but has become poisoned by the ways of this man.” John pointed at Tom. “My brother understands the dark trail,” he continued. “He understands how to kill the snake and steal the eggs.”

  Tom’s eyes grew wide. “You...”

  John shook his head at Tom. “You will face justice,” he promised and then looked back to Mary. “You must leave.”

  Mary felt the hand of confusion squeeze her mind. “I...” she tried to say and then dashed into her thinking room and struggled to make sense of the situation. Bits and pieces of broken glass began forming, creating a foggy picture. “Mr. Cunningham—”

  “Leave,” John ordered in a stern voice. He pointed at Andy. “A foolish woman spoke of a very foolish thing. Now you must silence the outside world and bring peace back to this land.” John looked at Stephanie. “You must understand that my brother will set fire to your land before he surrenders his hunger.”

  “What is your brother hungry for?” Mary asked, even though she knew.

  “He is hungry for gold, a gold he never knew existed until he became involved with that man.” John locked eyes with Tom. “You have turned a rattlesnake into a cobra,” he growled. “Now my brother will not rest until he finds the gold. He will kill anyone who stands in his way.” John lowered his eyes. “I will take Dylan Roltdale and Tom Mintson into the mountains and set them free. I will let the land destroy them...and then I will vanish...and leave this land to my brother.”

  “Why?” Stephanie pleaded.

  “My brother is a killer,” John explained. “I am not a killer. My people were not killers. We were a peaceful people.” Sorrow filled John’s voice. “My people lived peacefully with the land. We hunted, planted, and fished. We never went to war with other tribes.” John kept his eyes low. “When my people found the gold, about the time the white man began pushing toward our land, they understood that the golden rock hidden in the earth would surely bring death.”

  “Don’t listen to that savage,” Tom demanded.

  John closed his eyes. “My people heard rumors that the white man’s army was marching toward our land...hungry...hungry for the gold. My people were very scared and agreed to give a very small portion of the gold to the white man, hoping the white man would spare their lives.” John felt grief stab his heart. “My people buried the rest of the gold on this land. No one knows where, not even me.” John opened his eyes. “The army betrayed my people,” he growled. “The men of my tribe who managed to escape vowed to send watchers to this land to make sure the gold that our people were killed for never reaches the hands of our enemies.”

  Mary felt her heart break for John. “I can’t imagine the pain...agony...your people went through...”

  John lowered his eyes again. “Andy Shelton, your mother has caused great grief by revealing our secret to you. You must leave this land and never return.” John looked up and pointed at Stephanie. “Return with the sheriff. Take the dead woman’s body away, leave this land, and never return.”

  “But...my camp,” Stephanie protested as Betty began to come around. “Mr. Cunningham, I’m not giving up my camp without a fight.”

  “If you stay you will die,” John warned. “My brother will kill you.”

  “Then turn him over to the sheriff,” Stephanie insisted. “You said it yourself that he’s tied up.”

  John shook his head no. “Honor does not forsake its duty when storm clouds threaten the land,” he said. “My people do not betray a fellow brother...even when that brother has become poison.” John turned his head and studied the storm. “If I stay my brother will kill me. My duty as a watcher is coming to an end,” he said and then looked at Tom. “My duty will end when I let the land bring justice to my enemies and allow my brother to spend the rest of his life searching for gold he will never find. Insanity will become his only reward.”

  Mary began to speak but Andy shook his head at her. “Mary, we need to leave,” he said in a voice that told Mary that all talk was through. She locked eyes with John. John simply pointed at Tom.

  “Give me that man,” John ordered.

  “Please...no,” Tom begged.

  Andy bent down, grabbed Tom by his shoulder, and yanked him up. “He’s all yours.”

  Tom threw his eyes at Mary. “Please...help me...please...”

  Mary felt panic erupt in her heart. Was she really going to allow John to take two men—two guilty men—into the wild and allow the land to kill them? Wasn’t that...murder? “Mr. Cunningham, you said you were not a killer. But if you go through with your plan, that’s exactly what you will become. Please, let me turn Dylan Roltdale and Tom Mintson over to the sheriff.”

  “I know the men in town,” John told Mary. “I know that Tom Mintson and Dylan Roltdale will never feel the hand of justice if given over to the white man.” John shook his head. “These men will destroy...try to kill my brother. Even though my brother has turned into a cobra, it is my duty to protect his life. It is the way of our people.” John studied the storm. “My brother may have betrayed the way of our people and will kill me if given the chance, but I must still honor the pact my people made inside of their hearts. The pact...is all I have left of my people. If I lose that...the way of my people will vanish forever. Please, understand my words.”

  Mary looked at Andy. Andy had lost his mother and brother and confessed that fulfilling his promise to find the gold was all he had left of them—that finding the gold was his way of honoring their memories while holding on to them with a desperate hand. “Mr. Cunningham, I do understand your words. But I also understand murder is murder, no matter how the act is carried out. If you let the land kill Dylan Roltdale and Tom Mintson...you become a killer. Is that what your people want?"

  “My people made a promise to never let the white man touch our gold,” John told Mary in a voice that was becoming impatient. “Andy Shelton is part of my people, but his mother betrayed our promise. Now he is banned.” John reached out his hand. “Give me Tom Mintson and leave before yo
u become my enemy,” he warned.

  “I’ll never be your enemy,” Andy promised. He shoved Tom over to John. “Take him and go.”

  “No,” Tom begged as John began dragging the man out into the storm.

  “Mary...” Betty moaned. “Mary...where are you...what’s going on?”

  “I wish I knew,” Mary whispered in a miserable voice, watching John pull a terrified man out into a violent storm. “Something tells me that Mr. Cunningham’s brother might have the answers we need.”

  Andy looked at Mary. “Mary, we have to leave,” he warned.

  Mary shook her head no. “I’m not a killer, Andy. If I leave Dylan and Tom here to die, I’ll become no better than what they are. No, Andy...we’re going to save two killers and stop a man from becoming a killer...and somehow...trap a third killer..”

  Andy and Stephanie stared at Mary in shock.

  Outside the storm raged.

  Chapter Six

  “Honey,” Stephanie objected, “I know you mean well but risking our lives for two...trail rats...isn’t proper.” Stephanie walked over to Mary and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You’ve always had a sweet heart, Mary, and I can agree that allowing that man to take Dylan and Tom deep into the land is wrong. But right now we have no choice but to try to get to town and bring back the sheriff. That’s our only choice.”

  “I agree,” Andy said, supporting Stephanie. “Mary, John Cunningham came up on me out of nowhere. He could have killed me before I blinked an eye, but he let me live.” Andy ran his hands through his wet hair. “He’s mighty upset with my mother...”

  Mary looked into Stephanie’s worried eyes. “Take Andy and try to escape,” she said in a voice that caused Stephanie’s heart to break. “Betty and I will try to rescue Dylan and Tom. They may be killers, but it’s up to a court of law to issue justice, not us.”

  Betty walked up to Mary on shaky legs. “I...have to agree with Mary,” she confessed in a weak voice. “We all are aware that the man we saw is going to take two men off into the woods and leave them there, hoping the land will kill them.” Betty pointed at the front door and listened to the raging storm. “A person sure can get lost out there...maybe run into a bear...who knows? What I do know, what Mother always taught me, was that the law handles the bad people.”