Murder in Mountain Springs

by Alene Anderson

  He abruptly shook off thoughts of his sister and ex-wife. He was driving down the main street of Mountain Springs and he wanted to impress on his memory all the buildings in the small town.

  He passed a log structure with a large sign on the corner of the lot under a cedar tree announcing it was the local headquarters for the Forest Service. A nursery selling plants, fruits, and vegetables was next, and after that, the General Store.

  He ended up at the other end of town where a white church with a steeple sat on a lot with a sign announcing it was a historical site.

  He parked in front of the sign in order to read it. It told the story of a ship builder from the East who had built the church in 1860 for the locals to worship. When he had more time, he would like to go inside. He had read up on the history of the area and knew the architecture was very interesting. The builder had applied techniques for building ships in the construction of the church. When the builder had finished the project, he had said, “If a flood should come, it will float, and if a strong wind blows it over, it will never be broken into pieces.”

  Jake turned around and headed back up Main Street and turned right toward the hills. He could see this was the residential part of town and he wanted to explore it. He drove up and down the streets seeing nothing that appeared in any way out of the ordinary.

  Coming to a dirt road with aspen trees growing on either side, he turned again to climb higher into the hills. He hadn’t gone far when he came to a heavy black security gate with a sign marking the property on the other side of it as being private and no trespassing would be allowed.

  He stopped and peered through the large cedar trees. He couldn’t see any building but he saw the beginning of a green lawn with a few deer grazing in the opening. He wondered if this was his target. It would not be easy to access the property and have a look around, he thought. It obviously would have to be done under the cover of darkness.

  This mission was certainly different from his previous ones. Instead of getting in and out as quickly as he could, he had been instructed to act the part of a tourist, an attorney on sabbatical from Los Angeles. That should not be hard since he had graduated from law school after completing his tour of duty in the Navy. He knew he had been picked for this particular mission because he spoke the Japanese language fluently.

  When he had received the assignment, he had immediately gone out shopping for a vehicle that would fit in with his cover story. As soon as he saw the Jeep, he knew that was the car for him. He planned on doing a lot of hiking, horseback riding, and Jeeping on the mountain trails. He needed to thoroughly explore the area and gather facts from the locals without causing any suspicion.

  There was nothing further he could do today. He would need to get more information about this particular piece of property and access it if he found it was what he was looking for.

  Reversing the Jeep, Jake headed back toward the lodge. He would stop at the General Store and buy a six pack of beer and head back to his cabin to unpack.

  He was looking forward to this assignment. He had always liked the outdoors and after his last one, he would enjoy the leisure time he would have over the next month.

  Another plus was Kate Harrington. He knew he had made her nervous. He didn’t know why that should appeal to him, but it did. It had been a long time since he had met a woman who interested him the way she had.

  From his information, she had married right after graduating from college and become a homemaker, never using her teaching degree. She had worn no makeup, which gave her face a fresh-scrubbed look as though she had just climbed out of the shower. Another disturbing thought crossed his mind. He had a feeling in spite of her marriage, she was innocent and naïve. He had seen her blush several times just in the short time it had taken to check him into his cabin. She didn’t act or look like any woman he had dated in D.C. But he had to admit he was tired of the jaded beauties back East.

  It was hard to believe that a man married to Kate would be so stupid as to jeopardize his marriage to her. However, there was no explaining an addiction. And Walt’s profile showed he definitely had had a problem with gambling.

  He pictured the blond beauty as she had appeared when he had bumped into her. He couldn’t quite put a finger on it. She certainly didn’t appear flirtatious like the women he encountered in D.C. In fact, she had acted embarrassed because she had forgotten to give him the key.

  When he had grabbed her bare arm to keep her from falling, she had looked down at his hand and then up into his face with a startled expression. Yes, Kate Harrington was certainly going to be a plus on this assignment.

  Chapter 2

  Kate would have missed Jake when he returned to the lodge if she hadn’t been watching for him. He had either turned the music down or turned it off as she no longer heard it when he drove past the office.

  She glanced out the side window as he parked the vehicle in front of his cabin and stepped out. He leaned against the side of the Jeep and reached into his pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes. After selecting one, he tapped the end down on the side of his fist and then slipped it between his lips.

  When he bent his head to touch the cigarette to the flame that appeared like magic in his hand, Kate thought she had never seen a sexier-looking man. How was she going to hold up to the next month with Jake driving in and out, and coming into the lodge on a regular basis for meals?

  She had gotten out of a bad marriage. She certainly didn’t want to be thinking about some man when she needed to concentrate on making her new venture successful. She had Jennifer to consider. Her twelve-year-old daughter was spending the summer with her grandmother in Colorado while Kate got the lodge up and running.

  It wouldn’t be long until Jennifer would be coming to Mountain Springs and she knew she was going to have to deal with the problem of whether or not she would take her to see her father in prison. As far as she was concerned, she never wanted to see Walt again. But Jennifer had already asked if she could see him when she returned to Utah.

  Kate had tried discussing it with her mother, but even after a year her mother became very upset when his name was even mentioned. She wondered how her mom was dealing with Jennifer and her constant chatter about her dad and all the things they had done together. Did Jennifer understand that her dad would not be coming home?

  As Kate watched Jake tip his head up and blow rings of smoke into the air, she thought again of her daughter. She would have to be careful about exposing her daughter to the men who came to the lodge. For the first time since she had purchased it, she wondered if she had done the right thing. Did she want Jennifer around men who smoked, drank beer, and used bad language?

  Her one consolation was that school would be starting in the fall and Jennifer would meet friends who would occupy some of her time. Then there were would be lessons to keep her busy—music, ballet, gymnastics, and horseback riding.

  There would be no need to worry about Jennifer having too much spare time. After being exposed to Walt’s trial and hearing all the accusations by friends and neighbors, she didn’t know why she was worrying about her. She had grown into one tough little girl. After all, being an accessory to murder was much worse than smoking, drinking, and swearing.

  Jake wasn’t her kind of man anyway. She certainly didn’t want to be involved with a smoker. It was such a dirty habit. Her step-father had been a smoker, and there had been cigarette butts and ashes everywhere. When she had asked her mother how she stood it, her mother had replied that you couldn’t overlook a good man because he had one bad fault.

  Jake was definitely not her kind of man. Maybe if she kept repeating those words, she would finally believe them. But in spite of this decision, she continued to watch him until he finished his cigarette and disappeared inside his cabin.

  The next few days Jake was often absent from the lodge. He woul
d disappear for hours in his Jeep and when he returned for meals, while he always nodded at Kate, and spoke to Hank at some length about the area, he never mentioned where he had been.

  Sometimes he was gone late into the evening, not returning until after dark. One morning Hank told Kate he had seen lights up on the mountain and he was sure it was Jake using the spotlights on the roll bar.

  “Wonder what he’s lookin’ for,” he mused aloud.

  Hank stopped talking when Jake walked into the kitchen. Without being invited, he sat down in the chair at the table across from Kate.

  “Was ya up on the mountain last night?” Hank asked as he scooped bacon and eggs onto Kate’s plate.

  “Yeah, could you see me from down here?”

  “Pretty hard not to with them spotlights of yours,” Hank said. “Bacon and eggs for you this mornin’?”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “Ya out looking for that Geisha House?”

  Kate could tell the question startled Jake and she wondered why. She was sure Hank was only ribbing him.

  “And what Geisha House might that be?” Jake asked, getting up to pour himself a cup of coffee.

  “Well . . . accordin’ to the locals,” Hank drawled and Kate knew they were in for one of Hank’s stories. “A coupla years back, someone bought the old huntin’ lodge up at the foot of that mountain you see out the window of your cabin. No one ever saw the man who bought it. It was all done through some big attorney up in Salt Lake.

  “Then a construction crew came into town and word out was that they were remodelin’ the old huntin’ lodge and turning it into a health spa. After the crew left a bunch of Oriental girls showed up in town. No one ever saw ‘em leave and no one ever saw ‘em on the streets after that first sightin’. Just disappeared. Almost into thin air, like it were.”

  He paused to serve Jake his bacon and eggs, then continued. “Wasn’t long until a white limousine started showin’ up in town with several businessmen types and it always took the turn off that leads to the old lodge.”

  Kate started laughing.

  “What’s funny?” Hank asked in a grumpy voice.

  “You are, Hank.” She laughed. “Someone buys an old lodge, someone sees a couple of Asian ladies drive through town, and suddenly we have a Geisha House right here in Mountain Springs, Utah.”

  “Hey, only repeatin’ what I’ve been told. Ole Man Sessions, who owned this place before ya, said the limousine driver use to stop in here for a cup of coffee. Now that ya’ve opened up the place again, when he hears about my good pies, he’ll be back. Just ya wait and see.”

  Kate knew she had offended Hank because she had questioned the authenticity of his story. But it was typical small town to dream up some big tale about something they couldn’t explain.

  “I’m sure if there’s a Geisha House here in town with all of Jake’s exploring, he’ll find it. In fact, Jake, why don’t you get the directions from Hank for getting up to the old lodge and check it out?”

  Jake had been quiet while she teased Hank.

  “That’s a great idea, Kate,” he said enthusiastically.

  “After all I might like to visit it sometime. Just what I need after a long day of hiking or horseback riding.”

  “I’ll just bet you would,” she said. “I’ve got to go clean cabins.”

  She heard Hank and Jake laughing as she left the kitchen. Men are all alike.

  She grabbed her container of cleaning supplies and headed out of the lodge and up the hill to the row of cabins. She decided to clean Jake’s cabin while he was in the kitchen with Hank. Then she would move on to the other three cabins that were occupied. The three men who had rented them had gone fishing early and didn’t expect to be back until late afternoon.

  When she stepped into Jake’s cabin, she could see there wouldn’t be much to do. He had already made his bed with tightly folded military corners at the end. She went into the bathroom and picked up the used towels and replaced them with fresh. Everything else was spotless but she gave a quick swipe at the sink anyway.

  Walking out into the small sitting room she was surprised to see Jake leaning against the frame of the open door. He made no move to step aside and let her pass.

  He studied her through narrowed eyes, a lock of hair falling down on his forehead. Why did he have to be so darn attractive? She really wasn’t equipped for dealing with someone like Jake.

  “Excuse me,” she finally said. “I need to get on to the other cabins.”

  “What’s the hurry? Those men won’t be back for hours.”

  “I would like to get them taken care of. I need to run some errands.” Why was she explaining to him? She didn’t have to answer for what she did with her day.

  He made no indication that he planned to get out of her way any time soon. Instead, he reached into his shirt pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes. He studied them for a minute and then selected one.

  Tapping it on his fist, he stared at her as he slipped it between his lips. She waited for him to pull out his lighter and challenge her by lighting it up, but he made no move to reach for it.

  She wondered how long he was going to block the doorway. She knew she couldn’t afford to let him get the best of her. If she did, she would be intimidated the whole month of his stay. She was already well on her way.

  She glanced around the room and saw a magazine lying on the coffee table. Tossing down the towels she had just taken out of the bathroom and setting down her cleaning box, she walked to the table, and sat down in a chair, reaching for a magazine.

  “You’re right. There is no hurry. And I am rather tired. It’s been a lot of work getting this place ready to open.”

  She flipped through the magazine, and finding an article about fly fishing, she began to read.

  “Oh, this is interesting,” she said. “Have you ever done any fly fishing? I didn’t realize it was such an art.”

  As though he knew he had been beaten at his own game, Jake stepped into the room. She skimmed the rest of the article and then laying the magazine back on the coffee table, she slowly rose from the chair, picked up the towels and cleaning supplies, and headed toward the door.

  “Doll.” There it was. That deep, caressing voice when he spoke.

  “Yes.”

  “If there really is a Geisha House, would you care if I paid a visit?”

  Startled, she turned around. “Why should I care?” she burst out. “I don’t even know you, and furthermore, I don’t even like you.”

  Not waiting to see how her words might affect him, she hurried out of the cabin.

  Jake smiled. He didn’t for a minute believe her last words. He had seen how she looked at him when she didn’t know he was watching her. He had a feeling she was fascinated by him. According to his information, she had grown up in Lava Cove and had lived a sheltered life, even attending the University in Lava Cove.

  But she certainly had surprised him when she sat down and picked up that magazine as though she wasn’t in any big hurry to get on with her work. When she started talking about fly fishing, her eyes sparkled and he had the strangest feeling deep in his gut.

  Damn, she’s beautiful.

  His thoughts turned to what Hank had told him about the old hunting lodge or the Geisha House as he called it. Hank insisted it wasn’t gossip. That his information had come from some very reliable sources.

  He had even followed Jake out of the lodge to warn him.

  “If ya’re thinkin’ of goin’ up there, you had better be careful. The woman that runs the place has the reputation for bein’ one tough cookie. She’s oriental. Kuri is her name. They say you can only get in if the owner tells Kuri to let you in.”

  Jake thought about the name Kuri as he watched Kate unlock the cabin next door
and disappear inside. He knew from his tour of duty in Japan that Kuri meant chestnut and appeared in Asian legends as being a tree that shaded several provinces. As legend had it, it was magical and could never be cut down. An interesting metaphor, he thought, for a tough woman who ran a Geisha House.

  He had been here only a few days and he had already discovered information he had passed on to his boss at USCIS headquarters in D.C. He had known about the Geisha House before he arrived. That was the reason he had been sent out from D.C. That and his fluency in Japanese and knowledge of other Asian languages.

  Reports had come into headquarters about an agency called Lotus Flower, based in the United States, which was advertising in various Asian countries that they could find husbands for women in America. When they arrived in the States, they were taken to houses of prostitution telling them they had to pay back the money it had cost to bring them over to this country.

  People who had studied this trafficking reported the women very seldom were able to get out and now that a federal law had been passed in 2000 to help these women, the USCIS had gotten involved and were doing everything they could to break these prostitution rings.

  Kate’s scream broke into his thoughts. What in hell? He raced out of the cabin. She was running toward him, obviously terrified.

  “Oh, Jake,” she cried, throwing herself into his arms.

  “What is it, Doll?” he asked, staring at the open cabin door wondering if a bear or mountain lion was going to come walking out.

  She clutched at his shirt and shuddered.

  “What’s in there?” he asked, prying her fingers loose and setting her aside.