Spirit Lake

by Vickie McKeehan

  When she fully regained her senses, she got to her feet. Drawn to the spot where Chloe’s body had been found, she started walking further down the shoreline where the crowd had thinned out. Someone had gathered bits of driftwood to make a fire. But the pit had long since burned out to ash.

  As she got closer, fear gripped her belly. Her feet seemed stuck in the powdery sand. A wave of nausea hit her as she stood there blinded by brutal images from Chloe’s last few minutes of life.

  The girl had fought to live, to claw at the fingers that wrapped around her throat. In an instant, Chloe had gone from laughing and joking around with her killer to fighting him off, fighting for her next breath. She’d been enjoying the view, the water, the scenic area around her, feeling carefree about the trip. At first, the man’s hands had been tender, his touch almost loving, gentle. But before she’d known what was happening, Chloe had realized the man had a different intent. Overpowered, she was in way over her head. That huge error in judgment had taken her life.

  Gemma heard twigs crackle to life. Annoyed that the scene had been interrupted, she turned her attention to the sound of leaves rustling behind her.

  Someone was coming. It was several seconds before she realized it was all part of the vision. She understood then that the killer fled because he thought someone had been approaching from the woods.

  She found herself grinning from ear to ear. This newfound ability would take some getting used to.

  “Before I even reached the spot, I felt like I was being watched and I don’t mean by Salisaw.”

  Her friends--Leia, Lydia, and Lianne--had gathered to hear the play by play, hanging on to every word while sitting in a booth at Captain Jack’s Grill. They’d already drained a bottle of Ballard chardonnay, split between the four of them, even though it was barely two o’clock in the afternoon.

  Before ever getting to the restaurant, Gemma had stopped at the house to fashion a better pendant out of the three stones. She’d joined them together in a show of power around her neck. She’d used thin sterling silver wire to form an ornate wrap around the lapis stone, joining it to the turquoise before slipping her moonstone ring onto the same rope chain that held the other stones.

  Lydia Bonner took notice. “What did Lando say about you removing your ring?”

  “I was worried about that too. But he understood the significance, especially after hearing what happened this morning. He’s the one who helped me come up with the knotted way they’re tied together. Besides, something jogged his memory from when he first found the moonstone. He swears he never mentioned it before for fear I’d think he was crazy. Back then, I probably would have.”

  Gemma held up what was now a heavy necklace. “I need to keep them on the same chain. Which means I won’t be able to let them out of my sight while a jeweler designs something fancier. This will work as long as the three remain together.”

  “Good thinking,” Lianne noted, marveling at her calm demeanor. “But you really should’ve taken someone with you. Next time ask one of us. Don’t go out there alone if you’re planning to witness a murder.”

  Lydia felt the same way. “Was it scary? Did you actually see the killer with his hands wrapped around that girl’s neck? What about Salisaw? Did he take shape as a waterspout?”

  Gemma put her hand over her future mother-in-law’s. “Turns out the waterspout thing is totally bogus.” She didn’t mention that the warrior-god had taken her out over the lake. Keeping that part to herself, she quickly described her take on what happened. “Salisaw comes off as this impressive, larger-than-life champion, sitting astride this magnificent black horse, dressed in a Native ceremonial getup. All except the headdress. He didn’t need it, though. He reminded me of a wise chief who wouldn’t mind fighting to the bitter end.”

  “You should’ve taken a picture,” Lianne suggested.

  “There was no time. My mind went blank,” Gemma admitted. “The entire experience probably lasted less than five minutes, but it felt like hours. It was pretty cool, but weird talking to a guy who looked like he just rode out of the 1800s.”

  Listening intently, Leia sipped her glass of white wine. “Let’s get back to this being watched thing. Maybe someone followed you out there from Zeb’s office, followed you from the Rez.”

  Gemma shook her head. “I didn’t see anyone behind me when I drove past the main gate into the parking lot. It was just a feeling I couldn’t shake.”

  “Did you actually see Chloe get strangled?” Lianne wanted to know.

  Gemma shuddered at the memory. “I did. The man who had his hands around her throat was around fortyish, five-eleven maybe, brown hair and gray eyes. You have to remember this happened five years ago, so that would make him mid-forties now.”

  Leia chewed the inside of her jaw. “That means thirty years ago he would’ve been a teenager, around fifteen or so. Did you tell Zeb this?”

  Gemma nodded. “I sat down with a sketch artist who came up with a hand-drawn composite. Zeb said that it will eventually turn into a digitally-rendered image. The woman who does these things will take that and try to come up with what he looked like as a teenager.”

  “I like how they can do that,” Lydia said, squeezing Gemma’s fingers to show her support. “So Lando was okay with you going out there alone?”

  “Believe it or not, it wasn’t a big deal. I was surrounded by a ton of people, tourists, in broad daylight. Other than feeling like a complete idiot for thinking this was all false, I now know more about how it works. I’m by no means an expert, but at least this is progress, more so than before. I feel…elated, but cautious.”

  Gemma glanced around the table from one face to the next, emboldened by the support. “I think we should move this party to my house. I don’t really feel comfortable going into detail about a serial killer here, not out in the open.”

  “It’s scary stuff,” Lianne noted. “I couldn’t handle having to visualize that kind of brutality. I’d never get any sleep.”

  Gemma was afraid of that same thing. But this was the path she’d taken. And she refused to turn from it now. She clutched the pendant in her fist, fingering moonstone against the others. The jolt woke something inside. Her fingers tingled all the way to her spine. And with it, a confidence was born.

  5

  Later, Gemma faced tougher questions from Lando and Zeb. The explanations grew longer, while her temper spiked.

  “I’m saying Chloe Pendleton went with her killer willingly that night during her shift. How many times do I have to say it? She was not kidnapped from that convenience store. Chloe walked out under her own power. Maybe the killer charmed her into making the trip to California. Yes, I feel that’s true. Maybe that was his schtick, luring young women to leave what they had behind, take a ride with him. Whatever the reason, he put them at ease enough they got in the car with him.”

  Lando exchanged looks with Zeb. “It would make sense. If he did that with Chloe maybe he did that with Jane Doe.”

  Gemma folder her arms across her chest. “All I know is that I got this image of Chloe relaxed around him, laughing, talking, joking, enjoying being at the lake, happy about being where she was at that moment in time. It might account for the fact that, at some point, Chloe agreed to have sex with him, willingly. Then when he did attack her at the lake, it took her completely by surprise. There was shock on her face, total disbelief at what was happening.”

  “She could’ve met her killer online,” Lando suggested. “And didn’t tell her parents anything about it. The killer could’ve picked that night for them to meet in person. Maybe Chloe didn’t intend to take off. But she was so enthralled with this guy, the idea of this guy paying her some attention, she threw caution to the wind and left Reno behind for an adventure.”

  “Twenty-year-olds do that sort of thing all the time,” Lianne said in agreement. “They have no idea they might be putting themselves in harm’s way by acting on impulse.”

  Gemma drained her third glass of
wine since getting home, celebrating the events of the day in a way she hadn’t expected. Added to what she’d already had at the restaurant, she was feeling loose and relaxed. “I think it was a definite impulse decision on her part.”

  “If it wasn’t about sex, then what was it about?” Zeb asked.

  “Oh, it was about sex, initially,” Gemma clarified, keeping her fingers wrapped around the pendant. “The couple I saw together had stopped somewhere along their route that first night to consummate their meeting. The morning she was killed, Chloe was still caught up in the afterglow. Little did she know she’d just slept with her killer. And during that same morning, after their sexual encounter, he was all about getting to Spirit Lake, finding that perfect spot where he could end her life.”

  “Which means they had to stay somewhere between Reno and Coyote Wells,” Lando commented. “But five years after the fact is a long time to follow up on a lead that covers four hundred-plus miles.”

  “He would’ve wanted to get her as far away from Reno as possible, though,” Zeb pointed out. “Just in case she changed her mind.”

  “That way she couldn’t run back home like she could do if she’d just hopped in the car to go for a ride with him on her break and things got out of hand,” Leia added. “My guess is he sweet-talked her into coming with him, dangling the adventure Lando mentioned.”

  “It makes sense if you consider it from Chloe’s point of view. She was escaping from her job,” Gemma said. “If only for a little while. She probably didn’t intend to stay away for more than a couple of days. Maybe she intended to get on the road and call her parents at the first stop. But of course, the killer had other ideas.”

  “Fascinating stuff,” Zeb acknowledged.

  “I’m assuming you sent her clothing to a forensics lab for testing?” Gemma stated.

  “Five years ago. They couldn’t come up with a DNA profile then.”

  Leia turned to stare at Zeb. “But the CSI shows are always touting how technology advances practically every day. They might be able to get something off whatever she was wearing now. Touch DNA.”

  “I’ll resubmit first thing tomorrow morning, but it’s a long shot.”

  Leia poured more wine into her glass. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. I’ll be shopping with Gemma and Lianne while Mom runs the grill. I promised to be back by the dinner rush. That means no getting sidetracked over lunch. We keep the focus on finding the best dress for both of us.”

  Lydia bobbed her head. “I’m holding you to that. Saturday nights are especially busy during the summer. We should probably talk about both receptions.”

  “We’re getting married in the park,” Gemma said, holding her glass high. “It was either that or out in Gram’s garden.” Frowning, she went on, “Oh, maybe it should be the garden. That way, it would feel like Gram and Poppy were right there with us.”

  “Marissa’s garden it is then,” Lando added before she could change her mind…again.

  Just then, Rufus let out a bark right before Luke pushed open the front door. As if sensing there was a problem, the pooch nuzzled the man’s legs.

  Lianne noticed Luke’s face looked flushed like he’d run a mile. “What’s up with you?”

  “I tried to call earlier but no one picked up. You guys haven’t heard the news?”

  “Heard what?” Lando asked, taking out his cell phone to check messages. “I’m the Chief of Police…” His voice trailed off as he stared at the string of missed calls and got to his feet. “Holy crap! Arlo Stokely got into a fight with Daryl Simmons inside Bodie’s Outpost.”

  “That’s what I was trying to tell you. Arlo started picking on the basketball coach because of his win-loss record. Daryl took exception to it. I’m headed there myself,” Luke stated. “Dale and Payce took the call and said Arlo needs a doctor.”

  “How did you hear about it?” Lando said, tilting Gemma’s face up for a kiss before leaving.

  “Dale called to ask if I’d make a house call at the bar.”

  As the brothers left, Gemma picked up her glass and drained the contents…again. “Every time he walks out that door I worry. I just want him to come back in one piece.”

  “Oh, honey,” Lydia began by way of comfort. “I know just how you feel. The truth is you can’t let it get to you every time he responds to a call. You’ll make yourself crazy.”

  “I know. I know. I’m just scared that something bad will happen before I get a chance to be Mrs. Lando Bonner again. We don’t exactly have a history of good luck as a couple.”

  “You’re different than you were back then,” Leia said. “Look at me and Zeb. We’re not the same two people we were at sixteen.”

  More than anything, Gemma hoped that was true. Her life had come full circle. But without Lando Bonner, it wouldn’t be complete.

  Both men were bleeding. But it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. Arlo had taken the brunt of it; but he’d gotten in a few good punches of his own to Daryl’s face, most had been glancing blows and would only leave a bruise or two. There was no denying the athletic basketball coach had prevailed.

  As Lando and Luke made their way inside the Country and Western-style bar, they heard Johnny Cash on the jukebox and mutterings about the rumble being the end of Arlo’s political career.

  But this was Arlo they were talking about. Arlo Stokely didn’t care what people thought of him.

  Dale Hooper waved a thumb toward the long bar and the broken mirror over it. “It’s a mess in there, Chief. We set the tables upright, but some of the chairs splintered when Arlo tossed them into the mirror. He used one to hit Daryl in the back. I wasn’t sure if I should make an arrest or not, him being the mayoral candidate and all.”

  “Sorry it took so long to get here,” Lando replied, surveying the damage. “I’d already kicked back for the evening.”

  “That’s okay. You deserve to kick back on a Friday night,” Payce Davis added. “Arlo really got Daryl wound up this time, though. It takes a lot to make Daryl mad.”

  Luke set his medical bag down on the end of the bar and slapped on a pair of latex gloves. Beginning with the worst of the wounds--Arlo’s broken nose and busted lip--Luke sized up the injuries. “Let’s see if you can stand a little pain while I realign your face. This may hurt some.”

  “Ouch! Watch what you’re doing there,” Arlo cried at the first sign Luke had tried to straighten it back in place. “You did that on purpose.”

  “I’m a physician. I don’t hurt people because I can,” Luke fired back. “Now sit still. You want to act like a badass, this is the result.”

  Hands on hips, Lando demanded, “Which one of you started this?”

  Sitting on a bar stool five feet away, Daryl dipped his head toward the other man. “Arlo started ragging on me about losing the championship last spring. Man doesn’t even have kids in the school system. Why does he care whether the team wins or not?”

  “It’s called pride,” Arlo spat out, unable to breathe through his nose. “When I’m mayor…”

  The crowd booed.

  “Knock it off,” Lando shouted over the din. “You folks go back to whatever you were doing. Now!” He spotted a few cuts and scrapes on Daryl’s knuckles and the purple bruise to his cheek. “Are you pressing charges?”

  “Damn straight I am. Arlo threw the first two punches before I ever took him seriously. Then I defended myself, made the mistake of thinking it was done and turned my back on him. That’s when I felt the chair to my head. These people are all witnesses. They’ll tell you the same thing.”

  Lando counted at least twenty people nodding their heads in agreement.

  “I came in here for a beer and ended up with that nutcase in my face. I don’t have to take that, Chief,” Daryl said.

  “You’ll make a statement to that?”

  “You bet.”

  “That’s all I need to know.” Lando pivoted back to Luke. “Let me know when you’re done there. Is it okay for him to spend the night like that
in jail or do we need to make a stop at the ER?”

  “No, he’s fine. I’ll have his nose packed in another minute or two.”

  Lando leveled his gaze on Arlo. “There’s no way to arrange a bail hearing over the weekend, not even for a mayoral candidate.”

  Arlo turned red with anger. “I’ll have your job for locking me up like this, Lando Bonner,” he screamed, twisting in his seat. “You take me in and I’ll see to it you’re fired the day after the election.”

  Lando sent him a knowing smile. “I’m really scared now.”

  “Sit still,” Luke warned. “Before I accidentally ram this gauze pad into your brain.”

  “Every one of you Bonners makes me sick,” Arlo shouted. “You’re all a bunch of crooks.”

  Luke took a step back from the patient and tilted his head to stare at the man. “Are you on drugs? Should Lando here do a drug test on you? Because if that’s the way you really feel, I’ll let someone else finish the job while you’re sitting in a cell. I’m done here, Lando. You can cuff him now.”

  Lando motioned for Dale and Payce. “Get him out of here. Do a breathalyzer when you get back to the station. And call a nurse from County to stop by the jail to finish packing his nose.”

  Dale nodded. “You got it, Chief. Let’s go, Mr. Stokely. Please stand up, sir. You’re under arrest for assault and suspected public intoxication. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say…”

  “Let’s get out of here,” Lando said to Luke.

  Luke tossed the gloves in trash can and picked up his bag. “Tell me again what the chance is for Arlo beating Sam Wells in September?”

  “I don’t know, and right this minute, I don’t much care. I’m sick of both candidates. Neither one gives a hoot about this town, except for what it can do to line their pockets. I heard rumors this morning that Sam Wells wants to bring in developers and cut a swath right through Gull Landing to build apartments.”