by Kathi Daley
“I was out near the house, so I dropped him off. I really didn’t want to take him to the bar, so it seemed like a better idea than just leaving him in the car while I went in to break things up.”
“Yeah, no telling how long that might have taken. Did anyone get hurt?”
“Other than a few black eyes, a bloody nose, and a bunch of bruised knuckles, I think everyone came out okay.”
Cass and I continued to chat about the proposed development until it was time to tuck the dogs in for the evening. Once we had, we made our way over to Naomi’s house.
“So tell me everything,” she jumped right in. “I simply cannot believe how this whole thing is unfolding.”
“Have you spoken to anyone about this other than the two of us and Hope?” Cass asked.
“Actually, after I got home this afternoon, I called and talked to Dex. He was careful about what he said, and I could tell he was holding back a bit, so after I hung up with him, I called and spoke with Toby.”
Cass blew out a breath. “I see. I hope you understand that we are trying to keep a lid on things until we can sort everything out. Not only are we researching Austin Brady’s disappearance, but now we have the added complication of Bobby Brighton’s death.”
“So, do you think they’re linked?” Naomi asked.
“Actually, I don’t think the two events are linked, but until I can prove what happened to Bobby, I need to consider the possibility that they are and proceed accordingly.”
“Why don’t you think Bobby’s death and Austin’s disappearance are related?” Naomi asked. “I heard either from Toby or Dex, at the moment I can’t remember which, that there was a possibility that Josh Underwood’s accident wasn’t an accident but intentionally caused, perhaps as a means of keeping him quiet.”
Cass’s lips tightened. “Yes, I heard that theory as well, so I pulled the original accident report and looked it over. It happened around ten o’clock on a beautiful spring evening. According to the report, a witness, who refused to leave a name, reported that he saw a white sedan come around the corner on the old prospector’s highway and veer into Josh’s lane. Josh overcorrected in an attempt to avoid a collision and ran off the road. Due to the sheer drop off, his car exploded on impact, and he died at the scene. I don’t think anyone suspected that the accident was anything other than an accident at the time. The white sedan didn’t stop, and the cop who investigated the accident noted that it was likely he’d been drinking. I’m using the term he in the general sense since we don’t even know if it was a man or woman driving the car and the only proof we have that the car even existed is an anonymous eyewitness statement, which isn’t a whole lot if you stop and think about it.”
“So, you think Josh’s accident really was an accident?” Naomi asked.
“I do. However, given the recent developments in Austin’s case and the death of Bobby Brighton, I am planning to at least entertain the idea that the crash could have been intentionally caused, but I really doubt that murder by automobile is how this will end up.”
“So, if you talked to Dex and Toby, they must have told you all about the mine?” I asked.
“Yes. They told me about the mine, and they told me about the hallucinogen. I still can’t believe Colin would do that.” She looked at Cass. “Are you going to arrest him?”
“No. Not yet, at least. All I have at this point is Larry’s word that the drugging even occurred. I plan to speak to Colin, but I want to get the report from the medical examiner as well as the lab’s report before I do. I’m not sure either will have any new information, but the last thing I want to do is scare Colin off if he is guilty before I have the proof I need to bring him in.”
“If he did do it, do you think he’ll go to jail?” Naomi asked.
Cass shrugged. “That isn’t up to me, but unless he actually did kill someone as part of the cover-up, probably not. He was just a kid pulling a prank. He couldn’t have known what would happen. And as for the cover-up, he was scared. Who amongst us hasn’t lied to an adult to cover up a mistake when we were twelve or thirteen? Having said that, I’d like to wait to speak to Colin about Austin’s death until I’ve solved Bobby’s murder. I’d really like to know for certain if they’re linked before I tip him off that I know about the drugs.”
Naomi took a sip of her wine. “I guess that makes sense. I won’t say a word about any of this, but you might want to bring Hope up to date. She’s actually done a lot of research of her own on the Austin Brady disappearance, and I know she’d like to be kept in the loop.”
“I’ll call her,” Cass promised.
“This whole situation is just so disturbing,” Naomi sighed. “I can’t help but think how terrified Austin must have been in those last moments.”
“It really was a terrible thing that was done to him,” Cass agreed.
“When I think about Colin and the man he is now, I have to wonder if perhaps he knew what sort of effect the drug would have on Austin. We’re all assuming that he really didn’t know, and what happened to Austin was just some huge accident, but was it?”
“You think Colin meant to hurt Austin?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t know him back then, but he does strike me now as being the sort who likes to have things go his way. If, as a teen, Austin was always challenging his right to control the group that had formed, I can see him doing something to squash Austin like the bug he probably considered him to be. I’m not saying he necessarily wanted to kill him, but putting the drug in his drink might have been more than just a joke gone wrong. It might have been retribution for the angst Austin had brought into his life.”
“I’ll keep that in mind when I speak to him,” Cass assured her.
Cass and I finished our wine and then said our goodbyes. We headed to a popular diner where we both ordered hot turkey sandwiches. I felt bad for Cass. He really did look exhausted. I was sure he had a million thoughts filtering through his mind. I figured it might be best to change the subject to something less angst-inducing, but for the life of me at that moment, I couldn’t think of a single low-key topic to introduce.
“While I was at Jack’s Place today, Alex told me about an arts and crafts event in town over Memorial Day weekend. She said there would be live music, wine and beer tasting, and all sorts of food trucks during the day, and then a barn dance and hayrides in the evening.”
“Sounds fun.”
“I know it’s a ways off, but she told me tickets for the dance are already on sale and moving quickly. I thought maybe you and I could go. Together,” he emphasized.
I paused. Together sounded like a date. I didn’t date. Well, actually, that wasn’t true. I’d dated in the past, but the men I’d dated were men I knew I would never fall in love with. I was about to make a statement about attending as friends when the beautiful redheaded Alex popped into my mind.
“Are you sure Alex didn’t bring up the dance because she wanted you to ask her?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I suppose that might have been her intent, but I’d rather take you. Alex and I are friends. That’s all.”
“You and I are friends,” I pointed out, wondering all the while why on earth I was practically pushing Cass into Alex’s arms.
“We are. So do you want to go?”
I smiled. “I do.”
He smiled back. “Okay, then. I’ll get the tickets tomorrow.”
Chapter 18
Saturday
Saturday was turning out to be a lazy relaxing day. It started with Alastair and me sleeping in until the sun was high in the sky, at which time we got up and headed downstairs for coffee and a lazy breakfast. After I cleaned up the kitchen, I headed upstairs to shower and dress, after which I joined Gracie and Tom in the garden.
“What a great day,” I said as I stood for a moment to appreciate the clear and sunny sky, blue lake, white ducks, and baby flowers just pushing through the soft earth.
“It really does feel like s
pring has arrived,” Gracie said. “I’m hoping to get the beds cleaned and weeded this week so they’ll be ready for the new flowers I plan to plant at the end of the month.”
“Are you going to do the barrels on the deck again?” I asked, remembering the containers overflowing with color that I’d enjoyed as a child.
“I do a different annual variety each year. It’s one of my favorite parts of the garden. That and the herb bed, of course. Any favorites you’d like to see included this year?”
“It doesn’t matter to me. I’m sure whatever you choose will be lovely.” I looked at Tom. “How is the fishing boat coming along?”
“It’s repaired and ready to launch. I need to pick up a can of gasoline for the little outboard engine, but I should have her ready to splash this week.”
“And the rowboat?” I added.
“Working on it. It should be ready to launch in a week or two.”
“I know Paisley is excited about learning to row, and I can’t wait to teach her. I have a lot of really fond memories of summers on the lake.”
“Where is Paisley?” Tom asked. “Didn’t she say she was coming over to help with the cleaning and weeding?”
“I’m sure she’ll be here soon,” Gracie answered. “I know she likes to be sure that her grandmother has been fed and has everything she needs before she comes over.”
“Maybe I’ll take a walk next door and see how she’s doing,” I offered. I figured a walk along the lake would be enjoyable, and if Paisley needed help with something, I’d be there to help.
“Sounds like a plan,” Gracie said. “Maybe you can invite Ethel to dinner while you’re there. We’re planning to BBQ those ribs you asked for.”
“I’ll ask her.” Ribs really were my favorite. I knew I, for one, was excited about the prospect of a meal on the lawn.
As I walked toward Paisley’s house, I’d let my mind wander. I’d actually spent quite a lot of time thinking about the fact that Cass had asked me out on a date. I could pretend it was a get together between friends, but I knew it was something more, and I knew he knew I knew it. As I was falling asleep last night, I let my mind wander to the inevitable kiss at the end of the date. I’d kissed Cass before. In fact, as a teen, I’d done a lot more with Cass than kiss, but as an adult, who was very aware of both my desires and my limitations, I’d never even let myself imagine where things might go with Cass if I allowed them to go anywhere.
When I’d lived in New York and had my career to focus on, my vow to remain single hadn’t seemed like a huge sacrifice. I’d dated from time to time when I had the time, which wasn’t often, but in all my time living in the city, I’d never met anyone I felt even remotely tempted to fall in love with. The Hollister family curse hadn’t been an issue, and I barely gave it a second thought. But now… now, I found myself on the verge of what might have been. Knowing I could never actually have what my heart desired was surely going to make me crazy if I didn’t put an end to it now.
Of course, one little date couldn’t hurt anything. Could it? Cass knew about the curse. He knew how I felt about the curse, and he knew we could never build a life together. At least not the sort of life other people who fell in love normally had with one another. We could be friends, and based on Gracie’s relationship with Tom, we could even spend time together, but taking that final step and actually vowing our love before family and friends, that was something I could never do with Cass or anyone else.
I picked a rock up and tossed it in the lake. I watched the ripples in the water fan outward, growing larger, with each ring less intense as the rings widened. It had been safe living my life in the large rings toward the edges. I’d gone everywhere and had had a lot of different experiences, but I really hadn’t been an integral part of anything. Now that I lived in a tight-knit family in a tight-knit community, I felt that center ring better represented my life. My influence with those around me was much more limited, but oh so much more intense and meaningful. I had people I loved and people who loved me. People I depended on as well as those who depended on me. Living in the center of my own ring of influence was a new experience for me. One I valued greatly, but also one that, at times, terrified me.
Perhaps, I decided as I stood at the edge of the lake, I was getting ahead of myself. Cass had asked me on a date. A single date to a community activity. Surely, one date wouldn’t cause a rift in my little ring. Surely, the curse wouldn’t kick in unless I actually married and bore children, an act I’d sworn never to do.
When I arrived at Paisley’s, I knocked on the door. She answered after only a few seconds.
“Callie. What are you doing here?” She looked delighted, yet surprised.
“I’m here to ask you and your grandmother if you would like to come to our place for a BBQ out on the lawn this evening. Gracie is doing ribs and slaw.”
She grinned. “I want to have ribs and slaw. I was going to come over and help with the garden anyway. Come in, and I’ll run upstairs and ask Grandma.”
“Is she feeling poorly today?”
She shrugged. “No worse than usual, but she has to manage her activities, so she doesn’t become too tired.”
It made me sad that Paisley was in a position that required her to be so mature for her age. Managing a grandmother’s activities and making sure she had a good breakfast to start the day was not the sort of thing a ten-year-old should have to worry about. Paisley didn’t seem to mind, and most of the time, she appeared to be a happy kid. I supposed that having so much responsibility as a child would help her to be successful as an adult.
By the time Paisley came back down to report that her grandmother would like to come for dinner if someone could come by with the car and pick her up since she didn’t feel like walking, Paisley said she was ready to come to our place and help with the weeding. As we walked along the lake together, I brought up the fact that Tom had the paddling boat just about ready to launch, which earned me the biggest grin I’d ever seen.
“It will be so fun to be out on the lake,” she said. “We can row around and look for fish.”
“Do you like to fish?” I asked.
“I don’t like to kill them, but I do like to look at them. And the ducks and geese as well. Soon, they will have babies to watch. I love this time of the year.”
“Me too, sweetheart. Me too.”
“Gracie said I could help her pick out the flowers for the deck. I can’t decide whether to pick yellow or red.”
“Maybe some of each,” I suggested. “It seems to me that yellow and red would go together just fine.”
“My friend, Jolene, is going to plant daisies in her yard. She told me they were her uncle’s favorite, so she is going to plant a whole bed full in his memory.”
“Are you talking about Uncle Bobby? The uncle who was shot?”
She nodded. “Jolene said they still haven’t found who shot him, but I think it was the guy Uncle Bobby had been trying to avoid because he owed him money.”
I narrowed my gaze. “How did Jolene know about the friend her uncle owed money to?” I asked.
“She told me that he came by the house when she was over at Bobby’s while her parents were in Vegas. She said he was really scary looking. Like one of the bad guys on TV. She said he had a tattoo of a snake on his neck and a gold tooth right there in the front where everyone could see it.”
I stopped walking, placing my hand on Paisley’s arm to slow her down. “Was Jolene there in the room when her Uncle Bobby was talking to this man?”
She nodded. “Jolene told me that she was in the living room watching a movie with Uncle Bobby when someone knocked on the door. Uncle Bobby went to answer it. He tried to close the door, but the man with the snake tattoo pushed his way inside. She stayed in the living room the whole time, but the room is open to the entry, so she saw and heard the whole thing. She said the guy wanted what was owed him. He didn’t say what was owed to him, but Jolene assumed money since her uncle liked to gamble. Jolene tol
d me the man with the snake tattoo was really mad and really loud. It looked like he was going to hit Uncle Bobby, but then Bobby said something about his niece being there, and the man stopped. Jolene said he leaned in and said something in Bobby’s ear and then left. Jolene said she was really scared, but Uncle Bobby told her not to worry about it. He said he just needed to get something the guy wanted, and once he gave it to him, everything would be okay. After that, he took her out for ice cream.”
“And then?” I asked. “Did the guy come back?”
“No. She didn’t see him again. Uncle Bobby did ask her not to mention the visit to her parents. He told her if she did, her mom might not let her come to his house to visit anymore, and Jolene really liked to visit Uncle Bobby, so she kept quiet.”
“But she has a reason to think this man might have been the one to shoot him?”
“No. I didn’t say she thought that. I said, I thought that. I remember Jolene telling me about the man who came by Uncle Bobby’s and thought it might have been him that killed him.” She paused and looked out toward the lake. “I’ve been thinking about things. Wondering. I’m not sure why exactly, but ever since Jolene told me what happened to her uncle, I’ve been wondering who in our town would shoot a man in the head.”
“Does Jolene think the killer is the man with the tattoo as well?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Jolene is out of town, so I haven’t seen her all week. I guess her parents didn’t want her to be here until they find the person who shot Bobby.”
“I guess that makes sense. Did you tell anyone about the man with the snake tattoo? Cass, maybe?”
“No. I didn’t tell anyone. No one asked me.”
“Do you think Jolene told anyone?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I told you, I haven’t talked to her since the first day after the shooting. I guess something happened to make her parents worry, so they all left town and went to see the grandparents.”
I wasn’t sure how accurate Paisley’s timeline was, and I really had no idea if the fact that Bobby owed something to the man with the snake tattoo was important, but I did know I was going to call Cass once I got back to the house.