Murderous Intent and Deadly Desires

by Angela C. Blackmoore

  After a few minutes, Joe finished his drink and stood, putting some money on the table. “I have to go, Abby. It was nice seeing you again, though I wish it wasn’t always under such dire circumstances. At least Gabe isn’t lost in the woods this time.”

  Abby noticed he’d put down more than enough to cover both of their drinks and a tip. She made a motion to protest, but Joe held up his wrinkled hand. “Now, now. Let an old man have his chivalry. It’s not every day I get to treat a young lady to a drink.”

  “What would Martha say?” Abby said with a twinkle in her eye.

  Joe smiled and shook his head. “If she asks, just tell her I kept my eyes closed the entire time.”

  As he left, Abby looked over once again at Lanie and Reggie’s table, deciding that now was as good a time as any to interrupt. She stood and walked over, smiling as she approached. “Mind if I sit down?” Abby asked.

  Lanie and Reggie both smiled as Reggie stood and pulled out a chair. “Not at all. Come on over and sit with us.”

  Lanie leaned over and grinned. “It looked like you and Joe were having some serious conversation. We were going to come over and pry, anyway. So, what’s up?”

  Abby sat and took a long drink to collect her thoughts.

  Chapter 9

  “Did you know that Demsey Danson was back in town?” Abby asked Lanie, looking her right in the eye.

  Lanie nodded, not seeming phased by Abby’s question. “Yes. We’ve been keeping an eye on him, but so far he’s been quiet and behaving.”

  Abby blew out a breath. She had expected Lanie to be surprised, but hearing her answer so matter-of-factly just set her off-balance.

  “She can’t really tell you things like that,” Reggie interjected. “Not unless it becomes an actual danger. If she’d told you, and you started harassing whoever this guy is, it could come back to bite her.”

  Lanie nodded as she half frowned, half shrugged. It was clearly an issue that bothered the woman, but Abby didn’t want her friend to think she was angry. “I understand. I wasn’t trying to blame you, but Joe just told me Demsey was back in town, and I was thinking it might be a lead on that note on Gabe’s truck.”

  “That’s a good point,” Lanie said. “I’ll let the sheriff know. He’s heading that up since I’m busy with the Buckshire case. Still, it doesn’t seem like Demsey to do something as complicated as putting a note on your car. If he was coming for you, he’d probably just start walking through town like Godzilla. So far, he’s just kept to himself, which is good.”

  “How big is this guy?” Reggie asked, puffing his chest out.

  Lanie rolled her eyes and smirked. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Hun. Demsey is big, but he’s not in shape and you’re still bigger,” she said, leaning over and patting him on the arm. For his part, Reggie preened and flexed some of his substantial muscles, clearly mollified.

  Lanie and Abby shared an amused look while Reggie wasn’t looking. “What about his cousin?” Abby asked.

  “Gloria? I don’t think you have anything to worry about with Gloria,” Lanie said, turning her attention back to Abby. “She’s never been in trouble a day in her life. Keeps to herself and works out at the mill. A bit rough around the edges, but that shouldn’t be counted against her. I don’t think I’d worry too much about her.”

  Abby nodded, absorbing the information that Lanie had. She’d only met Demsey once when Gabe had taken her up to the place where Joe and his ilk bought wild mushrooms from mushroom hunters. It hadn’t been a pleasant encounter. Buck Danson had a serious Napoleon complex and had been in Gabe’s face with Demsey right behind him. The only reason it hadn’t come to a fight was Joe Forsyth had kept his rifle handy, and the loud chambering of a round had quickly diffused the situation. Buck, Demsey, and Samantha Green had quickly climbed back into their truck and driven away.

  “How did he get out of jail, though?” Abby asked.

  “Ah,” Lanie said as she fidgeted with her beer. “Well, it turns out he had no idea what his brother or Samantha were doing. As usual, he was just along for the ride. So they had to let him go, though he’s under some serious counseling. He’s been going to the sessions regularly, but both his brother and Samantha swore he had nothing to do with what either of them did.”

  Abby wrinkled up her mouth and stared at her cider. “Well, poop,” she said. “I can’t really argue with that. Still, I wish he hadn’t come back here. Now I have to watch my back.”

  Reggie laughed. “Abby, this isn’t a western. There’s every likelihood the man just wants to be left alone.”

  “Maybe,” Abby said, unconvinced. “Still, someone left a note on Gabe’s truck while I was getting Cheerio from the vet.”

  “How is Cheerio, anyway?” Lanie asked.

  “Good,” Abby asked. “Happy as ever. Everyone spoils him rotten, especially Hazel and Mr. Wilberson.”

  Lanie grinned,” He’s a good dog and very friendly, and he doesn’t jump up on you. I’ve been around dogs like that and it isn’t a picnic.”

  “Yeah, my uncle used to be big into pit bulls, but he didn’t train them,” Reggie said. “They were friendly, but way too pushy, even for me.”

  Just then Abby’s phone rang. When she pulled it out, it was Gabe’s number so she clicked on the talk button. “Hello? How are things going, Mr. Wilson?” she said playfully.

  “Not as good as I’d hoped, Mrs. Morgan,” Gabe answered, sounding tired. “I’m going to be up here a while longer. Where you able to get a ride with Joe?”

  Abby cursed silently to herself. She’d completely forgotten to ask. “Rats, no. I forgot to ask Joe if he could give me a ride home.”

  She saw Lanie shake her head and gesture to herself, mouthing the words ‘I’ll drive you.’ Abby smiled. “Wait, never mind. Lanie just said she’d do it.” She covered the phone with her hand and mouthed ‘thank you’ back to the blonde deputy before continuing her conversation with Gabe. “You sound tired. Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, more or less,” Gabe answered. “The reports of poachers are right. We found an old campsite with a half-butchered deer. Well, I use the term butchered loosely. Looks like they just cut some steaks out and then left the rest of the animal to rot. It’s not good.”

  “Did they leave any, uh, tracks?” Abby asked. She had no idea really what to ask, but that’s what she heard in the movies. She immediately blushed in embarrassment as she heard Gabe chuckle.

  “No, um, no tracks, Kemosabe,” Gabe said good-naturedly. “Looks like they just stayed here one night and didn’t leave anything. Not even any trash, so looks like they’re intent on hiding. I’ll be staying up at the ranger’s station tonight so we can get an early start in the morning.”

  “Okay, but keep in touch,” Abby said, pausing for a long moment before saying the next part in a rush. “And don’t you go getting lost on me, mister. Once was enough.”

  “I’ll be careful,” Gave answered seriously. “I’m not alone. Ben and Julia are up here with me, and we have rifles. Being taken by surprise once was enough. Hey, I have to go. Love you!”

  Abby smiled as she loved hearing those words from his mouth. Becky’s conversation came back to her about their vacation to Costa Rica and it made Abby’s stomach tingle for a second. “I love you, too. Hurry back.”

  When she hung up the phone, both Lanie and Reggie were grinning at her which made Abby blush even more. “Stop it!” she said, but smiled nonetheless.

  Chapter 10

  It was only a bit past five in the afternoon by the time Lanie dropped her off at the bridge, but it was already becoming twilight. She gave a sneer to the barricade as she walked past but was determined not to let it get to her as it had yesterday. The news that it might be going away within the next few days was not absolute, but it was far more welcome than the run-around they’d had before.

  The road up to the house, while well-maintained, was becoming noticeably littered with old pine needles and the occasional leaf. Despite
it having been only a few weeks, Abby was shocked to see how quickly mother nature tried to reclaim the road. She imagined what the road and landscape would look like with a layer of snow.

  She had thought since she was so far north that it would have snowed several times by now, but it was only just becoming cold enough for it. The Willamette Valley tended to block much of the cold air from the east, which Abby found to be mildly annoying. It was still cold, but it apparently rarely got cold enough for snow until January or February, and even then it was rare.

  Still, she was half-way hoping it might snow tonight. It felt cold enough to Abby, and there was even an odd smell to the air that reminded her of long-past snowfalls when she’d been younger. She still had a good hundred feet to the door of the house when she heard a noise.

  One that sounded like quiet footsteps.

  She stopped, turning toward the sound and peering into the deepening gloom but between the fading light and overcast clouds, she was not able to see clearly through the trees. She stayed like that for a long moment, her senses reaching out as she felt a small terror racing up and down her spine.

  Was it Demsey Danson? Or someone from the Association? It was difficult to hear anything with the wind moving branches and dead leaves, but once again she thought she heard what sounded like something heavier move in the gloom. Abby shook her head. She didn’t want to deal with this, but she had one thing she could do that she knew she could do well.

  She ran.

  Every morning, she jogged around town with Cheerio and while she didn’t sprint, she was perfectly able to do so, and now she did. As she ran, she heard a noise behind her as if someone started to run, but it didn’t last long. A muffled voice barked at whoever had run, and then the person stopped, but Abby wasn’t about to turn and look.

  She felt her shoes skidding on the ground as she ran. A detached part of her mind thought about how cliché that would have, but she regained her balance and continued sprinting for the door. When she got to the porch, she finally stopped and turned, peering back into the darkness. There was no sound. Only silence. Whoever had been back there had either gone silent or moved far enough back into the small forest that the person was no longer heard above the wind. Either that, or her heart was pounding so loud she couldn’t hear anything at all.

  “Dammit, Abby,” she said to herself, almost growling as she pulled the screen door open and then pushed her way inside. “Don’t stand out here and tempt them.” She got inside and pushed the door closed, then turned the old lock before leaning against the door and closing her eyes.

  “Is everything okay?” Came Hazel’s voice. Abby opened her eyes and swallowed, shaking her head at her grandmother who was peeking out of the kitchen door at her.

  “No,” she answered. “Someone was out there. I don’t know who it was, but they were hiding off the trail and when I ran, I think one of them tried to chase me.”

  “Oh dear,” Hazel said, reaching up and pulling a corded phone from the wall. The light-up numbers glowed faintly from her hand as she pushed a few digits and then held the ancient yellow thing up to her ear.

  A moment later, Mr. Wilberson pushed past Hazel from the depths of the kitchen and glowered darkly as he moved toward Abby. “What’s wrong?” he said gruffly, coming up to her and putting his old, strong hands on her shoulder. Despite his dour expression, she could feel the concern he had for her.

  “I was walking up the road when I heard something. I think it was someone, but I couldn’t see anything. Then I heard them move again and decided that running was a good idea.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked, frowning even more deeply.

  Abby nodded, taking a deep breath to calm herself. Her heart was still beating a mile-a-minute. “I’m pretty sure. When I ran, I heard someone start running after me but someone else told them to stop. I couldn’t make out what they said but it was a man’s voice. Deep.”

  “The sheriff’s on his way,” Hazel said, holding her hands over the phone. “Bill, go lock all the doors.” Mr. Wilberson turned as if he was going to argue, but Hazel stopped him. “Don’t argue, Bill. I know you want to go grab your shotgun, but it’s all the way out in the garage. I know you don’t like it, but the sheriff is only a few minutes away and I’ve already locked the kitchen door.”

  Mr. Wilberson squinted, but then nodded before moving soundlessly toward the back of the house. Abby watched him go before turning to her grandmother, opening her mouth to say something when a rock came smashing through the window of the sitting room next to the front door.

  Abby screamed, and she could hear Hazel yell as Cheerio and Mr. Wilberson came running back toward them. The old man was holding a fireplace iron and grabbed Abby, pushing her behind him and motioning her back while he faced the window. Cheerio bounded forward, putting his paws up on the small table that sat in front of the window and started to bark fiercely.

  “We’re going to get you!” came a woman’s voice, screeching faintly from somewhere in the darkness, followed by insane, rising laughter that faded into the darkness as whoever it was ran away. It was the same exact words that had been written on the note, and it sent a cold stab of fear deep into Abby’s heart. The voice seemed to antagonize Cheerio even more, and he looked like he was about to gather himself to jump through the window after the attacker.

  “Cheerio!” Abby called, frantic that her dog might jump and run into the darkness. She was relieved when he flinched, then looked at her instead of jumping. The last thing she needed was to have her dog running around outside.

  Then it hit her.

  This wasn’t just some town’s people trying to scare her. They may have been lying in wait for her in the darkness, and it was only her quickly deciding to run that saved her. She’d heard about it all the time and had taken enough defense classes that told her running was her best defense. That and screaming, though she was embarrassed to say she hadn’t done that part. Still, she hadn’t frozen, and that may have just saved her life.

  She joined Hazel in the kitchen who still had the phone up to her ear and was talking into it. Mr. Wilberson and Cheerio stayed just outside of the door of the kitchen in the hallway, staring toward the broken window but close enough to be supportive.

  They stayed like that until they saw the flashing lights of the police cars down by the bridge. A few minutes later they heard the deep voice of Sheriff Pearson through the door just after he knocked. “I’m coming in, so Bill, if you have your shotgun, don’t shoot. That’s the last thing I need tonight,” he said.

  Mr. Wilberson moved toward the door, speaking loudly enough to be heard. “It’s locked. Let me open it, and no, I don’t have my shotgun. Wish I did. Otherwise I’d have sent them off with a smile and a bang."

  Abby peered out of the kitchen doorway, relieved to see the sheriff walk through the front door.

  Chapter 11

  “Okay,” Sheriff Pearson said slowly, writing something down on his notebook after going through what Abby and the rest of them had to say for what felt like the fifteenth time. Lanie wasn’t on duty that night, but Abby was just as happy to see Sam if only briefly. The deputy was currently outside combing the area for any clues. It reminded Abby so much of the time when Rob Morgan had broken into the house looking for the treasure. He’d escaped by crashing through the back door and the faint flash and flicker of the deputy’s flashlight played against the windows now just as they had that night.

  Mr. Wilberson covered up the hole once again with a blue tarp and some duct tape. The sheriff had asked him to hold off for a few moments, but once he’d heard it was from a rock, he’d let him do his work since it was obvious there wouldn’t be any fingerprints on the window since the rock had been thrown.

  Finally, the man looked up with a grave look in his eye. “Looks like Sam will be the lucky boarder tonight, if you’re okay with that, Hazel?”

  Hazel nodded and got up. “I’ll go get some sheets for the couch. He didn’t complain last time, so I ass
ume the couch will be okay again?”

  Sheriff Pearson tipped his hat as he stood, “Yes, it’ll be fine. He’s a tough young man, so a soft couch won’t hurt him. They most likely won’t find much, so we’ll be back in the morning when it’s light. If you can keep Cheerio inside until we’re done? Or at least don’t let him go past the driveway? I don’t want him getting into any evidence, if we can find something.”

  Abby nodded but gave him a level gaze. “It was the same person that put the note on Gabe’s truck.”

  The sheriff looked back with a grim expression. “Well, the facts point that way. It was a woman, or at least one of them was a woman, and they used the same words that were on the note. That doesn’t tell us who it is, though. What it does tell us is it’s more serious than just someone pulling a prank.”

  Abby started to get mad and clenched her fist. “Prank? Is that what you thought it was before?”

  “No, at least not how you’re taking it,” the sheriff said, holding his hands up. “What I was hoping, was someone just trying to scare you with some juvenile note, but who didn’t have the gumption to go further. Now we know they will go further. That’s a whole different level of dangerous. We’re going to have to talk about what you need to do to protect yourself.”

  “What are you saying, Sheriff?” Abby asked, suddenly nervous.

  “I’m saying you’re going to have to start doing things differently. First-” He stopped as the door banged open and Sam ran in.

  “Sheriff! Josh just called! The mayor’s been attacked!” Sam said, his eyes wide as he reported to the older man.