“You count, Sheriff!” Becky said with energy. “Don’t you go sliding into a big huff, too!”
“Oh, don’t worry, Becky,” the sheriff said. “Abby’s already given me that speech, but what I meant is I’ve been there for him several times when he’s needed a hand up. Now I’m just furniture. Granted, I’m the comfortable recliner that he uses all the time, but it was important for him to see new people care about him.”
“We do,” Gabe said from behind them. “He’s done a lot for us, if only saving you and Abby from being shot down by the state police. But it’s so much more than that. I’m glad we came today.”
“Me, too-”Abby began, but was stopped in midsentence when they saw who was waiting in the lobby.
“Oh, jackrabbits!” Becky said angrily. She started to move forward with her fists clenched, but luckily Abby reacted in time and put her arm in front of her friend, turning her to the side.
“Come on, Becky!” Abby said in an urgent whisper. “You can’t go punching police officers!”
“I wasn’t going to touch them!” Becky said heatedly. “I was just going to give them a piece of my mind!”
Detectives Mike and Ed moved forward, but instead of the smarmy look that Mike usually had on his face, he looked uncomfortable as he held his hands up. “We just want to talk,” he said to the stony face of Sheriff Pearson.
“Okay, let’s do this outside,” the sheriff ground out. “That way when I shoot you, I don’t hit anyone in the hospital.”
Chapter 15
Detective Mike grimaced and looked like he was about to get into the sheriff’s face, but Ed grabbed his arm and gave him a look, one that had him calm down fairly quickly before turning back to the sheriff.
“We’re not here to cause any problems,” Mike said grudgingly.
“Why are you here, then?” the sheriff said, still grim faced as he stared intently at the two detectives.
“We’re here to help,” Ed said, stepping forward. Ed was shorter than his partner and had a bit of a paunch, but he clearly had more brains than Mike.
The sheriff narrowed his eyes and frowned even more deeply. “Help with what?” the sheriff said, intent on making them say what they meant. Even if he suspected, he didn’t want to play guessing games with these two.
Mike’s lip curled up in a feral half-smile but he stayed quiet as Ed continued to talk. “With your investigations. Both Don Buckshire, and now the mayor.”
“Are you kidding?!” Becky started to say but the sheriff gave her a warning look before turning back to the two detectives.
“Lady’s got a point,” the sheriff said slowly. “Please explain why we’d let you within a mile of anything that has to do with our town?”
Mike’s eye twitched, and it looked like he might say something, but Ed put his hand back on his partner’s arm and gave his own warning look. After a second, he turned back. “I don’t blame you, but we’ve been given clear instructions to help you figure out these cases. I know you don’t trust us, but we can help you get significant time with the state labs.”
“Oh, yeah?” the sheriff said as he chewed his lip in thought. “Go on.”
“So, we know you have sent some pending lab results,” Ed continued slowly. “Currently they are scheduled for about three weeks turn time. If you let us help, we can get them turned around for you in a few days. You don’t even have to see our faces. You just have to share your findings with us. In turn, we’ll let you know anything we happen to learn.”
The sheriff continued to frown in thought at the two detectives. Abby looked at him, wondering why he was even entertaining the thought of letting the two crooked detectives close to this case. She leaned in, whispering to the sheriff as quietly as she could. “Sheriff. Why are you even thinking about this?” Abby hissed. “These men almost attacked us a few weeks ago.”
The sheriff turned and leaned in close. “I know, Abby, but you have no idea how much resistance we’ve been getting from the state labs. We can’t solve this case without their help, and frankly it’s not a three-week delay, it’s more like three months. These two blowhards probably know that, but I don’t know if we have a choice. I need those results back.”
Abby frowned but didn’t continue. She didn’t want to let the detectives in on the investigation, but the sheriff wasn’t a stupid man. If he thought it would be better to hold the devil close, then maybe he was right. Besides, it really wasn’t up to her.
“All right,” the sheriff said after a few more moments. “If you can help get those results moved through the lab quicker, I’ll take your help, but by gods, you better not even breathe around these investigations without letting me know you’re about to draw a breath. Am I clear?”
“Crystal,” Ed said and nodded solemnly at the sheriff. “The only thing we plan on doing is telling the labs to hurry up, and keeping our ears to the ground. If we hear anything, we’ll let you know.”
The sheriff didn’t answer but just watched the two detectives as they turned and left. After they’d gone, Becky couldn’t take it anymore and exploded. “What are you thinking? You know they’re going to do something rotten! You know it! Why did you do that?”
“Dang it, Becky,” the sheriff said, swiping his hat off and slapping his thigh. “I know what I am doing, and don’t think that was easy. Of course they’re going to do something rotten, but we need those results. Up until now, the superintendent has been pushing our queue to the backburner. I don’t know what’s changed, but I’m willing to take it, at least short term.”
“I’m telling you right now, it’s going to bite you where your mother split you,” Becky said angrily before looking at Gabe and Abby for support. “We all know it!”
Abby looked at her friend helplessly but Gabe nodded. “I have to agree with Becky,” he said. “This just isn’t a good idea. You didn’t see them the night they pulled us over. They were going to do something, and that means they’re capable of anything.”
The sheriff pursed his lips and looked down at his boots, nodding. “I know, Gabe. I know, and I appreciate what you have to say, Becky, but are you willing to put your friend’s life on the line?”
Becky pulled up short and narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean, Sheriff?”
“I mean, whoever these people are, they damn near got to Abby last night,” the sheriff said in a low voice. “If she hadn’t thought fast and run, they might have gotten to her. If it was the same people that attacked the mayor, it’s clear that they aren’t above killing. We need to catch these people, and fast. I don’t like it, but I think we need to take this chance.”
Becky remained quiet before turning to Abby and giving her a hug. “He’s right,” she finally said after a few moments. “Dammit, I don’t want to have those two Scooby gang rejects anywhere near us, but he’s right.”
Chapter 16
The trip back to Red Pine Falls was uneventful and quiet. Abby didn’t feel much like talking, preferring instead to mull over everything they’d learned.
“Can we stop by Butters?” Abby asked into the silence. “I’m feeling like some ice cream.”
Gabe smiled as he glanced at her and nodded. “That sounds like a good idea,” he said, then craned his head to look at Becky in the rear-view mirror. “How does that sound Becky?”
Becky grinned. “That sounds good. I’ll call Charlie and tell him to meet us there,” she said as she pulled out her phone.
A few minutes later, they were standing inside the ice cream store in front of Ben Martinez as they perused the colorful bins of different flavored ice-cream. Cheerio was sitting patiently next to the three friends but his nose was twitching as he breathed in the wonderful smells of the brightly colored shop.
“What can I get for you today?” Ben said, smiling his usual radiant smile.
“Two scoops of mint chocolate chip, please!” Abby said, grinning back. She loved coming into Ben’s ice-cream parlor and today was no exception. She needed the cheering up.
“C
oming right up!” Ben said, pulling out a sugar cone and getting to work. A few moments later, Abby was enjoying her treat while Becky and then Gabe made their requests. Gabe chose his usual vanilla, but Becky got something that was wildly colorful with sprinkles. Charlie showed up after they’d already sat down and busied himself with getting an orange-colored ice-cream in a cup before joining them.
“You don’t like cones?” Abby asked when the slim doctor sat down with them and after he’d given Becky a warm kiss.
“Nope!” Charlie said, digging in with his spoon. “Sometimes I can stand a sugar cone, but when I was a little kid in pre-school, the regular cones they gave us made me sick. I can never get that taste out of my mouth, even after all these years. Still, pumpkin spice ice-cream tastes just fine in a cup.”
“You are so weird, Charlie” Gabe said, ribbing his friend. “Are you sure you weren’t raised out on a commune?”
“Hey, don’t joke!” Charlie said, pointing at Gabe with his pink plastic spoon. “I have a couple of friends up in Portland that were part of a commune down near Eugene. Bob and Sam. Awesome couple of people, and they are hippies through and through.”
“Hippies,” Becky said. “They are the major export of Eugene even today. Still, most of them are nice.”
“You say that now, but when you have to deal with them wanting to be all one-with-nature out on the hiking trails, and you tell them to put some clothes on, then you get to see their real side,” Gabe said with a grimace.
“Has that really happened?” Abby asked.
Gabe nodded fatalistically. “Every freakin’ summer. Especially during the equinoxes. We try to accommodate people since they’re mostly harmless, but it can scare other people when they get a bit too rambunctious with their drums and face paints. One time, this couple came running into the ranger station saying they were being attacked by elves.”
“Aren’t you an elf, though?” Abby asked playfully.
Gabe grinned back at her,” Yes, but I’m a regal forest elf and hide my powers from the general public. I don’t actually glue elf ears on and throw bean-bags at people.”
“What?” Becky asked incredulously.
“Yep,” Gabe said, taking a lick of his ice-cream. “I don’t think they were hippies, but just some teenagers playing a game up in the woods. Still, I’d rather deal with them than poachers.”
“Do you think there might be a connection with the poachers and whoever attacked the mayor?” Abby said softly.
“What’s this now?” Charlie said, perking up. “Why in heavens name would Gil’s attackers be related to poaching?”
“It’s kind of a long-shot,” Gabe said, glancing at Abby. “We found a campsite with a half-butchered deer, and Abby was wondering if the knife used to butcher the deer might be the same used to attack the mayor.”
“Wow, that is a leap,” Charlie said, grinning at Abby. “Still, I’d listen to whatever Hurricane Abby has to say! No one can deny her streak of wins.”
Becky smacked Charlie on the shoulder. “Stop picking on my best friend!”
“I thought I was your best friend!?” Charlie said, rubbing his shoulder.
“No, you are my boyfriend,” Becky said primly. “There’s a difference.”
“I think I need a rule sheet,” Charlie said, leaning over and kissing Becky’s cheek and making her giggle.
Gabe grinned at his friend’s antics. “Sorry, Charlie. There are no rule sheets. You just have to take your lumps,” he said, reaching over and taking Abby’s hand in his.
“Is it really a stupid idea?” Abby asked Gabe quietly while Becky and Charlie were preoccupied with each other.
Gabe turned to her and tilted his head, giving her a smile that showed off his dimples. “Honestly? No. It’s not a stupid idea. I don’t give it a lot of chances at being a connection, but it won’t hurt to look. Sometimes, you never know what will crack a case open. We found some other campsites we think the poachers have been using, but we’ve had no luck tracking them down. We think they’re using bikes or something to get around.”
“Bikes?” Abby asked. “The peddling kind?”
Gabe shook his head. “No. Motorbikes. They have camping gear and are spread over too wide an area for the non-motorized kind. Some of their campsites are in areas a car or even a jeep couldn’t get to easily.”
Abby shuddered. Motorcycles reminded her too much of the biker gang that had come to the town and terrorized them. The police had managed to round up a lot of them, but some had escaped, and she still had nightmares about them returning.
Suddenly, as if summoned by her thoughts, she heard the sound of a pair of motorcycles pulling up outside. Abby looked toward the door, panicked at the possibility of seeing Wallace Jones or Bakes, his girlfriend, riding up on their motorcycles. Instead, it was worse.
Demsey Danson and another woman were parking some old, muddy motorcycles in Butters’ parking lot. The brutish Demsey slumped toward the door behind the red-haired, tough looking woman. She stopped outside the door, staring at the large man until finally she gestured to the doors and said something, prompting Demsey to open the door and hold it for her. With a sneer she walked into the ice-cream parlor.
Abby shrunk against Gabe while the rest of her friends watched the two enter. The two hadn’t seen them yet, but it was only a matter of time.
Chapter 17
“Don’t worry, Abby,” Gabe said quietly, putting his arm around her as they all tried not to stare at the two new arrivals. Demsey seemed preoccupied with staring at the floor, but the woman who Abby assumed was Gloria, headed right for the ice-cream counter.
Surprisingly, Ben smiled at Gloria as she walked up and when she spoke, she seemed polite. Secretly, Abby felt a bit betrayed by that. When she’d first set eyes on her, she immediately expected a coarse, brash personality, but that’s not what she heard as the woman spoke to Mr. Martinez.
“Hi, Ben,” Gloria said. “I hope everything is going well? Can we get two single scoops? Chocolate?”
Ben smiled and went to work, quickly producing the two cones and handing them over with a smile. “Here you go, Gloria.”
Gloria took the two cones and then turned, facing Demsey who had been standing behind her patiently. She didn’t give him his ice-cream right away but instead gave him a stern look. “Here you go, Demsey. This is for doing what you were told the other night. You did well,” she said, holding the cone for him to take.
The large man took it with a grunt, looking up at her through his stringy hair. He reached for the cone but froze when his glassy eyes suddenly tracked over and registered Abby and her friends sitting at the table.
Gloria turned at the reaction, and when she saw them, her face became intense as she gritted her teeth. “Demsey!” she said with a snap. When the big man didn’t respond but kept staring, she quickly transferred the cones to one hand, and snapped her fingers in his face. “Demsey! Come on! Let’s go!”
Demsey began to shake slightly, so Gloria reached out and hooked her hand over his arm and forcefully turned him away from Abby, pulling at him to follow. Abby watched as the chocolate began to melt down her hand, but she ignored it as she kept pulling, finally getting Demsey to follow her. They quickly got on their motorcycles, with Gloria dropping the cones and grabbing Demsey by the ears and making him look at her.
Abby couldn’t tell what she was saying, but it was impassioned enough to shake Demsey out of whatever he was thinking before the big man nodded. Then they roared off, as quickly as they’d come.
Abby exchanged glances with her friends, and all of them looked baffled.
“That was… odd,” Charlie finally said into the quiet. “I’m not even going to guess what that was about.”
Becky frowned, still looking outside at where Gloria and Demsey had disappeared down the road before turning to Charlie. “Don’t you remember about Buck and Samantha? Demsey is Buck’s brother.”
“Oh, yeah,” Charlie said slowly.
“Oh, yeah, is right,” Gabe said darkly. “I didn’t like the looks of that. It was like Gloria was trying to keep Demsey from doing something.”
“But what?” Abby asked in a whisper. “What was she trying to keep him from doing?”
“I don’t know,” Gabe said, squeezing Abby’s hand. “But it might be a good idea to let the sheriff know what happened. It’s nothing concrete, but with everything that’s happened lately, I don’t want to take any chances.”
Abby nodded and grimaced at her ice-cream. “Can we go?” she said sadly. “I’m not feeling in the mood for ice-cream anymore.”
Gabe nodded, standing and taking the cone out of her hands. He moved over to throw them both away as Abby wiped her hands on a napkin. When he came back, he helped Abby stand while he spoke to Charlie. “I hate to ask this, Charlie, but I’m going to take Abby home. You okay with giving Becky a ride? I’m sure it’s stupid of me to ask, but I don’t want to just up and leave without making sure she’s covered.”
Charlie nodded, rolling his eyes a bit. “Of course! I don’t need a list of rules to tell me that saying no to that would be a bad move. Besides, I was planning to cook some stir-fry tonight so was going to ask if she wanted to ride with me anyway.”
Becky stood, giving Abby a hug. “It’s going to be okay Abby. Don’t worry, we’ll get through this, I promise.”
Abby looked at her friend and nodded but didn’t answer. She didn’t feel like lying to her friend. Things had gotten dangerous so quickly, and she honestly feared for her future. Of all the things that had happened before in Red Pine Falls, she hadn’t been a target. Now, she was, and seeing how Demsey Danson had reacted to her had somehow driven that fact home.
She was being hunted.
“Come on, Abby, let’s get you home,” Gabe said, taking her hand and leading her out of Butters with Cheerio close behind.
Chapter 18
Murderous Intent and Deadly Desires Page 6