A Fair to Die For (4 page)

“Yes, it does, and you are most welcome.” The two women hugged, and, with a wave at Henry, Edie headed toward her rental car.

“What do you think?” Carrie asked as they drove out of the restaurant parking lot. “I’m in a muddle over all this. What was her main reason for coming here? Was it really to find us, or, more accurately, find me? I’d sure like to think finding me was at least part of her reason, but what’s the rest of the story? Why the great interest in crafts and War Eagle? My usual ability to read people has failed me. She hinted at wanting to ask for our help with something, probably research concerning her father’s business activities and disappearance. Otherwise, why take the time to give us all the background history on drug use?”

Henry said, “It’s quite possible she did it to soften a negative impact if she eventually told us about whatever her father’s illegal dealings might have been—assuming they were illegal.”

“Well, it fits. When she learned about you, and our adventures together, I think it fed an interest in asking for our help in some way. Henry, what on earth does she believe we could contribute? All we know about Mexico and drugs comes from the horrible stories we read in the newspapers. Things have undoubtedly changed a lot there since her father disappeared. Surely she must be aware of that.”

Henry started the car and backed out of their parking place before he said, “Your ability to read people hasn’t failed at all. I’d assess things, if that doesn’t sound too cold, just as you say. Let’s assume this Cousin Edie, maybe mostly because of a request from her mother, really did come here to find you. And, when she succeeded, somehow the story of our activities fed into her quest to learn the story behind her father’s disappearance, and possibly other things beyond that. Maybe I stopped our learning more by shutting off the discussion about her father and drugs, but the whole issue makes me feel squinchy, as you would put it. Cara, I don’t want us involved in this at all. We can keep Edie as a pleasant acquaintance and maybe a real cousin, but we’ll stay out of the problems she is, unfortunately, involving herself in.”

Remembering what Edie had said about her mother caused Carrie to hesitate. “I do like her, though, and maybe it’s not as bad as we suspect. She said she wants to provide closure for her mother. Maybe there’s some fairly simple way to find out where and how her father died. After all, he was an American citizen.”

“Okay, Carrie, I like her too, she’s an intelligent, pleasant woman, though perhaps a bit too serious, which is probably understandable, given her circumstances. I sympathize with your compassion for her. It’s admirable. However, if she asks for help related to her father’s disappearance, we must say no.

“Here’s a question. If finding out what happened to her father is going to be simple, why wasn’t it done years ago?”

She was silent for a couple of minutes, then said, “You’re right, and I realize whatever is behind her story could be scary. It undoubtedly goes way beyond one man’s business activities.”

“Yes, exactly, and that’s another good reason to avoid involvement. I don’t want you to worry about it, or feel you’re letting her down, but the fact you may be related to this woman shouldn’t change the need to act wisely. We could so easily get in way over our heads.

“There’s something else I’ve been wondering,” he said. “Why now? What really brought Edie here
now?
She’s been retired for several years, and her father has been missing much longer than that. Why
come
to
look
you
up
now
?”

“I hadn’t thought of that, but I see what you mean, though I really wish it had only been to find me, a long-lost cousin.” She sighed. “Of course you’re right about staying out of Edie’s problems. We can be sympathetic, but cautious. Maybe nothing more about her quest will come up. She has to be aware you discouraged any approach to us for whatever help she imagines we might give. And, so far, she hasn’t really proved she’s my cousin, has she? I suppose she could have learned some of the family information she shared elsewhere?”

“Yes. With the Internet, exposure of too much personal information is often possible.”

“I know, I know, but I wish . . .” She sighed. “Oh well, maybe tomorrow will bring more certainty.” She took out her cell phone. “Speaking of information, I’m going to call Irene and thank her for guiding Edie to us. I know her well enough to guess she’s probably agonizing about whether or not she did the right thing by giving Edie our number.”

Henry, paying attention to driving, only half listened to what was obviously pleasant female chit-chat for a few minutes. Then Carrie’s sharp question grabbed his interest.

“You
didn’t
? Not at all? Well, that is interesting. Must be some mix-up on her part.

“Oh, yes, that’s probably what happened. I know you can get a surprising amount of information from the Internet.

“Yes, okay. It might be interesting to learn that. Call me if you find out anything, but don’t go to any special bother.

“Now, tell me more about your new granddaughter.”

Sounds like, however she got Carrie’s contact information, Cousin Edie didn’t get it from Irene at the library. Hmm. Then, why did she tell us that? Surely she was aware Carrie might talk to her friend eventually, and find out. Whatever—it adds up to one more reason for staying away from this whole situation. I sure hope Carrie is being honest with me and feels all right about avoiding involvement. If they’d been in touch over the years it might be different, but, after all, they barely know each other. Blood relationship doesn’t matter.

I hope.

As soon as her conversation was over, Carrie told Henry just what he’d already suspected.

“Irene says she hasn’t helped anyone learn my location or phone number. Not a cousin of mine, not anyone, not ever. Besides that, yesterday was her day off.

“She says Edie must have talked to someone else in the library who knows I used to work there. That someone probably helped with the Internet search. She’s going to ask around tomorrow to see if another library assistant remembers talking to Edie.”

“Interesting.”

“Sure is.”

First thing the following morning Carrie did a computer search for information about herself. After some fumbling she discovered multiple listings, many of them connected to her work for several high-profile volunteer organizations. She learned, not only her address and phone number, but her birth date and age.
Oh, for heaven’s sake, what’s happened to privacy?

Bother!

“I still haven’t been able to figure out why Edie would lie about talking to my friend at the library,” she said to Henry as they got in the car for the drive to Edie’s motel. I can’t see any reason for her to make up a story like that, can you?”

“Nope. Maybe she’s an habitual liar. Some people lie almost without thinking.”

“Ahh, maybe so, but why this particular lie? I don’t see any need for it.”

“Because she didn’t want to reveal how she really found information about you.”

‘Oh gosh. I’m feeling squinchy again. Henry, this gets curiouser and curiouser.”

“Uh-huh. Well, we know enough to be cautious, but that doesn’t mean we won’t have a good time today. We always enjoy going to War Eagle Mill, and we both love that bowl of beans with cornbread in their restaurant. Let’s stop at Hobbs State Park first, since it’s just down the road. If Cousin Edie is game, we can do a bit of hiking there. That ought to work up a good appetite for lunch.”

“Great idea. Now I really am looking forward to today. Oh, slow down, I see the motel sign over there.” She pointed. “Just pull up at the door; Edie’s probably waiting in the lobby. I’ll run in and get her.”

In a minute she was back. “Better park. She isn’t down yet. I’ll sit in the lobby and wait. If she doesn’t show up in a few minutes I’ll ask them to phone her room. That’ll give her a little hurry-up shove.” She smiled at him, blew a kiss, and disappeared through the automatic doors.

It was several minutes before she appeared again, frowning this time. She slid in the car beside him and sat silently for so long he asked, “What?”

“She didn’t stay there.”

He stared at her. “Are you sure? This is the name and location she gave us. You wrote it down.”

“They say she cancelled her reservation late last evening, so it’s the right place—or was. I decided to call her room at 10:15 because I considered that too late for politeness. That’s when they told me at the desk she hadn’t stayed in this motel, though the clerk admitted she’d had a reservation here. When I questioned him a bit too strenuously, he called the manager, and she confirmed what he’d said. Henry, what is going on? Should I go back in, show them the picture of Edie on my phone, and make sure they know what they’re talking about?”

“It will be a different clerk on duty this morning. Besides, if you took the phone in to show a photo, it could cause more stir than we want. For some reason the woman decided to change motels or leave altogether. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“Henry, what’s up with her? We were home last night, and I told her we were early risers. Why didn’t she call to explain, or to say goodbye?”

“I’m sorry, Little Love. It’s hard not to be angry that she did this to you.”

“I’m not angry, I’m worried. Just to go away without any . . . any goodbye, well, I’d
never
do that.”

“I know.”

“Henry, do you think she left because she figured we weren’t going to be any help in finding out what happened to her father? Is that the only reason she came to see me?”

“She didn’t seem to know you’d re-married. I assume she didn’t know about our adventures before you told her about them.”

“Maybe, maybe not. There’s the Internet, remember? So, now what? I guess we should drive around the parking area to be sure her car isn’t here.”

“Okay.” He said nothing more as they drove around all four sides of the motel and pulled up in front again.

“No tan Ford.”

“Nope.”

After a long silence, Carrie said, “Then that’s that. Goodbye, Cousin Edie, it was nice knowing you.”

He put his hand on her knee briefly and said, “Well, we’re half-way there, so let’s head for War Eagle Mill to get our biscuit mix and whatever else we need. Then, since it’s a beautiful day, shall we go on to Hobbs Park and walk the Ozarks Plateau trail, maybe sit on one of the benches a while and enjoy the fall scenery?”

Her smile wavered as she said, “I’d like that. Hobbs is such a beautiful place. Too bad we couldn’t show it to Edie, but it’s just what I need right now.”

Chapter Four
PREPARING FOR THE FAIR

On the following Monday morning, Carrie said, “You’ll have a good time.”

Henry turned away from the door to the garage, pursed his lips for a minute, then said, “Doubtful. A whole day in grade school classes? Dozens of kids staring at me? I haven’t a clue what they expect.”

“They expect a big, strong, handsome man who’s going to tell them what it’s like to be a cop—the good parts, at least. What you’re going to say sounds great. They’ll love it, especially the first-person experiences you’ll be telling them.You’ve got your notes. You’ve practiced. Once you get started you’ll forget about being anxious and really will have a good time.”

“I don’t know . . . I want it to be right, and things have changed some since I was a working law officer.”

As he reached for the door handle again she said, “Phooey. Remember how you said you loved hearing your grandpa’s stories from years past?” She swatted him on the rear and continued, “Go be Grandpa.”

They both laughed. Then he was gone, and Carrie went to get the gift he had just given her,
The Grass Valley Bistro Cookbook,
by John Bohnert. She wanted to fix a really special supper for his return, and was counting on a recipe from the chef’s book to help her out. Lunch in a grade school cafeteria probably wasn’t designed for large males who were spending all that energy telling young kids about police work. Henry would be ready for a super-terrific supper. She was depending on Chef John to provide that.

After thirty minutes of studying recipes she decided on Crock Pot Beef Stew. Since she’d be helping Shirley get ready for her set-up at the War Eagle Craft Fair all afternoon, and a meal prepared in a slow cooker pretty much took care of itself, the stew recipe was perfect.

She made a list of the ingredients she’d need, grabbed her purse, and left for the grocery store.

Carrie was putting the makings for beef stew out on the kitchen counter when a dark blue car bumped down their lane and pulled up in front of the garage doors.

Who
?

Not a car belonging to any of their friends. Couldn’t be the assessor, their cars were white, and clearly marked. Jehovah’s Witnesses? Doubtful, they were here last week. Someone searching for a lost pet? Could be, but it looked like the two men in the car had on suits and ties. Law enforcement? Police officers and sheriff’s deputies in this area wore uniforms.

“Oh my gosh, was it about Rob? No! Couldn’t be. Her son had called from his apartment near the university not more than an hour ago. He had no classes or student appointments scheduled until afternoon, so planned to spend the morning at home grading exams from his American Indian History class.

Nevertheless . . .

When the man on the passenger side got out, his jacket swung back and she saw part of a shoulder holster. A gun? Well, not inside her house. She stepped back from the kitchen window and watched to see if the man with the concealed gun was coming to the door by himself. He was. The driver stayed in the car.

She would open the door to one man, just to make sure about Rob.

After the doorbell rang she continued to wait until she was sure the man in the car was staying put. Then she went to the hall, fastened the security chain, and cracked the door open.

“Yes?”

“Ms. Edith Embler?”

Is that a question? Does he know I’m not Edie? What should I say?