A Little Learning (17 page)

“Don’t sell ‘Blue Moon Garden.’”

“I will if it’ll keep you from losing valuable parts.”

“It’s the best thing you’ve ever done,” he said. “And don’t give up on Amelia. If you feel something’s wrong, then you need to solve her murder—although I draw the line at digging her up to look for needle marks.”

“I’m glad to know you have limits. Besides, she was cremated.”

“There went the evidence. By the way, my limits do not include French fries. How about another round?”

While Jerry worked his way through another order of fries, I took out the Bufo cards and continued the letter search. “Maybe these three letters are an abbreviation or code for something else. Or maybe they don’t mean anything. Oh! Here’s a ‘T’!”

“If we find a ‘Y,’ we could spell ‘A CITY,’” Jerry said.

“Not much help. And we don’t have a ‘Y.’” I took my pen from my pocketbook and began to jot down combinations on my napkin. “‘CIAT,’ ‘TAIC,’ ‘ACTI.’ I’m just getting nonsense words.”

“We need more letters.” Jerry set his plate aside and reached for another handful of cards. We stared at the flourishes and curlicues until I was almost dizzy. After a while, he said, “There’s another ‘T,’ but I don’t know if it belongs with the other letters, or Elijah goofed. Now we can spell ‘CATTI.’”

“No,” I said with sudden excitement. “Now we can spell ‘ATTIC.’”

“Is there an attic in the chateau?”

“I’ll bet there is. Let me call Tori.”

Tori answered on the first ring. I had an image of her sitting by the phone, hoping someone would call.

“Yes, there’s an attic, but I’ve never been up in it.”

“Jerry and I would like to check it out,” I said.

“Of course!”

“We’re in Parkland right now. I’ll call you when we get back to Celosia.” I hung up and called Nathan.

This time, he answered, and I said, “We may have a good clue to the riddle. Can you meet us at the chateau, say, in about an hour?”

“That’s great, Madeline,” he said. “But I’m out at the camp right now. Why don’t you come have a look? Just take Route Sixteen up to Chandler Road and make a right. You’ll see signs for the camp. Then make a right on Camp Lakenwood Trail.”

“Okay,” I said. I closed my phone. “I’ve finally made contact with Nathan.”

“You look a little puzzled. Didn’t he say, ‘Hooray! The riddle’s almost solved! I’ll meet you at the chateau’?”

“No. We’re off to Camp Lakenwood.”

***

We drove back to Celosia, found Camp Lakenwood Trail, and drove down a twisting gravel road through the woods until we reached a wooden rail fence. The gate was open. We drove under an archway carved with the words: “Camp Lakenwood, Established 1954.”

“I wish it had a better name,” Jerry said. “Like Camp Wahchahooche or Camp Webelongen.”

“Maybe Nathan will take one of your excellent suggestions. Did the Fairweather boys ever camp?”

“Just in the back yard. However, I’ve slept in the woods many times.”

“I don’t think running from the law counts as camping.”

The road stopped at a small parking lot. We parked next to an ancient school bus that had been painted green with “Camp Lakenwood” in yellow letters on the side and got out. A yellow sign shaped like a lopsided arrow pointed toward a large log cabin. The sign said, “Welcome!” in faded green letters. Fallen branches and clumps of pine needles cluttered the pathway.

“Camp Novideo,” Jerry said. “Camp Bennforgotten.”

Nathan met us at the door of the log cabin. In his khaki shorts and green and yellow Camp Lakenwood tee shirt, he looked alert and full of energy, a direct contrast to the anxious, flustered man trying to organize mounds of paperwork.

“Welcome to Camp Lakenwood! What’s all this about a clue to the riddle?”

“We need to have a look in the chateau’s attic,” I said. “I thought you might like to come along.”

“Well, yes, sure, but I’m really glad you could come see the camp. Let me give you a quick tour.”

He was so excited, I knew I’d have to wait until we’d seen every inch of the camp.

“Come on in. This large cabin is the office and where the counselors sleep.”

The office, unlike Nathan’s apartment, was neatly organized. Besides the office, there was a large room with sofas and chairs placed in front of a fireplace. The furniture was covered in designs of bear and deer. A large tree stump served as the base for a table made of pine planks, and the walls were covered with plaques, banners, and antlers.

“Nice and rustic,” Jerry said.

Nathan beamed. “I know. It’s perfect. We’ll just go out the back door.” We followed him out. “And over here we have the cabins for the kids.”

On the other side of the large log cabin was a clearing of hard packed earth. In the center of the clearing was a huge ring of white stones encircling a pile of charred logs.

Nathan eyes were shining. “Here’s where we had our campfire every night with stories and songs. Some of the world’s best ghost stories were told around this campfire, and don’t get me started on the songs. Great songs, really hilarious. Let me show you one of the kids’ cabins.”

Surrounding the clearing were smaller cabins, all made of dark wood. Inside the cabins were bunk beds and little tables and chairs. Everything looked worn and smelled musty. Cobwebs had taken over most of the corners.

“Of course, I’ll replace all this with new stuff,” Nathan said. “And it wouldn’t be Camp Lakenwood without the lake.”

He led us down a slight hill to a wide blue lake sparkling in the sun. A few leaves had started to change, and the bright bursts of red and yellow reflected in the water. Rowboats sat upside down on the bank, their hulls cracked and full of holes. Faded canoes were stacked on the dock, which was missing several planks and leaned dangerously to the left.

“All the canoes and boats will have to be replaced, as well, and I want to have some small sailboats and maybe some wave runners.” He pointed across the lake. “On the other side are some Indian teepees that were made in the Fifties, and an obstacle course, and a couple of tree houses that are falling apart.”

He stood for a moment looking out across the lake. I knew he was seeing his camp restored and children, all in green and yellow tee shirts, playing in the water, rowing canoes to the other side to explore the teepees and tree houses. I exchanged a glance with Jerry.

“Everybody’s got a dream,” he said. “Might as well dream big.”

I knew he was talking about me, but Nathan said, “Exactly. Why not? Now, let me show you the crafts building.”

We passed some weathered picnic tables and a sad-looking basketball court with the remains of nets dangling on the goals on our way to another log cabin. This cabin had a long room furnished with tables and benches.

Nathan indicated the cabinets along the walls. “All the craft supplies are gone, stolen, I’m afraid. Parts of the rail fence are missing, too, but overall, the buildings are sound. I definitely want to install some sort of security system. You see I’ve got a lot to do.”

“It’s a beautiful place, though,” I said.

“Oh, yes, especially in the fall. I’d love to have sessions starting in the spring and running all the way through October.”

We came back out and stood looking across the lake. I still couldn’t understand why he wasn’t racing back to the chateau to search the attic. My cell phone rang. I checked the caller ID and saw it was Aaron’s number.

“Excuse me, Nathan.” I answered the phone, and the secretary said, “I’m sorry, Ms. Maclin, but Mr. Satterfield will be out of the office the rest of the day. Perhaps I can help you.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I want to make an appointment to see Mr. Satterfield tomorrow, if possible.”

“I’m afraid Mr. Satterfield won’t be available until Monday,” she said. “He’s on the planning committee for the Red Ribbon Ball, which is Saturday, and he’ll be making arrangements for that all day tomorrow. I can make an appointment for you for Monday, if that works for you.”

“I didn’t realize he was involved with the Red Ribbon Ball,” I said, as Jerry’s eyes widened. “That’s a fund raiser for AIDS, isn’t it?”

“Yes, one of the biggest in the city. Mr. Satterfield always takes an active part in these events. He lost his partner to AIDS last year.”

“I’m very sorry to hear that,” I said. “I hope the ball is a big success. I’ll get back to you about an appointment, thanks.” I hung up. Jerry’s eyes were still wide. “Aaron’s on the planning committee for the Red Ribbon Ball. His partner died of AIDS last year.”

Nathan looked pale. “His partner?”

“Yes. So I imagine Aaron is gay. Did you know?”

“N-no, I knew he left town to start a business with a friend, but I never—there was no indication—I mean, he was always doing all sorts of sports and outdoor things.” His voice trailed off. “I don’t mean that the way it sounds.”

A lot of things were making sense to me. “If you didn’t know, then I’m sure Tori doesn’t know,” I said. “I would think Aaron feels guilty for marrying her in the first place and then realizing he had feelings for his friend.”

“But he insisted on marrying her,” Nathan said.

“Yes, to spite Elijah. I seriously doubt Aaron could have told Elijah he was gay, and being married to Tori was a good cover for a while.”

Nathan looked as if he were beginning to understand. “He always seemed so angry.”

“So he finally left town and started a new life in Parkland.” I thought of something else. “And that’s why he doesn’t want to be involved in Elijah’s treasure hunt. He’d have to come back to Celosia and face a lot of things he doesn’t want to face.”

“I really didn’t know,” Nathan said.

“Okay, I’ll grant you that,” I said, “but it would help if you’d be honest with me about a few other things.”

“What? When have I not been honest?”

“Well, for one thing, Amelia Lever was helping you with the grant.”

He went pale. “Why do you say that?”

“I found a copy of the grant among her things. She’d written a note that said, ‘Nathan, you need to check this.’ And she was at your house a couple of days before she died, wasn’t she?” As he stammered for a reply, I said, “I found her cigarettes in the ashtray. Convince me you wear purple lipstick, and I’ll apologize.”

Nathan gulped, but didn’t say anything.

“From what I know about Amelia, she loved to ruin plans, especially plans with grants attached. Was she trying to ruin your plans?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Then what’s it like?”

“It’s complicated.”

“If you want me to help you, you need to tell me everything.”

“I need the answer to that riddle.”

“And I need to know why I shouldn’t figure you killed Amelia Lever.”

He almost fell over. “What? You can’t say that!”

“Why not? She was in your house a few days before she died. Maybe the two of you quarreled over the grant money. Maybe she threatened you, and you decided to get rid of her.”

“No, no. Please. Let me explain.”

Nathan sighed and sat down on one of the picnic table benches. He took off his glasses and rubbed his nose. Then he took some deep breaths as if gathering his courage.

“I told you Aaron was in Mrs. Lever’s fifth grade. Every now and then, Amelia would have a favorite student. Aaron happened to be one of those fortunate few. After he left school, she kept in touch with him. When he left town, occasionally she’d call me or come over to talk about him. She was a gruff old bird, but I got to like her. She knew about Elijah’s riddle. She kept telling me to be careful and not let anyone else know about it.”

“I think everyone in town knows about it.”

“They might know there’s a riddle, but not exactly what it says.”

“Fiona knows.”

“Yes, but I trust her. Amelia was concerned that someone else might find out.”

“From what I’ve learned about Amelia, her concern for you is somewhat out of character.”

“She liked me. She said I was one of the few people she could talk to. Really all I did was listen. She was worried about her sons marrying the wrong women. She was angry about how things were run at school. She hated giving the students those endless tests. A few days before she died, she came over to visit. You’re right. She was helping me with the grant. She said I needed to be extra careful because she thought someone was going to get my money.”

“Did she say who she suspected?”

“No. I told her not to worry. I’d soon solve the riddle.”

“Who else knows about this?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t tell anyone.”

“Does anyone else want this camp? Wouldn’t the land be valuable?”

“I can’t think of anyone else who’s shown any interest in it.”

“Okay,” I said. “One more question. Why don’t you want to go back to the chateau?”

He gulped and looked down at his shoes. “It’s Tori.”

“Do you still have feelings for her?”

“I wanted to take our friendship to the next level, but Aaron was there, and she chose him instead.”

“Did she know how you felt?”

“I got angry with her. I told her she was making a huge mistake. Then after I learned how Aaron had treated her, I realized he probably forced her into marriage. He’s always been very assertive. I could’ve helped her, but I didn’t. Now she doesn’t want to talk to me.”

Knowing how sensitive Tori was, I could understand her confusion. “But she’s helping us search. She wants you to succeed.”

“That’s sweet of her, but I know she still hates me.”

“She’s upset because Aaron left her. She thinks everyone in Celosia is laughing at her.”

“I’m very sorry she feels that way. It’s not true.”

“Well, don’t tell me, tell her. She needs to know the truth. Come with us to the chateau.”

He looked out across the lake. I figured he was thinking he’d do anything for a chance to own Camp Lakenwood. Then he looked back at me. “All right,” he said.

***

Nathan had a few things to do before he left the camp, so Jerry and I went on to the chateau. I was anxious to talk to Tori. I wasn’t sure how she’d take the news. As we drove up and parked in front of the house, I realized that Elijah had known exactly what he was doing when he left Chateau Marmot to Tori. If the answer to the riddle was in the attic, neither Aaron nor Nathan would have much chance of getting in, and Tori certainly wouldn’t have opened the door to Amelia Lever.