High Desert Detective, A Fiona Marlowe Mystery (Fiona Marlowe Mysteries) (22 page)

“Me? I got up early and took a walk. Where have you been? I
didn’t see you around. Did you spend the night with Mr. Hunky?”

Fiona poured a mug of coffee and sank into a kitchen chair. “Will
you please stop that? His name is Jake.”

“No need to get huffy.”

Fiona eyed her friend. “Where did you spend the night, since you
brought up the subject?”

Olympia sat up straighter in the chair. “I spent the night in my
own bed.”

“It was made and hadn’t been slept in when I looked in.”

“I made it myself.”

“You made your own bed? You’ve never made a bed in your life.”

Olympia grinned like a Cheshire cat. “I’m turning over a new
leaf.”

Fiona studied her friend. She had her hair piled on her head and
wore slacks and a rhinestone studded cotton pullover. She looked pretty plain
for Olympia. She wondered about the new leaf.

“You mean you didn’t end up in bed with Sweet?”

“Of course not.
He has a girlfriend.”

“That never stopped you before.”

“Honestly, Fiona. He’s too young for me. I told you I’m turning
over a new leaf.”

“What brought that on?”

She shrugged. “Maybe it’s this place. Maybe I’m having a mid-life
crisis. Maybe I’m thinking I should grow up.”

“That’s astounding. Even more astounding is that you took a walk
this morning. You’ve never exercised in your life.”

Olympia sighed into her empty coffee mug and said nothing.

“What is really bothering you?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. It must be this place. I seem
to be coming face to face with myself, and I don’t like what I see.”

Fiona nodded. “I’m having the same problem. There’s something
about the silence and the wind and the sun and big sky here that can change
one’s perspective.”

“It’s more than that. It’s the people. It’s the lack of pretense
in the folks. They’re closer to the land and Mother Nature. They’re more
down-to-earth.”

“It hasn’t taken you long to discover that.”

“I’m an astute judge of people, my dear friend. I have to be. I’m
a writer. I’m always observing people and what they do, how they act, what they
say. These people are friendly and open and don’t put on airs like city people
do.”

“I agree. As long as we are confessing, I have to tell you that I
want to stay here.”

“I’m not surprised, and I don’t blame you. I don’t think I could
live here permanently since my writer schedule demands city amenities, but I
could see buying a place to come for a retreat. Maybe I’ll sell off some of my
other houses and consolidate here.” She got up and poured another mug of coffee
and sat back down. “What about you and Jake?”

“I have to make a decision on an offer he made this morning. He
asked me to stay on with him, no commitment asked.”

“You could do worse. I like Jake. He’s solid.” She smiled.
“Real solid.
Absolutely hunky.”

Fiona laughed. “He is that.” She paused. “But there are problems
in paradise. Opal is selling Jake the ranch. She told Tillie and Howie this
morning. They’re upset. Jake is upset that Opal told Tillie before they
settled. But the really bad news is that Opal has leukemia.”

“Oh, no.
I am so sorry to hear that
about Opal. This is terrible. I can see why everyone is upset.” Olympia
reflected for a minute. “Real life is more dramatic than anything I can write.”

“It’s really sad about Opal. I bought a truck so I can drive her
back and forth to town for treatments.”

“You bought a truck?”

“Believe it or not, I did. I pick it up Wednesday.”

“I’m aghast. Fiona Marlowe, cultured city slicker, in a truck?
I’m jealous. Do you think I should trade the Red Bomb in for a truck?”

“Not yet. You just got the Bomb. Anyway, what are your plans? You
can’t stay on here indefinitely. Things are getting a little tense. I may have
to move myself.”

“I thought I’d drive into town today and talk to a realtor. We
could find something we could both move into. You want to drive along?”

“You bet.”

They collected their purses and were heading out the front door
when Opal, Tillie and Howie came down the hall from the office.

So that’s where they were, Fiona thought. They’ve been sequestered
in the office. She wondered what kind of a deal Tillie had gotten out of Opal.
None of them looked very happy.

“
Here’s
Fiona and her friend,” Opal said
to Tillie. “You remember I was telling you, she’s a famous writer.”

“Nice to meet you,” said Tillie. “I don’t have time to read
much.”

“Some people don’t,” said Olympia. “I’m enjoying your lovely
country. We’re on our way into town to shop.”

“Do you need anything, Opal?”

“I’m good. You girls go on and have a good time.”

Fiona drove the Red Bomb slowly down the lane, searching the landscape
to see if she could spot Jake. They didn’t see him so Fiona continued on into
town without having a chance to show him the photo she had taken that morning
of the gun.

* * * * *

Jake was in a temper when he got back from installing the
repaired motor. The cows had little feed in the new pasture, and he’d have to
move them soon. The goats had gotten away from Sweet, and they had spent half
the day rounding them up. Tommy and Glory had worked on the swather so they
could continue cutting in the morning. But they had found a stripped bolt, and
Jake didn’t have one the right size at the ranch which meant another trip to
town. He sent Glory after the part. Some days it didn’t pay to get out of bed.
But then he thought of Fiona’s kiss in the workshop, and the world came right
again.

He found Opal in the office going over the books. It was the
first time he had a chance to talk to her since the scene in the kitchen that
morning.

“How do things look?” he asked after giving Opal the rundown of
the day’s problems.

She looked tired. He wondered if it was the cancer or Tillie that
had her worn out.

“Jake,” she said in a hesitating voice. “I’m not sure how I’m
going to make ends meet what with the cattle that we lost.”

“We can sell off some of the bulls, if you need money to cover
the bills. We should finish the first cutting of hay in a few days. Hay prices
are high this year because of the drought so that will bring in more. I already
have a broker lined up.”

“You better sit down,” she said.

Jake didn’t like the look in her eyes. He sat down without saying
another word.

“Tillie,” she began and stopped.

Here it comes, thought Jake.

“Tillie and Howie need a loan again.”

Jake kept his face neutral. “Did they pay off the last one?”

“Not exactly.”

“How much do they owe on the last one.”

She cleared her throat. “They haven’t paid it back yet.”

“I see. And now they need more.”

She nodded.

“How much?’

“The bank is going to foreclose on their place if they don’t meet
the balloon payment this month.”

“Which they knew was coming, which they should have been saving
for but haven’t.”

Opal let out a long, low sigh that was a commentary on relatives
in general. “That’s right. They’ve never been able to make anything of that
hard scrabble place they have. It gets worse. Howie lost his job.”

“Again.”

“Again.”

“I guess AA is not an option.”

“He’s never stuck. Alcohol has him permanently poisoned.”

Jake took off his baseball cap and tossed it on the desk. “What
are you going to do for them?”

“I was trying to find the money in our accounts to pay off their
balloon.”

“It’s not there. We’re pretty close to only breaking even
ourselves.”

“I see that.”

“Opal, you can’t keep bailing them out.”

“I know. We’ve had this discussion before.” She looked like she
had been stomped by a couple of bulls. “I can’t let them be put out on the
street, Jake. They’re my relations.”

Jake was trying hard to keep a lid on his feelings and a civil
tongue in his head. He replied very evenly, “Maybe they should be out on the
street. They’ve been sucking the life out of this ranch for years. Maybe then
they’d have to grow up and be accountable.”

“I know you can’t understand this, not having any relations
asking you for money.”

“You have a soft heart, Opal. It doesn’t have anything to do with
understanding. I’d tell them to get out and make it on their own. How else will
they learn?”

Opal sighed. “I promised Tillie’s mom before she died that I’d
look after them. We both knew she never had much of a chance to make a decent
living with all the bad choices she’s made.”

Jake had heard this one before. “You promised all Henry’s
brothers and sisters you’d look out for their kids.”

Opal didn’t say anything. The psychology of the whole thing was
beyond him. He never understood her attachment to Henry, who was long dead, and
his endless family. He listened to the quiet of the late afternoon. Queenie was
cleaning in the other end of the house to the faint whir of the vacuum cleaner.
Off in the distance a cow was calling for her calf which reminded him he had a
thousand other things to do. He needed a beer but didn’t want to leave the
room. They needed to have this discussion. They needed to work out the future
of this ranch.

Opal looked at him. “I don’t know how to say this Jake, but here
goes. I might not be able to sell the ranch to you. I may have to divide it up
among the relations so they have a place to live and a way to make a living.”

Jake studied her with a frankness that made her look away, unable
to sustain his gaze.

He said, “I know how hard that decision is for you to make.”

She nodded. “It will break my heart. I got to have more time to
think. I thought when I had Albert’s estate settled and all my side of the
family off my back, that I’d get some breathing room.” She shook her head. “Somehow
I thought old age would be easier than this. I didn’t sign up for this part.”

“You haven’t had any breaks lately.”

“There’s more. I’m thinking to give Howie a job here, let Queenie
go and hire Tillie to help me around the house. I don’t know how the chemotherapy
treatments are going to go. My energy hasn’t been good. Tillie might be a big
help.”

“What about Fiona? What about the big speech you gave to Tillie
about not needing her help around here?”

“I didn’t know how bad things were for them.”

It was time for him to get that beer. He was going to say things
that later he’d wish he’d never said, and Opal didn’t need his coming down on
her, not with all she had on her mind.

“I got things to do.” He rose to leave.

“Jake,” Opal said, “do you remember what you were like when you
came here to work?”

He stopped and looked at her. “Yes, I remember,” he said at a
near whisper.

“No one had much hope for you.”

“No, I was a real loser.”

“And look how you turned out.”

“If it weren’t for you, I’d be a Howie today.”

“I know you think I’m crazy. I don’t know if there is any Howie and
Tillie to save, but I have to try. I’ve never believed that we were all created
equal. Some of us got the short end of the stick. As St. Paul said, we have to
bear one another’s burdens.”

“That he did. Now I better get to the thousands of things I have
to do.”

“Jake.”

He waited.

“Thank you for all you’ve done for me. I probably don’t say that
often enough. Let’s see how things go. Don’t give up hope.”

He nodded. “There is one other option. If you sell the ranch to
me, you’ll have lots of cash, and I’ll have all the bills to worry about, not
you. Think about it.”

* * * * *

Fiona and Olympia ended up at Lauren Brooks’ shop to consult with
her on places to live and who was the best realtor in town.

“I think the best realtor is an independent broker I know, who’s
lived here forever and knows the valley inside and out.”

“Thanks,” said Fiona. “Does she have an office?”

“She works out of her home. I’d call first because she’s probably
out showing places. What are you gals up to? People are still talking about the
last time you were in town.”

Was it possible that Olympia was actually blushing, thought
Fiona. She could feel her own face turning beet red. “We aren’t that infamous,
are we?” she said.

Lauren laughed. “This is a small town, you have to remember.”

“I keep forgetting,” said Fiona. “We thought we’d take in a
movie.
Any suggestions?”

“There’s only one movie house in town so that should be easy.
Better take a warm jacket because the operator keeps it about ten below in
there at all times, doesn’t matter the season.” She looked down at their feet.
“I wouldn’t wear sandals. There are reports of little critters that scurry
across people’s feet.”

“Yuck,” said Olympia.
“Critters?
Only one theater in town?
 
We better go when we’re properly attired in
parkas and snow boots.”

Lauren laughed. “I don’t know what’s more exciting, the movies
they have or what happens in the theater.”

Fiona exchanged glances with Olympia.
“Maybe
another time.
We’ll try to keep a low profile while we are here. No
drinking with gold miners, you hear, Olympia?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.
I’ve turned over
a new leaf.”

Back in the Red Bomb Fiona said, “I want to go by the Sheriff’s
office and see if Hoover is there.”

The office and county jail were only a mile down the road and up
on the promontory that gave Rocky Point its name.

Fiona pulled into a slanted parking place in front of a two-story
brick building painted a distressing shade of pink. “That is not a very manly
color for a jail,” she said.

“Maybe it’s a jail for women only,” said Olympia. “I’m excited to
see the new love of my life.”

They walked into a tiny waiting area. A woman sat behind a glass
partition. “May I help you, gals?”

“We’re looking for Sheriff Hoover,” said Fiona.

“I don’t think he’s here. Let me check. He was called out a
little bit ago.”

The woman left her station and walked into a back room. A deputy,
the one who was at the hot springs the day of the accident, came out to meet
them.

“The Sheriff isn’t here at the moment,” said Deputy Nathan Brown.
“Is there something I can help you with?”

“I wanted to show Sheriff Hoover a photo of an old gun I found at
the site where the bunkhouse burned on Opal Crawford’s place. I found it and
didn’t move it and when we went back to see it when Sheriff Hoover came, it
wasn’t there. But I found it on the couch of the new bunkhouse. Let me show
you.”

The deputy had remained silent while Fiona ran through her story.
He looked at the photo she showed him. “That could be any gun, anywhere. I’m
not sure what you think the significance of the photo is.”

“It proves that there was a gun.”

He shrugged. “It could be anyone’s gun. How do you know it is the
same gun as you found at the burn site?”

Fiona was feeling more than frustrated. “I don’t but I thought it
was worth mentioning. That’s all. Would you tell Sheriff Hoover that we were
here and why? I’d appreciate it.” She gave him a bright smile that she didn’t
feel. She had wanted him to be fantastically interested in her brilliant piece
of detective work and tell her what a great clue it was. What she got was a
glancing blow to her ego.

Back in the Red Bomb, Olympia, who had remained admirably silent
through the whole exchange with the deputy, said, “Fiona, what were you doing
in the buckaroos’ house?”

“Looking for you.”

“For me?
You mean, you thought I had
shacked up with the guys?”

“Yes. That isn’t unusual for you.”

Olympia was silent for a few moments then said, “I have turned
over a new leaf, truly Fiona. My past behavior shocks even me.”

Fiona shrugged. “I went down there thinking you had spent the
night with Sweet. The door was open. I walked in and called for you. No one was
there. I saw the gun that had disappeared from the burn site on the couch. I’m
sure it is the same one.”

“Let me see the photo.”

Fiona brought it up and handed the phone to Olympia.

She studied the photo for a moment and then said, “You can’t see
the gun very well, but it does look old and rusty. It might not be the same
gun. You might be chasing down a rat hole with this one.”

“Maybe, but if it is the same one, how did it end up in plain
sight on their couch? And what was it doing up on my knoll?”

“Hard to say.”

“Maybe it was one of the ghosts that live on my knoll. Maybe they
are playing havoc with the evidence.”

“Ghosts?
The plot thickens. Tell me
more. I love a good ghost story.”

Fiona told her friend about ghosts rumored to inhabit her knoll
and how they had been exorcised.

“Then, of course, they’ve come back,” said Olympia.

“Maybe,” said Fiona.
“Or their human
incarnations.”

Olympia rubbed her hands together. “This is getting really
exciting. Where to now? I’d like to drive around the neighborhood and see what houses
are for sale. I’d kind of like a place outside of town, preferably not haunted.
But I have a ghost tolerance policy. Nice reclusive place for the solitary art
of writing.
Just me and one handsome male ghost.
I’ll
require internet service.
How far to the nearest airport?”

“Boise. Three and a half hours by car.”

“I may need my own helicopter pad in that case.”

Eleven

Wednesday morning Fiona drove Opal to the doctor in the Red Bomb.
Olympia, still on her new leaf, had gotten up early and rode in with them. She
had an appointment with the realtor that Lauren had suggested. Yesterday they
had driven around Rocky Point looking at houses for sale that might be of
interest. But Olympia’s heart was now set on a ranch.