Justice Overdue: A Private Investigator Mystery Series (11 page)

Something was terribly wrong. The power steering was stiff and unresponsive. He shut the SUV off, popped the latch for the hood, and climbed out.

The drive belt lay on the ground in front of the vehicle. It must have been worn out and finally snapped. He picked it up and examined the frayed ends. Although the rest of it appeared to be in good condition, it was unusual for a belt to wear in one spot and snap with no warning. The RAV4 was running perfectly when they arrived.

If he was at home he could patch it up long enough to get some help. He had every tool you could need in his garage, but that didn’t do him much good out here.

He stood with the belt in his hands, uncertain what to do. The vehicle wouldn’t get far in this condition. The engine would soon overheat and shut down without the water pump circulating coolant. He was miles from the main gate, and probably just as far from other campers.

Out of desperation he turned on his cell phone. No reception. He didn’t expect there would be.

What a mess this weekend had turned out to be. The unusable vehicle was repairable, given time, but the missing boys were his prime concern right now, and without the vehicle, he would have to find another way.

He spun around at the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs. Someone was coming. He stepped closer to the sound, held his breath, and strained to see.

He expelled his breath in a whoosh, overwhelmed with relief as Matty appeared at the edge of the tree line, Kyle directly behind.

He dashed toward them as they entered the site, knelt on one knee, and spread his arms wide. “Matty, where have you been?” He pulled them both close, overcome by emotion.

Matty hugged his father’s neck, his voice quivering as he spoke. “We got lost, Dad.”

“There was a bear,” Kyle put in.

Jake held his son at arm’s length, his brows knitted in a frown, and looked at Kyle. “A bear?”

“We got away,” Kyle said.

“I can see that,” Jake said with a hint of a smile. He stood and leaned over. “But what happened?”

“We saw a bear cub,” Matty explained. “And then the mother came and she was angry and we ran. The bear didn’t follow us, but we kinda forgot which direction we were going.”

Kyle bit his lip and looked at the ground. “It was my fault. I wanted to pet the cub.”

Matty put his arm around his friend. “It’s ok, Kyle. Everything turned out fine.”

Kyle looked up and smiled. “I sure won’t be doing that again.”

“What about your backpack?” Jake asked. “What about the bear spray?”

“I tried to get the spray out when we got scared. The backpack fell and we ran as fast as we could out of there.” Matty pointed over his shoulder. “It’s back there somewhere. Sorry, I lost it, Dad.”

A smile touched Jake’s lips. “It’s all right. I found it.”

“You were looking for us?”

“For a while. I was pretty worried.”

“Sorry, Dad.” Matty paused, then, “The compass was in my pack too, so we didn’t know which way to go.”

“Then we saw a cabin,” Kyle said.

Jake looked at Kyle. “A cabin? In the forest?”

“Yup. We thought maybe they could help us get back here, but there was nobody home.”

“How did you find your way?” Jake asked Matty.

“We followed the sun. At first it was straight up and didn’t help much, but it moved and we followed it.”

Jake grinned and messed up Matty’s hair. “You’ve no idea how worried I was. And I guess I had no need to be.”

“If it makes you feel any better,” Matty said with a playful look. “We were a little worried too.”

Jake chuckled and asked, “Where’s this cabin you saw?”

Kyle turned and pointed. “It’s that way.”

“Probably about a mile away,” Matty added.

“Are you sure somebody lives there?” Jake asked.

“For sure,” Matty said. “There were cigarette butts and beer bottles lying around.”

“And I saw stuff on a table in the cabin,” Kyle added. “And the weeds in front of the cabin were all trampled down.”

Jake gazed into the forest, his brow wrinkled in thought. He wondered if the owner of the cabin was the person on the beach, the one who destroyed the sandcastle, and the prowler at the camp the night before. If so, perhaps he was a harmless squatter checking out those who had intruded into his territory.

And now he had the problem with the SUV to worry about. They had to head back on Sunday and he didn’t know whether or not they would see another human being by then. If not, they would have to leave everything here and hike back; a long way to go if they took the same route they came in by. They could always hike through the woods to the highway, less than five miles away. Surely they could get some help then.

He decided if no one came around they would start hiking early Sunday morning, get some help, and they should be on their way home by noon.

Chapter 24

Friday, 2:55 PM

THE BOYS WERE hot and tired from their experience and wanted to go swimming. Jake agreed, the boys changed into swimming trunks, and the three of them went down to the lake.

Matty and Kyle ran straight into the water while Jake wandered to the left and perched on the rock where he’d fished that morning. He watched the boys awhile. Jake had taught Matty how to swim a few years ago and he had taken to it immediately. Kyle knew how to stay afloat, and Matty was helping him with some of the finer points of swimming.

He turned his attention to the calm lake in front of him, tranquil and undisturbed by the boys splashing twenty yards away. The water displayed countless hues of blue, reflecting the bright sky. He gazed into the depths of the clear water. Minnows swarmed just out of arm’s reach. A fish broke the surface a few yards away, ripples widening out.

At the far end of the lake, to his left, a flock of geese caught his eye, and then his attention was drawn to a moving patch of red. Someone was over there. More than one. He could make out three or four people at the edge of the lake. He cupped his ear and heard voices, laughing, talking.

He glanced over at the boys. They were back on the beach, rebuilding their sandcastle. He went over and watched them awhile. Finally, he spoke. “If you guys are done swimming for now, I’m just going to go down to the other end of the lake. There’re some people there and I want to see how they’re doing.”

Matty looked up and scratched his cheek with a wet, sandy hand. “We’ll stay right here.”

“I’ll be able to see you from there,” Jake said. “Just don’t go in the water until I come back.”

“We won’t,” Kyle said. “We’ll stay here and work on the sandcastle.” He grabbed a plastic pail, went to the edge of the lake, filled it with water, and then returned to where Matty sat.

Jake watched the boys a moment, and then made his way toward to the end of the lake, walking through knee-high grass, wildflowers, and over rocks jutting from the sandy soil.

As he drew closer, he recognized the girl he’d talked to in Whaleton the previous day. The other three stood in a group, talking and laughing. A pair of small tents was set up a little further back, just inside the front line of trees.

He looked around the site and narrowed his eyes in disgust. The previously unspoiled area was littered with papers. Beer bottles and empty cups were scattered around.

The girl smiled as he approached. “It’s nice to see a friendly face,” she said.

Jake grinned and nodded his head toward the others. “They aren’t so friendly?”

She crinkled her nose. “Not exactly what I expected.” She held out a small hand. “My name’s Holly, by the way. Holly Churchill.”

Jake’s big hand smothered hers. “I’m Jake Lincoln. I just wanted to drop by and see if everything was ok here.”

Her face took on a rosy hue at his touch. “Everything is great,” she answered, but didn’t look so sure.

She glanced toward her companions. Jake dropped her hand and followed her gaze. The two guys eyed them, the other girl coming their way, a paper cup in one hand.

“Hi,” she said. “I’m Rosie.” Her voice was slurred and Jake suspected something other than water was in the cup. She smiled at Jake. “Do you want a drink?”

Jake politely declined.

“Ok,” she said, and wandered away.

Holly watched her go, and then turned back. “They’re not much fun to be around today.”

“Certainly not my idea of communing with nature,” Jake added. He glanced back toward the beach where he’d left the boys. They were still there.

He smiled gently and continued, “I don’t want to sound like a stick in the mud, but the game warden might come around any time. He won’t be too happy if he sees this. You’re planning on cleaning this place up before you go, right?”

Holly sighed. “It’s not my mess, but I’ll clean it up.” She shook her head. “It’s the last time I go backpacking with strangers.”

A thought formed in Jake’s mind. “Were you camped here last night?” he asked.

She nodded.

He cocked a thumb over his shoulder. “Do you know if any of these guys visited our campsite? I saw someone last night.”

“I have no idea,” Holly said. “But I wouldn’t put it past them. It seems like they’ve been drinking and wandering around ever since we got here.” She glanced toward the group who had now turned their attention elsewhere.

“Did you ever consider leaving?”

“Yes, I did at first, but I think I’ll stick it out another night. Maybe head back tomorrow.” She giggled. “I don’t think they’ll even miss me.”

“Probably not.”

Holly nodded her head toward Matty and Kyle. “Are those your boys?”

“One of them is. The other one is a friend of my son’s.”

“Are you three here alone?” she asked cautiously.

“My wife didn’t come with us this time.”

“Oh,” Holly said, and looked away, her face turning color again.

Jake held back a smile and flicked something off the front of his shirt. “My vehicle is broken down right now or I’d offer you a lift back to civilization.”

“What’ll you do with no vehicle? Can you fix it?”

“I’m hoping someone will come around before then, maybe the game warden. If not, we’ll hike back early Sunday.”

Holly widened her eyes. “Perhaps you could give me a lift if I’m still here?”

“Sure could. Whether we’re walking or driving out of here, you’re welcome to come with us. I’ll check back before we leave. We’re not far away. Just up the grade from where the boys are playing.”

Holly laughed. “If I can survive that long.”

One of the guys lay against the trunk of a large tree, passed out, his drink beside him. Jake turned back to Holly. “Will you be ok here?”

Holly cocked her head toward the other two. “Oh, they’re ok. They’re just boring and annoying, but I’ll be all right. Maybe I’ll go for a hike by myself. That’ll cheer me up a bit.”

Jake considered asking her to stay with them but soon thought better of it. He took a brief look to where the boys wandered around the beach. “I’d better be getting back. I’ll drop by early Sunday morning, if not before.”

Holly sighed and said goodbye. When halfway back, he looked over his shoulder at her, still watching him. She waved a hand, turned and headed toward the forest.

He hoped she would be ok. He chuckled to himself. She probably learned a good lesson this weekend.

Chapter 25

Friday, 4:11 PM

VARICK LUCAS finished off his plate of beans and dumped the dishes in the washbowl. He was going to have to do something about the menu in this place. Maybe he shouldn’t have beaten that rabbit to a pulp; a bit of rabbit stew would go down good. He would have to remember to reset the snare.

He dumped a dipper full of water in the bowl and carefully scrubbed the utensils. It would be easier with hot water, and some soap, but he had no desire to fire up the stove on such a warm day. There were no clean towels anywhere, so he set the now spotless dishes in a draining tray and stood back. He still hadn’t swept this place yet. He would make a point of doing it later today.

Perhaps he would mosey into town tomorrow and see what he could find. There was a problem with that however, always a fear he might be recognized. That would never do. He might have made a serious error in judgment when he decided to set up home in this place, but then, no matter where he went, there was always that danger.

He had little in the way of a wardrobe, nothing but the clothes on his back, and he felt grimy. He sniffed a ripe armpit and grimaced. Otis didn’t have many extra clothes either. His ex-friend must have lived in that get-up he was wearing since he came here a year or two ago. Alas, his dearly departed friend had no suit to wear to his final resting place.

He dug inside a small cabinet and came up with a razor. He tested it with his thumb. It was sharp. He doubted if Otis had shaved for a while. That mangy beard he wore was proof positive of that. He dug some more but couldn’t find any soap. A bare razor with water would have to do.

Not far from the cabin, a small stream which supplied his washing and drinking water, curved gently through the forest. The water was always fresh, seemed clean, and he needed a bath.

He took the razor and a rag and journeyed down to the stream that burbled and gurgled over limestone rocks and smooth stones, making its way to Wendigo Lake. A family of ducks played upstream, paddling on the water. He wished he’d brought his rifle. Alarmed by his presence, they splashed across the surface and took to the air as he drew closer.

Footprints lined the edge of the stream—telltale signs of rabbits, raccoon, deer, and even a fox, which had come to drink. He didn’t mind sharing with them. They belonged there. Other humans didn’t.

He walked up the bank a few yards to where a naturally formed pool beckoned him, stripped off his clothes, stepped into the cool water, and rested on a smooth rock that was half immersed.

Without soap, it was hard to remove the grime from the clothes, but at least he could scrub the smell from them, and from his body. When he’d removed as much dirt from the clothes as he could, he climbed out and spread them on a rock. They would be dry soon.