Murder in the Devil's Cauldron (46 page)

Viv twisted in her seat to look at the road
behind them. Fowler glanced at the rear view mirror, but the road
was clear.

She turned back to look forward and let out
her breath. "Any idea what that might have been about?"

"Not for sure," he said. "Possibly a private
investigator. I think she may have tried to catch up to me at
Naniboujou yesterday. But whatever she's up to, I don't want to
take any chances right now. We're too close."

"Let's just go, David," Viv pleaded. "The
camera's not worth it."

"Relax. I'll have it tonight or tomorrow
morning at the latest and then we're out of here."

"I think we're taking too many chances."

"Have I ever been wrong?" he demanded as he
drove into the Bide-A-Wee parking lot and found a space in the
back, well out of sight from the road.

"No," Viv said. "But I have a bad feeling
about this."

"We're one day away from being
multi-millionaires. It's worth it. Anything that big is worth
some
risk."

She gave him a skeptical glance. "You're the
boss."

"Good girl."

Fowler peered out the Lexus window. The motel
parking lot was practically empty. "Let's get inside."

"I thought you were going to the park or
something."

"I am. But I need to use the john and there's
no way in hell I'm going to the Visitor Center."

"Oh. Sorry."

Five minutes earlier, Starr had finished the
last of the orange juice and was wishing for a really big ice cube
she could slide down her back. The humidity had ramped up since
they had arrived and sweat was trickling down the middle of her
back, making it itchy. When she had lived in the Cities, the
humidity was so strong it felt like a sauna most of the time. But
up here, it was a lot trickier. Near the lake it was barely
noticeable, but once they got into the trees or up on the Superior
Hiking Trail, it was much stronger.

Charlie pointed out the clouds that seemed to
be hovering over the hills that ran along the hiking trail. "Look's
like the storm's finally coming in."

"Now?" Starr looked up, worried. She didn't
want her camera to get wet.

"Naw. Probably tomorrow. But it looks like
it's going to be a good one."

"How can you tell?" Starr looked at the
clouds. "They just look big and fluffy."

"See how tall they are? And it's been super
humid. Plus, it's the way it feels."

"Guess I'll have to live here a lot longer
before I see it," Starr said.

"You'll get it eventually," Charlie reassured
her. "My dad's really good at telling the weather. He grew up here
and says he's seen just about everything."

"Must be nice to belong to a place like
this." Starr thought of all the places she had lived, never in one
place long enough for it to feel like home.

"It's okay." Charlie shrugged. "Sometimes
it'd be nice to have things closer. All the really good stuff is in
Duluth, but that's a whole day, so we don't go there much."

"Like what?"

"Oh, you know. The mall. Movies. Stores with
cool stuff. There isn't a lot around here."

Starr grimaced. "It's not always that great.
There are a lot of mean and nasty people in the Cities to go with
all that. It's a lot more interesting here." She reached over to
grab a couple of almonds. "You know, you don't have to stay with
me. You could go over to the bookstore or something."

"Don't be silly," Charlie said. "I can do
that any time. Besides, you need someone to keep you company."

"I don't want you to feel like you're stuck
here."

"I don't." Charlie grinned. "Besides, wait
until school starts and I tell some of the kids I got to go on a
stake out."

Starr looked back at the motel as a car drove
in. She peered through the viewfinder, her fingers on the shutter.
So far, each time a car had driven in, it had been a false
alarm.

This time it was the real thing.

"It's them," Starr hissed. Charlie ducked,
peering at the motel through the opening between the bench and the
table.

Starr focused and shot Fowler and the blonde
woman as they got out of the car and again as they walked towards
the room.

When they got to the room, Fishy Fowler stood
facing in her direction as the woman unlocked the door and Starr
got two more great shots before they went into the room.

"Got 'em," she whispered with satisfaction.
She flipped the lever to move the film to the next frame. It
stopped almost immediately and she realized she had finished the
roll. Starr had one more roll of film in her bag and she debated
changing rolls, but decided it was too dangerous. She could do it
later. She flipped the camera off and put it back in the bag.
"Let's get out of here."

It only took a few minutes for Charlie to
pack up all the food while Starr strapped her camera into the bike
basket. Once they were all packed up, Charlie wheeled the bike over
to the trail. Starr followed, keeping one eye on the motel.

Once they cleared the picnic area, Charlie
was able to get back on her bike. She stood with one foot on the
ground and the other on the pedal as Starr double-checked the
basket and made sure the straps were nice and tight.

"If he sees us, just take off down the trail.
I'll run through town and catch up with you by the park." Starr
said. "I want to make sure he doesn't get the film or my
camera."

"But what if he catches you?" Charlie's face
was a study of utter dismay.

Starr grinned. "He won't. I'm too fast."

When Fae reached Bailey, she gave him the
nutshell version and got his permission to involve the local
sheriff. Then she called the sheriff's office.

"Hey, Sherrie," Fae said. "I'm at the Storm
Point Lodge. I have a real bad guy here and need backup. Is Mike
available?"

"No. He had to go to Duluth and said he might
have to swing by Embarrass before heading back here."

"Can you get me a couple of deputies?
Anything?"

"Well, I'll do what I can," Sherrie said.
"But you know what it's like out there. I had to send Luther off to
Ely for backup on an accident and the last I heard Greg was heading
to Two Harbors. I'll call the substation in Grand Marais and see if
they have anyone, if I can't get Greg or Luther."

"That'd be great. Thanks."

Fae hung up. Her biggest handicap right now
was that she didn't have a weapon with her. Worse, because of her
back, she wasn't in a position to get in a wrestling match with
someone who was determined to get away. But if she didn't act right
now, he could get away while she was fiddling her thumbs.

She went back to the desk.

"Ivy, could you see if the manager's in,
please. I'm also going to need a set of room keys.

"You bet." Ivy called the manager.

"Could you call their room and see if they're
in," Fae asked next.

"Sure." Ivy dialed.

Fae hated waiting. She liked suspense, but
only in movies. When it came to real life, it drove her bats.

Ivy finally put down the phone and shook her
head. "No answer."

The manager reached the desk, her eyes
narrowing when she saw Fae.

Fae flipped open her badge. "Fae O'Neill with
the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension." Part of her enjoyed
the stunned look on the other woman's face, but unfortunately she
didn't have time to take any pleasure in it.

"One of your guests may be a criminal we've
been trying to find," Fae said.

"What?"

"Right now I need you and Ivy to go with me
to his room. There's no answer, so they're probably gone, but I
still need to check."

"Who?" The manager looked at Ivy for an
explanation.

"The Fowlers," Ivy said. "You know, that nice
honeymoon couple."

The manager looked back at Fae. "You've got
to be kidding."

"I wish I was." Fae looked at Ivy. "You have
the keys?"

Ivy held them up.

"Let's go."

Fae led the way up the stair and down the
hall to room 205. She positioned the two women off to one side and
knocked.

"Mr. Fowler?"

No one answered the door. Fae knocked
again.

Still no answer.

"Mrs. Nelson, could you unlock the door
please?" Fae asked.

The manager took the keys and, hands shaking,
unlocked the door.

Fae pushed the door open with her foot and
cautiously entered, but the room was empty. Not only were Fowler
and his wife gone, but something didn't look right. There were
clothes in the closet, which made it look as if they were just out
for the day. When she checked the drawers, they were virtually
empty. She went into the bathroom. Same thing. A little window
dressing, but nothing else.

She went back into the main room. "Looks like
they've taken off."

"They didn't check out," Ivy said. "I
swear."

"I believe you. It looks as if they just
left. Maybe they overheard something or just got spooked."

"I didn't say anything."

"I know you didn't," Fae said, ignoring the
whine in Ivy's voice. "He's a pretty slippery guy."

Fae looked back at the manager who looked as
if she was a little close to the edge. "How hard would it be for
you to change the locks on this room?"

Mrs. Nelson shook her head as if to deny this
was happening. Finally she said, "I can get someone to do that
right now."

"Good. I'll try to get the sheriff to station
someone here in case he does come back. He probably won't, but it
doesn't hurt to be careful. More importantly, though, you have to
keep this to yourself. Not a word to
anyone
. Not even
someone you're sleeping with or someone who you think you can
trust. Okay?"

Both women nodded, their eyes round.

Fae used the room's phone to call Bailey and
let him know Fowler has gotten away yet again. Then she called the
sheriff's office to let Sherrie know what was going on and to get
an update.

Downstairs, she dug around in her purse and
found her card which she gave to both the manager and Ivy. "If he
does come back, call me immediately."

She looked over at the dining room longingly,
but there wasn't time to eat. She sighed. Maybe she could grab
another slice of toast at some point.

Fowler came out of the bathroom, the towel
still in his hands.

"I still can't believe you expect me to just
sit around here while you're traipsing all over the damn North
Shore," Viv pouted.

"I shouldn't be gone long."

"In case you hadn't noticed, this place is so
small even a mouse would feel cramped."

"Don't be such a drama queen." Fowler tossed
the towel on the bed and pulled on his jacket.

Viv gave him a look of disgust. "This place
sucks, David. At least let me wait in Grand Marais. I could do a
little shopping and you could meet me at that great bar in the
marina when you're done with whatever the hell you're up to
now."

"This isn't going to take long," Fowler
repeated with exaggerated patience. "We can go to Grand Marais when
I get back. And don't pout. It makes you look like you're working
the streets."

She tossed him a dirty look.

"Oh, get over it," he said. "Just think of
all that money you'll have in a few days. That should pass the
time."

"You keep saying that. But so far I haven't
seen anything other than a few low class motel walls. We keep
hanging around here because you say it's necessary, but I don't see
why
I
have to."

"Because I might need you. So you'll stick
around until we're done here." Fowler held up his index finger in a
gesture of eureka. "If I give you ten thousand dollars for every
hour you spend here, would that make you feel better?"

Viv brightened. "Oooooh. Yes. I think I could
live with that."

"Good." He opened the door. "I'll see you in
a few hours."

She wrinkled her nose at him, but this time
her expression had humor.

Fowler grinned and closed the door behind
him.

His grin disappeared a moment later as he
came around the corner. The girl with the red hair and her friend
were standing on the far side of the parking area looking right at
him.

He let out a howl and started running after
them.

Fortunately, Starr still had her eye on the
motel when Fishy Fowler came out.

"He's coming," she shouted.

Charlie looked over her shoulder quickly.
Standing on the pedals, she pushed down with all her weight. The
killer was coming fast, but Charlie pedaled as hard as she could.
He was still in the parking area when she got the bike up to speed
and she soon left him behind.

Grateful her camera was strapped securely in
the bike basket, Starr sprinted away at an angle, hoping to lead
the killer away from Charlie. Instead of taking the Superior Hiking
Trail, she ran in front of the motel and past Ole and Lena's diner.
When she got to the bookstore, she ran around behind it. Her heart
pounding in her ears, she turned her head slightly to see where he
was, hoping he wasn't close.

The killer was nowhere to be seen.

Feeling slightly safer, Starr ran up to the
Superior Hiking Trail and slowed. From here, she was able to see
all the way to the motel. Fishy Fowler wasn't coming this way
either. He probably had gone back to get his car. Since she knew he
couldn't drive on the trail, Starr slowed her pace a little and
headed down the trail to catch up to Charlie.