Incident At Elder Creek Read online

  Tucker chuckled and shook her head. She never tired of the on-going joke between them—this non-existent tab. “Thanks.”

  She winked at Jackie and started toward the door. After a few steps, she stopped and said, “By the way, just so you know, this is all a part of my plan to keep an eye on Leah.”

  As she walked out the door, she heard Jackie say, “Ri-i-i-ght.”

  WHEN LEAH OPENED the door Tucker greeted her with a bottle of Napa Valley Cabernet in her hand and a silly grin on her face. She acknowledged this new plan to keep an eye on Leah made her feel giddy inside.

  Leah looked down at the bottle and back up to Tucker’s face.

  Tucker said, “Something wrong?”

  “No, but from the look on your face, I thought perhaps you’d already gotten into your wine bottle.”

  “Nope.” She held out the offering and Leah took it from her.

  “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

  Leah jumped back, saying, “Oh, of course. I’m sorry. Please.” She gestured her into the front room.

  Tucker passed her in one long stride. When Leah closed the front door, Tucker bent toward her and gave her a peck on the cheek. Leah gave her a wary look.

  “What are you up to Tucker Stevens?”

  Tucker put her hand over her heart. “Me? Whatever do you mean? I’m not up to anything. I’m here for the company and to hear what it is you wanted to tell me.”

  A brief pause followed. Then Leah began laughing. “Okay, Tucker, whatever you say, but I still think you’re up to something.”

  When they entered the living room, a savory aroma of herbs and spices met Tucker’s nose. Her mouth started to water. “Something smells wonderful,” she said.

  “Thank you, I’ve got a chicken and some veggies roasting in the oven. They probably won’t be ready for another twenty minutes or so. Shall we enjoy a glass of this wine while we wait?”

  Tucker agreed. “And you can tell me your story.”

  The smile disappeared from Leah’s face. “I’ll open this and bring some glasses. Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

  Leah returned with wine glasses and the opened bottle of wine. She poured. They sipped and sat in companionable silence while half the liquid in the glasses disappeared. Finally, Tucker said, “So, what about this conversation between you and your student?”

  Leah pursed her lips before speaking. “You have to understand this may mean nothing at all. It did strike me as a little strange and I thought I might need to share it with you.”

  Tucker raised an eyebrow. “What’s it about, Leah?”

  “The mine.”

  Tucker sat up at attention. “Go ahead.” Tucker’s voice reflected caution. Would she tell her about some new opposition to going ahead with the plans for the mine or something else entirely?

  “We have a few freshmen who help out in the library on Friday afternoons. We organize and re-shelve books, sweep and clean. The kids start out doing it because it gets them out of class early on Fridays when they’re chomping at the bit to start their weekend. I like to think it gives them a chance to interact with someone who is more mentor than taskmaster, as they often consider their teachers, and they learn a lot about the library by doing simple things to keep it in good shape. After a month or so, they usually start opening up and talking to me more, which I think is a good thing for them.”

  “What you’re telling me is nice, Leah, but—”

  Leah held up her hand. “Let me finish. A couple of the boys were talking about going somewhere this weekend. It sounded like they might be planning something with potential to get them into trouble, so I tried to engage them about it. At first they were pretty vague. Then they finally admitted they were going to go out to the mine on Saturday night. These particular kids are too young to drive, but one of them has an older brother with a license who is willing to join them in their little adventure.”

  Tucker chuckled. “Kids have been going out there forever. It’s almost a rite of passage. When I was a kid—heck, long before I even reached high school age—I used to go out there with Jackie and we’d climb all over the area, trying to find a rumored secret passage into the mine—”

  Leah broke in. “But these kids were there two weekends ago. Apparently they got an older kid with a car to take them over there. They were making their way to the mine after being dropped off, walking a narrow path through some brush, they said. Fortunately, they were still well hidden because someone arrived by car and went into the mine.”

  “How in the world did someone get into the mine?” Tucker asked, distracted from the story and wondering who gained access. “Did they have a key to the padlock?”

  “Apparently.”

  “Did they see the person? I need to locate whoever’s in possession of it before next Thursday so I can take the engineer in to do a preliminary assessment of the place.”

  “The kids never saw the person’s face. It was past dusk—too dark—and apparently their line of sight wasn’t very good. There was nothing familiar about the guy. All the boys are from Portero, so if it was someone from Elder Creek, they probably wouldn’t have known him anyway. Even if it was someone from Portero, it’s a town of over five thousand people. What are the chances they might have known the person even then?

  “Anyway, they said the guy disappeared inside the mine for quite a while. The kids said they almost got tired of waiting. Kids don’t have a very long attention span, especially when they’re doing nothing. However, as they were debating what to do next, the person came out of the mine, got into the car and backed down the path at top speed. The car disappeared before they got to a place with good visibility without being seen themselves. About the same time, their friend showed up from his errand in Elder Creek to pick them up, and they went back to Portero without getting to explore or without seeing anything else. It’s why they were planning to go back this weekend.”

  They sat in silence, drinking the last of the wine in their glasses. Leah finally said, “What do you think about all this, Tucker. Any ideas?”

  Tucker shook her head. “No idea at all. And without identifying the guy, I don’t know how we’ll ever find out. Any information on the kind of car? License number? Anything to help?”

  “A four-door, with dark color paint, but they didn’t have any other details. From what they said, it was pretty dark out there and it was difficult to see through the brush where they hid.”

  Tucker said, “I don’t know what to think. It’s curious to think someone has such easy access to the mine and hasn’t come forward. Those kids didn’t see anything to indicate anything malicious going on, so I think there’s nothing to do but put out the word, again.”

  “Maybe so. I think I discouraged the boys from going back, though. I pointed out the danger of going out there. I’m afraid I went a little ‘taskmaster’ on them. I hope I didn’t destroy the relationship I’ve been building all these weeks since school started.”

  Tucker laughed. “I’m sure fourteen-year-old boys worship the ground you walk on, Ms. Hudson.” I know I’m starting to. “I’ll bet you have nothing to worry about.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Leah mumbled. “With someone who can drive them up there and take part in their explorations, my admonitions might not work. We’ll have to hope for the best.”

  The timer went off in the kitchen and Tucker’s stomach growled. Leah popped up from her seat and said, “Bring the wine, Tucker. Dinner is served.”

  Tucker tried to stifle her smile as she watched Leah walk into the kitchen in front of her, hips swinging sensually, beckoning Tucker to follow. Tucker realized, then, she would follow Leah Hudson anywhere.

  AS PEOPLE GATHERED for the meeting, Tucker stood with Leah and Jackie discussing tonight’s agenda. Jackie would give her proposal about people adopting historical characters’ personalities, and Leah would give a brief summary of the most colorful ones she found. They’d then find out if people were interested in following t
hrough with the idea as a way to give Elder Creek some color. If the idea appealed to them, then Leah would do more in-depth research and see what else she’d discover, so they would have enough characters to go around. Tucker would report on the engineering company they were about to engage and announce there would be a preliminary visit to determine what equipment they might need to bring in to do a full analysis.

  At Jackie and Leah’s suggestion, they decided not to announce the date of the visit in case there might be a problem with the unknown person with access to the mine. Finally, Tucker would ask the question about the key. Hopefully, whoever controlled the key would come forward. Then they’d see what would happen next. Because of Tucker’s conversation with the mayor and the city attorney, she confirmed the mine was declared eminent domain by the city years before, so the city attorney said, whoever went into the mine almost two weeks ago would be subject to prosecution for trespassing on city property. Tucker felt emboldened by this new information.

  The meeting went well. People were excited by Jackie and Leah’s proposal to adopt characters and stay within them during their encounters with the tourists they expected would come to town. When Tucker announced the engagement of the engineering firm, no one voiced opposition. People either sat and stared or acknowledged agreement with the information she gave them.

  Finally, Tucker asked about the key, telling the attendees about rumors of one existing.

  “Does anyone know who might have it? We’ll need it before the engineering company comes in. If we can get it, it will make things much easier.”

  People looked around at one another and a soft murmur ran through the crowd.

  Tucker continued, “I don’t know how many of you have been out to the mine—” Tucker noted lots of head-shaking. “—but there’s a big-ass old iron lock on those thick wooden doors. Excuse my French, folks, but I’m a little frustrated with this. If we can’t find the key, we’ll have to take bolt cutters to it, but it sure would be nice to preserve the lock. After all, it’s part of the mine’s history and atmosphere, too.”

  Tucker noted a lot of shrugs while she waited for another murmur to quiet down as people discussed who might have the key. When no one added anything, Tucker said, “Well, pass the word around. You never know who might know something. Someone must have the key or know where it is. If anyone can let me know who has it, I’d appreciate it. Now, if no one else has anything to add, I think we can adjourn this meeting.”

  As soon as she said it, people were on their feet. Some mingled and talked in small groups and others headed for the door.

  Jackie came up behind Tucker and said in her ear, “Now, we wait.”

  Tucker sighed. “Indeed, now we wait. And someone has very little time to produce that key.”

  Chapter Eleven

  SEVERAL NIGHTS LATER, Tucker sat at her computer in her hotel room. Light from the desk lamp shone in a diffuse circle on her desk. The curtains remained open, and outside her window she spied the sooty night sky. No stars tonight, only dark clouds shadowing any light from above.

  She refocused on the work on her computer screen where she defined the beginnings of a timeline to implement their plan for becoming a living history town over the next eighteen months. The mine details would have to be filled in once the engineering company completed their evaluation. She sat back, pleased with her work, smiling. This project would succeed. Even if it took longer to get the mine opened, they’d put all their other plans in place and build up the mine as a coming attraction.

  When her phone rang, she hoped for someone with information to allow them access to the mine. Her grin widened when she saw the caller ID. No, it wouldn’t be information about the key, but it pleased her as much—maybe more.

  “Hi, there, Leah. How are you?”

  “I don’t know, Tucker.” Her voice sounded unsteady, spooked.

  Tucker sat up straight in her chair, her heart rate speeding up, anxiety clawing up her back, settling at the base of her skull. “Are you okay? You sound rattled.”

  “I am, a little, I guess.”

  “What happened?”

  “I think someone tried to break in here. I heard noises. When I checked the back door where I heard them, I found scratches all around the doorknob and the lock. I’m frightened, Tucker.”

  “Hold on, Leah, I’m coming over. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Make sure everything’s locked up and don’t open the door ’til I get there.”

  When Tucker drove up to Leah’s, she found the house lit up like a Christmas tree with every light in the house on in spite of the late hour. She parked at the edge of the dirt and gravel strip bordering the yard and headed for the porch. When she reached the front door, Leah pulled it open. Her face was ashen. Tucker stepped inside, pushed the door closed and engaged the lock. Then she grasped Leah’s shoulders and pulled her into a hug.

  Tucker felt her tremble. She kissed the top of Leah’s head and rubbed her back, trying to offer comfort. “It’s okay, Leah, honey. I’m here now. I’ve got you. Everything’s going to be all right.”

  Leah pushed into Tucker’s body until Tucker almost lost her footing.

  “Let’s sit down in the living room and you tell me everything, okay?”

  Leah sniffled and smashed herself up against Tucker’s side as they walked into the living room and sat down together on the couch.

  “When you’re ready, you go ahead. Start at the beginning and don’t leave out any details, okay? I’ll listen.”

  Leah pulled a tissue out of a box on the table in front of them and dabbed at her eyes. She blew her nose, crumpled up the tissue in her hand, took a deep breath and began. “I finished getting ready for bed.”

  Tucker noticed Leah’s street clothes.

  “I went back into the bathroom to hang up my towel and I thought I heard something at the back of the house. I figured it might be a raccoon rooting around back there so I didn’t think much of it. All the lights were off except my bedside lamp because I planned to head to bed to read for a while—a nice, relaxing evening, you know?”

  She paused to compose herself. Tucker tried to encourage her with a smile. Leah twisted a corner of the tissue in her hands.

  “My bedroom’s at the back of the house.”

  Tucker considered the back bedroom, her mother’s old room.

  Leah continued, “I went into the bedroom and shut off the light because I figured I’d be able to see into the dark yard better, but between the screen on the window and angle in trying to look down the length of the house to the back porch, I wasn’t able to see much, but as I tried to change my perspective, I saw movement. Maybe my imagination playing tricks, I thought, but I saw a dark figure hunched over at the back door. I heard the scraping sound all the way down the length of the house.”

  Leah shivered against Tucker’s body. Tucker put her arm around Leah’s shoulders and pulled her in closer.

  “I froze for a few seconds. Then I thought, what am I doing? Am I going to stand here while someone breaks in and does god-knows-what to my home? To me? So I tiptoed into the kitchen and picked up my cast iron skillet off the stove and went to the back door with it raised over my head, ready to smash the bastard’s head in.”

  Tucker smiled against Leah’s hair where she laid her head, comforting her. Tucker knew Leah well enough now to know she wasn’t the type to swear a lot—or to threaten violence. It sounded comical coming from her—until the seriousness of the story settled in on Tucker again.

  Leah continued, “I don’t know if he saw me coming and ran, or what happened, but once I got to the kitchen door and peeked out the window, everything was quiet. I saw no one. I opened the back door and I found the scrapes. I know they weren’t there before. I slammed the door shut as fast as possible, locked it, and ran and called you. Then I went around the house turning every light on and waited for you to come.”

  “And you got dressed,” Tucker added.

  “I got dressed before I wielded the fry
ing pan. I’d never open the door in my nightgown.”

  Tucker imagined Leah in a nightgown. She sighed and pushed the image away. Not appropriate, Tucker Stevens.

  Leah sniffed again. “It didn’t take you long. Thank you for coming so quickly.”

  Tucker pulled Leah closer again. “You’re welcome. It didn’t take me long because I’ve been up working on the timeline, which I’ve finished as much as I can, by the way. After you called I grabbed my keys and took off. It only takes about two minutes by car.”

  They sat together, Leah leaning her head against Tucker’s shoulder, Tucker’s arm wrapped around her protectively, for a few more minutes.

  Then, Tucker said, “Now, how about we both go take a look at your door together? Then we’ll decide if we need to call the sheriff.”

  LEAH GRASPED TUCKER’S hand as they approached the back door. Tucker switched on the porch light and peered out the small window set into the door. The tiny back porch shone in an amber glow, lighting the four-foot square and the single step down to the backyard. Tucker and a neighbor added the overhanging roof, supports, and a railing the summer before she left for college. Her mom liked to throw out stale bread from the porch for the birds. Tucker tried to tell her other varmints were attracted to the bread, too, but her mom insisted on doing it, so Tucker wanted her to have a little protection from the sun, which beat down pretty mercilessly in summer, and from winter precipitation.

  Her examination of the porch through the window tonight didn’t show anything out of place. When she reached for the lock, she heard Leah, now standing behind her and no longer tethered to Tucker, take in a breath.

  Tucker gave her a reassuring smile. “It’ll be okay.”

  Leah’s shoulders relaxed.

  Tucker twisted the knob and pulled the door open into the kitchen. Fresh gouges in a haphazard pattern marked the door around the handle and the lock. Tucker tilted her head, contemplating the marks. Could it have been a bear? Maybe, but she didn’t think a bear would concentrate its scratching to so specific an area as the door knob.