Spring into Murder (Alaska Cozy Mystery Book 5) Page 9

  Sarah smiled. “You're getting it, girl,” she said. “We'll stay on this side of the river and keep moving.”

  Andrew checked his rifle again and looked around. So far, there had been no sign of bears, not even a footprint. “I guess we're good for now,” he said and checked his watch. “Okay, let's move.”

  Sarah marked a tree with her spray paint and got moving. She followed Andrew and Amanda deeper into the woods and didn't stop walking until an hour passed, almost without her noticing it. “Hey,” Andrew said and waved his hands at Sarah and Amanda, “look at this.”

  Sarah felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her heart. She raced up to Andrew with Amanda at her side. Andrew bent down and examined two pieces of cut rope that lay on the trail. From their size, they looked perfect for tying a person's hands and feet together. “Now why would this rope be way out here?”

  Sarah moved next to Andrew, studying it as close as she dared. And there, like a sweet blessing, she spotted a single arm hair caught in the rope. “Hello, there,” she whispered and pulled a plastic evidence bag from her right pocket. Andrew passed her a latex glove from his pocket so she could gingerly place the ropes inside the bag. “Andrew, you're a great cop. Never think otherwise,” she said.

  Andrew smiled from ear to ear. “Thanks.”

  “So, does this mean we turn back?” Amanda asked in a hopeful voice.

  “Nope,” Sarah said and pointed forward. “We need to keep walking and—” Sarah stopped talking when she heard the sound of a large creature thrashing through the woods. “Uh, Andrew—”

  Andrew dropped down onto one knee and aimed his rifle into the woods and fired off a few warning shots. Just barely in the distance they could glimpse a massive, dark shape half-hidden in the tangle of bushes as it raced toward them. At the sound of the shots, the bear suddenly changed direction and lumbered quickly away. “Okay,” Amanda said shakily when the noise had faded, “that's enough for me today. I'm walking back to the truck.”

  “Come on, June Bug,” Sarah told Amanda and took her hand, “we can't stop now. Besides, we have Andrew.”

  Andrew stood up and brushed off his knee with his left hand. “Don’t let that bear scare you,” he said and pointed forward. “It will think twice before coming back. Come on.”

  Amanda looked into Sarah's eyes. Sarah smiled. “Oh, alright,” she caved in. “I guess we can't stop now.”

  “That's my girl,” Sarah said and they walked deeper and deeper into the woods. Another hour passed without turning up anything of interest. Sarah was about to suggest they turn back when out of nowhere, a trail appeared, cutting away from the river. “Andrew?”

  Andrew shook his head. “I've never seen this trail in my life. I've also never hunted this area before, either. I hunt more south.” Andrew studied the trail. “But I studied the map pretty closely, and this isn’t anywhere on it. But the trail is old...looks like it's been here a while. I guess we need to follow it.”

  “Oh joy,” Amanda groaned. She watched Andrew mark a tree with his spray paint. “I don't know what's worse, this trail or that bear who’s probably waiting for us!”

  “Come on,” Sarah urged Amanda and followed Andrew down the trail and away from the river. Twenty minutes later the trail ended at an old, run-down cabin next to a muddy field just large enough for a small plane to land in. The cabin appeared deserted and dangerous—at least, that's how Sarah saw the matter, eyeing the battered shutters, the small porch missing many floorboards, and the general disrepair. But the cabin was simply a utilitarian place for the kind of travelers who didn’t need many creature comforts. “I think we found Mr. Hopski's hunting cabin,” she said in a hushed, relieved voice and patted Amanda on her shoulder. “Come on partner, let's have a look inside.”

  Amanda wasn't so sure she wanted to walk into a creepy cabin in the middle of the wilderness. But she also didn't want to be left standing alone outside. “Maybe there's coffee inside,” she said skittishly, and followed Sarah and Andrew inside.

  ***

  The inside of the cabin was cold, dark and dusty. When they forced open the creaky front door, they found a single large room with a stone fireplace, an old wood-burning stove, a sink, a sleeping cot, and a few other sticks of furniture gathering dust in the darkness. Andrew searched the gloom and then spotted a kerosene lantern sitting on the wooden table. He quickly eased over the creaking floorboards to light the lantern with a pack of matches he had brought along. The lantern threw out enough light to give life to the room. “Almost full,” Andrew said as he shook the kerosene lantern a little. He set it back down on the wooden table. “Wick isn't burned down that much, either.”

  Sarah closed the front door and looked around. A wooden bookshelf was pushed up against the east wall. She walked over the bookshelf and examined books covered with dust. “Classics,” she said, and took one off the shelf. “Classics that are worth a lot of money, too,” she commented, fingering the expensive binding and noticing the early printing dates. Sarah put down the book and focused on the room. As her eyes adjusted to the lantern’s glow she could see a few richly detailed paintings on the wall that seemed out of place for a hunting cabin. “Mr. Hopski was found with a wallet full of money...and now it looks like his cabin is untouched...I do think someone wanted his death to appear accidental,” she half-whispered to Amanda and Andrew.

  Amanda folded her arms together and decided to check for coffee in the cabinets mounted over the rusty white sink. She reached up and tugged one of the cabinet doors. As soon as she did, a bag of sugar dropped out. Amanda screamed, thinking the bag of sugar was a rat. Andrew jumped and started to run toward Amanda. As he did, his right foot dropped down through a rotted piece of floorboard and got stuck. “Darn floor,” he cursed and began trying to pull his foot free.

  Amanda grabbed her heart and bent down to retrieve the sugar. “Darn bag of sugar,” she exclaimed, set it back in the cupboard, and walked over to Andrew. “Here, give me your hand.”

  Andrew placed his rifle down onto the floor and grabbed Amanda's hand. Amanda braced herself and gave one hard yank. Andrew's foot came flying out of the hole, and along with it, a small section of rotted floorboards fell away. He stepped back and waved away the dust that erupted into the air, peering down at the floor. “Hey, look at that,” he said and bent over. From the space beneath the floorboards he picked up a book and brushed the dust off its red leather cover. “It looks like some kind of a journal.”

  Sarah walked over to Andrew and took the book from him. “It is a journal,” she said and looked at Andrew with grateful eyes. “You're two for two today.”

  “Well, it’s really nothing,” Andrew said in a humble voice. “I was only doing my job.”

  Sarah smiled, walked over to the wooden table, pulled back a nice wooden chair, and sat down. “Let's see what's inside,” she said as she opened the front cover and began reading. “Guys, this is the journal of one William Archie Hopski,” she announced.

  Andrew snatched up his rifle off the floor and hurried over to Sarah. Amanda followed. “Well, I'll be,” he said.

  “Listen to this,” Sarah said and began reading the first journal entry. “My beloved wife has been taken away from me. My heart has now been torn beyond repair. I have decided to return back to our cabin and rest in my memories of her for a while, leaving my children to believe I have once again traveled to Africa on one of my many make-believe hunting trips. I have given my children everything, but this cabin belongs only to me and my beloved wife. Perhaps someday we will be together again. The pain is too much to bear to continue writing. That’s the end of the entry.” Sarah closed the journal. A single tear slipped from her eye. “Very sad,” she whispered.

  Amanda wiped a tear from her eye. “That poor, poor, dear man.”

  Andrew cleared his throat and fought back a tear. “Yeah, well, maybe we should be getting back, huh? Walking out always takes longer than walking in.”

  Sarah nodded her head and stood
up. “Let's take a good look around first, Andrew. You look inside the wood stove. Amanda check the cabinets. I'll check the bookshelf again and look behind the paintings and then we'll check that small airfield out back and see if there are any fresh tracks.” Andrew and Amanda agreed and got to work.

  “Wood has barely been burned,” Andrew announced, studying the contents inside the wood stove.

  “Cabinets are full of provisions...dishes are clean...sink is dry,” Amanda called out to Sarah.

  Sarah checked the books on the bookshelf and then looked behind every painting. She came up empty-handed. Next, she checked under the small cot and found a heavy green duffel bag. She dragged the duffel bag out and examined the contents. “Clothes, but not hunting clothes, just like I thought.”

  “I don't understand,” Andrew said, watching Sarah hold up an expensive green cashmere sweater.

  “I do,” Amanda said in a quick voice. “Milton said he noticed some clothes were missing from Mr. Hopski's closet, right?” she asked Sarah.

  Sarah nodded her head. “I doubt a man like Mr. Hopski would keep his broken-in hunting clothes in his main closet,” Sarah explained. She walked back to the bed and retrieved two pairs of fine, leather walking boots. The boots were worn in. “I bet if we examine the clothes Mr. Hopski was found dead in we would find out those clothes were brand new. A seasoned hunter like Mr. Hopski, who doesn't seem to be a hunter after all, would have his own style of hunting clothes, worn-in and smelling like the land itself.”

  “Hey, that's right,” Andrew said. “My hunting outfit is older than my son.” Andrew looked at the front door. “Sarah, we've got a lot of paths to explore when we get back to town.”

  “Let's go explore the airfield first,” Sarah said in a patient voice.

  “I guess Mr. Hopski didn't hate to fly after all,” Amanda told Sarah as she followed her back outside.

  “No, I guess not,” Sarah agreed, walking around the cabin and making her way into the open field that was more mud than grass. Andrew brought up the rear, keeping an eye out for bears. “We need to examine the north part of this field. That’s the only place a small aircraft could touch down, based on the trees around the field. Come on.”

  Amanda followed Sarah to the front of the field, keeping her eyes on the ground. It wasn't long before she spotted fresh wheel tracks. “Sarah, look at this!” Amanda pointed down to the ground.

  Sarah bent down and moved some grass away. “Good going,” she congratulated Amanda. “Andrew, look at this.” Andrew ran over to Sarah, bent down, and studied the wheel tracks. “Looks like someone has been here recently.”

  “I'd say maybe...a week ago, maybe two,” Andrew suggested, “judging from the tracks.”

  “Maybe just long enough to move a body,” Sarah pointed out. “Come on, we better get back to town.”

  “Yep,” Andrew said and checked his rifle, “we got a long walk ahead of us, too. Brace yourself, ladies, you're likely to end up with sore feet before the day is over.”

  Amanda sighed. “My hubby's bell doesn't sound half bad right about now,” she told Sarah.

  Sarah imagined Amanda's warm, cozy cabin. She saw the two of them sitting in Amanda's kitchen sipping coffee, nibbling hot cinnamon buns, talking about shopping trips, and worrying about absolutely nothing. But she had a job to do, a killer to catch, and justice to serve. “Let's get walking, June Bug.”

  Amanda nodded her head and took her middle spot as Sarah moved back to the rear. “Ready, Andrew,” Sarah called out. Andrew pointed into the woods and they got moving.

  Three hours later, Andrew wearily trudged back up to his truck, climbed into the driver’s seat, and waited for Sarah and Amanda. Once Sarah and Amanda were safely tucked into the cab, he turned his truck around and started easing back down the old Snow Bear Trail toward town. They were all tired and barely spoke on the drive back. Sarah could feel the rope and the journal glowing like hot coals in the pockets of her rain jacket.

  As soon as they pulled into town and walked into the police station, Andrew was met by a very angry Natalie Hopski who sat in his office. “I've been waiting for hours,” she snapped.

  Andrew eased into his office, walked over to his desk, and sat down. Sarah and Amanda had stopped outside in the hallway when they heard her voice. They listened, allowing Natalie to believe Andrew was alone. “I've been out on an investigation, Ms. Hopski,” Andrew replied. “That's not against the law, is it?”

  “Don't get smart with me!” Natalie pounced on Andrew. “Has the autopsy report on my father come back yet?”

  “No,” Andrew said, nearly going blind from fatigue and blinking at the sight of the green and orange striped dress Natalie was wearing. “I can make a call to the coroner and find out where he's at.”

  “You do that!”

  Andrew didn't like Natalie and after nearly twenty-four hours without more than four hours of sleep, he decided that the time for being polite was over. “Ms. Hopski, I'm not making a single call until you learn to speak to an officer of the law with respect. If you refuse, you can remove yourself from my office. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Wow,” Amanda whispered, “Andrew stopped being polite. Go, Andrew.”

  “Go, Andrew,” Sarah cheered in a low voice.

  Natalie's face snarled up into a knot. “Listen to me—”

  “No, you listen to me, Ms. Hopski. This department is doing all that it can to make sure your father receives the best from us. It's one thing for a man to be found dead, and it's another thing to rush his autopsy. Around here, lady, we respect those who have gone on before us. Understand?”

  “My lawyer is going to have your job!” Natalie yelled and stormed up to her feet.

  “He's more than welcome to have it,” Andrew said in a calm but weary voice, “but I doubt he'll take it. I'll turn over my badge when I choose to, and that won't be for a good many years yet.”

  “We'll see about that,” Natalie hissed.

  Sarah grabbed Amanda's hand and ran her into the women's bathroom just as Natalie burst out of Andrew's office. Natalie huffed at the two police officers staring at her in the lobby and made her way outside. “Well, let's not leave Andrew alone,” Sarah said and hurried out of the bathroom and into Andrew's office. She found Andrew making a call. Andrew raised a calm hand at her. Sarah nodded and sat down with Amanda.

  Andrew was evidently on the phone with the coroner. “Any update on Mr. Hopski? ...Yeah...I see... Yeah, still waiting on the labs and then you'll bring the official report down... Is that your final opinion? ...Sure...I understand. Yes sir, I'll give my wife your best. Thanks a lot.” Andrew hung up the phone. He looked at Sarah and Amanda with sober eyes. “Our coroner believes Mr. Hopski died due to extreme exposure to the elements.”

  Sarah shook her head. “So much for my theories.”

  “But,” Andrew added, “his examination lab is, well, very small, you know. With the evidence we gathered today I can request Mr. Hopski be sent to the main crime lab in Anchorage for a second autopsy. Also, the lab results haven't come back yet, so there could still be something hidden under the dirt.”

  “Let's hope so,” Sarah said in an urgent voice. “And right now, we need time.” Sarah looked at the office door. “We need time to set a trap.”

  “I'll make the call, then.”

  “And you and I,” Sarah told Amanda, standing up, “are going to go get some lunch. Andrew, we'll bring you back a burger plate.” Andrew waved his hand at Sarah and grabbed his phone. “Let's go, Amanda.”

  Amanda followed Sarah out of Andrew's office and bumped right into Chet and Milton. Milton was wearing another pinstripe suit, cream with tiny black stripes this time, that made him look like an extra from a B-movie about to stroll down a boardwalk. Chet, on the other hand, was more soberly dressed in a plain gray t-shirt over a pair of tan pants. The man looked worried and upset. “Chet?” Sarah asked, concerned.

  “Doll face,” Milton said and tipped his fedora hat, “
we need to talk, and talk now.”

  “What's wrong?” Sarah demanded.

  Milton looked up at his brother. “Should I tell her or you?” he asked in a quiet voice. Sarah could see that he was sweating a little bit.

  “You tell her,” Chet said and looked down at his meaty hands. “I don't think I can.”

  “What is it?” Sarah said.

  “Well,” Milton swallowed, “it's Charlene, you see.” Milton looked down at his feet. “She's...well...”

  “What?” Sarah asked.

  “She's kinda…dead,” Milton confessed.

  Sarah almost didn’t believe her ears, and simply waited for him to go on. He seemed to cringe, as if waiting for Sarah to tear into him. “We didn't kill her, honest. Chet and me, we just wanted to talk to her, so we went to her room after breakfast. We found her door smashed open and when we walked into her room we found...” Milton looked up at Sarah with sorrowful eyes. “Charlene...well, she had a...a rope around her neck. Enough said.”

  “We closed the door and called you but you weren't here. So, we drove here and waited,” Chet explained. “But then we saw Natalie drive up and come inside. All we could do was wait inside.”

  “Why didn't you tell the officers that were here?” Sarah begged.

  “Because we were too scared to,” Chet admitted. “We trust you...Sarah...and we trust Amanda.” Chet lifted his eyes and looked into Sarah's face with honesty and desperation. “We didn't kill Charlene.”

  “But this...” Milton reached into her pocket and pulled out a note, “says we did.” Milton handed the note to Sarah.

  Sarah opened the note and read it. “To whoever may find this: Milton and Chet have threatened to kill me. If I am found dead I hope this note convicts my killers.” Sarah looked at Milton. “Where did you find this note?”