Chapter 29 Mina
Mina
At one minute past five, I flipped the “Open” sign over and locked the door.
While I would miss closing early once the café opened, I relished the thought of a quiet evening now.
Ultimately, my plan was to appoint one of my baristas—probably Gwen—as the evening café manager, but until it was up and running smoothly, I’d be pulling some long days.
That was for this fall, though. Right now, I planned to head to the grocery store for some strawberry syrup, then head home for dinner and my highly anticipated dessert.
Flipping off the lights in the main dining area, I entered the back room.
“See you in the morning,” Kayla called on her way out the back door.
“Have a good night.” I waved as I walked to my office to collect my purse and keys. We’d been slow for the last hour of the day, so there was little to do except lock up. I tallied the day’s receipts half an hour ago.
With my stuff in hand, I exited through the back door and pulled it shut, making sure it was locked, then headed next door.
When I stepped into the café, the sound of construction had already ceased. The crew was busy packing up.
Waving to several of them, I waded deeper into the building until I found Luke, stowing tools in the pile they’d made under the skeleton of the stairs.
“Hey.”
He glanced back, then smiled. “Hey. I’m just about done.”
“No rush.”
Locking the toolbox, he stood. “I’m glad you say that, because I was wondering if you want to make a pitstop?”
A sultry smile ghosted over my lips. “For strawberry syrup?”
Heat licked in his eyes, but to my surprise, he shook his head. “We can, but I had another place in mind first.”
With a quizzical frown, I tipped my head in question. “Where?”
“Toren’s house.”
“Toren’s—” My frown deepened. “You told me to let Ozzie talk to him and to stay out of it. Why the change of heart?”
“I have questions.”
“I did, too, so what changed?”
“I talked to Kent Morrison and got new information. Did you know Walter Shuman is all about the money?”
I snorted. “Yeah. He hired Miranda Benning to sell his property. That alone tells me he doesn’t have much interest in anything else.”
He chuckled. “Well, even if Ozzie talked to Toren, my conversation with Kent taught me that sometimes it pays to just shoot the breeze with someone. I wouldn’t have learned the detail about Walter’s money-grubbing ways if Kent and I weren’t just chatting.”
“And you want to have a similar conversation with Toren?”
“Yep.”
That was fine by me. “I’m game. Let’s go. You ready?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Taking my hand, he led me through the building to the back door. “Can we swing past your house, so I can drop my truck off? It’s on the way.”
“Sure.” I took a step to the side. “I’ll see you there.”
He nodded and unlocked his truck.
The drive to my house didn’t take long, but it was enough for me to think about what I wanted to ask Toren.
In addition to the obvious—where he saw the camp and a physical description of the man—I also wanted to get his impression of the person.
What was it about their encounter that set off his internal radar?
I pulled up to the curb past my house and waited while Luke parked directly in front. When we returned later, he would likely pull into the drive behind my garage.
The passenger door opened, and he slid into the seat.
“Where am I going?” I glanced at him.
“Kent said Otter Bay Road. Past the twisted pines on the left.”
I nodded once and put the car in drive. I knew exactly where that was. “Got it.”
Watching my speed, I headed for the edge of town. The streets were still crowded, even though a lot of the stores were closed for the evening. The few restaurants we had were still open, and the day hikers were coming down out of the mountains for supper.
On our way out of town and up the mountain, we quizzed each other about our day, keeping the topic light. It passed the time, and soon we came upon the twisted pines.
I slowed, looking for the turn-off and quickly spotted it.
Dust bloomed behind us as my car’s tires bit into the dirt road.
A quarter mile down, a small clearing appeared.
Within it, nestled against the trees, was a small cabin and a barn.
A small, fenced pasture came off the side of the latter, and several chickens pecked at the ground.
In front of the cabin sat a black truck.
I parked next to it and cut the engine. As we emerged from the vehicle, the cabin’s front door swung open and Toren stepped out, a hunting rifle in his hands. When he saw me, the fierce, dark frown on his face softened to a perplexed scowl, and he propped the gun against the wall of the house.
“Hi.” I smiled and waved.
His scowl remained, and he tipped his head, studying us. “Hi. What are you doing here?”
“We had questions.” Luke stepped forward, hand outstretched. “I’m Mina’s boyfriend, Luke Decker.”
Toren shook his hand. “Toren McCrae.”
My heart stuttered to a halt at Luke’s description of himself. We hadn’t put any labels on our relationship, so to hear him state it so plainly was like a bucket of ice water to the face. I wasn’t mad about it, but it gave me pause.
Gathering my wits about me, I focused on the conversation. There would be time later to dissect Luke’s comment and how I felt about what we were to one another. “Have you talked to Ozzie yet?”
“You mean Detective Quartermaine?” A hint of confusion colored the man’s deep voice.
“Yes, sorry. He’s a friend.”
“No. He was out when I went to the police department. I left a message with the front desk for him, but he hasn’t called. Why?”
“After you left the coffeeshop this morning, I realized I should have asked you a couple of pertinent questions.”
“Such as?” Toren crossed his massive arms. Muscles bulged in his forearms and chest.
My eyes widened slightly. He was not a man I would want to cross.
He could probably snap me like a twig with those big hands of his.
I swallowed around the sudden lump in my throat.
“Um, well, for one, what did the man you encountered look like?” I knew Walter Shuman.
If Toren saw a heavy-set man or one with dark hair, it wasn’t him. Walter was old and slim.
“Older. Probably seventy or so. White hair and a bushy mustache. Skinny.”
I shared a look with Luke. That sounded like Walter.
“Did he say anything to you?” Luke asked.
“Only to tell me to move on when I inquired if anyone was home and that he was fine. He had a rifle, and I wasn’t looking for trouble, so I told him to have a nice day and left.”
“Where was this?” Luke continued.
“Off the Lace River. One of its tributaries. Between here and Skagway.”
I let out a little snort. “That’s a lot of ground to cover, Toren.”
“I have the coordinates written down.” He hooked a thumb toward the door. “I plan to give them to your cop friend.”
“That’s good. Ozzie will appreciate that,” I said. “Could you share them with us as well?”
“Why?” Toren shot back. “You’re not cops.”
“No, but—”
My argument was cut short by the sound of an engine and the crunch of gravel under tires. I shot an alarmed look at Luke and stepped closer. Toren picked up his rifle again, not helping the nerves suddenly cascading down my spine. Who else would come here? Were we followed? By whom?
Luke grasped my wrist and tucked me behind him, using the corner of my car to shield his body.
A moment later, Ozzie’s police truck broke through the trees.
I groaned.
“Hell,” Luke muttered.
“We’re so screwed,” I said.
Toren chuckled from the porch.
Ozzie parked behind my car and got out, slamming his door. The dark, angry scowl on his face spoke volumes.
“Once again, I find you somewhere you shouldn’t be.” He strode closer, eyes locked on me and Luke. “Why are you here?”
“Asking questions you might not think about,” Luke answered.
One dark eyebrow rose on Ozzie’s face. “Like?”
“Like what gossip Toren’s heard.”
“Gossip?” Ozzie’s tone was nothing short of incredulous.
“You didn’t ask about any gossip,” Toren said.
I glanced back to see him leaning against a post, arms crossed. His rifle was back against the wall of the house.
“We haven’t had the chance yet,” Luke said. He turned those gray eyes on Toren. “Has anyone said anything interesting about Moira, her disappearance, or about any of the people involved?”
“No.” The single, succinct word came out clipped and final.
“Well, look at that.” Ozzie held his arms wide. “He knows nothing I wouldn’t have thought to ask about.” Sarcasm dripped off his words.
“Maybe not, but that’s not always the case. I spoke to Kent Morrison earlier. He gave me some insight into Walter Shuman’s character. I guess Walter’s all about the money. Kent said it wouldn’t surprise him if someone paid Walter to look the other way.”
“You think Shuman willingly let someone close up a body in the wall of his store? For money?” While Ozzie clearly thought Luke was crazy if the tone of his voice was any indication, there was a note of curiosity in his expression.
“If he got paid enough, why not?” Luke shrugged.
“Maybe because it would have smelled terribly?”
“So your argument is he’s guilty because it would have smelled?
That he wouldn’t willingly do that sort of thing because of the stench?
People do less for money. It would be a simple thing to claim there was a water leak or something and close for a few weeks while it’s repaired.
Have you looked into whether that happened? ”
“No. But the only thing that would prove is that he was aware of the body in the wall.”
Luke snapped his fingers and pointed at Ozzie. “Exactly.”
Ozzie sighed. “We’re getting way off track here.” He circled a hand through the air. “I came to talk to Toren about the info he has on my case.” He turned his attention toward the porch. “The message said you had information about Moira Duluth’s case. Can you elaborate, please?”
“Sure.” Toren gave him a quick rundown of the same things he told Luke and me just minutes earlier.
“Can I have those coordinates?” Ozzie asked when Toren finished.
With a quick nod, Toren pushed away from the post and went inside.
“I should arrest you two for obstruction,” Ozzie growled once the door closed.
“We didn’t obstruct anything.” I raised my hands, giving him a look of wide-eyed innocence. “And don’t pretend we haven’t been useful.”
“What you’ve been is a pain in my backside.”
“Yes, but one that got you an identity on your victim and a lead on why she was killed,” I pointed out.
His glower returned. “Go home, Mina.”
“Can’t. You parked me in.”
His jaw worked. If he’d been a cartoon character, I swear smoke would have billowed from his ears.
Holding eye contact momentarily, he slowly turned away, then gave Toren his full attention as the man stepped outside.
“Here you go.” Extending one long arm, he handed Ozzie a piece of paper tucked between two fingers.
“Thank you.” After a quick glance at it, Ozzie slipped the note into his pocket. “Do you have anything else you’d like to add?”
“Just be careful when you go out there. Whether it’s the man you’re looking for or not, the guy didn’t sound like he was willing to play.”
With a singular nod, Ozzie stepped toward his patrol truck. “Noted. Thank you, Mr. McCrae.” Giving Luke and me a hard look, he climbed into his vehicle.
I glanced at Luke, and we shared a look of trepidation. It might be a bit before we were out of the doghouse this time.
The engine in Ozzie’s truck roared to life. When I looked back, his dark expression was still in place as he backed up and turned around. A moment later, he disappeared down the drive between the pines.
Toren’s footfalls on the wooden porch steps drew my attention. He stopped several feet away, regarding us silently. A decision warred in his dark eyes. Eventually, he reached into his pocket and withdrew another slip of paper.
My heart thundered in my ears as I accepted it. I took a quick peek and saw coordinates written in a messy, male scrawl.
“Don’t make me regret giving you that.” Toren stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked past us at the trees.
“I’m sure your friend is a good cop, but I’ve had enough experience with them to know sometimes they have blinders on and can’t see past the ends of their noses.
” His gaze connected with mine, then Luke’s.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I have things to do. ”
“Of course.” I held up my hands and backed toward my car. “Thank you, Toren. Coffee’s on the house the next time you’re in town.”
The big, burly man nodded once and watched us as we got in the car and pulled away.
“He’s an interesting fellow,” Luke remarked.
I glanced in the rearview mirror. Toren still stood in the same place, arms crossed as I drove down the drive. “Yeah. Definitely.” But he was also helpful. Now I needed a map.