Chapter Seventeen
Despite the pain medication that the doctor had assured him would knock him out, Ian slept fitfully that night. Dreams of Bethany, engulfed in flames, kept startling him awake. He finally fell into a fitful sleep and roused late the next morning, his hands aching and mind racing.
He ordered room service, then called Bethany. She answered on the second ring, her cheery “Good morning” making him smile. “I wanted to make sure you got home all right,” he said.
“I was exhausted. I tried to talk Aaron into running his police lights on the way home so we could get there faster, but the old stick-in-the-mud refused. Then he insisted on coming into my apartment and checking out everything before he would leave me to go to sleep in peace.”
“He’s a good brother,” Ian said.
She sighed dramatically. “He is. How are you feeling?”
“Not great, but the pain—and these awkward bandages—are more annoying than anything else. I’m going to talk the doctor into something less bulky and more manageable.
After I’m done at the hospital, I’ll see about getting a new trailer delivered to the canyon.
Then I’m going to drive out there and see how construction is progressing.
And I have to find time to put the final touches on my presentation to the county commissioners. ”
“When is the meeting about your permit?” she asked.
“Thursday evening. I just got word this morning.”
“You’re making me tired just listening to you. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Stay safe.”
“You stay safe. I don’t like the idea of you moving back out to the canyon before the sheriff has figured out who’s doing these things.”
“I don’t think it’s a climber,” he said.
“Why not?”
“The climbers I know can be protective of their routes and competitive with each other, but they aren’t violent people. It’s not a violent sport—the opposite, really.”
“Maybe this is a climber who had a mental break or has anger issues,” she said. “Or something that makes him not-so-typical.”
“Maybe. But I can’t shake the feeling there’s something else behind this. If I could figure out what that something is, maybe that would point to whoever is responsible for this harassment.”
“Then I hope you figure it out. And I have to go. A tour group is arriving.”
Ian wanted to say something about how much she meant to him, but the words wouldn’t come out before she said goodbye and ended the call.
He tried to turn his attention to his presentation to the county commissioners, but his thoughts kept returning to the puzzle of who could be behind these attacks.
Who could be so upset about the development in Humboldt Canyon that they would resort to violence? Was it really Walt Spies?
He searched through the contacts in his phone and found the number for the county offices. When the receptionist answered, he asked to speak to Walt. “This is Ian Seabrook,” he said.
“I heard someone tried to burn down your place.” Walt sounded almost cheerful, but maybe that was Ian misinterpreting his hearty tone.
“They did,” he said. “Bethany and I came close to being killed.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. But none of that would have happened if you had stopped the project at the first sign of trouble.”
“Is that how you got to where you are today—stopping at the first sign of trouble?”
“I come from a different generation than you do, son. You don’t know what a real obstacle is.”
“You’re probably about the same age Abby and Gerald Boston would be if they had lived,” Ian said. “Did you know them?”
“That couple they found in that cave? I knew of them.”
“So you wouldn’t have any reason to be upset that their bodies were found in that cave?” Maybe they had been right when they’d speculated the attacks on him were linked to the Bostons.
“Are you accusing me of something?” Walt asked.
“I just thought the person who’s been trying so hard to stop me from building the via ferrata might object to what else I might find in that canyon. Maybe there are more secrets hiding underground, waiting to be uncovered.”
Walt snorted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I let the sheriff know you were hanging around my place in Humboldt Canyon right before the fire.”
“I already spoke to him about that. It’s an uncomfortable coincidence, but I didn’t set that fire. I haven’t had anything to do with the things that have happened in that canyon, and if I hear you’re telling people anything to that effect, I will sue.” Click.
Ian almost smiled. Walt had hung up on him. A sure sign that Ian had shaken him up.
* * *
Just after noon, Bethany was wondering if she had time to run up to her apartment and make a sandwich for lunch when the door to the tour office opened and Craig Boston came in. He was still in a walking boot, using a cane. Bethany stood to greet him. “Mr. Boston. It’s good to see you.”
“I wanted to thank you again for all your help the day I busted my ankle,” he said.
“I was happy to do it.”
His expression sobered. “I heard about the fire up in Humboldt Canyon last night. Somebody said you were there.”
“I think the whole town has heard,” she said.
“I haven’t gotten this much attention from people since I fainted on stage during a Christmas concert when I was sixteen.
” She had fielded at least six phone calls this morning from people she barely knew, asking about the fire.
And four others had stopped by to see her.
“Is it true you were trapped in that trailer?” Craig asked.
“Yes. But I’m all right. Ian saved me.” She wanted people to know that about Ian—that he wasn’t the rich guy trying to take advantage of the town that some people had portrayed him as.
He was the kind of man who would save a woman from a burning building.
“He was burned pretty badly on his hands and arms, but he’s going to be okay. ”
“That’s good.”
“Can I help you with something?”
He shifted his cane to his other hand. “My niece and her husband and their two children are coming into town to visit, and they’re looking for things to do. Are any of your tours suitable for kids?”
“What ages?”
“Boys, six and eight.”
“We have a tour to the old ghost town of Millford that would be perfect. Lots of fun but safe ruins to explore, and the guides tell fun stories along the way.” She selected a brochure from the rack to her right.
“They talk about gold mines in the area and the mule trains that used to carry supplies up and down the mountains. It’s one of our most popular tours. ”
“Great. I’ll give this to them.” He tucked the brochure into his pocket but showed no sign of leaving. “Did you ever find out any more about my late relatives, Gerald and Abby?”
“Not much. Ian and I visited the historical society and read through old newspapers. It seemed like Katherine was the only person who hated Gerald enough to kill him, but I don’t see how she could have done it.”
“Katherine would need help to pull it off. She could have never overpowered two people, even before the accident that made it difficult for her to walk.”
“Do you have any idea who she was with the day she was injured? The man who was driving the car?”
“We never knew for sure.”
She didn’t miss the hesitation in his words. “Did you have your suspicions?”
“I shouldn’t accuse anyone without proof.”
“This isn’t a court and I’m not a police officer,” she said. “I just want to know for my own curiosity.”
Craig looked pained. “I heard a rumor it might have been Walt Spies.”
“Walt!” She almost choked on the word.
“He and Gerald were good friends. And Walt dated Katherine before she and Gerald married. I heard a rumor they continued seeing each other, even after the wedding. Gerald found out about it when she was hurt, and that finally led to him filing for divorce.”
“Ian and I went to the cemetery to see Katherine’s grave,” Bethany said. “Someone has been leaving flowers there. Any idea who that might be?”
“Whatever you do, don’t say anything to Walt. He always had a terrible temper, and I don’t think that improved with age. In any case, Katherine was a very pretty woman. She probably had lots of admirers.”
“Were you one of them?”
She had meant the words as gentle teasing, but his reaction startled her. His face flushed bright red, and he fumbled with his cane. “Gerald was my uncle and my friend,” he said. “I never would have had anything to do with a woman he was involved with.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you,” she said. Why did she always say the first thing that came into her head?
Craig relaxed a little. “It’s okay. I’ve talked enough, keeping you from your work. Thanks for the brochure.”
He hobbled out of the building. Bethany picked up her phone to text Ian—she had to tell him about this new development. But the door opened again, and Dalton and Carter entered. They were scheduled to team up for a big group tour leaving at 1:00 p.m.
They stopped in front of her desk. “Are you okay?” Carter asked.
“Why does everyone keep asking that? I’m fine.”
“Aaron said you were almost killed,” he said.
“When did you talk to Aaron?”
They exchanged a look peculiar to them, as if they were communicating telepathically. “He called us last night,” Dalton said.
“He said we needed to help him keep a better eye on you,” Carter said.
“I’m not some child you have to babysit.”
“Okay, okay.” Carter held up both hands. “Don’t get so upset. It’s just…” He looked away, jaw clenched.
“You scared us, okay?” Dalton said.
Carter looked back at her. “You’re the only sister we’ve got.”
Her anger evaporated, and she blinked rapidly, her eyes stinging. “I love you, too,” she said. “But I’m okay. Really. And Ian and I are both going to be careful.”
“Do they have any idea who set the fire?” Dalton asked.
“I don’t think so,” she said. “Have either of you heard anything?”
They both shook their heads. “No.”
“I don’t think it’s a climber,” Carter added.
“Ian doesn’t think so, either,” she said.
“Then who was it?” Dalton asked.
“I don’t know,” she said. “But I’m going to be paying special attention Thursday night at the county commissioners’ meeting. You two could do me a favor to help.”
Carter looked wary. Maybe he was remembering other “favors” she had asked of him, from dating a friend of hers who’d been overly possessive to driving her and four preteen friends to a K-pop concert and serving as their parent-approved chaperone. “What do we have to do?” he asked.
“Attend the meeting and watch to see if anyone is acting unusual.”
Dalton nudged his twin. “What do you think?”
“I think I’d rather eat dirt than sit through a county commissioners’ meeting.” Carter blew out a breath. “But I’ll do it for you, sis.”