Chapter 12
Hamilton County, New York
Laurie was driving from the Hiram House to the Nielsons’, mainly because she’d gotten out to the Jeep before Jack.
She’d even started the car’s engine before he’d appeared since she was eager to get underway, and it was obvious that they were going to be a bit late.
Jack had not gotten back from his basketball playing until after seven, even though they were due at the Nielsons’ at seven thirty.
She was a stickler for being on time for social engagements, whereas Jack was a bit loosey-goosey in such circumstances, even though in professional situations he was invariably early.
“Hey, relax,” Jack encouraged, sensing Laurie’s tenseness as she turned east on the road to Indian River and then north on the road to Eastham.
“We’re on vacation, and you in particular are on vacation after your coup this morning about the new morgue.
I’m sure Bob got home about the same time as I.
I wouldn’t be shocked if he was still in the shower when we get there. ”
“You’re right,” Laurie admitted and visibly relaxed. “Being accustomed to New York City where everything is convenient, I’m finding it frustrating how far we have to drive to get to a lake only a mile away from ours as the crow flies.”
Jack laughed. “As they say: You can take the girl out of New York but you can’t take New York out of the girl.”
Laurie reached over and playfully swatted Jack’s thigh, and he humorously overreacted.
A few minutes later they pulled up to a snug, two-story, cedar shingled, relatively new, wood-frame house with lots of multipaned windows all attractively shuttered.
Emerging from the center of its dormered gambrel roof was a massive fieldstone chimney.
What was most impressive to the two urbanites was how close it was built to a lake that was remarkably similar in size and appearance to theirs, except that here there were a number of houses visible along its shoreline.
Even from within their car they could see at least a half dozen, each with its own dock.
Laurie switched off the car’s ignition, but for a moment neither she nor Jack moved, taking in the scene. “What a cute house,” she said, finally breaking the silence. “It’s such a different world from ours. It’s so peaceful and clean. On another note, what architectural style would you call it?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea,” Jack said. “But it is cute, although I doubt that ‘cute’ is an architectural term.”
“I’m sure you got that right,” Laurie said with a laugh. “Come on! Let’s go inside. We’re already late.”
As Laurie and Jack exited their respective sides of the Jeep, the home’s distinctive, bright red, high-gloss paneled front door flew open.
Bob emerged, holding the door ajar with one hand and waving with the other.
“Welcome, folks! Get your butts in here! Chief Hargrove and his wife, Grace, are already here and the barbie is fired up and raring to go.”
“We were both quite taken by your home,” Laurie said as she approached the door Bob was holding open for them. “It’s so charming.”
“Thank you,” Bob said. “We’re happy with it. Carol and I had decided to downsize when our last daughter left for college three years ago, and in preparation we’d spent the prior years designing this house with the help of an architect we’d found over in Saratoga Springs.”
“You guys did a great job,” Laurie said. She paused to gaze more closely at the front facade. “What style would you call it?”
Bob shrugged. “I don’t know if it could be considered any particular style. It’s kind of our fusion of Colonial and Cape Cod. Inside you’ll see it is more Colonial than Cape Cod while out here it is the opposite.
“Now let me ask you a question. How did you find the Pilates class this afternoon? Carol told me you’d participated.”
“It was terrific,” Laurie said. “The instructor is very good, but I’ll probably be paying for it in the morning. I’ve not been as good about exercising ever since I became chief medical examiner.”
“She’s been working nonstop,” Jack chimed in. He’d come up behind Laurie. “That’s why the invite to this paradise of yours is so timely.”
“I’m thrilled,” Bob said. “I’m certainly thankful you’re both here. It’s obviously a win-win situation. With that said, come on in and meet the Hargroves!”
“And I get to meet Carol,” Jack reminded him as he started to follow Laurie into the house.
But coming abreast of Bob, who was still holding the door ajar, he held up.
“Before I forget, I wanted to tell you that we’ve invited a friend and his girlfriend to come up from the city tomorrow and enjoy the incredibly spacious accommodations you’ve provided us. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course it is,” Bob assured him. “Is he another forensic pathologist?”
Jack laughed. “Not quite. But he’s a basketball buddy and a superb player. I’m sure he’ll want to play if you’ll have him.”
“The more the merrier,” Bob said, gesturing for Jack to enter.
Inside, Jack and Laurie were surprised to find the first floor of the home was mostly one big open space with a large, Colonial style fieldstone chimney dominating the center of the room with back-to-back fireplaces that were almost big enough to walk into.
One fireplace faced into the kitchen, the other into the living area.
The kitchen was in the left rear corner with plenty of windows overlooking both the lake and a sizable deck.
Bob’s wife was by the sink preparing corn on the cob to go on the grill.
Also in the kitchen was a large metal crate containing a youthful, good-sized, black Labrador retriever with a shiny coat and sad eyes.
After a proper introduction between Jack and Carol, Jack gestured toward the dog. “I hope your pet is not locked up for our benefit,” he said.
“Blacky tends to be overzealous when it comes to company,” Carol explained.
“He wouldn’t bother us,” Laurie said. “We’re closeted dog lovers. Living in the city combined with the hours we work, we’ve had to forgo the pleasure of a dog but with regret.”
“Really?” Carol questioned and glanced at her husband. Bob shrugged, indicating the decision was up to her.
“Okay,” Carol said. “Just let me know if he becomes bothersome.” She reached down and undid the cage’s latch. With sudden freedom beckoning, Blacky bolted from the crate and immediately reared up on his hind legs such that Laurie had to fend him off.
Bob reached out and grabbed Blacky’s collar, restraining the excited and overly friendly dog.
Changing direction, Blacky tried the same maneuver with Jack, but on this occasion Bob succeeded in keeping him on all fours.
A moment later the animal calmed enough for Bob to let him go and for Jack and Laurie both to give him a vigorous petting, which he obviously relished.
“Okay,” Bob said when Jack and Laurie were finished greeting Blacky. “Come on out on the porch and meet our chief of police and his lovely wife, Grace.”
Jack started toward the open French doors, but Laurie held back. “Can I lend a hand?” she asked Carol.
“No. please,” Carol responded. “You go out and meet the Hargroves. I’ll be out momentarily with the corn.”
Bob held open the screen doors and Blacky dashed out, followed by Jack and Laurie.
Outside the two New Yorkers found themselves on a deck constructed on a grand scale, extending the entire length of the house and a good thirty feet wide.
The last five or six feet were cantilevered out over the lake about six feet above the water’s surface.
Since the house was on the west shore, it shielded the late afternoon sun.
In the distance, the Adirondack Mountains were bathed in golden tones.
At the northern end of the veranda was a built-in barbecue along with a granite topped wet bar.
On the bar was a platter of double-thick loin lamb chops.
Near the barbecue was a round table with eight dining chairs, two of which were occupied.
The rest of the furniture on the deck, appropriately enough, consisted of a bevy of brightly colored Adirondack chairs.
At the southern end, stairs ran down to a floating dock.
Both Jack and Laurie stopped for a moment to absorb the incredible scene. “I do hope you recognize just how exquisitely gorgeous this all is,” Laurie said to her host.
“I think we do,” Bob said with a smile and a series of nods. “From late May to the beginning of October, we essentially live out here on this deck. I can even dive off the edge because, as I mentioned, the lakes get deep rather quickly.”
“I noticed that when I walked out on the dock at the Hiram House,” Jack said.
“Geologically they are thought to have been made by glaciers scooping out these deep basins back in the Ice Age.”
Jack nodded. It wasn’t something he knew much about, but it sounded good.
“Come and meet the Hargroves,” Bob said, encouraging Jack and Laurie to approach the table. The introductions were simple and quick.
For Jack and Laurie, the Hargroves looked the part of small-town police chief and wife, and both had a pleasant, down-home aura.
He was a stocky, powerfully built man although obviously mildly past his prime with a bit of belly fat.
Like Bob his face was craggy, as evidence of exposure to the harsh elements of the Essex Falls winters.
In contrast with Bob, his hair was white and thinning.
He exuded a friendly but no-nonsense personality and his accent was mildly unique and clipped, especially to those accustomed to the New York City cadence.