Betrayal with Murder (A Rilynne Evans Mystery, Book Three) (7 page)

“What makes you thing that he was here?” he asked. “I know that we’re one of the few places where Penland beardtongue grows naturally, but we’re not the only one.”

“I received an anonymous tip this morning telling me to look for him here,” she stated. “I was already heading back to Texas, so I thought I would swing by on my way to see if there was any chance that someone around here could have known him.”

“Well, I’ll do anything I can to help,” he said as he rose out of his chair. She was genuinely surprised by his offer. “My detective is out today, but he’ll be in tomorrow morning if you want to come back then. He’ll be able to help you with anything you need while you’re in town.”

Rilynne stood up and walked with him back to the front desk. “Thank you very much for your time and assistance.”

*

She felt as though she had stepped into a movie set as she drove down the narrow street at the center of town. In the middle of Brooks Hollow stood a giant gazebo surrounded by old benches and neatly pruned pine trees. The buildings surrounding the round courtyard sat close together. There was no more than a two-foot space between them, if one was present at all. The bed and breakfast sitting at the end was the only building she could see that stretched out beyond two floors.

Every person on the street eyed her curiously as she passed, making her feel as though they weren’t accustomed to having visitors pass through their quiet little town.

After passing the bed and breakfast, the buildings along the street changed to homes, with sporadic business mixed in. The last building before the Parks and Services Station at the edge of town was the tallest she had seen, sitting at five floors. Its height wasn’t the only thing that made it stand out in the town. The building itself looked like it had been lifted out of a big city and dropped down on the edge of this small town. She didn’t even have to read the sign before knowing that it was a hotel.

“Welcome to Brooks Hollow Park Services,” the older man behind the desk said when she walked in. His scratchy voice reminded her of her grandfather’s shortly before the cancer took him. “Will you be needing a camping permit?”

“No, thank you,” she replied as she approached the counter. “I was actually wondering if you could assist me with something. I understand that Penland beardtongue grows in this area. Would you happen to have a list of all known locations?”

He looked at her curiously, not moving from his seat. “Now, Penland beardtongue is endangered. Any contact with it should be strictly observational. I can’t have you out there picking it or disturbing its natural environment.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she said, trying to contain the smirk that was trying to sneak across her face. “It’s strictly for educational purposes.”

He maintained his curious look for several minutes before shifting toward the computer to his right. After clicking away on the keyboard, Rilynne heard a printer turn on from under the desk.

“Now, we have three patches in the area. The first two are fairly easy to reach, but the third requires a hike,” he explained as he handed her a map. “We have guides in town who could take you. Would you like me to call someone for you?”

Rilynne had the sneaking suspicion he was more concerned with her being supervised around the endangered plants than trying to keep her from getting lost. “No, thank you. I won’t be making a trip out today. I’ll let you know if my plans change, though.”

He gave her a grunt followed by a nod as she turned back toward the door.

“Oh, actually you could help me with one more thing,” she stated as she reached the door. “Where can I find a place to stay while I’m in town?”

“Well, as I’m sure you noticed, there’s a large hotel next door,” he said in an almost condescending tone. “There’s also a bed and breakfast at the center of town.”

She gave him a warm smile along with her thanks as she stepped back outside.

She hadn’t noticed how inviting the bed and breakfast was on her first pass. As she parked her car in the small lot aside it, she couldn’t believe how comfortable even the look of it made her feel. It looked like a well kept house her grandmother would live in, down to the white picket fence and deck that seemed to wrap all the way around.

“Welcome,” she heard as she walked through the door, bag in hand. Her eyes swept the entry room until they found a large woman sitting behind a desk in the room to her left.

“Hi,” Rilynne said as she sat her bag down in front of the desk. “I would like a room, please.”

The woman, her silver curls stretching down her back, reached under the desk and pulled out a large guest book covered in a silky maroon material. “Will it be just you?” she asked. Rilynne nodded. “And how many nights will you be with us?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” Rilynne stated, quickly thinking over everything she needed to do.

“Not a problem, dear. I can just charge by the day if you like,” she stated warmly.

Rilynne reached in her purse and pulled out her wallet. “That would be perfect, thank you.” While the pleasant woman ran her credit card, Rilynne filled out her information in the book. Despite the size of the town, she was surprised to see that there had been several checkins earlier that day.

“They had to move the high school reunion up a couple months this year,” the woman stated when she caught Rilynne’s perplexed expression. “You’ll be in room three; second floor and down the hall. If you need anything, please let me know.”

“Do you mind if I ask you a question,” Rilynne asked as she took the key. The woman gave her a friendly nod. “Would you happen to know if this man came in around nineteen months ago? It would have been sometime around the middle to end of July.” She reached in her purse and pulled out the picture of Mifflin.

“Well, let me see,” she replied, pulling out a giant book, similar to the one Rilynne had just written her name in. “Do you have a name for him?”

“His name’s Lamar Mifflin, but he might have been staying under a different name.”

“Would he have been staying alone?” she asked.

“More than likely.”

She thumbed through the pages, searching the entire latter half of July twice before closing the book. “Unfortunately, I don’t have any record of him. During that time, I only have three people check in as singles, and they were all women. The rest of our visitors were either couples or families. Have you checked with the hotel across town?”

“Not yet,” she said, sliding the photo back into her purse. “But thank you for checking.”

Rilynne slipped her phone out as she climbed up the flight of stairs and walked to the end of the hall toward her room. After several unanswered rings, she hung up and dialed another number, balancing the phone on her shoulder as she unlocked the last door on the right.

“Hey, Lori,” she said as she dropped her bag onto the bed. “Is the chief in the station? I tried his cell, but he didn’t answer.”

“No,” Lori replied. “He’s playing golf with the mayor. He should be back in a few hours, though. Did you make it back to Addison Valley all right?”

“Change of plans, actually. I’m in a small town in Colorado named Brooks Hollow,” she stated, knowing just how silly it probably sounded.

“What on earth are you doing in Colorado?” Lori asked. “Surely you didn’t have trouble finding Texas. Just head south, and turn left when you reach the border of Mexico.” Despite her joking tone, Rilynne could hear her confusion.

As it always did, the twinge of guilt hit her even before she had the chance to provide an explanation. “I received an anonymous tip that Mifflin may have been here. I checked with Ben this morning, and he said that this town was one of the few places that the trace found on Christopher could have come from. You know me, there was no way I was going to sit back and wait for confirmation before coming to check it out.”

Lori let out a quick chuckle, followed by a low sigh. “Have you found anything?”

“I talked to the sheriff and he’s setting me up with their detective tomorrow morning. I also grabbed a map that shows where all known patches of Penland beardtongue grow, so I can see where it could have been picked up and transferred to his body,” she explained.

“What do you think the chances are that Mifflin could still be in the area?” Lori asked.

Rilynne let out a sigh of her own. “I would love to say that I was sure he found a place here where he felt safe enough to stick around after all this time, but I think that it would just be wishful thinking. The only thing that I’m sure of-well, as sure as I can be-is that he was here just prior to going back and killing Christopher.”

“What can we do for you here?”

“Sheriff Eric Stigent is going to be helping me on this end, but if he needs anything from you, can you make sure all of the information requested is provided?”

“That won’t be a problem,” Lori replied. “I’ll update the chief and let him know to be expecting a call. Is there anything that you need?” she asked, emphasizing on ‘you’.

“No,” she replied without really considering the question. The truth was, she did feel like she needed something, a friend.

S
he pulled her toiletries bag out of her suitcase and walked down the hall to the closest bathroom. The woman at the front desk had mentioned that almost all of the guests were out on a reunion related event at the moment. With the house nearly empty, she couldn’t think of a better time to rinse the feeling of travel off of her. She didn’t know why, but something about airplanes always left her feeling a little dirty.

The water stung her cool skin as it pelted down onto her. Within a matter of moments, it had warmed her completely through. Had she been anywhere else, she might have spent the rest of the evening in the steam filled room. Not wanting to use all of the hot water, though, she quickly finished washing up and turned it off. She hesitated for a moment, knowing as soon as she opened the shower curtain she would be met with the same chill she had just escaped. After one last deep, warming breath, she pulled it open and reached for her towel. Her skin had completely erupted in goose bumps by the time she finished drying and pulled on the complementary robe she had found in her room. She quickly grabbed her belongings and hurried back down the hall to her room.

Throwing everything down onto the bed, she stood in front of the small heater in the corner before reaching for her clothes and pulling them on. She laughed at herself, the warm air burning her legs. She had grown up in weather much colder than this; she shouldn’t be so uncomfortable. Spending a winter in Texas had spoiled her.

She pulled a sweater over her head, then ran the towel through her hair, trying to dry it. By the time she finished and climbed onto the middle of her bed, the heater had warmed the room up significantly. It was surprising how fast it had managed it, because it was a small box, no more than eight inches tall.

Unlike most bed and breakfasts she had stayed in, her room came with a television. She flipped through the channels twice before settling on a movie.

It was a horror film she had seen advertised a few years before, but never managed to see, taking place in a small town. How fitting, she thought as she leaned back against the wall of pillows lining the headboard. She let her mind delve into the storyline, trying to figure out how the young couple was going to escape their vicious attacker, when her phone suddenly rang.

She laughed at herself for jumping at the sound, as she reached for the remote to lower the volume. She looked down at her phone and was met with a sudden feeling of shame.

“Hey, Mom,” she said as she picked up the phone.

She could tell even before Amber spoke that she was irritated. “Care to explain why I had to find out from someone I hardly know that you found Christopher’s body?”

Rilynne took a deep breath, unsure how exactly to respond. “I’m sorry,” she said after a few tense moments. “Honestly, with the initial shock and going over the evidence found, I just forgot to call.”

“I’m going to overlook that for the time being,” Amber said, not hiding her annoyance, “but only because I want to hear about the details. Don’t think about leaving anything out, or I’ll make a trip all the way down there just to kick you.”

Rilynne did her best to hold in the chuckle she felt building in her chest, because she knew her mother wouldn’t appreciate it. “He was found in the woods outside of Madison by a camper. Poor guy had practically been sleeping right on top of him. Ben found trace on him that could have only come from a few places in Colorado, so that’s where I am now.”

“And what have you seen?” she asked bluntly. The sharpness in her tone hadn’t eased.

“A cabin covered in snow, trees, and a sign for a town called Brooks Hollow. I checked with Ben and he said Brooks Hollow was one of the few places that the combination of plant trace could have come from. I flew in a few hours ago and will meet with their detective in the morning to see about trying to track Mifflin down.”

“Do you think he’s still in the area?” she asked.

Rilynne paused before answering, because she didn’t have an answer herself. “In the dream I had last night, I saw Christopher. I asked him to tell me where to find Mifflin and he said something about already knowing and I was looking for a sign. I had seen the welcome sign in an earlier flash, but it was covered in snow so I couldn’t read it. Last night I found it and after brushing the snow off, I got a name,” she explained. “Now, I don’t know if that just means he was here and this is the place the trail starts, or if he’s here now.”

Amber sat in silence, apparently working over everything she had just learned. “What does Ben have to do with any of this?” she asked after a few moments.

“Apparently Wooldridge is a big fan of his,” Rilynne said with a grin. “He suggested all of the physical evidence be sent to him for analysis. He has more resources and isn’t at risk of giving a biased analysis.”

“Isn’t he?” she replied. “I mean, he’s dating you and you’re at the middle of this case.”

“He didn’t know Christopher or Mifflin and, his feelings for me not withstanding, he has an unflappable reputation in his field. Wooldridge’s forensic team all knew Mifflin very well and no doubt feel as betrayed as everyone else in the station. If he were caught, he would surely try to say that they tainted the evidence out of vengeance.”

She mumbled an agreement, her tone finally starting to cool. “So, speaking of Ben,” she said slyly. “How was your date?”

“Interrupted,” Rilynne replied.

“I should have a talk with Wooldridge about his timing.”

“Oh yes,” Rilynne chortled. “That’s just what I need, my mother calling my old boss about my dating life.”

Amber chuckled along with her. “Well, I’ve been trying for months to get the two of you together. It finally happens, and you get the last call in the world you need at the time. It would be one thing if you were called into work or for some other kind of emergency, but getting that call would put a stop to any date. I don’t imagine Ben was very thrilled, either.”

“He actually stayed surprisingly collected,” Rilynne stated. “I was in complete shock, and he stepped in and told me I needed to get on a plane. He even booked my ticket for me while I packed, then drove me to the airport. He’s been pretty great about it all. I know that it can’t be easy for him, but he’s hiding it well. He thought it was over when I received the notice about the death in absentia. So did I.”

“Everyone has baggage,” she said. “Yours just includes a fugitive. If anyone can understand it, though, it’s Ben.”

She was all too right.

“I know,” she replied. “I’m just ready for this all to be over. I’m finally ready to move on with my life, and it feels like I’m being dragged in reverse.”

“It’s better it happened now when things are just beginning, than down the road. Now you can get this taken care of, and enter into a relationship with closure. Trust me, it’s not as easy without it.”

Rilynne knew she couldn’t argue, because her mother knew the feeling all too well. Her husband had completely vanished with no explanation. In a way, Rilynne felt lucky that the evidence left behind in her former bedroom at least told a story, even if it was a bloody one.

“Christopher told me last night to stop looking for Mifflin and work on getting on with my life,” Rilynne said dolefully. “He told me it was the only way I was going to be truly happy.”

She could hear the air leave her mother’s lungs, but it was over a minute before she responded. “Christopher’s gone, darling. Nothing you do will bring him back. I hate to say it, but finding Mifflin won’t take away the pain you still have. Now, whether Christopher or just your own self-conscious, something inside of you knows that.”

Rilynne felt herself starting to tear up, but quickly pulled herself back together. “I know that finding him isn’t going to make me feel any better about everything,” she said. “There’s nothing he can say that’ll justify what he did. Part of me even knows that anything he tried to say will only make me hurt more. I have to find him, though. You know I do. I have to make sure he pays for what he did. He can’t be allowed to live free and happy while everyone else has to suffer the fallout.”

Whether because she knew Rilynne had a point, or because she knew there was no point in arguing, Amber remained silent.

“So on a lighter note, you should see how big Kim’s getting,” Rilynne stated after a few tense moments. “I can’t believe she’s already three.”

“I should make a trip out to see them. Who knows how long it’ll be before I have a grandchild of my own,” she said pointedly. “I miss having a little one around.”

Before Rilynne could respond, there was a knock at her door.

“As much as I hate to leave the conversation on such an exciting note, I’ll have to call you back,” she said sarcastically as she pushed herself off of the bed. “Someone’s at the door.”

She was just pulling the phone down from her ear when she swung the door open.

“What?” It was more of a statement than a question as she was filled by both confusion and joy.

“I had her give me the last available room on this floor,” he said as he past her and walked into the room. “I was actually surprised to find them nearly booked.”

“They’re having their high school reunion. What are you doing here?” she asked as Ben dropped down into the chair in the corner. “Don’t get me wrong, you can’t imagine how happy I am to see you, but aren’t you supposed to be a thousand miles away enjoying the warmer, Texas weather?”

He shrugged slightly as if trying to push off the question. “And let you do this all by yourself?” he asked with a joking tone. “Knowing you, you’ll end up kidnapped again. Besides, there’s a conference in Denver next week that I’m speaking at. I just took off a week early. Consider it a vacation of sorts. Oh, and I brought you these.” He tossed her the small travel bag he had been holding. She unzipped it to find several clean shirts. “Knowing you and your tendency of getting hurt, I figured you might be at risk of running out before you made it back to Addison Valley. I also watered your plants. They weren’t looking so good.”

Rilynne couldn’t think of anything to do but grin.

“Have you eaten yet?” he asked. She shook her head, still in shock by his sudden appearance. “Good,” he replied as he rose from the seat. “I’m starving.”

She stared at him is disbelief as he walked toward the door, only moving to follow him after he rounded the corner.

“How’d you get here so fast?” she asked as she shut the door and ran to catch up to him. “I’ve only been here for three hours.”

She glanced over just in time to see his ear growing redder just beneath his shaggy, dirty blonde hair. She quickly looked forward so he wouldn’t see the grin forming on her face.

“There happened to be a flight from San Antonio to Denver departing two hours after we hung up, so I made it there just in time to catch it,” he explained. “That put me in Denver just a couple hours after you. I drove straight in, although I know for a fact that I don’t drive as fast as you do.”

“Oh, shut up,” she said as she gave him a gentle push.

“Have you had time to find anywhere that looks like a decent place to eat?” he asked as they made their way down the creaky stairs.

“No,” she replied. “As soon as I got into town I went to the sheriff’s station. After leaving there, I went to the park service station to see if I could get a map of the areas the Penland beardtongue grows. I got here and checked in just over an hour before your knock.”

When they stepped through the front door and out onto the sidewalk, Ben took her by the arm and led her down the street. “I passed a diner just a block down that looked like it might be good,” he said.

His fingers slid gently down her arm, not stopping until her hand sat securely within his.

“I don’t think you could have found a smaller town if you tried,” he said.

“I thought Addison Valley was tiny,” she replied as she looked up and down the street. “Other than the bed and breakfast, there’s only one other hotel in the entire town. How’d you know which one I was at?” she looked over to him curiously.

He chuckled softly as he shook his head. “Like there was any doubt which one you’d be at. The other place was nice, but it’s no bed and breakfast. Besides, I know how much you love pancakes, and that happens to be what they’re serving for breakfast tomorrow. I didn’t even bother checking the hotel first.”

The sun had settled below the horizon, leaving the sky a colorful blend of pink, purple, and orange. The streets, though noticeably busier than they had been before, still had but only a handful of people on them. “It’s kind of nice out here,” he said as they made their way down the block. “It’s very quiet.”