Cantina Valley (A Ben Adler Mystery Book 1) (10 page)

10

Ben found the unmarked road that led up into the rolling Coast Range foothills and slowed his pace toward the Compound.
 
In his youth he had been warned by his parents and others about going up there, because of the secrecy of the place and those who were drawn there like a magnet.
 
Many who had resided there over the years had drifted up the coast from California.

Signs now lined both sides of the narrow road saying that this was a private road and trespassers would be prosecuted.

Pulling to the side of the road, Ben turned to Maggi and said, “What do you think?”

“About?”

“The no trespassing signs.”

“It’s only a misdemeanor if they want to press charges.
 
Unless we do something to escalate the charges to a felony.”

“I understand that,” he said.
 
“But do you want to continue?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Ben shrugged and then pulled forward.
 
“The compound sits about a half mile ahead.”
 
He guessed there would be a big problem if the preppers had a gate and guards manning it.
 
But that wasn’t the case.

Cruising into the complex, Ben found a parking spot near the main building.
 
He had been out to this Compound years ago, when it was abandoned.
 
He had also dated a girl for a while in high school who lived in one of the housing buildings.
 
Her parents had been part of the commune.
 
Her mother was a bee keeper and her father was like an old-time blacksmith.
 
Ben had lost track of the girl after graduating from high school and joining the Air Force.
 
One time as an investigator with OSI he had tried to look her up to see how she had turned out.
 
But the girl had dropped off the face of the Earth.

“That’s his truck,” Maggi said, excitedly pointing across the Compound to a silver Ford F-150 with a matching cap.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.
 
I helped him buy it after he left the Army.
 
He has Veteran plates with the Purple Heart.”

Suddenly a man came out of the main building, the one that had been used as classrooms and a dining hall in the past.
 
The guy was wearing jeans and boots.
 
On top he wore a rainproof olive drab jacket—former military issue.
 
As were his boots.
 
And, like Ben, the man had a handgun strapped to his right hip.

“Let me handle this,” Ben said.

“No.
 
I need to see my brother.”

“This guy is former military.
 
I speak his language.”

“How do you know this?”

“Trust me.
 
If you’ve been in the military, you can identify your comrades in arms.
 
Please, just wait here.”

Reluctantly, Maggi nodded her approval.

Ben got out and walked up to the man.
 
The guy looked to be in his mid to late forties, but was still in good enough shape to run a six-minute mile.
 
He was built like a middle linebacker.
 
With his blond hair and beard, he would have made a great Viking.

“How’s it going?” Ben asked.

“Did you read the signs down the hill?”

Turning toward his truck, Ben said, “Yes, I did.
 
But my friend insisted we continue.”

“That’s a nice old truck.
 
I’ve seen it around.”

“I live just down the road.
 
Ben Adler.”
 
He extended his hand out.
 
Just like a salute, the man felt obligated to shake Ben’s hand.
 
They both squeezed down with considerable force before reluctantly letting go.

“So you took over the old Adler place.”

“I grew up there.
 
My parents both died from cancer recently.
 
Once I retired from the Air Force, I moved back home.”
 
There.
 
He had managed to infuse sympathy and his former military status.

“You don’t remember me?” the man asked.

Ben considered him more carefully.
 
“I’m sorry.
 
As I said, I’ve been away for some twenty years.”

“You dated my younger sister in high school.”

Thinking back, he now remembered the brother.
 
He had been at least four years ahead of Ben in school.
 
Ben pointed at the man and said, “You joined the Army after high school.
 
I met you a couple of times when you came home on leave.”

“That’s right.
 
Kevin.
 
Kevin Engel.”

“Okay.
 
I see it now.
 
Whatever happened to your sister, Robin?”

“She lives on a ranch out in Eastern Oregon near Baker.
 
Second husband.
 
Three kids.”

“That’s great.
 
Say hello for me next time you talk.”

“We don’t talk much,” Kevin said.
 
“Her first husband used to beat her.
 
I came home on leave and nearly killed the guy.
 
Of course, she still loved him and blamed me for him leaving her.”

“That’s rough.
 
But I would have done the same thing.”

Kevin tightened his jaw.
 
He was obviously still in pain from the incident and the virtual loss of his sister.
 
“Why are you here?”

“A friend of a friend,” Ben said.
 
“I’m looking for McGuffin.
 
Tavis McGuffin.”

The man couldn’t help from drifting his eyes toward the man’s Ford pickup.
 
“McGuffin?”

“Yeah.
 
That’s his F-150 over there.”

“How did you find us?” the former soldier asked.

Now Ben was stuck.
 
He couldn’t tell the truth.
 
But he had also anticipated the question.
 
“Being a local, you hear things.
 
You ask a few questions and finally get the answer you need.
 
Someone reluctantly mentions seeing this Ford pickup driving down your long driveway, and it’s easy to come take a look.
 
Coming from this area, I’m sure you understand.”

Based on the look on Kevin’s face, he didn’t understand.
 
But it would also be impossible for the man to deny that the truck was Tavis McGuffin’s.

“What do you want with Guff?” Kevin finally asked.

Ben turned back to his truck and then toward the former soldier again.
 
“His sister is looking for him.
 
They’re pretty close, I guess.
 
And she hasn’t heard from Tavis in about a month.”

Kevin stared at Maggi in Ben’s truck and finally said, “Guff is a big boy.
 
Maybe he doesn’t want to talk with her.”

“Like you and your sister?” Ben asked.

“Exactly.”
 
Then the soldier seemed to consider something new.
 
“As you can see, we’re pretty much off the grid here.
 
I’ve heard your place is the same way.”

That was what Ben was hoping for.
 
The kindred spirit impact.
 
“You got that shit right.
 
I’m pretty self-sufficient.”

Kevin gave a half smile.
 
By now the rain was starting to fall down on them, sifting through the heavy Douglas firs over their heads.
 
“I’d let you talk with Guff, but he’s not here right now.”

Ben glanced back at Maggi.
 
She would want a more definitive answer to her brother’s whereabouts.
 
“She just wants to make sure Tavis is all right.
 
That’s it.”

“Like I said, he’s not here right now.
 
He went mushroom picking.”

“Do you know when he might return?”

The former soldier shrugged.
 
“Could be a while.
 
I think they’re up in the Siuslaw.”

“Matsutake?”

“I don’t know.
 
I’m not a mushroom guy.”

Ben nodded.
 
“All right.
 
Could you do a favor for me, then?”

“Depends.”

Ben pushed forward.
 
“Could you simply have Tavis give his sister a call.”

“Service is not available out here.”

“I understand.
 
I don’t even own a cell phone myself.
 
Or a land line.
 
Or the internet.
 
But I don’t have a sister looking for me.
 
You know how they can be.”

“I’ve heard.”
 
Kevin hesitated, his hands firmly on his hips.
 
“The only reason I’m talking with you is because I know you and you served in the military.”

“I hear you.
 
I’d appreciate your help.”

“My hospitality only goes so far.
 
Next time you need to comply with our signs.”

“Will do.
 
I have a gate at my place.”

“We’re working on getting one.”

Ben was about to turn and go, when he thought of one more thing.
 
Especially since he had been warned about not coming back.
 
“I’m familiar with the history of this place.
 
Where exactly do you fit in to the past?”