Cornwall and Redfern Mysteries 2-Book Bundle (14 page)

That night I slept the dreamless sleep of the optimistic. A pack of grizzly bears could have joined a biker gang in a hoedown outside my trailer, all smoking reefers, for all I cared. If I had known two-thirds of a bottle of wine would send me off to sleep like that, I would have done it a long time ago. My head was banging a bit when I woke up, but it was well worth it for a full night's rest.

When memories of yesterday's encounter with Redfern threatened to surface, I washed them away with pleasant thoughts of the Weasel's face when he handed me the cheque. I should get a picture of that. Mrs. Brickle's chocolate desserts were not going to enter my consciousness again, ever. I can't say it was a bad experience, just not one I cared to repeat. Except for wine, I swear no mind-altering substance would ever pass my lips again, so help me God.

Fresh from a shower in the recreation building, I zipped on my leather jacket and started to head around back to the Savage.

“Yo, Bliss. Wait.”

Rae slammed her trailer door and joined me by our communal garbage can.

“Rae. I thought you were staying with your sister in Owen Sound?”

“I was, but Suze and Jason, her husband, got into a huge fight, so I got the heck out of there. I figured it was safer here, know what I mean? I got back late last night.” Rae pulled a pink knapsack slowly over one shoulder. Under the heavy coating of foundation, the bruises were still puffy, but she looked much better than two nights ago.

“Do they have any children?”

“Who, my sister? Not yet, but they're trying.”

“Are you going to the pool to teach a class, now?”

“That's it, girlfriend. As long as I'm back, and still out of commission, I might as well pick up some extra money at the community centre. The water helps ease the muscle soreness, too.”

“Listen, Rae, I don't want to scare you, but have you heard the bear outside your trailer at night?”

“Bear? I've heard something, snapping noises, like that. And twice I heard a high-pitched howl. I was thinking there's a coyote out back. But coyotes won't hurt you. They usually run away when faced by a human.”

“A coyote.” I considered that. Possible. “I hope you're right, Rae. I haven't heard the howling, but I've seen green eyes watching me at night when I come home, and there's the smell too.”

“Smell?” She turned her nose to the wind and sniffed. “Oh, you mean, like that?”

“What?”

But now I detected it, too; the earthy stench of a primitive creature. I stepped closer to Rae and we scanned the trees. Then we heard a low growling.

Rae dropped her knapsack and picked up a hefty stick. She started toward the woods and I tugged on her arm.

“Rae, wait. What are you doing? You don't know it's a coyote. It could be a wolf, or a bear even. We better call someone.”

“Who are we going to call, Bliss? The police? Do you really want them poking around Ewan and Sarah? Or Snake? With us right in the middle?”

That had been my argument for not calling the police before, and now that I knew Redfern was crooked, I was even less eager to call 911.

“We can contact the Ministry of Natural Resources,” I told her, fumbling for my phone.

“As soon as we see what it is, we'll call them. They won't come unless there's a confirmed sighting. I'll try to get a picture of it with my cell. I don't mind going alone. You wait here.”

“Just let me get a stick, Rae. I'll come with you.” I couldn't let Rae become a dead hero on her own. But goddamn.

Picking up a stick, I followed her onto the trail. Halfway through the woods, she stopped and held up her hand. We listened but heard no further growling. The animal reek, however, was stronger.

“This way,” Rae whispered and headed off-trail into the trees. The woods were thick and dark as dusk.

Rae stopped, and I slammed into her back.

“There he is,” she whispered, and by her movements I figured she was reaching for her cellphone. Since she was four or five inches taller than me and standing between two sturdy tree trunks, I couldn't see over or around her.

I ducked under her arm. “Where? And why are we whispering? Don't we want to scare him away?”

“Not until I get a couple of pictures. Here, hold my stick.”

Peachy, now I had two sticks. Some protection. I was content enough to take a subordinate role in this safari, since the world of nature was not my area of expertise, and Rae seemed to know what she was doing.

“I still can't see it,” I whispered. Was it a bear, or was it a wolf, that's all we needed to know, and, yes, a picture would be nice, but getting the hell out of the woods would be nicer. I hoped it was a wolf, since they couldn't climb trees like bears. But, looking up to the lowest branch, I realized it didn't matter. No way could either of us shinny up one of those pines to reach a branch growing well above our heads.

“It's right there. Just a couple of shots and we can chase it away with our sticks. To sort of discourage him from trespassing on our turf.”

In the sudden flash that followed, the creature was outlined in white light, not fifteen yards away. The eyes glowed yellow, then green, and still glowed when the flash faded.

Rae's cell flashed again, and this time the animal uttered a menacing sound from low in its throat. By the third flash, I knew this wasn't a bear. I didn't know how big wolves were in relation to coyotes. If it was a coyote, it was a big one and a mean one. The bottom half of its face was black, and it turned to face us.

“Okay, give me back my stick. Now we chase it away.”

Rae uttered a high-pitched shriek. I almost dropped my stick, stunned by the unearthly sound. She stepped forward into battle, stick held in both hands over her head. I was beginning to think she was crazy, but I followed her anyway, proving I was the crazy one.

We moved ahead, her in front, me trying to edge around her body in the tight space. We waved our sticks in front of us, advancing on the wolf like a skimpy army.

We were less than ten feet from the creature when I tugged on Rae's tee-shirt to stop her.

“Wait, Rae. It's not backing away, and that's blood on its mouth. It's eating something. Move back!”

“Probably a deer.” But she stopped and lowered her stick slightly.

I stepped up beside Rae and for several seconds we faced down the beast. We were close enough that, even in the gloom, we could see its dripping maw move menacingly and hear its deep-throated snarls.

I dared a quick glance at the creature's feed. The motionless heap was half-hidden behind several trees.

“That's no deer,” I screamed at Rae. “It's wearing a plaid shirt.”

Rae tried to take a deep breath, but it turned into a gurgle in her throat. She dropped like a rock, pulling me to the ground. I fell on my skinny stick and heard it snap into two equally useless pieces.

Fuck. I sprang to my feet and tore Rae's stick from her limp fingers. When I looked up, the beast had advanced several feet. Rage poured from its primitive eyes. Its blood-stained jaws snapped once, and again. The stench emanating from its matted fur did as much to strike me numb with fear as its menacing stance. The lips curled back on fangs drenched with gore.

Prodding Rae with my foot, I said, “Get up. Get up, now.”

She lay as still as the plaid mound only a few feet away. You're fucked, Cornwall.

I weighed my options. There wasn't even one good one.

I opened my mouth and screamed. Lowering my head, I charged the animal. I'd go down swinging. Nobody would ever say that Bliss Moonbeam Cornwall gave up without a fight.

My flash of courage didn't last long. I closed my eyes as I swung the stick, expecting yellow fangs to sink into my calf or throat. Again and again I swung, once connecting with something solid, maybe the animal, maybe a tree. When I opened my eyes, I was swinging at the air. The beast was gone. I quickly turned in a circle, watching for those glowing eyes, listening for snarls. But even the rank odour was dissipating.

Rae was stirring, whimpering softly. I helped her up, saying, “We have to get out of here. Hang on to me.” I avoided looking at the body on the ground and Rae was too confused to notice anything. She let me lead her back to the trail and from there we stumbled to my trailer and locked ourselves in.

I took out my phone. “Okay, who do we call? We can't let that animal run loose in the woods. Now it's killed someone.”

Rae moaned and leaned back on the bench, her head rolling back and forth.

“I'm so scared. How did everything get so bad?”

“Don't ask me,” I said. “Maybe we're both dead and in hell. But I have to call the police. No choice.” I punched 911, all three digits this time, quickly before I changed my mind.

Police cruisers, ambulances, and even a fire rescue truck cluttered the rocky, weed-filled area behind Hemp Hollow. Thankfully, we hadn't been asked to lead the first responders into the woods to show them the body. The forest wasn't very big and with my general instructions they found it within minutes.

Now, uniforms of different colours ran in and out of the trees. This may be just my jaded opinion, but it looked like they were enjoying themselves. Except for Redfern. He was casting frequent scowls at the large rock where Rae and I had planted our butts.

We were told to stay there and not move by Thea Vanderbloom, one of the first to arrive at the scene. She hadn't asked for many facts, leaving the interrogation to her boss. Redfern had just left us, after wringing out every last detail of our ordeal. He didn't seem impressed by our actions, and just barely stopped his eyes from rolling when we described heading into the woods armed with sticks. He confiscated Rae's phone and reiterated Thea's instructions to stay put. Then he swaggered off to take charge of the show.

A white Ministry of Natural Resources truck pulled in and a large man in a windbreaker and ball cap got out. He exchanged a few words with Redfern and was handed Rae's phone. I really hoped Rae didn't have any photos of her clients on that phone.

Redfern and the MNR guy disappeared into the trees. Now that I wasn't under Redfern's scrutiny, I turned my back and pulled out my own phone.

I called and explained to Dougal why Sif's morning report hadn't been delivered yet.

“But I'll be there as soon as I can,” I assured him.

Did he hear any part of the account of my dangerous adventure or commiserate with me for enduring such trauma? Not Dougal.

“Honestly, Bliss. If it's not one thing, it's another with you. All I asked is for you to focus for no more than a week. And I'm paying you a lot of money for your time. I thought you were more reliable. Well, get your ass over to Glory's as soon—”

“Go fuck yourself, Dougal.” I clapped the phone closed and jammed it back into the inner pocket of my jacket. It was warm in the sun and I started to take it off. Then I remembered what I had hidden in another pocket. I poked my finger in, to ensure the photograph was still there.

That reminded me that I was supposed to pay my property taxes today. And, didn't I promise Fern Brickle I would come back this morning and finish cleaning her house? Did she know I helped myself to her desserts? And that Redfern was onto her? Although, if he was involved in Lockport's pot trade, it probably didn't matter who knew what.

My head swam. Without a program, I could no longer tell the good guys from the criminals. For instance, Fern Brickle was the sweetest, most giving woman in town. She was on every benefit committee from Toys for Tots to the Food Bank. But she served pot to her friends.

Was it a co-op thing? Like Glory's circle, did Mrs. Brickle and her friends take turns growing the weed they used at their afternoon teas? Everyone I saw getting out of their car at her house yesterday was either elderly or infirm. Some were both.

Rae elbowed me, and I looked up to see Redfern bearing down on us again. He hooked his thumbs on his belt and waited. I stood up, not enjoying such a height disadvantage. But he was still a foot taller. I sat down again.

“Well, ladies, you might be interested in what Chad Ames from the Ministry told me.” He put one foot on the rock beside me.

“Chad is almost certain that you saw a coywolf, a product of crossbreeding between coyotes and wolves. These hybrids are showing up in urban areas since they have the wolf's aggression but the coyote's lack of fear of humans. The size is larger than a regular coyote as well. They prefer hunting in packs, but this one seems to be a loner. At least, we hope it's not part of a pack.”

“I sure hope so, too. It stinks so much, I don't think I could stand more than one,” I said.

“Yeah? Perhaps it's diseased or has an infected wound. The Ministry is going to try to capture it.”

“I hope they shoot it. It killed a person. Do you know who it is?” I asked.

“Yes. He had identification on him. Fitzgerald Corwin. Ever hear of him?”

Beside me, Rae gasped. Both Redfern and I looked at her, but she shook her head and tried on a smile through shaking lips. The smile failed and Redfern gave her a speculative look.

Trying to distract him, I said, “Fitzgerald Corwin? Never heard of him. Is he local?”

“No.” He turned to Rae. “Miss Zaborski? I believe the paramedics would like to check you out, to make sure you aren't in shock. If you wouldn't mind stepping over to that ambulance?”

Rae left so quickly she nearly came to grief on the stony ground. But, once leaning forlornly against the back door of the ambulance, she was soon surrounded by several medical personnel who, it must be assumed, cared deeply about her condition. Her cheerleader looks might have had something to do with their solicitous attention. No one seemed concerned about my shock.

“I want a private word with you, Cornwall.”

“We've had nothing but words in the past few days. What is there left to say?”

“Do you remember yesterday's conversation?”

“Certainly, I do.” I thought for a minute. “A lot of it didn't make sense, though.”

“Exactly. So, I'd like to start again. But, before we begin a discussion that will probably end in yet another argument, I'm suggesting very strongly you find someplace else to live. Hemp Hollow is not safe for an innocent like you.”

“Hey, watch your language, Chief. It's been some years since I was an innocent.”

“Yesterday, you told me you were a born-again virgin. Remember that?”

“Well, aren't my cheeks red as tail lights?”

“They should be. Now, let's move on to the brownie you ate at Fern Brickle's house.”

“It wasn't a brownie. And let's stop beating around the bush, Redfern. I don't know what your game is, but what I ate in Mrs. Brickle's kitchen did not have a label on it. Therefore, I can tell you nothing. So, now, ask about something else.”

“You're tough, Cornwall. I can't decide whether you're a lamb in a fox run, or you're in this mess up to your pretty little neck.”

Choosing my words carefully, something I should do more often, I said, “You'll have to be more specific. I'm involved in several personal messes at the moment, but I don't believe any of them are of an illegal nature.”

That sidetracked him. He didn't want to hear about my personal life, but if I had to, I was prepared to go on at length about my living conditions, marital woes, cousin commitments, and so much more. Anything to stay off the subject of drugs and drug dealers.

Removing his hat, Redfern looked toward the trees and said, “That wasn't so smart, Cornwall. Confronting a wild animal like that.”

“What was I supposed to do? Rae was unconscious at my feet, and the wolf was only a few yards away. I couldn't leave her and back away from it. And if I'd run, it would have chased me down, or killed Rae.”

“I guess you did what you needed to. You've got guts, Cornwall, but you'd drive a saint to drink. And your mouth is world class.”

“Good to know I'm skilled at something. Now, if we're done here, I have to go into town and pay my property taxes.”

“I have a feeling we'll never be done, Cornwall.”

Redfern's eyes were fixed on a spot over my shoulder, and I turned to see the Weasel standing a few feet away, probably here as mayor to see what all the fuss was about. Had he heard my comment about paying my property taxes? Didn't matter. I stroked my jacket with its secret treasure and gave him a polite smile. Then I turned away and left him in Redfern's official hands.

Right now, I needed to address a more pressing dilemma.