The Reservoir (20 page)

“You and Zack saw them,” she said numbly.  “Oh, man.”  She was silent for a moment, gathering her thoughts.  “Have you heard from Aaron and Niqui?”

“Not yet.”

“Okay,” she said, struggling to make sense of everything.  “Now that we know there are other dead girls, and we’re confident that this Cleve Walker guy is…”  Her words trailed off, as she remembered the meeting she’d witnessed between John and Deputy Donner.  There was the matter of that chain.  “Holly, listen, we figure this Walker guy is probably the killer, but we just saw something kind of strange…”

“What?” she cut in.

Kendall explained what she and Daniel had just seen.  “That is weird,” Holly mused.  “Could they all be in cahoots?” she wondered aloud, using a word her grandmother often used. 

“Cahoots?” Kendall said.  “What’s a cahoots?”

“Could they be in it together?” Holly said.  “You know, partners in crime.”

“Daniel and I really don’t know what to think,” Kendall admitted.  “What do we do next?”

“Go back to the cabin.”

“But what if the cops are there?”

Holly was quiet for a few seconds.  “Drive in slow and quiet.  If you spot the cops, leave.”

“But why?  I mean, aren’t you going to the authorities about the dead girls?”

“Yes, eventually, but we need physical evidence.  But if the guy John you told me about is involved, and potentially Deputy Donner with him, we need to be careful, until we know who we can trust.”

“Do you think you should call your parents?” Kendall asked.  “Being as we now believe David isn’t involved in the murders.”

Holly was quiet in thought again.  “No, not just yet.”

“What are you and Zack going to do now?”

Holly sighed with regret.  “We’re going to search for a couple little bodies in the washout, and hope they’re in shallow water…”

“The washout’s just ahead,” Holly told Zack, pointing. 

“I don’t see Cassie,” he said, his eyes passing over the water.

“Maybe she went ahead to give the little ghosts a heads-up,” Holly speculated.

“Let’s hope so,” he mused.  “Hey, we’re here.”

He steered the dinghy away from deep water to the shallows near the shore.  Holly could see the sudden differentiation in color between the water depths.  Since she had never anchored here to explore the area, she glanced around worriedly.  She had no idea where it was safe to walk.  She had no idea where the little bodies were submerged, either, but knew they had to be close by.

Holly was brought back from her thoughts when Zack jumped out of the boat and began tugging it toward shore.  To her surprise, he was standing in ankle deep water one second, and was in waist high water the next.  He was startled by the sudden depth change, lost his footing, and fell backward.  He rose, expecting to gain purchase on the lake bottom, but dropped like a rock into deep water instead.

“Zack!” Holly cried.

He rose, sputtering, and swam toward the shore again.  When he saw the bottom beneath him, he gingerly placed his foot down, only to sink into the muck.  He propelled himself forward, took another tentative step, and found himself on firm lake bottom.  “Wow,” he said, pointing behind him to the edge of the muddy shelf, “watch that first step.”

Now on solid footing, he tugged the boat closer to shore and tied it to a log that rocked with the current in the shallows.  He extended a hand to Holly, and she climbed out on shaky legs.  Zack noticed.  He opened his mouth to speak, couldn’t find the words, and spread his arms wide.  Holly stepped into his embrace.  “We can do this,” he whispered in her ear.

She pulled back slightly, met his earnest blue eyes, and felt as if together, they could do anything.  But suddenly, the weight of what they were about to face came crashing down on her.  She held tight to Zack, as if he were her anchor.

“It’s going to be all right,” he soothed. 

Finally, she regained her composure.  She pulled back with a crisp nod of her head.  “We can do this,” she repeated.  “It’s going to be all right.”

Zack smiled, nodded, and they turned to face the reservoir. 

“Cassie, are you there?” Holly called.

Immediately, Cassie broke the surface, albeit briefly.  Zack took Holly’s hand and they walked toward the edge of the rocky shelf, and then together, took that next step into the deep water.

***

Aaron, Niqui, and Thomas sat at the dinette table in the cabin kitchen.  Aaron had spread the contents of the box on the table top, lining the items in a row.

The threesome sat still as statues, no one wanting to touch the objects.  In addition to the barrette, tiny car, earrings, and ring, there were several other rings, as well as a necklace, bracelet, and diamond watch.  Aaron counted the items, careful not to touch them as he did.  “Fourteen,” he murmured, and glanced up.  “That means…”

“Fourteen dead,” Thomas said.

“Thomas, do you, um, recognize anything here?” Niqui asked softly.

He nodded and pointed to a small ruby ring, and then dropped his head onto his arms.  He began to cry, rocking his head from side to side.

Aaron consoled him, draping his arm over his back.  “We’re going to get the killer,” he said resolutely.  “If Holly’s stepdad killed those girls, we’re going to see that he pays.  You mark my words, that animal will pay.”

When the phone rang, the three jumped.  Aaron smiled sheepishly.  “The phone…” he said.

He rose and hurried to answer it.  It was Daniel, calling from the payphone.  “Hey, I’ve got news,” he said, and then hurriedly filled Aaron in on their findings.

“So, David
can’t
be the killer,” Aaron said, shaking his head.  “It has to be the former owner.  And he’s dead…”  He was silent, listening.  “You’ve told Holly and Zack? … Where are they now? …  Still on the lake, huh? …  Okay, keep us posted.”  He hung up the phone, but abruptly groaned in frustration.  “I should have told them about finding the stuff in the shed!” 

He quickly checked the caller I.D., to make note of the number his friends had called from, but by the time he punched in the number, it simply rang and rang.  Next, he tried Kendall’s phone, remembering Holly had it in her possession, but with no luck.  He tried Zack’s phone next, but with the same results.  He ran a nervous hand through his hair.          

“Shoot,” he muttered, as he returned to the table, where Thomas watched him, wide-eyed. 

“So Holly’s stepdad isn’t the killer?” the little boy said, incredulous.

Aaron shook his head.  “Apparently, David bought this place less than a year ago.  Cassie’s been dead two years.”

Thomas was quiet, processing the news.  “So a different guy lived here?  No, that can’t be right.  I’ve seen him here…”  He shook his head, his face set in a puzzled frown.  “Maybe I’m … wrong.”  He was silent again, still struggling to make sense of the news.  “Why does Cassie keep coming back here then?” he said in an accusatory tone.  “Tell me that.”

“We can’t answer your question, Thomas,” Aaron said.  “I wish we could.”

“So the guy who used to live here killed Cassie then,” Thomas muttered, as if he was having trouble wrapping his mind around it.

Aaron nodded.  “It seems that way, but…”   

“What?” Niqui prompted.

He told them about the exchange Daniel and Kendall had observed between the Search and Rescue guy and Deputy Donner. 

“So the one guy gave the other a big chain?” Thomas said.  “You mean, a chain like the ones in the shed?”

Aaron nodded.  “I guess so.  It may not mean anything, but, who knows?”

“Maybe they’re all in it together.  Maybe they’re a band of serial killers,” Niqui said, eyes widening with fear.

“And maybe, we should just get the hell out of here,” Aaron suggested wearily.             

***

“Donner can’t be too far ahead of us,” Kendall told Daniel. 

After calling Aaron and Niqui to fill them in on all the news, and stopping for gas, the kids sped north, deciding to follow Deputy Donner.  Fortunately, he drove at a sedate pace.  They were careful to stay back a safe distance, and watched him turn right, at the sign indicating the road that led to Saddle Dam. 

Unobtrusively, they continued north past the road.  Daniel glanced in his rearview mirror in time to see John, the Search and Rescue guy, pull out of the entrance to Cresap Bay, just across the mountain road from Saddle Dam.  He drove across, and like his friend, headed for the park at Saddle Dam.    

“Uh, Kendall,” Daniel said tentatively, “I just saw John follow Deputy Donner into the park.”

“Turn around!” Kendall cried.  “Let’s follow them and see what they’re doing.”

Daniel gave her a dubious glance.  “Shouldn’t we get back to the cabin?”

“When we’re done here,” she said with frustration.  “Do it!”

Daniel turned the big truck around and drove along the road to the park.  Flanked by thick forest on either side, the road was entirely shaded, and currently devoid of other drivers, save the two men ahead of the kids.

When they reached a small booth on the left side of the road, Daniel stopped.  The deputy and other man had simply driven past the booth.  “Do we have to pay to park?” Kendall asked.

Daniel quickly scanned the sign on the tiny, wooden building.  “Three bucks.”

He searched his pocket, relieved to find a five dollar bill.  After paying the woman in the booth, he turned to Kendall.  “What do we do now?”

She glanced around.  To their left, she saw empty boat trailers parked in long, slanted, spaces.  Ahead, she could see the back of John’s truck, just before it disappeared around a bend.  To her right, she spied a rustic parking lot, where cars were parked in unmarked spots.  “There!” she directed.  “Park there.”

Daniel backed up, and then pulled into the parking area designated for cars.  He steered the big truck into a too-small spot and parked.  They climbed out of the truck and crossed the distance to the other lot, where Kendall hurriedly ducked into the restroom, while Daniel waited for her outside.  When she emerged from the cinderblock structure, they paused to peruse the area.

Left of them, they saw a huge earthen mound that stretched several hundred feet—presumably to keep the waters at bay in the event of some dam-related catastrophe.  

They also saw a zig-zagging trail from the lot, apparently leading to the water.  Daniel pointed.  “Let’s go.”

Kendall shook her head.  “Let’s walk up the road instead.  I’d rather come up behind them.”

He nodded, and together they traversed the roadway that they later realized was, indeed, a more expedient route to the water than the trail.  At the end of the road was a circular drive, where boats were allowed to park, to await their turns at the dock. 

Kendall was first to spot a Sheriff’s Office trailer, that was currently pulling away from the concrete dock.  She spied the large, aluminum boat in the water, a deputy standing dockside and holding a rope tethered to the boat.  She narrowed her gaze.  It was Deputy Donner.

“Where’s his truck?” she murmured, and then saw it parked along the edge of the road.  Apparently law enforcement was allowed to park in a designated spot closer to the docks than the general public.  “Where’s John?” she murmured.

Daniel pointed.  John was doing a turn around in the circular launch area.  The kids took a quick step back, to avoid being seen by him, but it was too late.  He slowed to a stop beside them.

“Well, hello there!” he called.  “Fancy meeting you two here.”

“Uh, hi,” Daniel said.  “Yeah, um, we thought we’d check out the park.  We, uh…”

“Haven’t been to this particular park before,” Kendall cut in.

He nodded and turned to point at the dock.  “I’m sure you both know that the dock is one of several on Yale Reservoir.”  He then pointed off into the distance.  “Beautiful country up here.”

The teens turned toward the water—a gleaming green lake flanked by towering evergreens.  “It looks like a postcard,” Kendall remarked.

John nodded.  “Yep.  We’re lucky to live in this beautiful country,” he said.  “Boating, swimming, fishing—it’s all here!”

“Yep!” she said too cheerfully.  “Well it’s good seeing you again.”

“Yeah, I’d better move along.  I’m going out on the boat with Deputy Donner today.  Met up with him a while ago, and he asked me to join him on the boat.”  He smiled cheerily, and it was evident he was looking forward to the outing.

“Like in a ride-along?” Daniel said.

“That’s right!  Hey,” he said brightly, “being as you two are interested in law enforcement, just let me know if you’d like me to set up a ride-along for you.  Of course, you’ll have to go one-at-a-time, but it could be a real eye opener for you.”

“Or a real eye-closer,” Daniel murmured under his breath.

John gave him a quizzical look.  “Did you say something, son?”

“Oh, no,” he said quickly.  “Hey, have fun on your ride-along.”

“Will do,” he said, and then pulled away.

Kendall turned to Daniel.  “Way to go.  What if he had heard you?”

He shrugged.  “No way in hell I’m getting on a boat with either one of those guys.” 

Kendall nudged him to follow her and together they walked to the water’s edge, right of the dock.  A swimming hole was cordoned off with ropes, and the bank of the lake was crowded with families.  Young children frolicked on the rocky shore and in the cold water.     

Kendall tugged off her flip-flops and stepped into the water.  The cool water felt divine against her skin.  Daniel shed his shoes and joined her.  “Let’s hope Cassie doesn’t show up here,” he murmured, taking in the crowded shoreline.

“I don’t think Cassie likes crowds,” Kendall said.  “Heck, I don’t like crowds.”

They left the water, put their shoes back on, and Daniel took her hand.  Together, they left the bank and trudged up the incline toward the dock. 

Kendall spotted another Sheriff’s Office truck.  She nudged Daniel with her elbow and they paused to watch as a deputy backed two small tandem trailers into the water, while another man pulled two jet skis off the trailers.

“There’s something a little bit ironic about all this law enforcement
on
this lake, and all those bodies
in
this lake,” Daniel muttered, and then eyed the deputies with suspicion.