Murder on the Ghost Walk Read online

  “Yeah. How did you know that?”

  “Mr. Twain told us.”

  I snorted. “Well, isn’t he a fountain of information.” I made a mental note to never tell Twain anything I wanted to keep private. That was fast.

  Lewis pressed. “So did you find something about the cameras?”

  “I’m not sure I should be talking to you about this. I’m sorry. But I don’t want to get into trouble with the police.”

  Lewis sighed again. “I understand. Thanks for your time. I’ll see you around.” He turned and exited the tea room. It was only then that I realized how curious the short meeting was, including Daisy not greeting Lewis.

  Jessica seemed to have trouble catching her breath and uttered, “That was Lewis right?”

  I shrugged, “Yeah.” How could she know that his appearance was important in the context of our plan to bluff.

  Jessica turned a shade paler and said, “Ruth James was a past victim of John ‘Jack’ Richardson. But Ruth’s maiden name is Bellamy. Lewis is her younger brother.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Not even five seconds after hearing the information from Jessica, Jaxon produced his cell phone and dialed. “Detective Lambert? We may have your man. Lewis Bellamy. He was just in here asking about our evidence and he is the brother to one of Jack’s past con victims.”

  Andrew looked at me. “Isn’t he overreacting?”

  “No. Not really.” My nerves made my voice a bit squeaky.

  Jessica glared at me. “Raine. I know you almost as well as Rose. And Rose, Jaxon and you are all acting like you know something we don’t.”

  I scrunched up my face. “That’s because, you may be right.”

  Jessica huffed then demanded, “Spill!”

  My voice was a touch high and I spoke faster than normal. “We helped Detective Lambert run a bluff to smoke out the killer. And he thinks the first one to come talk to us about the evidence is the killer.”

  Jessica took a deep breath. “So that man, the brother of one of the conman’s victims, just came in to ask about the evidence we have...I think I’m going to be sick.”

  Pinball had been watching the events play out. “I think we have another problem. That man made it clear he wants to leave. And if he is the killer, and thinks we know he did it, he might run.”

  Jaxon clicked off and put his phone away. “Okay, we have a couple of problems that need to be addressed. Andrew, can you go over to the museum and see Mrs. Garcia. She is waiting for you with some records. Pinball, you are with me. We need to go find Lewis with Detective Lambert, who is going to meet us here. And Jessica, Raine, you need to meet Lauren at the tourist center and track down Cindy Hall.”

  I creased my eyebrows. “What? Why? Who is Cindy Hall.?”

  “Not now, but Detective Lambert was clear. We all need to move now.”

  The front door flew open and Daisy jumped at the surprise. It was Detective Lambert and he was not looking for a cup of coffee. “Pinball, Jaxon, with me. Raine, you know what to do?” I nodded to the detective, then Lambert looked to Andrew. “And you’re on your way over to the museum?” Andrew’s head bobbled like it was on a spring to signal yes.

  Grandma butted in. “What is going on? Is this safe? How did you get here so fast?”

  The old detective produced a forced smile. “Of course it’s safe. And I was sitting in my car out front, so I just had to cross the street. But now I need some extra eyes and hands, fast, to make sure the killers don’t slip through our fingers.”

  We all froze in place till I said, “Killers, so there were two.”

  Lambert pinched his lips. “At least two, yes. Now let’s move.”

  Andrew was first to move. He hit the door and made for the museum. Jaxon and Pinball left with Lambert, leaving Jessica and me to find Lauren at the tourist center.

  Jessica mumbled for most of the walk over to the visitors center. “I have two kids that seem bent on coming up with the most insane stunts to drive me insane. And it appears to be working. My husband takes the kids side more than mine, and I always have to be the bad guy. Now I am running around with homicide detectives. This is not what small town life is supposed to be like!”

  Lauren was standing at the base of the stairs in front of the tourist center. It took us about fifteen minutes to walk over and apparently it was not fast enough. Lauren was pacing and her face resembled the look one has after finding out the last ten years of tax returns are being audited by the IRS. She barked at us. “Come on. I need you to watch my back. Cindy is over at the flea market, and I can’t go in there without someone watching my six.”

  Jessica stuttered. “What...what...how do we watch your six? What is your six?”

  Lauren hung her head. “Just follow me. And do what I tell you.”

  So we did. I felt like was on a bad field trip in grade school. And we had the chaperon from hell.

  Outside the old building converted into a giant, indoor lawn sale, Lauren pointed. “Jessica, you go to that corner, and watch for anyone from the tour group, especially Lewis. If you see someone, you create a diversion, make a scene at the entrance. Okay?”

  Jessica nodded. “I can do that.”

  Lauren glared at her. “Good. Then what are you doing here?”

  Jessica sprinted for the corner identified by our well focused homicide detective. Then Lauren turned to me. “You, with me. Don’t do anything unless I tell you to.”

  I took a deep breath and followed her into the flea market. Folding tables covered with junk were scattered over the large open area. This building used to be an old hardware store. But it was long gone and this was the best use anyone could come up with for the old building. The retired members of our community liked to rent tables and sell all kinds of stuff to the tourists that came through town.

  Lauren stood on her tiptoes for a moment, then she stooped down. “She is over there. Looking at some leather belts.”

  I shrugged. “What do we do now?”

  Lauren eyed me like Grandma eyes Pinball. “Are you paying attention. We detain her, bring her in for questioning.”

  “So why do you need me?”

  “She has been on the top of our person-of-interest list since the beginning. And now she might be an actual suspect. I need to be careful. Chances are good she has at least one accomplice, and maybe more.”

  “But I thought Lewis did it. He was the one who came to talk to me. And Lewis’s sister was one of Jack’s victims.” This rapid developing series of events had me confused.

  “That’s all true. But what you seem to be missing, is Cindy is Lewis’s older sister.”

  “Are you kidding me? How on earth did we not find that with Jaxon’s fancy databases?”

  Lauren’s face for the first time did not show tension and she chuckled. “Because your databases are not able to get background information on a former cop. And she is a former Pittsburgh cop that has done a superb job of hiding what her maiden name is. But we have known that Lewis and Cindy were related for a while.”

  “Assume nothing! Holy cow. But I knew it was more than one killer. It had to be with the facts we did know.”

  Lauren watched Cindy haggle with the elderly vendor. The she added, “It may be more than you know. The new receptionist at the museum, that works for Mrs. Garcia? Turns out she is a niece of Ruth Bellamy. She most likely took out the cameras for her aunt and uncle.”

  I had to lean on a nearby table. The amount of information and speed I was learning things made my knees weak. It was mentally and physically overwhelming. Lauren eyed me. “You alright?”

  “I’m not sure. I never in a million years suspected her. She walked right past me and Jaxon this morning. She came down the tourist center stairs as we were going up.”

  Lauren snorted. “I know. Right after you left the police station this morning, I headed out to follow her. I knew she was visiting with Twain at least twice a day. To get all the latest gossip about what was going on with the murder
investigation.”

  “If you knew all this, why didn’t you just arrest them?”

  “Because we would be taking a chance. We don’t yet have enough evidence to make a strong case. And if we pick them up and find little or no evidence after searching their rooms and belongings, Lambert and I are going to get reamed by the D.A., and our superiors. We needed to be sure these are our guys. Well, our guy and gals. But responding to a bluff is a pretty strong indication they are still trying to hide something. And we need to get what they are trying to keep from us.”

  My face turned red. “You used us as pawns.”

  “Kind of. But it is more than that. The local police are too busy to be of any real help. And they weren’t going to talk to Twain with a made up story. We knew that. We needed help to make the bluff and make sure that picking them up was the right move. You were never in danger, and you helped the state police in a noble way.”

  “Really? You are going to justify keeping us in the dark and facing real life murderers so you wouldn’t get in trouble with your boss?”

  Lauren snorted. “Well, it doesn’t sound so good when you put it like that.” Her body stiffened and she craned her neck. “She’s on the move. I want to wait until she is away from the crowd. Then I will move in and detain her. You watch my back and holler if you see anyone from the tour group.”

  “Like her brother or her niece.”

  “Exactly.”

  Cindy picked up her plastic bag with her new leather belt inside. Then she scanned the place, and once she found what she searched for, made a beeline for the restrooms.

  Lauren was one step ahead. She took a route around the sales tables and cut Cindy off just before she made it the bathroom entrance. The two woman stood nose to nose, but neither spoke for twenty seconds.

  Then Cindy stated in a monotone voice, “I can’t believe it took you three days.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lambert took Jaxon and Pinball to the state park down by the river. Pinball whined. “What are we doing here?”

  Lambert barked back, “This is where Lewis likes to spend time. You couldn’t figure that out on your own?”

  “NO! I don’t know this dude and I’m no cop. So why would I know.” Pinball’s voice had an edge that invited confrontation.

  Lambert glanced at Jaxon, then entered into a staring contest with Pinball. “Did someone drop weights on your head?” He gritted his teeth and glared at Pinball to finish his point.

  Pinball growled like a dog.

  Jaxon interjected. “Look, we have a job to do. Let’s just get it done. Leave the macho crap behind for now. We all get it, Pinball doesn’t like cops, and cops don’t like Pinball.”

  Lambert held his ground but Pinball shrugged and murmured. “The cops back home all like me.”

  Lambert rolled his eyes and turned, scanning a nearby rock cropping. “Lewis likes to drink wine and read sitting on those rocks...and there he is.” He pointed to a spot next to the bank of the fast flowing river.

  Jaxon asked, “So what’s your plan?”

  Lambert did a quick recon of the area and was satisfied they were alone. “I approach and detain the man. But I need you two to make sure no one else sneaks up on me. This is one of those crimes that took at least two people to pull off. I don’t want to be surprised by some unknown accomplice.”

  Pinball snorted. “Cool. Simple plan. We can do that.”

  Jaxon and Lambert stared at the bodybuilder for a moment. Then the well seasoned detective nodded and said, “It is simple. I just don’t want any surprises. And that is what you two are for. Watch my back.”

  Pinball shook his head and mumbled. “Shoot! I wanted to break some skulls.”

  Lambert’s face tightened. “I can’t believe you are really stupid enough to say that to a homicide detective.”

  Pinball shrugged. “What? It’s just an expression.”

  Lambert pointed, and locked eyes with Jaxon. “You head down to that end of the outcropping. But loop around and stay out of sight. And Pinball, you stay here. With the two of you on each end of this rock formation, there should be no way someone can approach us without you seeing them.”

  Pinball asked, “And what if someone does approach?”

  Lambert shrugged. “Let me know.” Pinball looked disappointed, and he added, “What you want...some sort of fancy signal like an owl call?” Jaxon rolled his eyes.

  Pinball pinched his eyebrows and folded his arms, and waited.

  Jaxon sprung into action, looping back inland, and then made for the far end of the rock protrusion. Once he traveled beyond the other end of the rocks, Jaxon made his way back down to the bank where a footpath followed the river’s bank. Lambert waited for him to get to his position, a good distance down the path. And once Jaxon made it, Lambert started walking slowly to approach Lewis Bellamy.

  Lewis was elevated, sitting up on some of the rocks. And he glimpsed Lambert coming down the path. He also spotted Jaxon at the far end of the rocks, blocking that possible exit. Lewis scanned the area and considered his escape. He could try and go over the rocks, through Lambert, or through Jaxon. None were great options. Then he realized there was another. He could use the river. The current would carry him downstream quickly, but he fast grasped that both Jaxon and Lambert were sure to pursue him. And Jaxon was younger and in better shape.

  No the best plan was to go through the older detective. Lewis was ten, maybe fifteen years younger and in good shape. He should be able to deal with Lambert.

  His decision made, Lewis gathered his things, stood and stretched. Then he jumped down off the rocks, and headed up the riverside path straight at Lambert.

  Pinball watched all this, and surprised Lambert with the skill he used to keep out of sight. The detective took a deep breath and eyed the odd man approaching him who held a book and bottle of wine. Lambert considered the two possibilities. Lewis either knew he was in trouble, or he didn’t. If he knew, Lambert would need to stay on his toes.

  Lewis waved and smiled. “Detective, you seem to pop up everywhere.”

  Lambert nodded, “Lewis! Just doing my job.”

  “So, what can I do for you this fine day.” Lewis tucked the book in one armpit.

  “I just need to ask you some more questions.”

  The two men were closing the gap between them and both slowed their pace till they stopped directly in front of each other.

  Lewis glanced back to the far end of the path and expected Jaxon to be approaching from that direction. But the P.I. was out of sight, hiding. That was not what he expected if they were arresting him, so he shrugged and said, “Ask away, detective.”

  If Jaxon had been hiding just a few seconds before, he was now begging for attention. He spotted a man walking his dog on the path heading straight towards Lewis. He jumped out on the path and hooted like an owl. “Who, Whoooooo!”

  Lewis immediately swung the wine bottle at Lambert, but the detective jerked away from the blow and the bottle missed its mark. However, the detective’s sidestep also moved him toward the river bank and his feet had trouble finding solid ground. Lewis took advantage of his awkward stance and pushed the old man into the river.

  Then Lewis sprinted down the path, away from Jaxon. When he was almost to the end of the rock formation, he increased his speed and made a hard right turn around the end of the rock outcropping onto the park’s broad, green lawn.

  The meaty arm appeared from behind the last of the rocks, seemingly from nowhere, and caught Lewis in the throat. The force lifted him off his feet, into the air, and he landed on the grass with a dull thud. Pinball stood over the unconscious man, laughing.

  Jaxon jumped into the river and grabbed Lambert, helping him onto the shore. Lambert coughed up some water and spat. “I can swim. I didn’t need your help. And really? Did you hoot like an owl?”

  “I don’t know and it’s not important right now. That was a lot of water you just expelled from your lungs.”

  The c
rusty detective drew a deep breath, checked for his badge and gun, then said, “Thanks. That water is moving faster than I thought.”

  Jaxon and Lambert caught their breath then made off to find Pinball and see if he managed to track Lewis. When they made it to end of the rocks, they turned the corner and spied a book and bottle of wine littering the lawn. Pinball, with the unconscious Lewis slung over one shoulder, waited for them in the shade of an ancient tree. He bellowed, “Took you long enough. I got our man. Let’s go.”

  ANDREW ARRIVED AT MRS. Garcia’s office and found the receptionist desk empty. But he heard something that sounded like sniffling. He approached the door to the curator’s office and saw her inside.

  She spotted him, too, and raised her voice, “Come on in. I was expecting the police.”

  Andrew stared back blankly and said, “Mrs. Garcia? Why are you expecting the police?”

  “Because my new receptionist, Darcy Bowen, is part of the murder plot.”

  Andrew was unsure what to say to that. “That’s awful. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “No. But thanks for asking. And why are you here anyway?”

  “Lambert asked me to come and fetch some records.”

  Mrs. Garcia wiped her nose and composed herself. “So they sent you to run their errand. That seems odd.”

  “I know, but Lambert is chasing the murderer. And he wanted to make sure nothing happened to the records you have. If you are uncomfortable, I can wait here with you, till Lambert or Lauren can come over.”

  “Whose Lauren?”

  “The other homicide detective the state sent to solve this thing.”

  “No, it’s alright. These are just printouts anyway. The data is in our computers. Darcy was smart enough to cover her tracks for a while, but everything is logged by the computer and backed up. And the automatic admin backup kicks in every time there is a change to the security system. It showed she had turned off certain cameras just before the ghost walk arrived here.”

  “I’m so sorry. Where is Darcy now?”