Thrill Squeaker: A Squeaky Clean Mystery (Squeaky Clean Mysteries Book 11) Page 10

  “How much money?”

  Franz shrugged. “About ten thousand.”

  My blood turned even colder as the similarities began to hit me. “So your theory is that someone paid him to go to Mythical Falls for some reason.”

  Franz shrugged, the cloak of suspense surrounding him seeming to disappear. “Not sure. But I am pretty certain that he went of his own free will.”

  I stored that away in the back of my mind. “I see.”

  I wondered if Franz or Tobs knew that Henry McClain had also come into some money before he died.

  Anticipation buzzed through my blood.

  This case was getting more interesting by the minute.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  I certainly had a lot to think about. In my mind, everything pointed back to Scotty Stephens—except for the fact that he was out of the country. Still, he seemed like the type who could pay someone to do his dirty work—dirty work that included hiring someone to sabotage Mythical Falls or to possibly kill someone on the grounds, thus shutting the whole place down.

  The challenge would be in finding out who the hit man could be, and also in maneuvering how to do that while still helping out Chad. As usual, I’d bitten off more than I could chew, but I wasn’t willing to let any balls drop.

  When I arrived back at Mythical Falls, the gang was all gathered in the boys’ cabin, playing a rousing game of Hedbanz. Apparently, Clarice had brought the silly children’s game with her.

  Riley planted a kiss on my cheek when I walked in. “How was your day?”

  “Interesting,” I whispered.

  I didn’t want to share what I’d discovered with everyone in this room. There were advantages to keeping details quiet. I’d learned that the hard way. Instead, I deposited my purse on the counter, and Riley helped me slip off my coat. I instantly missed its warmth.

  “Did you eat?” Riley asked. “Nate made some kind of venison stew.”

  I shook my head, not feeling the whole “Let’s eat Bambi” thing. “I’ll be fine. I grabbed a snack on my way here. Did you guys make a lot of progress today?”

  “Two more cabins are almost finished.” Chad turned from his steaming bowl of dinner, eyes lit with satisfaction. “The pathway is coming along nicely. Braxton almost has all of the electrical issues worked out in the cabins in this area. Seamus finished the roofs. All in all, I’d say we’re right on target.”

  “And I already have people making reservations,” Nate added, flashing a bright smile. “Reservations.”

  My eyebrows shot up and I shoved my hip against the counter. “I didn’t realize that was an option yet.”

  He nodded like a little boy at Christmas. “Yeah, baby—” His cheerful disposition disappeared a moment, and he looked apologetic instead. “I call a lot of people that, not just you.”

  I sighed and crossed my arms. “You don’t have to explain.”

  He laughed. “I just don’t want things to be awkward, you know?”

  Could they be any more awkward than right now?

  “Oh, Nate. You’re so funny!” Clarice crowed, her hand landing on his arm and remaining there.

  “So I’ve been told.” Nate’s chest puffed out in some kind of primal dating rite.

  I wasn’t feeling quite as cheerful as those two. “Please continue.”

  Nate’s smile slipped, but only slightly. “I decided to go ahead and take the plunge. I opened up reservations starting at the end of October. Why not?”

  I could think of a million reasons, but I kept them quiet. Maturity. That’s what it did for you. However, maturity didn’t stop the thoughts from cascading through my brain. There was still so much uncertainty about the safety of this place.

  “Do you think all the permits and inspections will be complete by then?” It was a logical question. Non-confrontational. Non-opinionated. Non-complicated.

  “Of course. I wouldn’t have opened it otherwise.” He laughed, glancing around the room as he did so, as if hoping others would catch onto his humor. “Right? Right?”

  I imagined myself with a gun, shooting that woodpecker laugh until it was dead.

  Don’t be so violent, Gabby.

  “When exactly is your grand opening going to be?” I asked. Had Chad talked to Nate about this? Had he tried to stop his friend from making a major mistake?

  “October 15. Two weeks before Halloween. I might even do a trial run a week or so earlier, just to make sure things go smoothly.”

  His optimism was driving me to the edge of insanity. “You still have employees to hire and kinks to work out. I mean, that’s only a month away. Are you sure you’re going to be ready?”

  Okay, my restraint that I’d just prided myself in disappeared faster than an investment in a decrepit amusement park. Had Nate really thought all of this through?

  “Don’t worry—I have insurance.” Nate stiffened, obviously not happy that I’d brought up any concerns.

  Chad scowled at me while wearing a plastic band on his head with a picture of a pig on it. His pointed look begged me to keep my mouth shut, yet the headband across his forehead made it hard for me to take him seriously.

  I was obviously raining on some people’s parades here. I supposed it was truly none of my business. But many things had been none of my business, and I’d still dived in. It almost always turned out okay.

  “I’ve got to strike while the iron is hot,” Nate said. “While it’s crazy hot. That time is now. Now! Not only that, but I just got approval today to fix up an old alpine slide. It’s going to be super sweet.”

  “Alpine slide?” I’d heard of them, but I was having trouble picturing exactly what they were.

  “It’s like a ginormous slide that slips and turns down the mountain.” Nate’s eyes were wide and childlike again. “People can sit either on a mat or a cart and ease on down the road—er, the slide. It’s super fun. I think that will be a big draw. I figured the old track would be destroyed, but I checked it out today, and it’s not that bad. It was called ‘Nessie’s Neck: Slip and Slide.’ Cool, huh?”

  Everyone nodded eagerly in agreement. Maybe I was losing my fun touch, but all I could think about was everything that could go wrong. “Up in Flames” by Coldplay began to sound in the overhead speakers of my mind. It was a neurotic quirk I had—a soundtrack that played in my head at the worst times.

  Finally, I stood, not feeling like being the wet blanket of the group. “I think I’m going to turn in for the night. It’s been a long day, and I want to be well rested for tomorrow.”

  “Sure thing,” Nate called. “Night then.”

  Riley walked me out.

  “Are you on board with all of that?” I whispered as soon as we stepped outside and away from listening ears.

  Riley leaned close enough that I could feel his breath on my cheek. “No, but it’s not my call. Nate’s going to do what he’s going to do. We were hired to do a specific task—giving our opinions wasn’t one of them.”

  I frowned. I supposed he was right, but it sounded so harsh when he worded it like that. I loved giving my opinions. Even though I had momentary setbacks, I actually daily thanked God for how far I’d come. I wasn’t where I needed to be yet, but l marveled at how much I’d grown over the past three years. God was working on me.

  “After this week, we’ll be gone and out of here,” Riley continued. “Nate will have to deal with any of the headaches that come by being owner and operator of this place.”

  He was speaking like the lawyer he was. And his words were true. This was Nate’s problem, not mine. At least I’d be able to put a good chunk of change into my savings after this. I was taking steps in the right direction.

  He stopped at the door to my place. The stream trickled in the background. An owl still hooted. Crickets still chirped.

  Nighttime in the mountains was refreshing, and the crisp air felt invigorating. Being here with Riley . . . well, in some ways it seemed perfect.

  “Want to come in for a minute?”
I leaned against the door.

  He stepped closer. “I don’t know. Is it appropriate for a virtuous, young woman like yourself and a grumpy, old man like me to be alone out here?”

  He grinned, and I realized by the way he hung his hands on his belt he was taking on the role of an old-timey prospector. The thought made me giggle.

  I played along and batted my eyelashes sweetly. “People might talk.”

  He grabbed my hand. “People will always talk. But there’s one thing they don’t know.”

  I fanned my face dramatically. “What’s that?”

  “That you’re officially my wife.”

  At his words, a lump formed in my throat. And I straightened, almost panicked.

  “That’s right.” I attempted to sound light. I failed.

  He squinted. “You know I’m joking . . . mostly, at least. Right?”

  I nodded a little too quickly. “Of course.”

  He blinked as he studied my face. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

  “I’m not. Why would you say that?” My voice squeaked higher, a dead giveaway.

  “Because you look tight enough to spring.”

  I tried to brush off his words. “It’s just been a long day.”

  He nodded, his expression grim. He wasn’t buying my flimsy explanations, and I couldn’t blame him. I wasn’t sure where this anxiety was coming from, but as much as I tried to tell myself it wasn’t there, the truth remained that apprehension lurked deep inside me. It bubbled up at the worst times. Usually when I was with Riley.

  Why was I keeping this from him? I should just tell him about my concerns and fears. Right here. Right now.

  “How about if I walk you inside? It’s probably a good idea, especially with everything that’s been going on here lately.” Riley’s voice sounded subdued. Disappointed. Maybe even hurt.

  But there was one thing he hadn’t done. He hadn’t run. He hadn’t jumped ship. He hadn’t given up on me.

  I nodded, feeling slightly awful now. Fairytales were supposed to be happily ever after. But I’d found that life was more than about happy moments. Happy moments were usually followed by awful moments. Those two things cycled in and out, creating a rhythm to life.

  Unfortunately, the awful moments always seared me and made more of an impression on me than the happy times. Sometimes I felt doomed to always deal with tragedy. Maybe I didn’t deserve good things.

  That was against everything I’d read in the Bible. It was a lie I held onto. But I was having trouble letting go.

  As Riley checked the rooms, I moved toward the other end of the cabin. Eventually Nate wanted to add decks with hot tubs included, but that was a long-range plan. Thank goodness. We’d be lucky to get everything done as it was. Of course, knowing Nate, he might change his mind and add that to our workload this week just for kicks.

  I wanted to turn the floodlight on as a safety precaution. Criminals liked to stay in the dark, where they could be concealed. I hoped having a light on would deter any unwanted guests.

  Instead, I spotted a figure at the window.

  A scream caught in my throat.

  It was a face. A hairy face. Half man, half ape.

  It was Bigfoot.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “What is it?” Riley rushed toward me.

  My hand shook as I pulled it in front of me and pointed out the window. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out but a squeak.

  He followed my gaze, and his jaw dropped. “Is that . . . ?”

  I nodded, finding my voice. “Bigfoot.”

  The creature sprinted away, quickly retreating into the woods. He bounded over the stream with long strides and finally disappeared into the darkness beyond.

  “You saw it too, right?” I asked, still feeling frozen and speechless.

  He nodded stoically. “I saw something.”

  “It looked like Bigfoot.”

  “It looked like Bigfoot,” he confirmed. “But I don’t believe in Bigfoot.”

  I took a step back, desperate to put space between myself and the window. “Okay, I’m totally freaked out right now.”

  Riley began pacing. “Let’s think this through. How close was he when you spotted him?”

  “He was practically right at the window. Almost as if he was peering inside.”

  Riley shook his head before running a hand over his face. He was having trouble coming to terms with this also. “Something’s going on here, Gabby.”

  As the reality of the situation settled on me, I rushed toward the locks and double-checked them. They might not keep Bigfoot out for long, but at least they’d buy us some time . . . I hoped.

  “You don’t have to convince me that something’s going on,” I muttered. “In fact, you’ll never believe what I found out today. I’ve been waiting for just the right moment to share it with you—a moment when no one else was around to listen.”

  I filled him in on my conversations with Scotty Stephens Jr., as well as Tobs and Franz.

  “Large sums of money were found in both of the dead men’s accounts? That’s crazy.”

  I nodded again. “I know. These two cases are definitely connected, even if they are twenty years apart. I just don’t know why. The first happened and closed the park down.”

  “Sounds like someone wants to close it down again before it has a chance to open.”

  “Most people around here seemed to have lived in the area from generation to generation. The fact that the killer is still here, living among the people, really isn’t that weird.”

  Or he’s living in the woods near the people. I kept that part quiet. For now.

  “The question is: Who gave Henry and Caleb money and why?” Riley continued.

  I dropped onto the couch. “Rumor has it that Scotty Stephens gave the money to Henry, the first man who died. He paid him off to ensure certain acts of mischief occurred here on the grounds so he could buy the land.”

  Riley wagged his head, his doubt obvious as he sat beside me. “That’s pretty desperate. I mean, why does he want this land for the retirement community? Certainly there are other parcels available that could be just as successful.”

  I snuggled into the cushions, trying to forget the image of our hairy Peeping Tom. Riley’s thoughts mirrored mine. Something was fishy. “He’s hung up on this property for some reason. I wonder what’s here that has him obsessed for this long.”

  Riley shrugged. “We’re in a replica of an old prospector’s cabin. Does that mean there was really gold in this area at one time?”

  My eyebrows drew together as I processed his statement. “You mean, you think there could be gold here that he’s trying to lay claim to?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Let’s say that was true. Then why not just sneak here at night and mine for it? Or pay Nate for permission?”

  “Then Scotty Stephens would be showing his hand. Nate would know there was gold here, and he’d want it for himself.”

  “It’s an interesting theory. But I’ve never exactly heard of a West Virginia gold rush. Of course, what do I know?”

  Riley shook his head, deep in thought. “If not gold, then maybe there’s some kind of other valuable resource here. Coal? Limestone? Timber? I have no idea. But I’m telling you—there’s some other reason he wants the property. He might be willing to kill to get his hands on it.”

  I shivered at his words. Then I remembered Bigfoot, and I shivered again.

  Something disturbing was going on here. Without officially being a part of the police investigation, it would be hard to get answers. I didn’t have access to any of the bank records to try and determine where the money had come from.

  Plus, there was the gasoline. Had someone set up Caleb to look like an arsonist? Why? I had so many unanswered questions, so many things that didn’t make sense.

  Tomorrow, it was going to be hard to get back to work restoring this place. Because all I wanted to do was to dig deeper into the deaths of Cale
b and Henry. Whether Nate knew it or not, he needed some answers before this place opened. Otherwise, I feared there would be more Calebs and Henrys out there in those woods.

  Suddenly, I straightened as another thought hit me.

  “What is it?” Riley asked.

  “You know when you took Clarice snipe hunting?”

  “Of course. Why?”

  “She vowed revenge on you. What if that’s what she just got?”

  * * *

  “I promise you—it wasn’t me,” Clarice insisted. “I wouldn’t do something like that.”

  I looked at Nate and he nodded. “She was with me the whole time.”

  “Maybe the two of you are in on it together,” I suggested.

  “Aw . . . look at you.” His eyes lit with silly admiration as he had some kind of ah ha moment. “You’re so smart. That would be clever. But we’ve been here. Right here.”

  “They’re telling the truth,” Chad added. “I don’t know what you saw, Gabby, but everyone here is accounted for.”

  I bit down, having no choice but to believe them. But if it wasn’t Chad, Nate, or Clarice, then who had been out there? I wouldn’t allow myself to believe it was actually Bigfoot.

  That night, I tossed and turned in bed. Clarice and I stayed in one of the bedrooms at the guys’ cabin, just to be on the safe side. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever feel safe here at Mythical Falls, though.

  As soon as morning sunlight lit the sky, Nate rallied the troops outside of the girls’ cabin. “You’ve got to see what I found.”

  Sleepy-eyed, we all followed him. He stopped by the area outside of my former bedroom window.

  “Right here.” Nate pointed to the ground.

  We all gathered around him. Sure enough, there on the ground was another footprint. If I had to guess, it was approximately the same size as the first one I’d found. In other words: twice as large as a human footprint.

  I shuddered as I looked at it.

  “Maybe this is a breeding ground for squatches,” Nate said, addressing us all like a great storyteller might. “Maybe the rumors all of these years are true.”