“The Sheriff isn’t here at the moment,” said Deputy Nathan Brown. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I wanted to show Sheriff Hoover a photo of an old gun I found at the site where the bunkhouse burned on Opal Crawford’s place. I found it and didn’t move it and when we went back to see it when Sheriff Hoover came, it wasn’t there. But I found it on the couch of the new bunkhouse. Let me show you.”
The deputy had remained silent while Fiona ran through her story. He looked at the photo she showed him. “That could be any gun, anywhere. I’m not sure what you think the significance of the photo is.”
“It proves that there was a gun.”
He shrugged. “It could be anyone’s gun. How do you know it is the same gun as you found at the burn site?”
Fiona was feeling more than frustrated. “I don’t but I thought it was worth mentioning. That’s all. Would you tell Sheriff Hoover that we were here and why? I’d appreciate it.” She gave him a bright smile that she didn’t feel. She had wanted him to be fantastically interested in her brilliant piece of detective work and tell her what a great clue it was. What she got was a glancing blow to her ego.
Back in the Red Bomb, Olympia, who had remained admirably silent through the whole exchange with the deputy, said, “Fiona, what were you doing in the buckaroos’ house?”
“Looking for you.”
“For me? You mean, you thought I had shacked up with the guys?”
“Yes. That isn’t unusual for you.”
Olympia was silent for a few moments then said, “I have turned over a new leaf, truly Fiona. My past behavior shocks even me.”
Fiona shrugged. “I went down there thinking you had spent the night with Sweet. The door was open. I walked in and called for you. No one was there. I saw the gun that had disappeared from the burn site on the couch. I’m sure it is the same one.”
“Let me see the photo.”
Fiona brought it up and handed the phone to Olympia.
She studied the photo for a moment and then said, “You can’t see the gun very well, but it does look old and rusty. It might not be the same gun. You might be chasing down a rat hole with this one.”
“Maybe, but if it is the same one, how did it end up in plain sight on their couch? And what was it doing up on my knoll?”
“Hard to say.”
“Maybe it was one of the ghosts that live on my knoll. Maybe they are playing havoc with the evidence.”
“Ghosts? The plot thickens. Tell me more. I love a good ghost story.”
Fiona told her friend about ghosts rumored to inhabit her knoll and how they had been exorcised.
“Then, of course, they’ve come back,” said Olympia.
“Maybe,” said Fiona. “Or their human incarnations.”
Olympia rubbed her hands together. “This is getting really exciting. Where to now? I’d like to drive around the neighborhood and see what houses are for sale. I’d kind of like a place outside of town, preferably not haunted. But I have a ghost tolerance policy. Nice reclusive place for the solitary art of writing. Just me and one handsome male ghost. I’ll require internet service. How far to the nearest airport?”
“Boise. Three and a half hours by car.”
“I may need my own helicopter pad in that case.”
Eleven
Wednesday morning Fiona drove Opal to the doctor in the Red Bomb. Olympia, still on her new leaf, had gotten up early and rode in with them. She had an appointment with the realtor that Lauren had suggested. Yesterday they had driven around Rocky Point looking at houses for sale that might be of interest. But Olympia’s heart was now set on a ranch.
Jake had excused Fiona from taking the midnight to seven watch. He had insisted that she not stay up since she had to take Opal to the doctor. Fiona was relieved and disappointed. Jake seemed distant and preoccupied.
Opal had asked Fiona to accompany her into the meeting with the oncologist. She seemed to be holding up well to the point of even being stoic about what faced her now. They exchanged small talk on the ride in. Tillie was never mentioned, and Fiona didn’t bring up the argument, because, after all, she had been eavesdropping.
At the appointment Fiona learned more than she wanted to know about leukemia. Cancer was a scary disease, and she was afraid for Opal. She left when they took Opal for her first chemotherapy treatment which they said would take about two hours. This was what the week days would look like for the next few weeks.
Olympia dropped Fiona at the Ford dealership to pick up the new truck. Olympia had to check out the purchase and walked around the truck, looking it up and down. She kicked a tire and winced. “Darn, that hurts when you kick tires. I wonder why people do that.”
“It’s an old saying,” said Rusty, watching Olympia with a look that Fiona had seen many times on a man when first encountering her friend. It was a cross between is-she-for-real and this-might-be-the-start-of-something-big.
“Nice rig you’re driving,” Rusty said to Olympia, indicating with his head the Range Rover.
“I was thinking of trading it in on a truck,” said Olympia.
Rusty shook his head. “If I could afford to drive something like that I wouldn’t trade it for new or used anything to be perfectly frank with you.”
Olympia raised her eyebrows. “You might be the first honest car salesman I ever met.”
Rusty smiled. “Of course, trucks are more practical in a place like this. But if you aren’t going to be hauling hay or cattle, you can’t go wrong with a Range Rover. Of course, people might be more willing to steal it.”
“Steal it?” said Olympia.
Rust pressed his lips tight together and nodded. “I know of no one in these parts that has a Rover and certainly not a red one. It sticks out, if you know what I mean. People are more understated here.”
Olympia studied the Rover. “I see.”
“Of course, if you don’t live here that shouldn’t be a problem. You don’t look like you’re from around here.”
“I’m not.” Olympia flashed him a grin. “You are an astute judge of people.”
“You have to be in the business I’m in.”
“I hate to break this up,” said Fiona, watching with admiration the interplay between the two. She wasn’t sure if Olympia was working Rusty over or vice versa. “But I’m here to pick up my truck. I hope this won’t take long. I have to pick up Opal in a little while.”
Rusty jerked around at the sound of Fiona’s voice. “Yes, ma’am, I’m sorry. I got caught up talking with your friend.”
“She has that effect on people,” said Fiona.
Olympia waved goodbye to Fiona and had a wink for Rusty. “I’ll see you back at the ranch, Fiona,” she said as she sashayed to the Red Bomb.
“Your friend is quite a woman,” said Rusty.
“That she is.”
“I never saw a woman wears such sparkly duds. Is she a movie star?”
Fiona thought for a moment. “She’s pretty famous, but not a movie star. She’s a sparkler all right.”
When Fiona had signed all the paperwork, Rusty handed over the keys and gave her a detailed lesson on the amenities of the truck. He paid particular attention to how four wheel drive worked because he said she was going to need it living here.
“The owner’s manual is in the glove compartment. Of course, we are always ready to help, if you have any questions.”
The truck was parked on the side street by the huge garage of the dealership. She wondered how they stayed in business with so few people in the surrounding area. Rusty helped her step up on the running board, and she settled into the big seat. She started her new toy. It purred to life. She couldn’t help feeling pleased with her purchase. This might be more fun than her Acura Legend that sat in the garage of her condo back in Northern Virginia. Rusty waved her off, grinning.