Yeah, this part took a long time to write. But thank you a ton for your patience! Trust me, I'm as eager to find out what happens as you are!
Chapter 5
"How much do you think she heard?" Josh frowned. "Enough. Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
Sharona tapped Adrian's arm as she returned to their table. "Come on, we have to talk."
Seated in Sharona's car, Adrian listened while Sharona relayed what she'd overheard. "That's interesting." Said Adrian softly. Sharona nodded. "We should warn Officer Dodge." Benjy sat up in the back seat. "It's too late, Officer Dodge left already." Sharona turned in her seat. "How do you know that?"
"I heard Mrs. Peterson talking to someone from another cabin. She said that Officer Dodge had to leave early and wouldn't be back for two days." Sharona folded her arms. "Well he had to leave somebody in charge, lets find out who it is and warm em'." Adrian glanced up as the door to the restaurant opened. The unidentified man they'd been watching strode out. A few moments later, Josh Erickson followed. Neither of them acknowledged each other as they went to their separate cars. Once they disappeared, Sharona started up her station wagon. "We better get going if we plan on warning anyone."
Officer Bill Ross leaned back after hearing the story from the pretty blonde woman and the nervous man next to her. As stories went, this one was a humdinger. "So, you're saying Mr. Erickson and a 'mystery man' are plotting some sort of evil and I should stop them, right?" Adrian shrugged. "Basically….. yes." Ross nodded. "Uh huh." Sharona exhaled in annoyance. "Look, I didn't get a chance to hear the whole conversation, but Erickson did say he was gonna search a car, and that there were gonna be more bodies. Now I don't know how you cops do things out here in the woods, but in the city, when someone plans a murder, they're usually thrown in jail." Irritated, as well as amused by Sharona's speech, Ross dropped his feet to the floor. "I'm sorry, Miss….?"
"Fleming."
"Fleming, yes. Listen, I've been left with a lot of work. But believe me, as soon as I get finished up here, I'll check out your story. You folks enjoy the rest of your vacation now alright?" As he spoke, he gently herded them from the office. Sharona fumed silently as she was pushed along. Adrian said nothing, only turned his body to avoid being touched. Back in the car, Sharona draped her elbows on the steering wheel and leaned her head on her arms. "Now what?" Adrian's brows pulled together. "Erickson said he was going to search a car that had already been searched by the police. A car that would likely be in an impound lot. I suggest we go stake it out." Benjy leaned forward eagerly. "Cool, can I come with?"
Both Adrian and Sharona turned as one. "No!"
"Adrian, move your elbow, I can't see!" Sharona swatted at Adrian's cuff as he scrubbed at the windshield. "Well if you'd clean your car….."
"My car is clean!"
"There's dirt all over, look at my wipe!" Sharona grabbed the wipe from Adrian's hand and tossed it out the window. "I don't see a thing." Adrian reached for the door handle. "Hey, you're littering!"
"Adrian!" Sharona grabbed his sleeve, pointing out the window. "Look, I see someone!" Adrian stopped pulling and looked where she pointed. It was hard to see in the dark, but he could just make out the form of someone scaling the fence that surrounded the parking lot. There were only three vehicles in the lot; a police cruiser, a tow truck, and the car that had been pulled from the lake. Sharona lifted her binoculars for a closer look. No doubt about it, it was Erickson. "Is it him?" Sharona nodded. "You want the binoculars?" Adrian eyed them, then shook his head. Outside, Erickson leaned in close to the car, did something with the lock, then entered the vehicle. "We have to see what he's doing!" Adrian glanced at Sharona. His lips parted, and he was just about to speak when there was a tap at the window. Both of them jumped simultaneously. They turned to see Officer Ross looking in on them through Sharona's window. Sharona rolled the glass down and raised her brows. "Is there a reason you folks are camped out by the impound lot?" Sharona crossed her arms. "Didn't we tell you why this afternoon? Maybe you were too busy killing flies to pay attention." Ross smiled slightly. At her side, Adrian suddenly stiffened, his eyes growing large. "Sharona, Sharona, I think maybe, perhaps we should let Officer Ross deal with this."
"Adrian, what are you talking about! This guy couldn't find his butt with both hands!" Monk grew insistent. "I Think, we should Drive away now, and let the Officer take care of this." As he spoke, he gestured with his head. Meanwhile, Ross was opening Sharona's door. "Could I ask you to step out of the vehicle please?" Adrian grabbed Sharona's arm. "No, don't!" Ross pulled his gun. "I said, step out of the vehicle. Come on now, let's not make this messy." Swallowing, Sharona and Adrian exited the car, hands raised. Behind them, they could hear footsteps approaching. Adrian stiffened as an arm draped across his shoulders. "Hey, is this a private party or can anyone join?" He didn't need to look to know that Josh Erickson had just arrived. Ross tipped his gun. "How do you want to do this?" Erickson walked around to face Adrian and Sharona. A slow smile spread across his face. "Personally, I like sticking with tradition."
Sharona pulled at the ropes binding her wrists. It was no good, the scratchy fibers wouldn't give. At her side, Adrian also struggled with his bindings to no avail. "How did you know that Ross was in on it?" She gasped as she pulled at the ropes again. Adrian grunted as he tipped over. "I wondered….. why Erickson needed….. Dodge….. *gasp*….. out of the picture, but not Ross." Wriggling, he managed to get upright again. Breathing out, he began. "It started with the car wreak. There was no body recovered from the accident, but later, a bear attack victim washes up on shore. How does a guy survive crashing into the lake, only to wind up getting mauled by a bear?" Sharona shrugged as she continued fighting the ropes. While Adrian spoke, her mind created images to fit the story he wove. "Josh Erickson does an upfront business as a gas station owner. He owns some animals to attract a little out of town business, but nothing too spectacular. It provided a good cover for his other business, as a drug dealer." Adrian slid himself against the wall, then started again. "When we went back to see Josh's little zoo for the second time, he told you about the car accident." Sharona nodded. "Yeah, he said all they found in the car was a pack of cigarettes and a pair of sunglasses." Adrian turned slightly. "But how did he know what the police found….. unless someone told him? I think Ross was the officer in charge of searching the vehicle. If Dodge had searched it, he would have found the drugs. Ross and Erickson later arranged to recover the drugs as soon as Dodge left town." Sharona paused her struggles to look at Adrian. "What about the dead guy?"
"I'm guessing he tried to blow the whistle on the whole thing, got taken out for his troubles." There was a sound then, a dry creaking. A shaft of light fell across them, blindingly bright after the darkness. A shape filled the doorway, only the voice giving away the person. "You like your accommodations? I admit, it isn't as cozy as the cabin you were staying in, but then, you won't have to worry about that soon now anyhow will ya?"
"Josh Erickson. You blew it, didn't you Josh. As soon as the coroner identifies the body, your little business will have to close down. Who was it Josh, FBI? They're on to you. It's just a matter of time." Josh chuckled. "Really. This is a small town Mr. Monk. Men are bought for a song. There will be no identification. The body was that of a vagrant, the remains will be buried, and no one will think anything of it." Erickson's gaze fell on Sharona. "I'm truly sorry you had to get mixed up in this. Oh well, that's life I guess." Turning, he walked out the door. As the sound of a lock shot home, a light above them snapped on, revealing their surroundings. They were in a cage. A small window in the door slid open, and Josh's sallow complexion looked in on them. "I'd like you to meet Jerry, he's gonna be you're new bunkmate. Oh, and I should warn you, he gets a little testy when he hasn't been fed." A door on the opposite side of the room started to slide up. Under the edge, they could see a pair of furred paws. A claw raked under the door, and a long snout pushed through the crack, snuffing deeply. Saliva dripped to the concrete from cone shaped teeth. "Oh God!"
"Enjoy your stay!" The little window slid shut with a squeak. Sharona slid closer to Adrian. "Here, turn your back to me, maybe we can untie each other!" Adrian turned, jumping a little to get his back to her. "What makes you think this will work?" Sharona felt around with her hands, inadvertently pinching Adrian in the process. "Ouch, watch it will you!"
"Sorry. Look, they do this all the time on TV!" Adrian frantically felt around for her bindings. "Hurry, the door is lifting!"
"I can see that Adrian!" As the door slid higher, more of the animal behind it was revealed. The dark countenance of a black bear was exposed. Rumbling deep in its chest, the creature clawed at the door, urging it upward. In seconds, there would be enough room for the bear to get though. Sharona bit down on a scream and squeezed her eyes shut. The bear roared, then suddenly stopped, turning at something behind it. The door stopped, then slowly lowered back to the floor. Exhaling in relief, Adrian and Sharona glanced up as the main door swung open. An older man stood there, sweat beading his brow. "Well, you gonna sit there all day or you wanna get out of here?"
Conclusion coming soon!
Chapter 5
"How much do you think she heard?" Josh frowned. "Enough. Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
Sharona tapped Adrian's arm as she returned to their table. "Come on, we have to talk."
Seated in Sharona's car, Adrian listened while Sharona relayed what she'd overheard. "That's interesting." Said Adrian softly. Sharona nodded. "We should warn Officer Dodge." Benjy sat up in the back seat. "It's too late, Officer Dodge left already." Sharona turned in her seat. "How do you know that?"
"I heard Mrs. Peterson talking to someone from another cabin. She said that Officer Dodge had to leave early and wouldn't be back for two days." Sharona folded her arms. "Well he had to leave somebody in charge, lets find out who it is and warm em'." Adrian glanced up as the door to the restaurant opened. The unidentified man they'd been watching strode out. A few moments later, Josh Erickson followed. Neither of them acknowledged each other as they went to their separate cars. Once they disappeared, Sharona started up her station wagon. "We better get going if we plan on warning anyone."
Officer Bill Ross leaned back after hearing the story from the pretty blonde woman and the nervous man next to her. As stories went, this one was a humdinger. "So, you're saying Mr. Erickson and a 'mystery man' are plotting some sort of evil and I should stop them, right?" Adrian shrugged. "Basically….. yes." Ross nodded. "Uh huh." Sharona exhaled in annoyance. "Look, I didn't get a chance to hear the whole conversation, but Erickson did say he was gonna search a car, and that there were gonna be more bodies. Now I don't know how you cops do things out here in the woods, but in the city, when someone plans a murder, they're usually thrown in jail." Irritated, as well as amused by Sharona's speech, Ross dropped his feet to the floor. "I'm sorry, Miss….?"
"Fleming."
"Fleming, yes. Listen, I've been left with a lot of work. But believe me, as soon as I get finished up here, I'll check out your story. You folks enjoy the rest of your vacation now alright?" As he spoke, he gently herded them from the office. Sharona fumed silently as she was pushed along. Adrian said nothing, only turned his body to avoid being touched. Back in the car, Sharona draped her elbows on the steering wheel and leaned her head on her arms. "Now what?" Adrian's brows pulled together. "Erickson said he was going to search a car that had already been searched by the police. A car that would likely be in an impound lot. I suggest we go stake it out." Benjy leaned forward eagerly. "Cool, can I come with?"
Both Adrian and Sharona turned as one. "No!"
"Adrian, move your elbow, I can't see!" Sharona swatted at Adrian's cuff as he scrubbed at the windshield. "Well if you'd clean your car….."
"My car is clean!"
"There's dirt all over, look at my wipe!" Sharona grabbed the wipe from Adrian's hand and tossed it out the window. "I don't see a thing." Adrian reached for the door handle. "Hey, you're littering!"
"Adrian!" Sharona grabbed his sleeve, pointing out the window. "Look, I see someone!" Adrian stopped pulling and looked where she pointed. It was hard to see in the dark, but he could just make out the form of someone scaling the fence that surrounded the parking lot. There were only three vehicles in the lot; a police cruiser, a tow truck, and the car that had been pulled from the lake. Sharona lifted her binoculars for a closer look. No doubt about it, it was Erickson. "Is it him?" Sharona nodded. "You want the binoculars?" Adrian eyed them, then shook his head. Outside, Erickson leaned in close to the car, did something with the lock, then entered the vehicle. "We have to see what he's doing!" Adrian glanced at Sharona. His lips parted, and he was just about to speak when there was a tap at the window. Both of them jumped simultaneously. They turned to see Officer Ross looking in on them through Sharona's window. Sharona rolled the glass down and raised her brows. "Is there a reason you folks are camped out by the impound lot?" Sharona crossed her arms. "Didn't we tell you why this afternoon? Maybe you were too busy killing flies to pay attention." Ross smiled slightly. At her side, Adrian suddenly stiffened, his eyes growing large. "Sharona, Sharona, I think maybe, perhaps we should let Officer Ross deal with this."
"Adrian, what are you talking about! This guy couldn't find his butt with both hands!" Monk grew insistent. "I Think, we should Drive away now, and let the Officer take care of this." As he spoke, he gestured with his head. Meanwhile, Ross was opening Sharona's door. "Could I ask you to step out of the vehicle please?" Adrian grabbed Sharona's arm. "No, don't!" Ross pulled his gun. "I said, step out of the vehicle. Come on now, let's not make this messy." Swallowing, Sharona and Adrian exited the car, hands raised. Behind them, they could hear footsteps approaching. Adrian stiffened as an arm draped across his shoulders. "Hey, is this a private party or can anyone join?" He didn't need to look to know that Josh Erickson had just arrived. Ross tipped his gun. "How do you want to do this?" Erickson walked around to face Adrian and Sharona. A slow smile spread across his face. "Personally, I like sticking with tradition."
Sharona pulled at the ropes binding her wrists. It was no good, the scratchy fibers wouldn't give. At her side, Adrian also struggled with his bindings to no avail. "How did you know that Ross was in on it?" She gasped as she pulled at the ropes again. Adrian grunted as he tipped over. "I wondered….. why Erickson needed….. Dodge….. *gasp*….. out of the picture, but not Ross." Wriggling, he managed to get upright again. Breathing out, he began. "It started with the car wreak. There was no body recovered from the accident, but later, a bear attack victim washes up on shore. How does a guy survive crashing into the lake, only to wind up getting mauled by a bear?" Sharona shrugged as she continued fighting the ropes. While Adrian spoke, her mind created images to fit the story he wove. "Josh Erickson does an upfront business as a gas station owner. He owns some animals to attract a little out of town business, but nothing too spectacular. It provided a good cover for his other business, as a drug dealer." Adrian slid himself against the wall, then started again. "When we went back to see Josh's little zoo for the second time, he told you about the car accident." Sharona nodded. "Yeah, he said all they found in the car was a pack of cigarettes and a pair of sunglasses." Adrian turned slightly. "But how did he know what the police found….. unless someone told him? I think Ross was the officer in charge of searching the vehicle. If Dodge had searched it, he would have found the drugs. Ross and Erickson later arranged to recover the drugs as soon as Dodge left town." Sharona paused her struggles to look at Adrian. "What about the dead guy?"
"I'm guessing he tried to blow the whistle on the whole thing, got taken out for his troubles." There was a sound then, a dry creaking. A shaft of light fell across them, blindingly bright after the darkness. A shape filled the doorway, only the voice giving away the person. "You like your accommodations? I admit, it isn't as cozy as the cabin you were staying in, but then, you won't have to worry about that soon now anyhow will ya?"
"Josh Erickson. You blew it, didn't you Josh. As soon as the coroner identifies the body, your little business will have to close down. Who was it Josh, FBI? They're on to you. It's just a matter of time." Josh chuckled. "Really. This is a small town Mr. Monk. Men are bought for a song. There will be no identification. The body was that of a vagrant, the remains will be buried, and no one will think anything of it." Erickson's gaze fell on Sharona. "I'm truly sorry you had to get mixed up in this. Oh well, that's life I guess." Turning, he walked out the door. As the sound of a lock shot home, a light above them snapped on, revealing their surroundings. They were in a cage. A small window in the door slid open, and Josh's sallow complexion looked in on them. "I'd like you to meet Jerry, he's gonna be you're new bunkmate. Oh, and I should warn you, he gets a little testy when he hasn't been fed." A door on the opposite side of the room started to slide up. Under the edge, they could see a pair of furred paws. A claw raked under the door, and a long snout pushed through the crack, snuffing deeply. Saliva dripped to the concrete from cone shaped teeth. "Oh God!"
"Enjoy your stay!" The little window slid shut with a squeak. Sharona slid closer to Adrian. "Here, turn your back to me, maybe we can untie each other!" Adrian turned, jumping a little to get his back to her. "What makes you think this will work?" Sharona felt around with her hands, inadvertently pinching Adrian in the process. "Ouch, watch it will you!"
"Sorry. Look, they do this all the time on TV!" Adrian frantically felt around for her bindings. "Hurry, the door is lifting!"
"I can see that Adrian!" As the door slid higher, more of the animal behind it was revealed. The dark countenance of a black bear was exposed. Rumbling deep in its chest, the creature clawed at the door, urging it upward. In seconds, there would be enough room for the bear to get though. Sharona bit down on a scream and squeezed her eyes shut. The bear roared, then suddenly stopped, turning at something behind it. The door stopped, then slowly lowered back to the floor. Exhaling in relief, Adrian and Sharona glanced up as the main door swung open. An older man stood there, sweat beading his brow. "Well, you gonna sit there all day or you wanna get out of here?"
Conclusion coming soon!