Becks Takes A Vacation

CHAPTER SEVEN

Previously: Sue started laughing. "I'm sorry Becks, but you aren't quite through with your surprises just yet." Sue turned and looked at Guy. "You're up."

"Are you sure that you want me to do this?" Guy was talking to Sue. "I can continue as I have been. Doing my scouting and such separate from you two."

Sue shook her head. "No, I don't know what we'll run into at any point in this investigation, so I don't want there to be any surprises that could compromise what we might be doing."

"Okay, but don't say I didn't give you a chance to back out."

Becks sat there looking at the two of them talking like she wasn't there. She had the feeling that Guy was going to reveal some secret power, or something that would make her jaw drop once again. She pursed her lips tightly. She was not going to react, no matter what Guy did.

Guy gave her a smile and a nod of his head. Then, while Becks was looking right at him, he seemed to get all fuzzy around the edges. Then his whole body became like it was out of focus until it became a monochromatic brown blob just hanging in the air.

Before Becks could try to focus on the amorphous shape it began to change. The mass elongated and sank lower to the ground. Then it started to become more distinct, like a picture being developed right before her eyes.

A squeak slipped by Becks lips as suddenly standing next to Sue, on all four legs, was a huge wolf like animal. She shook her head. No, it wasn't a wolf. It was slimmer and the muzzle was thinner.

Sue placed her hand on the creature standing next to her. "Becks, meet my friend Coyote, the Spirit of Mischief and Trickery to many of the indigenous tribes of the Northwest of North America. I met him when I was helping a friend on the Yakima Reservation in the Cascade Mountains."

Becks couldn't speak. She stood and forced herself to walk toward the huge animal. The coyotes that she was familiar with were generally the size of an average dog. The handsome animal with the glossy red and black fur was the size of a small pony.

"She's struck speechless by my magnificence. " The same warm baritone came forth from the 'coyote', that Becks had heard when Guy spoke, though there was a smirking like quality to his speech. "I purposely transformed slowly so Becks could get the full effect of my change."

"He's beautiful." Becks words came out in a whisper. Then suddenly she snapped her attention toward Sue. "Seriously! Guy Otay, Coyote; that was the best you could come up with?" Sue shrugged as she smiled.

The blurring started again and shortly, the Guy Otay that she met in Isabella was standing there. Becks looked him in the eyes and for the first time she was able to see a twinkle in his eyes, and the slight upward curve of his mouth which she hadn't noticed before.

He may be a friend of Sue's, and has probably helped her in some of her stories, but Becks couldn't help but feel that for Guy, or Coyote, it was just all for fun.

Becks suddenly frowned. "Where do your clothes go when you change?"

Guy grinned and looked at Sue. "How come you never asked that?"

Sue shrugged. "I didn't care." Guy just laughed.

"Okay, let's go inside and map out our next moves." Sue led everyone into the porch and through into the cabin. Becks noticed no one answered her question. "Have a seat around the kitchen table, while I get some of my notes." Sue went into her bedroom and grabbed a folder that was on her small desk.

"Okay." She tossed the folder down onto table top. "These are many of the 'tips' that I've received about the excessive ATV traffic in northern Minnesota. They all are pretty much the same. They are complaints from people I know who live up in very under populated areas, by choice, who aren't thrilled to suddenly become popular with the recreational ATV crowd."

Becks looked through a couple pages of the complaints. "So, what are we looking for?"

Sue hadn't sat down. She was a pacer. "We need to look for patterns. Are they coming through certain areas more than others? Can we identify actual routes, from where to where? And most importantly, can we trace them back to their origins?"

Sue slapped a map of northern Minnesota she brought out onto the table. And they all began to mark the areas where the complaints came from. Most weren't very specific just annoyed that their peace and quiet was being disturbed by these 'hooligans'. The common denominator was that these complaints were from people who didn't live near any communities, towns, or even small gatherings of homes or cabins. They were fundamentally isolationists. They were where they were because they didn't want to interact with others unless they absolutely had to. They're idea of communal activity would be to drive fifty to a hundred miles to the closest town that had a general store.

After a good hour of checking complaints and making little dots and circles on the map Sue called a halt to their actions. She looked down on her map and there wasn't much that would point to any particular routes that the courier might take.

"Shit!" Sue was obviously ticked off that they hadn't been able to expose a pattern.

After a calming deep breath and a trip to the refrigerator for three bottles of beer, she turned to Becks with a humorous smile. "Welcome to the wonderful world of tracking down leads."

Becks chuckled. "You forget what I used to and what I now do for a living. It isn't any different at all."

Sue echoed her chuckle. "I guess not." She took another sip from her bottle. "I think the best bet is to take our map, such as it is, and go visit Joseph and Jocko. If anyone will know about extra traffic up in the north it will be Joseph."

The three of them went out to the shed that sat on the edge of Sue's property. There was a smaller door on the side that would let one in, or there was a large flip up door. Not unlike your typical garage door. Which was exactly what the shed was being used for.

Inside the shed was an older model jeep. One that actually looked like a jeep as opposed to the newer ones that just looked like every other SUV on the market. This one had a more rugged, almost military, look to it.

Hanging off the back of the jeep was what looked like an oversized bike rack. It was much heavier than your typical bike racks, and it looked like it could hold two bikes.

Becks checked the rack out. "What's this for?"

Sue walked over to the other side wall of the shed. "These." She pointed to a pair of moto style dirt bikes.

Becks quickly went over and swooned over the impressive motor bikes. These were not road machines. They weren't made to look pretty while cruising down a highway. These bikes were made to get dirty tearing around off road.

There was no chrome, no bright splashy paint job, and no curved windshield. What they did have were thick knobby tires, a well-padded molded seat, and a high-powered two stroke engine.

Being that Becks had to leave behind her beloved Harley Soft Tail in the dimension she'd been displaced from, a yearning immediately swelled up in her upon seeing the bikes.

Sue came over and placed her hand on her shoulder. "I don't own any ATVs but I've found that these work just fine for running around out here. You just have to watch out for any large fallen logs."

Becks just grinned as she helped Sue and Guy get the bikes off the wall and onto the rack on the back of her vehicle. It was a simple rack designed and built specifically for these bikes so it only took a few minutes to get them strapped in.

Soon they were on their way. The bikes were strapped on the back, and their overnight bags that Sue had told them to bring 'just in case' were shoved in the space behind the back seat. Guy didn't have any luggage of any kind and Becks wasn't about to ask about his change of clothes again. She had become uncomfortable with the idea that he might tell her.

The drive was pleasant. The temperatures where in the high fifties to the low sixties with a clear sky only sparsely dotted with clouds. The windows were left cracked to let in the clean fresh air.

The ride had its share of bumps. The road surfaces went from gravel, to dirt, to dual tracks worn into the grass. Much of it were old logging roads that still had enough sporadic use to keep them open in the non-winter months. The sun was about two thirds its way across the sky when Sue pulled off the 'road' and drove down a barely there dirt trail for several hundred yards before a small cabin appeared from beneath the canopy formed by a lot of very tall pine trees.

An older man, well over six feet tall wearing just a flannel shirt and worn jeans stepped out of his home. His grey hair hung down his back in a long braid, and his face was furrowed with wrinkles. But his eyes shone with the joy of a child and the wisdom of a sage.

Becks knew that this was Sue's friend, Joseph Grey Bear. Right behind Joseph trotted a huge black and silver wolf. Just from the way the wolf moved, Becks guessed that he was probably quite old. Sue had said that Joseph had raised him from a pup.

The three of them got out of the jeep and started toward the old man. Sue and Becks were shoulder to shoulder and Guy was just behind Sue. He stepped around and came up even with Sue.

Suddenly the wolf, Jocko, stepped in front of Joseph and growled. Becks became a bit uncomfortable with the wolf's reaction. The old man leaned down and scratched the wolf behind the ears.

"Now you behave Jocko, these are our guests." The wolf still stayed in front of Joseph while his displeasure continued to rumble from his throat.

Guy turned to Sue. "I think your friend's companion doesn't like me. Why don't I take a little walk around and meet up with you a bit later." Sue just nodded.

Guy wandered off into the pines. Jocko's gaze followed until Guy disappeared from sight."

Sue frowned as she glanced at Becks. Then she turned back to her friend Joseph.

"I'm sorry." She said. "I didn't think about how Jocko might receive Guy."

Joseph laughed. "Oh, he's just being territorial. He'll get over it." Joseph turned toward Becks. "And who's this lovely lady you've suckered into coming along with you?" He had a big smile on his face.

Becks smiled and held out her hand while giving the wolf a wary eye. "Hi, I'm Becks. Pleased to meet you." He took her hand.

"Joseph, this is Rebecca Beckett. She's a private investigator I've hired to help me with the story I'm investigating."

Joseph cocked his head. "Where have I seen the name Beckett before?" He stared at Sue for a few moments while she just smiled. "I know, there was a Beckett, a Kate Beckett and a Richard Castle you wrote an article about several years ago. They were New York detectives."

Sue laughed. "How would you know of that? That was years ago and it wasn't exactly a headline type story."

Joseph pulled Sue into a hug. "I read all your stories, eventually. Sometimes it just takes me a while to find a copy of the publication." They both laughed.

While they'd been standing there, Jocko the wolf had moved close to Becks and leaned against her leg. She wasn't sure what she should do. The wolf hadn't shown any anger toward her, but she didn't know how she should react. Suddenly she heard some gentle laughter. She looked up at the very tall Indian.

"Jocko is a terrible flirt. He likes pretty girls. Just scratch him behind the ears and he'll be your friend forever."

Becks wasn't sure if she wanted to have a large black wolf as her friend forever, but that would be better than being an enemy… like Guy. She bent over at the waist and scratched behind Jocko's ears. The wolf immediately leaned his weight against her legs and she swore she heard him sigh.

Joseph had a big smile on his face. "Oh, he likes you. You must have strong fingers."

Becks grimaced. "As long as he doesn't like me too much, if you know what I mean."

Both Sue and Joseph laughed as all on them made their way into the cabin.

It was much roomier on the inside than it would seem from the outside. Mostly because the old man's cabin didn't waste space with interior walls. A large fireplace occupied the back wall. There currently wasn't any fire burning in the hearth. A wood burning stove sat in the middle of the room. Next to it was a small table with three chairs around it. On the other side of the stove was a jack handled pump that connected directly to the well. So much for the kitchen.

There was a large single bed against one of the walls adjacent to the fireplace, and a set of bunk beds against the other wall adjacent to the fireplace. Out in the open space in front of the fireplace, between the stove and the single bed were two leather lounge chairs. There was also a braided rug in front of the chairs, which at the moment, was occupied by Jocko.

In the two corners opposite the fireplace and flanking the front door were two large storage cabinets. One stored can goods, and other necessities like dry foods and utensils. There was also a large metal tub at the bottom. Joseph told them it was his bathtub. The other cabinet had shelves and some drawers. It was his clothes closet.

Becks glanced around with a look of unease around her. "Um, where's your bathroom?"

Joseph looked up at her. "Do you need to go, hon?" He looked up from the arm load of papers that Sue had brought in.

Becks blushed. "Ah no, not at the moment, but I was just wondering… ah for later?"

Joseph walked over to a small door between the fireplace and the bunk beds. He opened the door.

"It's right out there." He pointed out to a small building about thirty feet from the back of his cabin near the tree line. It was connected to the house by a boardwalk. Becks closed her eyes then quickly opened them. It was an outhouse.

She remembered her dad telling her about when, as a kid, he'd go up and visit his grandad and they had an outhouse. Becks made a mental note to take care of business before it got too dark.

Becks continued to look around while Sue spread out all her pages that held all the 'complaints' that she had collected, and the map they had marked earlier. She walked around the small cabin but didn't see it.

She heard Joseph chuckling. "You looking for something else, hon?"

Becks found herself blushing again. "I don't mean to be nosy, but where is your refrigerator?"

"Don't have any electricity, so I don't have electrical appliances." He waved toward that small back door. "I've got a very well insulated ice box out back next to the walk. I fill that thing up in the spring before the ice disappears and I'm good for nearly two months. Then it's a matter of making a couple trips in during the summer and into the fall for blocks of ice to get me into the winter. Then it's no problem. Got plenty of ice in the lake not more than a hundred yards through those trees." He waved off toward the north.

Becks just shook her head. "I suppose you have a garden in the spring, and you also hunt and fish in the lake."

Joseph nodded. "Yes I do. Jocko helps."

Becks rolled her eyes. "My god, Joseph. You are living like your people did a hundred years ago."

Sue laughed. "More like two hundred years ago." Joseph joined in the laughter.

Becks wandered over and sat in one of the chairs. Jocko came over and laid his head in her lap. She couldn't help but smile as she reached over and scratched behind his ears. She nearly burst out laughing when the wolf's eyes closed.

Sue went outside to talk with Guy, while Becks and Joseph prepared dinner. Joseph had some fish he caught the other day so he pulled out four walleye fillets and got a fire started in the stove.

He then sent Becks out to the root cellar, which she had missed seeing also, to get some potatoes, and radishes. By the time Sue came back in from talking with Guy, Becks was just plating up the meal for them. She raised a brow toward Sue. She just shook her head, which Beck took to mean that Guy wouldn't be joining them for dinner. Becks was beginning to believe that Guy could and would eat if he pleased, but Coyote being a spiritual being didn't need it.

Because Sue had already covered the table with her papers they all had to eat with their plates on their laps. Jocko chose to gulp his food down in three quick bites. Then he chose to lay down on Becks feet.

Joseph looked over and grinned. He nudged Sue. "It looks like I've been replaced."

Sue looked over and joined Joseph in a chuckle. Becks just shrugged.

After a bit of gossip that Sue shared with Joseph and the required explanations as to what Sue was trying to discover from the complaints she'd collected from people she knew up in the north central areas she spread out her map for Joseph.

Becks apologized to Jocko for disrupting his repose when she got up and went over to join them at the table. Sue was chewing her thumb nail as she tried to force a pattern onto her little notations.

Becks stared at the map for a few moments. "If it were me, I'd put less value on the complaints the further south and east they are."

Sue looked up at her. "Why is that?"

"Because, if we are convinced that whatever they are moving, most likely drugs. It's coming from further up north and heading down to the south to be picked up so it can be distributed all around, whether it be by ship through the lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway, or down the interstate through the middle of the country."

Becks glanced at the map. "We know, or Sue knows from what she's heard that there isn't the increase in ATV sightings further south and toward Duluth even though that is the logical destination for the product."

Becks waves her hands. "Logic tells us that since the ATVs aren't showing up in the more populated areas further south, then they aren't going there. They have to be meeting and transferring the product before they get there. And that means they could have any number of places to meet and transfer. All that would be needed would be a covered truck or van." Becks shrugged. "Any decent road a few miles from any little town would be cover enough for the second delivery vehicle to be able to continue on with impunity."

Joseph nodded. "She's pretty smart. Now I know why you want her with you."

Sue turned back to her map. "So their destination is not as important for us as is where they started from. They all have to come from the same starting point."

She turned to Joseph. "What about you, Joseph. Have you seen or heard of increased ATV activity anywhere specific?"

Joseph scratched his chin as he looked at Sue's map. "Most of what I've seen and heard about is like your map already. We need information out of our own areas." He went to his clothes cabinet and pulled open one of the small drawers. He pulled out a shiny new cell phone.

Both Sue and Becks just stared at him. He grinned. "How else do you think I'm able to call friends when I need something, or they get a hold of me for the reverse?" He sat in one of the chairs. "I have a friend who lives at the Red Lake Band reservation. That's the one that's the furthest north and west in Minnesota. Let me see if he has seen such increased recreational ATV usage in his area."

Sue frowned. "Wait a minute. How come I have to jump through hoops to get service in my area, but you can just pull out your phone and expect to connect?"

The old man cracked a smile. "First off, you live in the basin. You're surrounded by a lot of high hills. And second, all the reservations up here have their own repeater cell towers."

Joseph turned away to talk to his friend so Becks went back and sat back down in the chair only to have Jocko come over and lay down at her feet and roll on his back, exposing his belly to her. She laughed as she bent over and rubbed the belly of the huge Timber Wolf.

After a few moments he broke the connection with his friend and turned to Sue with a wry grin. "Well, my friend seems to support your supposition about the increased ATV usage. They've seen a lot of it around their reservation also. He says most of it seems to be coming down from the north border, west of the Lake of the Woods and the Angle."

Becks left her chair, much to Jocko's displeasure, and joined the other two. "What's the Angle?"

Joseph laughed. "There's a small plot of land just north of the Lake of the Woods which is completely surrounded by Canada on the north and west, and the waters of Lake of the Woods on the east and the south. Somehow when the official boundaries were drawn up in Paris back in the 1700's somebody goofed and included it into Minnesota. It's called the Northwest Angle, or just The Angle by the locals. Part of the Red Lake Band is up there too."

Sue paced a bit. "So, your friend thinks that there is increased so-called recreational riding coming from the west and north of them."

Joseph nodded. "He says it has reached really annoying levels recently. They've had to post the borders of the reservation with keep out signage."

Sue put her hands on Joseph's shoulder. "If we could impose upon you for the night. I would like to take the bikes out in the morning and head up in that general direction."

Joseph chuckled. "I would have been insulted if you didn't stay the night."

Sue hugged the old gentle giant. "I thank you." She turned to Becks. "I'm going to go out and fill Guy in on the developments and tell him we're planning to go out tomorrow morning to see what we can see."

She quickly went to and out the front door.

She walked toward her jeep, then saw the large black shadow of the enormous Coyote come out from behind her car. His form blurred as it transitioned to his chosen human appearance.

"So have you figured out a plan of action?"

Sue nodded, knowing that he could see her even in the darkness of the starry night. "Yeah, we decided that it would be pointless to try and track down their drop off points, which could be many. And concentrate on finding the origin."

"That sounds reasonable." He placed his hand on her shoulder. "That mangy mutt hasn't infested you with any of his fleas has he?"

Sue laughed. "No, Jocko has mostly left me alone. It seems he has a crush on Becks."

Guy nodded. "Good. I suppose we can get her deloused somewhere after this is over."

Sue continued to laugh and slapped Guy in the chest. "Any way, we decided to stay the night and in the morning, take the bikes out and head north and westerly. Joseph talked to a friend of his in a reservation north west of here and it seems they too have had problems with increased recreational ATV traffic. So I thought it might be a good idea to go out and see what we could see for ourselves."

"Okay." He glared at Joseph's cabin. I'll hang close to the house so I'll be here when you decide to leave."

Sue placed her arms on his shoulders and pulled herself up onto her tip toes. She pressed her lips against his. They melted into each other for several heartbeats then pulled away.

"Thank you."

"For what?" He said.

"For being here with me, and being my friend." She turned and walked back toward the house, her hand sliding along his arm, then his palm, and finally his fingers before they parted.

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A/N: I remember as a kid my grandfather and his brother-in-law bought a couple of kit houses from Sears which they built on some land on a small lake about fifty miles out from the cities. These were simple two room cabins which they were able to connect to the local power, but there were no bathroom facilities except for an outhouse my grandfather built near the tree line about forty feet from the cabins. After a year or so he upgraded by building a boardwalk out to the outhouse. The boardwalk was very handy when it was dark. Eventually the tiny houses were added onto and upgraded over the years and they were the homes that they lived in during their final days.

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