Read Online Bats and Bones (The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries) by Karen Musser Nortman - Free Book Online
Authors: Karen Musser Nortman
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it
was peaceful for a few minutes until she became aware of sounds coming from the
backside of the building. The beeps of someone dialing a cell phone prefaced a
low voice in almost a stage whisper. She froze and although she would normally
move out of range to give the caller privacy, the odd circumstances kept her in
her seat.
“Hey, it’s
me again. Don’t know what to do. (Pause) I know, but we can’t leave. Cops have
the park closed. (Pause) I don’t think I can make this delivery…(Pause) Well,
you’re going to have to work something else out. (Pause) Just text, don’t
call.” With no sign off, the phone slammed shut. Frannie quickly gathered her
things and headed to the road. She wondered if someone watched her but when she
looked back, saw no one. She considered reporting the call to the agent or the
sheriff but didn’t see either of them right then and didn’t want to hang around.
Back at the
campsite, Larry was sorting through his tote of outdoor supplies. He looked up.
“Hi Babe. Feel better?”
“A little.”
She hung her towel on the detachable clothesline on the rear of the trailer and
carried the rest of her stuff inside. When she came back out, she said to
Larry, “Go for a little walk with me?”
“Sure. I
was just getting stuff out for the fire. Time to start it pretty soon.”
Cuba raised
her head to check on their plans, but decided they must be crazy to go for a
walk and dropped back on her paws and closed her eyes.
“She’s
smarter than us. She’s better off staying in the shade,” Larry said. They went
the opposite direction from the shower house toward the parking lot and
trailhead. When they were away from most of the campers, Frannie told Larry
about the phone call she’d just overheard.
“Did the
guy see you?” Larry asked with heightened concern.
“I don’t
think so. He was around the corner of the building.”
“Could you
tell who it was?”
“No, he
kept his voice low. But we haven’t talked to any of the men here much except
Stub and I don’t think it was him.”
“What about
Dave Schlumm?”
“Oh
yeah…well again, I don’t think so but it’s possible. Sounded younger than him
though. Do you think it’s connected to Maeve’s death?”
“Hard to
say. The word ‘delivery’—you’re sure that’s what he said?” She nodded.
“Could be something legitimate, I suppose, but telling the other person to text
and not call makes it sound like it’s not. Of course, anyone here could be
involved in some kind of illegal pickup or delivery totally unrelated to
Maeve’s death, and because none of us can leave, has to make a change in plans.
We’ll have to pass this on to Agent Sanchez. Drugs are the first thing that
comes to mind.”
“I know,”
she agreed. They had reached the parking lot. “Let’s turn back.” They reversed
their direction and as they did so Larry draped his arm across her shoulders.
It was reassuring, even though her recently fresh, bright aqua camp shirt was
already starting to stick to her back.
“Well,
until this is over, I don’t even want you going to the shower house alone,
Frannie. Whatever this guy is up to, if he caught even a glimpse of you, there
could be a risk.”
“Okay.” She
pushed damp hair away from her face. “This heat is making the whole thing
worse. It’s like the weather is helping to keep us penned in.”
“I just
heard a report on the weather radio while you were gone. They’re still talking
storms tonight, possibly severe, and then better tomorrow. Like Mickey says,
good news, bad news.”
They
trudged up the road in silence for a few minutes, flies buzzing around them in
the stillness.
“What’s
your take on this, Larry? Do you think it was someone in the campground? Or
totally unconnected?” Frannie asked.
“She
definitely annoyed a lot of people but hardly a cause for murder.”
“And who
would have known she was even out there at that hour?”
“They could
have seen her go by in
was peaceful for a few minutes until she became aware of sounds coming from the
backside of the building. The beeps of someone dialing a cell phone prefaced a
low voice in almost a stage whisper. She froze and although she would normally
move out of range to give the caller privacy, the odd circumstances kept her in
her seat.
“Hey, it’s
me again. Don’t know what to do. (Pause) I know, but we can’t leave. Cops have
the park closed. (Pause) I don’t think I can make this delivery…(Pause) Well,
you’re going to have to work something else out. (Pause) Just text, don’t
call.” With no sign off, the phone slammed shut. Frannie quickly gathered her
things and headed to the road. She wondered if someone watched her but when she
looked back, saw no one. She considered reporting the call to the agent or the
sheriff but didn’t see either of them right then and didn’t want to hang around.
Back at the
campsite, Larry was sorting through his tote of outdoor supplies. He looked up.
“Hi Babe. Feel better?”
“A little.”
She hung her towel on the detachable clothesline on the rear of the trailer and
carried the rest of her stuff inside. When she came back out, she said to
Larry, “Go for a little walk with me?”
“Sure. I
was just getting stuff out for the fire. Time to start it pretty soon.”
Cuba raised
her head to check on their plans, but decided they must be crazy to go for a
walk and dropped back on her paws and closed her eyes.
“She’s
smarter than us. She’s better off staying in the shade,” Larry said. They went
the opposite direction from the shower house toward the parking lot and
trailhead. When they were away from most of the campers, Frannie told Larry
about the phone call she’d just overheard.
“Did the
guy see you?” Larry asked with heightened concern.
“I don’t
think so. He was around the corner of the building.”
“Could you
tell who it was?”
“No, he
kept his voice low. But we haven’t talked to any of the men here much except
Stub and I don’t think it was him.”
“What about
Dave Schlumm?”
“Oh
yeah…well again, I don’t think so but it’s possible. Sounded younger than him
though. Do you think it’s connected to Maeve’s death?”
“Hard to
say. The word ‘delivery’—you’re sure that’s what he said?” She nodded.
“Could be something legitimate, I suppose, but telling the other person to text
and not call makes it sound like it’s not. Of course, anyone here could be
involved in some kind of illegal pickup or delivery totally unrelated to
Maeve’s death, and because none of us can leave, has to make a change in plans.
We’ll have to pass this on to Agent Sanchez. Drugs are the first thing that
comes to mind.”
“I know,”
she agreed. They had reached the parking lot. “Let’s turn back.” They reversed
their direction and as they did so Larry draped his arm across her shoulders.
It was reassuring, even though her recently fresh, bright aqua camp shirt was
already starting to stick to her back.
“Well,
until this is over, I don’t even want you going to the shower house alone,
Frannie. Whatever this guy is up to, if he caught even a glimpse of you, there
could be a risk.”
“Okay.” She
pushed damp hair away from her face. “This heat is making the whole thing
worse. It’s like the weather is helping to keep us penned in.”
“I just
heard a report on the weather radio while you were gone. They’re still talking
storms tonight, possibly severe, and then better tomorrow. Like Mickey says,
good news, bad news.”
They
trudged up the road in silence for a few minutes, flies buzzing around them in
the stillness.
“What’s
your take on this, Larry? Do you think it was someone in the campground? Or
totally unconnected?” Frannie asked.
“She
definitely annoyed a lot of people but hardly a cause for murder.”
“And who
would have known she was even out there at that hour?”
“They could
have seen her go by in
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