Chapter Twenty-seven
Leah rubbed her hands up and down her arms and shivered. “That’s just so freaky. Ugh. Why would there be a human bone in the woods? Do you suppose Barney dug up an old Native American burial site?”
Ryan eyed the femur the way he probably would a glitch in his computer system. One part suspicion combined with determination to solve the puzzle.
“It doesn’t look that old to me, but what do I know? Where, exactly, did he find it?”
“That spot with the big rock we discovered on our hike a few weeks ago. You remember Barney was sniffing around the base of the stone, and we had to drag him away. This time he was digging over by the trees on the edge of the clearing. I swear he’s part bloodhound with that nose of his.”
“I remember. That place gave me the—” His eyes widened, and he took a step away from the couch. “Oh, hell.”
“What?” Goose bumps broke out on her arms. “You’re freaking me out, Ryan.”
“The pictures from the time capsule. They were taken in a small clearing, and we thought the woman was lying on a table or platform of some sort covered with a cloth. What if it was that rock? It would be about the right height.”
Leah pressed a hand to her mouth as she stared in horror at the bone. Her voice was muffled when she spoke. “Oh, God, I’m going to be sick.” Turning, she ran from the room and barely made it to the bathroom before she heaved up her guts. When her stomach stopped contracting, she reached out a shaky hand to flush the toilet.
“Here.” Ryan handed her a wet hand towel.
She took the dripping cloth and wiped her face, then closed her eyes. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m barely holding it together, myself.”
“I couldn’t stop thinking about that poor girl who disappeared all those years ago, Merry Bright, wondering if that bone was part of her leg.” Leah let out a shuddering breath and stared at Ryan. “What are we going to do?”
“Maybe I’m wrong and the femur isn’t human. We can hope we’re way off base.”
“Either way, we still need to take it to the police.”
He stepped aside when she stood and tossed the towel in the sink. “I guess so, but our concerns about who might have been involved back then haven’t changed.”
“So we stay away from Chris Long, since we don’t know if his dad was the one who put the film in the time capsule. We can take the bone and our suspicions directly to Chief Stackhouse.”
Ryan nodded, but his eyes were troubled. “I think I’d rather report this to Detective Stannard and leave the local police out of it.”
She left the bathroom on shaky legs. “You want to drive all the way down to Coos Bay tonight? I don’t imagine he’s on duty this late.”
“Probably not.” Ryan paused beside her at the foot of the stairs. “Maybe we should hike up to that clearing tomorrow to see if there’s anything else buried in the spot where Barney was digging. Neither of us are forensic experts. We might be freaking out over nothing. Then, depending on what we find, we can call Stannard or go in to see Chief Stackhouse.”
“Except I have to work. Tomorrow is Halloween, and the kids are excited for their costume parade and party. I can’t disappoint them by asking for a substitute.”
“I can hike up alone—”
A chill shook her. “Call that detective and take him with you.”
“I doubt he’ll want to drive all the way to Siren Cove simply because your dog found a bone that looks like it’s been on the grill too long.”
“Ugh. Don’t say things like that.”
“Sorry.” He wrapped an arm around her and squeezed. “I’ll call Stannard in the morning, and we can take it from there. Obviously that bone has been buried for a while, so it isn’t like we have to make a quick decision tonight or panic and do something stupid. Right?”
“I suppose not, although I’m not thrilled to have that thing in my house. Also, there’s still the matter of reporting George Dorsey.”
“Crap, I’d already forgotten about him. Yeah, we need to tell the police about George’s connection to those aliases.” Ryan slid his hand down to her pajama-clad hip. “Are you going up to get dressed?”
Leah nodded. “Can you call Chris Long while I change? His number is in my phone, and he knows all about my grandma’s case.”
“I’ll take care of it. What’s your password?”
“My birthday.” She glanced toward the living room where the bone still lay on the back of the couch. “Uh, do you mind putting that thing somewhere out of sight? Maybe in the carport. Honestly, I can’t bear to look at it, and I certainly don’t want Barney trying to get hold of it again.”
“Sure.”
After dressing in jeans and a sweater, she brushed her teeth and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Dark shadows beneath her eyes looked like bruises against her still pale complexion. She took a moment to comb her hair, then gave her head a shake. Time to suck it up, forget about the charred femur, and go get justice for her grandma and the other seniors fleeced by George. Not that she didn’t feel sick knowing Brock had aided and abetted a criminal. The whole situation turned her stomach.
She flipped off the light and headed downstairs. Ryan stood near the front door holding her jacket. She gave him a grateful smile as she slid her arms through the sleeves. “Thanks.”
“You bet.” He handed over her phone. “Chris was working late and said he’d meet us at the station.”
“Great. Let’s get this over with.”
They drove into town, the twin beams barely penetrating the dense fog. Ryan braked before turning into the lot next to the police station as a cruiser pulled out with lights flashing.
“Someone’s in a rush.”
“Probably a car accident caused by this fog.” He parked and turned off the engine. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” When her phone pinged, she pulled it out of her pocket. “Damn it. Chris just texted. He was called out on an emergency. Now what?”
“That must have been him leaving just now. I guess we can hang around until he returns. The station looks like it’s locked up tight. No lights on inside.”
“Well, hell. I just want to be done with this.”
“It’s damn frustrating.” He leaned forward when a marked vehicle turned into the lot and parked. “Hey, is Long back already?” Ryan unbuckled his seat belt and got out of the Jeep. “Must have been a false alarm.”
The driver slammed his door and turned to face them. The outdoor spotlights illuminated Chief Stackhouse as he approached. His steps slowed, and his brows shot up. “This is a surprise. What brings you two out at this hour? Not another problem, I hope.”
“Oh, thank heavens.” Leah hurried toward him. “We have new information regarding the man who conned my grandma, and we had planned to meet Officer Long, but—”
“Chris just headed out on a domestic disturbance call. I heard it over the scanner when I was on my way over. I think I left my damn phone on my desk. I’ve been at home hunting for it for an hour.” The chief waved an arm toward the station. “Come along with me, and I’ll take your information.”
Leah hesitated. “If you’re not on duty—”
“I’m always on duty.” After they followed him across the parking lot, he unlocked the door and held it open. “We’ll head back to my office.” He led the way toward the rear of the building, flipping on the lights as he went. “Right where I left it. Wouldn’t you know.” Stackhouse scooped the cell off a pile of folders and gestured toward a pair of club chairs. “Have a seat and tell me what the problem is now.”
They sat, and Ryan laid a hand on her thigh and squeezed. “Not a problem. We believe we know who was responsible for conning seniors, including Leah’s grandma. You know those aliases he used were the birth names of singers popular in the sixties, right?”
“You bet. I read Long’s report.”
“Well, we just figured out Engelbert Humperdinck was born Arnold George Dorsey. Quite a coincidence, don’t you think?”
The chief’s eyes narrowed. “You’re certain about this?”
“About the name, definitely. It only took a few seconds to verify over the internet.”
“Then, I’d say that’s enough to at least question George. I’ll need to get a warrant to look into his finances. That boy must have shit for brains, using disguises that could be traced back to him. Does he think cops are stupid?”
“Apparently.” Leah clenched her fists at her sides. “I’m only sorry we didn’t figure it out sooner. What are the chances we’ll be able to recover my grandma’s money?”
“I guess it’ll depend on what’s left in his account.” Chief Stackhouse paused to lean back in his chair. “Of course, we’ll have to find evidence he’s guilty first. I’ll get on that warrant right away.” With a creak of leather, he rose to his feet. “Thanks for bringing this to my attention. You can be sure I’ll take it from here and nail the little bas . . . uh, the suspect.”
Ryan stood, and pulled Leah up beside him. “Thank you, Chief. We appreciate your personal attention to the matter.”
“Have you confided in anyone else about this yet?” He rounded his desk and put a hand on Leah’s back to guide her toward the door.
“No, we just figured it out a short time ago and called Officer Long.”
“I’ll fill Chris in on the details, but you might not want to talk out of turn until we can get that warrant. This is a small community, and I don’t want anyone to tip off Dorsey.”
“We’ll keep quiet about it. I learned my lesson on that front already.”
The chief’s grip on her shoulder tightened. “How’s that?”
“I think my ex-husband knows what George has been doing. I had a conversation with Brock before the police tried to make an arrest up in Astoria.” Her voice broke. “I would never have said anything if—”
“You think Brock warned his buddy?”
Ryan nodded. “Yes.”
“I’ll look into that aspect of the situation, as well. You’ve both been very helpful.”
“I just want George brought to justice,” Leah said. “This whole nightmare can’t be over soon enough to suit me.”
“Agreed.” The chief walked them to the door and held it open. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Thank you.” Taking Leah’s hand, Ryan led the way through the dense fog to his Jeep and clicked the remote to unlock it. “Let’s go home.”
She leaned against the window as they drove through the night. Her stomach still ached with none of the relief she’d expected to feel after unburdening herself and hearing the chief’s promise of action. “Maybe we should have told him about the bone, too.”
“Huh?” Ryan glanced over as he slowed to turn into her driveway.
“My insides are all tied up in knots.”
“Yeah, mine, too.” He shifted to look over his shoulder when headlights shone in the rearview mirror. “I wonder who that is.”
“I don’t want to talk to anyone.” Leah’s voice cracked. “Not until I’ve had a chance to wrap my head around all this. Honestly, I feel like I might lose it completely.”
“Go inside, and I’ll deal with whoever’s back there.”
She bolted out of the car and practically ran through the carport to the kitchen door. Once inside, she switched on the light, then dropped onto a chair at the table and buried her face in her hands. When Barney poked his nose against her side and whined, she stroked his soft head with trembling fingers.
A few minutes later, the door opened, and Ryan sat down next to her. “You okay?”
“Yes. I’m being a baby to let everything bother me so much. First we solve the con man mystery, but then discover that horrible bone.” She shuddered. “It’s just one thing after another with no break.”
“It’ll be over tomorrow. I promise. I’ll give the femur to Stannard and be done with it, even if it means driving down to Coos Bay. None of this is our problem. Let the cops handle it.”
“If that’s how you feel, why didn’t you tell Chief Stackhouse?”
“Honestly, I was tempted. But when I opened my mouth, something made me stop. Probably an excess of caution, along with fear the news might spread to the wrong ears if that bone is in any way tied to the men in the pictures from the time capsule.”
“I guess better safe than sorry.” She turned to face him. “Who was outside?”
“It was Chris Long, following up after my call earlier. I gave him a brief rundown on George Dorsey and told him we’d talked to the chief.”
“Good.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s not even eight o’clock, and all I want to do is go to bed.”
Ryan tilted her chin to look into her eyes. “You’re not hungry? We didn’t eat dinner.”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly, but go ahead and make yourself something.”
He stood and pulled her into his arms to gather her close. “Go upstairs and take a hot bath to relax. I’ll be with you shortly.”
She wound her arms around his neck and held tight. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Being here. Being you. For not letting me push you away. I love you so much, Ryan.”
He kissed her, then wiped away the tears that slid down her cheeks. “I won’t let anything come between us this time. Not your stubbornness or my stupidity. I’m sorry I was a jerk about the money.”
“I’m sorry, too. At least all this drama has shown me what’s important in life. You and me together. Nothing else matters more than that.”
“You’re right. Now go unwind while I make a sandwich. You look completely worn out.”
“I’m emotionally drained, that’s for sure.” She pressed a quick kiss to his lips then pulled away. “Don’t be too long.”
“I won’t.”
Barney followed Leah up the stairs and into her bedroom. He flopped down on the rug with a sigh while she stripped off her clothes and shrugged into a warm fleece robe. The idea of a bath had merit, but she settled for a hot shower to take away the deep-seated chill in her bones.
Minutes later, she stood beneath the stinging spray with her head hanging and let the water wash away her exhaustion. She’d had a few moments of weakness, but no more. Straightening, she squared her shoulders, shut off the water, and stepped out onto the mat. She was still drying her hair in the steamy bathroom when Ryan cracked open the door and poked his head through.
“Are you okay?”
She clicked off the blow dryer and laid it on the counter. “Yes. I’m over letting everything bother me. If George is a criminal, he deserves to be locked up. I already knew Brock has zero morals, so I’m not sure why I let another example of his tendency to make horrible decisions bother me. His problem, not mine.”
Ryan stepped farther into the room and slid his arms around her waist, taking care not to squeeze her still sore ribs. “You have an enviable strength. Don’t beat yourself up because you allowed yourself to be vulnerable for a change.”
“I’m sick of feeling like a victim. The scumbag who tried to steal back those pictures has hurt me for the last time. If that bone has any connection to whatever perverted ceremony was going on in those woods twenty years ago, then they all deserve to rot in hell.” She met his gaze in the mirror. “You were right to be cautious about turning over possible evidence. I want justice for the woman in those pictures. Maybe we’re no longer in any danger, but it’s our duty as responsible citizens to see that the crime committed that night is punished.”
“Agreed. I’ll call Detective Stannard first thing in the morning.”
She turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck. A fierce love filled her, along with a sense of righting old wrongs. “We’ll make those bastards pay.”
Ryan cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. “Time to let go of the past and focus on the future. We’ve got this, Leah.”
She smiled into his eyes. “Damn right.”
* * *
“Tell your idiot son to get the hell out of town. Now.”
Arnold Dorsey dropped his beer bottle on the card table, and foam spewed out of the top. He scooped up his cell before it could get soaked. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Leah and Ryan Alexander just figured out the connection between your name and the game George was playing with those aliases, and reported it. I told you your kid was beyond stupid to think no one would catch on.”
“Shit. Can’t you do something to squash an investigation?” His hand shook as he righted the bottle and sopped up the mess with a wad of napkins. “You owe me that much.”
“Unfortunately, a report has already been filed. The last thing I want is outsiders snooping around before tomorrow night, but your son left victims all over the state. Everyone and his brother will be looking into this.”
“Can’t you—”
“I’ll do everything possible to head off an official investigation until the Samhain is over, but I can’t promise more than that. Tell your kid to get on a plane to . . . wherever. I don’t want to know anything more about it.”
“Should we cancel tomorrow night’s ceremony? Seems a little risky at this juncture.” He met the terrified gaze of the other occupant of the room. “I can eliminate—”
“I’m not willing to do that. We’ll celebrate as planned. I trust our sacrifice is still secure?”
“Yes.” He rubbed his temple as the throbbing behind his eyes strengthened. “I’ll need more than a day to—”
“You aren’t going to get it. Tell George to cut his losses, take what cash he can, and get out now. Access to that report is widespread. The best I can do is use my resources to throw up a few roadblocks.”
Arnold slammed his fist down on the table with enough force to rattle the beer bottle. “Let me guess who’s responsible for the report. Chris Long, always the Boy Scout.”
His answer was a grunt.
“We have leverage to use against him.”
“I won’t threaten a brother. Your son dug his own grave. Now deal with it.”
The phone went dead.
Arnold stared at the young woman, bound and gagged on a mattress in the corner. She stared back at him in stark horror.
“I’ll deal, all right.” His lips curled. “Count on it.”