Cold Hollow (Cold Hollow Mysteries Book 1) (3 page)

He had just been informed of the death of the town’s trucker, Ray Borges; that was one home that he would personally visit that night as well. Ray’s wife was really going to have a tough go of it with four children to feed. He chuckled to the sky. It was going to be enjoyable to watch her deal with her predicament.

His eyes lit up a bit as he whispered, “Well, that makes two town jobs that just opened up! There’ll be two jobs to fill and more money for the till! Life is good.” He made his way down the dark road to the next home with a grin on his face.

CHAPTER 2

Hugo Morrissey listened hard and waited until he was sure that Ranger Bullock had left the area at the end of his shift. With nighttime looming, Hugo wanted to try to make it out of the deep pit as soon as he could. He was grateful it was summer. Had it been winter when this happened, he would not have survived. The plunging temperatures would have done him in.

He knew he was suffering from shock. His extremities trembled like a vibrating machine. He tried his best to shake it off, but each time he moved, his back reminded him that he was missing some skin and would be better off taking it slow. The quaking of his extremities seemed to diffuse the more he used them, so he took one step and one painful movement at a time.

He had landed at the base of the pit atop a dilapidated sofa, looked at the sky, and thanked God. One of his eyes was swollen shut from the beating he’d received, and he thought he had a split lip as well. His hands searched among the rubble to find anything that might be of use. He stood on wobbly legs and found some old, soiled sheets and thin, worn blankets. He knotted them together until he ran out. There were not enough of them. He searched deeper in the refuse pile, found an old length of weathered rope, hoped it would hold up to the job, and searched some more.

When he thought the length was enough to heave up and over the lip of the pit, he tied a rock to the end of the makeshift rope and threw it up as far as he could, praying it would lock onto something. He was grateful his arms were still working and were not suffering as much as his back and legs. However, Hugo had been through worse and little did Ranger Bullock know, but Hugo was a survivor. He had his opinions and voiced them for all to hear. When he felt cheated, he spoke up. Some town folk saw him as grumpy, but most had liked him. Hugo preferred the company of wildlife and nature. That was where he felt at home and that damn Ranger Bullock had stolen his job as the town’s forest ranger.

It wasn’t just Ranger Bullock who was going to have to watch his back, but whoever had spiked his drink at the tavern had better be wary as well. This town was soiled. It was dark, and Hugo was determined to set it straight one of these days. He knew there were a few inhabitants of the town who would agree with him. Hugo admired them, but they were as rare as finding a gem in a shit pit.

On his fifth try, he finally threw the rope and rock and latched onto something above. He hoped the rock had jammed itself between two tree trunks. He tugged hard on the rope and smiled. He tested the rope by dangling his weight on it, and it did not slip. As he began his ascent, he found it stretched the wounds on his back. He wanted to scream in pain but didn’t dare. He began his ascent and pushed the toes of his boots into the soil and rocks along the side of the pit. He took it slow and gathered his strength. With each pull upward, Hugo would clench his teeth and growl. It helped with the pain. When he thought the pain in his back and legs would cause him to black out, he had reached the top. He clawed his way over the lip and lay on his stomach for a while. It was dark out now, but he could rest for at least five minutes. After that, all bets were off. There was hungry wildlife in this section of the trails, and he was not armed with a weapon.

After a short rest, he untied the makeshift rope and tossed the refuse back down into the pit.

***

Sophia unlocked the door to her bakery, rushed to the back room, and began making a quick pot of coffee. It was the least she could do for the woman coming in for an interview. Sophia had been late waking up, and had gone on a run with her husband that morning. She had not even had time to change out of her running tights and sneakers. Of course, she had been distracted while running the trails near their home. The woods were teeming with wildlife and, amazingly, a few deer had stopped and looked at her, thereby allowing her husband to get some good pictures of them.

The trails were surrounded by mountains and she had to run uphill, and then down in varying formations. She loved it. The scent of the pines and oaks struck her, and she breathed it deep into her lungs as she jogged at an even pace beside her husband. The trails ended with signs saying, “Go no further than this point.”

Her husband had explained that the trails had not been groomed further into the mountainside yet, and the signs were merely warnings for hikers and runners. She had agreed it was a smart idea but wondered, as any normal person would, what was beyond those checkpoints. She also found it odd that a forest ranger had a small outpost at the beginning of the trails and kept tally over who entered and left the trails. Angus said it was a highly sought-after town job and was only there to keep track of residents and visitors; in case they never exited, the forest ranger could go searching for them.

The coffeepot beeped and she grabbed two mugs, some fresh cream, and a bit of sugar she had pilfered from home. If she hired the woman showing up today, then they would spend the entirety of the following day purchasing a multitude of supplies for the bakery and get to work. The woman would work nearly full time her first week until things got under way, but after that she would only be needed part time. Sophia mentally reminded herself to warn the woman.

***

Myrna entered the small, two-story hospital and went to the reception desk. The middle-aged secretary there knew her and gave her a room number before Myrna could even ask. As she walked past the desk, she heard the woman mumble that she was glad Bob had finally gotten what he deserved. Myrna wondered if Bob had been cruel to any other woman besides herself, but it did not matter anymore. It was over…well, over for Bob, that was. She made her way to Bob’s room; he had a private room and was hooked up to the town’s only ventilator. She huffed, made her way out of the room to the nurse’s station, and requested to see the doctor. She was told to wait in the room and that one of the town doctors would be right in.

She sat beside Bob and patiently waited for the physician. She whispered to her husband, “You were once the love of my life and turned out to be nothing more than a lousy piece of sheep shit. I hate you.”

The town’s doctor entered the room in a crisp white lab coat over his nice dress pants, shirt, and tie. He immediately smiled at Myrna. “Were you saying something, Myrna?” He had short, dirty-blond hair, a friendly face, and sparkling blue eyes. He stood at average height and was slender. He walked with confidence to her side and placed his hand on her shoulder.

Myrna glanced up at him. “I was just saying good-bye.”

As he pat her shoulder, he softly asked, “Do you think that Bob would have wanted life support?”

She abruptly stood, saw the plug to the ventilator in the wall, and yanked it clear. “Nope, he would have hated it. Thank you for your help, Doctor Tom.” She heard the last hiss of the machine behind her. Her lips twitched as she heard the heart monitor flatline.

When she turned to leave the room, he asked, “What do you want to do with the remains?”

She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Cremate him and let me know when to pick up the remains.”

His eyebrows rose and he held out the chart to her. “That sounds reasonable, but as next of kin I need your signature.” She returned to his side, glanced at the typed rhetoric, and signed off.

“You seem to be in a rush today. Are you sure you’re feeling all right?”

She raised her chin and smiled. “I have a job interview to get to and I’m a little late.” He smiled back and watched her take her leave.

He went to Bob’s bedside and pulled out his stethoscope. He listened long and hard for a heartbeat and heard nothing. He put his stethoscope away, jotted down the time of death, and patted Bob’s chest. “See you in the afterlife, you disgusting excuse for a human being.”

***

Ranger Bullock arrived at the trails right on time for his morning shift. He pulled his jeep over to one side of his station and began the trek up the trails towards the cliff. When he arrived at the flat rock beyond one of the running trails, he peered down to check on Hugo Morrisey. He didn’t see his body, but did notice that one side of the pit wall had been disturbed. He grimaced and surveyed the perimeter. Rounding the cliff, he moved further back into the woods. He noticed deep drag marks through some underbrush and wondered if the wolves had gotten to Morrissey in the pit and dragged him into the deep woods. As he walked further, he began noticing random human bones strewn here and there. He grinned. Although he didn’t find Hugo’s actual remains, he assumed his job was complete. If Nazar asked him about Hugo, he would say that the problem was solved.

***

Myrna entered the bakery winded. She had rushed to the interview from the hospital. She was grateful to see the owner had just come from the back of the store, and was carrying two steaming cups of coffee. Sophia smiled at her and asked, “Are you Myrna?”

Myrna ran her hands down the front of her dress to wipe her sweaty palms and smiled back. “I am. I apologize if I’m late, but I had to visit my husband at the hospital.”

Sophia escorted her to one of the small tables and placed their drinks down. “Oh my, is he all right?”

Myrna sat down and sipped the coffee. She shook her head as she put the mug down. “Nope, he’s dead.” She immediately regretted her words and cold attitude, so she began explaining herself. She found Sophia such an easy conversationalist that she had to force herself to stop from babbling on for hours. Sophia took it well and supported her efforts to become independent.

They had a bit of fun and discussed how the interior of the bakery would be decorated. Myrna pointed to the windows. “I have a bolt of gorgeous plaid print at home that would suit the storefront perfectly. I’m also a seamstress, so I could make some valances for you.”

Sophia became excited, raced around the open floor plan, and extended her arms wide. “How about matching tablecloths if you have enough fabric?”

Myrna clapped her hands together and instantly agreed. She reached into her purse, took out a measuring tape, and took the measurements of what she needed to sew for Sophia. They then worked out the details of her schedule, and Myrna was shocked to find she was hired on the spot.

She then asked about a uniform; she needed to know how to dress for her new job. Sophia informed her she had some uniform shirts at home and would bring them by the following morning. The two women chattered on endlessly as Myrna informed Sophia of the best places to buy fresh produce. Sophia instantly felt she had made her first friend in the small town of Cold Hollow and was delighted. After locking up the bakery, the two women went their separate ways.

Myrna did not go straight home. She had taken some of the money she’d saved and went to the pharmacy, where she was finally able to buy some new makeup and nail polish. She scoured the place for cream to fade her multiple scars and obtained a good skin lotion. The pharmacist, Jack, assisted her with everything.

She then went to the clothing store and bought a few pairs of jeans that fit her slender frame, along with a comfortable pair of sneakers. She passed by a gorgeous silk top and frowned upon seeing the price, but smiled when she thought of the money she could now earn on her own.

Her eyes lit up when she remembered the life insurance policy she had taken out on Bob a long time ago. It was right after he had nearly beaten her to death. He had signed it one night when he was blind drunk. He thought the policy was in case of her death. She had kept it in a lockbox at their home. She would contact the insurance company just as soon as she had her hands on the death certificate from the hospital.

The policy itself would keep her comfortable for years to come, but she would be smart with the money. She liked the idea of working and supporting herself. She liked it a lot.

***

Angus laughed as his wife went on and on about her encounter with Myrna Bradbury and all she had learned about the town.

He smiled at her from the table where they had been eating lunch with the children. “You seem to like her. You talk about her as if she is a partner. Are you thinking of changing the name of the bakery?” Sophia laughed and nudged his shoulder as she went to the kitchen to get some refills.

The uniform shirts were already embroidered with the name “Sophia’s.” She hated to waste money, so she would just leave the bakery’s name alone.

Layla asked, “Why not invite her here for supper tomorrow after you guys are done working? Dad is keeping us busy all day with signing up for school in the fall and then on the trails tomorrow, so we’d look forward to meeting her when we’re done.”

Sophia glanced at Liam, who was smiling, and then looked at Angus. He gave a nod and a wink. “I would love to meet her. Does she have any children?”

Sophia’s expression turned sad. “No, the poor thing, and her husband just died from a horrible accident. From what she told me, I got the impression that he was an abusive man and his death just may have saved her life.” Then she smiled. “I think it’s just what she needs. She needs to meet new people and feel a sense of family.” She turned to her daughter. “That was a nice thing to recommend to me, honey.”

Layla batted her eyelashes and said, “That’s me, Mom. I’m all sweetness and light.” It took mere seconds before her parents laughed at that statement.