High Desert Detective, A Fiona Marlowe Mystery (Fiona Marlowe Mysteries) (8 page)

“It’s a good thing you were driving, Fiona. Scooter said he’d
take my license the next time he caught me.”

Fiona looked at Opal. “You get speeding tickets?”

She grinned. “Sure. Once I got a DUI. But I had hardly anything
to drink. Scooter was feeling mean that day. He can be ornery when he wants.
Smile pretty, and you’ll get off with a warning.”

Scooter appeared at the driver’s window.

“I didn’t recognize the driver of Opal’s fine rig,” he said. “I
thought maybe someone had stolen it, though I couldn’t imagine who would want
it. I see the owner is in the cab with you.”

“Yes, sir, she is. I drove her to town to shop today, and we are
on our way home.”

Opal leaned over and smiled. “Hi, Scooter. This is our new
neighbor. She’s moving into that old bunkhouse.”

“I see. May I see your license? Do you realize you were doing
eighty in a fifty-five mile per hour zone?”

Fiona handed over her license and smiled her brightest. She was
sure she had been doing seventy-five but she didn’t want to argue just yet.

“I see, Miss Marlowe, that you are from out of state and that
your license has expired.”

“What?” said Fiona. “That can’t be possible.”

“It says here it expired last month.”

“I’m sorry officer, but I just got back to the States from
Australia, and I came out here right after and with everything I must have
overlooked the bill for my renewal.”

“I see,” said Officer Brown. “I’m sorry I’m going to have to give
you a ticket. We don’t like people driving on our roads without a proper
license, and you were travelling twenty-five miles over the speed limit.”

“Twenty,” she said.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Officer, sir, I was only going seventy-five, I looked at the
speedometer when I saw you in my rearview mirror. It said seventy-five.”

Opal piped up. “Sorry about that Scooter. My speedometer might be
a little off. That’s my fault. She didn’t know.”

Scooter squinted up at Opal. “I’ve warned you about that before,
Opal.”

“Yes, you have. But I’ve been busy with the ranch and all, and I
haven’t gotten a chance to get around to it.”

Officer Brown pulled out an electronic device and started
punching.

“Opal, you need to get the speedometer fixed. And you, Miss
Marlowe, are going to have to pay a fine for having an expired license and for
speeding.”

Fiona and Opal sat in silence while he finished. The little
machine spit out two skinny pieces of paper. He handed them to Fiona and
touched his hat.

“Ladies, have yourselves a great evening.”

This was a day spoiler as far as Fiona was concerned. She wasn’t
sure how many more speeding tickets she could afford. Officer Brown turned to
go then paused and turned back.

“You’re the lady found the skeleton in the hot springs, aren’t
you?”

Fiona frowned. Was she going to get another ticket for that? She
wasn’t sure how much she wanted to say.

“She sure is,” Opal said, solving the problem.

“I heard the diver pulled up more bones than fit one skeleton.”

“Where’d you hear that?” Fiona asked. She couldn’t help but be
interested.

“I heard it on the police radio while I was waiting for
speeders.”

“Did they say anything else?”

“It’ll take them a few days to thoroughly search the site. Sheriff
Hoover said he thought you have impressive detective skills.”

“He said that on the police radio? He has an inflated view of my
abilities.”

“I talked to him last night. We keep in touch. He won’t be
pleased to hear you are a speeder though. We don’t like speeders on these
roads. They’re dangerous.”

Fiona was not about to say she hadn’t seen many people observing
the speed limit here and why was he picking on her.

“Thank you for the information, Officer. We appreciate being kept
up to date on the latest development on the hot springs bones,” she said.

Officer Brown tipped his cap.
“My pleasure.
Every little detail might help solve the case.”

They watched him get back in his car. Fiona wondered if she were
part of the investigating team. She couldn’t imagine the standard issue law
enforcement officer wanting a rookie on their team. But then she was starting
to learn that not much was standard issue out here.

She started the engine, deciding to have two glasses of wine if
she ever made it home. The engine coughed, sputtered and died. She cranked it
again. It wouldn’t catch.

“Old Faithful does this sometimes,” Opal said. “Wait a little bit
and try again.
Might be a little dirt in the fuel filter.”

“What else can go wrong today?” Fiona asked.

“Don’t worry. We’ll get her going any minute.”

Fiona tried again, but the old motor didn’t fire although it
sounded like it wanted to. Officer Brown was waiting for them to leave. He got
out of the car and came back to their truck.

“What seems to be the trouble?” he asked.
“The
usual?”

Opal said, “Might be the carburetor this time.”

“Pop the hood,” he said. “This isn’t the first time I’ve had to
look under the hood of this old rig.”

“Try it again,” he said.

Fiona compiled. It caught but she had to keep gunning it to keep
it going.

Officer Brown slammed the hood.

“You need to have it looked at when you get home. I’ll follow you
to the turn off to the ranch.”

The little caravan moved on down the highway, Officer Brown
bringing up the rear, Old Faithful bucking her way home. When they made it to
the turn off, Officer Brown flashed his lights and kept on going. As luck would
have it, Old Faithful made it halfway along the dirt road to the ranch and then
quit on them for good. No amount of cranking, swearing, and waiting helped.

“It’s not far to walk,” said Opal. “The evening is cooling down.
We’ll be back at the ranch in no time.”

Fiona slammed the door of the truck after she spilled out of the
seat. She had been here less than a week, and she had already had more
adventure than she needed.

“We’ll get the rest of the stuff in the morning,” Opal said. “A
walk will do us good. It’s a lovely evening. We could call Jake but there’s no
cell signal here. I’ve tried before.”

Fiona sighed and fell in beside Opal. Someone gave a wolf whistle,
and she turned around, looking to see who it was.

“Did you hear that?” asked Fiona.

Opal laughed. “That’s only a meadowlark, not one of your many
admirers. Meadowlarks do that to confuse us. They have many sweet songs to
sing.” She pointed to the offender who flew to a stand of greasewood.

Fiona stopped and watched him fly away into the sun that was
setting over the ridge to the west.
 
It
would take a bottle of wine to calm her down tonight.

Four

Jake was enjoying an end-of-the-working-day whiskey on the porch
of the ranch house when he saw two figures walk up over the rise in the
distance. He went inside to fetch the binoculars. It was Opal and Fiona. Fiona
looked put out. Opal was talking and gesturing with her arms. He drove out in
the truck to give them a ride.

“Out for an evening stroll, ladies?” he said, as he pulled
alongside and stopped. “You look like you could use a ride, Fiona.”

She stopped and shoved her hand on her hips. “Old Faithful let us
down.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” he said. “Hop in.”

Fiona helped Opal into the front, and she got in back of the extended
cab Ford 350.

“I was telling her funny stories, but she didn’t laugh much,”
said Opal.

“I guess I’m tired. It’s been a long day,” said Fiona.

“You hear the latest?” Jake asked, looking at her in the rear
view mirror.

“About more bones in the spring?” asked
Fiona.

“You’ve heard.”

“Scooter Brown told us,” said Opal.

“Don’t tell me Scooter got you, Fiona,” said Jake, laughing.

“I don’t think it’s very funny getting one ticket, let alone two.”

Opal said, “He was waiting for us, and I forgot to warn Fiona
about that spot he favors. He gave her a speeding ticket and another for her expired
license.”

“You don’t have to say it with such glee,” said Fiona. “I could
lose my license.”

“So this isn’t your first offense,” said Jake.

“Not exactly.”

“Maybe you should get an Oregon License.”

“I’m afraid to. They’ll search my record and probably require a
written exam. I’m not sure I’d pass the test.”

“I’ll be your driver and squire you around where you need to go.”

“Thank you for your generous offer, but I like the freedom of
driving my own vehicle.”

“How did it go here today?” Opal asked.

“We are short a few head in the west herd. We’re checking it out.
They may be out where we can’t see them.”

“Don’t tell me. With Cody in jail I thought that would stop the
cattle rustling.”

Jake shook his head. “We may have a new crop of thieves.”

She sighed. “It’s always something.”
 

“Lately it seems to be,” said Jake. “Here we are, gals. Watch your
step. You need help out, Fiona?”

“No, thanks. I got two good but hurting feet.”

“I’ll put out some cold cuts for supper,” said Opal, heading for
the house. “I made some fresh
cole
slaw today. Come
in when you’re ready.”

“I’ll get Fiona a bottle of wine. You look like you need it,”
Jake said. “Have a seat on the porch. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Jake found a bottle of red wine and two glasses, thinking he
might have a sip himself. Fiona was in a bad mood but after a little wine and a
rest she’d be okay. He hoped she wasn’t thinking of leaving.

He poured her a healthy glass and one for himself and sat by her
on the love seat made of finished juniper. Opal had put on nice cushions that
made it a real comfortable sit. He held his glass up for a toast.

“Here’s to a better day tomorrow,” he said.

 
“Thanks, Jake. You’re very
kind. Give me a minute to unwind, and I’ll be fine. The wine helps. I’m sorry
to hear you lost more cattle.”

“There’s another mystery for you to solve.” Maybe if she had
enough mysteries to solve she wouldn’t leave.

They sat in silence and watched the sky change from deep rose to
dark violet. A small flock of sparrows skittered around in the trees. The old
black rooster crowed from his favorite perch on the corral fence. Evening was
settling,
and they with it. The usual cool down set in, and
a breeze ruffled the grass that stretched through the fields in front.

Since Fiona wasn’t offering any small talk, Jake ventured a
question. “Did you find anything to buy today?”

She took a long sip from her glass. “We spent most of our time
talking to everyone in town. We picked up the tools you ordered. They are in
the back of the truck. I ordered furniture at Lauren Brooks’ store.”

Jake laughed. “It’s a big social event going to town in a
community this small.” He looked at her. She didn’t join in the laugh. “This is
a totally different way of life out here. You’re not used to it.”

She stirred. “What did you say? I was thinking about bones and
cattle rustling.”

“I said you aren’t used to the life style here.”

She shrugged. “It is different. I have to say things are not
turning out as I envisioned. I thought I’d arrive, have some redesigning to do,
meet some interesting people, see some pretty vistas, you know the usual
pie-in-the sky dreams.”

“Do you ever think you’d get used to it?”

She finally smiled. “After less than a week it is hard to tell. Have
you noticed that when we get together, dead things turn up?”

“No, I haven’t. The stars shine brighter when you’re around. I
don’t think about dead things.”

She leaned toward him and smiled that soft, sexy smile. “I’m glad
I have some influence on the stars.”

He put his arm around her shoulder, and she leaned against him. They
listened to the evening. A pack of coyotes yipped their way from one ridge to
another. A cow bawled for her calf. The breeze played a soft lullaby.

She said, “What do you know about Brewster, the guy that was here
this morning about painting the bunk house.”

“Brewster? You mean Jim Brewster? You’re using him to paint?”

“Yes, why not?”

Jake shrugged. “I guess that’s okay. I don’t know much about
painting so I couldn’t say. I don’t know him that well. He seems a little flaky
to me.”

“He’s a bit touchy but artist types can be. Anyway, he found me
at the furniture store and told me this odd story about a lady friend of his
who was supposed to visit him and never made it and that I was supposed to tell
the Sheriff because they had some run ins, and then he stalked off without
telling me anything else. Do you think I should mention it to Hoover?”

“Brewster is weird enough that what he says may not be the whole
truth. You could mention it, though it probably won’t lead to anything.”

“Brewster might have killed this lady friend, put her bones in an
old shirt and jeans, dumped her in the hot springs for safe keeping, but then
feels remorse and tells me but not the Sheriff.”

Jake glanced her way. “Fiona, you sure do have an imagination. I
think it’s getting away from you again.”

“It’s not imagination as much as my mind building plausible
theories as to why human beings do strange things. We found bones in an odd
location, and no one is missing them.”

“I wouldn’t know. I’m not much of detective.”

“We were a pretty good team when we were trying to find out what
happened to Albert Lodge.”

“I was in over my head and knew it. You didn’t.”

“But we solved the case. Why would Officer Brown tell me that
about too many bones? Aren’t law enforcement types rather secretive about an
investigation? They don’t want amateurs mucking things up.”