Fogbound: A Lin Hanna Mystery (16 page)

“I find this
hard to fathom,” Sue remarked,
 
“but
the only other folks who might have an ax to grind here are the Hinson’s.
 
Not so much against us, but possibly
against Ellie.
 
After all, her
testimony resulted in their being stuck with the care of Eustace.
 
They’d have no reason to know she’d left
town afterward, but that said, I don’t know how they knew where she’d been
staying.”

Sue’s comment
led to Lin’s thinking about their encounter with Eustace on Sunday and she told
Winkler about their meeting, about him “ordering” them off his property. “We didn’t
think it was significant enough to report at the time,” she offered.
 
“After all, he was unarmed and he didn’t
even try to follow us.
 
We
considered it simply a result of his dementia.
 
He must’ve thought he was at home and we
were trespassing.”

Dave Winkler
was not so dismissive of their account. “That place where you encountered
Eustace is nowhere close to the Hinson’s homeplace.
 
Either he drove there, and he shouldn’t
be driving, or someone else was with him.
 
In any case, it’s possible someone followed you back here without your
knowing, or perhaps they got the information from someone at the law
enforcement center.
 
I know we had
the address when Ellie was staying here.
 
It’s probably known that she was with you ladies, at least by
someone.
 
Such information isn’t
supposed to be given out but…it does happen sometimes. I’ll pay the Hinson’s a
visit and let you know what I learn.
 
If nothing else, they need to supervise Eustace more closely—if
he’s driving or wandering about on his own.”

Everyone was
momentarily quiet as they sat around the table thinking about what had
happened.
 
Finally, Sue said, “I
have some other thoughts, I think we should consider.
 
It may be far-fetched but please hear me
out.
 
I think there may be a killer
in this area who has been operating on the Parkway off and on during the past
few years, someone other than Eustace Hinson or Stefan Kovich.
 
I’ve been doing some research—at
the newspaper and the library—maybe I’ve stirred up something here.”

Dave Winkler
shook his head in disbelief. “I’m not sure I follow you, but go ahead tell me
what you’re thinking.”

Sue excused
herself for a moment and went downstairs to get her notes.
 
Lin cleared away the remains of their
pizza to make more room at the table.
 
When Sue returned, she spread her file on the table.

Winkler
listened respectfully as Sue reviewed her findings about the crimes she’d
researched, especially those still classified as unsolved cold cases.
 
She also talked about her impression
that the Sandy Hill case didn’t fit the pattern of the person thought to be
responsible for her death.
 
She was
careful to stick to the facts but she pointed out similarities in location and
manner of death.
 
Finally, she
concluded by reviewing what had happened to Peter Dunne and Ellie Clark.
 
Throughout all of this, Dave Winkler
listened but his demeanor indicated he wasn’t convinced.

“The things
you’ve pointed out may be true Ms. Gray,” the deputy responded, “but I’m afraid
those elements don’t really prove anything.
 
I’ve worked on all of these cold cases
from time to time—the three that are still considered open, that is, and
I can tell you that we have found not one shred of concrete physical evidence
that connects them either to each other or would connect them to our recent
case.
 
I know your findings are
interesting, and your thoughts would probably make a good book, but that hardly
works to prove anything in an actual investigation.”

“But perhaps
you could find such connections if you looked at these cases again with a fresh
lens.
 
What would you have to lose?
 
If there are connections and this killer
is still around here, the knowledge that someone, namely me, has been looking
for information could’ve gotten back to that person.
 
Maybe that explains our vandalism
tonight and the earlier threat.”
 
Sue was being polite and calm, but she wasn’t going to drop the issue.

“We are always
looking for new approaches and new evidence in our cold cases,” Deputy Winkler
seemed somewhat offended. “I can assure you of that, but I can also assure you
that our time would be better spent on our current investigations just
now.”
 
With that Winkler rose to
leave, “Thank you for the pizza ladies.
 
I’ll let you know what I learn when I talk to the Hinsons.”

After he’d
gone, Lin turned to her friend. “Do you think he was offended by your
suggestions?”

“I think maybe,
but I really don’t care,” Sue asserted. “I may just be a reporter, but I’ve
been combing over every fact I can find in press accounts and other public
records.
 
I’m convinced that
connections do exist, at least in some of these cases, and I fully intend to
keep looking for more information.
 
How about you?
 
You want to
help?”

Lin couldn’t
resist, “When have I ever backed away from looking into a mystery?
 
Of course I’ll help, and maybe we’ll find
some answers as to what’s going on here and now.
 
It looks like Kovich is out of the
picture.
 
I’m sure he’s guilty of
harassing Ellie, but everything else we’ve thought he might be guilty of seems
to be a dead end.
 
It’s a moot point
anyway, if he’s going to be deported.
 
Right now his immigration status seems to be the top case against him;
everything else seems to be circumstantial. ”

Sue nodded her
agreement, “ He definitely wasn’t the shooter tonight, and most likely it
wasn’t him that left the threat earlier.
 
We don’t know who it was.
 
What I do know is that someone out there sees our being here as a
problem and our only possible connections would be our involvement with Ellie
Clark or my involvement in researching these cold cases.
 
Right now, these cases seem to me to be
the best place to start to look for some answers.”

It was about
four-thirty on Sunday afternoon when Lin pulled into a space in the parking
garage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
 
Neal’s plane was due in about half an
hour so she hurried inside to check the arrivals board.
 
Flight 210 from Phoenix was listed as on
time.
 
Neal had told her to wait for
him in the baggage claim area, but Lin hurried instead toward the end of the B
concourse and found a seat where she could observe all arriving passengers
before they went downstairs to claim their luggage.
 
She was fairly tingling with
anticipation and excitement, but this time she was definitely not experiencing
a panicky sensation.
 
This was pure
joy and excitement over seeing Neal again.

She’d awakened
early that morning and arrived at her Lake Norman condo by ten.
 
The place didn’t look as disheveled as
she’d feared it might, but she’d devoted a couple of hours to straightening
things up, changing linens, doing a bit of basic cleaning.
 
That accomplished, she’d paid a visit to
the local Harris Teeter where she purchased a couple of nice steaks and two
bottles of their favorite wines.
 
Adding salad ingredients, fresh bread, and a cheesecake for dessert gave
her a first class welcome dinner.
 
She’d even cleaned the gas grill on her expansive balcony so it would be
ready for cooking.
 
When she was
satisfied that all was in readiness for her “surprise” evening at home, she’d
taken a short nap.
 
Now, rested and
energized, all she had to do was wait for Neal to arrive.

She didn’t have
to wait long.
 
Soon she saw her
handsome professor walking down the concourse at a brisk pace.
 
He was more tanned that he’d been the
last time she’d seen him—the result of doing fieldwork in the desert
sun.
 
He wore a soft blue shirt that
matched his eyes and a pair of well-worn jeans.
 
He carried a light brown rain jacket and
had a dark green backpack slung over one shoulder.
 
Lin took the sight in as if she were
seeing him for the first time.
 
He’d
not yet spotted her, his eyes fixed on the ceiling signs checking the direction
to baggage claim no doubt.

Lin took
advantage of his temporary distraction to slip forward into the oncoming stream
of arriving passengers.
 
She managed
to get within a few feet and slipped in beside him before he spotted her.
 
Grasping his arm, she pushed him gently
toward the edge of the crowd.
 
“This
way sir.” He jerked in recognition.

“Lin, where did
you come from? I thought we were meeting downstairs,” he grinned as she pulled
him from the crowd toward the wall.

“And you
weren’t paying attention.
 
I wanted
to surprise you.”

She slipped her
arms around him and pulled him close.
 
He let the jacket and backpack slip to the floor and grabbed her in a
huge bear hug, almost lifting her off her feet.
 
He grasped her chin, turning her face up
to his and kissed her hard.

“You, my dear
are a sight for sore, lonely eyes,” he smiled at her and kissed her again, this
time more gently but with a deep longing.

“I’ve missed
you too,” Lin responded. “Now grab this stuff and let’s get down to baggage and
get your things.
 
You probably have
a lot of stuff if you’re planning to be here a couple of months.”

“I must
confess,” I do have two fairly large bags, but I did try to take into account
the fact that the weather in the mountains sounds like it’s fairly
changeable—at least to hear you talk.
 
I wanted to be prepared.
 
One good thing though, everything I need
for overnight is in this backpack so the luggage can stay in the car until we
get to Blowing Rock tomorrow.
 
Then
I will need one of the bags.”

They made their
way to the carrousel and waited for the bags to arrive.
 

“Now, tell me
where we’re spending the night.
 
You
said you were going to surprise me but…” Lin interrupted him before he could
try to guess their destination.

“We are going
home,” she smiled. “Home to Lake Norman where we’re going to grill some steaks,
have some wine, and…”

“Hit the
sack—early, of course.
 
I’ve
had a long travel day,” there was a twinkle in Neal’s eye as he spoke.

“Not too hard a
day, I hope,” Lin teased. “Early to bed is a good idea, but I have plans that
don’t involve sleeping.”

Neal didn’t say
a word.
 
He just put his arm around
her and gave her a squeeze. His message was clear.

***

By eight-thirty
they were seated on the balcony relaxing together in Lin’s oversized lounge
enjoying the late summer sunset that was dappling the somewhat choppy surface
of the lake with gold and pink flecks.
 
Neal had grilled their steaks to perfection while Lin made the salad and
browned the bread.
 
“That cheesecake
was superior,” Neal said, “must’ve taken a long time to make.”

“For the bakers
at Harris-Teeter maybe,” Lin confessed. “I’m not much of a pastry chef.”

“Really now, I
guess I may have to give you lessons or else do all the baking myself once
we’re married,” Neal grinned.

“I’ll admit,
you’re a better cook than I am.
 
Guess I’ve specialized in hot dogs, hamburgers, mac and cheese, and
other kid-friendly dishes too long.”

“There’s always
hope,” Neal continued, “I’m said to be a good teacher—at least in certain
areas.”

Lin raised her
eyebrows, “You don’t say—professor. And just what might your specialty
be?”

Neal pulled her
closer, enveloping her in a warm embrace and kissing her with eagerness.
 
She felt his hand moving up the front of
her shirt, undoing the buttons as he went.

“I think we’d
best go inside,” Lin murmured, “I’m not prepared to provide a show for the
neighbors or for those boaters returning from their afternoon on the
lake.”
 
She rose from the lounge,
taking care to hold on to her shirt as she grabbed with one hand for the dishes
they’d left on the balcony table after their meal.

Neal came to
her rescue, “I’ll take care of these.
 
You go on in and get ready for that early bedtime we talked about.”

Lin heard him
humming in the kitchen as he put away food and loaded the dishwasher.
 
She turned down the bed but then had
another idea.
 
She started the water
in the large Jacuzzi tub that was the main luxury found in the master bath.
 
The shower was only a standard size;
however, the tub could easily accommodate two.
 
While the water rose, she added some
fragrant lavender bath salts to the tub and then got undressed.
   
She lit a couple of scented
candles she kept beside the tub and, leaving the door to the bedroom ajar for
Neal, she slipped into the water and turned on the jets.

“What’s this?”
Neal asked as he poked his head through the open door. “No sex in the shower
tonight?”

“This shower is
rather small,” Lin confessed, “but the tub is huge.
 
I thought we’d try something different.”

By then Neal
had disrobed, leaving his clothes on the bedroom floor.
 
He slipped into the tub behind her,
wrapping his long arms around her body and turning her to face him.
 
She slipped onto his lap and into his
embrace thinking how happy she was to finally have him with her again.

***

Lin was
surprised to discover how late it was when she awoke the following
morning.
 
Neal was still sleeping
peacefully beside her.
 
She got up
and started picking up his discarded clothing, hanging it on a nearby chair,
and then collected the damp towels they’d carelessly discarded as they’d moved
from the Jacuzzi to the bed.
 
She’d
just dumped them in the hamper when she heard Neal’s voice.

“Good morning,
Lin,” he smiled at her and patted the pillow beside him. “Come back, I’m not
quite ready to get up yet, are you?”

“No you don’t,”
Lin admonished. “We may want to stay in bed but we can’t.
 
We have an appointment at Mallard Point
Country Club in about half an hour to discuss possibly having the wedding
there.
 
We don’t even have time for
coffee first so get up and get dressed.”

They spent the
remainder of the morning checking out the Country Club and visiting a couple of
spots that might serve as venues for entertaining out of town wedding
guests.
 
They’d even picked up some
information about flowers and invitations from some local businesses.
 
Finally, exhausted and hungry, they
landed at one of Lin’s favorite neighborhood spots for lunch.

By the time
they’d finished eating, they’d agreed on a date and decided that Mallard Point
was such a nice venue that they felt no need to look further.
 
They also decided that the local
businesses would be great for the invitations and flowers.
 
“I can call this week and pin some of
this down,” Lin smiled. “It looks like we might have a wedding in September
after all.
 
Now, what’s next?”

Neal put a stop
to their activities.
 
“We really
need to get back to your place and get ready to head to Blowing Rock.
 
I have dinner reservations for seven at
the resort and we don’t want to be late.”

The drive up
the mountain was uneventful.
 
The
weather was warm and sunny so Neal was spared an introduction to the fog and
mist that could’ve been present.
 
They arrived at Chetola well ahead of their dinnertime and checked into
their room.
 
It was large and well
appointed, decorated in elegant Victorian furnishings. They took a walk around
the lake that was the focal point of the beautiful grounds.

“This feels
like a honeymoon spot,” Lin said as she slipped her arm through Neal’s.

“It would
certainly be beautiful, and we’d have lots of privacy I think,” he replied,
“but I rather thought we might like to travel further afield, maybe have an
adventure.”

“What did you
have in mind?” Lin asked.

“Oh, nothing
specific, yet.
 
But I’ve been
checking into some spots.
 
If you
have any ideas please share.”

“I’ll give it
some thought,” Lin said, “but, for now let’s just enjoy this place and being
with each other.”

“That sounds
like a plan to me,” Neal smiled. “Planting a long, lingering kiss on her
upturned lips.
 
I think we might
just have time for some of that “enjoying each other” before dinner. I vote for
heading back to the room.”

Their dinner
was quite special. Lin was glad she’d packed a nice dress for the occasion.
Neal had gone all out, ordering the wine and a special menu.
 
There were even special flowers on the
table.
 
“What are you celebrating?”
their waiter asked.

“Each other,”
Neal said, “just being together.”

Fortunately,
being together proved to be enough.
 
The beautiful weather of their arrival
day soon deserted them.
 
Tuesday was
rainy and misty.
 
They abandoned
plans to do any sightseeing around town or on the Parkway, instead opting for
massages and saunas at the resort’s spa.
 
Of course, they had lots of time to enjoy their lovely room—that
was certainly not a problem.

***

Wednesday
promised to be a better day.
 
There
were a few lingering showers from the night before, but they began to dissipate
by mid-morning giving way to at least partial sunshine.
 
Lin suggested that they visit Linn Cove
before heading to the house.
 
She
wanted Neal to meet Rachel and see where she was working.

 
“Sue’s working today so we could stop by
Moses Cone Park also.
 
You won’t
believe all the beautiful handcrafted items they have.
 
They may even have someone doing
demonstrations.” Lin was eager to show Neal this beautiful part of the country.

After a
leisurely breakfast they checked out of the resort and headed for the Parkway.
 
By the time they’d driven down to Linn
Cove, the sun was shining brightly.
 
Rachel was talking to some visitors when they arrived so Lin showed Neal
around the exhibits in the center and then took him out on the trail that led
under the viaduct.

“This is
amazing,” Neal said, as he observed the structure of the road. “Imagine
swinging all this out from the mountainside.
 
I’m no engineer but I’m really impressed
with this structure.”
 
After seeing
the viaduct up close, Neal was really interested in examining the exhibits
showing how it was built.
 
Then, of
course, Lin wanted to make sure he met Rachel.
 
It was later than they’d planned by the
time they got to Moses Cone.

Lin told him
how this had been the summer home, an estate really, for a textile magnate and
his family.
 
She pointed out Bass
Lake at the foot of the hill on which the large rambling white home sat.
 
She showed him the stables and pointed out
that there were many miles of carriage roads now available to visitors for
walking and horseback riding.
 
Their
final stop was the house where rooms of gorgeous handmade crafts were displayed
and available for sale.
 
Sue was
working in the bookstore, and, after browsing through the crafts, they stopped
by to speak to her.