Otter Under Fire (32 page)

“He took some serious chances,” Joel said. “Anything could have happened.”

“But that was Clark,” Otter and Greg said together.

“He didn’t care about cause and effect. If he had a plan, he would implement it—practical or not.” Otter said.

“This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of.” Joel said.

“You know, I’ve said that about Clark’s schemes before,” Otter said, “So tell me Greg, was he really blackmailing you for passwords?”

“Absolutely, but I didn’t give them to him, just like I told you.”

“In case you’re wondering, I’m seriously pissed about the whole thing,” Otter said as she and Joel got back into the car.

“You don’t act like it.”

“I was manipulated by an idiot and my life was nearly forfeit,” Otter said. “Yes, I’m pissed off.”

“So what are you going to do about it?”

“As much as I can do legally, and after that we’ll see. I’ll have to testify if there’s a trial, I’m sure.”

“Yes you will, but what would you like to do right now?”

“There are probably a bunch of people at my house,” Otter said dreamily, “I’m going to go home and immerse myself in their goodwill.”

“Sounds nice, am I invited?”

“If you want to come, of course you are.”

They all rode by horseback to the top of South Mountain and watched the lunar eclipse as Phoenix glittered at their feet. As the “blood moon” evolved Uncle Leonard passed around high powered binoculars for everyone to get a chance to see it up close, while he took picture after picture.

The horses belonged to Susan’s dad, Jay; he had a stable at the base of the mountain. The night rides were something Otter liked to do every few months and she took along a bunch of her friends when she could. On that particular night she had Joel, her aunt and uncle, Susan and her husband, Tempest and last but not least the soda delivery guy. He had been changing the tanks when everyone decided to go, and it never hurt to be extra nice to the soda delivery guy.

When they got back to Otter’s house, Uncle Leonard served up dinner while Aunt Carole fussed over Otter.

“I never heard of anything so careless!” She fumed as Otter told the story.

“I knew those spiders would come in handy,” Leonard said proudly.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” Otter said. “I can go back to not looking over my shoulder every day.”

“Does that mean you don’t want to solve any more mysteries?” Joel asked innocently.

“Not like this one. I could go the rest of my life not having to do this again.”

“But Otter, if you’re involved with me, you’ll probably get involved in mysteries from time to time.”

They smiled at each other and there was much humming speculation in the room.

A black Mercedes sedan pulled up alongside a green plot of land under a mesquite tree. A small gun metal colored sports car parked behind it. A tall figure dressed in a suit and holding flowers got out of the driver’s side of the Mercedes and a smaller figure in a dress, also carrying flowers got out of the passenger side of the sports car. As one, they walked together to a simple marker in the ground.

“They’re going to dig him up tomorrow,” Michael said. He put his flowers on the marker. “His family is going to give him a proper funeral and a burial in consecrated ground.”

“Tonya was kind enough to call me yesterday and tell me. She said the family wants to thank us for finding out what really happened.”

“You still think he provoked them into killing him?”

“Yes, but we can’t prove it and Mitch will never tell. It doesn’t matter anyway, in the eyes of the law he was murdered.”

“And in the eyes of his family, he belongs in the family plot.”

“Schemer to the end,” Otter said.

“He will always and forever try to get involved where he shouldn’t.”

“We got them Clark,” Otter addressed the marker. “We figured out your clues and we caught the assholes that killed you.”

“Rest easy, Clark,” Michael said, he bowed his head in a small silent prayer and made the sign of the cross.

“I wish you were alive right now, so I could kick your ass, Clark McCartney.” Otter said.

“Mackenzie,” Michael said in shock, “what are you doing?”

“Before he goes on to his eternal rest, he needs to know what a pain in the ass he’s been. He almost got me killed and could have ruined your business.”

Michael sighed, “True enough, but your bruises are healing quite nicely.”

“If he had gone to you or told one of us, or even gone to the police with what he had suspected, his arrogant superior ass would probably still be alive. I wouldn’t have had to get the bejesus knocked out of me. It’s even possible they would have kept him alive longer than he thought, but instead…”

“But that was Clark,” Michael said, “And he paid with his life for his arrogance.”

“Yeah, I know,” Otter said, “But I wanted him to know that I didn’t care for the crap he sent my way.
Jerk
.”

“Just think how amused he would be over what happened to Ron Defray,” Michael said with an uncharacteristic twinkle in his eye.

Otter had to laugh. She put the flowers on his headstone.

“Rest in peace, Clark,” Otter said softly, “And don’t overwhelm the Almighty with too many forms.” This got a snort from Michael.

Jeremy walked up to join them, also carrying a bouquet of flowers. Michael and Otter stood silently as Jeremy put his flowers on the grave and bowed his head.

“I’m starting college for winter term,” Jeremy said as they walked back to their vehicles. “I’ll be able to go to school on the proceeds from my software.”

“That’s great news,” Michael said, “I’m glad to know that Clark kept his word to you.”

“I knew he would,” Jeremy said simply, “And I appreciate everything you did to see it was made right,” he said to Otter. He shook their hands, got into his car and left.

“I think you’ve convalesced enough,” Michael said, putting on his sun glasses. Behind the darkened windows of the Mercedes, Mackenzie waved to her. “I expect you back at work on Monday. Before he was arrested and his sister tried to kill you, Mitch hired you an assistant.”

“I’ll bet you don’t get to say that very often.”

Michael grinned. “I’ll see you on Monday.” He opened his car door, “You did notice that I made your job a management position.”

“Yeah, I noticed that.” Otter held her breath.

“But I think I’m going to change that around a bit. I’d like the idea of your position and schedule to be a lot more flexible so you can do special projects as needed. I still want you to be on the management team and continue to coordinate all the departments on the floor.”

“I hope that solving murders won’t be an official part of my job description.”

“I’d like to have you doing the scheduling and overseeing the floor the way you were, but you definitely can be quite creative. Hopefully solving a murder won’t come up again, but it’s nice knowing I have someone who can.” He smiled at her again. “You’ll have the authority, but not the terrible hours you had before.” He glanced over at the silver sports car and grinned. “And you deserve a social life.”

“And Ron Defray will be production manager for a second time?”

“Yes, and he really will have to work with you. It should be interesting.”

“Thank you.”

“Least I could do.” Michael got into his car. “See you Monday.”

He closed the car door and drove away.

“So what did your boss say?” Joel asked as Otter got in the passenger seat.

“He’s ready for me to come back to work.” Otter said. “He gave me a promotion and some extra perks.”

“Well, you deserve them.” He started the car and looked over at her.

“Did he apologize?”

“For what? Nothing that happened is his fault.”

“I would think he’d say or do something.”

“He did, he gave me a very privileged position.”

“I guess he did. As long as you’re happy, then I’m good.”

“Yeah, I’m ok with everything and now your mystery is solved.”

“There will be other mysteries,” He said, “And I need to get my office properly set up. I haven’t had time lately.”

“So what is it that you do, exactly?”

“I guess the best way to describe it is to say we’re finders. We do freelance finding.”

“Not much of a description.”

“On the contrary, it leaves it open to interpretation.”

“You and the merry men are finders.”

“So I just said.”

“Hmm.”

“So heroine of the hour, what would you like to do?”

“Well, I have a list.”

“Of course, you do.”

“I think I should go to Michigan. I want to go to Otisville and meet Marvin’s family. I think it’s important that they know what really happened to him.”

“Whenever you want to go, Troy will get us tickets.”

“There are a few small towns there. Otisville was where Marvin was killed and Columbiaville where Mitch was from.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“There’s a third town there I have to go see. I want my picture next to the town sign.”

“Oh really, why is that?”

“It’s called Otter Lake.”

Joel laughed. “Then of course, you must go there. We’ll blow the picture up into a poster and put it in your office.”

“I’ll put it next to my periodic table.”

“Perfect place for it,”

“I need to put the finishing touches on the solar heater for the pool, I promised Susan and Tempest it would be heated this winter.”

“Now that is a noble cause,” Joel said, “swimming in a heated pool is what living in Phoenix is all about.”

“I always thought so,” she said, putting on her seat belt, “and while I’m engaged in this noble endeavor, you can tell me a story while you help with the heavy lifting.”

“What kind of story would you like my lady?”

“Well, I’d like to hear how you knew my late husband and why you would dedicate a veteran’s community center to him.”

“Are you sure you’re not really a detective?’

“Pretty sure.”

“How much trouble am I in?”

“Depends on what you have to say.”

“How do you figure this stuff out? Do you have some kind of special search engine?”

“That would be telling.”

“It’s a really long story with a lot of footnotes and cross references.”

“Then you’d better get started.”

Jabberwocky

By Lewis Carroll

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand;

Long time the manxome foe he sought—

So rested he by the Tumtum tree

And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?

Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.