“To watch Jacob and Calvin when the land is declared mine and I tell them my plans to develop it. All they will be able to do is watch this time.”

  “Unlike the last time,” Susan said as she tilted her head and stared at him. She continued before he said anything. “Is that what you're trying to say?”

  “Yeah, they convinced Jenny to withdraw the request to have the lake subdivided. Naturally she never did anything that went against either of their wishes.”

  “When are you going to tell them?” Susan asked, curious when this was all supposed to take place.

  “Monday, after it's declared mine.”

  “Maybe I'll come. It might prove interesting to see how they all take it.”

  Peter left shortly after that. Once the door was shut, Susan set the latch and then walked over to the fire. She picked up a small birch log and put it on the glowing embers. Then Susan slowly walked up the stairs. She no longer wanted to read. After the lights were out, Susan sat in the darkness and watched the moon dance off the lake. Susan understood now why Calvin did not want it developed, and it had nothing to do with the mineshafts. If people moved into the area, the serene beauty of the lake would be lost forever.

  CHAPTER 17

  When Sunday morning came, Susan and Sasha climbed into the BMW and retraced Loni's trip through Collinville County. Susan drove down the other two rustic roads, stopping where Loni stopped, comparing the photos with what she saw. Susan parked along a stream and sat there the better part of the day. She had an unsettling feeling she was just wasting her time. The last road Loni was on was Mulberry Pass. The last picture on the roll of film was of Calvin's Land Rover. The unnerving feeling he was involved in Loni's disappearance never left her.

  When sunset befell the land, she drove back up to the lake. Peter's place was shrouded in darkness as she drove by. Susan did not venture beyond the A-frame, and did not know if Calvin was home or at his parents. She did not care either. All she wanted was to be alone. She quickly walked into the A-frame, careful not to turn on any lights. Susan climbed the spiral staircase to the loft and readied herself for bed.

  The moon radiated through the wide expanse of windows, it gave an ominous glow to the A-frame ceiling. Sasha stirred at her feet and with every sound outside, Susan's heart pounded. Even the creaking noise of the spiral staircase sounded like someone approaching. Susan's heart raced. She waited while staring into the darkness. When she glanced down at Sasha and saw her sleeping soundly, Susan realized her mind was playing tricks on her.

  Slowly Susan leaned forward and then balanced on her elbow, gazing sleepily out over the railing across the lake. The moon sparkled off the calm waters in the silent reflections of night. She was still haunted by the photo that lay on the dresser, the vision of the Land Rover rounding the curve while dwarfed by the overhanging trees. Susan wondered how it was all connected to Loni.

  Susan lay back on the pillow, her eyes grew heavy, and within minutes there was no unpleasantness to trouble her. Only the memory of being in Calvin's arms, how secure she felt when he was near, and the single rose given to her days earlier that touched her heart so dearly.

  * * *

  “Sasha, stop it,” Susan said, as she brushed the small furry animal away from her face. There was no letup as Sasha tugged at the covers until finally Susan sat up.

  The aching in her shoulders was a reminder of the restless night she endured. Susan shielded her eyes from the bright sun, but still managed to catch the ripples that marred a perfect reflection as something moved in the water below. Susan quickly scrambled out of bed and stood at the rail. Her heart raced when she realized Calvin was out for a morning swim.

  Grabbing her robe, Susan ran down the stairs and out of the A-frame, with Sasha close at her side. The warm August sun felt good, but the dew-soaked grass sent a chill through her bare feet as she ran to the water’s edge.

  “You're up early,” Susan said, glancing down at her watch.

  Calvin turned quickly. “The water is warm,” he said as he swam over to the dock.

  The lake was like glass and the quiet of the morning air felt soothing as a lonesome loon called in the distance. It was like music in the air. Susan knew once she left, she would miss it all. Even more she would miss Calvin.

  Slowly walking to the end of the dock, Susan knelt down and cupped her hand to feel the water below. It was inviting, and for a moment she wanted to join Calvin, but instead sat and just dangled her feet into the soothing coolness of the lake.

  “Do you always go swimming first thing in the morning?” she asked, swishing her feet around in the water. The water between her toes made her spine tingle and sent chills through her body.

  “Only when I have trouble clearing my head.”

  “You too?” Susan asked, looking down at Calvin.

  “Why, couldn't you sleep?” A grin crossed his face as his eyebrows raised.

  “I kind of missed you yesterday,” she said then smiled.

  “Figured maybe you needed a little space.”

  “Thanks,” Susan replied.

  “So you couldn't sleep last night either,” Calvin grinned.

  “It isn't what you think,” she said looking away.

  After a few moments of silence, Susan turned, looking into the soft hazel eyes that always knew what she was thinking. Calvin watched her intently as the beads of water dripped down his face. He was as handsome as ever and made her weak inside. She did not want to tell him what had troubled her the whole night.

  “You want to talk?” he asked finally.

  “The water feels good,” she said awkwardly, avoiding the subject all together.

  “Didn't you believe me?” Calvin asked.

  “I would like to think I could believe anything you say.”

  “Sounds like we aren't talking about the water.”

  “No, Calvin, I'm not,” Susan said while not taking her eyes off him.

  Calvin reached up, hung onto the dock as he stared into her eyes. Susan quickly turned away, she wanted to forget what it was that was bothering her, but knew she could not. It would always be there to come between them. That gnawing feeling that maybe he was involved.

  “You want to talk about it?”

  Calvin reached over and touched Susan on the arm. His hand was cool to the touch, yet Susan still felt the heat build inside.

  Susan turned to Calvin finally, not knowing how to ask or what to say, and then she quickly took a deep breath.

  “Do you ever go riding on Mulberry Pass?” She sat in silence and waited for him to answer. Susan knew Calvin found humor in what she asked. It was written all over his face, and for a moment she wanted to rephrase it, but did not even try.

  “Are you asking if secretly I'm a rustic roads nut?”

  “No, but do you ever have call to just drive down that road, for whatever reason?”

  Calvin looked up at her for a moment. “You're serious, aren't you?”

  “Just answer me?” Susan said, not wanting to play games with him. She just wanted a straight answer.

  “Not counting last week, I think it's been years. We have a few fields out that way, but I never have call to go through the pass. Now do you want to tell me why the interest?”

  “You remember the film you took out of the camera?” She watched Calvin closely while waiting for him to answer.

  “It's still in the kitchen drawer.”

  “No. It's not,” Susan said as she raised her eyebrows. “I took it in for developing.”

  “So, what's your point?” Calvin asked, and then shrugged his shoulders, not quite understanding what she was getting at.

  “The last picture on the roll was your Land Rover driving down Mulberry Pass.” Susan watched the startled expression cross Calvin's face.

  “What are you saying?” Calvin asked.

  “It was taken about eight days ago.” Susan did not take her eyes off Calvin as she continued, “By my sister. She has not been heard from since.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, there was an article in the Tribune yesterday. Did you know she was on a bike tour of rustic roads? Collinville was one of the counties she planned to tour.”

  “I heard something on the news, but with what happened to Jenny, I really wasn't paying attention.”

  “Calvin, the backpack was my sister’s, and the last picture on that roll you took out of the camera was of the Land Rover. Do you want to explain this to me?”

  Calvin slid back into the water then walked onto shore. As he walked toward Susan on the dock, he appeared deep in thought. “Eight days ago,” Calvin said as he rubbed his chin. “I know Henry used the Land Rover about that time.”

  “Henry,” Susan gasped. She felt a cold chill go through her. “Are you sure?”

  “You doubt me?” Calvin asked.

  “It's just he didn't do anything with the backpack, and I was curious about why?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It's still in his squad, at least it was Saturday.”

  “When did you check his squad?” Calvin asked, laughing when he thought of Susan playing Nancy Drew.

  “After the funeral when I went into town, I stopped off at the police station.”

  “Why did you go there?”

  “I feel like a fool now,” Susan said, lowering her eyes. She could not face him with what she had to say.

  Calvin sat down and then slowly edged next to her while waiting for her to continue. Reaching over, Calvin cupped Susan's chin with his hand and turned her head so he could see her face.

  “You going to tell me what this is all about?” he asked finally.

  “At the funeral, when Peter and I were in your room,” she hesitated for a moment while taking a deep breath. “Peter was going through you drawers.”

  Calvin let go of her chin, and then turned away. “One of these days, I'm going to have it out with him.”

  “He found that story you wrote about throwing Jenny down the shaft.”

  “What, I don't have it, Jenny took it years ago.”

  “Well, it was in your drawer the other day.”

  Calvin whispered as he looked at Susan, “If I had my way, it would have been torn up years ago.”

  “That isn't all we found.”

  “Pray tell, what else?” Calvin shook his head.

  A few moments passed before Susan could get up enough courage to tell him. She feared once he found out, it would be the end of everything. But he had a right to know.

  “The tape that terrorized your mother.”

  “I had nothing to do with that, Peter must have planted it!”

  Susan watched the anger build in Calvin. She knew now Calvin had nothing to do with his mother's torturous suffering.

  “That's what I figured at first, but now I'm not so sure. He was as surprised as I was when we heard it.”

  “What did you do with it?”

  “Turned it over to Henry for fingerprinting.”

  “Why did you do that?”

  “I wanted to prove your prints weren't on it.”

  “Did Peter think I was the one doing that to Mom?”

  “It's hard to say.”

  “It was planted.” Calvin turned to Susan with a pleading look in his eyes.

  “I believe you.” Susan said, but felt guilty for doing what she did.

  Calvin just sat there silently while staring out across the water. He searched the shore on the other side, to the cove where they spent the afternoon, to a time and place that knew no pain.

  “Are you mad at me?” Susan whispered.

  “Let's say, a little disappointed.”

  “I just couldn't tell you. For one thing I knew you and Peter would have it out. Your parents just lost one child. They did not need you in jail on top of everything else.”

  “What did Henry say?”

  “Nothing, really, he was a little surprised I didn't show it to you first.”

  “So am I.”

  “I can't change what I did.” Susan turned her head, no longer able to face him, or the pain she caused by her actions.

  “It makes you think, doesn't it?” Calvin said finally.

  “I know, it bothers me too now. I had a hard time sleeping the last two nights.”

  “Susan, I loved my sister.”

  “I know that, Calvin. If I believed you were involved, I wouldn't be sitting here with you.”

  “Thanks for having some faith.”

  Susan turned to Calvin. “You going to your parents?”

  “Yeah, I have to.”

  “I thought maybe you could come with me to the police station.”

  “About the backpack?”

  “I really should get it cleared up. I'd like to know what Henry did about it.”

  “Why don't you come with me to the farmhouse. We can both go to the police station later.”

  “I don't belong.”

  “It's just a formality, it's no big deal.”

  “Your parents won't like it.”

  “Susan, they won't mind.” Calvin said, and then turned to face her. “Please come.”

  “You talk about me having a problem with the word no.” Susan shook her head while staring at him. “Okay, I'll go. But you promise to come with me later?”

  “I knew you'd change your mind.”

  Susan turned to Calvin, “When are you leaving?” she asked.

  “In a couple of hours. Will that be enough time?”

  “Sure,” Susan said getting up slowly. Then she turned to Calvin. “Aren't you going in?”

  “No, I want to swim a little more.”

  Susan walked back up to the A-frame. The morning air chilled her, and she wondered if Calvin did this often. Somehow she figured Calvin did many things in an unorthodox way, but then why not? She had spent her whole life doing what people expected of her, never doing what she really wanted. It had been a trap she built for herself and now she promised never to fall into its mold again.

  * * *

  They drove down the long winding road in silence. Susan regretted now saying she would come with Calvin to the farmhouse. But yet she was not anxious to confront Henry alone with her concerns about the backpack.

  “Isn't it a little soon after the funeral to have the reading of the will?” Susan asked finally.

  “Not really.”

  “What needs settling? Doesn't Peter just inherit everything?”

  “Yes. He gets to keep everything accumulated during the marriage,” Calvin said.

  “So why the formality?”

  “Everything Peter thinks he owns, he doesn't.”

  “What do you mean?” Susan asked while turning to Calvin. She didn't understand what he meant.

  “Peter will get nothing.”

  Susan swallowed hard and wished they had this conversation earlier. She definitely would have made up some excuse not to be there.

  “The morning should prove interesting,” was all she finally managed to say, then sat back and stared out the window.

  Susan did not want to tell Calvin everything she knew. If Peter indeed owned nothing, then there was no way for him to develop the lake and it would be safe. Susan did not know why she should even care, but for some reason she did.

  When they drove by the Rustic Road sign, Calvin turned to Susan.

  “You don't mind, do you?”

  “What you looking for?” Susan asked.

  “Not sure,” was all Calvin said.

  Susan looked around. “I drove down the other two rustic roads yesterday.”

  “So, that's where you were all day.”

  Susan turned to Calvin. “I needed to think.”

  “Did you see anything?”

  “Not really.”

  Calvin slowed down, and then turned to Susan. “Where did you find the pack?”

  “Watch for the rut the BMW made. It's just down the road from there.”

  Susan was not sure herself where she found it, and only hoped something jarred her memory once they got to the spot. As they drove by the rut in the ditch, she did not say another word. All she did was kept her eyes glued to the passing ground. It would not be too far, that much she was sure.

  “Go slower,” Susan said as her eyes strained for a second. When she saw the familiar site, she motioned for Calvin to stop. “I think this is it.”

  Slowly Calvin got out, followed by Susan. He walked around the car and followed Susan to the edge of the ditch. It did not take her long and she spotted the depression in the dirt where she found the pack.

  “Was there anything else?” Calvin asked, stooping down while brushing away the dirt. He uncovered nothing, though.

  “It was getting late that night. I was anxious to get help so I didn't really look around.”

  Susan watched Calvin as he walked along the ditch. He kicked the leaves and underbrush around as he advanced. It did not take long and the helmet appeared from beneath some rubbish.

  “And to think I almost didn't bother with the pack,” Susan said, staring at the white piece of plastic in Calvin's hand.

  Calvin tossed it at Susan. He picked up a dead limb, broke off all the branches then crossed the ditch, and walked through the vastness of green foliage and disappeared. All Susan could do was listen to Calvin behind the thick growth of underbrush and trees. Fear encompassed her worrying about Loni's fate, and then suddenly she heard Calvin crashing to the forest floor. After a few moments passed with only the wind whistling through the trees she called out.

  “Are you okay?” Susan asked.

  There was only silence. Susan's heart raced, her palms sweat until Calvin finally got up and emerged through the underbrush. When Susan saw the red bike, she gasped.

  “Oh my God, it's Loni's.”

  “You sure?”

  “I should know, she's my sister.”

  “This is just great.”

  Susan stood staring at Calvin. “What are we going to do?”

  “Go in and talk to Henry about it after the reading of the will. He has some explaining to do.”

  Calvin picked up the bike and carried it to the Land Rover. He opened the back and slid it in. Once Calvin got in the Land Rover, he glanced at Susan but said nothing. They continued down the road, passing fields that lay on either side of the road. Susan knew they were not too far from the farmhouse and then she turned around and just stared for a brief moment at the bike resting on its side. A cold chill went through her.

 

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