Murder at Black Lake Read online

  Gage helped set up the chairs as an idea formed. "You know . . . I'm sure Mom wouldn't mind parting with either Bonnie or Clyde while you're here. Dogs make great company. You can talk to them all you want and they don't talk back."

  "Spoken like a true bachelor," Mallory teased.

  "Was I talking to you?"

  "I don't know who you were talking to. I just made an observation."

  Jamie's cellphone rang and she took it from her pocket. She glanced at it briefly, swiped at the screen, and put it back. "Well, I think it's a wonderful idea." Jamie slid the burgers onto a plate and walked over to the truck. "That is, of course, if your mom doesn't mind."

  "I'm sure she won't." Gage cleared a spot for her to set the burgers down. "They're both housebroken. They'll bark when they need out. And they're good watchdogs."

  ***

  After dinner, Mallory helped Jamie clean up while Gage put the chairs back in the shed and doused the grill. It was a gorgeous May night, warmer than usual for this time of year. He heard the backdoor slam shut and glanced over as the two women paused on the steps.

  "I'm heading home." Mallory waved at him before giving Jamie a hug.

  It was nice the two of them had reconnected. "See ya, Mallory." He flopped down on the tailgate, in no hurry to leave.

  Jamie walked toward him; then stopped midway and glanced up at the starry sky. As she stood there bathed in the moonlight, he couldn't remember ever seeing a more lovely sight. She glanced over and caught him staring at her.

  Gage cleared his throat and said the first thing that came to mind. "I imagine returning to Jackson Ridge is quite a culture shock for you?"

  "What do you mean?" She walked over and picked up the folded tablecloth he'd left lying on the tailgate.

  "Well, it's a far cry from Hollywood." He crossed his arms. "The closest thing we have to a fancy restaurant here is Deb's Diner. And the only places open after midnight are the convenient stores."

  "Whether you believe it or not, I've missed this place. Not this house, but the town and the people." She drew in a deep breath, meeting his gaze. "I've lived in L.A. and Malibu for fourteen years, and neither place has ever felt like home."

  "You never really had one of those here, either."

  "True, except at your folk's place. It's not just that, though. People are different in California . . . or at least those in show business are. You don't know who you can trust. I have friends but only a handful who I would call genuine, meaning they don't want a piece of me." Jamie shook her head as the corners of her mouth lifted in a beautiful smile. "Listen to me on my soapbox. I'm sorry."

  "Don't be. It reminds me of old times."

  "It does, doesn't it? This whole day has." She drew in another deep breath. "Anyway, I didn't mean to keep you. I'm sure you have to get up early for work tomorrow."

  "I do, but before I go, there's something else I'd like to talk to you about."

  Her smile faded. "You saw the note. I had a hunch you did, and that's why you suggested dinner."

  "Guilty," he admitted, surprised by her intuition. "Any thoughts on who might have left it?"

  "Not a clue."

  He doubted it. He'd seen her ignore two phone calls today, and he suspected there had been more. "You really don't expect me to believe that, do you?"

  "I'm sure it's nothing."

  His gut told him she wasn't convinced of that. "I think you were spooked today with good reason. Someone else was in those woods. That's why you almost clobbered me with that branch."

  "You just startled me is all."

  Gage still wasn't buying it. Why was she being so aloof? Totally opposite of how she'd been all evening. Did she not trust him? Then again, why should she? They weren't kids anymore. No longer best friends.

  "Look, Jamie, if someone is bothering you, I need to know. I mean I could help. At the very least, I could have the note dusted for prints."

  "You should've made that offer earlier. I used it to start the fire in the grill."

  "Would the note have anything to do with the phone calls you keep ignoring?"

  "No. I broke up with someone two months ago. He's hoping we'll get back together." She reached over and gently placed her hand on his arm. "I appreciate you wanting to help, but it was just a note. It wasn't a threat of any kind. Someone has obviously recognized me, knows what happened to me up at Black Lake, and decided to play a cruel joke."

  "You sure this ex-boyfriend couldn't be the one who left it?"

  "Richie doesn't know where I am, and I never told him anything about my past."

  The name struck a chord. Richie Gaines was one of the biggest names in show business, and according to Mallory and her movie magazines, Jamie and Richie were one of Hollywood's hottest couples. He hadn't believed it until now.

  "You and Richie Gaines. Really?"

  Jamie frowned. "Let's just put it this way, I didn't know the real Richie until we started dating. But I can assure you, he did not leave me that note."

  It was obvious she didn't want to talk about her former co-star, and Gage was more than fine with that. "All right, I'll let it go. You've got my number, though. If you need me, call."

  "I will. And I really appreciate you helping me get the house fixed up."

  "That's what friends are for." He cocked his head at her. "We are still friends, aren't we?"

  "Of course we are, Gage, although, I haven't been a very good one. It's like I told your mom today. The reason I haven't stayed in touch isn't because I no longer cared or had forgotten you guys. It was just too painful. At least it was in the beginning. Every time I thought of you and your family, I thought about my dad. By the time I realized I had alienated my two best friends, it seemed too late to do anything about it. I know my behavior must've hurt you and Mallory, and I'm sorry for that."

  Sadness settled in her eyes. Gage wished now he hadn't brought up the subject. Life was too short for regrets. "What do you say we forget about this aspect of the past and start anew?"

  "I would like that, Gage."

  Gage left Jamie's still unconvinced of the insignificance of the note. It may not have been a direct threat but there was more to it than she let on. Either trouble had followed her to Jackson Ridge, or it had been here all along waiting for her to return.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Jamie woke the following morning to the sound of barking. After pulling on her sweats, she went downstairs and peered out the front curtains. A German Shepherd, with it's tongue hanging out and a wagging tail, looked back at her. With a laugh, she unlocked the door and let the dog inside. As it bounced by her, she noticed a sack by the door with a note attached.

  Hi, I'm Bonnie. Remember me? I have the extreme pleasure of being your housemate while you're in town. Inside this sack, you will find my bowls and some food. I get one can a day, plus Ma usually leaves dry food and water out for me. Feel free to pet me as often as you like. I also enjoy having my tummy rubbed. Oh, and if you need to talk, I'm a great listener. I get that from my brother, Gage. He's also a good friend.

  She carried the sack into the kitchen with Bonnie following close behind. "Well, Bonnie, it appears your brother is more intuitive than I thought. I should've known better. I mean, he is a cop." She thought of his offer to take the note and check it for prints. She didn't think about it being useful to identify the author; she just wanted to get rid of it. Now she wished she hadn't.

  Jamie recalled her thoughts yesterday before Mallory came over. She had worn the wig and sunglasses since leaving Malibu. And it was doubtful anyone in Greensburg had recognized her. Other than at the Hansen farm, the only place she hadn't worn her disguise was in Emerald Forrest. She didn't figure there would be anyone around since school hadn't let out yet. Besides, if it was a photographer who left the note, he or she would be camped out in front of her house by now.

  "Well, whoever wrote it, I bet they won't come around now that I have you as my houseguest."

  She knelt and petted the dog. Bonnie
returned the favor by lapping her with kisses. Jamie laughed. She missed having an animal around, but with her busy lifestyle and having to be away from home for months at a time, having a pet was out of the question. Maybe some day when her life wasn't so chaotic, she could adopt a dog and maybe a cat.

  Jamie put a couple of bowls with water and food down on the floor for Bonnie. She then called and checked in with her agent.

  "Hey, kiddo, how's the vacation going?" Tommy asked before she even said hello.

  "Not so good. Looks like I'm going to be here for two or three months. The place is a disaster."

  "Doesn't sound like much of a retreat. You holding up okay?"

  Tommy was the only one in her circle of friends who knew about her past and her estrangement from her mother. "Yeah, I'm okay. The good news is, I'm reconnecting with friends."

  "Anything I can do on this end to help?"

  "No, but thanks for the offer. I just wanted to call and check in."

  "I'm glad you did. I miss ya, kid."

  "I miss you, too. I'll give you another call in a week or two."

  "Hey, before you hang up. Gaines has been calling wanting to know where you are."

  "You didn't tell him, did you?"

  "Of course not. I never liked you seeing him to begin with."

  "I know. I should've listened to you. It's over now, though, so you can gloat all you want."

  "Not a chance. You take care of yourself."

  Jamie ended the call then got busy cleaning the house, starting with the basement. The musty smell of mildew hung heavy in the air. The three small windows shed barely enough sunshine for Jamie to find the light switch and flick it on. Metal shelves lined three of the walls, stacked full with boxes and plastic totes. Jamie ducked and weaved to avoid the cobwebs and made her way to the first shelf.

  By late afternoon, she had managed to sort through most of the boxes and totes. She discovered everything from holiday decorations to old cookbooks and decades-old magazines. The only things she found worth keeping so far were some of her grade-school yearbooks. As she thumbed through the old mementos, more fond memories of her childhood friends came to mind. Her thoughts eventually came to rest on Gage. His behavior last night, and his thoughtfulness of dropping Bonnie off were touching. He'd always had a kind heart, always thinking of others before himself. She was glad he hadn't lost those attributes. Given that, along with his good looks, she was surprised he wasn't married. No doubt, there had to be someone special in his life. Jackson Ridge was small, but even in a much larger city, a guy like Gage could have his choice of available women.

  She scooted a box on the shelf and something clanked on the floor. Looking down, she saw it was her old baseball bat. A smile immediately sprang to her lips. She picked it up, gripped the handle, and swung at an imaginary ball. Out of all the players on her summer little league team, she had been the best hitter. She'd even gone so far as naming the bat Homer.

  Jamie added the bat to her box of keepsakes and moved to the last section of shelving. Most of the boxes contained old bank statements and tax returns going back several years. The last two totes were packed with old photo albums and some framed photographs. Many of them Jamie remembered seeing when she was younger displayed in the living room and hallway. Now, they were tucked away down here in this stinky basement. It appeared her mother had packed away everything belonging to her husband and Jamie, cutting them completely out of her life.

  What kind of wife and mother does that?

  Jamie always thought her mom blamed her for her dad's death. It was Jamie's idea they go camping that weekend. Rita Riedel may have even blamed herself some because she had canceled on them. Maybe storing the items down here was Rita's way of coping with everything. At least she hadn't thrown them out.

  Jamie picked up one of the 8x12 family photographs. She guessed she was five or six at the time it was taken. Rita looked every bit the loving wife and mother as she held Jamie in her lap with one hand and her other held James' hand draped over her left shoulder. Were their smiles genuine?

  As an actress, she knew how deceitful photographs could be. Many times throughout her career she had posed for photo shoots or been accosted by a paparazzi where she faked a smile. Pretended to be happy when she wasn't. Especially during the last year. The deaths of her mother, eight months ago, and Dwight Jennings, two months later, had sent Jamie into a tailspin of self-discovery. There were questions about her past that now seemed essential she find the answers. And they all began with Black Lake.

  ***

  Gage left the hardware and lumber store and swung by and picked up the pizza he had ordered. His original plan was to call Jamie and tell her he was dropping by, but he decided he'd rather surprise her. Off and on throughout the day, he had thought of last night. It'd been a long time since he had such a good time, outside of family affairs. It was a nice revelation to learn Jamie hadn't changed that much, as far as her personality went. Like in the numerous interviews he'd seen of her on TV, she appeared so natural and unpretentious. He suspected that was a large part as to why she was so popular, and not the fact she was or had been, dating Richie Gaines.

  It was almost seven-thirty when he pulled into Jamie's drive. He hoped she hadn't eaten yet. Gage drove around to the back of the house, figuring it would be easier to unload the material there. He got out of the truck and walked to the backdoor. Bonnie stood on the other side of the screen wagging her tail.

  "I'll be down in a few minutes," Jamie yelled from an upstairs window.

  Gage tried the screen door and found it locked. "Hurry. I brought pizza and it's getting cold."

  She didn't answer back.

  Gage went ahead and unloaded the truck, placing the material on the ground near the back of the house, and covered it with a tarp he kept in his cab.

  "Sorry it took me so long. I'd just gotten out of the shower." Jamie, dressed in a sleeveless sundress, unlatched the screen and held it open.

  "No problem. I should have called first." As he stepped past her into the kitchen, the scent of honeysuckle and vanilla prompted a smile. He set the pizza down on the center island. "I hope you haven't eaten."

  "No, I haven't. So thank you." She removed a couple of plates from the cabinet and set them beside him. "I made some iced tea earlier. Would you care for a glass? It's unsweetened, I'm afraid."

  "Sounds good." Gage pulled out one of the stools and sat down. He noticed the German Shepherd lying on a blanket in the breakfast nook. "I see Bonnie has made herself at home."

  "She has. And you were right, she's good company." Jamie added ice cubes to their glasses and set them down before pulling out a stool across from him. "She doesn't like the basement, though."

  "The basement?" He lifted the lid of the box and offered her first dibs.

  With a generous smile, she chose a slice of the pepperoni and mushroom pizza and placed it on her plate. "I've been working down there most of the day."

  "Figured you'd get the worst out of the way first."

  "Second worst, actually." She lowered her head in a brief silent prayer before she took a bite of her pizza.

  Jamie had joined them in prayer before lunch yesterday, but he just assumed she had done so out of respect for his mom. He was glad to learn otherwise.

  "How was work today?" she asked as soon as he had offered his thanks.

  "Other than a couple of theft reports and a fender-bender, it was pretty uneventful. Just my kind of day."

  "I somehow doubt that, or else you would've chosen another career."

  "Any other week that would be true." But since the main suspect in both the thefts was the husband of his ex, things could get pretty complicated, especially with the chief being on sick leave.

  "What made you choose to be a cop? I figured you would go into programing or something along that line. You were always into computers." Jamie got up and grabbed some napkins, handing him one of them.

  "I took computer forensics in college, eventually go
t into cyber crime." Had he been truly honest with her, he'd have told her that what happened at Black Lake first started the ball rolling toward his decision to pursue law enforcement.

  "When I was preparing for my role in Target on Her Back, I did a few ride-a-longs and interviewed several L.A. detectives. I now have a whole new respect for our men and women in blue."

  "After seeing the movie myself, it's my professional opinion you researched your roll well. It was a stellar performance."

  "Thank you." Jamie rubbed her lips together, seemingly embarrassed by the praise.

  Gage offered her another slice of pizza.

  "Maybe just one more."

  He grinned as she picked the pepperoni off and placed them on his plate. "Don't tell me you're on a diet?" If he had to guess, she didn't weigh more than one-twenty now.

  Jamie nodded. "I have to lose seven pounds between now and September or the director will throw a hissy fit."

  "I can't imagine being under constant scrutiny over my weight or appearance."

  "I don't like it, but I know it's a necessary evil. Like the paparazzi; I don't care to be followed to and from restaurants, the gym, or the airport, but it's all part of the business. You get used to it. Or you learn to cope with it the best you can."

  "Do you enjoy your life, Jamie?" He didn't realize how stupid the question was until he heard it come out of his mouth. She was rich and famous. Who wouldn't enjoy that?

  "I did, until recently." She pushed her plate back and pressed her lips together in contemplation. "The last eight months, I've been in this kind of funk. It's hard to explain."

  "Since your mom died." The time span couldn't be a coincidence.

  "Along with the passing of Dwight Jennings."

  "How did you know about his death?"

  "It was kind of a fluke . . . or at least I think it was. Anyway, I did an Internet search of his name and that's how I found out he had died during a prison riot."

  "You were researching your dad's murder?" he guessed.

  "Yes." Jamie folded her arms, her gaze steady on him. "I'm not entirely sure the right man went to prison for it."