Hollow Brookat sunset is a resplendent sight to behold. The tangerine Popsicle in the sky melts over the jagged mountain peaks as the heavens turn a brilliant shade of lavender. It’s as if the great artist in the sky has decided to call it a day himself and has emptied his palate over planet Earth in an effort to create one last masterpiece for the evening.
I drive by The Sloppy Pelican, past the ritzy part of town that Shep’s rental is nestled in, and how I wish I was nestled safely in his bed rather than on this lonely highway that leads to the farmlands. I pass the dairy, pass the orchards, and finally hit the dirt road that leads to the lumberyard.
The lumberyard itself butts up to a wilderness laden with green pines just ripe for the picking. I suppose that’s why the people who own this place chose this location. A never-ending supply of lumber seems to be at hand. Not very green if you ask me, but when Mother Nature takes a turn for the icy come fall, no one seems to care too much about conserving nature around here. Keeping warm is a real struggle.
For a moment, I picture Shep and me lying in front of a roaring fire, a blanket around our naked bodies. A vision of Shep in the nude momentarily puts me in a trance, and I force myself to snap out of it lest I turn this car around and make all of my naked Shep dreams come true. He’s the delicious dessert I’ll reward myself with later this evening. Annoyingly decadent and shockingly addicting. That’s Shep in a nutshell.
I can’t believe I’m in a relationship with Shep Collins. I can’t believe I let Shep infiltrate the lower state of my being, voluntarily at that. I can’t believe that we’ll have to hide this relationship forever if we want to avoid another homicide in Hollow Brook. Neither Lex nor Marlin will put up with our sexual shenanigans. But, then again, Shep and I haven’t really discussed our relationship ourselves. For all I know, this is just something he does in the summer—a fling to help him get from one season to the next.
A thought hits me like a brick to the chest.
What if I’ve just stupidly wandered into a casual sexual relationship without meaning to?
Did I really think Shep was going to put a ring on it just because I’m in love with him? He’s never said those words to me. Although to be fair, I’ve never technically said those words to him. My blood boils as my face heats with embarrassment. It’s becoming clear to me I need to tell Shep how I feel. I can’t be someone’s plaything and then tossed out like a cheap toy. And a part of me is afraid that’s exactly what’s about to happen.
I spot a lone light shining bright in an oversized aluminum building that reminds me of an airplane hangar. A small Honda sits out front, and there’s a familiar looking brunette moving something into the trunk.
I drive on over, and Belinda looks up and offers a friendly wave.
“Why am I not surprised?” I say as I boldly get out of the car. My adrenaline is pumping, and I’m not quite sure why I’m so angry with her. She didn’t need to tell me she was moving to Pittsburg. But if she can’t stand her sister, why is she going with her? Is Hannah really moving to Pittsburg? Is anyone moving to Pittsburg? Does Pittsburg really exist? Deep thoughts for a beautiful summer night that I’d much rather spend with my boyfriend. Boyfriend! Aww. I can’t wait to kiss each of Shep’s dimples. I might actually kiss the dimples on his face, too, for the heck of it. “Hey, Belinda! Is your sister here?”
“Yup. She’s in the office.” She nods as she begins to lead me over.
“Oh, good.” I’m a bit relieved Hannah is here. I was beginning to think I had hallucinated the OG bitter bride. I’ll ask a few general questions, then give them the paper and leave. I may have changed my mind about thirty-two times on the way over and switched out the real piece of paper for a phony with the numbers swapped out. Just because I’m fishing for info doesn’t mean she gets hers. Nope. I’ve decided that no matter what I glean tonight, it’s my last-ditch effort to put her away. I’ll meet up with Shep afterwards, and we’ll both head down to the police department together.
A thought occurs to me just as we head into the tiny trailer that readsWelcome to Hollow Brook Acres Lumberyard!“I thought you said you and your sister didn’t get along?” I point out as she holds the door open for me.
Belinda rolls her eyes. “Yes, well, blood is thicker than vodka. If she needs a few things done before she’s out of my life for good, so be it.”
That sounds a little harsh. I step into the tin can of an office and note someone rocking in the oversized office chair behind the counter with their back turned to me. The chair spins around, and my entire body goes into shock. That’s not Hannah. It’s Craig Carter!
“Well, hello there, little lady. We meet again.” He offers up a cheery smile, and no matter how friendly his tone is, I can’t help but feel I’ve stepped into trouble.
“I think I’d better go.” I head for the door, and Belinda blocks it. “Company policy clearly states—”
Belinda bumps her shoulder to mine. “This doesn’t look like the Black Bear to me, sweetie. Why don’t you hand over that little paper and we’ll let you run off to work where you belong? Hannah is running a little bit late. She said it would be all right for you to give it to me.”
I glance back at the idiot with his hard look, his I’ll-snap-your-neck-in-two demeanor. It’s clear I’m outnumbered.
“Sure thing,” I say, fishing it out of my pocket and crumpling it into a ball before pitching it to the back of the trailer and bolting out the door.
“You little bitch!” Craig calls out.
I can hear footfalls stomping over the dirt behind me, and just as I’m about to jump into my car, Belinda body-checks me to the ground and snatches the keys from my hand.
“Sorry, honey,” she pants in my ear. “I must have tripped. How about we wait for Hannah while my boyfriend makes sure you didn’t just accidentally give us a receipt for your latest latte? You university girls are a spoiled little bunch, with your designer handbags, your designer coffees.” She helps me to my feet, and I make a run for the oversized metal structure with its wide gaping entry.
“Stop!” she calls after me just as an exuberantly loud pop goes off from behind.
“Oh God, oh God, she’s got a gun!” I do an odd tiptoe maneuver toward a pile of wood twice my height. The entire building is teeming with piles of chopped up evergreens in various stages of processing.
“Come out right now, and I’ll go easy on you!” she shouts. “I just needed to check the damn combination Barry left behind and you could have gone back to your silly little friends. All you had to do was wait a few measly seconds, and now look what you’ve done.”
She fires again, and I bump into a neatly stacked cord of wood, knocking it over like the poorly constructed wall it is.
Belinda rolls her eyes while waving me over with her gun. “Hands up, walk slowly.”
“You did it, didn’t you?” I say, doing as I’m told. “You had Craig kill Barry that night so you could get into his safe.” Lucky guess? I have Shep to thank for that one.
