4
Dev stood on the sidewalk outside the local candy company known for their homemade fudge in downtown Boulder Lake. He inhaled the sweet vanilla scent drifting from the building and cutting through the wildfire smoke that had increased overnight. Any other day he’d be in line to buy a piece of each flavor to go. Not today. He didn’t approve of the trip into town, but Kinsley and Jada had insisted on it, and he’d given in.
After all, how would their shooter have tracked Kinsley to this location? The only suspects for the shooting that made any sense were disgruntled contractors she’d investigated. These contractors wouldn’t possess the skills to find her at the campground.
The shooter could hire a private detective who could trace her back to her hometown, but her parents didn’t live in the area anymore, so she really had no apparent connections now. The only way the detective could make that link to the campground would be to stop in town and talk to someone who lived here for years and knew everyone. Knew that Kinsley had spent most of her childhood at the campground.
And that’s where the problem lay. And why Dev couldn’t relax but continued to scan the sidewalk and street. Because, unfortunately, such people existed.
He prayed that Kinsley’s whereabouts didn’t reach the locals’ ears.
Kinsley and his sister, arm-in-arm and mouths full, pushed out of the building.
Kinsley moaned and swallowed. “There is nothing better than Wilson’s fudge. I hope they never go out of business and I can come back here more often.”
Dev wished she could come back here permanently, but he wasn’t about to say that. “For now let’s get moving. Where do you want to stop next?”
“Don’t be so pushy. Have a piece of fudge.” Jada handed him a chocolate brown chunk with nuts. “I got your favorite even if you aren’t being very nice.”
He accepted the piece, but before putting it in his mouth, he gave her a pointed look. “You know I’m just concerned about you two. So can we please move on?”
She wrinkled her nose. “That was a nicer way to ask, so yes. Where do you want to go, Kinsley?”
Kinsley’s eyes lit up. “Let’s have T-shirts made with today’s date. We can wear them all week like we did when we were kids.”
Dev shoved the chocolate in his mouth to take his mind off the dire feelings that tightened his neck, threatening a headache.
Let it go. Focus, and she’ll be fine.
He motioned for them to precede him down the walkway, devoid of tourists. Not typical for Saturday, not even in the off-season. Maybe the increase in smoke clogging the air was keeping most people inside.
At the door, he cracked it open, took a long look inside, and gave a nod to the women while swallowing his bite of fudge.
Kinsley took out a maple piece and handed it to him. “To keep you sweeter.”
He rolled his eyes, but she giggled and stepped past him to enter the store, where the odor of a hot press used to complete the T-shirt transfers drifted out.
He wouldn’t turn down the fudge, and popped it into his mouth. He savored the maple sweetness as he searched through the yellow-tinged sky, seeing very few cars had parked on Main Street today. He could count them on one hand, and most of them were clumped near the grocery store. Likely locals getting their weekly supplies. Didn’t mean he would take his eyes off them. No. Sweet sugar in his mouth or not, his attention remained focused on the street and any potential danger.
A patrol car turned the corner and headed in his direction. The large SUV pulled to the curb in front of him, and Chief Gibson got out. Wearing a khaki uniform, he strode over to Dev. “Glad I caught you. Saved me a trip out to the campground.”
Dev stepped closer to keep a couple strolling down the sidewalk from overhearing their conversation. “Did you locate something on that truck at the boat ramp?”
“First things first.” Gibson rested his hands on his duty belt. “I know who broke into your cabins at the campground.”
News Dev had wanted to hear, but suddenly he wasn’t sure if he did. “Who?”
“You know Jimmy Finchley?”
The name was familiar to pretty much everybody in town. “The guy who loves to race motorcycles through town?”
“One and the same.” The chief frowned, drawing down his already long face. “Guess he got tired of trying to evade my guys with his bikes. Anyway, he and a couple of teens went on a spree in the area, breaking into vacant homes. He said after they got into a few of your cabins and saw there was nothing of value, they took off. Thankfully, they didn’t realize your manager has a home on the property. With him out of town, they could’ve raided his place.”
“Well, I’m glad to have that case closed. I assume you put the fear of God in them, and I also don’t have to worry about them coming back since they didn’t find anything.”
The chief frowned. “Not sure anyone can put the fear of God in Jimmy, but his friends’ parents won’t abide their sons’ behavior and will take care of it.”
“That’s good then.” Dev took a step closer. “Now, what about the boat? What did you learn there?”
