Chapter 27

Lento: Slow (Ital.)

The next day dawned bright and clean, the air crisp compared to the soggy stuff we had been breathing since the rain.

When I awoke, I felt more groggy than crisp. Something lodged in the back of my brain, but I couldn’t quite dredge it up. What was it? The joyful birdsong washed over me, attempting to lull me into distraction.

Sitting on the edge of the daybed on the porch, gazing out at the tangle of branches and boughs between me and the smooth water, it all came crashing back.

Gram. Gram was still gone. Gone forever. Grace, too. She left the same hole in Al’s heart. I hoped the two good friends were together somewhere.

Toombs—the only death I couldn’t completely regret.

The sickening confirmation that they were all murdered, the horrible knowledge that an unknown killer lurked somewhere near, that everything had happened was almost too much. It had to be someone at the lake. Something swelled in my head, threatening to shut my mind down if I didn’t stop thinking about that.

Then there were my guilty—good feelings over how well things were going with my symphony.

And Daryl. Oh yes, Daryl. Oof!

Something was haunting him last night when he left. He fled as if trying to escape something. What on earth could be wrong with him? It was the mention of fire that set him off. I had to see what that was about, and if I could help him.

I wanted to like the guy, to at least be friends with him. But last night, when I thought we were getting closer, bam. He blew up.

Okay, Cressa. You have to get through another day. You have to stay for Grace’s funeral. And help Al at the funeral home this afternoon. That leaves this morning.

I got out of bed and shuffled my way into the kitchen area. Shoving my manuscript sheets aside to eat breakfast, I hummed softly to myself, pleased at what I had accomplished the night before. If only I can make the same progress today, I’ll start to relax and feel good about my piece. I had perched on this same stool, sitting and writing, and, oh yes, hearing with half an ear those traps springing in the background. A pang of conscience struck me at the way I had thrown them out under the tree with the mice still pinned under their bars.

With my stomach still behaving, I managed to eat some toast before going out the front door in my robe and slippers to clean the traps.

A metal glint caught my eye. Two Henry County patrol cars were parked at the bottom of the hill. Before I picked up the traps, two uniformed men came out of Hayley’s place and headed toward Eve’s.

They must be questioning everyone. Finally, officials are getting involved here.

I willed them to find the killer this morning. More cars, some with county markings, some with Illinois State Police logos on their doors, drove in. Two came up the hill, parked in front of the public showers across from my place, and disgorged more uniformed men.

I ducked back inside without the traps when they headed for me. True, I had a robe on, but I didn’t think that was ideal attire for talking with police officers. I started to throw some clothes on, then out my side window I saw them head down the steps between my cabin and Eve’s. I guessed they were going to take another look at where Toombs’s body had been.

Curious, I kept watching. A few moments passed, and I saw two men come out of Eve’s and walk back down the hill.

They’re skipping me. Maybe, since Chief Kyle already searched my cabin, I’ll be left alone. At least for now. That’s a relief.

I waited inside for a couple more minutes. Then, when I saw the last cruiser head down the hill, I tiptoed outside. Kneeling to retrieve the mouse traps, I spotted them deep in the shade under the spruce branches. I gingerly pulled one into the sunshine and steeled myself for the sight of the pitiful mangled bodies.

But they weren’t there. Could this be the same trap I had thrown out here last night? It looked brand new. Never been used. I pulled the other out. It, too, was clean. Not a hair. Not a whisker.

I set them back on the ground gently, impressed by the symmetry of Mother Nature. Their deaths hadn’t been futile, like Gram’s and Grace’s had been. A creature must have made his evening meal from the mice I provided. Not a bit of their tiny bodies had been wasted.

A noisy engine and clanking metal got my attention. The garbage truck had a hard time maneuvering around all the extra cars, but it eventually made it through. Its huge metal arms grabbed the dumpster. I watched trash bags tumble into its craw.

I returned inside, showered, and decided to put on a denim skirt, for a change from my usual shorts and jeans, with a cotton shirt and a pair of loafers. It almost felt like a private celebration day. I knew I should be sad Toombs was dead, but the fact was, his death might push the authorities to find the killer running loose at this resort.

I brushed my hair and searched once again for my locket.

Darn! I should have asked Daryl last night when he was here about the chain around Mo’s neck.

It had looked suspiciously like the one to my missing locket. Next time I saw Daryl I’d ask him if Mo had recently acquired a new chain.