know winter had come to town. When struck by the twenty-degree temperature and a wind-chill factor, all immediate cares disappeared. Only one thought presented itself: hurrying to the safety of their cars. Kelsey was hesitant to leave the parking lot and head back west to his condo. Would it be right for me to go back and talk with Isabel? Or would it be wrong to force the issue. He put the car in reverse. I am not a stalker, he thought. Inside the Bump, Isabel was wondering if she would ever get to know the mannerly cop.
*****
On the other side of the parking lot, hidden among the few cars that were weathering the cold, another member of the posse was closing their car door and starting the car. Detective Terry Hollander was casing the parking lot, waiting for the heater to work. He was suspicious of everyone. Terry had come out of the Army after four years of OJT with the military police. Terry had met his future wife in Germany while stationed there. Gretta was magnificent. Athletic, blond, and gorgeous, she loved Terry for his manners, chiseled face, and stability. Struggling through unhappy teen years, she was a product of a broken home. Her dad was away on business for weeks at a time. Her mother had turned alcoholic, bringing many boyfriends home in his absences. Gretta learned, at a young age, to stay in her room or over at a friend’s house while Dad was away. Terry Hollander was just what she was looking for in her eighteenth year. He was her rock. When the letter arrived from America, Gretta’s pulse had quickened. It had been almost a month since he mustered out of the military. The plane ticket fell out first: a plane ticket to Spokane, Washington. The Spokane that her lover and best friend had described so many times. Just a few words were written on the note: “Please marry me. I love you. Terry.”
Only Gretta’s dad and two closest girlfriends attended the wedding in America. But the church was full. Dozens upon dozens of Hollander’s family and friends were present. Gretta was a hit—graceful, beautiful, and commanding a broken English pattern of speech that enchanted her to everyone. She was blessed with caring friends and a father that loved her. Gretta and Mike Gwen’s wife, Debbie, were inseparable. For Gretta, the goodbyes would be exceptionally hard. When she first met Debbie and Mike, she was alone while Terry worked. Debbie Gwen had introduced her to many people and a busy schedule of local clubs and organizations that filled her days. Pondering the Gwens’ departure, Gretta thought, “I’m losing one of my best friends. With the internet and Skype, I’ll still be able to show Tammy my bump.” A few short weeks after Debbie and Mike departed for California, Terry was given the news by Gretta. Their “passion in the woods” on the way home from the Gwens’ anniversary party nine weeks earlier would soon add a new member to their budding family.
*****
It was at the Bump Inn that Sergeant Terry Hollander began the story of Rose Lake to Kelsey. Gwen was two weeks gone. “Abron, you weren’t on the force two years ago when the first double homicide occurred in our area.” Kelsey stared at Terry with a keen interest. “The victims were the Nelsons—a father and son that resided on a farm between Rose and Killarney Lakes in Idaho. The case was not in our jurisdiction but the CDA Sheriff’s Department asked for us to cooperate. Like Newman Lake, the Nelsons were, for lack of a better term, butchered. The father, Joe, was found hanging by his hands from the rafters—shot and cut many times all over his body. His throat was slit when the bastards were through with him. The son was found in the meadow behind the house, shot in the back. His throat had also been slit. To this day there have been no arrests. Until now it had become, not cold but warm for the CDA Sheriff’s. I think you can understand why our team has a lot more on its plate than just Newman Lake. Obviously, these double homicides could be related.”
The information was just sinking in when Christian’s phone rang. “Thank you,” he said then turned toward Kelsey. “Abron, I thought you might want to visit the crime scene at Rose Lake, so I requested permission from Lieutenant Bara over at CDA. That was him. We’re on for tomorrow morning at ten. There are some notes I wanted to go over at the lab before we meet. I’ll catch up with you at the crime scene.” Christian handed Abron a map with the address and location circled and notated.
Abron Kelsey had earned a degree in forensic sciences from the University of Washington before entering the police academy and joining the Spokane sheriff team. Prior to college, he had served a three-year enlistment in the Marine corps. The former USMC sergeant had proven his worth in the corps through a tour of duty during the war on terrorism in the Middle East. Now, employed as a deputy assigned to forensics, he was making use of his remaining education benefits by attending night classes. Someday, these classes could lead him down a new path—possibly a law degree from Gonzaga. Physically, Abron was an imposing presence in any room. Mentally, he was constantly honing his skills through education. What most male acquaintances missed at first, the ladies did not. They feasted on his sentiment, sensitivity, and muscles. His parents nested in Charleston, just south of Coos Bay, Oregon. Soon-to-be retired, they were looking forward to visiting the eastern side of Washington State and their only child.
*****
Abron’s mind was working overtime during his drive back to the apartment. Copycat? So many similarities. Had to be the same persons involved. Knowing his job was forensic evidence, Abron couldn’t help but wonder about the cases in their entirety. Arriving home, his thoughts wandered pleasantly to the sassy little blond that he wanted to call Izzy. Maybe someday she would allow him to use her nickname. She was beautiful to him in many ways—looks, charm, wit, and “in-charge” attitude. In Abron’s personal life files, Isabel was his number 1 priority. His next move would be to wrangle her phone number and find out more about her availability, likes, and dislikes. How could something so easy be so complicated for him? I’ll see her soon, he thought, looking forward to their next encounter. His thoughts slipped back to Christian and Rose Lake. The job was growing more interesting day by day. Before turning out the night-light, Kelsey summed up his many experiences over his short lifetime. Patience was the word he was searching for. His ability to wait and observe would serve him well.
Abron was up early. From his apartment complex, it was a short walk to the little café.
“Good morning,” Joan said as Abron took in his favorite aromas. Joan talked to Abron almost daily. “Corn beef and hash, sourdough toast, coffee, and lots of honey?” Joan had been serving Abron breakfast since he moved into the neighborhood. She knew he was a cop of some type, but Kelsey never wore a uniform. He was a good tipper, and his conversation was educated. He led with “Did you watch Magnum last night?” already knowing the answer.
“I love that man. Not the original but still a hunk” was Joan’s smiling reply. She poured him some coffee. Officer Kelsey was stalling by reading the paper, doing the crossword, and checking out how the Spokane Flyers had skated the night before. He didn’t want to be too far ahead of Christian. The overnight snowfall had left several inches on the street. He could already visualize I-90. The snowplows would have it cleared by now, all the way to the St. Maries cutoff. Paying his bill and usual tip, Abron began to make his move toward the door.
Joan asked, “Busy day?”
The deputy replied, “First stop CDA.”
She then, for the first time, acknowledged his job. “Be safe, keep your head down. See you on Monday.” She smiled.
*****
Christian arrived at the farm about ten fifteen—a few minutes late but in time to have possibly saved Abron’s life. The scene was bloody. Christian made the call: “Officer down.” There was no chance of seeing the license plate on the Ford pickup now slamming away from the barn. “Need ambulance and backup. Abron Kelsey has been beaten and shot. Waste no time getting it here.” Christian chanced another quick glance out the side door and saw the outlines of two riders in the
