“Robinson wants to take a vacation,” Eric Drake, the area’s handsome park ranger, told me as we sat outside my house on an early summer morning. “He wants to know if you can handle watching over the campground for him. After the fiasco with the Campground Babysitter, he doesn’t trust many people.”
“I guess so. Summer’s here and my rentals are filling up. I’m sure the campground will be the same.” It might very well be more than I could handle. “How long will he be gone?”
“A month.” Eric laughed at my shocked expression. “I’ll help as much as I can, sweet Clarice Josephine Turley. The parks around here will be busy, too, with hikers and those who insist on primitive camping, but I can lend a hand. Just put a notice on the camp bulletin board that you can be contacted here. That will keep you from being spread too thin.”
I couldn’t help but remember the murder on the other side of the lake just a little over a month ago. Maybe I wouldn’t be reminded every time I drove past the spot, but knowing me, I’d avoid that particular site like it was haunted. “I can get Roy to help.”
After his stepson, Danny, had stolen my laptop, I’d hired the man to do repairs around the tiny house community of Heavenly Acres and given them the largest of the small houses to move his family into. Danny and his mother, Tammy, also hired themselves out to do odd jobs when needed. It worked out well for everyone.
My attention returned to Lake Blue Waters. Here, a rich eccentric had built tiny houses and created a wonderful community. On the other side, he’d built a campground in one of the state’s national parks. Together, it created a popular oasis with both short- and long-term residents. Even after getting embroiled in a murder mystery and almost being killed, I didn’t regret for one moment accepting the job as overseer. I’d made some wonderful friends, and my life had purpose again. After so many years caring for Grams, I’d drifted after her death until accepting this position.
“It’ll definitely be a challenge.” I smiled at Eric. “But I’m up to it.”
“I know you are, sweetheart.” He leaned over and kissed me, something I’d never get tired of.
Caper, the spaniel pup I’d inherited upon Grams’ death, leaned on my leg, pulling my attention away from the feel of Eric’s lips on mine. I glanced down. “What’s this? You’re always bringing me things that make no sense.” I removed a small leather pouch from her mouth.
“What is it?” Eric leaned over.
I opened the bag and gasped at the sight of what appeared to be several diamonds. “Where did you get this, Caper? You’re a naughty girl.” How in the world would I find who they belonged to? I couldn’t very well go door-to-door alerting everyone that my dog was a thief.
“Missing diamonds were on the news last night.” Eric took the bag from me. “I’ll have to report this to Detective Davis. It’s both unfortunate and a good thing that Caper likes shiny objects. I got the feeling from the news report that more were taken than what’s in this pouch.”
“True, but she couldn’t have opened the bag and looked inside. Maybe the thief divided the loot.” I swiped the pup’s muddy footprints from my leg. “I’m guessing she’s been nosing around the campground.”
“Or someone’s flower bed here.” He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t get involved, CJ.”
“I don’t intend to.” I shuddered.
“Uh, huh.” He slid his cell phone from a clip on his belt and called Davis. After he hung up, he said, “He’s sending Milton and the new guy over.”
“I hope the new cop is better than the old one.” Officer Perk had turned out to be as dirty as my dog’s muddy paws, he and his murderous girlfriend both.
By the time Milton arrived with a woman officer who appeared to be in her mid-thirties, I’d finished my second cup of coffee. “Officer Lowery, this is the local pain in the backside, CJ Turley, who also happens to be the overseer of this community.”
The dark-haired officer smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I heard all about your recent adventures. As far as I’m concerned, you did a great service to this community.”
I liked her already and thrust out my hand. “Likewise.”
Milton rolled his eyes. “I should have known you women would stick together. Where are the diamonds?”
“Right here.” Eric pulled the pouch from his pocket. “CJ’s dog found them.”
“Too bad the little cutie can’t tell us where she got them.” Lowery leaned down and scratched behind Caper’s ears. “Or can you, sweetie?”
A lick on her hand was the only answer.
“Whoever stole these rocks will be looking for them. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open.” Eric gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. “See you later. I’m off to make my rounds.”
I nodded. I’d be heading over to talk to Robinson and make sure I was clear on my duties during his absence.
With the jewels now in their possession, Milton and Lowery returned to their squad car and drove away. “Come on, girl.” I climbed into my new golf cart with bright red vinyl seats. The previous cart had been damaged by a tree when lightning struck, causing the tree to fall, almost crushing Caper and my neighbor, Mags. I set the dog on the seat next to me and headed for the trailer Robinson lived in. Since he was loading up the back of his camper, it appeared my duties were starting immediately.
“Howdy.” He glanced over and shut the door. “Since you’re here, I’m guessing you agreed to watch over this place?”
“I did. Can you fill me in on what exactly you do?”
“I rent the sites, monitor the area, make sure it’s kept clean including the bathrooms, collect the fees beforehand, mind you…and return the deposit if the site is left as found.”
“Do you monitor who you rent to?”
He shook his head. “As long as they pay, they’re in. If there are too many complaints about noise, we alert the ranger, and he gives them the boot.” He handed me a folded sheet of paper and a key ring “Everything is done online. Here is the login information. Any key you can possibly need is on this ring.”
“Looks easy enough.” I slipped the paper into the pocket of my denim capris. “Where you headed?”
“Across country to Colorado to see my brother. It’s been a while.” He smiled. “I’m leaving the place in your capable hands.” With a jaunty salute, he climbed into the driver’s seat of his truck and left me in charge.
I did a leisurely drive around the campgrounds before heading back to the other side of the lake. Everything looked peaceful all the way around. Spotting Mags, my dear friend and neighborhood busybody, I stopped next to her flower garden. “Guess who’s in charge of the campgrounds for the next month.”
She straightened and pulled off her garden gloves. “What happened to the handsome man who runs the place?”
“Vacation.”
“Pooh. I wanted to get to know him better.” She frowned. “Time is of the essence. I’m not getting any younger.”
I laughed. “Here’s some news to take your mind off your heartbreak.” I told her about Caper finding the diamonds.
Her face lit up. “Yay, another mystery to immerse ourselves in.”
“No, thank you. Not after what happened the last time.”
“Don’t be a limp waistband. This isn’t a murder. Put your big-girl panties on. What’s our first clue?”
Shaking my head, I said, “Caper’s paws were muddy.”
“Hmm.” She tapped her forefinger against her chin. “That isn’t much to go on.”
Since I figured this was one mystery that would be impossible for us to solve, I decided to indulge her fantasy. “They had to have been buried here at camp, or around the lake.”
“CJ., That’s acres of possibilities.”
“Maybe this is one we should leave to the authorities.”
“Don’t be silly. That Milton is a dunderhead, and Davis is way too busy.”
“There’s a new officer who seems okay. A woman.”
“Good. She’ll see things our way.” She rubbed her hands together. “Yesterday before time to open, two people wearing those silly animal heads broke into the jewelry store and stole the diamonds. Today your dog digs them up. This tells me—” she held up a finger, “the culprit is close.”
Wasn’t that what I’d already determined? “As you said, it’s a lot of ground to cover.”
“Then, we’d best get started. Any new renters?”
“Mags, the place is full to capacity. Where have you been?”
“Head deep in hydrangeas, dear. They need to be babied, you know.”
“So, now you want to drive aimlessly on the off chance we see something?” My eyes widened.
“As good an idea as any.” She climbed into the cart, placing Caper on her lap.
I needed to make the rounds anyway to make sure all the new renters were settled in. Twenty-seven houses in all, twenty-seven full. My home was part of my salary, as was Roy’s. Five more were owned and only the plot rented, which left fifteen for me to monitor. I’d been warned summers were busy, but I hadn’t counted on fifty campsites in addition to my regular duties.
“You’re awfully quiet.”
I glanced at Mags. “Just wondering how I’m going to get it all done. Mind if we stop at the Olson place first?”
“You’re driving.”
Roy sat outside eating what looked like a breakfast burrito and glanced up as we stopped. “I was going to come by in a bit and get my jobs for today.”
“Not a problem.” I hopped from the cart and joined him at the table. “I’m watching over the camp for about a month and can really use your help. Tammy’s too, if she doesn’t mind keeping up with the restrooms.”
He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I reckon I can drive through there once or twice a day and see what needs doing. I don’t have to empty the septic, do I? That place where the motor homes dump their—” He paled.
“I…uh…isn’t there a company that does that?”
“I hope so.” He set down the uneaten portion of his breakfast. “Since it’s summer, I can have Danny work on keeping the weeds to a minimum. The grass around the lake is getting tall. Snakes will love that.”
“That is a great idea. I saw a riding mower near Mr. Robinson’s trailer.” Maybe I could scrape up a bit of money to pay Danny for his summer job. If there was a mystery here, another pair of eyes would be beneficial, not that I planned on getting involved.
- Publisher : Winged Publications
- Publication date : June 22, 2019
- Language : English
- Print length : 231 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1947523473
- ISBN-13 : 978-1947523470