Page 46 of Setup In Montana

THE MOMENT MAX drove up into the Wilson yard, he knew the brothers weren’t home. He hadn’t expected to find them here unless Sarah had brought Clancy out here for them to watch over while she went to the bank. But then again, he figured they were all too smart to hold her here knowing it would be one of the first places he would look.

Getting out, he climbed the steps to the rickety porch and tried the door, not surprised to find it unlocked. “Rural Montana,” he said under his breath. He’d been surprised to learn that most of the farmers and ranchers around Dry Gulch not only didn’t lock their doors but couldn’t even remember where they might have a key.

Pushing open the door, he stepped in. The Wilson brothers weren’t neat. The place looked as if two bachelors lived there. He suspected the house hadn’t been cleaned since Mildred had been taken to Shady Rest—and probably long before. He moved through the house.

Max figured now that Sarah had the key, she’d be headed for the safety deposit box. He just didn’t know what bank or what city. He hoped to find that answer here in the house.

Vernon had given him what information he had on Sarah, but it hadn’t been much. Apparently, she kept to herself, so when she’d befriended Clancy it had surprised him. Other than that, Sarah had been a hard worker, was always up for a double shift and never complained, he said.

“I always wondered what she spent her money on. Certainly not her car or herself from what I could tell. I figured she was saving it for something.” Vernon had shrugged. “But if Mildred did leave her a bunch of money…” He’d stopped as he remembered the two residents she’d killed. “I guess she can hire a good lawyer.”

Max found a desk in a small room at the back of the house. The moment he saw it, he knew this had been Mildred’s bedroom. It, unlike the rest of the house, was neat if a little dusty. Apparently, her sons had preserved it just as it was in her memory. Or they’d forgotten about the room.

Moving to the desk, he went through the drawers. Mildred had definitely been neater than her sons. He found a worn folder tied up with string. Written on the outside in a tight script were the words Important Papers. He drew it out, untied the string and began to go through the contents, aware this could be considered illegal search and seizure.

At first, he found nothing of interest. Mildred had painstakingly paid off the house and land after years at her telephone company job. She’d been an operator until she was injured on the job. After that, she’d used her disability check even though Max found that she’d settled with the company for a large amount of money. Was that the fortune Sarah was looking for?

He quickly found the name of Mildred’s bank in Lewistown. One mystery solved. He could feel the clock ticking. The best way to find out where Sarah had taken Clancy was to catch her before she left the bank.

But as he was about to put everything back, he saw a copy of a land deed. At first, he thought it was part of what Mildred was leaving her sons. Then he saw Sarah’s signature on the bottom along with Mildred’s as co-signer. It was dated years ago and marked paid. Mildred had helped her niece buy property? When he saw the seller’s name, he felt a start.

Sarah had bought a cabin from Diana Turner, the cook at Shady Rest.

* * *

DUB HAD NO luck at the convenience store, so he headed for Shady Rest. He thought he’d talk to some of the residents. One of them might know where he could find Sarah.

Once inside, he found a few women sitting around visiting. “I’m hoping you can help me,” he said, not sure how much he should tell them. When they showed no interest, he said, “Clancy is missing. I think Sarah took her somewhere.”

That did the trick. At once they were concerned and did their best to be helpful. Unfortunately, they didn’t know where Sarah might have gone either. But as word spread that Clancy was missing, more residents gathered, wanting to help.

“What’s going on?” a dapper-looking man in his sixties with a bad comb-over asked as he came out of the office. He wore a name tag that read Vernon. Under it: Manager.

“He’s looking for Clancy,” the woman who’d introduced herself as Myrna told him. She lowered her voice as if it was a secret. “He says Sarah might have taken her somewhere.”

“Well, I doubt anyone around here can be of help,” Vernon said. “We haven’t seen her since she took off without even letting me know she wouldn’t be back to work. Same with her friend Clancy. The sheriff now has evidence that Sarah was the one who killed both Esther and Jane. If Clancy’s with her…” He pursed his lips. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the two were in cahoots.”

“In cahoots?” Myrna snapped and snorted, turning away from the manager and shaking her head at Dub as if to say, Don’t pay any attention to that fool, we don’t. “I don’t believe any of that.”

Dub realized he wasn’t getting anywhere. As badly as the residents had wanted to be helpful, they didn’t know any more than he did. He could smell food cooking but couldn’t put his finger on what it might be. It did, however, remind him of grade school. He hoped Clancy wasn’t going hungry. That she wasn’t injured. That she was still alive.

His cell rang. He saw it was the sheriff. Stepping away, he took the call, hoping there was news. There was. He had just disconnected when a woman dressed in a white uniform came out of the kitchen to announce that lunch was served. She seemed surprised to see everyone gathered around him. He could see that she was limping a little and favoring her right side.

Once the word lunch hit the residents’ ears, there was no holding them. They took off toward the cafeteria. A few told him goodbye and wished him luck. “We always liked Clancy,” Myrna said. “Hope you find her and that nothing has happened to her. I can’t believe Sarah would hurt her.”

“You’re looking for Clancy and Sarah?” the cook asked after everyone but Dub and Vernon had gone into the cafeteria.

“Diana, I just told him—” But Vernon didn’t get to finish whatever he was about to say.

“I know what everyone is saying about those two, but they’re wrong,” the cook said over the manager with force as she gave Vernon a narrowed look. “Neither of those girls hurt a soul and you can take that to the bank.”

“I think something is burning in the kitchen, Diana,” the manager said pointedly. “Maybe you’d better see to it since that’s your job.”

“You’re Diana Turner, right? I just spoke with the sheriff. He told me you might have sold a cabin to Sarah?” Dub asked. “I think Clancy might be there. I have to find her.”

“Why don’t you come in my kitchen,” Diana said and shot a look at Vernon. “Don’t you have some work to do in your office?”

The manager looked as if he was going to say more, but ignoring him, Diana told Dub, “Come in the kitchen. I can help you.”