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“Ned’s running a few minutes late, that’s all.” Irene cleared her throat. “I’ll bring the two of you some waters, as well.”
Otto narrowed his eyes as he monitored Irene’s departure from the table. Brook wondered if Ned was the man who’d been smoking out front, but she didn’t want to stray too far off topic.
“What can you tell me about Helen Beckham?”
“Other than she stayed at Hiker’s Haven, not much. She was with a couple of friends who had too much to drink one night. She decided to hike on her own the following morning, and she was never seen again. We suspected the boyfriend had something to do with her disappearance, but there was no evidence to support that theory. Search parties were deployed, weeks were spent canvassing the trails and surrounding area, and eventually life moved on…as it always does. The flyer with her face plastered on the front is still hanging on the bulletin board at the station.”
The two of them spent the next half an hour eating their lunches and discussing possible connections between the missing women. Brook had taken a moment to call Bit. She gave him details regarding her meeting with Kim and Denise Breen, explained that she was having lunch with the sheriff, and then gave her word that she would bring Bit back a pizza. Apparently, Moonshine Diner made an excellent one.
“Carissa Norman, Helen Beckham, and Luna Breen were all brunettes. All in their mid-twenties.” Otto wiped his mouth with his napkin before setting it next to his plate. “And now you have one of my deputies searching other abandoned structures that aren’t near the trails. I don’t like where you’re going with this, Brook.”
“Who is Ned, and why is he on parole?”
Brook had made sure that Irene wasn’t within earshot. The woman had obviously lied to cover for the man after Otto had asked about Ned’s whereabouts. Irene cared for him. Employee? Son? Nephew? Brook had been there and done that herself. Unfortunately, Irene had no idea what those so-called loved ones were capable of outside of the bubble that had been self-imposed.
“Ned Proehl. Irene’s nephew. Assault and battery.”
Brook leaned back in her chair, still holding onto her napkin. There was an edge to Otto’s voice that told her there was more to the story.
“It was due to a domestic disturbance about a year ago. Ned served three months, but he claims his actions were in self-defense.” Otto clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. “Before you ask, the incident took place outside of my jurisdiction. My deputies and I had nothing to do with his arrest.”
Brook remained silent, because Otto knew damn well that wasn’t the question she had on her mind. Considering that Otto ate at the Moonshine Diner at least three times a week, he would have insight as to whether or not Ned was the type of man to hurt a woman.
“From my standpoint, Ned has followed the parameters set forth by his parole officer. He’s kept his nose clean, has a job here at the diner helping out in the kitchen, and seems to be on the right path.” Otto rested an elbow on the table. “I keep a close eye on him because of Irene. She does a lot for this community.”
“What about Nate and Jules Knowles, Dominic Ryder, and Jace Mathers?”
“I’m not sure what you’re asking me,” Otto said as he once again rubbed his index finger and thumb together. The tic seemed to occur when there was something placed in front of him that he couldn’t figure out. “Nate and Jules Knowles are volunteers on the mountain rescue teams from time to time when needed. Local veterinarians who cover multiple counties. Good people.”
“I’m just trying to get a feel for those volunteering their time, that’s all.”
“Dominic is mostly a blogger, although he does freelance for a local paper now and again. If you’re worried about him having access to the case, he has helped us out numerous times without issue. If I recall correctly, I overheard someone say that he got lost in the mountains when he was a young boy. A search party found him a day later. A bit dehydrated, but otherwise fine. As for Jace, he owns the bait and tackle shop a block down the street. I feel for him, though. Lost his brother in a climbing accident back in 2003, and then he lost his father some years back. I heard through the grapevine that he and his wife are on the outs.”
Hearing Otto describe some of the reasons that the volunteers offered their free time to help others struck a chord, and Brook found herself being pulled in that direction.
“What about Nate and Jules? Why do they volunteer their time?”
“Nate Knowles?” Irene had overheard the conversation, but Brook hadn’t minded since she and Otto had moved on from the woman’s nephew. “Nate’s one of the good ones. Loves animals. Met his wife in college. As for why he helps out with the search parties, it’s because he wants to pay back what some of the volunteers did for him back in the day. You see, Nate was a late bloomer. He wasn’t athletic back then, and he didn’t fit in well with the other boys his age who liked to spend their time outdoors. One day, his dog chased a deer into the woods. That chocolate lab was his best friend. Anyway, the town couldn’t stand to see that boy so unhappy, so a bunch of people joined together and went searching for the pup. Took two days, but that dog was finally found with an injured leg. Nate never forgot the help that he received, and he never forgot his roots. He and Jules set up their practice after graduation and have given back to the community in many ways.”
“There you have it,” Otto said with a smile and a wink. Brook had noticed an underlying chemistry between the two of them. Irene was at least ten years older, but that hadn’t seemed to dampen their attraction to one another. Considering that Graham was more than twenty years her senior, she understood more than most that age meant nothing in the grand scheme of things. “No more coffee for me, Irene. I need to head back out and cover Riggs’ shift.”
Brook reached for her phone, which happened to be in a case that allowed her to keep a corporate credit card in a sleeve. She preferred to carry a purse, but there were many times it was more convenient just to carry her cell phone.
“Put that away,” Otto instructed as he reached for his hat and sunglasses. “Lunch is on me. I’m glad that we got to know one another, Brook. I’d like to be kept apprised of any new information regarding the case. Should you need any additional help, I’m a phone call away.”
Brook took a moment to thank Irene for such a delicious lunch, picked up Bit’s pizza, and also snagged a large to-go cup of coffee. While there was nothing wrong with Wyn’s coffee behind the bar, the diner’s rich grounds won the contest hands down.
“Otto?” Brook had waited until they were outside to ask her question. He’d been about to step off the curb when she’d called out his name. “Most everyone seems to have a reason as to why they volunteer their time when emergencies arise in the surrounding area, but you never mentioned what Riggs’ motivation was to join in these mountain rescue teams.”
“Moonshine Valley is Riggs’ hometown,” Otto replied as he slipped on his sunglasses. He didn’t bother to put on his hat since he was about to get behind the steering wheel of his cruiser. “He grew up in these mountains.”
“Then why not be a park ranger?”
Otto had been turning his hat over in his hands as they talked, but he stilled his movements upon hearing her question. She made sure that her grip on the pizza box and coffee didn’t change, but she sensed the ripple of tension in the air. She’d hit on something, and she braced herself for a possible shift in the case.
It wasn’t unheard of for a killer to involve himself in an investigation.
“I trust Riggs, Brook.”
