Hoodoos

By Dan Allex

Hoodoos is the second book in the series of Dan Allex mysteries. This thriller takes place in the mountains of southern Utah and the action continues into Las Vegas.
Ex-sheriff Dan and his friends have an unusual crime to solve with too many suspects. The story takes place around ancient monuments and once again the legend of the Hoodoos, or stone people, comes true.
Join the adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dan Allex
• Release date: Sep 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476049021

Dan Allex

Dan Allex (Dan Kubicek) was born in Austin, Minnesota. I am retired and enjoy exploring the mountains of Colorado after moving here 5 years ago. My hobbies are golf, fly fishing, pheasant hunting, skiing and reading.My wife and I had lived in Las Vegas, Nv. for twenty-five years, and recently relocated to Denver to be closer to our son and his family.I enjoy telling a story, and I hope people get some enjoyment from my books. Visit danallex-com1.webs.com/ for more information about the upcoming mysteries and the author.Books in print are available now at danallex-com1.webs.com where you can order direct for less.Take a look at Chisago Creek, my latest book. It is a Minnesota mystery that is a page-turner. If you visit to Austin, stop in and browse at Sweet Reads, my favorite bookstore.

Book preview

Part One

Chapter 1

Each breath at the 11,000 foot altitude demanded another as we hiked up the path toward the summit. The view from the top was spectacular...nothing short of a true religious experience. As the sun broke through the clouds the mountains and valleys of southern Utah displayed a breathtaking scene. Jan and I had been to Brian Head a few times before, but had never taken the trip to the top. We had another ninety yards to the stone pavilion at the end of the path, but the scenery and our wind had us take a welcome pause. It was late morning in June and the sun highlighted the colors in the panorama before us.

My wife and I had first been introduced to the Brian Head area by my brother, Pete, years ago when we visited him in Las Vegas. We always felt it was one of Utah’s best kept secrets. After my early retirement from the sheriff’s job in Lake County, Minnesota we sold our home of twenty-five years on German Lake and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. My son, Mike had taken a job offer with a dental practice that had offices in Henderson and Las Vegas. We decided to follow him, his wife, Peggy, and the grandkids to Nevada and be part of the new adventure. Because the real estate market in the Las Vegas area was still in free fall mode, Jan and I decided to rent a town house until we got a feel for the market. We started our trip to Brain Head this weekend just for a getaway, but after being in the mountains for only a day we were talking about having a place up here of our own. We knew enough about the Las Vegas summers to realize the cool mountain nights would offer the perfect escape.

We had an appointment with a realtor at two, so decided to explore some before then. After Jan and I had caught our breath we continued the last few yards up the pathway to the stone pavilion that was perched on the very top of the summit. The path turned in the last few feet and led directly into the pavilion where we could see a pair of legs sticking out from under a stone picnic table.

Stay here Jan, I whispered, as I reached for my .380 that was in the clip-on holster in the small of my back.

Careful, Dave.

As I entered the pavilion I could see the damage had already been done. This guy had been here awhile from the looks of the dried blood and the lack of color of the corpse. No need to check for a pulse and the camping hatchet that was stuck in the back of his skull was a sure bet for cause of death.

I gave Jan the all clear and as she walked over she said, Oh my god...Dave, this seems like such a peaceful spot.

It is, but someone really had in for this guy, Dave said as he dialed 911.

In this area a 911 call is answered by a small group of talented guys that take care of fires, EMT emergencies, and help with law enforcement. They are armed and know their way on all the roads and trails that crisscross through the mountains. Dave had told them when making the call that this wasn’t an emergency because the guy they had found had assumed ambient temperature some time ago. It still was less than ten minutes and a rescue vehicle pulled up in the summit parking area.

Dave had his retired sheriff’s badge out and greeted the two BH rescue men as they came up to the pavilion.

Hi, I’m retired sheriff, Dave Johnson, and this is my wife, Jan.

The rescue team introduced themselves as they entered the pavilion and saw the corpse. One of them replied, Boy that had to sting, as he pointed at the embedded hatchet. I see why you mentioned no need to hurry.

The rescue team gloved up and went through the pockets of the victim. He was dressed in jeans and a Patagonia fleece top with a turtleneck underneath. His Columbia hiking shoes and heavy socks completed the standard apparel package for the area.

As one of the rescue team started going through the victim’s wallet the other started to turn the corpse on his side to get a better look at his face. My god, it’s Rick Barnes he said. Off hand I can think of thirty or forty people that would love to put a hatchet in this guy’s head!

Chapter 2

Iron County sheriff, Bill Wilden arrived on the scene and after the paperwork was complete and the body was bagged and loaded Jan and I went down from the summit and met our realtor at his office so we could look at what was available in the Brian Head area. Todd Carter had been a Brian Head regular for over twenty years and was the owner and main broker for BH realty. It didn’t take long to see that real estate up here was the same as everywhere else...all sellers and very few buyers.

Of course Todd had already heard the news of the hatchet head murder via the scanner on his desk.

So, sheriff Dave, with your law enforcement background do you plan on helping with the investigation?

Jan saw her opening and said, It’s ex-sheriff and although I will try to keep him out of this, I am sure that Dave will feel the need to offer his two cents worth.

Guess that sums it up for you, Todd.

Todd could sense that this may be a subject best avoided and went on to layout the condos that he thought would fit the Johnson’s needs. With prices ranging anywhere between 40k for a studio to three million for a log home estate the choices seemed endless. Dave and Jan wanted to stay under 100k and Todd suggested that they not go any smaller than two bedroom, two bath. Todd’s real estate company also had a rental agency and he knew that if renting was something they wanted to consider the two bedroom, two bath units were rental bread and butter. So Todd got together a nice assortment of units to look at and made a few calls and then sorted them according to distance and appointment times...and off they went.

As they were climbing in Todd’s Explorer he asked, You guys had a busy morning...did you get a chance to grab some lunch?

Jan replied, No we didn’t, and I am starving!

OK that settles it...we’ll stop for a slice of pizza and a beer, if you like.

Dave said, Sounds good...but we will go easy on the beer so you don’t try to take advantage of us.

Wouldn’t think of it, said Todd with a grin.

Todd introduced them to Tony, the owner of the pizza parlor and long time resident. Actually, the village of Brian Head had between ninety and a hundred and ten full time residents and everyone knew everybody’s business. Todd recommended a local microbrew that Tony had on tap and before they had gotten their pizza slices Jan excused herself for a bathroom visit. Dave took the opportunity to ask Todd for some background on Rick Barnes.

Todd started in. Rick was originally from Salt Lake and made a bundle on some real estate up there back when things were still flying high. I made some nice bucks up here too for a while and thank goodness I managed to squirrel some away. I’ve been at this game for ever and have ridden out a couple of other booms and busts over the years. Rick on the other hand kept doubling down everything he made and got hooked on the new found money and power. To sum it up he was a greedy little bastard that didn’t care about anybody but himself...but that’s just my opinion.`

Just then Jan came strolling back and the conversation switched to pizza choice.

One slice led to another and then they had to try another microbrew and Todd looked at his watch and said, Hey this is fun...but we have our first appointment in ten minutes.

Tony had joined them at their table and he and Todd where taking turns telling tales about some of the local people and also exchanged some good old gossip. Although the beer was 3.2% as Dave and Jan stood up they both hung on to the table and laughed.

Wow, I feel a little lightheaded, said Jan.

Dave agreed.

Tony commented, Happens a lot up here. Even though the beer is 3.2, you have the altitude working against you. Give yourselves a couple of minutes and it will pass.

As they were leaving both Dave and Jan had to admit that Tony served up some of the best pizza and beer they have had in a long time.

Dave said, Damn, I think I could settle right in up here.

Yes, everything you need, good food, good beer, good gossip and of course a fresh murder case to nose around in, said Jan, with a wink.

Chapter 3

Sheriff Wilden looked on in disbelief as he watched the County Medical Examiner try to pull the camping hatchet out of Rick Barnes skull.

M.E., Charlie Waters, exclaimed, I think for certain you can rule out accidental death! I would also bet that this hatchet was planted by someone that was six foot or taller and was no weakling. That’s just from the angle it is at and the penetration depth. This guy never knew what hit him. The murderer couldn’t have wielded another blow even if he wanted to because the first blow was so intense the hatchet was wedged in the skull to the point where I am going to need some help holding this guy’s head so I can get it out.

Well, Rick had a knack for really pissing people off.

The sheriff’s team had tried to get some prints off the hatchet before the M.E. started wrestling with it, but the handle was clean. Not much else for clues around either. His wallet still had money and credit cards. His Escalade keys were gone, but no vehicle on the mountain top. An approximate time of death was sometime the day before probably in the mid to late afternoon. The coyotes hadn’t found him, which was a break. There also are mountains lions in the area occasionally, but none of them had sniffed him out either.

Sheriff Wilden shook his head as he left and said to Charlie, I’ll check back with you later, doc, when your done playing with that hatchet.

OK, sheriff. We will run his blood work and if anything comes up out of the ordinary...I’ll give you a holler. Well, I could leave the hatchet stuck, but the undertaker would have a hell of a time fitting him in a casket.

Chapter 4

Todd had Dave and Jan look at condos from most of the complexes and had convinced them that the smallest unit they wanted was a two bedroom, two bath. They agreed because it made sense especially with the kids and grandkids to have a place that would sleep at least six. The majority of the condos were built in the seventies and some had been updated and some not. The newer units were all pretty pricey and made it tough to stay under the hundred thousand budget. They narrowed it down to two condos that were close to the main ski lodge and lifts. They were also within walking distance of the general store and Tony’s pizza place as well as a coffee shop and deli.

The Aspens complex was directly across the highway from the Giant Steps Lodge and had the nicest setting of any of the condos. There was also a cute unit in the Giant Steps complex that was closer to the lift and was ski in and ski out. This complex didn’t have it’s own entrance and you had to walk down a long hall to your front door. The Aspens condo had it’s own front door and back door with a large deck out front. They were leaning toward the Aspens because of the park-like setting that had giant Douglas Fir and Aspen trees in the middle courtyard and all around the condo buildings.

So Todd, I think we will stay up here a couple of more nights. The room we have at the Brian Head Hotel is nice and the food in the restaurant is good...plus there is always Tony’s.

Good Dave. That will give you some time to explore and I can line up a few more condos to go through, said Todd.

Sounds good. Hey, Todd...if you don’t mind...give me a little more background on this Rick Barnes guy, will you?

Well, Dave, without talking ill of the dead and trying not to gossip...here are the facts. The guy has been in the area for maybe six or seven years and opened up a real estate office. He had made some development deals around Salt Lake back when things were booming and kept doubling down on real estate and ended up with a nice chunk of money. Guess prices around the Salt Lake ski areas were pretty steep so he came to Brian Head and saw it was virtually undeveloped compared to other resort areas so he started looking for property that he could develop and build a high end condo complex. He found a piece of land and had the plans drawn up and approached the BH planning commission to get the go ahead.

Rick could be a convincing guy and knew how to schmooze when he had to. Brian Head could use a little more development and the millions he wanted to put into this project might start the ball rolling for some other investors and hopefully some nice restaurants and stores that we really needed. Of course he had some artist’s rendition of the way the new place would look and it was all top notch. Most of the planning commission members owned property at BH as well as the city council members and they all could see dollar signs and increased property values that this project could bring.

"Some people expressed some concern about the size of the project for the land they wanted to put it on. The complex density was too high. The excavation and retaining walls seemed inadequate and the drainage and affect on the neighboring complexes was questionable. Plus, we didn’t have a good history on the guy and he seemed a little too slick for some of us. I could see the project helping my net worth by bringing in other investors and shooting up property values. I own seventeen condos up here and rent them all so I wouldn’t object to