Wake of Evil

By Loretta Jackson

Elaine Todd worked for her uncle, Aaron Todd, at his copper mine. Aaron clashed with the mine’s foreman, Brad Winters, and during an angry confrontation, fired him. That night in a drunken rage Brad showed up at Aaron’s isolated lodge--and the result was murder. When Aaron’s long-time rival, Vince Gillette, appeared to deepen the mystery that surrounded the mine, Elaine worked alone to find the killer. Romantic Suspense by Loretta Jackson

• Language: English
• Publisher: Belgrave House
• Release date: Feb 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781610848855

Book preview

Jackson

Chapter 1

As Elaine leaned over the body, pangs of guilt broke through her anguish. His labored breathing grew faint, became inaudible. Blood, flowing from the gunshot wound in his chest, made an ever-widening circle on the carpet.

Could she have this afternoon at the mine looked ahead and prevented this tragic violence? Snatches of the day shot before her eyes like the snap of camera lenses.

  * * *

At Todd Copper Mine Elaine's boss, Karl Harper, had worked steadily and conscientiously until he had received the call from his wife. Afterwards he had done absolutely nothing save stare from the window or draw aimless lines on the scratch pad near the phone.

Because it was not like Karl to be sullen or angry, Elaine felt his bewilderment transfer itself to her. Karl's problems generally became her problems, too. Uncle Aaron, she respected, but Karl, no actual relative of hers, had over the years become a father to her.

Finally Karl abruptly rose and walked toward the door. Elaine, deciding she would not intrude, silently watched him leave. She would wait for Karl to bring up the subject of Elizabeth. In time Karl would talk to her for their confiding in one another went back a long way. She had been a child nine years ago when Karl had been debating whether or not to marry Elizabeth. Beautiful, clever, expensive, and sixteen years his junior, Elizabeth had at that time appeared even to Elaine as an answer to every man's dreams.

Elaine slid back the chair and walked to the window to see where Karl had gone. The high arched panes rose to the great height of the ceiling, the upper half painted gray to restrain the afternoon sun. The aged glass distorted her view and made her feel removed from the bustle outside. Back near the main shaft the air looked hazy with dust and fumes, and she could hear from the open window near Karl's desk, the sound of steel scraping against rock and someone shouting above the constant disharmony of motors.

Hello, doll.

Bill, what are you doing here?

What say you desert the mine, and we'll go fishing?

What say you go alone? It's going to rain.

You give up mining. I give up doctoring.

 How do we manage to live, then?

 Off your Uncle Aaron.

 Elaine laughed.

 Not a bad idea, anyway. Bill stopped beside the urn to fill a cup half full of coffee. Bill always wore white. Like the wide blue eyes and sandy hair, white was a part of him. Now, shall we run through the morning gossip? Elizabeth is said to have been seen in the company of a man. Wait until old Karl finds out about that!

 Elaine had known Karl's problem with Elizabeth would involve another man, but Bill's confirmation made it emerge as real. Could the man in question be someone she knew, maybe even one of the bachelors living at her uncle's lodge? It amused Elaine that she thought first of Bill himself—not Bill, that was certain, not Lon Tolson, whose whole life was his work, particularly not Uncle Aaron, whose love affairs were occasional, but highly discreet. What man? Elaine asked.

 That part of the scandal I haven't heard yet.

 You seemed to have missed the best part.

 Bill abandoned the steaming coffee and took a playful half-step toward her. She couldn't help being flattered by the admiring look on his face, imprinted with that boyish smattering of freckles. Did anyone ever tell you...?

 Don't be the first. You'll break my record.

 I'm beginning to think, Bill said, that women don't like my type. Unless it's Elizabeth, he added jokingly. She just might go for me. I think I'll ask her out.

 Don't. Poor Karl. We're so far behind on our work now, that's all we'd need.

 OK, I'll be true blue if you tell me when you're going to marry me. It's not like I'm asking you to give up your copper mine. You can have all of this and me, too! The grin faded from his face. I think we should get married right away.

 Elaine hesitated. I don't make marriage plans during office hours, she quipped.

 But this is your lunch hour. Oh, well, let's gossip some more then. Elizabeth...

 Shuu—here comes Karl.

 The lag to Karl's step made him appear heavier, older. He did not acknowledge Bill's breezy, Hello, bum, but merely sank down into his chair, lines deepening in his fleshy face. With a harassed frown, he closed one of the folders.

 If you'll excuse us, Doctor, Elaine said lightly, we have to get back to the reports. Uncle Aaron wants them by tomorrow.

 Karl's large hand shielded his gray eyes from her view and left only the mass of thick hair, beginning to streak more and more with white. We can't possibly get them done, he said.

 We can if we work late.

 I'm not working late.

 Elaine, surprised, answered, Maybe I can finish them myself.

 Not a chance! Bill interrupted. Tonight we dance and dine.

 Bill made motions of dancing and dining, which stopped when Elaine said, Alone. I don't have nerve enough to cross Uncle Aaron. You know how he's been lately.

 He's your uncle, kid. Surely you can get around him.

 "He's the owner of Todd Copper Mine and I'm his employee, Elaine corrected. If you recall, he reminded me of my employee status just last night."

 Heavens to Betsy! Is that him now? Bill took a second look from the window. I just remember, he said, I have a patient waiting.

 The sinking ship, Elaine observed.

 Bill cast a final glance from the window. All rats overboard, he called, gave a smart salute, and left.

 Uncle Aaron had parked in front of the main office building and was cutting across the grounds toward their office. Elaine watched his approach, and for a moment she watched him objectively, without her natural defense of him. He carried his slender frame with dignity and with a tinge of arrogance. She had always been proud of his looks. He was still handsome, though now he was much too thin, but his aristocratic face was strong and unlined and his pale blond hair had never grayed. He was near Karl's age, in his mid-fifties, but an ever-present constancy placed him beyond age, like one of Michelangelo's statues.

 Elaine's black hair made Uncle Aaron and she appear unrelated, but she saw Uncle Aaron's eyes as she looked at her own in the mirror, eyes she wished would not chill over or instantaneously brighten when pleased or amused.

 Aaron was not pleased now. The smile on his lips was forced, almost mocking, nevertheless setting a twinkle in his faded blue eyes. Mr. Harper, he said. I told you to have Brad Winters come to the lodge this morning.

 I forgot, I guess, Karl spoke, not looking up.

 You forgot and don't guess. Where is Brad Winters?

 I just saw him leaving the shaft, Elaine said.

 Uncle Aaron, his hand still on the doorknob, turned back. I want those reports tomorrow.

 That's not possible. The chair scrapped against the floor as Karl got swiftly to his feet. Elaine noticed with a kind of disbelief the angry flush on Karl's face and the sudden tightening of his full lips.

 Uncle Aaron's pale eyes lingered on Karl as if he were allowing Karl ample time to self-destruct.

 A few confused seconds passed. Why did neither of them speak? I'm sure we'll have the reports finished, Elaine managed to say. They're just about done now.

 Uncle Aaron looked at her and smiled. That's all I wanted to know. I don't think I expect too much, just some efficiency. And respect, he added before he left.

 Elaine let out her breath slowly and met Karl's gaze.

 I'm going to give him everything he wants someday, Karl said. I’ll walk away from the mine and never have to see him again. I should have a long time ago. Years ago.

 Elaine, shocked by Karl's words and by his near confrontation with Uncle Aaron, said nothing. This behavior wasn't like Karl. He wasn't a person to let his unhappiness interfere with his dependable and hardy nature or with his sense of duty.

Returning to her desk and pretending busyness, Elaine thought of the long afternoon looming before them. She thought of all the afternoons. She wondered what it would be like here if Karl actually did leave. Of course, Karl's declarations were mere talk. She was certain that Karl, like herself, would in the end follow the course of logic.

Just as Elaine had. She had denied her passion for rocks and minerals, denied her desire to continue studying geology and someday become an archeologist. She thought momentarily of far away places, of exciting expeditions.

 But Elaine had not withstood Aaron's pressure to return to Todd Copper Mine, to the vacancy her uncle had created for her in Karl's office as Assistant Engineer, which had turned out to be a glorified name for Karl's secretary.

 Her returning here didn't necessarily signify a lifetime commitment, she told herself. At any time Elaine could leave, leave the mine and Bill, leave Uncle Aaron and her massive security. And have, what? A life she had chosen herself. It's nice to dream about, she said aloud, but that's all. You and I are here for all time.

 I guess we are. I'm way too old to start over. Karl reopened the folder slowly, resignedly. I wouldn't leave anyway. I don't have the courage. It's the way I am.

 There's nothing wrong with the way you are.

 Karl full lips twisted derisively. No, I didn't expect you to think so.

 Don't sell yourself short, Karl. Trying to use good judgment isn't cowardly.

 Karl didn't comment on that, but tried hard to resume his old easy manner. You don't have a thing to worry about yourself, Elaine. You just marry Bill. The sooner the better. Bill's a darn nice guy, and a darn nice guy is hard to find nowadays. He paused. I could break your fool neck for telling Todd we have these reports almost ready.

 I'll sit up with them tonight, Elaine replied, smiling.

 You should be out with Bill. He's a nice-looking fellow. Aren't you afraid some other girl will grab him?

 She smiled again.

 You're sure of him. You young people don't know what a good thing it is to be sure of someone. He looked at Elaine closely, his gray eyes steady. She thought he was going to share some secret with her, instead he rose from the desk and shuffled through the papers in his hand.

 From outside, close to the building, voices drifted to them. Elaine recognized Brad Winters' voice, or rather the strained, high pitch of his words. She listened anxiously. She had never really expected since Brad had taken over the job of the mine's work foreman that he would last at it. He could not take orders. She knew that he would be listening to Uncle Aaron in that nervous, intent way, accepting all that was said indiscriminately or rejecting everything just as indiscriminately.

 Uncle Aaron's words now came to her clearly. There's too many leeches on the payroll, that's what I'm trying to tell you. I want you to cull them out.

 We're strict about who gets employed here. Brad came into view through the large, recessed window. He was slightly hunched and stared at the ground in front of him. His hands dug deep into the pockets of his denim jacket. You've had no complaint since I took over as foreman.

 I have one now. I know how important each employee is. How old are you—twenty-six, twenty-eight? Do you think you know more than I?

 I didn't say that. They both stopped walking. I said I can see no reason to replace any of my men.

 But I do. That was the only explanation Uncle Aaron offered, the only explanation he would ever consider necessary.

Elaine wished that Brad would let it go at that, but, as usual, he was going to hold his ground with that frantic life-or-death insistence.

 I've told you, Uncle Aaron said, what I want you to do.

 I can see no reason for it!

 Elaine walked to the window.

 I've told you, Aaron repeated, what I want done. Now you can do what I say or find someplace else to work.

 Elaine was aware of the men outside, who had begun to watch, aware of Brad's narrow face grown paper white.

 Brad's voice rose to a frantic pitch. It will only slow things down to break in new men!

 I've been around a mine all my life, Aaron snapped. Are you questioning my ability?

 "No, I wasn't questioning you. The you was sarcastic and Elaine held her breath, hoping Uncle Aaron would overlook it.

 Aaron stood very straight. All at once he swung away. You can pick up your check, he said.

 Brad froze. He let Uncle Aaron walk away several steps before trailing after him. I've worked here all my life, he yelled. I'm closer to everything here than you are. I'm better able to judge what to do.

 Don't question everything I say. Aaron's eyes remained fixed straight ahead.

 Instantly Brad stopped walking. His face hardened, and an irrational glitter burned in his eyes. Mr. Big! he spat out. You’re not so big, are you? Just mean and little!

Aaron, still maintaining his poise, turned around. Elaine had thought until then he would forgive Brad his impudence and take him back, now she lost hope.

You can get off my property.

 For a second Elaine was afraid Brad was going to strike him.

 You can't do this, Todd! After all I've done here! Brad clutched Aaron's arm. I’m not going to let you…

 Take your hands off me.

 Brad’s released his hold. His thin, bony knuckles whitened as they convulsively opened and closed. I'm going to get even with you, and don’t you forget it! I’m going to settle with you once and for all.

 There goes my foreman, Karl, at her side, spoke up.

I'm going to talk to them.

Outside, Elaine looked first for Brad, but he was no longer in sight. The men who had stopped working to watch were now mingling with the others. Already the news was being passed from mouth to mouth.

 Thinking she could overtake Uncle Aaron before he reached the trim, sprawling building, she called to him and increased her speed, but he was inside before she was halfway there. She pushed open the glass-panel door lettered Todd Copper Mine, Main Office, and found Uncle Aaron talking to the mine's head accountant, Lon Tolson. Lon was eying him seriously through black-rimmed glasses. She heard only the last of Aaron's sentence.

 ...so I fired him. Without bothering to glance around at her, he said. Elaine, tell Harper to see that a replacement is made immediately. I would suggest Troy.

 We don't have anyone good enough to replace Brad, she said. Troy may be all right, but he hasn't been here a year.

 Don't be short-sighted, Elaine. Anyone can be replaced.

 Elaine was the one person whose disagreement Aaron could look upon with a lavish tolerance, as though she were a follower who wanted only assurance. For lack of any words that might appeal to him, she restated her opinion. Brad's a miner. I don't think I would lose him over a point of view.

 Lon uneasily cleared his throat. Brad's good. He's very good. As far as I'm concerned, Elaine is right.

 The trouble, Mr. Tolson, is that people never seem to know just how far they're concerned. The sudden sharpening of his voice mocked the sparkle that came into his eyes. I don't applaud a good job, I expect one. Brad Winters was not doing the job I expect. By the way, I want those reports from your department tomorrow.

 Tomorrow, Lon echoed. The black glasses, which he now adjusted, made his light skin appear even lighter and contrasted with his blond hair. That's going to push us, Mr. Todd. Accounting is different. These special reports you want make a lot of extra work. I'm afraid...

 Just have them by tomorrow. Now, if you'll excuse me. Uncle Aaron left quickly. Lon and Elaine stared after the Cadillac as it glided serenely toward the road.

  * * * Elaine locked the battered door marked Engineer's Office and passed under the lonely beam of light toward her car. Ten o'clock—the reports hadn't taken as long as she had expected.

 Always Elaine felt a sense of dread as she headed toward Uncle Aaron's lodge. The changelessness, the emptiness—lately she had found herself wanting to avoid even those evenings she spent with Bill.

 Tonight she was tempted to drive into Copper City. She wondered what it would be like to be a part of some laughing crowd, to dance until dawn with some dark-eyed stranger. She paused to glance down the switchbacks leading to Copper City, then with resignation headed toward home.

The incline of the road rose straight and direct and would end abruptly at Aaron's lodge. To strangers this gave the impression that everything in Copper City began and ended with Aaron Todd.

 From out of the darkness the haunting image of Brad Winter's face arose. Brad had always troubled Elaine; sometimes she was even afraid of him, of his stony silences, of his intenseness. Karl often muttered about how Brad got on his nerves, too, but he had forgotten his complaints or hadn't meant them, for all afternoon he had recalled just how much Brad had accomplished and how very much the mine owed him. Karl had left early, long before the reports were finished, to see if he could find Brad and try to console him.

 Mountains loomed above Elaine, a shade blacker than the sky, and no glimmer fell across the river, which followed close to the road. The stillness, the murkiness, brought back recollections of her parents' death and herself, a child, huddled, scarcely breathing, against the door of her uncle's car, awed by his strong and certain words. All things are acquired, Elaine. You will acquire a liking for the kind of life I lead.

 Elaine rolled down the window and breathed deeply of the water and pine-filled air. The smell of the mountains usually drove the somber thoughts from her mind. Once more she thought of crowds and laughter. At Uncle Aaron's lodge things would be exactly as they were every night, for Uncle Aaron frowned upon change.

 Unless Elizabeth had something going. Even though Elaine did not like or trust her, Elizabeth had added something to the lodge. Even a stodgy old bachelor like Uncle Aaron could be almost carefree in her presence. No, not carefree, charming, maybe, but Uncle Aaron had never been carefree.

 The old stone lodge set back against the mountain, peering out ominously from its shield of trees. In season it was filled with vacationers, but all that were here now were the permanent boarders: Karl and Elizabeth, Lon, Bill, and, of course, Clara Sampson, who, alone, occupied the servant's quarters. Other employees stayed in town or moved in when the workload demanded it, which would soon be the case. Uncle Aaron had already ordered repairs, the painting of the immense, screened porch that stretched across the front of the hotel.

 Broad, bare beams across the ceiling and rough hewn wood gave the lobby a rustic appearance. In spite of its great size, it managed to look inviting with the plush, leather couches, bookshelves, and the great fireplace of hammered copper. Spaced around the walls were Uncle Aaron's guns, mostly antique, except for the rifle above the fireplace.

 Is that you, Elaine? Aaron appeared at the door to his office.

 I worked a little late tonight.

 Work is what makes life worthwhile, he said. He had made the same statement to her when he had put her on the train leaving for the university, and when she had received his checks, always included was that reminder of the merits of being employed. Focus you life around one single, dominant goal. She could quote long passages from his letters, insistently strumming the