Tracking the Mystery: Hairy's Cryptid Cafe, #5

By Jo Carey

In the past few months, Everly Mason has gone from southern belle to café owner to cryptid hunter. Can she survive her latest ordeal without adding killer to her resume? Tracking the Mystery is the fifth book in this exciting new women's adventure. Stop by Hairy's Cryptid Café and check out the new menu. 97 pages/ 38,500 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jo Carey
• Release date: Jun 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386380535

Jo Carey

Jo Carey grew up in the Midwest but her curiosity and gypsy-spirit has kept her on the move. She's lived in eight US states and spent three years living in Ireland. She has always loved creature movies, so creatures and bugs often show up in her books. Jo, a former information security compliance guru, writes fast-paced, character-driven stories in a variety of genres from medical thrillers to space operas and cozy mysteries. Her novels are filled with humor, romance, and sometimes creatures or aliens, or maybe even all of the above. She often builds her stories around a strong female lead character surrounded by plenty of hunky male heroes. Jo's been under fire on a golf course and climbed out the roof of an elevator in the Netherlands. Life hasn't been boring. Now residing in Texas, setting often plays a huge role in her stories. Jo was intrigued by the League of Planetary Systems, a world her husband, Frank, created for his science fiction books, and she now writes mysteries and other types of tales sets in that world. Jo was bitten by a cat, a fire ant, and a snake, before succumbing to the bite of the writing bug.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Has anyone in the group experienced a medical emergency while in the wilderness?  Dr. Troy, our instructor, asked when we stopped for lunch.

Knowing how people usually react to my stories, I didn't volunteer. I looked around the group hoping someone else would raise their hand. They didn't.

This isn't my first time teaching this class, he said. There are only two reasons people take this course—their current or desired job requires it, or they've been ill-prepared for a situation they faced in the wild. He scanned the group's faces again.

I've had a medical emergency in the wilderness, I said, feeling like it was something I needed a 12-step program for.

Tell us about it, Everly. Dr. Troy said.

I was mulling over whether to tell them about Chance falling off the cliff, Tom getting shot, or my escapes from kidnappers.

What are you thinking about? Just tell us what happened.

Just trying to decide which time, I said mostly to myself. I was hiking with my boyfriend, well he wasn't my boyfriend then. We were on a path above a river. He stopped, I didn't. He went over the cliff and landed in the river. He had a broken ankle and a concussion.

There. I'd told the story without my usual ramblings. I was pleased with myself.

That sounds pretty bad, Shara, one of my fellow workshop attendees said. Why are you smiling?

Before I could respond, one of the guys asked, You pushed this guy off a cliff, and now he's your boyfriend. How did that work?

It's a long, complicated story that's not relevant to this training.

Dr. Troy asked what the biggest challenge was when Chance was injured. I couldn't really tell him about the bigfoot part, so I talked about the need to get Chance out of the river but the concern over moving him and the fact that he's a big guy I couldn't move by myself.

Thanks for sharing that, Everly, Troy said. You'll definitely be learning some skills this week that could have helped you in that situation. Now that Everly broke the ice, who else has experienced a medical emergency in the wild?

Again, no one volunteered anything. When the silence was dragging on, I spoke up again. I've had other medical emergencies in the wild, if no one else has anything to share.

I explained what I could about the trip when Tom was shot. Some of my fellow campers looked at me like I was just making this stuff up to get attention.

What are you some sort of wilderness femme fatale? Are we going to be safe with you out here? one of the guys asked.

I think he was joking. At least, I hope so. Doctor Troy didn't ask for any more examples, thank goodness. I was glad the only visible evidence left of my last outdoor experience was the bandage on my forearm. Dr. Wainwright from the BITES lab was insistent that he provide the follow-up care for my wound. He believes that the poultice of plant material that was on my arm when I was brought to the BITES lab was instrumental in the quick healing of the wound. At least that's what he said, but I noticed that every time he came into Wilkins' Gap to check on my arm, he'd already made arrangements to see my sister Gracie Layne who was staying in my apartment above Hairy's until her school break was over and she went back to Vanderbilt to finish her last semester.

That reminds me, I need to talk to Gracie Layne. I only had a few days in town while she was here and I was busy. I'm not sure what she found to keep herself busy, but the times I stopped by the apartment, she was never there. I wanted to make sure she was recovering OK after being kidnapped. I knew she was fine physically, but I was worried how she might deal with it mentally once she returned to her normal life at school

After Gracie Layne went back to school, I had a few days in town to work with my staff at Hairy's Cryptid Cafe to roll out our new pizza offering. Delivery wasn't feasible in our small town, but we hoped the pizza would be popular with our dinners to eat in or take home.

Gracie had stayed at my apartment, because I agreed to move into Chance's A-frame. Now, that the threat from the people who'd been experimenting on cryptids at the BITES lab in the woods outside Wilkins Gap was over, we both felt I'd be safe at Chance's. It was out in the country and, I had to admit, I had spent so much time there these past few months, it already felt like home. I felt like life was moving into a new phase. I couldn't say it was getting back to normal, because living with Chance was a new adventure. One I was enjoying immensely.

The wilderness medical training was something I decided to do after I pushed Chance off a cliff and had to call search and rescue. Then when Tom got shot, I decided it was a requirement. Our first day of training was spent getting acquainted with our fellow trainees and hiking into the wilderness.

Late in the afternoon, as we were on the final leg of our hike for the day, Dr. Troy fell back and walked beside me. It sounds as though you've had some unfortunate trials in the wilderness. I'm glad you're not letting it stop you from enjoying nature.

There's even more than I talked about, but it made me want to learn more so I'm sure I can survive out here, I explained. My boyfriend is a hunting guide. I never worry about him surviving in the wilderness. I don't want him to worry about me either. I've had some survival training, but I wanted this training so I can help others that might be with me.

That's a noble goal. I'm sure you'll get a lot out of this week.

CHAPTER TWO

Training was going well. I was learning a lot and enjoying being in the woods. Minor medical issues within the group were used as teaching opportunities. We were half way through our week and a sprained ankle and blisters were the only things we had to deal with.

On the morning of day four, we learned how to make a stretcher from two tree limbs and whatever we could find for the cross pieces. One team used shirts between the two poles, one used vines, and my group used duct tape. Each team had three people. We had to build the stretcher and haul the largest member of our team to the tree line on the other side of camp. It was chilly, but the sun was bright and I warmed up working on our stretcher, so I pushed my fleece shirt sleeves partway up my arms.

Did you get hurt? Shara asked, pointing at the bandage.

Not here, I said.

What happened?

I got shot, I said. It was the truth, and I tried not to make it sound like a big deal.

Shot, she yelled. Everyone turned our way.

When? How? Chuck, our other teammate, asked.

What's going on over here? Dr. Troy asked as he walked up to inspect our stretcher.

Everly was shot, Shara said, pointing at my arm.

Eyes darted around the clearing where we'd been working. Not now, I said. Days ago.

Troy came over and took hold of my arm. He carefully peeled back the bandage and looked at the stitches. Did this happen in the wilderness too?

Yes.

Everyone gathered around. I guess you want to know what happened, I said. I took a minute to think about what I didn't want to share about the events that led to my getting shot. My sister was kidnapped. In helping to free her, I was shot.

They all just stood and stared at me. Even Dr. Troy seemed at a lost as to how to respond. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, he said, It's healing nicely. Just don't do anything to pull the stitches. OK, people. Let's get back to work.

After that, my fellow campers seemed unsure how to deal with me. I think they wondered what kind of person got involved in kidnappings and shootings, and they didn't even know the half of it.

XXX

We were all back at the lodge that was the home base for the Wilderness Medical School. Training was complete, and we were having dinner together before everyone returned to their normal lives. Troy handed out our certificates and t-shirts. It was a good week. You all did well, and we had no major incidents. Congratulations, he said as he walked around our table.

As the night wore on, some of them asked for more details about the situations that led me to the training. I shared what I could.

I feel like we should all get shirts that say 'I survived a week in the wilderness with Everly Mason,' one of guys suggested.

I should have thought to bring some for you, I said, trying to take their teasing in stride.

XXX

Chance Munroe is my future. There. I said it. In the sky somewhere over the southwestern US, I finally admitted that I wanted to build a life with Chance. He'd been on board with that idea from the day we met. It took a while for me to realize I was in love with him. Now, I felt like the last bit of hesitancy was gone. We were building a life together. I might not tell him that though. I wasn't sure if he'd be pleased that I was on board or pissed that I'd been just going through the motions for the past couple of months.

I spied Chance from the escalator that led to the arrivals waiting area of the El Paso International Airport. I smiled when I saw him towering over the crowd of people waiting to welcome their loved ones. I ran into his arms and reveled in my new-found confidence in our relationship.

After an embarrassingly hot kiss that made me feel like I was melting into him, he took a step back. Something's different, he said.

One of the things that drives me crazy about our relationship is that Chance can read me like an open book. He knows everything I'm feeling, even the things I try to keep from him. Not that I want to keep secrets from him, but it would be nice not to have to discuss all my insecurities. I couldn't imagine Chance ever feeling insecure about anything.

I'm so glad you're here, he said, holding my hand, as we took the escalator downstairs to baggage claim.

How was your hunt? I asked as we waited for my luggage.

It was good, but I couldn't stop thinking about what comes next.

My lack of understanding must have been obvious on my face. What do you mean?

Us. Our life together. The museum. The cafe. Everything. We're making some big changes. Now that we're together again, we can do more planning.

It's really cool that you're so excited about all of this, but it's a little scary too.

Aren't you excited?

Of course, but it's overwhelming. We really haven't taken anything off our plates yet. Even the BFFam isn't completely done.

Speaking of that, he said, picking up my bag when it came around on the carousel.