Gilded Path to Nowhere by Elaine L. Orr

Author:Elaine L. Orr
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: amateur sleuth, cozy mystery, paranormal mystery, small town mystery, maryland mountains
Publisher: Elaine L. Orr

WHILE SHE FIXED DINNER on Wednesday, Digger thought about the color paint for the master bedroom and whether to buy blinds or pull shades. She was tired of thinking about gold coins and people murdered on the mountain long ago. And especially tired of thoughts about Bruno Sampson.

She carried a plate into the living room to eat the freshwater bass and broccoli. She had tuned the TV to local news so Uncle Benjamin could watch it. Before she sat down, the house phone rang and she walked to the kitchen to answer it. She didn’t know the number, but it was local.

“Ms. Browning? This is Lucas Heller.”

Digger couldn’t imagine why anyone from the Chamber board would call her at home. “What can I do for you?”

“My sister, Veronica, whom I believe you’ve met, tells me you’re advising her about buying some property on Meadow Mountain.”

Digger felt her cheeks redden in anger. “I’ve met her. But have not talked to her about buying property. She talked to me about opening a campground and asked my firm to design an ad for her.” She wondered if she should tell Heller that his sister wanted the bill for her ad to go to him.

Heller said nothing for several seconds. “You aren’t advising her about buying property when the county has a lien on it for back taxes?”

“No. She stopped me on the street today to ask how to find the county office that deals with that, and I told her Oakland. That’s it.”

Heller cleared his throat, and his voice became tight. “I apologize for disturbing you.”

“No problem at all. Have a good evening.”

Digger wondered why Veronica would tell her brother that? Either she was a chronic liar, or she had learned he knew Digger and thought advice from her would make Lucas think more positively about Veronica’s campground idea. Aloud, she said, “Don’t try to interpret a fool’s mind.”

When Digger returned to the living room, Uncle Benjamin sat on the couch and pointed to the TV set. “The Pittsburgh channel said there’s a story about the gold coins coming up.”

“Oh boy, that’ll set off Bruno if people head his way. I wonder if he has a TV.”

“You don’t need cable to get most local channels. I bet he does.”

A female reporter began the story. “Way back in June 1910, Maple Grove, Maryland saw its version of a crime wave with a bank robbery, a home burglary, and discovery of the body of a former Baltimore blacksmith. That man had recently sold his business and was traveling west, supposedly with some of his money in gold. The victim of the home burglary, Robert Heller, also reported coins were stolen from his residence.”

A male reporter continued. “Last week, the Maple Grove News reported that a local man had found some gold coins in an area on Meadow Mountain not far from where the blacksmith died. The value of the coins was not provided. We’ll have more on this intriguing story during the 11 PM wrap-up.”

“Sounds as if they did some of their own research after they read Marty’s article.

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