Grain & Gravestones: A Jude and Audie West Mystery (Jude and Audie West Mysteries Book 2) by Laurie Alberswerth

Author:Laurie Alberswerth [Alberswerth, Laurie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bear Write Media
Published: 2023-10-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

AUDIE KNEW IT was a mistake. The angel on her shoulder shrieked as she stretched across the console and ran her fingers through Jude’s fresh ’do.

The Jeep swerved over the center stripe. “Geez Louise, woman. That’s an excellent way to get us killed.”

“I’m admiring Mickey’s scissor skills.”

He steadied the steering wheel with his left hand and smoothed the tousle she’d made with his right. “You approve?”

“Whatever you tipped him, it wasn’t enough.”

Ezra Road was empty this Sunday afternoon. Thank goodness, or she would’ve spent her afterlife hearing how she’d dispatched their mortal bodies.

The T-junction to the main highway was, what, about two minutes away? Ironic—a well-preserved covered bridge stood ready to usher them straight to the campground road, but someone closed it to vehicles.

Silly historical conservationists.

Fine. In solidarity with my kind, I won’t complain about the extra sixty seconds it’s costing us. Besides, that bridge and I are headed for a reckoning.

“Where are we going, Mrs. West?”

“Back to the camper, I think.”

“Oh?” He grinned.

“Later, darling.” She squeezed his arm. “We have woods to traipse through, and I’m not doing that in a skirt.” Cue sad puppy face. “I’ll let you hold my hand as we hike.” He perked up, and she laughed. “You’re so dramatic.”

“I’m happy to be causing swoonage again.”

“Causing what?”

“Don’t worry about it. Why are we traipsing through woods, and which woods might those be?”

“I want to see the cabin.”

“Of course.” Another quarter mile elapsed before he asked, “What cabin?”

“The one in Sam Goodwin’s forest. From the satellite view?”

“Ah.” An eighth of a mile—at least he was catching on faster. “Why?”

“I have no idea.” Seriously, none. “But I want to know what’s out there.”

“A patented Audie West hunch?”

“Those come with patents now? I should make a fortune from residuals.”

“By the way, I have an ID for our mysterious woman in white.”

She swiveled around. “You could’ve led with that. Do tell.”

“Amos Jacobsen’s wife. You’re not the only one creeping at night like a vampire.”

“But I wasn’t fleeing from a dead body. Why was she?”

“The lady I saw by the cemetery would’ve blown over in a strong breeze.”

“We don’t know the victim’s cause of death. Maybe physical strength wasn’t a requirement.”

A brown road marker pointed out the Goodwin Mill Historic Site, next left. Two cars occupied its lot.

“I thought they closed the place for a few days.” He braked as they neared the turnoff. “Want to join the party?”

“You need to ask?”

Tires crunched over the pea gravel. A sudden bang and Jude swallowed a paragraph of curse words.

“What the—”

Retrieving her heart from somewhere in southern Illinois, Audie blocked the glare through the window. “The bur oak acorns.” A lone tree stood off the drive, its enormous seeds exploding beneath them like nuclear-powered bubble wrap.

Jude parked in the first spot he could. She pried the digits of his right hand away from the steering wheel. “We’re safe, hon. The car didn’t blow up.”

“I swear, this mill is trying to kill us.”

It killed somebody, anyway.

She exited the vehicle as Paul Farrow crested the lawn’s drop-off to the creek.

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