If I Should Die_ A Novel of Suspense - Allison Brennan [24]
Sean nodded. “That’s the police—unless the conspiracy is huge, our information shouldn’t get out of the Sheriff’s Department.”
“In a town this size, anything’s possible,” Tim said.
“Let’s keep our cover for the next couple days and see what happens. If it gets out quickly, then we’ll need to rethink our strategy.” He stood and stretched, then tried to hide his limp.
“It’s a little early for dinner,” he continued, “and I have some work to do. If you’ll excuse us, Tim.”
“Of course.”
Lucy and Sean left, but instead of going to their cabin, Sean led the way to the lodge. The scent of wet, burned wood still clung in the air. “I saw Adam go inside when we drove up with Weddle,” Sean explained.
They found Adam Hendrickson upstairs in one of the rooms, salvaging what he could after the fire in the kitchen.
“Adam,” Sean said, “we need to talk.”
“Sure.” He sniffed the mattress deeply. “I can’t tell if I’m smelling smoke in the mattress, or if that’s just because I can’t get the stench out of my nose.”
“Give it a couple days. We can move everything to one of the other cabins, air things out, see what can be saved.”
“This is going to delay the opening. Why would someone do this?”
It was a rhetorical question.
Sean pulled over a straight-back chair and sat, his leg throbbing. “Tim said you were close to your dad, closer than he was.”
Adam shrugged. “I spent every summer here, even after my parents divorced. Dad didn’t talk much, but he was one of those guys who didn’t need to. You felt like he just knew everything under the sun. I was raised in Syracuse, but Spruce Lake is my home.” He paused. “He’d talked about turning this place into a family camp, but he never got around to it. I think he enjoyed having the lake to himself.”
“Did your dad have any enemies? Anyone who—”
Adam shook his head and leaned against the wall. “Everyone liked Joe Hendrickson.”
“Maybe it dates back further. When he was younger. Or his family.”
“Like the Hatfields and McCoys? The only thing along those lines might be that my grandma—she died when I was little—was a Kelley. Her family owned the mine until they sold to the government, then had a lease to keep mining. The Kelleys used to own all the land around here, but sold most of it off.”
“Who owns the mine? The federal government?” Lucy asked.
“As far as I know. Or New York State. We’re northwest of what most people consider the Adirondacks, but we’re technically in the same mountain range as the state park.”
“It sounds like the Kelleys made a good deal,” Sean said. “Get paid for the land by the government, but still be able to mine and pull out resources.”
“I really don’t know,” Adam said.
“Maybe someone held a grudge, doesn’t want you to be successful? Did anyone lose big when your family sold off the other parcels?”
“No—the thing is, my grandmother sold the land to people who’d been paying rent for years to the Kelleys—sold it cheap, too, from what my dad said, telling people all the rent they’d paid over the years could be used toward the purchase.”
“When was this?”
“Before I was born. I was three when she died, and in her will she forgave all the outstanding loans. My dad was the same way, you can ask his best friend, Henry Callahan. The big ranch you passed on your way here? That’s Henry’s place.”
“Would you introduce us to Henry?” Sean asked.
“Sure, why?”
“At this point, I don’t know. Someone is trying to shut you down and I want to find out if it’s personal—against your family.”
Adam looked stunned. “Personal? I don’t believe that.”
“Can we talk to Henry Callahan tonight?”
Adam nodded, but now seemed preoccupied. “Sure. I can arrange that.”
“Someplace out in public,” Sean added. “See if we garner any interest from strangers.” It was time they shook things up and see who reacted.
Lucy was quiet as they walked back to the cabin.
“Tell me why you’re ticked off,” Sean said when he opened the door.
“I’m not.”
“Is it because I want to go public? Meet with Callahan and push some buttons?”
“No.”
He didn’t push. He crossed over to the desk in the corner