Page 8 of Condemned By Secrets

Luther started to climb the stairs to the second floor and flinched when they creaked under his weight. The house was so quiet the sound echoed off the walls. He didn’t put much stock in the supernatural, but if ghosts were real, he could believe they lived in old houses like this one. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up at the thought, and Luther laughed softly at himself. Well, if there was anyone here, ghosts or otherwise, he’d just sent up a flare with that noise.

As if to prove him right, a man appeared at the top of the stairs. He was tall and slim-looking in his tailored suit. Luther thought the man was probably a couple years older than his twenty-nine years, judging by the few grays at his temples. The rest of his hair was brown, as were his eyes as he stared down at Luther with a confused expression on his face. “Can I help you, Officer?”

Luther smiled. “I hope so.”

The man didn’t respond, but his posture was stiff as he stepped back, waiting for Luther to climb the rest of the stairs.

“I’m looking for Anna Hendricks,” Luther told him when he’d reached the landing.

The man visibly relaxed and answered, “I’m afraid you’ve just missed her. She’s gone out to tour our properties with Ms. Rosie.”

Luther shrugged, undeterred. He’d come back or . . . even better, he’d drop by the bed and breakfast. A home-cooked meal sounded like a good idea, and Luther knew his mom would be happy to have him over for dinner. “Bad timing on my part. Thanks, Mr. . . . ?”

“Richard Cartwright.”

Guess my trip’s not wasted after all.Luther recognized the name from his list but gave no outward indication of that fact. Instead, he kept his smile easy as he addressed Cartwright, “Mind if I ask you a few questions?”

Cartwright blinked at him, the confusion evident on his face. “What about?”

“Were you aware Miss Hendricks’s car was vandalized yesterday?”

Cartwright’s eyes widened. “No. When did this happen?”

Sizing the man up, Luther noted his surprise seemed genuine, so he continued with his line of questioning. “After the town hall meeting. I understand you attended?”

Cartwright nodded.

“Did you see anyone loitering around Miss Hendricks’s vehicle?”

“No, I don’t even know what she drives.” Cartwright smiled and shrugged. “I just met her yesterday.”

Luther sighed inwardly. This was another non-starter. “What about anything that struck you as suspicious?”

Cartwright shook his head. “Nothing I can think of, but I left right after the meeting.”

“Okay, well, if you think of anything, give me a call.”

“Sure, Officer.”

“Thanks. I’ll see myself out.”

Luther turned and started down the stairs. He paused when he thought he heard a whispered “good luck”, but on glancing back up, Cartwright was gone. Shaking off the feeling of being taunted, Luther descended the stairs. He wasn’t sure what, but something about Cartwright had Luther’s Spidey senses tingling.

???

At the last minute, Rosie directed Anna to turn left. She slammed on the brakes, eliciting a honk from the car behind them and a sharp gasp from Rosie.

“Sorry!” Anna grimaced and lifted a hand in apology to the driver she’d accidentally brake checked. The road she’d turned onto wasn’t paved and had been nearly hidden by low-hanging branches reaching out from either side of the drive, their long tendrils meeting and tangling with one another in a leafy embrace. She’d have admired their beauty if she wasn’t so focused on avoiding potholes. The mix of hickory and oak trees filtered the harsh afternoon sun and gave off a secluded feel, even though they had just turned off the main road that led in and out of Rolling Brook.

“Where are we going, Rosie?” Anna asked as she crept along, keeping her eyes trained on the perilous road in front of her. She’d already spotted several tree roots that protruded from the dirt, snaking up like eager fingers to ensnare unsuspecting passersby. Having experienced one flat tire, she wasn’t eager for another. Anna glanced in the rearview mirror and frowned at the cloud of dust obscuring everything in the direction they’d traveled from. If they did get a flat, it wasn’t likely Officer Hottie would show up to rescue her. Not that she wanted him to. She didn’t need another run-in with Mr. Perfect.

“It’s the last stop on the tour!” Rosie’s voice betrayed her excitement, and Anna chanced a glance at the older woman’s face. Her green eyes were shining, and her perfect dentures beamed at Anna in a wide smile.

Rosie’s enthusiasm was contagious and had Anna smiling back. She forced thoughts of Luther out of her mind. “Great!”

She’d spent the last few hours driving around Rolling Brook with Rosie visiting the properties the historical society owned or had a hand in saving. The list was extensive for such a young organization, and Anna was thoroughly impressed by her new colleagues. They’d done a lot with a little over the last ten years, and she was looking forward to furthering their reach even more.

When the trees parted, Anna was practically blinded by the sun's brightness. She blinked rapidly to clear her vision, then sucked in a breath and pulled to a stop. The sight of a crumbling farmhouse both entranced her and broke her heart. Finding such a historical building intact was rare, even if this one was in rather bad shape. She had a soft spot for the rustic—buildings whose beauty was often overlooked because they weren’t as showy or stately as the traditional antebellum homes people thought of when they heard the word ‘preservation’. This farmhouse was made of logs and had to date back to the 1700s. “Rosie! This is amazing!”

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