Hermit's Peak by Michael McGarrity Read Free Book Online Page A

small parcel on a bad road. You couldn’t run more than five cows on it. A family from California bought it. The man used to teach college, or something like that.”
    â€œI’m sorry I’ve taken so much of your time, Señor Barela.”
    â€œStay off the property,” Nestor said. “It is still under my care.” He closed the door in Kerney’s face.
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    Kerney made a quick stop at the state police office where he found the district commander on duty. Capt. Victor Garduno briefed him on the continuing search of the mesa. Additional skeletal remains had been foundabout a mile from the original crime scene, including parts of the spine, ribs, and an arm bone. But no skull.
    â€œWe’re still looking,” Garduno said. A lean, big-shouldered man, the captain had a self-contained, confident manner.
    Kerney switched gears and gave Captain Garduno a brief rundown on his conversation with Nestor Barela, and his hunch that the wood could have been trucked out through the meadow.
    â€œI’d like to learn more about Nestor, his family, and the owner of the timber-frame cabin,” he added. “Barela said the guy who built it moved here from California.”
    â€œThat won’t be a problem,” Captain Garduno said.
    â€œCan you get me crime statistics for the San Geronimo area?”
    Garduno wrote a note to himself. “Consider it done, Chief. Sergeant Gonzales has asked for a records search on missing women over the last ten years. You should have the report on your desk when you get back to your office.”
    â€œGood deal. Has Melody Jordan reported in?”
    â€œShe’s back at headquarters, examining the bones. Sergeant Gonzales would like to remain the primary officer on the case, Chief.”
    â€œAre you recommending him?”
    â€œHe spent five years in criminal investigations before he made his sergeant stripes. I use him as an investigator whenever I can’t get an agent assigned out of Santa Fe.”
    â€œCan you get along without him for a while?”
    â€œA senior patrol officer can cover his duties.”
    â€œGive him the green light.”
    Kerney got back to the truck and Dale groused at him for taking so long, and complained of being hungry. Kerney bought lunch at a Mexican place on the plaza. Dale packed away the food while Kerney watched cars pull up in front of the Plaza Hotel. The hotel, a prominent city landmark, was a three-story brick structure with Gothic Revival columns, overhangs, and windows.
    Dale ate and listened while Kerney repeated the gist of his conversation with Nestor Barela.
    â€œSo Barela wouldn’t tell you squat,” he said between bites. “That’s pretty suspicious. But I don’t think that old man cut and hauled that wood away by himself. Just eyeing him from the truck, he looked pretty much worn down to me.”
    â€œMaybe it’s a family affair.” Kerney picked at his meal. “He has strong backs to help him. They could haul a lot of wood in that four-stall horse trailer that was parked down at the barn, without raising any suspicion.”
    â€œI guess I just don’t think like a cop.” Dale wiped his chin with a paper napkin and dropped it on his empty plate. “I’m gonna have to bring Barbara and the girls up here for a vacation.”
    â€œAny time,” Kerney said, as he motioned for the check. “I’ll fix up my cabin for you.”
    Dale snickered. “I said vacation, Kerney. That means a nice hotel with clean sheets every day, dinners out, and with three women, shopping. Lots of shopping. Since I can’t afford Santa Fe, I’ll bring them here.”
    â€œSounds like a plan,” Kerney said as he paid the bill and left the tip. “Are you ready? I’ve got some work to do.”
    â€œMore cop stuff?”
    â€œYeah.”
    Dale pushed his chair back and stood up. “What a yarn