Town in a Wild Moose Chase by B. B. Haywood Read Free Book Online Page B

deep in thought. Having a good day?”
    He shrugged, his smile fading. “Just a typical one so far. Hopefully it will improve now that I’ve run into you.”
    “That bad?”
    “I’ve had better. I heard you had some trouble out at the farm.”
    “You could say that.” It never failed to surprise her how fast word got around town when anything unusual occurred. “I had a strange visit from Solomon Hatch.” Quickly she told him what had happened. “The police are supposed to be checking it out,” she finished. “I think they’re headed out to his camp by English Pond to see if he’s all right.”
    “They’ve already been there, and found nothing,” Ben told her. “A couple of officers made a cursory search of the woods, but they’ve already been called away by an accident up 192 toward Route 1. They said they might get back to the search later today.”
    “But what about Solomon?” Candy asked, concern in her voice. “They’re just leaving him on his own?”
    Ben nodded solemnly. “It looks that way for now. Unless you want to get a group together and organize a search ourselves.”
    “I’ve been considering that,” she said. “Do you think it’s something we should do?”
    He thought for a few moments before he replied. “Maybe… if we have to. But for the time being, it’s probably best to let the police do their jobs. Speaking of which”—he pointed behind her with his chin—“who’s your friend?”
    At first Candy thought he was referring to Preston Smith, but then she realized he was looking in a different direction. It took her a few moments to figure out who he was talking about.
    Not far away stood a young, tall police officer—the same one who had been out at the farm that morning with Chief Durr. What was his name? Jody something? That was it. Officer Jody McCroy.
    As she studied him, he stared right back at her, unfazed. Over his neat uniform he wore the same standard-issuebrown jacket she’d seen him in that morning. He had broad shoulders, she noticed. Not muscled but firm. He looked like the type of guy who ran five miles before his Wheaties, and another five after work. With a brisk walk later in the evening, just for the fun of it. He kept meticulous records, she guessed. He had a notebook in his hands now. In fact, as she watched, he looked down and wrote something in it.
    She felt a sense of apprehension as she watched him.
Is he writing something about me?
she wondered.
    She turned back to Ben. “He was out at the farm today. He’s supposed to be searching for Solomon. What’s he doing here?”
    Ben ignored the question as he took a step closer, his angular face showing concern. “Look, I’m not doubting you or anything, but are you sure Solomon was injured? Maybe he just lost his way and stumbled onto your field.”
    “He had a gash on his forehead and he looked dazed,” she said matter-of-factly. “Something was wrong with him, that’s for sure. I just hope they find him soon.”
    Ben looked back over at Officer McCroy, who was still watching them intently.
    “Me too,” Ben said thoughtfully. “Me too.”

SIX

    As they turned away from the young police officer, leaving him to his note taking, and started off toward the rising sculptures, Candy couldn’t help but shiver. Ever since she’d seen Solomon Hatch stumble out of the woods that morning and collapse in the middle of the blueberry field, she’d had a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. Some part of her hoped the whole thing was a fluke, a mistake, nothing more than a disoriented old hermit who got spooked in the woods and overreacted. Maybe he’d let his imagination run a little too wild and mistook an animal carcass for a human body. Or something like that.
    But she feared a more sinister scenario was playing out.
    Twice before she’d stumbled into mysteries that had involved murder, and even though she’d eventually unmasked the villains, she’d put herself and her friends in danger.