The Cats that Walked the Haunted Beach Read online

  Jake asked Daryl, “Are you packin’?”

  “Yes, let’s hurry. Colleen, Katz, go back to the cabin and wait for us there,” Daryl commanded.

  Katherine started to protest.

  “Do what he says, Katz,” Jake pleaded.

  Katherine nodded.

  Jake and Daryl tried to run to find Stevie, but the loose sand prevented their attempt to build up speed.

  The spirit disappeared.

  Katherine said to Colleen, “Help me get the cats back to the cabin.”

  Colleen hesitated.

  “Please, let’s do what Daryl said. He has a cop’s instinct. He wants us to be safe.”

  “Yes, of course,” Colleen answered, taking hold of Abra. “I trust Daryl with my life, but couldn’t he at least have left me his cell phone?”

  “Cell phone? He might need it.”

  “I mean for the flashlight.”

  Katherine scoffed. “There’s enough moonlight to make our way back.”

  “When I get Abra situated, I’m going to find Daryl and Jake.”

  “Okay. Deal. I’ll come with you.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  When Stevie left the two couples, he headed toward the water’s edge. There, he found the packed sand easier to walk on.

  He mulled over the events of the last few days. He thought about his first date with Kate and how much fun they had, then today’s disappointment. He was looking forward to their second date, then for reasons out of his control, it didn’t happen. What a nightmare, he thought, seeing Kate on the beach, injured.

  Kate knew he had done time. She seemed okay with that. Hell, that’s where he’d met her — in prison. She helped him find an attorney for his divorce.

  He wished he wasn’t so suspicious. It was just his nature to question everything around him, especially when it came to people. He wondered if it was purely by chance that he had a date with a woman living in a cabin maintained by Josh. Did she seek him out on Facebook to set him up to do something criminal? It raised a red flag. Could he trust her? He was having serious doubts. He wasn’t sure there’d be another date.

  Besides, he rationalized, it would get old driving back and forth from Erie to Seagull to have a relationship. Why didn’t he just hook up with someone in Erie? He sighed and said aloud, “Because of Katz.”

  Then, there was the stupid argument with Jake over Katherine. He wondered if he’d told her. He hoped not, because he didn’t want anything to come between him and the woman he loved. It was so unlike him to show his emotions, especially to Jake. And, that silly thing he said to the cat. I’m losing my mind, he said out loud. Take care of your mommy, he repeated. Ridiculous.

  He continued walking, and watched the waves lap close to his feet. Up ahead he could see a man, on the loose sandy area of the beach, dragging a body toward the water’s edge. The man must have heard him, because he stopped.

  Stevie increased his step, and was soon face-to-face with a man in his seventies, who was lifting a large rock. “Hey, what are you doing?” Then he looked down at the sand. There, Josh Williams lay dead with multiple head injuries.

  Stevie lunged to stop the man from striking another blow. “Stop it!” he shouted. “He’s down. He’s dead. Take a step back.”

  The man turned and threw the rock at Stevie, who dodged it. He then lunged at Stevie and tried to put him in a chokehold, but Stevie flipped the man over his shoulder.

  The man fell on his back in the sand.

  “Stay down,” Stevie ordered.

  The man grunted, then got back up. “This is none of your business.”

  “It’s my business when I stumble upon a murder scene.” Stevie tried to extract his cell phone from his pocket, but the man reared up and head-butted Stevie with such force, Stevie crumpled to the sand.

  The man picked up the rock to strike Stevie.

  Daryl raced up. He pointed his service revolver at the man. “Put it down,” he commanded.

  “Don’t shoot,” the man said, letting go of the rock. “My name is Arlo Komensky. I own the cabins. I was taking a walk on the beach and heard a scuffle. I found that man over there bashing Josh Williams’s head in,” he said, pointing at Stevie.

  Stevie sat up, rubbing his forehead. Jake ran over and helped him get to his feet.

  Stevie said, “He’s lying. He attacked me.”

  Daryl continued pointing his gun at Arlo. “I need to frisk you.”

  Arlo said arrogantly, “Be my guest. You won’t find anything.”

  Daryl patted Arlo down with one hand. “Now, sit down and put your arms straight out.”

  “Hey, I’m an old man. It will take time.” Arlo struggled, sat down and straightened his arms.

  “Not like Frankenstein,” Daryl said, not kidding. “Straight out at your sides.”

  Arlo did so.

  Daryl cuffed one hand, put it behind Arlo’s back and then cuffed the second hand.

  “Can you help me get up?” Arlo asked.

  Daryl continued to point the gun at him. “No. I want you to sit there until I tell you otherwise.”

  Arlo gave a defiant look, then twisted his body to face the lake. “Hey, Mister Big Stuff with the gun. You’re making a mistake. Sheriff Earle will be here any second and he’ll vouch for me.”

  Daryl put his weapon away. “See that man over there with the bruised forehead? He has a firm alibi, and four witnesses that will state he didn’t kill Josh Williams.”

  “Are you the law?” Arlo asked. “You act like it.”

  “I’m a deputy from another county,” Daryl said slowly, “trying to take a few peaceful days off from work. Then you came along, with your bogus story, and messed things up.”

  A woman ran along the top of the dune. She was very close to the edge. “No-o-o,” she screamed. She tripped and tumbled down the dune. Jake ran over and extended his hand to help her up.

  She shrugged it off. “Get out of my way,” she shouted.

  She rushed to the prone man and fell to her knees. “Josh, you can’t leave me,” she sobbed. She had her back to Arlo and didn’t turn around until she heard his voice.

  Arlo said to his wife, “I pity you, Misty. I hope you rot in jail.”

  Missy looked at Arlo and screamed, “You’re dead. I saw you dead.” For a moment, she was paralyzed with fear, then she got up and tried to kick Arlo, but Daryl restrained her.

  “Calm down, Miss,” he said.

  Arlo said to Daryl, “You better arrest her. She’s too gutless to kill me herself, so she had Josh do it. He stabbed me in the neck with a needle, but whatever drug was in it didn’t do the job. When I came to, I heard them planning what to do next.”

  “I think that’s something you need to tell your attorney,” Daryl said.

  Jake asked, “So where did this attempted murder take place?”

  Katherine and Colleen walked up, shining their flashlights on Arlo.

  Katherine said, “In Cabin Six, right Mr. Komensky? When my friend and I found you, you looked very much dead, but when the sheriff checked your cabin, you were gone. Where did you go?”

  Misty looked at Katherine with wide eyes. “So, you were the one in the cabin,” she said, incriminating herself.

  Arlo answered defiantly, “I don’t answer to you.”

  Katherine beamed her light on Arlo’s face. “It was very traumatic for my friend and me. I think you owe us an explanation.”

  “I waited for Josh and Misty to leave, then I crawled to my truck, got in the back—”

  “That’s seems rather lame, as if the sheriff wouldn’t search your truck,” Katherine huffed.

  “I pulled a painter’s tarp over me and slept it off. I didn’t wake up until a few hours ago.”

  “Is that when you murdered Josh?” Stevie asked.

  “It was self-defense.”

  “Self-defense,” Stevie mocked. “You murdered an unarmed man. Tell that one to a jury.”

  “He was armed when he attacked me in my cabi
n. I got the better of him and tied him up. He got loose, and I chased him down to the beach.”

  “I think that’s something else you need to discuss with your lawyer,” Daryl said. “Now shut up, Arlo.”

  The sound of sirens blared down the lake access road to the beach. Vehicle headlights and flashing red lights lit up the scene. Sheriff Earle’s Dodge Durango was first, followed by his deputy driving a second one. They climbed out of their vehicles and walked over to Arlo.

  The sheriff asked his friend, “Are you packin’?”

  “I left it back in the cabin.”

  “On the phone, you said Mr. Williams was restrained. Why is he now lying dead on the beach?” the sheriff asked angrily.

  “He got loose,” Arlo said innocently.

  The sheriff noticed Arlo’s ashen complexion. “Are you okay?”

  “Is he okay?” Misty stormed. “He murdered Josh in cold blood.”

  “Ah, the unfaithful wife speaks. Misty, you’re under arrest. Deputy Howard, cuff her and take her back to the department.”

  “You can’t do that,” Misty protested. “I haven’t done anything.”

  “Oh, I can do that. For starters, I’m charging you with the attempted murder of your husband.”

  “You have nothing on me.”

  “Deputy, cuff her, then put her in the back of your vehicle. After you’ve done that, call the coroner. She needs to get over here pronto.”

  Arlo said, “Arrest that man over there. He pointed a gun at me.” He indicated Daryl.

  The sheriff asked Daryl, “Is this true?”

  “My name is Deputy Daryl Cokenberger. I’m an off-duty deputy in Brook county. I pulled my weapon because Arlo Komensky was trying to bludgeon this gentleman over there, with a rock,” he said, pointing at Stevie. “The rock is on the sand, right there,” Daryl finished.

  “Deputy Cokenberger, did you fire your weapon?”

  “No, Sir.”

  “Okay, then, you know the drill. Slowly take your weapon out and hand it to me butt-first. After you’ve done that, I want to see some ID.”

  Daryl relinquished his revolver to the sheriff, then presented his badge and ID.

  “I’ll need your statement, too,” he said, handing the gun back to Daryl.

  “Yes, Sir,” Daryl said.

  “I take it the handcuffs on Arlo are yours?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll see to it that you get them back.”

  “Appreciate it.”

  The sheriff moved over to Jake. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Daryl’s cousin. We’re staying in Cabin Three for a few days.”

  “Oh, with Ms. False Reporting,” the sheriff said, looking at Katherine, “and the red-haired Irish gal.”

  Katherine said, “As it turns out, I wasn’t false reporting.”

  “Yes, I got that part,” the sheriff said, then addressed the group. “Alrighty, then. Listen up, folks. I’ll need everyone’s statements,” he said in his booming voice. Then he said to Stevie, “Do you need an ambulance? That’s a nasty bruise on your forehead.”

  “I’m good,” Stevie said. “Sheriff, can I talk to you privately?”

  “Hell, you’re among friends. Spit it out.”

  Stevie looked over at Katherine, then looked down, ashamed. “Josh Williams was my cellmate in prison. A few weeks ago, he came to the place where I was working and wanted me to get him a drug.”

  “What drug was that?”

  “Potassium chloride.”

  “Why did he think you’d have it?”

  “I used to deal in drugs, but I don’t anymore.”

  Katherine walked over to Stevie and the sheriff and said, “I didn’t know Josh’s name at the time, but it was my house that Stevie was working in. I saw Josh and Stevie talking about something. Stevie became very irate and told Josh to leave, then Josh ran over my bicycle—”

  “Mother of pearl, the soap opera continues,” the sheriff said sarcastically. “Can you all play nice and go down to the department and write down your statements? I’ve seen and heard just about enough.”

  The sheriff stepped over to Arlo and put his hand on his arm. “Stand up,” he said. “Arlo Komensky, I’m arresting you on the suspicion of homicide. You have the right to remain silent—”

  Arlo interrupted. “He was messin’ with my wife. I had the right to kill him.”

  The sheriff said irritably, “Shut up and let me finish. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you by the court.”

  “I can explain everything,” Arlo continued. “We’ve been friends for so many years. Doesn’t that count for something?” Arlo pleaded.

  “Give it a rest. Tell it to your lawyer. Right now, I’m not your friend. I’m the law, so quit while you’re ahead.”

  The sheriff pushed Arlo in the back of his SUV and closed the door.

  Katherine said to Stevie, “Jake and I are taking you to the ER.”

  “I’m good. I ain’t dyin’ so save me some bucks. I ain’t got no insurance.”

  “Ain’t got no,” Katherine repeated. “I haven’t heard you talk like that in months. You definitely need to see a doctor.”

  Jake said, “Come on, Stevie, we’re taking you whether you like it or not.”

  “I suppose,” Stevie said reluctantly.

  The sheriff called from his vehicle. “After you do that, I want to see all of you in my office.”

  “Yes, Sir, we’ll do that,” Jake answered for the group. “But where is it?”

  “Downtown Seagull, next to the McDonald’s. Big old sign out front says Sheriff’s Department.”

  Two more vehicles pulled up. One of them was the coroner, the second was another deputy.

  Jake and Katherine each took one of Stevie’s arms and escorted him up the lake access road. When they got to the top of the dune, Jake asked Katherine, “Do you have your keys on you? I’ll go get the Outback and come back for the two of you.”

  Katherine fished the keys out of her pocket. Jake took them and left.

  “Stevie, do you want to sit down?” she asked.

  “Katz, I’ve got something on my chest. I need to tell you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I was very rude to Jake earlier today. I said some things I regret saying.”

  “No worries. Jake said he felt bad, because he was the one who started it. Whatever you two argued about, I don’t want to know. It’s between the two of you.”

  “But,” Stevie began, trying to find the right words, then he changed his mind. “Okay, we’re good then.”

  “Oh, and Stevie, don’t buy me any more gifts and put them on my front porch.”

  “What are you talking about?” he asked guiltily.

  “The bike.”

  “What bike?”

  “You didn’t put a bike on my porch?”

  “No, you told me not to.”

  “Well, who did?”

  Stevie shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll come clean. When I told Salina about it, she insisted we buy you a bike. So, there you have it. Take it like a secret Santa gift.”

  “That was so sweet,” Katherine gushed. “But can you tell Jake about Salina giving me the bike?”

  “Yep, will do.”

  Back on the beach, Daryl walked over to Colleen and put his arm around her. “Come on. Let’s head back to the cabin,” he said.

  On the way, he stopped, took her in his arms and kissed her hard on the lips.

  Colleen fell against him.

  Daryl stroked her hair. “You were quiet back there,” he said.

  “I was too scared to talk. I didn’t know if that Misty woman had a concealed gun or if Arlo would get free and hit you with a rock. And, that wasn’t just a rock. That was the size of a boulder.”

  Daryl laughed. “I love it when you embellish things.”

  Col
leen laughed nervously. “Daryl, I’ve made up my mind about the wedding.”

  “We don’t need to talk about it now. You’ve been through a shock.”

  “I need to get it off my shoulders,” Colleen countered.

  “Okay, I’ll let ya.”

  “I want to get married in the church I attended when I was growing up in Queens. I’ve already talked to the event scheduler, and he said there were slots open in July.”

  “Slots? What does that mean? Lottery?”

  “Days, silly. Will that work for you?”

  “Well, yes, that part works, but a lot of my family won’t be able to attend. It costs a ton of money to fly to New York, stay in a hotel. We ain’t rich,” Daryl explained.

  “I understand. Mum will probably want to host a small reception after the wedding.”

  “That’s nice of your mom.”

  “I was thinking we could have a second reception in Indiana.”

  “Now we’re talkin’,” Daryl said. “Where? You know which place I like.”

  Colleen smiled, “And your mom and your aunt like it, too. I’m warming up to the idea. You sold me on the barn.”

  “Yee-haw,” Daryl said, lifting her up and twirling her around.

  “Put me down, you fool,” Colleen giggled.

  Daryl set her down and planted a kiss on her cheek. “We’re going to have the best reception with country music, country dancin’ and country food.”

  Colleen kidded, “To think I’m marrying a good ol’ country boy.”

  “Well, this ol’ country boy needs some sleep. Let me fire up the Impala. Let’s go to the Sheriff’s Department, and get this thing over with. I’m exhausted.”

  “Me, too,” Colleen said, yawning.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Two Weeks Later

  Jake vied to find a parking place at the Erie Diner. The diner was busy with the breakfast crowd. “Well, looky there,” he said to Katherine, riding shotgun. “That’s Jimbo’s truck. And, it looks like his cronies at the liars’ table are here, too.” He parked. “Okay, we’ll wait for Stevie and Kate to show up, then we’ll all walk in together.”

  “Are you sure that won’t give Jimbo a heart attack?”

  “Hope not. But, he and his lying buddies need to see that my wife is not having an affair.”