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Chapter Fifty
 
 
 

Bobie, Jeanne and Belle stayed out of the way of the Sheriff and his deputies, as they made their way around the area.  Some places to refresh their memory and others to see if anything new had happened.

The three women sat in Belle’s living room gazing at the bulletin board they  put up.   It was a way to see what had been happening, who was involved and try to figure out a pattern.   There were many things listed, and  it was hard to see just where Jeanne Randolph was going with certain details.

Belle studied the names carefully, her fingers tracing each one.  "It is hard to see just where this is going.  I mean we all know these things happened but how is this going to tell us who did it or why?"

Jeanne placed her right hand on the woman’s shoulder,  "Everything that happens is in some sort of sequence and this too.  Take time to look, add anything you may think is needed.  I guarantee this will help."

"If you say so,"   Belle mumbled.  "Devil’s Mesa, we all know about this place, the death of Pete Whitefeather.  These two things go together but what has this to do with my tavern and the three men?"

"There were three men that met in your tavern, one was Pete, the other was the banker Littleton and an unknown man.  This person could be the killer,"   Bobie chimed in.

Jeanne’s expression changed as she shook her head.  "Not him."

Both women turned to look at Jeanne Randolph, they wore expressions of surprise.  It was Bobie that finally spoke,  "You know who this was?"

 "Yes, it was Miles Trenton."

Belle and Bobie both chorused,  "Trenton, might have known."

Placing her hand over the man’s name on the bulletin board, Jeanne spoke,  "Don’t let the last name, fool you.  Miles Trenton was an upstanding man, one to know as friend."

"At the tavern, it was he you left with wasn’t it?"  Belle’s words shot forth.

"Yes, you’re right, I did leave with Miles that night.  What you don’t know is that he and I had been working on a mission.  I knew him well, he was my partner."

Bobie caught the inflection in the woman’s voice and stepped forward.  "Was?  Tell us Jeanne, what happened?  I knew Miles for a short time and he struck me as an extraordinary man."

Jeanne was holding back tears as she walked to the divan and sat, followed by Belle and Bobie.  Both women were concerned at what was going on in this amazing woman’s mind.  Something had happened and they were just about to find out.
 
 

Bobie was pacing the floor, she ached at what Jeanne had revealed to them.  She and Belle finally talked Jeanne into taking a sedative and trying to rest.   Belle stayed in the room with Jeanne, she wanted to be near if needed.

Miles and Jeanne had been on the trail of the people that were bringing illegal aliens into the area.  These aliens had scattered to many different cities.  It was the way they were brought in and the treatment these people were receiving that brought the FBI into what was going on.

They not only found out who was behind the illegal smuggling but unknowingly ran into a deadly trap neither suspected.   Miles and Jeanne were contacted by a woman that had the information they wanted.  When they went to the place to meet her, they were met by Jim Trenton and his men.

Miles tried to talk to his brother but there was no love between them.  Trenton wanted to know what they had found out about his operation, neither would talk.  He threatened Jeanne’s life if Miles did not tell him what he wanted to know.  Jeanne begged him not to tell the man anything.  The two had been tortured, beaten and left to die in Rattlesnake Basin.  It was a lone woman that came to them one evening, Miles was past help and Jeanne was close to taking her last breath.  She untied the woman, gave her water and helped her to a traveled roadway.

Jeanne didn’t want to leave Miles but knew she had to.  She would come back, if she lived.   The woman had recounted every day she had been gone.  True to her word, Jeanne sent a team to retrieve Miles Trenton but when they arrived, he was gone.  Word was, some wild animal had a feast, but Jeanne would not believe this.  She prayed somehow, someway he lived and did escape.

She did tell the two women that her life as an FBI agent was over.   Her only concern at this time was to see Belle, help with Bobie and Skylar’s investigation then take a long vacation.

Belle was right, she had mentioned there was something about Jeanne, she was worried and now Bobie knew it was with good reason.

She stared at the bulletin board, so many things had happened and seeing them like this brought many to the forefront.   She could not understand why Jeanne insisted on putting her father’s name on the board.  But there it was, Bob Parker.  Bobie knew it was a mistake but she let it slide when Jeanne was determined to sit this up.  It was Miles Trenton that was at Belle’s Tavern with Pete, and Jason Littleton.  He would be in the running to have killed Littleton but according to Jeanne he was an FBI agent.  So odds were, he was with these two while working undercover.

Jason Littleton didn’t want her to see what was on the map, this may have been the beginning of the land purchases, and may even have shown what was going on at Devil’s Mesa. Who killed the man?  There was no one else with them at the tavern.  The banker must have had a silent partner and this may be the person that ended his life.  Then there was the desk clerk, Walter, a nice enough man but one that seemed to be aware of everything that was going on in the hotel, someone not to be underestimated.

Bear Mountain, a beautiful place to get away from the rigors of work, or life.  It had been an accident to have run into Trenton and his men pouching deer.  She felt chills run up and down her spine just thinking about the man, that time and Sky’s ordeal at his hands.  >From what Jeanne said earlier, he got off on torturing anyone that got in his way.  She recalled the man well, even to that day there were times Jim Trenton’s scent seemed to come out of nowhere.

Mary Trenton, the woman was pure evil, for sure, if Jim Trenton was mixed up in the smuggling that was going on, then Mary was right in the middle of it.

Sheriff Burgess, a man she had looked up to for so long, now a man she looked at with distaste.  Belle and Jeanne felt he might have been in cahoots with Trenton for a long time.  She wasn’t sure about that but he was someone to take a second look at.

Then there was Bernie Herbella and Bengal Corporation.  He was a man that got what he wanted.  And it seemed he wanted Skylar Richmond.  Bobie knew little about the man and Skylar’s connection to him but she did think he was someone to double-check.  Next was the property that was being purchased by this unknown corporation.  It was in direct line to Devil’s Mesa and for some reason uranium seemed to be the goal.   The government would look at this with anticipation and probably already be lining up lawyers to get their hands on this.

There was also Don Antone’s fathers death, she wondered if he had news regarding things that were going on, was it an accident?   She would get to the bottom of this if it were the last thing she did.  The Windego, a scary creature and one she was lucky to have walked away from when they met.  The Kiva with its passages, and petroglyphs on the walls, the Dark Angel, and all the relics this Kiva housed.   So much was at stake.  One wrong move might put the wrong people in jail.  Yet, when Jeanne felt better, they had to sit, talk it over and soon make plans to do just that.  Bobie knew the job ahead was her’s to do.  She would do all she could to talk Belle and Jeanne out of helping her.  They needed to get away from this place, start a new life.  There was nothing in this place but terrible memories and pain.
 
 

As Skylar stepped from the plane in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she pulled the collar of her fleece-lined jacket tighter around her neck while watching the air she breathed leave her lips as if she were smoking a cigarette.  Los Angeles had been warm, and she had braced herself for cold weather but was not quite prepared for this.   Once she retrieved her luggage, she walked toward a hangar and the man that was working on a small plane’s engine.

"I made it.  Is my ride ready,"  Sky asked then smiled toward the man when he turned to look in her direction.

"Skylar Richmond?"   He was walking toward her, wiping his hands on a cloth as he moved.   He wore bib overalls, a brown Corduroy cap that made his head look larger than it probably was, with the brown ear flaps loose and over his ears, a wisp of thin black hair trailed down and stopped  above wide, somber eyes, the man’s  brown skin looked weathered.

Nodding, Sky asked,  "Then everything is ready?  And yes, I’m Skylar Richmond."  She brought out several forms of identification for him to look at.

He glanced at these but not for long instead he stated,  "We are glad to be of service to you and hope you will keep our business in mind for future use."

Sky walked with the man and once her luggage was aboard the small plane she asked him to show her every detail of the aircraft.  When he was finished, she nodded then said,  "It is ready to go and so am I.  Have you made the proper arrangements with the tower, the flight pattern?"

"Yes, everything is in order.  But I might add, Springfield, Arizona is not the best place to be going now."

"Why,"  Sky asked, a concerned look crossing her face.

"From all the news I’ve picked up lately, there have been unexplained deaths, illegal smuggling, land buys that may or may not be legal, and I am not sure if this is someone’s idea of a joke but there is a large hairy monster walking the roads at night.   If I were you, I’d think long and hard about this trip."

Sky gazed at this man, he was so sincere, and in many ways probably right in his thoughts but she knew she had to go.  It was a commitment and a job in the beginning but now Springfield held warm memories in her heart.  If nothing else, she had to find Bobie Parker.  If dropping to her knees would mean the woman would listen to her she would.  For the longest time no one had touched her, not the way her special Annie Oakey did.

The man, Kirby Hanlin, stepped back and watched Skylar open the door.  She stood for a moment, stared down at the man then replied,  "I have a good reason for going.  You have done your job, my contact will be in touch with you.  Don’t worry about the plane, it will be safe in my hands."

The man nodded then called out,   "Take care of yourself Miss."   He watched the plane taxi out and set on the tarmac for several minutes before taking off.  Reaching up he removed the cap, and ran several fingers through his hair.  Skylar Richmond was well known, he had read many articles having to do with the woman.  Like so many of the people he knew, he felt she was not real, it was some big publicity thing.  The woman he had just met, was indeed the woman he read about.  If anyone could get to the bottom of the strange going ons in Springfield, it would be the tall redhead that had just left their airspace.
 
 

It was an hour’s flight to Springfield and Sky wasted no time to leave the plane in capable hands, get her luggage, call a taxi and head for Belle Gardners place.  She had no idea if the woman would even be home.  But if anyone was to know where Bobie Parker was, it would be this woman.

The taxi pulled into the drive as Skylar reached over the seat and handed the man a crisp green bill.  His eyes widened as he looked at the amount.  "Sorry Miss, I don’t have the change for this."

"That’s all right, it’s yours.  Just do me a favor, if anyone asks where you dropped me off, say you can’t recall."

He nodded, jumped out of the taxi and held the door open for her.  Then opened the trunk to get her luggage.  The man offered to take it to the door and she thanked him but said,  "No, I can handle it."

Once the taxi was out of sight, Sky stepped up to the door and rang the doorbell.  She was surprised to see Bobie Parker when the door opened.  The two women stood as if frozen to the spot.  Belle Gardner walked up to Bobie, placed a hand on her shoulder and said,  "Skylar, come in, and get out of the cold."  She gazed at Bobie and asked,  "What is the matter with you?"

Sky walked past Bobie, she set the luggage down then said,  "Hope it is all right that I come here.  I didn’t know where to go."

Belle reached out to take the woman’s jacket.  "Its fine. I am happy to see you and that you are well.  Lots been happening here."

Sky nodded then added,  "I know pretty much what has been going on.  News has even made Albuquerque."

Belle reached out, touched Sky’s right hand then whispered,  "I’ll leave you two alone.  We need to talk but I think that you two need to get some things straightened out first."

Sky took a deep breath and nodded.  She watched Belle leave the room, then turned her attention to Bobie.  The woman was still standing by the closed door, never taking her gaze off Sky she remained mum.

"Bobie, you probably hate me.  I need to tell you the truth."

Bobie walked past her then muttered,  "Haven’t we been there before, you and your truth.  Wasn’t devastating me bad enough once?  I don’t need to stand here and listen to this again."

Sky whirled around, her lengthy legs taking quick steps as she stopped in front of Bobie.  "If you hate me, I deserve it.  But please let me explain."

"Belle told me, Jeanne told me, not that I believe them but they do have your back."

"I don’t know what they told you but please let me tell you exactly what happened.  If you want nothing more to do with me, I can understand."  She dropped to her knees, a pleading look on her face as she whispered,  "I love you.  I never stopped loving you.  They, the Sheriff made me say those things to you."

Bobie looked like a bull the way she stood firm with her arms folded across her chest.  "There is nothing anyone can do to you Skylar Richmond to make you do what they want, been there, seen that.  So you might as well give up. I will not be your yoyo."

"You are right, I can take a lot.  The one thing I couldn’t take was something bad happening to you."

Bobie reached down placed her right hand over Sky’s then said,  "You look uncomfortable on the floor, if Belle or Jeanne comes in the room, I hate to think what they will say.  Come sit by me on the divan.  I want to know what happened, I need to know why you said those things to me."

Standing, Sky grasped Bobie’s hand tightly and followed her to the divan.
 

Belle and Jeanne had their ears pressed against the door, both women had been listening to what was going on in the front room.  Belle stepped away from the door and said,  "I hope they can work this out."

Jeanne smiled.  "Me too.  God knows we all need all the strength we have if not more to face what is coming soon."
 
 

It was an hour later when Belle and Jeanne made their way into the living area.  Both stopped and smiled when they saw, Sky and Bobie sitting close, snuggling.  "Hope it is all right for us to come in now,"  Belle asked.

"It’s fine.  We’re fine.  I could kick myself for missing Bobie in L. A.  She went that far to see me and I let her down."

"Nope, you didn’t know.  Maybe it is best it turned out this way.  Looks like Bobie has finally relaxed.  She needed to rest."

"Feels so good to hold her again and to know we have a future.  She told me about Miles, I’m sorry.  I thank God that you are still alive.  Maybe next time, if there is a next time, you might tell us what’s going on.  Had no idea where you were or how to find you."

Jeanne gazed down at Bobie, the woman was sleeping and for the first time her face glowed.  "If it happens again, I will.  Same goes for you, we need to keep in touch.  Too much out there wanting to take us all down."  Jeanne reached out and grasped Belle’s left hand.

Sky’s emerald green eyes darted back and forth before she said,  "Looks like something else has happened while I was gone."

Redness crept up Belle’s face as Jeanne replied,  "We have grown closer.  Good friends and maybe one day more than that."

"Good.  The two of you are special people.  When Bobie wakes up, I need to tell you what I have learned while gone."

Belle looked at Jeanne and said,  "You know, we have some things to do at the Tavern, may be out late. Your room is ready, and if you get tired, don’t wait up for us."

Sky watched the two women leave the house then carefully stood, reached down and picked Bobie up into her arms.  She carried the woman to the bedroom and closed the door.