Minnie Crockwell - Will Travel for Trouble 02 - Trouble at Sunny Lake by Minnie Crockwell Page B

traveling, the RV, my boring life in general, and it was fully ten minutes before I could steer the conversation back to Afghanistan.
    “So, Afghanistan, huh?”
    “Yeah, I don’t talk about it much though.” If he wanted me to take the hint, too bad. I pondered how best to ask him if he had known Sean before yesterday, or if he knew Scott. He hadn’t mentioned he knew Jason, so maybe this was all a coincidence. Plenty of men and women had spent time in Afghanistan.
    “Someone told me that Sean was in Afghanistan? You know? The guy who works in the Sunny Lake RV Park office?”
    Josh nodded and sipped his water. “Yes. I’ve known Sean for years.”
    “Oh, I didn’t know that!” I exclaimed. “You didn’t seem like you knew each other when you and Deputy Kline were interviewing him.”
    “Sam Kline knows him too. Sam’s son was killed in Afghanistan. They were in the same unit. In fact, we were all in the same unit.”
    My heart pounded in my ears. All of them? Josh, Scott, Sean, Deputy Kline’s son, and the victim, Jason Strait?  
    “Did you know the victim, Jason Strait?”
    Josh shifted his eyes toward the lake. “Yup. I’m not surprised he ended up dead at the bottom of a cliff. If anyone had it coming to him, it was Jason Strait.”
    I choked down the lettuce in my mouth, and tried not to look as shocked as I felt at the dispassionate tone in his words.  
    “Because?”
    “He was bad through and through. Got a lot of people killed, including Kline’s son, Steve. Steve and I had been friends since we were kids. We did everything together.”
    I swallowed a large swig of water. All of a sudden, it seemed like everyone had a motive for pushing Jason Strait off a cliff.  
    Ben, are you here?
    I hesitate to let you know as you are engaged in dining with a possible suitor, but yes, I am here. I have not liked the situations in which you place yourself, Minerva, and I sought to watch over you without giving you discomfort.
    Hardly a suitor, Ben! But I’m glad you’re here. I’m in way over my head. This is like some Agatha Christie novel come to life.  
    I do not understand your reference, my dear. Who is Agatha Christie?
    I’ll explain later.
    “How odd that you both responded to the call,” I mused.
    “Not really. Jim Kline and I both work for the county marine enforcement division. We’ve only got two regular deputies in the division, so that’s why we responded. We’ll turn it over to the investigators though. You saw them yesterday. Two guys in plain clothes.”
    “Right now, we’re looking for Jason’s brother, Scott, if only to notify him,” Josh continued. “He came back from Afghanistan a lot angrier than when he went over. Well, he’d been deployed more times than some, so maybe that was it.”
    This was my chance to do right, and I couldn’t force the words from my mouth. Was I hindering an investigation if I knew something and didn’t tell?
    I do not know your laws, Minerva, but I would hazard a guess that it will not go well for you if you know the whereabouts of someone wanted by the authorities, and you do not speak up.
    You’re right, Ben.
    I looked up to see Josh smiling and waving a hand in front of my eyes.  
    “Hello? I thought you’d gone off somewhere. You looked like you were having a private conversation there.”
    “Well, maybe. As it happens, I do know where Jason’s brother is. Scott Strait is staying in one of the cabins at Sunny Lake RV Park.”
    Josh’s eyes rounded then hardened. “Where?” he barked.  
    The nice man I’d been having dinner with suddenly transformed into a cold, determined police officer, and I caught my breath.
    “Where is he?” he repeated. “Did Sean know he was there?”
    I shook my head quickly. “No, I don’t think so. Scott didn’t want anyone to know he was staying in the cabin.”
    Josh pulled his cell phone from his belt as if to make a call and then he paused and stared at me.
    “If you knew he was there, why