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

don’t have enough evidence. But someone pushed Jason Strait off the cliff, and that someone is probably his brother, Scott. I just want you to be careful and avoid him.”
    I bobbed my head. I had no intention of seeking Scott Strait out. He scared me anyway. I could feel the undercurrent of violence in him when he neared me. But then again, Sean and his grandmother, Mary, seemed pretty hostile, too.
    Deputy Kline nodded. “Good. All right! Have a good day, Miss Crockwell. Try to enjoy your stay here. Believe me, it’s a beautiful lake and a nice campground. Usually pretty peaceful.”
    “Thank you,” I said.  
    The deputy turned around, and I watched him walk toward his sheriff’s truck in the parking lot.
    Have you decided who the killer is amongst this group yet, Minerva?
    “I don’t have a clue, Ben. Like I said, probably all of them.”
    Ben chuckled, and I grinned in response.
    “What do you want to do today?” I asked him.
    Something relaxing? Perhaps a game of chess? I saw a chess set in a cupboard in the RV.
    “Chess? How? You dictate your moves to me?”
    Exactly!
    “Sure! Sounds fun.”
    Shall we play down here by the edge of the lake on the iron tables?
    I looked toward the blue-painted picnic benches. Someone would think I was wacky playing by myself, but why not? It was a nice day, too nice to be inside.
    “The picnic benches. Okay!”
    I retrieved the chess set from my RV and settled down on a bench to play. Ben’s plan to dictate his moves to me worked out quite nicely although at times, I was tempted to ignore him when his move put one of my pieces in jeopardy.  
    While we played, happy campers began to emerge from their RVs and go about the business of camping. Some strolled by, nodding and smiling or offering greetings. Others headed off toward the lake with fishing poles.  
    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sean driving a small golf cart around as he tended to the chores of working at an RV park. I threw occasional glances toward the cabins to see if Scott emerged, but I never saw him.  
    You do not appear to be concentrating, Minerva, Ben said with a chuckle as he directed me to take my own queen with his knight.
    “I can’t. I’m distracted, watching Sean and wondering what Scott is doing.” I leaned back. The game was almost over. I had lost my queen, and it was now a matter of simply checkmating me. I conceded nothing though.
    “Who do you think did it, Ben?”
    It is difficult to say, my dear. It is far easier to hazard a guess as to who did not commit the murder. You did not, and I did not.  
    “Well, you don’t seriously think Josh did, do you? Or Deputy Kline?”
    I hesitate to speak ill of your suitor, Minerva, but I am suspicious of his charming ways. Surely, a smile so wide hides secrets, no?”
    “Ben,” I laughed. “Just because he’s handsome and charming doesn’t make him a killer. You’re handsome and charming, and you’re not a killer.”
    Why, Minerva! I am flattered by your words. Ben coughed, and I knew I had embarrassed him. What I wouldn’t give to see the bronzing of his cheeks as he blushed.
    “Get serious now,” I said. “You don’t really think either deputy would murder someone, do you? They’re cops!”
    I think you liken all policemen to your husband, my dear. Surely, there are corrupt and evil policemen as there are in every walk of life.
    “Well, maybe. I’ve never known anyone as honest and straightforward as John,” I said. “Well, with the exception of you.”
    Thank you, Ben said. His tone was wry.
    “Okay, so you think either deputy could have pushed Jason Strait off a cliff. I suppose we ought to figure out what Jason was doing on the cliff in the first place. I take it he walked there from the park or was driven. I think his car is still in the parking lot, at least I think Josh told me that at dinner.”
    I am listening.
    “What if someone drove Jason to the cliff for a private conversation? What if he hiked there, for