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    Crooked Roads: Grave Plot
    Crooked Roads: Grave Plot
    Crooked Roads: Grave Plot
    Ebook144 pages2 hours

    Crooked Roads: Grave Plot

    By KC Reedy

    ()

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    About this ebook

    #3 in the Sheriff Jack Stanley series. A red haired girl is found lying dead against a tombstone in a rural church cemetery. Another girl is missing. Jack and his team gather clues that make connections for treason leading through a group of rocket design engineers that call themselves The Red Unicorn. The clues twist and turn along crooked roads.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKC Reedy
    Release dateJan 13, 2013
    ISBN9781481116923
    Crooked Roads: Grave Plot
    Author

    KC Reedy

    I grew up in a kudzu patch in Southwest Virginia. I started my career in education in Abingdon, VA and spent several years as a high school principal near Nashville, Tennesse and worked as an educator (teacher, coach, principal) for 25 plus years. I graduated from Emory and Henry College, received a Master's from Radford University and another from Austin Peay State University. I now live in Bristol, Va (Birthplace of Country Music), where my six year old grand daughter is dedicating her life to raising me up right; again.

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      Book preview

      Crooked Roads - KC Reedy

      CHAPTER 1

      Preacher UC Bise drove into the small parking lot behind the Panther Chapel Church, parked his car, and started up the back steps leading into the office area. He stopped when he reached the top step and turned to survey the cemetery behind the church. The annual reunion and dinner on the grounds was coming up this weekend and the church property, including the cemetery, needed to be in tip top shape.

      He counted the tables that were already in place under the pine trees on the right side of the lot and noted they might need to find two more. The few chairs in place would be enough as he knew the tables were only for holding the bounty of food brought by each church family. Most would bring their own chairs or would sit on the ground near family plots. After filling plates at the food tables, they would scatter throughout the cemetery with many choosing to eat near their departed ones. The church had debated about building a picnic barn but Brother Bise liked things just as they were.

      He made a mental note to have the yard man come by once more and to call the Grounds Committee to do a walk-through on Saturday.

      As he completed his visual sweep, he noticed a red-haired girl on her knees with her back to him and her head resting on a tombstone. He started to call out to her but thinking she was likely in prayer, he did not.

      Preacher Bise searched among his keys until he found the right one, opened the lock, and entered the kitchen area. He passed though the short hall and then made a quick tour through the small sanctuary and back.

      Nice and clean in here, he said aloud as he made his way into the office in a back corner of the small church.

      The small desk in that office, shared by many, was pushed up against the back wall. Anyone sitting there looked out onto the cemetery grounds. UC noticed the red-haired girl had not moved and he began thinking that he had not seen a vehicle in front of the church when he came in. Since his car was the only one in the back, how did she get here?

      UC decided she must have walked in from one of the nearby homes. As he clicked through the names of the nearest neighbors in his mind, he noticed a movement in front of the kneeling figure. He adjusted his glasses and leaned closer to the window.

      He watched with open mouth as a large black crow hopped up onto the tombstone, cocked its head to the right and then to the left, and pecked hard at the girl’s head.

      She did not move.

      CHAPTER 2

      Good Tuesday morning to you! Have either of you seen the new girl, Carter? Jillian’s friend?

      The two young clerk’s just signing in to work looked at each other and gave negative responses. Julie thanked them and went out to greet the next tour group.

      The new Crooked Roads Crafters Guild had been open for three weeks on the old Powers’ farm a quarter of a mile below Julie and Sheriff Jack Stanley’s house. Julie had been named as the Chief Operating Officer of the guild and one of the perks of the job included, when time allowed, being able to serve in any capacity she wished. Today, she was acting as a tour guide for twenty-three Red Hat Society ladies from Vansant, VA. This was just one of several such bus loads that would come up the hill this week to visit the craft barns and warehouse and to hear the story surrounding this renovated old farm.

      This tour group wanted to include the story of the Ginseng War, and after a short welcoming message, Julie began her story.

      Ladies, over this way you see the ongoing historical renovation of the Russell Powers Farm House. This will be the home of Vicey and Versy Powers when it is completed in another month. When they lived here as children, during the depression and until about 1950, the home was much smaller. The original burned down about six years ago.

      Julie waved for the group to follow her and they proceeded along the serpentine brick paved walkway that gracefully moved in and out of the oak forest for one hundred yards. Along the path, sections of split rail fence formed a planting area and fall mums of all colors were in full bloom. Here and there, rose bushes were making a healthy start.

      At the point where the walkway turned sharply to the right, a bricked courtyard with benches provided a shady place to allow the stragglers to rejoin the group.

      A respectful distance away from the walking tour stop, a small graveyard could be seen inside a split rail fence enclosure. Julie pointed to it and the attention of the group came back into focus as she continued to speak.

      In the past few years, before the Ginseng War you read about in the brochure, the Powers’ Farm was very much in danger of being lost to the family. The finding of the ginseng, and the decision that the twins made to put that resource to good use, is why the crafter’s guild is here and why the project is self-funded. Your brochure tells the story of how this twenty acre farm is currently producing about one million dollars a year in carefully harvested American Wild Ginseng. You will visit the ginseng farm on your way out.

      Julie let the murmuring die down before continuing.

      One of the reasons the Powers twins wanted to return here to their original home place was this family graveyard. Vicey and Versy’s parents, grandparents, and great grandparents are buried in this small family plot. The twins wish to join them here when their times come.

      Julie watched for anyone that might have a question and, seeing none, continued with her story and finished describing how the ginseng was discovered, how it was almost stolen, and how the planning decisions made last year became a reality with the old farm coming to life again.

      In another ten minutes the group had reached the edge of the woods and the sidewalk curved around a beautiful old barn.

      Julie lined up the Red Hats on the steps and porch of the Guild Office. She used her new digital camera to snap a couple of pictures of the group.

      Ladies, I have enjoyed being with you for these few moments. You can now decide how you want to see the rest of the complex. You can stay together, or, you can split up. If you have questions, I’ll be here in the office, and, any of our employees will be happy to assist you.

      Julie waved to the sea of red hats and hurried up the steps.

      Inside the office, she asked college intern Jillian Neece to join the group outside in case they needed directions or assistance. Jillian bounded down the steps and was immediately involved with four from the larger group. Julie watched the nineteen year old work her small group toward the Quilt Barn and out of sight.

      Jillian is going to work out great, don’t you think, Lisa?

      Lisa Owens, Julie’s best friend and graphic artist for the Guild, shook her head up and down as she finished off the last bite of apple slices from the small bowl on her desk.

      When she could talk, she said, She is great with all ages. She kept a crowd of teenagers busy yesterday. I was amazed.

      Julie dialed a number on her cell phone as she spoke.

      I’m pleased with all of our helpers. The college interns, the summer workers, and the full time staff.

      Lisa spoke next not seeing that Julie had the phone to her ear.

      Oh, has Jillian said anything about her friend? Today was supposed to be her first day.

      Julie shook her head and held up her hand when her call connected.

      Is this Sheriff Jack Stanley? I want to surrender.

      "Ha! What is it this time? Forgot to feed Barney?

      No. The dog had plenty to eat. It is me that I’m worried about. Can the Sheriff see fit to meet his wife at Sylvia’s for lunch today?

      Will I need the handcuffs?

      Julie laughed out loud and Lisa looked up to hear her say, Not for lunch. Maybe later.

      OK. Can we make it 1:00 p.m.? I’m meeting the realtor again but that should not take too long. I’ll call if it looks like I might be late.

      Love you, said Julie.

      Love you back, said Jack.

      CHAPTER 3

      Preacher Bise grabbed a choir robe hanging by the door and ran out into the cemetery knowing he was not going to like what he would see. His fears were confirmed when he reached the kneeling figure and looked into what was left of her face. He had no clue who she was and guessed anyone who knew her well would not likely be able to identify her by facial recognition alone.

      He placed the choir robe over the girl completely covering her head and most of her body. He started to tie the robe around her with the rope belt but decided he should not do so.

      Three crows sat nearby on the white plank fence that enclosed most of the cemetery. With heads slightly bowed, they eyed the preacher as if awaiting their turn at the communion rail.

      Even by flapping his arms in a crow-like fashion, and by yelling, Shoo. Scat. Go away, Brother Bise was not causing even a flutter along the fence row. Nevertheless, he knew any damage that the crows could do now was but a secondary and irrelevant nuisance to the girl. He said a quick prayer and ran back to the church to call 911.

      CHAPTER 4

      Thelma Goff took the call at the 911 center and relayed it into the Sheriff’s Office. Officer Janey Rush answered.

      This is Officer Rush, how can I help?

      "Janey, this is UC Bise. I am at the Panther Chapel Church and I

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