Entrance to Nowhere Read online

  Entrance to Nowhere

  Entrance to Nowhere

  A Sandi Webster Mystery

  by

  Marja McGraw

  Other Books by Marja McGraw

  The Sandi Webster Mysteries

  A Well-Kept Family Secret

  Bubba’s Ghost

  Prudy’s Back!

  The Bogey Man

  Old Murders Never Die

  Death Comes in Threes

  What Are the Odds?

  Great Crime – Wish You Were Here

  The Bogey Man Mysteries

  Bogey Nights

  Bogey’s Ace in the Hole

  They Call Me Ace

  Awkward Moments

  How Now Purple Cow

  Black Butterfly

  Non-Series Books

  Mysteries of Holt House

  Choosing One Moment – A Time Travel Mystery

  ENTRANCE TO NOWHERE – A Sandi Webster Mystery, Copyright 2017, by Marja McGraw. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations used in critical articles and reviews. For information, contact Marja McGraw at [email protected].

  First Edition, JULY, 2017

  Cover by Marja McGraw

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  For the misunderstood Aunt Marthas of the world, the misunderstood computer geeks, the misunderstood eccentrics and the misunderstood spies who spend so much time dealing with the dark side of life. You’ve all helped me create a story with a different spin on it. Oh, and for the real Clementine, Bubba, Sugar and Murphy who’ve added a little spice and humor to my life and books.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Thank you to Jill Shelton and Dorothy Bodoin. Your expertise and time have been invaluable.

  Thank you to the Internet for being available to answer questions. The Internet can be both a blessing and a curse.

  Chapter One

  Sometimes things happen when we least expect it. This was turning out to be one of those days.

  It was Saturday and I didn’t have any pressing matters waiting for my attention, which is unusual. I needed to take advantage of the relatively quiet time. After years of working as a private investigator, I was finally learning to manage my time better. I’d set this day aside to take care of paperwork.

  The sign outside my office reads Webster & Goldberg – Private Investigators. My partner and husband, Pete, is the Goldberg. We’d married recently and I’d retained my maiden name, Webster, at least for business purposes. It simply made things easier not to have to change everything – like my license and, well, everything. It worked for us. Although Pete’s name is Goldberg, he’s one hundred percent Italian, but that’s another story.

  Pete was taking advantage of the day in his own way, by running errands. I knew he was headed for the hardware store to pick up a few things, and he’d mentioned needing a haircut. Other than that, I wasn’t sure where he was going.

  We have one employee, Stanley Hawks. He and his wife, Felicity, had taken advantage of the quiet weekend to take a trip up the coast from Los Angeles to wherever the road led them.

  Glancing at my watch, I realized it was almost lunchtime. My stomach rumbled to emphasize the time and the need for food. I opened my desk drawer to pull out my purse, but before I could do so, the front door opened and an older man wearing a camouflage jacket, jeans and boots walked in.

  He had a full grey beard and mustache, and longish hair. Well, he needed a haircut. He was a tall, large man with intense brown eyes that looked deeply into my baby blues. He was a little shaggy looking and reminded me of a big ol’ grizzly bear, definitely not a cuddly stuffed toy.

  “Pete here?” A man of few words.

  “He’s out running errands. May I help you?”

  “No.” He pulled a chair over and sat down in front of my desk. “I’ll wait.”

  “I don’t think he’ll be in any time soon. Are you sure I can’t help you?”

  He narrowed his eyes and practically immobilized me with his intense scrutiny.

  “May I ask who you are?”

  “People call me Griz.”

  Well, there was a real shocker. A man who resembled a grizzly bear and whom people called Griz stopping in the office was not how I’d hoped to start my day.

  “Does Pete know you?” I asked.

  “Yeah.”

  The man was becoming a challenge. He was apparently going to make me work for every word that came out of his mouth.

  “Okay, Griz, can you tell me why you’re here and why you’re looking for my husband?”

  He finally grinned, showing fairly even white teeth, and held his hand out to me across my desk. “You must be Sandi.”

  “I am. And who might you be, other than Griz?”

  Wait a minute! Something clicked in the back of my mind. I’d heard of this man before.

  I took his hand. “You’re Don Workman, right?”

  His grin widened. “You’ve heard of me.”

  “Pete’s actually talked about you quite a bit, but I’ve only heard him call you Griz a few times. You were his first partner, right?”

  Pete had been a police officer and he left L.A.P.D. because of an eye injury. The injury didn’t hamper his life, but it involved his peripheral vision and caused problems on the job. I met him not long after he left the department and he went to work for me as a P.I.

  “That I was. I showed him the ropes.”

  “Are you stopping just to touch bases with him? I can call around and find him, if you don’t mind waiting.”

  “I’d appreciate it if you’d track him down. Like I said, I’ll wait for him. I need his help with something.”

  My stomach rumbled and Griz’s stomach rumbled in reply.

  He patted his belly. “Been a long time since breakfast.”

  “Let me try to find Pete and I’ll have him meet us at the diner down the street. I need to eat, too.”

  “Works for me.”

  I called Pete’s cell phone and turned when I heard the sound of ringing in the office. Disconnecting, I walked to his desk where I found his cell phone plugged into the charger.

  Never one to give up easily, I checked the phone book for Tiny’s Hardware Store and dialed the number. Pete had said that would be his first stop. He’s a firm believer in giving his business to the smaller local businesses. Tiny knew us well.

  The phone rang twice before he picked up the call.

  “Tiny, this is Sandi Webster – uh, Goldberg. Is Pete still there?”

  “Hey, Sandi. He was here early this morning and left a long time ago.”

  “Did he mention where he was going?”

  “He said he had to get a haircut.”

  “Thanks, Tiny. I’ll try there.”

  I called his barber, Tony. Pete loved the barber shop. He and the other men sat around and swapped stories. “Oh, he only visited for about half an hour before he left. He said he had a lot to do. I think he said he had to pick up something at Sporting Goods.”

  “Thanks, Tony. I’ll try there.”

  Before I could dial another number, my landline rang. I picked it up without looking at Caller ID, hoping it was Pete.

  Without thinking, I answered with, “There’s someone here, waiting to see you.”

  “Oh?” My mother’s voice came in loud and clear.

  “Sorry, Mom. I thought you were Pete. What’s up?”

  “I cal
led to ask for a favor.”

  Her voice sounded odd, and I knew something was up.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Well, I, uh, like I said, I need a favor.” Her next words came out as fast as the water out of a firehose. “Your Aunt Martha is coming for a visit and she’ll need to stay with you and Pete for a few days.” I could practically hear her holding her breath, if such a thing is possible.

  I dropped into my chair.

  Griz watched me intently.

  The panic I felt must have shown on my face.

  “Aunt Martha? We’re going to be out of town,” I lied.

  “You don’t even know when she’s coming.”

  “When is she going to be here?” I closed my eyes and hoped we’d really be out of town.

  “Tomorrow.”

  “We’ll be out of town.”

  “No, you won’t.”

  “Yes, we will. I just forgot to tell you.”

  “No, you won’t. It’s not the end of the world if my sister comes for a visit, so don’t try to get out of it, Sandra.”

  There it was. A mother using her daughter’s given name – something akin to the kiss of death.

  I sighed deeply, wanting my mother to hear me. I didn’t even try to hide it.

  “Mother, can I call you back? I have a client here right now.” I crossed my fingers while I told that little fib. Well, Griz wanted Pete’s help with something, right? He could be a client.

  “She’ll be there tomorrow, Sandra, so don’t wait too long. We have things to talk about before she arrives.”

  We hung up and I picked up my purse, turning back to Griz. “Let’s go eat. We can walk to the diner.”

  He might look a bit shaggy, but he was all gentleman. When we stepped out onto the sidewalk, he placed his big hand on my back and moved me to the inside position. I once heard that men are supposed to walk on the street side so if a car loses control and drives onto the sidewalk, the man will take the fall – or some such crazy thing. Maybe it started back when horses and buggies were in use.

  We were seated at a table by the window at the diner. Our waitress, Tiffany, knew Pete and me as regulars. She took our drink orders and disappeared.

  Returning with our drinks, she said, “Pete was in for breakfast. I was surprised you weren’t with him.”

  “He’s out running errands this morning. I don’t suppose he mentioned where he was going when he left, did he?”

  “He said something about needing a new hammer. Now, have you decided what you’d like to eat?”

  Apparently this had been his first stop, before the hardware store.

  She disappeared again after we placed our orders, both of us requesting hamburgers.

  I settled my hands on the tabletop. “Okay, Griz, can you tell me what you want Pete to help you with? Maybe I can help, too.”

  He studied me for a moment before seeming to decide he could talk to me. “Do you know what a prepper is?”

  “I do. That’s someone preparing for catastrophic conditions, whether it’s natural or manmade. I’m assuming that’s what you’re talking about.”

  “It is, and that’s what I am. I moved far out of town after I retired. Being a cop colored my perceptions of people. I don’t trust ‘em.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I dealt with a lot of criminals, and even the good people weren’t always so good when they were in stressful conditions. It happens.”

  I thought about it for a moment. “I can see that. Pete doesn’t really trust too many people, but I never thought about it until now.” I was sorry he’d called it to my attention.

  “I moved away so I wouldn’t have to deal with people anymore. And the few I come into contact with have no idea I’m a prepper. They think I’m just an old hermit. I can live with that. Please keep this to yourself. I like being thought of as a hermit. It keeps people away.”

  “Are you out in the desert, or in the mountains? Out in the country? I’m sorry. That’s none of my business.”

  “It’s about to become your business if you and Pete will help me.”

  “I see.” I didn’t, but what could I say? “Maybe I should make another call to see if I can find Pete.”

  “Might be a good idea.”

  Chapter Two

  I called the sporting goods store, which just happened to be called Sporting Goods. Pete had been there. They remembered him because, again, he was a regular customer. He’d made an off-handed comment about heading for the auto parts store.

  For one short morning, Pete was accomplishing a lot.

  Our lunch arrived and I set my cell phone aside.

  Griz ate with gusto. I had a feeling he didn’t eat out too often these days. Maybe he was living on prepper food. I hoped not.

  It suddenly came to me that I had to call my mother back. I decided I might as well do that while my new friend was busy eating.

  “Do you mind if I call my mother while we eat?”

  “Go ahead. You looked like you’d just lost your best friend when she called. Anything I can do to help?”

  I pursed my lips and I knew they were drooping when I spoke. “My Aunt Martha is coming for a visit. You have no idea… Well, she’s always been a force to be reckoned with, and I haven’t seen her in years. I have no idea what to expect, but I have a feeling age has, shall we say, intensified her personality traits.”

  “She can’t be that bad.”

  “You have no idea. She creates terror in the hearts of everyone she comes in contact with, and my mother wants her to stay with Pete and me for a few days. If Pete ever wants out of this marriage, it’ll be while she’s here. She could change the course of our lives.”

  “And what are these personality traits you referred to?”

  “Let’s see. She’s bossy, pushy, controlling, a know-it-all, outspoken to the point of being insulting and a bully – “

  Griz smiled when he interrupted my tirade. “Okay, I get the idea. I’ve dealt with a few women like her over the years.”

  “Trust me when I say, no you haven’t.”

  I picked up the cell phone and called my mother back. “Okay, so what’s the deal? Why does she have to stay with us?”

  “She’s going to visit some people who moved to Los Angeles not long ago, or so she says. I think she just wants to know what’s going on out here. Anyway, after she stays with you for a couple of days, she’ll come visit us at the bed and breakfast. You know I wouldn’t pawn her off… Uh, ask you to put her up for a few days if I didn’t have to. She’s determined, and you know how pushy she is.”

  “Mother, I haven’t seen Aunt Martha since I was a kid. She never came out to visit after she moved to Chicago. I won’t know what to do with her.”

  “Not a problem. She’ll know. You’ve talked to her on the phone. You know what she’s like.”

  “Yeah. That’s what scares me.”

  Looking up, I found Griz listening with interest while he ate.

  I glanced out the window and when I turned back to him, I crossed my eyes. That should have told the whole story about how I was feeling.

  After all was said and done, I gave in, just like my mother knew I would. I often wished I wasn’t so transparent.

  “Do we have to pick her up at the airport?” I asked.

  “No. She’s going to rent a car. She’ll be at your house before lunchtime tomorrow.”

  I had a lot to process regarding my aunt staying with us, so without any fanfare, I hung up.

  I glanced at Griz and he raised his bushy eyebrows at me.

  “I’ll bet my stepfather is shaking in his shoes right now. He knows my aunt. He and my mother used to live in Chicago.”

  “How’s Pete going to take the news about your unexpected visitor?”

  “Oh, he’ll be fine until he actually meets her. He thought my mother would be a pushover for his charismatic personality until he met her, and she’s nowhere near the level of my aunt.”

 
; Griz laughed and it came from deep down, sounding like a rumble. “I hope I can be there when this aunt of yours shows up.”

  “Please! Be there for Pete’s sake.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Okay, let’s get back to your problem. What do you need help with, and why do you think we can help?” I asked.

  He thought for a moment before speaking, while eating a fry. “When I retired I withdrew my retirement in a lump sum so I could buy my property outright and get a start on my prepping. I paid taxes on my retirement and immediately went off the grid. No one knows where I am now.”

  “Not even Pete?”

  “No. Although, he’s one of the few people I trust. Anyway, I needed some kind of income, so I went to work for old man Trapper. You may have heard of him.”

  “Andrew Trapper? Everyone’s heard of him. He’s one of the richest men in America. I hear he’s a recluse though.”

  “That’s an understatement. He hired me because of my experience and appearance.”

  “Appearance?”

  “Yeah. When the few people who visit him see me, they don’t pay any attention to me because they think I’m a groundskeeper. I’m actually a part-time security agent. There’s one other guy who does the same thing. Trapper pays us under the table, which suits both of us fine. I don’t want people to know where I am or what I’m doing.”

  “What about his family? Don’t they know who you are?”

  “He has no family and no friends. I’m probably the closest thing he has to a friend, and that ain’t sayin’ much.”

  “So what’s the issue?”

  “He’s gone. Disappeared. Neither Draper, the other security agent, or I can figure out what happened to him. He just… Draper and I have done everything we can to find him, but even with our experience, we can’t figure it out. I need someone with a fresh perspective to help me. That would be Pete.”