Chapter 3

The next day Debra walked into Violet’s home office with a worried scowl. What disturbed her wasn’t her friend. Although the bandages remained on her head and throat, Violet was dressed and appeared to be in better spirits. What concerned Debra was the image displayed on the screen of Violet’s computer. Google Maps was zoomed in on El Jay at highest magnification in satellite-view mode. A single road labeled El Jay Camp snaked a short distance into an impenetrable forest. A crazy quilt of roofs on small homes and garages and sheds lined both sides upon small lots hewn out of the dense woodland, with cars and pick-up trucks parked all around them. A few collapsed structures could be seen, and empty lots with traces of driveways marked places where houses used to stand. A wilderness of trees tightly embraced the slight community huddled beneath their intimidating branches. "Don't do this."

"Everyone was after me to do something this summer." Violet’s voice had healed and was no longer hoarse.

"It could be dangerous."

"Cincinnati is dangerous. The front porch of my condo is dangerous."

"Aren't you scared?"

"Excited. I need to do something to get my mind off Carl." Smiling, Violet leaned back from the desk. "I've hardly thought about him since I was attacked."

"This isn't what I had in mind as a summer vacation."

"But it's perfect for me. It will get me away for a while to a part of the country I've never been to before to work on a mystery. You know how much I love a good mystery." Violet stood and paced the small room. The more she talked about her plans the more animated she grew. "I just assumed Elijah Wheeler was talking about a person, that El Jay were initials. I never thought El Jay could be the name of a town."

"What kind of place is it?"

Both women considered the image on the computer monitor. "It's small, way back in the mountains. El Jay is literally at the end of the road. The closest city is Barboursville."

"Vi! It's the heart of Appalachia. They'll be playing 'Dueling Banjos' down there."

"That was only a movie.” Violet clicked several times on the minus sign, reducing magnification and bringing the surrounding wild mountains into view. “I've been in the Kentucky mountains before. I've hiked all over Red River Gorge and backpacked in the Daniel Boone Forest."

"That's different. How much have you dealt with the locals down there?"

"A lot. They are very friendly people."

"The guy who tried to kill you wasn't so friendly."

"I feel safer in the mountains down there than I do in parts of Cincinnati."

Debra released a deep worried sigh. "Just be careful."

"I'm always careful when I go out into the wilderness. Besides, it's modern-day times. How backward can it be?"

***

Several days later Violet was in the grocery store. She looked much further improved. The bandage was off her throat. Yet the scar was still livid enough to draw stares. She was buying supplies for her trip. She knew how to pack a backpack. Travel-size toiletries, energy bars, bottled water, first aid kit, poncho, insect repellant, sunscreen, and suitable clothes. It was June so she didn't need anything too warm.

Violet was in the pharmaceutical supplies trying to decide how strong of an SPF to buy when a man spoke behind her. "Planning a trip?" She jumped in surprise and whirled around holding up the sunscreen to use as a defensive spray. He never flinched. "Little jumpy."

It was the man who had saved her life. Violet lowered the sun screen spray. "Thank you."

"Don't go."

She reached out for his hand. "For saving my life."

The man stepped back. "They want you to go."

Violet froze. The man obviously did not want to be touched. "Who?"

"The Wheelers."

"Why?"

"Because you're a Taylor."

"No, I'm not."

"Don't go to El Jay!"

Surprised at this vehemence, Violet looked around to see that several customers were staring. She smiled from one to the other to let them know everything was all right. Then looked back to her rescuer. He was gone. Violet dashed from aisle to aisle, searching. He was nowhere. She ran out the door and saw him climb into a beat-up pickup truck. As he drove away, she saw that it had a Kentucky license plate.

***

That afternoon Violet was in her bedroom packing for the trip with her phone in hand. "Hello, Mom? It's Violet."

"What's happened now?"

"Nothing. I know it's been a long time."

"The school year's over?"

"Yes, it's over. I'll come see you soon. But something's come up."

"Have you got back together with Carl?"

"No. Don't get your hopes up."

"He's a very nice man."

"He's a rat. Listen, I didn't call to talk about Carl. I need to know something. Someone told me I'm a Taylor. Is there any reason for that?"

"My mother's name was Taylor."

"Grandma's maiden name was Taylor? I never knew that."

"You never knew Mom. I never knew her, either. She died when I was young."

"I know. But where did she come from?"

"Lexington."

"So Taylor's a pretty common name."

"You've never had any interest in our genealogy. Why now?"

"So your family is from Lexington, Kentucky. And Dad was born and raised in Cincinnati."

"Actually, Mom's family isn't from Lexington. They moved there when she was a child."

"Moved from where?"

"Somewhere in southeastern Kentucky."

Violet nearly dropped her phone. "Where in southeastern Kentucky?"

"Some little town. Violet, it's been ages since I've thought about all this."

"Try to remember the name. Please."

"I don't know. Let me think." While she did, Violet sat on her bed and held her breath. "It started with an L."

"El Jay?"

"Yes. How did you hear about El Jay?"

"I met someone else who might have been from there. What's El Jay like?"

"I don’t know. I was never there. What did your friend say about it?"

"We didn't have much time for a conversation. Did grandfather ever talk about El Jay?"

"Once. He said it was an evil place."

***

Several nights later Violet sat at a table in the same bar she had gone to on the night of the last day of school. By this time the scar on her throat had faded, and she had styled her hair in a way that concealed the place on her scalp where a sizeable bit had been shaved in order to treat her head wound. She looked anxiously around searching for the man who had saved her life. He was obviously keeping tabs on her since he had followed her into the grocery store. She was also watching for anyone who might mean her harm. Coming here was like returning to the scene of the crime.

When Charles arrived she relaxed. "Your call was certainly a pleasant surprise," he said as he sat. "I didn't expect to hear from you again until next school year."

"Something's come up."

"Yes, Debra told me about your misadventure. Attacked on your doorstep. Are you all right?"

"Yes. All I got was a scratch and a little bump on the head."

Charles peered closely. "That's not what Debra said. She said you were nearly murdered. On the night we all met here. What was he after?" With a salacious edge, he added, "Did he try to force himself on you?"

"He tried to murder me. And he would have, too. I never could have stopped him."

"Ahh, yes, your rescuer, your knight in shining armor. Have you heard from him?"

"Yes, just recently."

Charles smarmed a smile. "I suppose you rewarded him warmly for his heroics?"

"I didn't have a chance to. He's not much for hanging around. All he said was to stay out of El Jay."

Charles abruptly sat up and assumed good posture. "How do you know about El Jay?"

Violet was delighted. "I was hoping you'd heard of it. With you being from London."

Emphasizing his haughty British accent, "Most of the time when I tell people I'm from London." He dropped the fake accent, "I leave off the Kentucky part."

"What's El Jay like?"

"It's a played-out coal mining town. Pit mining, nasty business. Mining company moved the miners and their families in then closed down once the easy coal was gone. Leaving the people stranded in the mountains."

"So it's a ghost town?"

"Not quite. A few obstinate ones stayed on."

"How do they live?"

"Disabilities. Black lung benefits, mostly. And marijuana."

"You're kidding."

"Kentucky's biggest cash crop. More money is made off marijuana than tobacco."

"Can't the government stop them?"

"The government couldn't stop the moonshiners, even during Prohibition. These mountain people are very close-knit and independent. They don't like the government. They don't like outsiders. They live in a wild rugged country they know a lot better than any government agents. How can they be stopped?"

"So El Jay is not the kind of place to vacation in?"

Charles snorted in disbelief. "Are you serious? You're going there? Why on Earth?"

"I'm not an outsider. I just found out I've got relatives there." She smiled coyly. "Want to come along? I'm not planning on doing any topless sunbathing like Burgandy, but it still could be fun."

Charles leaned back in his chair with a sleazy grin. "It is tempting. I'd be glad to accompany you to Mexico and watch you tan your white parts. But El Jay?" He leaned in for emphasis and turned serious. "Not on your life. And I strongly advise you not to go."