Beech Mountain Breeze Read online

  Beech Mountain Breeze

  By

  Ed Robinson

  Copyright © 2019 by Ed Robinson

  All rights reserved. No part of this work shall be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Leap of Faith Publications.

  This is a work of fiction. Any actual person or place mentioned is used fictitiously. Though some of my work is based on my real life experiences, most of it is a product of my imagination.

  For my grandson Jaxen, who was the first of us to cross the swinging bridge atop Grandfather Mountain on a cold and windy day. May life provide him with many more adventures.

  Table of Contents

  Beech Mountain

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Author’s Thoughts

  Acknowledgements

  Beech Mountain

  At an elevation of 5506 feet, Beech Mountain is the highest incorporated town east of the Rockies. The town has a full-time population of 350, but the population swells to 10,000 at the peak of ski season in the winter, and 5,000 during the summer.

  Even though there are only 350 permanent residents, there are over 2,350 dwelling units on the mountain. Beech Mountain is a popular location for vacation and second homes for many people from North Carolina to Florida.

  Lance Armstrong, who survived a bout of testicular cancer, was out of shape and considering retirement in the spring of 1998. In a final effort, coach Chris Carmichael brought him to the mountain for a week of riding. Armstrong says he regained his competitive edge when he reached the top of Beech Mountain one morning during that trip.

  Carmichael brought Armstrong to Beech in part because of the rider’s previous success there. In the mid-1990s, when the Tour Du Pont passed through this range, its most famous stage finished atop the mountain. Armstrong won the stage in 1995 and finished first or second in each year from 1993 to 1996.

  The mountain’s biggest attraction is the Beech Mountain Ski Resort, which provides world-class slopes and an unending menu of special events to visitors year-round.

  BEECH MOUNTAIN — A malfunctioning gate release valve at Buckeye Reservoir has led to the emergency rescue of a diver as well as a state of emergency and mandated water rationing for Beech Mountain citizens, according to a notice sent by the town on Wednesday.

  “We’re looking at a time table of a minimum of 24-72 hours,” said Beech Mountain Town Manager Tim Holloman, referring to the duration of the water restrictions.

  Under stage five of water conservation, which is the most severe restriction, “only the minimum use of water is permitted.” Holloman estimates that the advisory affects 1,500-2,000 people.

  “Your cooperation in this water emergency is crucial in helping the town address this water shortage,” Beech Mountain Town Clerk Tamara Mercer said in a statement. “The town cannot fully express that requesting this voluntary citizenry participation is of utmost importance. All conservation efforts include: No usage of washing machines or dishwashers. No flushing toilets when not necessary. Using bottled water for drinking. No showering.”

  Holloman said that water distribution to the citizens of Beech Mountain will take place on Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department Station #2, located at 513 St. Andrews Road.

  The water restrictions do not affect Beech Mountain Resort, which has a separate water system, the town stated.

  The restrictions come after an incident on Nov. 19, when the town and a private contractor began the process of cleaning, maintenance, and assembly of the gate release valve. A diver attempting to close the gate release valve had to be rescued Nov. 20 after his leg became caught in the device, according to a statement from the town of Beech Mountain.

  “He was under water for three to four hours,” Holloman said.

  Shortly after 10 p.m., divers from Carter County Tennessee Water Rescue successfully rescued the diver, and he was transported to Watauga Medical Center, Holloman said. The diver was in good condition as of Wednesday morning, according to the statement.

  “He talked to us this morning and said ‘thank you,’” Holloman said of the diver.

  “The town of Beech Mountain gratefully thanks all those who helped carry out a successful rescue operation,” according to the town’s statement. “Because of the malfunction of the valve, the town is deeply involved in stopping the loss of water from the reservoir.”

  Responders from various agencies worked together to aid the rescue including: Avery Sheriff’s Office, Avery EMS, Avery Emergency Management, Beech Mountain Police Department, Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, Beech Mountain Utilities, Carter County Tennessee Water Rescue, Carolina Water Department, Elk Park VFD, Linville VFD, Linville Central Rescue, Red Cross and Watauga Emergency Management.

  Holloman said that a new dive team will come in Thursday to cap the valve, which will allow the reservoir to fill back up and the restrictions to be lifted. A permanent fix will come at a later date.

  “We won’t release (the restrictions) until the water level rises,” Holloman said.

  The town’s notice says that a statement will be released immediately upon being able to lift the restrictions.

  Call Beech Mountain Police at (828) 387-2342 or Beech Mountain Town Hall at (828) 387-4236 for further information.

  This story is developing, check www.wataugademocrat.com for updates.

  How I Go to the Woods

  Ordinarily I go to the woods alone, with not a single friend, for they are all smilers and talkers and therefore unsuitable.

  I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds or hugging the old black oak tree. I have my way of praying, as you no doubt have yours.

  Besides, when I am alone, I can become invisible. I can sit on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds, until the foxes run by unconcerned. I can hear the almost unhearable sound of the roses singing.

  ***

  If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love you very much.

  Mary Oliver

  One

  Brody and I heard about the draining of Buckeye Lake and thought it would be an interesting thing to see. We drove up the Beech Mountain Parkway to satisfy our curiosity. Several dozen onlookers were already at the lake. We left our car at a small park that we’d visited previously and walked to the water’s edge.

  Most of the people there were content to view the empty lake from shore, but a few were out mucking through what was usually under six feet of water. I had no interest in sinking my shoes in the soft mire until I heard a woman scream. She started waving her hands in the air and yelling for help. Brody and I looked around at our fellow observers, none of whom had any interest in helping. We tightened our shoelaces and began the arduous slog out to the woman in need.

  She’d discovered a body. It was that of a teenage girl. The lack of decomposition meant she hadn’t been dead long. She probably hadn’t floated yet, as sometimes it takes several days for that to happen. If she’d been floating, someone would have spotted her before now.

  “Can you call 911?” I asked the woman. “We don’t have a phone.”

  “I can’t get a signal up here,” she said. “I would have called them already.”

  “Do you want to st
ay with the body while we go get help?”

  “I’d rather not,” she said. “I’ll go.”

  “The police will want to talk to you,” I said. “You found her first.

  “I’ll go to the police station,” she said. “Easier than trying to find a signal.”

  “Don’t alert the folks on shore,” I suggested. “We don’t need a bunch of people walking all over the place.”

  She agreed and left to find a cop. Brody and I stood there looking at the victim. She’d been a pretty young girl with her whole life in front of her. That future was now gone. I was tempted to examine her for signs of foul play, but decided it was best not to touch her. I’d leave that to the cops, or medical examiner. I put my hands in my pockets and stepped a little further from the body.

  “I can hear the gears turning in your head,” Brody said. “What are you thinking?”

  “That this isn’t the crime scene,” I said. “Assuming it was a murder.”

  “If it were suicide there would be some visible sign,” she said. “A rope, slit wrists maybe.”

  “She could have overdosed,” I said. “Swallowed a bunch of pills and walked out into the lake.”

  “It’s so sad,” she said. “Either way it’s tragic.”

  “If there is any evidence to be found it’s on dry land,” I said. “The lake isn’t that big. Wouldn’t take long to canvas the shoreline.”

  “We’ve got to wait here for the police,” she said.

  “We can poke around some after they get here,” I said.

  “If they allow it,” she said. “They might call this whole area a potential crime scene.”

  “Or they might ask for volunteers to search for evidence.”

  “Stay within their expectations,” she said. “If they say no we’ll just walk away.”

  “Killjoy.”

  The town of Beech Mountain had their own police department. I’d never dealt with them, so I had no opinion as to their competence. I did know that the murder rate on this mountain was zero. Crimes of any kind were almost non-existent, outside of the occasional break-in of a vacant house. We’d seen some of their officers hanging out at the ski resort, acting as security. I didn’t have high hopes that we’d meet an expert investigator.

  An officer arrived within twenty minutes and confirmed my suspicions. He didn’t know what to do. I suggested calling the State Police in to help with the investigation.

  “Let me call the Chief,” he said. “I’ve never even seen a dead person before.”

  He used his portable radio to call for help. His chief agreed that they needed outside assistance. He was told to stand by and to keep the public away from the scene. Brody and I were part of the public. He asked that we go to shore and wait until more officers arrived. He was sure that someone would want a statement from us.

  We trudged back through the mud to the park. Our shoes were nearly ruined. We took them off and tried to rinse them off in a puddle that the receding water had left behind. It was a useless exercise. It was thirty minutes before a State Trooper pulled into the parking area. I recognized the man immediately. He’d been on a team that I’d led to a fugitive on my mountain. He often worked with my cop friend, Rominger.

  “How’s it going, Johnson?” I asked.

  “Fancy meeting you here,” he said. “Why is it that you always show up when there’s a dead body?

  “We didn’t find the girl,” I said. “We just came to see what an empty lake looked like.”

  “First impression of the scene?”

  “Nothing visible,” I said. “I didn’t touch anything. Can’t say how she got there, unless she swam on her own.”

  “Drowning?”

  “Maybe,” I said. “Maybe not. Can you check her for signs of injury?”

  “I can,” he said. “But it looks like it’s going to be a mess. Getting her out of here won’t be pleasant either.”

  “Need some help?”

  “I appreciate the offer,” he said. “But I better call for more hands and some boots.”

  “Mind if we sniff around the park?”

  “I’m not giving you permission,” he said. “But suit yourself.”

  “If someone starts yelling at me I’ll tell them you forbid me,” I offered.

  “Wait until after I examine her,” he said. “Might give us something more to work with.”

  Johnson went out on the lake to meet up with the Beech Mountain cop. Brody and I sat on a picnic table and watched. Some of the bystanders came over to ask us what was going on.

  “Dead girl in the mud out there,” I said. “That’s all I know so far.”

  That was enough for them to start spreading the word. Within minutes everyone at the park knew there was a body on the bottom of the lake. Every single person pulled out their smartphones, trying to check into Facebook or text a friend, in spite of the poor cell coverage. Some took pictures, even though they couldn’t make out what was going on from where they stood.

  “If you want to go sniffing around in the woods, you should take me home first,” Brody said. “Bring Red back up here if you want.”

  Red was a hound mix that we’d found walking along Pigeon Roost Road. After failing to locate his owner, we made him a member of our family. He was an excellent tracker. So far he and I had assisted local law enforcement twice. We found a lost little girl in less than one hour on our first mission. We also located two missing teens who’d survived a bear attack near Crab Orchard Falls.

  The combination of his nose and my ability to become one with the woods made us a formidable team. I wasn’t sure how he could help in this situation, though. We had nothing to go on. Red needed a scent to follow. I doubted the dead girl’s body would provide it after being in the lake for a day or two, but my dog would enjoy a romp through some new territory.

  “Okay,” I said. “I’ll run you home and pick up Red.”

  Brody didn’t have much interest in sharing my exploits in the woods or on the mountain. She was fine with a mild hike to see a waterfall, but extended walks on a mountainside weren’t her cup of tea. She’d rather sit in our warm cabin reading a book or baking cookies. If I didn’t enjoy hiking, she’d have me fatter than Santa.

  Red was ready and willing to get out of the house. I let him run around the yard and do his thing before loading him into the car. I drove back to Buckeye Lake to find cars and trucks from every police department within twenty miles. An ambulance from the Banner Elk Fire Department was on site as well. The crowd of onlookers had increased dramatically in size.

  Johnson and the Beech Mountain cop were covered in mud. The girl’s body was on a gurney, covered with a sheet. The officers from the various agencies huddled together discussing the situation, struggling to come up with a plan. I nodded at Johnson, pointed at Red first, then at the woods.

  “Hold up a minute, Breeze,” he said. “I want you to meet someone.”

  I walked over to them, feeling uncomfortable around so many cops, until I saw the pretty girl cop.

  “This is Angelina Will,” Johnson said. “She’s got some real investigative experience and even some forensic skills. Do you mind if she tags along with you?”

  Angelina wasn’t just pretty, she was sexy, even in a police uniform. She was petite but curvy, with brown hair and eyes. I hadn’t been taken aback by a woman’s beauty since the day I’d met Brody. Her smiled revealed perfect white teeth. We shook hands, and I felt an electric sensation run through me. I was surprised at my reaction and tried to stay cool. This was a possible murder investigation. I couldn’t let my attraction to her interfere with my search for clues, nor my relationship with Brody. Still, her presence made me feel a bit more alive.

  “Johnson tells me you have special skills,” she said.

  “I’ve got a way with the woods,” I told her. “Just comes naturally.”

  “Well, I’ve got a way with a crime scene,” she responded. “We should make a good team.”

  “So I’m official
ly part of this search?” I asked Johnson.

  “You volunteered to help us find clues,” he said. “You and your dog. I didn’t think you’d mind teaming up with Angelina for the day.”

  “Of course not,” I said. “My pleasure.”

  Miss Will and I broke off from the main group and moved to a picnic table in the park to develop a strategy. I saw that she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. Sometimes I was too aware for my own good. I noticed that she was wearing perfume. It smelled nice but seemed strange for a cop on duty. She was not wearing any makeup, but she didn’t need any. She moved and spoke in a coquettish manner, flirting with her eyes and mannerisms. Maybe I imagined these things, but she was hard to resist. I tried to steer the conversation to the matter at hand.

  “The natural water flow tells us that she started floating near here,” I said. “Otherwise she would have ended up at the dam. If we can find out what time the lake was fully drained, we could recreate her journey to the point she was found.”

  “If there was water in the lake, we could float something and make a good guess at what time she entered the water.”

  “I understand that’s going to take a few days,” I said. “They have to fix a gate valve first.”

  “At least we can rule out all the shoreline between where she was found and the dam,” she said.

  “Half the lake ruled out,” I said. “Unless her killer moved her a good ways before dumping her in the water.”

  “Doesn’t seem likely,” she offered. “But we can’t rule out suicide either. What if she dosed up and wandered around before entering the lake?”

  “Okay, so half the lake is not ruled out,” I said. “But we can prioritize our search area. I say we start right here and work our way towards the dam.”