Paradise Palms: A Murder Mystery in a Time-Traveling Trailer Park. Kindle|CreateSpace

Lin

Lin moaned softly as the gentle hand rubbed her neck with purposeful intent. Lips brushed against her ear and she rolled over to try to see who could be there, but the person stayed behind her, hidden from view. An arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. The heat from the other person’s body felt good against her exposed skin and gooseflesh covered her body from the excitement. Again the lips touched her ear and a tongue ran from behind her ear and down her neck. Again Lin moaned.

“Lin! Lin, wake up.”

Lin sat up. Her own hand was in her shirt as she lay upon the bed. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. She quickly pulled her hand out and pulled her knees to her chest.

“I’m sorry to wake you from your dream. It sounded like a good one. But we’ve got activity.”

Lin was breathing heavy. She fought to catch her breath. Tiger Lily had seen her. That didn’t matter right now. What did matter was something was happening.

“What time is it?”

“It’s only two, but something is happening. I’ve got a signal that’s burning like a torch in the night. This guy isn’t even making the slightest attempt to hide that he’s coming in. Something is up.”

Lin took a seat next to Tiger Lily. Tiger Lily put her hand on Lin’s leg and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m sorry you had to wake up.”

“This is more important.”

“I know, but you know what I mean. I didn’t want you to wake up like this.”

Lin rubbed the sleep from her eyes and then put an arm around Tiger Lily and rested her head on her shoulder. “Show me what’s going on.”

Sure enough there was a signal coming in on a main line with no attempt to hide the IP address or any incoming data. Almost as if the person wanted to be found.

“This is different. It’s almost like a direct attack by some amateur. I don’t get it. Why did this person spend so long sneaking in and then practically yell ‘here I am’?”

“Maybe he does want to be found. Bring up the cameras on this screen.” Lin pointed to the second monitor.

Tiger Lily brought up the sectional display of the cameras. Every thing in the park looked normal. Normal except for Sam and Girlfriend driving through the park.

“What are they doing?” Lin asked.

“I don’t know, I wasn’t watching them. I’ve almost got the trace back on this signal, you keep on eye on them.”

Sam and Girlfriend sped through the park and went into the woods behind the Sandy Bar, out of sight.

“Well, they’re in the woods where Casper was found. Any luck on the signal?”

“You know what? It’s transferring a file to this computer. He’s hacked all the way in. I’m going to block it.”

“No!” Lin didn’t know why, but something of this didn’t scream of an attack. If anything, it was a plea for help. She looked back at the cameras “I don’t know. Something isn’t right.”

“I know that much. What do you think is happening?”

The woods shifted. “There!” Lin pointed. “It all changed. See that?”

“Yes.” Tiger Lily sounded amazed.

It didn’t last more than two minutes and then everything changed back.

“It was different. Do we still have that signal? Can we trace it?”

“The signal is still there. The file is also done downloading. Should we open it?”

“Where did the signal originate?”

“It’s coming from…”

“Don’t tell me. From Doc Brenner’s place?”

Lin pointed to the monitor. Doc Brenner, dressed in a suit and tie and a bowler on his head, stood on the steps to his trailer. He looked right at Lin’s trailer and waved as if he knew the camera was pointed at him.