Bodies Out Back

Chapter 3-1

Chapter 3

Vermont, a month later

Cameron hefted the axe over her shoulder as she and Michael crossed the street behind her house. Michael carried a hefty saw. They had decided to explore the land back there. Spring had progressed and it hadn’t rained for a couple days and it was finally possible to walk through the bushes and undergrowth without getting completely drenched and muddy. Although it had been over a month since Cam had bought the property, the winter thaw and early spring rains had prevented them from exploring this part of it. All she’d seen were aerial photos and a topographical map.

They started out early. The heavily wooded area hadn’t been thoroughly surveyed or explored recently. It was twelve acres with both pine and other deciduous trees. The underbrush was heavy. Cam was anxious to know what exactly was back there.

They walked about a quarter mile, cutting bushes and fallen branches to make a walkway, and piling pieces of branches and logs into a space to be brought back to the house to be cut and stacked for the fireplace.

“I wonder how much wildlife is here,” Cam said aloud as she hacked away with the axe she’d found in the garden shed.

“If you want wildlife, we can always make our own,” Michael said, coming up behind her to take the limb that had fallen into the path. She stepped on a spot about a third of the way along it and pulled it up until it broke in two. She then threw both pieces beside the trail they were making.

“Is that all you ever think of?”

“Oui,” Michael replied. A simple yes. No explanation, no apology. Michael had a silly grin on her face.

“How do you get any work done?” Cam teased.

“It is difficult,” Michael explained. “Especially when I know who’s waiting for me.” A raised eyebrow punctuated her words. Cam rolled her eyes skyward. She turned around to survey their progress.

“If we cut the broken branches and a few trees, I won’t have to buy firewood for a while.” Cam looked around to see if there were any dead trees that could be cut right away. There were several and clearing them would make a nice picnic or lounging area. “Did you notice if there was a chainsaw in the tool shed?”

“I didn’t notice one, but they’re not that expensive to buy.”

They came to a small creek that ran swiftly through the trees.

“This is wonderful!” Cam exclaimed. “I knew this was here, but it looks a lot nicer than on that topographical map. I wonder where it goes.”

Michael looked around. “This must be the one that comes through north of the next property. You remember that brook that empties into the lake over that sweet pile of rocks?” Michael said thoughtfully. “The land seems to be right for it.”

“I wonder if there are water rights,” Cam said, her mind working. “This would be a wonderful place for a little picnic area. It’s away from everything and very secluded.”

“No one could see me making love to you.”

Cam turned and stared at her.

“What?” Michael asked, trying to look innocent.

“Nothing!” Cam shook her head. Michael had a one-track mind. Everything had a s****l reference or innuendo.

“Cherie…” Michael said, reaching out for her, “We’re got to get you past that prudish New England heritage of yours.”

“Prudish?” Cam cried out. “Because I think about something besides s*x?”

“Oui!” Michael laughed as she drew Cam into her arms. “There is nothing besides sex.”

“Nothing? Then what did you do before you met me?”

“I m*********d, and I had s*x, kinky s*x. I f****d, sucked, fisted…” Michael went on to name every form of s****l interaction she could think of. By the time she was finished, Cam was wrapped tightly in her arms.

“You’ll have to show me a lot more of those.” Cam loved flirting with Michael. The end result was always worth it.

“Oui. Ici?”

“No, not here. It’s too wet here. We’ll have to get this exploration done, and then we can go back into the house.”

In response, Michael pulled her even closer and kissed her long and hard. By the time she was finished, they were both out of breath.

Cam laughed as she picked up the axe and forged ahead through the brush. “We should have brought a chaperone. It seems that’s the only way we ever get things done.”

A little while later, they finally came to a fast-moving stream. It was about two or three feet wide and looked deep in places.

“I bet that last stream runs into this at some point,” Michael speculated.

“You’re probably right,” Cam agreed.

“I will go upstream a ways to see how it flows. It could get really filled when the snow melts in the mountains.” Michael made her way up the creek.

“There’s what looks like a logging road through here, too,” Cam called out to Michael’s disappearing back. Cam wondered why it didn’t show up on the maps. It looked like it would have been wide enough for one small car. She poked around through the grasses and new shrubs. Obviously, it hadn’t been used in a while and was being overtaken by new shrubs, grasses, and fallen branches. They’d have to see where it ended.

Suddenly, Michael was back beside her, slightly out of breath and white as a ghost.

“Cameron, we need to call your police,” she said urgently. “There are two bodies in the bushes up the stream.”

“Where?”

Michael pointed to some bushes about seventy-five yards from where they stood. Then she turned and lost her breakfast into the stream. Cam bent down to hold her shoulders and head in concern. “Are you all right?” she asked. She’d never seen Michael like this. Michael was usually so staid, steady, ready for anything.

“They have been there a while,” Michael responded when she could catch her breath. “They’re really decayed, and it looks like bugs got to them,” Michael finally managed to explain. “Maybe even some vermin.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

“Two people?”

“It looks like it.”

“Come on. It’ll take time for the police to get here.”

They hurried back to the house as Cam called the Vermont State Police. Once back inside, Michael washed her face and hands and brushed her teeth. Cam poured her a half glass of whisky and they sat down to wait for the police.