Page 15 of Waylaid in Whittier (Cruise Director Millie Mysteries #5)

Millie blinked rapidly. “Caboose the moose?”

“The same moose we saw on our way through earlier. He’s blocking traffic.”

“Doing what?”

Sharky shrugged. “Resting.”

“Can’t someone get him out?”

“You mean like banging pots and pans to drive him away?” he teased.

“What if Caboose decides he’s never going to move?”

“I spoke to a couple of locals. Apparently, he’s done this before. He’ll move when the train shows up. He likes to follow it. Hence his name.”

“How long is this going to take?”

“I have no idea. Until the train comes along.”

Brody tapped his horn and stuck his head out the window. “What’s the hold up?”

Millie and Sharky jogged over. “Caboose the moose is blocking the tunnel. The locals said he won’t move until the train comes through.”

“When is the train coming?” Annette asked.

“Let me check with Elvira.” Millie ran to Elvira’s truck. “Caboose, the moose is in the tunnel. What time does the train come through?”

“Figures. It seems he’s in the tunnel more than he’s out of it,” Elvira sighed. “The train rolls through every half an hour on the hour. It should be soon.”

“What if he decides he’s not moving for the train, forcing it to stop?” Millie asked.

“I don’t know. Caboose is a stubborn fella. He can’t be bribed by food or scared by noises. In other words, we’re stuck until he’s ready to leave.” Elvira snatched her cell phone from the center console. “I might as well call the court clerk and let her know Caboose is holding up tunnel traffic.”

Millie rubbed her forehead. “Only in Alaska.”

“You know it. Hang on.” Elvira made the call, explaining to the person who answered she was stuck on the other side of the tunnel. “Thanks. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

While she talked, Millie noticed Sharky rummaging around in his backpack. He removed a package and began walking toward the tunnel entrance. “I wonder what Sharky is doing.”

“Hopefully, he’s not trying to lure Caboose out of the tunnel. He gets a little ornery when someone disturbs his rest.”

Millie called out to him. It was too late. Sharky stepped into the dark tunnel, disappearing from sight.

“I need to warn him.” Elvira sprang from the driver’s seat and took off at a dead run, all the while calling her boyfriend’s name.

Millie whispered a prayer under her breath. Sharky was no match for the massive moose.

Bang. A loud bang reverberated from within, so loud and so pronounced it seemed to shake the ground. The bang was followed by a bloodcurdling scream.

Elvira picked up speed and ran into the tunnel.

For a split second, Millie thought about following them, but figured it was safer for her to stay where she could monitor the situation.

Elvira reappeared, her face a ghostly white and moving at breakneck speed, right past Millie.

Sharky was a nanosecond behind, the same terrified look on his face and clutching the bag he’d carried inside with him. “Run!”

He didn’t have to tell her twice. Millie took off at a dead run, away from the tunnel. She didn’t stop or look back until she reached Brody’s truck.

He flung the door open. In one fell swoop, he lifted Millie up and deposited her in the truck’s bed.

Elvira dove into her vehicle. Sharky was right behind her. He hopped inside and slammed the door.

Caboose charged out of the tunnel, an enraged gleam in his eye as he galloped down the road. His front leg bumped the Flamethrower, tipping the scooter over. Skittering to the side, he threw his head back and bellowed loudly.

Millie ducked down, praying he hadn’t seen her. She squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath as Caboose continued his rampage. She heard the clatter of metal, or maybe it was glass shattering.

As quickly as the rampage began, it grew eerily quiet.

Millie braced herself, cautiously lifting her head, fully expecting to see the moose standing next to her, ready to chew her up and spit her out. But he was nowhere in sight.

Brody scrambled out of his truck. “Are you okay, Millie? I didn’t mean to throw you in the back,” he apologized.

“It’s okay. You probably saved my life. What happened to Caboose?”

“He went back inside the tunnel,” Annette said. “Whatever Sharky did set him off.”

Elvira’s driver’s side door slowly opened. The couple climbed out and jogged over to Brody’s truck.

“What did you do?” Millie asked.

“I went in the tunnel to try to persuade Caboose to come out. He started huffing and puffing and then he charged me,” Sharky said. “How was I to know a bag of beef jerky would send him on a rampage?”

“I tried to stop you. Caboose won’t come out until the train goes through.” Elvira tapped the top of her watch. “It should be any minute now. We got him all stirred up. It might not be a bad idea to wait in our vehicles until he takes off after the train.”

Annette and Cat hunkered down in Brody’s rental truck while Sharky, Millie, and Elvira hopped into her junker.

Sure enough, the train’s headlight appeared. Clickety-clacking along the tracks, it chugged out of the tunnel and passed by the open gate.

The conductor tooted the horn and waved. Car after railcar passed by. The train’s locomotive rounded the bend. Finally, the caboose cleared the tunnel. And then nothing.

Millie reached for the door handle.

Elvira stopped her. “Hold on. Caboose should be along shortly.”

The moose’s massive antlers appeared. With nary a care in the world, the giant beast calmly trotted past the long line of vehicles pulled off to the side, allowing the train to pass. Through the rearview mirror, Millie watched him follow it.

Elvira dusted her hands. “And just like that, the tracks are clear and so is the coast. I’m heading to the police station. When can we meet up?”

“I gotta be back on the ship by five,” Sharky said. “My shift ends at ten.”

“Five,” Elvira repeated. “I’ll check in with you later. I’ll need some time to settle the paperwork, clean up my trailer, and pack my bags.”

“But what if you’re not allowed to leave Whittier?” Millie asked.

“Positive vibes,” Elvira said. “Besides, Sharky sings your praises. I’m confident with all the brain power we have between us, we can figure this out.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Sharky hustled toward his fallen scooter. “Caboose knocked the Flamethrower over like it was a toy.”

“I’m sure it’s fine.” Millie watched him stand it upright. “See? Caboose barely touched it.”

“He scratched the paint.”

“Think of it as a souvenir from Whittier.” Millie emphasized the “ier” end of the town’s name. “Get it? A souvenir from Whitti-ear.”

“Haha. You’re hilarious.” Sharky handed her the helmet. “Let’s get through the tunnel before Caboose decides to come back and reclaim the tracks.”