Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Ian was already at the dining room table looking over the receipts when I joined him after giving Mo and Roxie their evening snacks.
“Look at this, Pep,” he said, handing me two receipts.
One was for work done around the time of the murder at the lodge by Strathmore Builders. Who worked there then?
My eyes went wide seeing the other receipt for one of the cabins. It had three names recorded, Stan Richards one of them. My eyes then went to the date.
Stan Richards and his friends were staying at the lodge the weekend Rita was murdered.
15
“I feel like I’ve been out of the loop, and I have missed being your partner-in-crime so to speak,” Amy said after I filled her in on all that had been happening.
Amy always looked good, but today was an exception. She wore all black—almost—from the knee-high leather boots to the skin-hugging pants to a knit cowl sweater, and she topped it off with an eye-catching wide, red leather belt.
“I’m glad you suggested we meet an hour before my dad joined us so we could talk. “It’s been a crazy tax season and I can’t wait until it’s over. But I could use a distraction from both. Do you have anything else I can help you with on the Carson case?”
“Are you sure you’ll have time?” I asked, having something in mind.
“I really could use a good distraction, Pepper. Compiling your dad’s notes helped me get my mind off things.”
I heard the need for it in her voice and I had the need for her skill in getting people to talk. “I planned on talking to Rita’s parents, Betty and Pete Carson, but you have a skill in getting people to open up to you. I have a phone number for Betty Carson but not Pete. His last known number no longer belongs to him.”
“I’ll find it and talk with both of them. Text me her number when you can.”
“How are things with you and Beau?” I asked.
Amy cupped the mug of tea in front of her. “Right now, I don’t even have time to think about that, and thankfully Beau doesn’t push anything.”
“Heads up, ladies, Noah’s here,” Zelda said as she passed by our booth.
I immediately pushed my mug of tea over to Amy’s side and slipped out of the booth to slip in next to her. She grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze once I was settled beside her.
“You’re not alone. I’m right here,” I said and returned the squeeze before we released hands.
“This is wonderful.” Noah beamed, sliding in the side I’d just vacated. “Breakfast with two beautiful women—”
He stopped abruptly when his eyes landed on me.
“I meant to ask you yesterday where you got those black eyes, though they are healing well,” he said.
“An unfortunate accident, but I’m good now. Bruises fading more and more each day,” I said, and they were, and he didn’t need any details.
“Coffee,” Lara asked, stopping by our booth.
“Definitely coffee, sweetheart, it’s cold out there,” Noah said with a smile that was meant to charm as he rubbed his hands together as if needing to warm them.
There was a decisive bite in the air promising a predicted snowfall, but just a couple of inches, hopefully, although the area ski slopes wished for more.
“Where do I start?” Noah asked, his hands cupping his coffee mug just as Amy cupped her tea mug.
“By telling me where you’ve been all these years,” Amy said.
“Drifting through life,” Noah said. “I have a difficult time putting down roots. After a while I just need to move on. I stayed with your mom and you here in Willow Lake longer than anyplace I’ve ever been. Your mom stole my heart and you grabbed hold of my heart and never let go—”
“You didn’t love Mom enough to stay or me for that matter,” Amy accused.
“Actually, Amy, I left you both because of how much I love you,” he said. “The itch to drift started getting to me and your mom understood it until my absences from home grew longer. I was hurting you both by taking off, returning, and taking off again. I wasn’t a dependable husband or dad. I knew the only right thing to do was to leave and not return.”
“So, this return is temporary as well?” Amy asked.
“I won’t lie to you.”
“Now that’s a change,” I said and for the first time his charming smile faltered, and I hope Amy caught it.
“I came here to make sure all was well with you and with hopes that we could mend things and we could stay in touch in the ensuing years.”
“So, you waltz into my life and right back out of it with a suggestion we stay in touch,” Amy said succinctly in a repetition of his remark.
“I’d like to think of it as forming at least some type of relationship with my daughter in case she should ever need me,” Noah said.