38. Two Days until the Next Murder

CHAPTER 38

TWO DAYS UNTIL THE NEXT MURDER

A ndi hadn’t slept well last night. Not knowing someone had been in the cabin and left that morbid image on the mirror.

Gibson had assigned another officer to stay inside the living room overnight, just in case.

Andi was thankful for that because she knew Duke or Ranger would have stayed up all night to keep an eye on things otherwise. They all needed their rest.

Today would be another busy day.

They all awoke early and got dressed. The cop staying with them was bright-eyed as if staying awake all night was normal. He told them it had been quiet before he left for the lodge.

Then the gang had bundled up and trudged through the snow toward the dining hall.

They could have probably thrown together something to eat at the cabin, but they were all anxious for an update, and the dining hall was the best place to hear one.

However, last night’s snow had turned into today’s winter storm. The icy precipitation came down so fast and thick that walls of white surrounded them outside, blocking their view of anything else. Only their instincts would get them safely to the lodge—and even that felt risky.

It would be easy for anyone to get lost in these conditions.

Finally, they reached the dining hall. The scent of bacon, sausage and coffee immediately greeted them.

After peeling off her layers of clothing, Andi immediately went for coffee, needing something to warm her up. The rest of the gang either followed her to the pot or headed to the buffet to grab some food.

Andi had just taken her first sip when Juniper stepped out of her office, Tundra on her heels.

Based on the way she looked, she hadn’t gotten any sleep last night either. Dark circles hung beneath her eyes, and her skin appeared listless and pale.

Andi paced closer. “Any updates?”

Juniper shook her head. “No. There’s still no sign of Caleb. Not last I heard, at least.”

“I’m so sorry,” Andi murmured. “I know that must be difficult for you.”

Andi didn’t know yet if the man was innocent or guilty. But she would give him the benefit of the doubt. Plus, Juniper’s distress was heartbreaking. She cared about the man.

Gibson had already talked to her and told her Caleb wasn’t who he claimed to be. Juniper had been clueless. But according to Gibson, she’d gone pale when she’d heard, like the fact had shaken her.

“Have you seen Gibson yet?” Duke took a sip of his coffee. “I heard he might spend the night here.”

“He stayed in one of the cabins here at the camp.” She nodded behind them. “It looks like he just came in.”

They turned to see the state trooper step inside and stomp the snow off his shoes. He looked as if he’d gotten just as much sleep as the rest of them.

He headed toward them and paused. “Nothing new on my end. How about you guys? I heard it was pretty quiet.”

“It was quiet,” Andi told him, though she found little reassurance in the fact. Was this the quiet before the storm? That was what she feared.

“We have some corned beef hash, scrambled eggs, and fruit,” Juniper told them, her voice dull. “Please, help yourself.”

Juniper nodded toward the breakfast buffet in the distance. Matthew and Ranger were already eating.

Now that she mentioned it, Andi was kind of hungry—despite their dire circumstances. She hadn’t eaten much yesterday, and now her stomach was reminding her of the fact.

They started toward the buffet.

Before they reached the food, the door flew open again.

Andi jerked her head toward it, curious about who was here now.

Her eyes widened when she spotted a man she’d never seen before.

Based on the fire shooting out of his eyes, he was angry. Really angry.

“Mr. Klinkhart . . .” Juniper muttered, taking a step back.

“Wait . . . who?” Mariella murmured.

“That’s Heath,” Duke told her, gripping an empty plate in his hands. “Pepper’s dad. I saw his picture when I was doing research earlier.”

The tall, broad-shouldered man stormed toward Juniper. His hands were fisted at his sides and his face a fiery shade of red.

The man was seething.

“I just heard about my daughter,” he announced. “From someone else. You didn’t even have the nerve to tell me, even after all you’ve done?”

Even after all you’ve done? Was there more to this story? Or was the man simply referencing the fact that Juniper had helped Pepper start a new life for herself?

Duke edged closer to Juniper, ready to step in if things turned uglier.

He didn’t need to, however. Gibson did instead. “I’m State Trooper Logan Gibson. Can I help you?”

The man’s nostrils flared, and his gaze remained on Juniper. “I’m Heath Klinkhart. My daughter was found dead on this property. I flew in as soon as I heard.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Klinkhart.” Gibson kept his voice professional. “But it wasn’t Juniper’s job to let you know about your daughter.”

Heath only grunted.

“Traveling here was a risky move considering how bad the roads are,” Gibson continued. “I’m surprised they didn’t tell you to go to our office in Fairbanks.”

“Nothing was going to keep me away. I haven’t seen my daughter in a year, but I still had hopes I’d see her again one day.” His gaze went back to Juniper, hatred rising in waves from his eyes. “Thanks to you, that isn’t going to happen.”

“Me? I just tried to help my friend. It’s more than you ever did. You insisted she move with you. That she marry that man she didn’t even like. It’s not like we’re in the 1800s or something. People don’t do that anymore!”

“She wasn’t making good decisions! We just wanted to help guide her. We wouldn’t have forced the marriage. I’m not barbaric.”

“She loved this place,” Juniper countered. “She loved everything we represent, and she didn’t want to leave.”

“You shouldn’t have interfered!”

As his voice thundered across the room, Juniper backed up and hit a dining table. A chair on the other side fell backward, causing a loud crash to echo in the room.

“You should have stayed out of it.” Hatred came in invisible waves from the man.

“Do you want to tell me what’s going on here?” Gibson stepped closer, placing himself between Heath and Juniper.

“The problem here is this woman.” He glared at Juniper. “She’s just like her parents—meddling, lying, and controlling.”

“Don’t talk about my parents.” Some of the fear disappeared from Juniper’s voice, replaced with defensiveness.

“I told your dad not to open this place. That it was bad news.”

Juniper blinked in confusion. “That’s not true. You wanted to go in with him!”

“Who told you that?”

“I overheard the conversation myself.”

That was what Juniper had told them earlier also, Duke remembered. So what was this guy’s take on the situation?

“Well, you heard wrong.” Heath spit out the words. “I told your father this camp was a terrible idea. He wanted me to invest, but I told him no. He was furious with me for rejecting his idea.”

Juniper shook her head, her gaze tumultuous with confusion. “No, that’s not right.”

“Did you come here just to tell Juniper that?” Gibson asked.

“No, I came here because it’s her fault my daughter’s dead. If she’d listened and moved with her mother and I, she’d still be alive right now!”