Chapter 39

CHAPTER 39

W hile Duke and Gibson led Mr. Klinkhart away, Andi and Simmy led Juniper in the opposite direction.

It was clear these two needed to be separated. Juniper was upset—and rightfully so. That confrontation had been ugly and uncalled for.

Andi directed Juniper to a seat in the corner. Andi sat on one side of her and Simmy on the other.

“Are you okay?” Andi asked softly, truly concerned about Juniper’s mental state after those accusations had been hurled at her.

Juniper shook her head, though her gaze still look bewildered with shock. “I can’t believe he came here. I can’t believe he said those things.”

“Pepper’s death is not your fault.” Even as Andi said the words, she remembered her earlier suspicions—suspicions that Juniper had discovered Pepper and Caleb were seeing each other and the murder could have been a jealous fit of rage.

She couldn’t rule the theory out, though she didn’t see Juniper as a killer.

Right now, she would put that idea aside.

“I know, but . . .” Juniper sniffled. “If I hadn’t told Peppermint about the cabin and let her stay there, she would have moved away, and then none of this would have happened . . . her dad is right.”

“Don’t go there.” Simmy squeezed Juniper’s hand. “Something else could have happened to her if she did move. Her father obviously has anger problems and control issues.”

Andi had noticed how quickly Simmy and Juniper had bonded. Simmy had almost stepped in as a motherly figure, and Andi sensed that was something Juniper desperately needed. The ability to love and care for others was a true gift, and Simmy had that in abundance.

Andi shifted her thoughts. “What about what Mr. Klinkhart said about the property? Do you think he’s lying? Or do you think you misunderstood what was happening when your parents started this place?”

“What exactly did you hear, sweetie?” Simmy still gently gripped Juniper’s forearm.

Juniper ran a hand roughly beneath her eyes before drawing in a breath. “My dad told Heath he was sorry this didn’t work out. Then Heath said he was making a huge mistake. Then my dad insisted he wouldn’t change his mind. I asked my parents later, and they confirmed what I heard. Why would they lie?”

“Maybe to protect themselves?” Andi suggested with a shrug. “To protect the image you had of them?”

“But if that’s true . . .” Juniper blinked back tears as she shook her head. “Then that would change everything.”

Andi knew those words were true. That would mean that Juniper’s parents might have been keeping secrets. Not telling the whole truth. But what reason would they have to lie?

Questions swirled in her mind.

Juniper’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen. “It’s the hospital. I should take this. It could be an update on Emmett.”

Andi nodded and watched as she answered.

A few seconds into the conversation, Juniper’s eyes brightened. “Is that right? Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it.”

When Juniper ended the call, she looked at Andi and Simmy. “Emmett is awake, and he wants to talk to me.”

Duke and Gibson had successfully gotten Heath Klinkhart to calm down.

Duke instinctively didn’t like the man after he’d come in here acting so hot. But the man had also lost his daughter. He had to keep reminding himself of that fact.

Duke looked up as Andi walked over. She glanced at him and Gibson, then nodded in the distance, indicating she needed to tell them something.

They left Heath and followed Andi to the other side of the room.

“Juniper just got a call,” Andi told them. “Emmett is awake and wants to talk.”

“That’s great news,” Gibson said. “I’d like to talk to him as soon as possible. Do you think he saw something—or someone—before he found Pepper’s body?”

“It makes sense to me,” Duke said. “He basically said he had something to tell us, then started to say that someone killed Pepper. He didn’t have a chance to finish.”

Gibson glanced at his watch. “I’ll head back to the hospital. Even though the roads are slick, I think I can handle it.”

Andi tilted her head. “Are you sure? It’s pretty bad out there.”

“I need to know what’s going on,” Gibson said. “People’s lives may depend on those answers. Plus, there’s a break in the storm for the next few hours, but it’s supposed to get worse later.”

“Do you want one of us to go with you?” Andi asked.

“No, the best bet is for you guys to stay here,” Gibson said. “I’ll take one of my troopers with me just in case. But I’ll leave two of them here as well in case anything arises.”

“That sounds like a plan.” Andi glanced to Heath as he sulked in the corner. “And him?”

Gibson frowned as he studied the man. “I can’t exactly send him on his way considering his current mental state.”

“But I don’t know he should be around Juniper either.”

Almost as if he’d heard them, Heath stood. He almost seemed to growl as he stormed toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Gibson stepped toward him.

“I’m getting out of here. I can’t stomach being at this place a moment longer. Besides, you have no reason to keep me here.” Heath paused with his hand on the door as he stared at Gibson, challenge in his gaze. “So it’s my right to leave.”

The man had a point. There was no legal reason to hold him.

“That’s true. But the roads are bad,” Gibson reminded him.

“I’ll be fine!” Without another word, Heath charged out the door.

They all stood in silence in his wake. The man was grieving, yes. But he also had some major anger issues.

No wonder Pepper had wanted to get away.

Gibson let out a sigh before turning back to them. “I’m going to head out now also. I’ll let you know what I find out.”

Duke nodded. This could be their chance to find some answers. He hoped Emmett truly did know something that proved helpful.