Chapter 3 #2
She accepted the meal and took a bite of cornbread. Instead of the buttery, sweet flavor of fresh from the oven side, she tasted dry crumbs like sand on her tongue. She reached for the coffee and drank, glad for the warmth and the distraction.
“What did we miss?” Jennifer added.
“I’m not sure,” Daniel said.
Emma choked, coughing, as Christine hit her back. Truth had its limits. She was nervous at the candor she heard in her friend’s voice. “Sorry, food went down the wrong pipe. Thanks for dinner, this is delicious.”
“I need to ask all of you a few questions,” Daniel said. “And I’ll be sticking close by tonight.”
Emma met his gaze and nodded. In the midst of so much turmoil, she clung to his steady presence. He was doing his job, and she was part of professional obligation. Nothing more. Or so she’d keep telling her heart until the treacherous organ listened.
Daniel folded the note and tucked it into his shirt pocket.
A few things stood out to him right away.
Cursive restricted the writer to their late thirties and up.
The detail wasn’t necessarily very illuminating.
He didn’t think many teenagers devoted themselves to extortion.
And it didn’t narrow the pool of potential criminals very much.
Also, the loops of the writing were a better fit for a female suspect. Again, that wasn’t helpful.
The mess hall of an all-girls summer camp was full of suspects.
But the note confirmed planning. He’d assume the car accident was intentional. If the driver believed they had hit a bullseye on their target, they might not try again. He’d keep news on Owen’s condition to pertinent parties. Unfortunately, Owen might have been only one of many objectives.”
“Are we in danger?” Margaux whispered, her eyes darting side to side. “Why are you here? Police don’t make a habit of asking questions without a purpose. How could any of us have committed a crime?”
He’d never really noticed much about Margaux during those youthful summers.
He couldn’t say if melodrama was her personality.
She’d received the note. Maybe her reaction—to immediately jumping on a crime being committed—was warranted depending on what her secret was.
Desperation was dangerous. “Owen was in a car crash tonight.”
Jennifer and Christine gasped.
Christine covered her open mouth with a fist.
Jennifer widened her eyes. “And you’re asking us about our involvement?”
“Should we call our attorneys?” Margaux narrowed her gaze.
Emma raised her mug to her lips, gripping it with both hands.
Daniel hoped the warmth of the beverage gave her strength.
He spotted the slight tremor in her hands.
He wanted to reach out and put her hands in both of his, instilling her with comfort.
He still had a lot of unresolved feelings for her.
But he’d failed her by not finding the truth about what happened to her sister.
Any feelings for her beyond friendship had to be ignored.
“I would like to hear what any of you can recall about encountering Owen tonight. No one is under investigation.”
“We didn’t see him,” Jennifer replied quickly. “But I didn’t appreciate the note he included in my invitation.”
Daniel shot a glance at Emma, waiting for her reaction. He wasn’t inclined to inform the entire cabin about the threat against Margaux. But maybe that was the wrong approach. Was Owen a victim or a perpetrator? “What did it say?”
“Money can’t solve every problem,” Jennifer said, derisively. “It was like a bad fortune cookie. Why? Did anyone else get a note?”
“I got a text after my invitation came,” Emma said. “The number wasn’t one I recognized so I deleted and blocked the number. It said, ‘Can’t wait to share new, old times together.’ Whatever that means. Didn’t seem threatening to me.”
So someone knew she’d be here. Daniel wasn’t sure what the cryptic message meant or who sent it. Owen had access to contact information and RSVPs. He’d be aware of Emma’s return. Why hadn’t he shared that with Daniel? How much investigating was Owen pursuing on his own?
“And I found a nasty letter on my mattress in the cabin,” Margaux added.
“Are you sure it was your bunk?” Christine asked. “The beds aren’t assigned.”
“It was the spot I always claimed every summer,” Margaux said. “Was mine from Owen, too? Was he trying to send us all a message? Keep us on our toes?”
Daniel didn’t like that angle. It implied that whoever targeted Owen was a vigilante. The man was lying helpless in a bed right now. Daniel didn’t want a victim villainized. “He’s in the hospital. He’s no threat.”
“I saw Mrs. Thomas rush out of the mess hall earlier. Is that where she went?” Margaux asked.
“The Thomases are with him,” Daniel said. “I’ll stay to keep watch over the camp.”
“Are we in danger?” Margaux prodded, folding her arms over her chest.
“I promised the Thomases I’d stay,” he said.
“Why? We’re adults. We don’t need supervision,” Margaux continued, every vowel sharper than the last.
“Let’s not get all worked up,” Emma interjected, lowering her mug to the table.
“The accident was pretty scary. Slick conditions and low visibility on a twisty road aren’t ideal.
After what I witnessed, I feel better knowing we have someone trained in first aid in case the worst should happen here. ”
He heard the catch in her breath in the last four words.
“She’s right. Accidents can happen at any time.
On a stormy night, travel back and forth isn’t ideal.
I’d rather have myself or a deputy stationed at camp in case something comes up.
A precaution against an emergency situation. Since I’m already here, I’ll stay.”
“You make it sound like you think a killer is on the loose.” Jennifer laughed. “Are we at a reunion, or did we step into one of those nineteen eighties teen horror movies?”
From the corner of his gaze, he spotted Emma’s tight, stiff smile.
He didn’t know her anymore, but some body language cues were universal.
“The main issue is that the other driver left the scene and might have substantial damage to their vehicle. Owen is in good hands at the hospital. By tomorrow or the next day, he’ll be able to give us more information and potentially an identification. ”
“I think a bigger question is why was he on the road at all?” Emma asked, her voice breaking. “I didn’t want to drive into town for the cake. I couldn’t find him.”
“Then he must have followed you off property,” Margaux added. “Why? Where had he been? Lurking outside our bunk?”
Christine grabbed Emma’s empty mug. Jennifer rubbed Emma’s back in a slow circle.
Daniel was glad to see the others stepping up for Emma, taking care of her. He wanted to do that, too, but he had to put his professional duty first to protect all.