Chapter 3 #3
“I saw him working on one of the cabins,” Christine said.
“What kind of work?” Daniel asked. “Fixing a leak in the roof? Patching the siding?”
The camp had been falling into disrepair over the last few summers.
With buildings deemed inhabitable, the Thomases had to cut the number of campers registered each year.
The town had felt the effects of the slowdown.
Less parents visited at the start and end of the summer, thus five of the B&Bs shut down. Restaurants did less service as well.
Daniel wasn’t sure how the Thomases could afford to keep running their business at all, but it was clear that as they aged, their son wasn’t stepping up to help them with the day-to-day tasks.
Daniel had been surprised that the camp hosted the reunion this year.
He’d heard a rumor it wouldn’t open at all. He was glad to be wrong.
“No, not like that,” Christine added. “He had a bunch of cables and stuff.” She shrugged. “I have no idea what he was doing. But he definitely ignored me when I yelled his name.”
“He was always kind of like that, lost in his own world,” Jennifer said. “Remember when we were kids, and he’d wander in and out of our activities?” She shuddered. “Always looking for Liz.”
Emma nodded. “We were a tight-knit community. All of us townies. Everyone looked out for each other.”
“That’s not how I remember it,” Christine said, curling her lip in distaste. “He was infatuated with her. I know we all brushed it off as puppy love, but truly, it was almost frightening how much he adored her.”
“I don’t recall that,” Emma said.
“I do,” Jennifer added. “I remember everything, including my numerous misdeeds.”
Christine cackled and exchanged a pointed look with Jennifer.
Daniel reasoned the pair must be unaware of the severity of the accident to speak so freely in front of him. If they knew the extent of Owen’s injuries, they wouldn’t dare utter anything remotely unkind for fear of implication. Professional experience had taught him that much.
“Liz was one of a kind,” Daniel added with a smile, glad for this thoughtful remembrance.
“Her patience was almost supernatural. She never rushed anyone and could sit in silence all day if that’s what the other person needed.
” He’d been the recipient of that kindness more than a few times in their youth.
“Really? Owen ignored you?” Margaux asked, changing the subject. “He helped me with my luggage. He was very friendly. He told me he was excited to catch up with you.”
“When was that?” Daniel asked.
“Shortly before the rain, I guess?” Margaux tipped her head to the side, tapping a finger to her chin. “He saw me struggling to lug everything down the path and rushed to help. I probably would have made two trips if he hadn’t stepped up.”
“When did everyone else arrive?” Daniel asked.
“I must have been first,” Emma said. “Because our cabin was empty when I got there.”
“We drove in together,” Christine said. “Our families are vacationing together this year, so we took my car and left our husbands and kids with Jennifer’s van.”
“Where is that?” Daniel asked.
“The Dells,” Jennifer and Christine said in unison.
“I’m not sorry to be missing this portion of our family trip,” Jennifer said. “Our next stop is the upper peninsula as we take a tour of the Midwest before looping back home.”
“Where is home?” Daniel asked.
“New Jersey,” Jennifer and Christine said as one again.
“Margaux, how did you arrive here?” Daniel asked.
“A driver,” Margaux replied as if it was obvious.
She definitely wasn’t the outcast he remembered. While she still didn’t seem to meld with Jennifer and Christine the way he’d expect, given their similar backgrounds and upbringings, she lived a far different lifestyle to him and Emma.
Emma yawned and covered her mouth. “Sorry.”
“No need to apologize,” Daniel said.
He scanned the mess hall. Most of the room had emptied during their conversation. He’d tuned out the rest of the world in Emma’s presence. For everyone’s safety, he’d had to do a better job at staying aware of his surroundings. He couldn’t focus solely on her.
“Can we head to the bunk? Let Emma get some rest?” Margaux asked, rising off the bench.
Rhetorical questions. She was used to getting her way and being in charge. Daniel nodded. “Sure. I’ll be around, if you need me. Please stick together. All of you.”
Emma flashed him a tired smile. “Thank you.”
He nodded and stood, stepping to the side to let the women pass. Following them out of the mess hall, he watched the group walk to their cabin, the first one off the path nearest the mess hall. The cabin door swung shut.
Daniel headed to his SUV. Cell service remained patchy in these woods.
Decades later and technology still hadn’t reached them.
He was better equipped in his patrol vehicle with internet.
He’d do a deep dive into Margaux. The note she had found was vague and could have been intended for anyone.
It was a potential lead. Or a massive wrinkle. He’d find out which.