I know what you did. I’m not the only one. Keep in check. The missive was scrawled in rushed, red, cursive letters.
Emma’s blood ran cold, icy dams forming in her veins.
She raised her gaze to meet Daniel’s. For an unguarded moment, he shared her look of shock. And that shook her to her core. Could this be the answer? Was Margaux the target, and Owen—and Emma—had accidentally gotten in the way?
“When did you receive this?” Daniel asked. “How?”
“I found it today when I checked in,” Margaux said. “In our bunk.”
“What do they want?” Emma whispered.
“I don’t know.” Margaux replied. “That’s all the note said.”
Emma frowned. Blackmail implied getting something in return for keeping a dangerous secret. The note could have been intended for any of the cabinmates. It might have fallen off Emma’s top bunk and onto Margaux’s bottom bunk. Emma gulped.
“Do you have any enemies?” he asked.
“My husband is running for the senate in South Carolina. I am a public figure whether or not I want to be.” Margaux shrugged.
“Here you are,” Christine announced, returning with a steaming bowl of chili and cornbread.
Jennifer carried a mug.
Emma stared at the food, no longer hungry now that danger lurked nearby. “Thanks.”
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.”
