“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.
“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.”
