“The whole thing is strange,” the woman continued. “And don’t get me started on Maggot. Putting on airs. Like we’re supposed to be impressed? Money talks wealth whispers.”
“She’s old money. The new look and new personality must be the husband. The whole image. I wouldn’t want to be in the spotlight. She seems okay. All things considered.”
“She’s always been strange. I’m glad to get out of here while I can. Before something else happens.”
Daniel held his breath, straining for every last word. That was ominous to say.
“What are you taking about, Jill? Did you hear something? Should we tell that cop?”
At least Jill’s companion had common sense. She restored his belief in the good of people.
“No, nothing like that. Just a bad vibe. Being around the sister, the weirdo, and those cliquey girls isn’t helping either. Some people grow up, others remain trapped in middle school antics,” Jill said.
“Do you think the rumors were true? About Jennifer in a hit and run?”
Daniel’s ear perked up at that tidbit.
“Who knows?” Jill asked. “After Liz’s accident, she stuck out to me. She’d been frantic and inconsolable, sobbing more than the sister. This whole place feels like a haunted house. I’m not trying to scare you, and I feel bad for the Thomas parents. But I’m glad to be heading out.”
“Me too.”
The voices quieted as the women moved on. Daniel took a deep breath and counted to ten before he straightened. In his experience, he knew the comments the women made in passing wouldn’t stick with the pair. Their words had left quite an impression on him.
When had Jennifer been in an accident? Why? What had happened? The women admitted to discussing gossip, probably rehashed over the decades and twisted from the truth. But if Jennifer had already been in a similar accident, she might know how to extricate herself from the crash with Owen. And if two people were involved in what had happened, the shootings, the strangling, the driving, and the executing, he might have a better sense of how everything could have unfolded.
He had plenty to think about and a lot of reading for the night ahead. Was the journal the secret he’d needed to uncover? He worried most about Emma’s role. Without her memories, she was the most obvious target. She wouldn’t know who to suspect and couldn’t prepare against an attack.
Using her as bait rubbed him wrong, and he refused to endanger her. He worried his myopia blurred his vision for trouble on the periphery. And that his desire to shield and protect her would obscure his professional duty. She was his guiding light and his blind spot. If he figured that puzzle out, he might have a chance to solve the mystery and save them all.
Nine
Emma stared at the screen door, willing Daniel to stride inside again. Dinner service had ended a while ago. The other tables had cleared out. But Emma was in no rush to leave the mess hall, and neither were her bunkmates.
“I can’t believe this might be gone soon,” Margaux said, her voice soft and wistful.
Jennifer and Christine nodded sadly.
“I don’t think any change is imminent,” Emma said. As far as she knew, the Thomases owned the property outright. They weren’t in danger of losing their land to a developer. This wasn’t a made-for-TV holiday romance movie. They could make a smart choice about how to sell. Her heart broke for the family all over again.
“I know, but we won’t ever get to be back here again. It’s just the same as it was back then,” Margaux continued. “Like a time warp.”
“Maybe that’s part of the problem?” Jennifer asked. “We’re middle-aged now. Not to speak poorly of the dead or anything, but if Owen had been serious about taking over the business, shouldn’t the camp be up to date? Functional? It’s barely habitable.”
Could’ve, would’ve, should’ve. Emma agreed that Owen must not have ever been truly committed to assuming control, relying on his aging parents to do all the work well past the age they should have retired. But Emma knew how much he cared about this place.
His investigation into the truth about her sister must have monopolized him as the camp fell into disrepair. Hadn’t Mrs. Thomas said that he’d been the reason for the camp reunion this weekend? He wanted to bring everyone back. Why? Had he been about to confront the villain? Then would he have gotten on with the rest of his life and taken over the camp? With his death came the swift end of any possibilities for the camp’s second act.
“It’s bittersweet to be here, especially now,” Christine added. “During some of my darkest moments growing up, I counted down to summer, this camp shone like a beacon to guide me across the troubled water at home.”
Emma nodded. She hadn’t asked anyone else what they felt about coming together again. She was glad to know she wasn’t alone in her conflicting emotions. What else lingered under Christine’s words? She’d always been so positive and cheerful. Did she have a tough home life she’d escaped for a few months in Wisconsin? Emma was starting to appreciate how little she knew anyone.
“We’ve been given one last chance to experience everything we loved about this place,” Jennifer said. “What a blessing to know that so we can be sure to soak up and enjoy every moment.”
“Is it a blessing though?” Margaux asked. “To know the end is near? I think I prefer ignorance. I have it in the back of my mind that I’ll never be here again. I keep trying to hold on so tight to each sound and smell, the exact temperature of the breeze through the screens in our bunk. But I might as well be holding sand in my fist. Everything slips away no matter how hard I try to cling to it.” She shook her head. “I always liked the first day back. Before most campers arrived for the season, the camp was so peaceful. I timed my arrival this weekend for that same feeling.”
Emma nibbled her lip. It was strange that Margaux said first day and not yesterday. They’d all arrived at various points only a day ago. Maybe the passage of time—with everything that had happened—played tricks on Margaux, too. Emma couldn’t believe how much occurred in twenty-four hours.
“Let’s not focus on what we’re losing,” Christine chimed in. “Let’s reminisce about the good times. The great memories. Our favorite places.”
