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If he did get difficult, I’d turn up the heat and drive him to confess by talking about Phil Hill and Margo together. That should boil him over. If what I’d noticed from Ridge at the mere mention of Zander’s name—the way his eye twitched and his hands instantly curled into fists—talking to Clawson about the physical acts between Margo and another man would send him over the edge. It might cause him to go apocalyptic, but that was a risk I’d have to take.
Working out all the questions in my head and the order I would ask him, I got lost in thought until I bumped into a distracted Lola Kipling. We both laughed at our absent-mindedness. With this much open space, it was amazing that we’d collided.
“Are you doing one of your regular hikes?” I asked.
“Yup, it’s the only way I can clear my head. Plus, I don’t have to be around so many people this way.” Lola smiled shyly, tucking her longer bangs behind her ear. “I’ve been meaning to ask, but I haven’t seen you around. How are you doing? I know firsthand this town can be a little like a fishbowl, and they’re extra nosy about newcomers. I started worrying that they might be adding to your stress. After all, you’re planning a wedding, and then there’s that horrible murder in the town, not to mention your fiancé is the mayor, so you’re bound to be even more scrutinized. Are you holding up okay?” Her soft eyes studied me with no judgment or condemnation, just concern and compassion.
How Ridge could think for one second that this woman was a murderer astounded me.
I was not a person to open up about my feelings, even before living my life on the run. I surprised myself with my answer. “You know, honestly, it’s been pretty stressful.” So much was happening, and I struggled with it all. Too many changes occurred, and she was easy to open up to. She didn’t give off an air of being judgmental, so I figured she was well-suited to her profession.
I didn’t want to discuss it all with her because the more I kept to myself, the safer people would be. That was a lesson I’d learned early on from my father, and I adhered to it. It didn’t mean I couldn’t take the opportunity to put Ridge’s theory to the test. Maybe by mentioning the knife, I could get a read on her. She didn’t seem like someone who could lie easily, or she could be a sensational actress and should be in Hollywood because she’d make a killing in the movies. I didn’t foresee any of it, though. She was too pure of heart. Nobody could fake that sincerity. Her mask was bound to slip up at some point.
“I’m sorry, Lola, what brought you to Blackwood Creek again?”
Lola’s face lit up. “My ancestors lived here a long time ago, in the 1800s. I love the town’s rich history. There’s so much here to learn and discover. I’m a psychiatrist by trade and a historian by heart—especially my family’s history. Genealogy is fascinating and can teach us so much about ourselves, our cultures, and what can be avoided in the future. I find it thrilling. When the opportunity arose to open my practice here, I had to take it. I’ve counseled too many people who had regrets, and I didn’t want this as one of mine.”
Could she be talking about shifter history? Her interest in her family and moving to the area made me wonder if she wanted to integrate herself with the paranormal side of her potential heritage.
Still, it would be stupid to bring up shifters if she didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. I hedged my bets and went with a different tactic.
“It is an interesting place, certainly, with all the wolves in the area and how long-standing they are here. It’s amazing to think we could see one at any moment.”
Lola steamrolled right over the clue, but she got excited for a completely innocent reason. “I’m so glad there are so many wildlife reserves in this area because it’s tragic how many wolves have been hunted throughout history. Did you know that some populations dwindled so much they became endangered? It’s disgusting what people are capable of. Such beautiful creatures were created for a purpose, not to be snuffed out by humans. No animal should be endangered because of us. I’m perfectly content with having the wolves nearby to howl sometimes because it reminds me how important it is to conserve wildlife. This is their home, just as much as it is for anybody else.”
Yeah, Ridge had every right to believe she was a killer through and through. I wanted to roll my eyes so badly and prove my point to him right now.
Figuring that the line of questioning would only reinforce my opinion, it was pointless to keep going with it. It was time to move on. I decided to ask outright about the knife. The sooner I solved this, the sooner Lola would be free to live life normally and I would get what I needed.
“I was wondering, you had a wolf claw knife, right? Where did you get it?”
Stopping in place, Lola looked straight at me with questions in her eyes and massive confusion. “How did you know about that? It was misplaced while I was moving in.” Her lips turned down. “It was a family heirloom passed down by my great-great-grandfather. I’ve searched everywhere for it; I can’t believe it vanished the way it did. It makes my heart sick that I was that careless with it. My father gave it to me and said I needed to be extra careful with it.”
I didn’t sense any subterfuge or fakeness in her story. She was truly upset about losing the family heirloom and the connection to her ancestors. Someone must have stolen it. She was new to town and made for an easy mark to frame. With no friends or roots here, people could easily dismiss her. If it weren’t for Ridge and our fake engagement, I’d be in the same position as her.
I cautiously prepared to ask my next question, not wanting to rattle her, already feeling a little sleazy going there with her. Deep down, I didn’t want to snoop around with her. The Greenthornes were no problem because I downright didn’t like them, but I respected Lola, so it made me feel grimy.
“Why were you awake so early the day Phil Hill died?”
Her shoulders dropped and she let out a long sigh. “I had a meeting with Mr. Greenthorne, but it’s not just because of that. I haven’t slept well since I accidentally became a cheater.” Shame and sorrow tainted her face, her words leaving her in a rush and making it sound like one word. She couldn’t look me in the eye.
It took me a moment to replay what she’d said in my head, and I was confused.
“What are you talking about?”
How does anyone accidentally become a cheater? She hadn’t mentioned having a boyfriend. How was she a cheater? She had to have been in some kind of relationship in order for her to be a cheater—accidental or otherwise.
Tears slowly spilled down her cheeks. “When I was first new in town and had no idea who was who, let alone who was dating who, I met someone. I got swept up in a one-night stand with Phil Hill.”
My eyes widened in shock while Lola took a steadying breath.
“It ended horribly when Margo Bogford walked in on us. I couldn’t believe it. I was mortified and ashamed. If I had known they were together, I would’ve never gone there with him. He made me into a cheater. I spent the rest of the night throwing up because I was so sickened by what I had accidentally done. I did so much damage to a person who didn’t deserve it. That’s why I’ve secluded myself from people. I’ve been scared to talk to Margo ever since. Then after Phil was killed, I worried Margo might’ve thought I killed him out of jealousy or something insane like that, but I was more concerned about her. The pain and trust that had to have shattered her when she walked in on her boyfriend with me…it’s inexcusable.”
My heart went out to her because this wasn’t a situation of her making. It was all on Deputy Hill, and he wasn’t here for me to tear him to pieces for the hurt he’d caused my friends. I wanted to let her know that technically, she wasn’t a cheater—technically, she would be a home wrecker—but looking at her, I didn’t think that would be a wise thing to say. I didn’t actually believe it made her a home wrecker, either, because she hadn’t been aware she was being used to wreck a relationship.
Lola continued to sniffle and wipe away the tears from her cheeks. There was no way she wasn’t being genuine. But if Ridge heard this, he’d view it as another motive for her murdering the deputy. I didn’t. My suspicions were still leveled on Clawson.
Deputy Hill outweighed Lola by at least sixty pounds. How would she have been able to get the drop on him with a wolf-claw knife without him getting a few good hits in? I’d seen Lola that morning and days after. She had no bruises, cuts, or anything to indicate she’d been in a fight with somebody. It was possible he could have underestimated her as a foe, and she could have gotten close enough to get in the first hit, but wouldn’t he have defended himself against her? She didn’t look like she could put up a fight.
