How weird were they? Stuck in some kind of alternate reality with ghosts and a falling down campground. And too many men to choose from. And an evil step-grandmother.
Were they living in some kind of fairy tale land? And if so, which prince was her true Prince Charming?
“Stupid.” Crawling under the covers, Daisy tried to forget the images of Graham and Tucker on white horses, dueling for her honor and love.
Daisy woke before the sun. Her dreams had mimicked her final thoughts before drifting off. If anything, she was even more confused than before she talked to Sydney. After a shower, she fought with the ancient coffee pot, finally giving up and adding a new one to her list of things to buy when they went on a supply run.
Tucker’s crew arrived as she searched for the jar of instant caffeine she thought Sydney brought with her. She watched from the window as they unloaded out of the trucks and stretched, most seemed like they’d prefer to be still under the covers like her. A soft knock sounded at the door while she organized her tasks for the day. It would be Tucker and she didn’t know if she really wanted to talk to him this early.
She opened the door anyway. He held out a tray with two large cups of coffee and that smile that made her forget her name. “Peace offering.”
“Thanks.” She opened the door so he could come inside but he shook his head. “Another delivery from Al.”
He held out another yellow envelope, holding on tightly when she tried to take it. “Is there anything I can help with?”
Damn. Why did he have to seem so concerned?
“Nah. Just some copies of stuff for our records.” She lied. And judging by Tucker’s face, he knew.
“If you say so. You know where I am if you need me.” He released the envelope and closed the door behind him.
Daisy sat at the table, no longer needing or wanting to hide her turmoil from Sydney. Uncle Al had written a short note at the top of a fax.
Your mother is actively searching for you. She found out about your inheritance. Be cautious. Her intentions can’t be good. I’ll be out tomorrow with the inspector. Love, U.A.
Great. It wasn’t bad enough that her mother dumped her and went off to do her own thing without care one for her daughter’s well-being. Now Daisy might have to deal with her whether she wanted to or not.
Damn.
How would her mother appearing affect what she and Sydney tried to do? Pushing aside the paranoid questions, she decided to stop this head on.
An hour later, she’d forced the still sleeping awake and demanded a group meeting. Everyone showed, including Jace and Tucker’s entire crew. She’d had no worries about Marshal and his bunch. They were used to her occasionally bossy outbursts.
“I won’t keep you. I know everyone is busy. I have a personal situation that I need some help with.” She explained the details, watching Sydney’s anger grow. “If a woman shows up here don’t tell her a thing. Just call me and keep her in the parking lot. I’ll handle her.”
Feeling in control, she accepted the support as each person went back to work. Marshal stopped her, his eyes sleepy and unreadable. “I need to talk to you then. We went over all of the footage last night. You wouldn’t believe some of it. I want to go out again tonight. Are you in?”
“I’ll be there.” Daisy figured he probably wanted to grill her on Sydney’s odd behavior as well.
“After lunch. Bring Sydney, she’ll want to see too.” He one-armed hugged her and she assumed he headed back to bed.
There went her assumption that he worried about Sydney’s choice to bring Jace here. Maybe she’d read too much into their relationship. Maybe they only flirted and nothing else grew under the surface like she thought, or hoped.
“What are you going to say to her?” Sydney fell in step with her on her way to clean the office.
“I’ll figure that out when she gets here. Right now I’m thinking, ‘Go to hell.’” And she was. But she wanted some answers first.
“Good for you.” As always, Sydney knew when to leave things alone.
They walked the rest of the way in silence. Daisy dreaded the job ahead, but if the office was in top shape by the time Al came with the inspectors, maybe they’d pass even though their progress had been minimal this week, thanks to the storms.
Of course, the electric work wouldn’t start for a few more days. They’d finally chosen a contractor for the bathhouse remodel and construction was due to start tomorrow morning. Probably enough to pass inspection, but neither she nor Sydney wanted to take any chances.
Sydney opened the door and stepped back with a scream. Daisy added her scream to her sister’s, unsure if they should run. Graham showed up while the screams still split the air. He put an arm around each of them and looked inside, a shudder going through him as he gently urged them away.
A deer hung on the wall, each hoof spread out and tied with barbed wire. The head hung by only sinew and blood still dripped onto the floor. The same blood that seemed to be on every surface in the room. Including the ‘Get Out’ that was written on the wall next to the deer’s nearly severed head.
“Who would do this?” Daisy had a few ideas. One of them had put up his camper the previous afternoon.
“I was in here with the electrician yesterday.” Sydney choked out, not quite in tears, but not calm either.
“I’d say someone came in after you. Did you lock the door?” Graham forced them to take a step.
“There isn’t a working lock.”
Graham urged them to a rickety bench. “We need to call the sheriff. That’s a threat if I ever saw one.”
He grabbed his walkie-talkie, but didn’t use it because every guy in camp now ran up the path toward them. Daisy let Graham explain and watched each take a turn at viewing the grisly visage. Sydney stayed mostly silent, wrapping her arms around her upper body in a clear signal of “hands off.”
Even her prime suspect seemed dazed and concerned. Either he was a good actor or he truly had nothing to do with the scene. She counted on the first choice.
The deputy sheriff finally arrived. He documented the evidence, and shook his head. “Maybe something will turn up on the carcass. Get a lock for this door. Anyone could have done this.”
“Seriously, you know as well as we do that not anyone did this.” Sydney stepped toward the red-faced deputy, her frustration evident. “Where in the hell is your boss?”
Daisy moved away, not wanting to be in the path of her sister’s temper. Jace blocked Daisy’s exit.
“You think I murdered an innocent animal and mutilated its body just to scare you?” he asked, though no anger showed in his eyes.
“I’m not as gullible as Sydney. You have a reason for wanting to be on the property. I know what that reason is, so you can cause more destruction and fear and take control of the property for your dear, sweet Grandmother.” Her words tasted like poison. She didn’t care.
“Doesn’t the fact that your sister accepted my offer of help mean anything to you?” His demeanor hadn’t changed.
“I think my sister agreed because she wanted to keep an eye on you. To prove your motives are less than noble.”
“Then why would I do something like this my first night here? Wouldn’t I wait and see where my efforts would have more impact and cost more to repair? Wouldn’t I strike to hurt your memories of your grandfather and break your will?” His ice-cold tone jarred the anger into fear.
“You are a devious bastard.” She clenched her jaw to keep her volume low.
“Am I? Have I done anything like that? Didn’t your sister tell you how Grandmother played me?”
Daisy could only stare at him. Could he be for real? “My trust is something you’ll need to earn. I’ll be watching you. Hurt my sister or this land and you will feel my wrath.” She was impressed he accepting her vic
ious threat without flinching.
“Fair enough. I don’t plan on doing either.”
Sydney leaned against the side of the building, her face a mask of calm control.
“Well?” Daisy positioned herself beside her, surveying the activity in the parking area.
“We can’t touch the office until they’re done gathering evidence. There’s dissention on whether this was bored teenagers or a malicious act. With everything the sheriff knows, he’s still not willing to accuse Violet of masterminding everything that’s happened.”
“Could Jace find out?” As much as she hated to think it, Jace could prove his intentions by providing them some answers straight from his darling grandmother.
“I’ll ask.” Sydney glanced at her, the unspoken proof they both required from their newest guest unmentioned.
“He is very cute.” Daisy tried to find that anger she’d used to bully him, but she was too weary.
“That he is. I don’t think he did this. I’m not sure he could manage. He looks fit, but his hands are too soft. Does that make sense?”
“Actually, yeah. Okay. I’ll get off his back for now.” Daisy leaned her head on Sydney’s shoulder. “Are we going to be able to even do this?”
“That’s the thinking this stunt was meant to bring out. Yes. We are going to open the campground. We both know we can. The only thing that’s against us is time and Vile Violet.”
“Two very big things.” Worry, and the fear of failure threatened to overwhelm her.
Since they could do nothing until the investigating crew released the office, they went to see Marshal. He opened the door, shirtless and barefoot, and Daisy swore Sydney had a little heart attack. Daisy explained the situation at the cabin, not realizing Marshal hadn’t been around to offer comfort when they screamed.
“Okay. Let me put a shirt on and I’ll show you.” He went to the bedroom and Daisy reached over to Sydney’s mouth, pretending to wipe drool from her chin.
Sydney turned to her with wide eyes. “Oh. My. God.”
“Yeah.” Even Daisy was impressed. Marshal must have started working out, he was much more defined than the last time she’d seen him shirtless. And back then, he’d been something to gawk at. She almost wanted to change places with Sydney.
Marshal returned and before Sydney found her normal breathing pattern, had the equipment all set up. He motioned them to the table with an excited smile.
“This is from two nights ago.” He pushed a button on the laptop and Daisy strained her ears.
She heard Marshal’s stock ghost question and then a brief period of silence before a different voice crackled, sounding distant but not.
“I can’t find you. Where are you? Sydney?”
“They called your name?” Daisy stared at Sydney.
“Shh. There’s more.” Marshal held his hand up.
Sydney didn’t appear affected by the use of her name. She leaned forward, her expression passive and unreadable.
“Sydney? Help me. He said you would help us find our way. I can’t find you.”
Marshal pressed stop. “Do you want to hear it again?”
“No. What else do you have?” Sydney sat back.
Marshal put in a disc and cued up the video from the pond. Everything they’d witnessed was there, including the music she hadn’t been sure she heard.
“What do you think?” Daisy turned toward Marshal.
“I don’t know. We’ve taped twice since then and haven’t had a repeat. I’m not sure so I’m not commenting.” Typical Marshal. “Okay. This is from the woods behind the bathhouse. The area Kay talked about.”
Daisy leaned forward, trying to find her bearings through the video. A figure appeared at the edge of the screen. Marshal pointed and slowed the speed down so they could watch the progression.
“Here.” He moved his finger to the other side of the monitor, revealing two shapes. The smaller moved with boundless energy, back and forth.
“That’s the dog.” Daisy sat forward.
“Shh. Watch.”
What she thought was the phantom dog from their very first day here moved toward the camera. Daisy could make out a tail but the rest of the body was a blur, even with the slower speed. Then, nothing. Had she blinked and missed it running away?
“Watch again. The dog just disappears.” He rewound, and Daisy knew she hadn’t blinked.
“What about the other one?” Sydney asked, her eyes fixed on the screen.
“Here. Don’t pay attention to the little one, but watch again.” He backed up the video to where the shape had first appeared on the screen.
“There. Now here. Here.” Marshal pointed. The figure seemed to disappear and then reappear several feet away from where it started. “Watch.”
A face appeared in front of the camera. Marshal paused the footage at the exact moment the image recorded itself.
“Why didn’t we see that the first time?” Sydney stared at the vague face with interest.
“Too quick. That image is about a half a mili-second on the timer. See.” Marshal backed up and then played the footage at the same speed he’d used for the dog. “In normal speed we would have never seen him. If it weren’t for the dog, we’d have missed this. Impressive?”
“Awesome. And your thoughts?”
“No comment. You know I don’t give my true thoughts until the end of the investigation.”
“You usually don’t let clients go with you either,” Daisy pointed out. “Or let them see the evidence before you’ve picked it to death.”
“Okay. You’re right. No comment.”
“Is there more?” Daisy asked, eyeing the stack of CD’s beside the computer.
“Yeah. More of that dog thing or whatever it is. This time outside the bathhouse. Let me show you.” He went through the stack of CD’s.
A knock sounded on the door. Daisy got up to answer, finding the deputy sheriff on the other side.
“The building’s all yours again. Sorry for the delay. I had some of my guys clean up the worst of the blood. I figured it was the least we could do for acting like assholes. Plus, we talked to Frank. He never told us what to expect out here before he left for Florida.”
Daisy hugged him, even though she didn’t know if that was appropriate. She didn’t care. He’d just made their afternoon easier and she was kind of mad at Frank for not filling the new guys in. Not that it mattered now.
“Go. Get busy. I think the guys have the CD in the van.” Marshal stood, obviously aware how important getting the office ready was for their inspection.
Sydney appeared a little dazed. Daisy started to ask, but she shook her head. What had happened those few minutes her back was turned?
Interesting.
They were a pair. Each stuck between two men and no clear choice for either. Of course, neither of her choices had made a move except for Tucker and his hormonally raged kiss. Graham had stayed out of her way and though his lack of attention hurt, she couldn’t say she really cared. Maybe she should adapt and follow her sister’s advice and just ignore them both. Sydney was right. They had a campground to open.
CHAPTER 12
Sydney tried her best to ignore Daisy’s curious stares. Pretending to concentrate on scrubbing the wood floors in the cabin, she’d successfully sidestepped having to discuss what happened in Marshal’s cabin.
God, but the man could kiss.
Seeing him without a shirt had totally clouded her sense and hormones. She’d spent most of the time daydreaming instead of focusing on the images and figures his crew had caught during their nighttime wanderings.
She already knew this place was haunted. Marshal wasn’t going to tell them anything new, but the verification from someone trusted in the field could only help Daisy�
��s master plan for the campground. Heavy boots sounded behind her. Not recognizing the gait as Daisy’s she turned to find Jace. He smiled, his jeans covered with paint and his shirt ripped directly over his left nipple. Disheveled, but oh, what a sight. If she kept having to see men in various forms of hotness, her ovaries were going to explode. Daisy came over, obviously not willing to leave her alone with Jace for a second, lest he sprout fangs and drain her of all her blood.
“Good. I have to tell you both something.” He seemed worried, a sign that didn’t bode well. “My grandmother let a few things slip this morning. Your birth mother knows about your inheritance because my grandmother told her. Apparently, Grandmother is not against using unconventional means to get her way. She also told her there was more cash involved and that she was sure her poor, lonesome daughter would be willing to part with some to have her back in her life. She really talked it up from what I understand. Acted like she was close to you and that you’ve cried on her shoulder many times because of your childhood.”
“That bitch.” The words were out before Sydney remembered she stood in front of the bitch’s loyal and loving grandson.
“My thought exactly.” His agreement surprised her.
“How did she find her? I searched for a whole year before finally finding out where she was.” Daisy’s anger showed.
“The difference of a bottomless budget. I’m sorry. I know she’s my family, but I want you to know I don’t think very highly of Grandmother these days. She never used to be so vindictive and mean.”
“Why, besides the casino, does she want this property so badly? It’s almost like she married Gramps just to get her hands on it.” Sydney went back to work as she talked, not willing to take a chance on her laziness earning the evil woman what she so badly desired.
“I thought the same thing. Grandmother never used to be this horrible. I always loved spending time with her. I adored her. I don’t know what happened to change her personality. Or else she hid this side.”
Prelude of Lies Page 13
