Page 10 of Only One More Lie

Then something caught Andi’s eye. She knew she shouldn’t touch the body.

But . . . was that a paper in her hands? The white slip blended in with the snow and Pepper’s white jacket and gloves.

She glanced at Duke and saw he had gone back to check on Emmett. Upon finding Pepper, the man had temporarily been forgotten.

With Duke occupied, Andi was on her own.

After a moment of contemplation, she stepped through the gate and leaned closer to Pepper’s body. She used her sleeve to brush away some snow.

Yes, it was definitely a paper in Pepper’s gloved hand.

Andi didn’t want to mess up any evidence, but she knew how to be careful.

She picked it up and turned it over.

The words on the other side made her blood go cold.

I told you this would happen.

What in the world did that mean?

This wasn’t the start Andi had envisioned to this investigation.

Not even close.

Duke saw Andi’s expression. Saw the paper in her hands.

He stood from where he’d been kneeling near Emmett. “Andi . . . ?”

She showed him the note, and his breath caught. What did that mean?

Andi turned toward Juniper. “Any idea what this is about? It was in her hand.”

Juniper looked at it, and her face went pale. “No, I have no idea. Peppermint was holding that?”

“She was,” Andi said.

She practically collapsed into Simmy. “Why is this happening to me?”

As Emmett moaned, Duke turned back to the man, who still lay on the ground. The man had clearly fallen and hurt himself, even if he tried to deny he was in pain.

“Your name is Emmett, right?” Duke started.

He grimaced but nodded. “That’s right.”

“You’re the manager?”

“Been here five years. I was making a run to the reindeer shed when I thought I saw something in the snow. I took a closer look and . . .” He grimaced again. “I wasn’t expecting to see Peppermint. Suddenly, I was lightheaded and then . . .”

“Where does it hurt?” Duke looked him up and down for any clues. He wore a heavy black snowsuit that made it hard to see much.

“When I slipped on the ice, I heard a snap. I think I may have broken something.”

Duke knelt beside the man. “What hurts?”

“My leg.” Emmett reached for his right calf and winced.

Duke gently felt along the man’s leg, pausing at a protrusion. “Your fibula is definitely broken. I’m no expert, but it feels like a compound fracture.”

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