Page 102 of Only One More Lie

“Maybe we should get out of here.” Ranger leaned back in his chair and took a sip of his coffee, his food long gone. “Besides, I told Karen we’d just be gone two nights. I’m anxious to see Anastasia. We can keep investigating, just not from right here.”

“At this point does it matter?” Mariella shrugged. “This guy’s going to strike tomorrow. We can move the investigation wherever we want, but if we don’t figure out something today, then someone will die tomorrow.”

Her words hung in the air. But Duke knew she was right. Right now, they’d be wise to give this case every last ounce of their energy.

Everyone was quiet as they finished eating their breakfast, no doubt lost in their thoughts.

Until Juniper abruptly rose. “I know this seems unimportant considering everything else that’s going on. But I need to feed the reindeer. I can’t leave them to their own devices.”

Duke stood, placing his napkin on the table. “I’ll go with you. I don’t mind.”

“Would it be okay if I came too?” Simmy stole a lingering glance at Juniper as she asked the question.

“I would love that.” Juniper flashed a grateful smile.

They would feed the reindeer.

Then they needed to put their heads together and figure out how to stop this killer—possibly Caleb—before he carried out his loathsome Christmas wishes.

CHAPTER 54

Duke, Simmy, and Juniper bundled up to go outside. The wind was frigid, and the snow was deep, which would make the walk difficult.

Duke double-checked his gun before they left. It was locked and loaded—and jammed into a holster at his waist.

He had no idea what was waiting out there for them. But they’d need to be careful. All of them.

He was thankful the guests and the rest of the staff had gone into Fairbanks for the night. It was only wise—at least until they could figure out what was going on. The more people who were here, the more people who were at risk.

Simmy and Juniper chatted behind him as they walked, and Duke let them have their moment. He knew they had a lot of bonding to catch up on.

There were still unanswered questions in the whole scenario. But Duke had no reason to think Juniper wasn’t telling the truth about what she’d learned. He knew about the situation with Simmy. She’d been taken advantage of. The man behind the scheme was evil.

When they reached the reindeer pen, Juniper used a key to unlock the padlock on the shed. As she did, Duke took the shoveland scooped the snow away from the door so she could get inside.

The lock clicked, and Juniper tugged it off. She opened the door just enough for them all to squeeze in.

Duke, for one, was happy to get out of the cold. Even if the shed wasn’t heated, at least the walls blocked the frosty wind.

Juniper tugged a light on before walking to a tub to check the pellets inside. “I need to grab some feed from this container.”

“Reindeer can take care of themselves out in the wild, but we’ve kind of spoiled them here,” she explained. “The good news is that the cold doesn’t bother them too much. But they’ll need to eat, and they’re not going to find food while trapped in their pen.”

Juniper seemed to be talking more than usual, probably out of nerves.

“I think it’s wonderful how much you care for the animals,” Simmy told her. “You remind me of Snow White.”

Juniper gaze jerked toward Simmy. “That’s what my dad used to call me to.”

Simmy smiled softly. “I can see why.”

So could Duke. Juniper cared for animals like Simmy cared for people—another way the two of them were alike. Now that Duke knew, he couldn’t stop thinking about the similarities.

He glanced around before his gaze stopped at something in the corner. “What’s in this tub over here?”

“Should be the magic Christmas dust the kids sprinkle on the reindeer to help them fly. It’s really just oatmeal that’s been ground up with some sparkles. It’s safe for the reindeer if they eat it.” Juniper took a scoop and loaded pellets into a canvas bag. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s on the bottom of the stack, so I’d think it would be used last. However, it’s cleaner than the rest, almost like it’s been used more frequently.”

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