Page 18 of Only One More Lie

“Why do you think that?” Andi asked.

She sighed. “I don’t know, really. Maybe it’s instinct. Maybe it’s the fact that this killer came all the way out here, to the middle of nowhere, to execute his crimes. I’m not sure, really.”

“This may or may not be relevant.” Andi leaned forward. “But did they have any enemies that you know of?”

She knew her question was a longshot. If this crime had been a one and done, then yes, maybe one of Juniper’s parents’ enemies was responsible. But what were the chances that all seven victims had the same enemy?

It didn’t make sense.

However, Andi had a hard time believing these victims were all chosen randomly. Clearly there wassometype of connection—no matter how random—between the victims.

Andi and her team just had to figure out what.

This location was so secluded . . . it seemed odd to think that a stranger would come all the way out here, commit the crime, and then get away without being caught or seen by anyone.

Especially since there was a lodge and other cabins nearby with staff members and guests.

Why take such a risk?

Juniper slowly released her breath. “I suppose my parents did have a few enemies. The ones who come to mind are the Klinkharts.”

“Who are the Klinkharts?” Andi stored that name away.

“Peppermint’s parents.”

Andi’s eyebrows shot up. “I see.”

“Her parents were best friends with my parents. From the time I was born until about six years ago, we did everything together. Peppermint is . . .” Juniper’s voice faded. “Peppermintwastheir daughter.”

Her face crumpled with grief.

Andi swallowed the lump in her throat. “We can take a break. No one will blame you, especially after what happened today.”

“No, I want to keep going.” Juniper drew in a shaky breath as she composed herself. Then she blew the air from her lungs and started again. “When my parents decided to open this place, the Klinkharts wanted to go in with them. In fact, my dad discovered this property while he was hunting in the area with Heath—Peppermint’s dad. There were caribou here, and my dad’s imagination started running wild.”

“He visualized what this place could become, it sounds like,” Andi said.

“Yes, he did. My dad loved Christmas and thought they could bring it to life here.”

“So why not go in with the Klinkharts?” Duke crossed his arms as he waited for her answer.

“My parents thought it was a bad idea.” Juniper blew out a breath. “From what I understand, it was partially because they didn’t believe in mixing business and pleasure. But I also heard my parents talking once about how Heath, the father, didn’t make wise money decisions. And Claire, the mother, was a bit of a gossip.”

“I can see where they’d want to decline,” Andi said.

“When my parents told the Klinkharts they wanted to go solo, the news wasn’t received well. I think Heath and Claire thought they’d be shoo-ins. From what I understand, they were having some financial issues and saw this camp as a solution to the problems they’d created. They were really upset.”

“What did they do?” Andi asked.

“They cut off their friendship with my parents and started badmouthing them around town. It was ugly. I remember my mom was especially upset about how quickly Claire had turned on her. She’d considered her a sister.”

“Are the Klinkharts still in the Fairbanks area?” Andi asked.

“No, they moved down to Seattle a few months before my parents were murdered.” She shrugged. “They bought some kind of screen-printing business or something.”

“You haven’t seen them since then?”

“Not really. I did hear they come back to visit sometimes. Someone said they were asking around town about Peppermint. But Peppermint didn’t want to talk to them.”

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