Page 17 of Only One More Lie

As Tundra ran toward the other side of the building, Juniper squinted at something in the shadows.

Were those . . . were those feet? And legs?

Her heart pounded out of control as she crept closer.

She sucked in a breath.

Her mom and dad were sprawled on the ground toward the back of the barn, behind two old UTVs.

Juniper fell to her knees between them.

A scream caught in her throat when she saw their faces. When she knew for sure it was them.

When she saw the blood.

No!

“Can you hear me?” She stared at her mom’s face, hoping to see movement or hear a moan.

Something.Anything.

But there was nothing.

Juniper knew the truth.

Both of her parents were dead.

Her vision narrowed. She couldn’t breathe. Everything began to spin around her.

Was this her fault? Did this happen because of her secret? What if she’d come right away when her mom had asked her instead of dragging her feet?

Sobs shook her shoulders.

Juniper prayed what she’d done hadn’t gotten her parents killed.

CHAPTER 7

DECEMBER, PRESENT DAY

Andi’s stomach roiled as she listened to Juniper. She couldn’t even begin to imagine the horror the woman must have felt after finding her parents dead like that.

She swallowed hard, dreading the question she had to ask next. But she had to be thorough. Skirting around difficult topics wouldn’t help them find any answers.

“Juniper, I hate to ask you this.” Andi licked her lips. “I really do. But . . . their hair . . .”

Tears glimmered in Juniper’s eyes. “It had been cut off at the scalp and placed on a snowman. The memory of that . . . it’s probably what haunts me the most.”

That was this killer’s pattern, hence his nickname as the December Dismemberer. He always cut off part of his victims—their hands, ears, feet, eyes, or hair. He then built a four-foot snowman and added a real body part. It was his calling card of sorts.

Profilers had tried to detail why someone might do that. The thought was gruesome and strange, most likely meant to send a message more than anything else.

Andi shifted as she carefully considered her next words. “I’ve read the police reports and the newspaper articles, but I’d like tohear this next part from you directly. Is there anyone you think could be guilty?”

Juniper let out a long breath before inhaling deeply. “That’s all I’ve been thinking about for the past year. Who could have done this? I mean, it had to be someone familiar with my parents and where they lived.”

“Do you feel as if they were targeted in particular?” Duke asked. “There were guests here at the time. This guy could have chosen anyone. Was it just chance he chose your parents?”

“I thought about that too.” Juniper frowned and rubbed Tundra’s head as the dog sat faithfully beside her. “I really do believe my parents were targeted.”

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