Page 41 of Pepper, the Biker & the Vanishing Body

I looked at Ian and saw the eagerness in his eyes that I felt in thinking that the key could hold the answer to the supposed Willow family treasure.

My mom finished her tea and looked down at Mo who had immediately gone and fetched his vest upon my mom’s arrival and had parked himself next to her leg so she couldn’t leave without him.

“Do you mind if I take him again today, Pepper?” my mom asked.

“On one condition, Mom,” I said, and she waited to hear along with Mo who looked at me with pleading eyes. “That you make no mention of this key to anyone, except Dad, of course, and that you spread the word that I have your keys to the Willow Mansion.” She went to argue, and I shook my head. “It’s nonnegotiable, Mom. I’m not going to see you hurt.”

“And I don’t want to see you hurt either, Pep,” Ian said.

My mom was quick to take Ian’s side. “I agree with Ian, and I know your dad would too.”

“I think Dad would agree with me. I was terrified when I saw you lying on the ground, blood pooling by your head, and you not moving. Dad and Josh were just as terrified, not to mention how worried Danny, Kelly, and Thomas were when they heard. Then there was the incident at the cemetery.” I shook my head. “No. I will not take the chance of losing you.” I glanced at Ian hoping he would back me up on this and he didn’t disappoint me.

“Pep will do just fine, and I won’t let anyone hurt her.”

My mom reached across the counter to pat Ian’s hand. “I believe you, Ian, but Pepper has a way of getting herself into less-than-ideal situations.”

“This from my mom who wound up falling into the college fountain with two men. And there better not be a repeat of such outrageous shenanigans tonight,” I warned teasingly.

My mom gasped. “Good heavens, don’t say such a thing. An incident like that could lose me the mayorship.”

“I don’t know about that. It won Dad the sheriff’s position.”

My mom laughed. “It did, though he doesn’t think so. Come on, Mo, we have a busy day ahead of us. Oh, I am going to be at the senior center today after lunch and Charlie Gibbons will probably be there if you want to stop by and talk with him.”

“I do. I will see you there. So, Mom, I assume you agree with my condition for you to take Mo for the day,” I said as she got busy getting Mo’s vest on him.

“I do, but I have a condition of my own,” she said with a sly smile which sparked a bit of concern in me. “You be the one to tell your dad what you did.”

I never saw two people leave a room so fast, neither of them wanting to stick around while I spoke with my dad. So, he may yell and tell me how foolish it was of me that I didn’t think it through, and I made things worse not better.

Waiting or hesitating to do something you dread only worsens the task and prolongs the agony. I grabbed my phone before I chickened out and as soon as my dad answered I rushed to tell him what I did. His response stunned me.

“Thanks, Pepper. I have been so worried about your mom’s safety and while I also worry about the consequences of what you did, you are young and quick and more likely to avoid the danger your mom faced. Don’t tell her I said that.”

I didn’t let my dad hear me laugh. “I won’t and I’ll be careful.”

“I’d like to think that, but I doubt it. You already have charged into this thing headfirst. The one thing that helps me to worry a little less than usual is that you now have Ian, and he doesn’t hesitate to come to your rescue when needed. But please, Pepper, be extra careful.”

“I will, Dad, I promise, and I’ll see you tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“The lecture at the community college.” I heard him groan and couldn’t help but tease him. “Beware of the fountain, Dad.” I hung up laughing, hearing him swear while telling me not to tell my mom.

I took the skeleton key with me to my office, now in the attic, Mo and Roxie following me. There was a window seat that the sun blazed down on that she loved but could only get to when I was working. She cuddled herself in a ball on the cushioned seat while I went to my desk at one end of the large attic. The other end of the attic I turned into a comfy zone with an overstuffed, forest green, velvet sofa that I loved to sink into. A purple velvet chair that embraced you like loving arms sat across from it, as did a gold and dark green print rocker that easily put me to sleep not long after sitting in it. Beneath the trio was spread a worn Persian rug my aunt had brought back in the days of her travels. Side tables, lamps for soft lighting, throws, plants, bookcases, and a round coffee table I bought secondhand and painted gold finished the area. But it was the large window I had installed that made me feel that I was in a treehouse sitting high among the many trees.

When I no longer needed to sit at my desk to work, I retreated to my comfy zone. I felt that I got my best writing done there. But for now, work called, and I stationed myself at my desk that had a view of the whole attic and out the other matching, large window, balancing the look of the attic.

The skeleton key weighed heavily in my hand or maybe it was the pressure I felt knowing my aunt expected me to know when to use it. She had entrusted it to me just as she did this cabin and the acres of land around it, including the lodge. She believed in me, and I didn’t want to let her down.

I briefly gave thought to keeping the key on me but that wouldn’t be practical or wise since I worried that I might lose it. I placed it for safe keeping in one of my desk drawers.

I got to work going through my emails first and was delighted to find a few resumes from people interested in the virtual assistant job. I perused them quickly and set a few aside that looked promising.

An email popped up from Amy just before my cell rang.

“Did you get it?” she asked.

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