Pepper, the Highlander & the Dead Guy

“So why isn’t Ian here by now,” my dad asked.

“He’s busy.” Though, now that my dad mentioned it why wasn’t he here. There was no way he hadn’t heard those ear-splitting sirens or not seen the flashing lights through the trees, still flashing now.

“Call him,” my dad said. “You know as well as I do that if he was home, he’d be over here after hearing the sirens. Or maybe he was here, thinking you’d be asleep, and Mo would let him in, and he could—”

“Got you!” I said, my smile triumphant. “Mo would have known it was Ian and not have barked. He barked because the person was a stranger to him. And why would Ian sneak into my house when he knows he’s welcome here? You’ve got to let go of him as a suspect, Dad. We both know he didn’t kill Struthers. But perhaps Struthers is somehow connected to Ian, though he doesn’t realize it. If we can find that connection, it could very well lead us to the killer.”

“You make a good point, but did you ever think you could be in danger because of getting involved with Ian?”

“After tonight, I would say you also make a good point,” I agreed, though didn’t like the idea.

“I’m going to leave a police car—”

“No, Dad, please. I’m all right. You know the guy won’t take the chance and return tonight. And I’ve got Mo to alert me.” He looked ready to say no, but I pulled out a quick one. “I promise I’ll get cameras installed outside around the house, like you’ve been asking me to do, and give you the link so you can see my place for yourself at any time.” I silently groaned, wondering why I added that last bit about the link.

“Now you’re talking,” my dad said.

After seeing the relief on his face, I was glad I offered him the link, though clarified, “But no keeping an eye on me twenty-four/seven.”

My dad never responded, and I couldn’t help but feel that I had just opened a Dad’s Pandora’s box and I could only imagine what might lurk in one of those.

It took another hour before I was alone again and when I looked at my phone and saw nothing from Ian, my curiosity—and worry—got the best of me. So, I called him.

“Hey, Pep, having trouble sleeping?”

As soon as he asked, I knew he wasn’t home and that was the reason he didn’t come over at the sound of the sirens. But where was he? And why hadn’t anyone called him to tell him about the police sirens and flashing lights at my place?

I didn’t answer his question, since I was too anxious with a couple of my own. “How’s the shoot going? Are you doing an inside or outside one?”

“Outside at Treetops. The pics are for contemporary romance covers. They were kind enough to let me use the deck to take a series of shots, but I suppose it also helped that I booked supper here for everyone at the lodge. We’ve got about another hour before we’re done, though a couple of the guys who have early morning shoots already left.”

All I could think—see—were those scorching covers of him and Sarina.

“Something wrong, Pep?” he asked. “I have a call. Hold on.”

I was relieved he clicked over to take the call, since I didn’t know what to say. I wish I’d told him I’d let him go. I’d had enough for the night. I was in no mood to confront him about Sarina or even if I should. I needed to sleep on it.

Ian clicked back and I was ready to say good-night when he said, “I’m on my way. Are you all right? You should have called me. Tell me your dad left a police car there for the night.”

I realized that my dad probably had sent someone to the lodge and when they found it empty the police officers—no doubt one was Josh—waited until someone came home.

“I’m good, Ian. You don’t need to rush over,” I said, though truth be told I wanted him to.

“The hell ah dinnae.” A moment of silence followed. “I’m sorry, Pep, but this has me upset and there’s no way I’m not coming over and there’s no way I’m leaving you there alone tonight.”

How do you argue with a guy who comes to a gal’s rescue? Though I didn’t need rescuing, but if he thought of it that way who was I to stop him. Rescue or not I wanted him here with me.

Honesty shot right out of my mouth. “Good, because I really want you here with me.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Pep. Tell me what happened since I’m no’ letting you off the phone until I get there.”

I detailed the whole ordeal until he walked through the door with a small satchel in hand, but that’s not what raised my brow.