“One thing for sure is that Struthers wasn’t here on a holiday. He came to meet someone and find something, and it has to do with—”
“Ian,” I said not only in answer to him but the knock at the door. I hurried to open the door and I was surprised, pleasantly so, when Ian swept me up and into his arms and kissed me—tingled me right down to my toes. Okay maybe the tingle didn’t settle in my toes.
“Sheriff,” Ian said, acknowledging my dad and taking my hand as we walked to the kitchen.
My dad nodded. “Ian. We were just talking about you.”
“Anything I can help with?” Ian asked.
“Sit, I’ll get you tea,” I said.
“I’ll get it, Pep, you’re busy with breakfast,” he said and snatched a piece of bacon before getting the tea and joining my dad at the counter.
“I wish there was something you knew that could help,” my dad said, rubbing the back of his neck. “We’ve hit a brick wall with this one. No prints other than Struthers, no viable footprints. No witnesses. Why did Struthers register at a B&B under a false name? Was he known to anyone here? Who was he meeting if not you, Ian? Why did he stop at Pepper’s place under false pretenses? And what does that darn key open?”
“A secret,” Ian and I said in unison and smiled at each other.
“You two make a good match,” my dad said.
“You really think so, Dad?” I asked a bit surprised, since I wondered his true thought on the news I was actually in a relationship.
“Really,” my dad confirmed with a smile. “Having gotten to know Ian and the background check I did on him, assures me he’s a good guy.”
I rolled my eyes. “A background check, Dad?”
“He was a suspect, and it gave me a good excuse to do something I would have done anyway. You’re my only daughter and I intend to see you kept safe,” my dad argued.
“I agree with your dad,” Ian said. “Besides, I have no problem with a background check since I’ve nothing to hide.”
“Any thoughts on this case, Pepper, before I get going?” my dad asked.
I was always happy when my dad sought my opinion, but something alerted me to it being more than an opinion he was looking for.
“You’re looking to see if we’re both on the same page with this so far,” I said.
“Read away,” my dad challenged.
I accepted the challenge and put together what I suspected so far. “Struthers came here to meet someone, a partner of sorts, or he walked into a trap. The reason he came here has something to do with Ian and my property, since he made a point of stopping at my place falsely claiming a wrong turn. The property is the connection to the murder.”
“It’s a good possibility. There’s a lot of interest in building condos and high-end homes on Ian’s land. Lots of money involved with that.” My dad turned to Ian. “I spoke with your father.”
Ian nodded. “I know, my dad called me while I was in the city.”
“Then you know that he told me that he recommended you partner with Strathmore Builders, since they’re local, to develop—in stages—portions of your land. With the profit you’d earn from such a deal, you’d make a fortune.”
“It would also boost the economy of the town,” Ian said.
“Unless you couldn’t build on that land,” my dad said.
I smacked my brow. “Why didn’t I think of that? Wait a minute, you didn’t think of it either. It was mom. She told you about Max and Aunt Effie.”
“She did and she also reminded me that Aunt Effie had talked about making a good portion of the land a preserve.”
I shook my head again annoyed at myself for not putting it together. “You think that somewhere in the document of the sale of the land between Max and Aunt Effie is a provision to keep all or part of the land as a preserve, knowing how much Aunt Effie loved the woods. And if that was found it would stop any building from going forth. But since you made it clear that Ian isn’t a suspect that means you’re hoping he might suggest someone beside himself who might profit from such a deal. You came here figuring Ian would be here and you could talk with him.”
“That’s my daughter, takes right after me,” my dad said proudly. “Though, I will admit that I knew Ian would be here this morning because I heard you and your mom talking on the phone.”
“You’re sneaky, Dad,” I accused and knew his response.
“Like I said, you take right after me.” He laughed.
“You tricked me, and I gave you bacon,” I said with a feigned scowl.
My dad laughed. “Something else I knew I could get from you.” He shook his finger at me. “And don’t tell your mom you gave me bacon.”