Pepper, the Highlander & the Dead Guy

I smiled, since that was his way of apologizing, blaming it on Mo. “He probably thought you were making amends with him for calling him lazy.”

My dad sent me one of those dad looks. “We need to talk.”

“I need to be going,” Ian said, understanding he was not included in the talk. “I’ll ring you later, Pep.”

I was surprised but pleased when he kissed my cheek and acknowledged my dad with a nod, then showed himself out. Smart man not getting between father and daughter.

“Coffee?” I asked, even though I knew he’d say yes, which he did.

My dad sat at the kitchen island while I got busy making the coffee and feeding Roxie who sat staring up at me with that look that said, my breakfast is late.

My dad cleared his throat, a sure sign he had something to say to me. “I understand you’re a grown woman, Pepper, but Ian is still a suspect. Maybe more so now that I’ve found out that the victim, Robert Struthers, was a solicitor from Scotland. It makes me wonder if there is something Ian doesn’t want me to know.” He shook his head. “I should have never listened to your mom when she insisted I shouldn’t disturb you last night, that today was plenty enough time to talk with you.”

I silently thanked my mom.

“And believe me when I say I know you can take care of yourself, but Ian can charm with his looks alone and I don’t want you caught up in something that might end up hurting you.”

“I am not in a relationship with Ian,” I told him, though the question was, did I want to be?

“You could have fooled me, finding him wrapped around you on the couch.”

“We fell asleep watching Animal Channel with Mo.”

“The TV was off and don’t tell me Mo knows how to do that.”

“He does,” I confirmed with a nod.

My dad rolled his eyes. “I suppose there are more extraordinary things that super Mo can do.”

I grinned. “Actually, there is, but right now I want to know what you’ve found out about Robert Struthers. That’s the dead guy’s name?”

My dad didn’t pursue the Ian and me thing, though I had no doubt I’d hear about it again.

“That’s his name. Struthers had an office in Longforgan in the Dumfries and Galloway region of Scotland that he inherited from his uncle.”

My dad understood when I scrunched my nose.

“I thought the same. What did that have to do with Willow Lake Lodge and so far, I don’t have an answer. I have Claire looking into it.”

I rolled my eyes, not at all confident in the woman.

“Give her a chance, Pepper,” my dad urged.

“She messed up when Madge called about the key. How can you trust her with this?”

“It’s not like I have a large staff to help. I have to work with what I’ve got. Besides Claire connected me with Struthers secretary and she didn’t have much to offer. She said Struthers was here on a holiday.”

“I can do some digging,” I offered.

“And get yourself in dire straits along the way,” my dad said, shaking his head.

I reached out and placed my hand on top of his on the counter. “It was an accident, Dad. And if you hadn’t taught me not to panic in rough situations and how to hold my breath for a period of time, I would have drowned. So basically, you saved my life yesterday.”

“You scared the hell out of me, Pepper. When I heard the call for a car needing to be pulled from Willow Lake and a possible body, then your name, I…” He shook his head. “My heart aches just thinking about it.”

Guilt rose up to strangle me and I had to clear my throat to speak. “I’m sorry, Dad.” I gave him a hug and he returned a tight one.

“Then the dead guy’s identity doesn’t help us much,” I said after a few moments of silence.

“You’re like a dog with a bone, gnawing away at it.”

“You taught me well,” I teased.

“Too well,” he scolded with a smile.

“So back to the white board?” I asked.

My dad gave a quick glance around. “Do you have a white board here?”

“Me? No,” I said with my fingers crossed behind my back.

My dad stood and said something completely out of left field. “You like this guy, Ian?”

I sighed. “I don’t know what I like, Dad. Do I like spending time with him, I do. But beyond that I don’t know.”

“Let’s clear him of this crime, then you can go from there.”

“A deal,” I said and kissed my dad’s cheek.

He walked to the door and turned before reaching it. “For what it’s worth, Pepper, I don’t think he’s a bad guy. He texted me last night to let me know he was coming here. Another reason I didn’t disturb you.”