As Martha walked away, Suzie stared after her, unsettled by the way her eyes nervously scanned the room.

  “Do you think she’s okay?” Suzie asked.

  “She’s probably just upset by finding those files. I don’t know, but I think we’d better find Jocelyn and fast. If Pippa really did burn those files for some reason, she might have figured out who the killer is, and if it’s Jocelyn, she’ll be after her.” Mary started toward the front door.

  “You’re right, we need to move fast.” Suzie followed Mary out into the large driveway.

  Mary pointed out the grove of dogwood trees that bordered the taller pines at the edge of the property.

  “There she is.” Mary smiled as she looked at the woman seated on one of the white metal woven benches among the trees. “Martha was right. She does look upset. Is she crying?”

  “Let’s find out.” Suzie strode toward the bench. As she drew closer, she heard soft sobs coming from Jocelyn’s hunched-over body. “Jocelyn? What’s wrong?”

  CHAPTER 27

  Jocelyn looked up at Suzie and Mary, blinking away tears as she remained silent.

  “Please, you can tell us the truth. I know you’re scared of losing your business, but it’s time to be honest.” Mary fished a packet of tissues out of her purse and offered them to her.

  “Oh, this?” Jocelyn gestured to her swollen eyes and reddened cheeks. “This is allergies, and a little bit of frustration.”

  “I don’t understand. If you have allergies, what are you doing sitting out here in the middle of all these flowers?” Suzie asked.

  “I just wanted some time outside. Alone. But I guess that’s not possible.” Jocelyn wiped her eyes with a tissue Mary had given her.

  “I don’t believe you.” Suzie straightened her shoulders and widened her stance. “It’s not allergies. You were crying, because you know the truth about the money you took from Rick is bound to come out, and it could cost you your business.” She softened her tone. “You’ll feel much better if you start telling us the truth instead of trying to claim innocence.”

  “Innocence? I don’t have to claim it. I am innocent.” Jocelyn looked at them both with an arrogant smirk. “This is just because your B&B has never been featured on my site, isn’t it?”

  “No, it isn’t,” Mary said. “You need to take this seriously, Jocelyn! A man has died. He was killed. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

  Jocelyn’s demeanor sparked with irritation as she glared at both of them.

  “What it means to me is that the police are going to do their job, and if they can catch the killer, they will. What it means to me is that this whole event has been ruined. And it means someone’s being nosy and sneaking around in my business, uninvited. Don’t think I don’t know who. It’s Tanya. I knew it was her from the moment I heard about her being the reason Rick received a last-minute invite. Saul wasn’t even going to invite him because he knew of all the animosity between him and John, and he wanted this event to go smoothly, with no drama. But, of course, Tanya needed Rick here, to help with her investigation into me. So, she pulled some strings to get him here. Now, I wonder, even if she’s not the one who killed him, wouldn’t you say she might be responsible for his death?”

  “I would say that his killer’s responsible for his death.” Suzie studied her. “I could say your cozy deal with him might have had more to do with his death than anything Tanya did.”

  “Sure, you tell yourself that. Meanwhile, there’s absolutely zero proof that Rick and I ever had a deal, because we didn’t.” Jocelyn stood up from the bench and began walking back toward the inn, then paused as she glanced back over her shoulder at them. “You may think you’re on the right track, but you couldn’t be further from the truth.”

  Something in the way she delivered those words made Suzie’s heart sink. She glanced at Mary after Jocelyn had walked inside the inn.

  “She’s right, you know,” Suzie said.

  “What do you mean she’s right? About Tanya being responsible for his death? Maybe she is. If she’s the one who brought him here, maybe she did so for the opportunity to kill him.”

  “That’s not what I meant, but that’s an interesting thought,” Suzie said. “I meant she’s right about us being no closer to the truth. The only real evidence we have is that video, and the only strange thing about it is that Henry died on the zip line. It was ruled an accident, but if it wasn’t, if Rick had something to do with it, that would be a pretty strong motive for murder.”

  “Maybe, but why would Rick kill Henry in the first place?” Mary pursed her lips. “Maybe we need to get a better idea of what was happening in that video. Maybe there’s something about the activity itself that we’re missing.”

  “Are you saying you want to go zip-lining?” Suzie rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “I’d love that!”

  “Uh, not exactly what I said.” Mary held up a finger. “But I do think we should check out the zip line here. Maybe we’ll be able to get a better idea of whether Henry’s fall was really an accident. And if it wasn’t, then we can start digging into who Henry was, and who he might have been connected to. I already sent the video and notes to Wes, but I haven’t heard back from him yet.”

  “I’m sure he’ll get back to us soon. I’m up for a walk, but I’m not sure where the zip line is. Are you?” Suzie pulled a pamphlet out of her purse. “It’s on the list of activities, but it’s not specific about where it is.”

  “I’m sure that Martha can tell us.” Mary waved to the woman who’d just stepped out of the front door. “Martha. Can you help us with something, please?”

  “Sure.” Martha noted the empty bench. “I see you chased off Jocelyn?”

  “She wasn’t in the mood to talk much.” Mary shrugged. “There’s a zip line here, right?”

  “Yes.” Martha nodded.

  “Can you tell us where it is?” Mary asked.

  “It’s quite a maze to get to. But I can show you to it if you’d like.” Martha squinted at her. “Are you sure that you’re up for that, though? With everything that’s been happening?”

  “Yes, we’re up for it.” Suzie lowered her voice. “Actually, it’s a long shot, but we think it might help us figure out what happened to Rick.”

  “The zip line? But Rick had nothing to do with the zip line here.” Martha scrunched up her nose.

  “It’s something we saw in the video that he played at his presentation,” Mary said. “Right now it’s just a hunch. We want to explore the possibilities by having a look at a zip line in person, before we tell the detective about it.”

  “Right, we don’t want to bog him down with what might turn out to be a false lead.” Suzie shrugged. “But if it gets us closer to Rick’s killer, then it’s worth exploring, right?”

  “I’m starting to think you two are getting yourselves tangled up in knots. Why not just enjoy what we have to offer?” Martha smiled. “There are even complimentary massages. Did you know that?”

  “Oh, that does sound good.” Suzie stretched her arms above her head. “Maybe we’ll take advantage of that after checking out the zip line. Are you sure you have time to show us?”

  “Sure, I do. I would like some fresh air.” Martha sighed even as she agreed. “It’s this way. It’s quite a walk.”

  “Oh, maybe we should grab Pilot and bring him with us.” Mary smiled at the thought. “Should I run back to the room real quick?”

  “Uh, probably best if you don’t. It’s still muddy out there from the rain. He’ll come back covered in it, and I don’t want to clean up after that!” Martha began walking toward the woods.

  “That’s true, I didn’t even think about that,” Mary said. “The most we usually have to worry about with him is sand, and seawater, when he decides to take a dip in the ocean.”

  “That sounds lovely, but tough to keep up with. I’m sure you’re constantly sweeping.” Martha gave a light laugh. “It’s down this trail. It’s not as muddy as I thought it would be, at least.” She led them up a small hill.

  “Yes, it’s a lot of sweeping, but he keeps us on our toes and always entertained, so it’s worth it.” Mary scanned the surroundings as they moved deeper into the woods. No one else appeared to be around.

  “Is there a reason why the zip line is so far out?” Suzie matched her pace with Mary’s.

  “It’s part of the fun.” Martha lifted her hand in a swooping motion. “You get the thrill of zipping through the trees, but the route is carefully cleared and monitored. No branches in the way or anything dangerous. Just enough of that edge of excitement people love.”

  “Do you go out on it often?” Mary smiled.

  “Me?” Martha gave a little shiver. “No. I’ve only tried it once, just to say I had. Never again. I don’t see the fun in it. But I was trained on the equipment, so I can help guests with it. And it really is safe, I promise.”

  “Oh, we’re just going to have a look, not take a ride.” Mary shrugged.

  “Suit yourself.” Martha gestured to a set of steps that led up to a wooden platform.

  “It’s just a bit of research.” Suzie began climbing the steps.

  Mary followed after her, with Martha trailing behind.

  As Suzie reached the top, she froze and grabbed the railing that enclosed the wooden deck. Her breath hitched.

  CHAPTER 28

  “Suzie, are you okay?” Mary quickened her pace up the last few steps and joined her friend on the platform. She stared for a moment, speechless.

  The view that stretched out before them was enough to take anyone’s breath away. From the expansive trees to the deep lush-green ravines, and the hillsides dotted with wildlife darting through the foliage, it felt as if nothing manmade existed, for just a split second.

  “I’m fine. It’s just so beautiful.” Suzie found her voice as she continued to hold on to the railing. “And so high up.”

  “Yes, it is.” Martha joined them on the platform. “Do you see that over there?” She pointed in the far distance at a bright red flag that stood out among the trees. “That’s the other side of the zip line. You can’t see the platform, but it’s there.”

  “Wow, it’s stunning.” Mary scanned their surroundings once more before focusing on the zip line itself. She reached up and grabbed the line, giving it a slight tug. “It seems sturdy.”

  “Oh, it is. Zip lines are built with steel cables, you know. Very safe.” Martha opened a large plastic tub near the back of the platform. “See? Helmets, harnesses, gloves, everything you could need. You really should take it for a spin.”

  “But wasn’t there just a storm?” Mary peeked over the edge of the platform and winced as she took a step back. It was beautiful, but also a little scary.

  “Oh, yes, it was inspected right after. Saul’s very careful about these things.” Martha grabbed one of the harnesses and clipped its line on to the zip line with ease. “Don’t worry, it’s very secure.”

  “Maybe we should give it a shot.” Suzie studied the cable. “It might give us some insight into what happened to Henry that day.”

  “I don’t know, Suzie,” Mary said.

  Martha snapped the lid shut and looked back at them with a stern expression. “Listen, if you’re going to try it out, you have to make a decision. You can’t go on your own. And I can’t be out here all day. So, are you going to chicken out, or give it a try?”

  “Wow, harsh.” Mary looked her over. “Do you want to go first and show us how?”

  “Like I said, I keep my feet planted.” Martha pointed to her feet on the platform. “But I’ve seen people do this thousands of times. You’ll love it, trust me.”

  “Doesn’t someone have to be on the other side to help us?” Suzie peered across the vast distance toward the other platform.

  “Usually, yes. But this zip line has its own braking system. It makes sure you slow down automatically. You’ll be in control of your speed and when you stop, the entire time. There’s really nothing to worry about.” Martha glanced at her watch, then looked up at them. “But if you’re going to go, now’s the time. I need to get back to the inn and check on things in the kitchen.”

  “Okay, let’s do it!” Suzie grinned as she slipped on the harness. “I’ll go first, and then you can decide if you want to go, too, Mary.”

  “The answer’s going to be no, but I’ll watch you do it.” Mary chuckled as she watched Martha help Suzie into the harness. “You’ve always been the braver one.”

  “Says the woman who dared to get married and have children.” Suzie raised her eyebrows. “I’ve never been that brave.”

  “Okay, Mary, I need you to help me get Suzie to the edge here.” Martha guided Suzie closer to the edge of the platform. “Yes, just here. Hold on to her belt, see?” She tugged at the belt on the harness. “I just need to grab one more thing.”

  “Okay.” Mary clung to Suzie’s belt, but gazed warily at the edge of the platform. Her mind flashed back to the video they’d just watched.

  Henry had been so excited, but he’d died on a zip line. Her stomach flipped at the thought.

  “All right, here we go, ladies!” Martha suddenly turned back toward them and gave Mary a sharp shove.

  Mary gasped, then shrieked as she stumbled forward off the platform.

  Suzie screamed as she began to lurch down the zip line, with Mary clinging to the belt of her harness.

  “Mary, don’t let go!” Suzie grabbed on to her shoulder with one hand while struggling to find the brake on the zip line with the other. “Martha, help us!”

  But Martha only stood close to the edge of the platform and gazed out at them with a faint smile on her lips.

  Suzie found the brake, grasped it, and they jolted to a stop, hanging midair.

  “Don’t worry. It won’t be long now. At least you’ll be together.” Martha raised a pair of bolt cutters into the air and walked with deliberate steps to the end of the cable.

  “No!” Mary cried. “Don’t!”

  “Martha, you stop this right now!” Suzie glared at her. “Put those cutters down!”

  “I didn’t want to do this.” Martha lowered the cutters and shook her head. “All you had to do was leave it alone. Rick got what he deserved, and Pippa would have been next. She had every reason to want her husband gone. She wanted him to sell the inn and he wouldn’t. She felt trapped. I even planted the burned files outside and the lighter in her room.” She huffed. “But then you two had to get into things you shouldn’t have. You had to push too far. And now, we have this mess.” She gestured to the two of them dangling in midair.

  “Antonio’s friend. Your brother. It’s Henry, isn’t it?” Suzie’s voice trembled as she tightened her hold on Mary’s waist, trying to take some of the strain as she clung to the belt of her harness.

  “Yes. And he’s dead. Because of Rick. He took him from me. And Pippa helped him cover it up.” Martha’s voice wavered. “I had to kill Rick, and I know you two can’t keep your mouths shut. So, this is just going to have to be something else that Pippa did. After she found out that you’d discovered what Rick had done to Henry and what she’d done to her husband, she knew you two would have to die. So, she lured you out here, and cut the line.” She smiled as she raised the bolt cutters again. “Trust me, it won’t be hard to prove, when the most reliable witness around, me, tells the story.”

  “No, no, no!” Mary shrieked as she watched Martha reach for the cable again.

  “Please, don’t!” Suzie cried out. “Don’t, Martha. You’re not a murderer. Not really. If you were, you would have done this to Rick. You confronted him because you wanted him to admit the truth, not because you wanted him dead. That video, when you saw it, you figured it out, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, for years, I believed Rick when he said Henry had done something foolish and gotten himself killed. But when Rick played that video in his presentation, I knew he was lying,” Martha’s voice broke. “Henry was wearing the T-shirt he’d bought the morning of the day he died, while I was on the phone with him. He described it to me, red with blue stripes, and asked if I thought it would suit him and whether he should buy it. And Rick was in that video, too. Henry was never out on the zip line alone.”

  “Henry was going to run the inn with you?” Suzie hoped that maybe if she kept her talking, sympathized with her, she would change her mind and help them. Or at least buy some time and hopefully help would arrive.

  “Yes.” Martha nodded. “Henry and I had planned to build and run the inn together. It had been my dream for years. When he inherited the land, it finally became possible.”

  “And Rick took that away from you?” Suzie’s voice was raspy from the strain of holding onto Mary and the brake.

  “Yes. He ruined everything. He took my brother from me. He destroyed my life. Rick wanted to see the turret. He’d heard about the fireplace, and he wanted to see it. So I arranged for him to meet me there. He planned to take notes, so he brought his laptop. I got him to show me the video again, and when I challenged him, he tried to claim it was from the day before Henry died. I told him I knew it wasn’t,” Martha’s voice trembled. “Rick got so angry and snapped. He admitted he’d tampered with the line so Henry would fall. He said he couldn’t risk Henry opening an inn, stealing his guests, and ruining his business.”

  “That must have been shocking,” Suzie said.

  “I don’t even think he realized what he was admitting to. He killed my brother. No apology. Nothing. So, yes, I lost my temper. I picked up that fire poker and shoved it at him, and he went sailing out of the turret.” Martha lifted the cutters again. “What’s done is done. And now, I have to protect myself.”

  “Just stop, please, stop.” Mary gulped. “I can’t hold on much longer. You can see that. Just give us these last few minutes together, please. You don’t have to cut the cable. Martha. You can just leave us here. Tell everyone that the zip line’s been shut down. By the time anyone finds us, they’ll never be able to connect it to you. Please, just don’t cut that line.”