Shep nodded. According to the story, the police were looking into the accident. Area surveillance cameras had caught a dark SUV plowing into Harper when he came out of a local business and was crossing the street to his vehicle. The SUV was later found abandoned. Police say it had been stolen earlier that day from a south side residence. The news program cut to another story.
“Bummer,” the bartender said, shaking his head. “What are the chances someone stole a car and accidently ran this guy over? Probably some kids out for a joyride.”
Shep wasn’t buying that the driver of that car had been some kid on a joyride. Especially considering that the dead man was Daniel’s roommate and had been privately investigating Lindy Parker’s murder.
He pulled out his phone as he stepped away from the bar. It took a few minutes before Daniel came on the line. Shep introduced himself quickly as a friend of Jason’s from Billings. He wasn’t sure the ruse would work, but he didn’t think Jason and Daniel had been so close that they knew all of each others friends. “I just heard the news.”
“Everyone here is in shock. It’s his day off. He said he had some things to do... I still can’t believe it.”
“This is way off in left field, but Jason told me he was looking into some old murder case involving a girl in Bozeman fifteen years ago. You don’t think...”
“Whoa,” Daniel said. “I hadn’t even thought of that. I just heard he’d done that. Have you met his girlfriend? I think she’s the one who put him up to it.”
“His girlfriend? He did mention a blonde.”
“Yeah, that’s her. Jason told me she was freaky, freaky scary. She was obsessed with death.”
Lacey? “What was her name?”
“I never met her so I don’t know her name and he never mentioned it. I saw her once waiting for him outside of work. A nice-looking blonde.”
“I might mention her to the cops,” Shep said. “Or maybe you already have?”
“You’re right. I should.”
Shep quickly got off the line, more determined than ever to find Charlie. He’d thought they were safe here in Big Sky. But he recalled how Lacey had found Charlie at the baby shower. It could have been even easier for her to find out about the wedding and already be on the mountain—after killing Jason Harper.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
ESCAPING AMANDA, Charlie hurried down to the reception desk to get her key. Back upstairs, she’d barely walked into her room when there was a knock at the door. Shep? She was already smiling as she opened the door. She needed a friendly face and someone who could commiserate.
Her smile dissolved as she was startled to see who was standing there. “Greg, what are you doing here?” In her surprise, the words were out before she could call them back.
“I need to talk to you.”
“Now is not a good time,” she said quickly but he was already coming into the room. She stood, still holding the door open, as she watched him walk to the window and look out, his back to her. “I’m meeting a friend downstairs. I’m already late.”
“This won’t take long,” Greg said as he turned to look at her. “Can you please close the door? I’d prefer this not be overheard. It won’t take long, I promise.”
She didn’t want to close the door, but more than that, she didn’t think she wanted to hear what he had to tell her. He looked so serious. Just like at the bar the other day. But it was clear that he wasn’t leaving until he had his say.
Slowly she closed the door, but didn’t move away from it. “What is this about, Greg?” she asked, her throat tight. She worried that she already knew. But if the wedding was canceled, that meant they would get to leave, so maybe it was better to just rip off the bandage and end this quick, right?
“I tried to tell you the other day in the bar.” He looked nervous, his gaze flicking around the room as he took a few steps toward her. “There was this other woman—”
“Shouldn’t you be telling this to Amanda?” Charlie interrupted. Why was he determined to tell her any of this?
He shook his head. “This doesn’t have anything to do with her.”
“But you’re getting married tomorrow. I was with her earlier. She’s so excited. She can’t wait to be your wife. She was telling me that she’s going to be a really good wife to you.” She knew she was babbling but he was making her so nervous, she couldn’t help herself. She didn’t want to hear that he wasn’t going to marry Amanda, she realized.
“I met this other woman years ago,” he continued as if she hadn’t interrupted him. “Do you remember your first love?”
She nodded, thinking of Shep, wishing for him right now.
“You never get over it—if it’s the real thing. For me, it was the real thing.” He let out a self-deprecating chuckle. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t for her. Maybe that’s why I keep making the same mistake, falling for the wrong women.”
Oh boy, here it comes, she thought.
He was standing directly in front of her now, having slowly crossed the room until he had her nearly pinned against the door. “I know about Amanda.”
Charlie had nothing to say to that.
“I know about her and Royce. Don’t look so surprised. I’m no fool. But that doesn’t change anything.” He shrugged. “She had to get it out of her system. I understand that.”
She groaned inwardly, unsure where this was heading.
“I also know that she’s the one who sent you the mouse. If she was still bothering you, you’d tell me, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course.”
He looked at her as if to say she was a terrible liar, which she was.
“I don’t know what her problem is with you,” he said with a shake of his head. “I guess she senses that I have a connection to you.”
Oh no, this isn’t going there.
“I’m so sorry,” Greg was saying.
“There isn’t a problem,” Charlie said quickly, her heart pounding as she reached for the door handle behind her. “I’m going to be her maid of honor. In fact, I really need to get downstairs to meet—”
“You asked me at the bar if I’d hired a headhunter to get you.” He chuckled again, smiling as he looked at her in a way that made her even more nervous. “I lied about using a headhunter for the rest of my staff. I should have told you the truth. I wanted you and I was determined to get you.”
She felt light-headed. This was not happening. Not with the wedding rehearsal this afternoon. Not with her alone in this room with him. She felt a sliver of fear work its way up her spine. Could she get out the door without him stopping her? How far did he plan to take this? “Greg—”