Camera Never Lies (3 page)

“So spit it out already.” To Mom, patience was the British version of solitaire rather than a virtue to be practiced.

Patience notwithstanding, I wasn’t sure that we weren’t both pawns in someone’s game, Mom a color-coordinated one, of course.

“Remember when you said you wanted to kill him?”

“Oh Polly, I wasn’t thinking when I said that, even if he does deserve it. I haven’t been sleeping well lately.” She began stuffing the prescription bottles back into the sack. “And I don’t think these new sleeping pills are helping either.”

There was nothing for it. I had to tell her. “Someone killed Alec Gordon.”

CHAPTER
THREE

A
fter Mom collapsed in hysterics, I convinced her to take a sleeping pill to calm her frenzied nerves. Though I wished I could do the same, it was early afternoon, and Rene was due to arrive soon.

I left Mom to sleep and wandered the halls again—this time in the sequel to the zombie movie. My mind floating somewhere between shock and apathy, I ended up in the lobby. I felt as if someone had Tasered me—stunned me with pain until I was numb. Despair settled on me as I thought about Mom’s predicament. Of course, she was better off than Alec, but that thought did little to comfort me.

As I strolled around an area that probably spanned a good three thousand square feet, tourists poured through the doors, checking in or heading to their rooms or simply lounging on the great cushioned sofas. How did the authorities discover who killed someone when there were so many people milling about? There didn’t appear to be any indication that a murder had taken place within the lodge. No stunned looks or wary whispering. Only jovial conversation and laughter pervaded the grand room. I assumed the hotel personnel would want the case settled as soon as possible.

Then it hit me. Random tourists would be of no more interest to the authorities than if the murder had been committed in a city filled with millions of people. Their first concern would be to locate and question those who knew Alec. The ranger had questioned me because I’d been in the room with the housekeeper, but I hadn’t revealed that I knew Alec, because he’d never asked. Then there was Mom. Eventually someone would tell them about her outburst.

A deep breath cleared my thoughts, igniting my resolve. I needed to do everything I could to help Mom. I had to discover what I could about Alec’s murder. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust the authorities.

“But…I
don’t
trust the authorities.” Had I said that out loud? Fingers pressed to my lips, I shrugged at a fifty-something woman who gave me a wary look.

She bent down to coddle her dog, a Jack Russell. Her actions made me miss Murphy. I could use the soothing effect of petting him right now.

I sighed and turned my thoughts to the unpleasant business at hand. I thought of how the news reported stories of people who’d been incarcerated for half their lives then released because of new evidence. I couldn’t let that happen to Mom. I wasn’t sure how to find the information, but foremost on my mind was to discover anyone else who Alec had cheated like Mom. Were they here today?

Not only did I have no clue about obtaining that sort of information, I had the added burden of making the necessary fuss over Rene—the bride-to-be—who would arrive soon. I plopped on a large, comfy-looking chair, sinking deep into the cushion. Getting out of the thing would be interesting.

While fidgeting with my camera, I mentally prepared to inform Rene about the murder. Telling her would cause a kaleidoscope of problems. She’d believe a murder at the lodge on the weekend of her wedding was a bad omen.

Even though she was now a Christian, Rene liked to hang on to old superstitions that her mother—who boasted involvement in a strange ancient religion I couldn’t ever remember the name of—had taught her or made up if it suited her purpose.

As if my thoughts had conjured her, there Rene stood in the entryway to Caldera Lake Lodge. Always the nature girl, she looked as tan, trim, and fit as ever. She spotted me. We both screamed as we ran to each other and hugged. My heart beat with the joy of the reunion as well as the pain of the news I had for her. I held on to the hope that Alec’s murder would not have a negative effect on Rene’s wedding.

When she released me, I tugged at her ash-colored hair. The last time I’d seen her, she’d had a cropped, spiky look. But that had been three years ago. “You let it grow. It’s so long.”

“You like?” She primped and grinned, her face alight with happiness. “Oh Polly, it’s wonderful to see you. Thank you so much for agreeing to this.” She chattered on, working her words around her ever-present lozenge.

It was difficult to find an appropriate point at which to interrupt her ecstatic rambling but I managed. “Where’s your sister?” Rene’s sister, Veronica, was to be the matron of honor in this small gathering, which had me worried. Where Rene was always late, Ronni, as we called her, was always a no-show. Ronni was all that was left of Rene’s family. Her parents were killed in a car accident years ago.

“She’ll be along on Saturday. Don’t you worry.” She patted my shoulder.

“And Conrad?”

“He’s getting the luggage. Should be right behind me.” She jerked her head around.

Conrad strolled in on cue, looking tall and debonair.

I’d almost forgotten the heavy atmosphere I’d endured for the last couple of hours. But when a familiar silhouette appeared in the doorway and spoke to Conrad, my disquiet returned.

“Who’s that with Conrad?” I asked. Recognition should have been instantaneous, but I clung to denial as if it were a lifeboat overturned by a troubled sea.

Rene slapped my arm. “Polly. Spence has agreed to be the best man.”

Spence?
My jaw dropped.
You call him Spence?
Shutting my mouth promptly, I eyed her, wondering if I would ever feel comfortable calling him Spence.

“Don’t act so surprised. I’m sure I told you there was a possibility.” An uncharacteristic giggle escaped her, though perhaps the excitement of the forthcoming wedding had simply caught in her throat. “The four of us together again. Isn’t it wonderful? And Spence is still single.” She winked.

Spencer Bradford III strolled into the lobby, accompanied by a gusty breeze, which mussed his sandy brown hair. He dropped one of the bags he carried and smoothed his hair back in place. A strange quiver worked its way up my legs. Why hadn’t I anticipated that Spencer would come?

He’d lived next door to my father in London when I met him ten years ago. Rene had met Conrad while spending a summer with me there. We’d been a foursome, of sorts, but like so many other things in life, the fun didn’t last. I never imagined I’d see him here. Apparently Conrad had grown very close to Spencer to name him the best man.

I glared at my friend. “I’m afraid you left off that little detail.”

Rene huffed. “Surely you’re not saying you wouldn’t have come if you’d known he’d be here.”

I suspected she’d hidden the fact from me because she was afraid of precisely that. Her frown only lasted a millisecond as Conrad caught her up in his arms and swung her around.

I made a mental sticky note to send my dog, Murphy, to the other side of the world, even though I knew that no distance would keep me from suffering from Murphy’s Syndrome. I’d already been infected. Everything seemed to be tumbling into a series of unfortunate events, not to be confused with the actual children’s book series, since I am neither an orphan nor do I possess a fortune.

Spencer, who stood a full head taller than Conrad, had dreamy blue eyes and was an older version of Westley from
The Princess Bride
, sans the black pirate gear. With his hands tucked safely in his pockets, he smiled at me from the other side of Rene and Conrad’s embrace, though I sensed he was something other than thrilled to see me. Cautious perhaps—a sentiment I could well appreciate.

A feeling of déjà vu came over me. Here we were together again, approaching forty but still unmarried. This wasn’t entirely true, if one counted my marriage to Brandon, even though he’d disappeared six months after we said our vows. But did that count if eight years later I’m still alone? And Conrad and Rene had made plans to wed several times but never made it to the altar.

Rene had commented how good it was for the four of us to be together again, but what a strange foursome we made.

The weekend at Caldera Lake that I had looked forward to as my breath of fresh air had turned stale with Alec’s murder. Now with Spencer’s arrival, I felt like I was smothering. This weekend, filled with marriage, murder, and mayhem, would be uncomfortable at best.

If things were to be salvaged, I had to start now. I stepped past Rene and Conrad, who were hugging like they hadn’t seen each other in days. I knew how it felt to be that in love. Heat rushed up my neck. The very object of that memory stood before me. I glanced at Spencer, another man from my past.

God, what are you telling me?

“It’s good to see you again.” I realized when I said the words that I wasn’t lying through my teeth. His blue eyes searched mine, looking for what, I wasn’t sure. I had thought I never wanted to see him again. Spencer had been the love of my life. But he’d been unwilling to commit. Then Brandon had waltzed in and given me everything I’d wanted—commitment, marriage, a home.

Everything except love.

“How…how are you?” I loathed my faltering words.

A broad smile covered Spencer’s tanned face. “Quite all right, Polly. And you?”

His British accent did crazy things to me. An ounce of hope wriggled through me that all would be forgiven and forgotten. A little yeast and all that. I missed his friendship. But allowing my thinking to take that path would quickly sour the moment, and I desperately needed to salvage this long weekend. For my sake, Mom’s, and, though she didn’t know it yet, for Rene’s.

The image of Alec’s body rushed through my mind, sucking the breath from me. My thoughts must have shown on my face, because Spencer stepped back, and I knew from his stricken look that he thought my sudden intake of breath was because of him.

Rene freed herself from Conrad and stood in front of me. “Polly, whatever is the matter?”

I took a deep breath. “Rene, Conrad…Spencer.” I forced a weak smile when I looked his way. “There’s something I need to tell you. Can we sit down?” I motioned to the overstuffed chairs near the fireplace. I was thankful the lobby had thinned out from a few minutes before, with people getting settled into their rooms or taking to the outdoors.

Rene paled as she sat next to me on the edge of a large ottoman. She dug through her purse then hastily unwrapped a lozenge and shoved it in her mouth. “Okay, give.”

With all that was in me, I wanted to play this down so that the wedding could continue to be a joyous occasion. “I’m sorry if I alarmed you. I thought you should hear this from me. There was a tragedy in the lodge today.”

Rene’s eyes widened. “Oh no—”

“But it shouldn’t affect your wedding,” I added, hoping to stop her before she started. “One of the guests died.”

Everyone except Rene appeared to relax. After all, death happened to everyone. Eventually.

Her left brow arched high, she leaned toward me and spoke in a slightly sardonic tone. “Died?”

I realized my mistake too late. Saying nothing would have been a better attempt to play things down. The fact that I’d even brought it up alerted Rene to the gravity of the situation. I swallowed and nodded.

“And just how did they die?” Ever the guarded cynic, Rene stood, challenging me.

Conrad was quick to follow and rubbed her arms while he cast a warning glance at me. “I’m sure this incident won’t play any part in our big plans for this weekend.” He turned her to face him and kissed her. “Right?” He tipped her chin to look up at him. “Rene?”

Conrad knew as well as I this occurrence could postpone the wedding.

Again.

The quicker I dispensed the news, the better. “A man was found dead in a closet earlier today. No one knows anything else.” There. I’d told the truth, more like blurted, and managed to leave out the word “murder”…and the small detail that I’d actually been involved in discovering the body. Still, I probably shouldn’t have mentioned the closet.

“What?” Rene collapsed on the couch, her face as white as a wedding dress.

I looked to the others for help. Surely she didn’t expect me to say it again. No one spoke as we stared at her. One wrong word could push her over the precipice of stability—a precipice upon which we all precariously braced ourselves. The woman held far too much power over the happiness of others.

“Don’t you all see?” She thrust her hands out, pleading. “It’s a very bad sign—an omen that can’t be ignored. How can we possibly get married now?”

“Rene?” Conrad’s voice teetered between fear and fury.

“Or ever…”

CHAPTER
FOUR