Murder, She Slopes

by Rachael Stapleton

  I stepped cautiously forward, readying myself to fight.

  “Penny? Did I scare you?” he asked softly. I was close enough now to see the handsome face that went with that gorgeous body, although his good looks were masked by a navy blue parka and a slouchy grey hat. It felt a little weird to see him out of his BLPD uniform, looking all foreign and new in his casual clothes. It made me think of the first day we’d met, when I’d found the bones in Bohemian lake. That day hadn’t been so long ago—just four months—but it felt like forever.

  Had I really only known Cody for such a short time?

  I fought back the surge of sentimentality and was about to tell him it was pointless for him to have come all this way when I lost all the words and more.

  The leap I made into his arms would probably have knocked over a smaller man. But Cody just moved with it and lifted me into the air. The motion sensor light flipped on and he pulled me to his chest. I put my arms around his neck and held tight, my feet dangling above the ground.

  “I’ll take that as a no.” he laughed, his low voice muffled by my hair.

  “Of course you scared me, you big dope. What’s with the unannounced arrival?” I scolded playfully.

  He put me back on the ground and bent his head down to look me in the eye. “It was an impulsive decision,” he explained. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to give you the impression that I lack faith in your judgment because I know you can take care of yourself. But as your… your… whatever I am to you… I was starting to worry—”

  “It’s all right,” I said. I grabbed his rough jaw and kissed him long and slow. “I don’t trust your abilities either.” We laughed and then I peered into his face. Short wisps of light brown hair poked out from beneath a slate grey hat and his chin and cheeks were slightly dark and rough, like he hadn’t shaved today. “I’m glad you came, but it’s late. Are you hungry, or did you want a tour or something?” I paused, “I was just heading to bed.”

  Cody ticked an eyebrow upward in an exaggerated leer. His green eyes sparkled and the lines around his eyes deepened.

  “Oh, don’t answer that. I walked into that one.” I laughed and pointed at his bag. “Well, let’s get you to bed, then, huh?”

  Cody ignored his duffle bag and picked me up, carrying me up the stairs to the tree house. Once he put me back down, I unlocked the door while he ran back to grab his bag.

  I flipped on the light and held the door open for him. “Who’s feeding Guinness?”

  “Pike,” Cody answered. “And she is not happy,” he added. “She says you need to feed your dog more.”

  “Oh hell,” I swore. I took the last stair and strode down the hall. “She’s going to be impossible to deal with when I get home.”

  “Who, Pike?”

  “No, Guinness. She’s always such a diva after Pike babysits. She feeds her all the leftover pumpkin cookies from the café.”

  Cody smirked as he entered the room and then he walked straight to the far window. For a heart-clutching moment I thought he must have seen danger. Then I remembered how breathtaking the view was.

  I joined him at the windows, taking in the snowy view. The path’s Christmas lights twinkled below and further out the flood lights and lamps lit up the slopes and the spa. The main chalet’s chimney puffed smoke into the air. From this vantage point, the woods were quite beautiful with each branch outlined in white. I breathed deeply and caught the reflection of headlights in the trees. It was just a flash and then it was gone.

  “What’s a skidoo doing out at this time of night?” Cody asked, his fingertips wrapping around mine.

  It hadn’t occurred to me that it was a skidoo but that made sense. There had been a low humming sound earlier. “Probably just Noel heading back to his cabin.”

  Thirteen

  _____________

  T he sun streaming in the window warmed my face, and I squinted as I tried to open my eyes. Cody and I were both cocooned underneath the sheets. He was flat on his back, his eyes shut tight, his arm tucked behind me. I snuggled in closer to him and he stirred next to me, throwing his other arm over my chest.

  He opened one eye. “Hey, good lookin’.”

  I smiled at him. “Right back atcha.”

  “I need coffee,” he whispered.

  I kissed his shoulder and slid out from under the covers. I pulled on a pair of joggers and the thin long sleeved shirt Cody had worn the night before. The scent of his deodorant and aftershave clung to it and I breathed it in, the familiar smells enveloping me. I padded two steps to the kitchen counter, the smell of brewing coffee scenting the air. I was glad I'd had enough forethought the night before to set the timer between bouts of intimacy.

  Priorities.

  I pulled two ceramic mugs from the cabinet, yanked the pot from the warmer and filled them. I wasn’t expecting company so Cody would just have to deal with no cream.

  I set the pot back and held the cup to my lips.

  And froze as someone banged at my door.

  “Copper?” Lucas called. “Are you up?”

  “Shoot,” I mumbled and motioned for Cody to get dressed. This was not going to be the most comfortable situation. I quickly ran a brush through my hair to give Cody a moment.

  “Who’s Copper?” he mouthed, tugging on his jeans. His chest was bare and for a moment I just stared at him, wishing we were back under the blankets.

  “Silly, old nickname,” I whispered at last as Lucas knocked again.

  “Penny?” called Lucas again. “Is everything okay?”

  I panicked, unsure of what to do. Not that I had anything to feel guilty about and yet I did.

  Cody reached for me and pulled me tight to his torso, relaxing me with a long, silent kiss. Goodness, it felt good to be hugged by Cody Lumos. His arms were warm and strong, and his head rested against mine just enough to elicit a sigh of relief that I didn’t even know I was holding in. “It’s okay.” He whispered. “He was going to see us together at some point.”

  I took a breath and opened the door.

  “Good morning,” Lucas said, grinning ear to ear. “I didn’t even pretend to be a masked killer. Aren’t you impressed? I’m a new man.” He was looking better; the tension of the last day or two seemed to have receded from his face.

  Not for long. I saw his body stiffen as he looked past me and spotted Cody slipping a clean shirt over his head. I tried not to stare at how his shirt was not pulled all the way down, or how the last few buttons of his jeans were undone, too, but I failed miserably. I pulled my gaze away and Lucas looked me up and down—probably noticing I was wearing Cody’s shirt. His eyes widened with jealousy. By the time he had them back to normal size the old tension had returned, tightening his face into a smiling skeleton’s once more.

  “You remember I told you about Cody Lumos. He’s the newest member of the Bohemian Lake Police Department,” I said.

  “How could I forget?”

  Cody moved forward dutifully, his hand extended.

  Lucas shook it with unsuitable heartiness. “Nice to meet you, Detective Lumos. Just get in?” he inquired.

  “Last night, and please call me Cody.”

  The artificial smile tightened another click on Lucas’ strained face. We stood in an uncomfortable silence for a few moments. I tried but failed to think of something neutral to talk about. “We were just headed to breakfast,” I said at last.

  “They make the best eggs benedict. You’ll love it,” Lucas responded.

  Cody nodded. “Would you care to join us?”

  Lucas paused for a moment like a deer in the headlights. “Umm, thanks but I was just headed out for a drive, myself,” Lucas rattled on. “Lots of interesting sights to see around here.”

  “In this weather?” Cody questioned.

  Lucas shrugged. “Why not? You just drove through it, right?”

  Cody nodded.

  “I’ll walk with you to the dining hall if you’re headed out now. It’s next to the parking lot.”<
br />
  Cody looked in my direction for affirmation.

  “Great!” I said, in an effort to match Lucas’ geniality. “I’ll meet you guys outside, I just have to get dressed.” I pulled a pair of dungaree overalls on over a red-and-black plaid shirt, laced up my brown boots and met them outside a few minutes later.

  The wind had picked up again, and I was glad for the parka and toque. I couldn’t believe we were getting even more snow.

  Once Lucas, Cody and I had exhausted the subject of sightseeing, we let the strained conversation die in peace and trod the snowy path silently. When the main building came into view, it was all I could do to keep from running.

  “I’ll see you two later,” Lucas announced with false cheeriness as we reached the end of the path. Then again, maybe it wasn’t false. Maybe he was just as heartened by the prospect of our parting as I was.

  “See you then,” Cody and I chimed in together. Lucas strode off to the parking lot with one last wave in our direction.

  Cody and I started up the stairs of the main building. I grabbed the door as it flew inward with a gust of frosty air and we heard Lucas’ shout.

  “Oh God!” he cried. Then more urgently, “Help! Penny! Somebody help!”

  I was down the stairs and into the parking lot before Lucas’ last “help” hit the air. Cody clattered down a few seconds after me, fueled by adrenaline.

  I sprinted through the parking lot toward the sparse row of cars at the front. Lucas was in a space between two vehicles on his knees, clutching his stomach. Had he been hit? I heard the sound of retching and ran on. Just before I reached him, my attention was diverted by a snow mobile lying on its side a few feet in front of Lucas. There were two legs sticking out from underneath it.

  I veered toward the overturned machine. An accident? Was the rider still alive? Then I saw Noel Bluebird’s head, peering out from under the other end of it. His protuberant eyes stared up at the sky as if surprised at what had happened.

  If I'd never seen a dead body before, I probably would've thrown up too. But I had, about four months earlier, in a lake in my hometown. Well, first I had freaked out and almost drowned myself thinking I’d found a dead body when it was really just animal bones, and then later that same week I had actually found a dead body.

  This time, however, I did not scream. It was more of a whimper crossed with a cry mixed in with a yell. Yes, I still whimper despite having once been a police officer for all of five minutes—okay, perhaps a little longer than that.

  Cody crashed in behind me, nearly bowling me over when he reached me. I pointed to the source of my whimper/cry/yell and he swore quietly, pulled out his cellphone and called 9-1-1. Then he pulled me close to him.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, his expression full of concern.

  I nodded, but he knew I was rattled. I didn't think anyone could ever get used to seeing dead bodies. “Is that Noel?” Cody asked.

  My stomach spasmed. He has to be dead, a detached voice in my head informed me. No way a man can live with his brains splashed out on the ground. The air around me shimmered and undulated. I had to sit down. I dropped to the gravel with a spine-wrenching plop, glad I had no breakfast to lose.

  Cody knelt down to put his hands on my shoulders. But I could still see Bluebird underneath his arm. How fast had he been going on his snowmobile for his head to be pulverized like that? Then I noticed the mark around Noel’s neck, a distinct bruising apparent in the flesh. And I remembered what Gloria had said about the mark around Holly’s neck.

  “This is no accident,” I whispered aloud and dropped my head into my hands.

  I looked in Lucas’ direction. He was still paper white. But he was sitting up now, apparently finished with vomiting. He stared down at his own lap, unseeing.

  “When did you see Noel last?” The voice that asked the question was, amazingly, my own. And it was steady.

  Lucas didn’t answer right away. He lifted his head. His eyes were glassy as they stared out in front of him. “He was lingering after the movie,” he said finally in a dead voice. “Denise, Gloria and Amélie were the first to leave, then Mateo. I offered to help Marie-Angelique clean up but her son said he would do it.”

  “Was there anyone else there? Justin?” I asked.

  “No,” he said. A little feeling had crept into his voice.

  “And that was the last you saw of Noel?”

  “Yes!” His voice was shrill now and shaking. “Oh God. I found his body! They’ll think it was me for sure. First Holly and now Noel!”

  Cody and I exchanged worried glances. Lucas might be right.

  Cody and I helped Lucas up and walked him back to the main building. As we climbed the stairs, Lucas began to sob. Cody patted his shoulder awkwardly. We found Marie-Angelique in the lobby, behind the registration desk.

  “We’ve got fresh smoked meat breakfast bagels hot off the grill…” she began cheerfully. Then her eyes focused on us. Whatever she saw there told her it was bad news.

  “What’s wrong? What’s happened?” she asked shrilly. Then she pointed at Cody in fear. “Who is he?”

  I grabbed Cody’s hand and squeezed gently. “This is my friend, Cody,” I said firmly to Marie-Angelique.

  Cody eyed me and then mouthed the word, friend.

  I shrugged. I’d apologize later. Truth was we hadn’t really discussed what we were, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to label it.

  She stepped back. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I… I’m just on edge since—” She broke off, probably seeking a euphemism. She attempted a hospitable smile.

  I pulled off my fuzzy mittens and tugged the knit cap off my head. “There’s been another accident,” I said, bracing for her panic. “Cody called it in so I would imagine we can expect Detective Bumble shortly.”

  Marie-Angelique’s jaw dropped open. “No! Oh, please, no! Not again!”

  Fourteen

  _____________

  A small crowd was gathering now around Marie-Angelique in the dining hall. She’d ferried a pot of peppermint tea and a carafe of coffee in and then she broke down sobbing. Jolly Ginger leapt into her lap and let out a yowl of sympathy. Or was it simply a yowl of hunger?

  Lucas and Cody had taken chairs across from Marie-Angelique. Cody’s rugged face was still set in stone. He sat erect and silent. Lucas slumped in his chair, his handsome face blank with shock. Dr. Belle had stationed herself at Marie-Angelique’s side, stroking her shoulder.

  I wrapped my palms around the warm mug of coffee and inhaled the steam. My stomach growled. Call me callous but I was still hungry. I looked longingly at the buffet, hoping that someone else would be insensitive enough to mention that they were hungry and start a line. I sniffed. Was that bacon? I was fantasizing about the bagel sandwiches when Mateo limped up.

  “Where’re Justin and Felix?” I said before I realized I had spoken aloud.

  “What about them?” asked Mateo.

  “Oh, God,” moaned Marie-Angelique. She hit the table with her fist and moaned again.

  “What’s going on?” prodded Mateo insistently. “Has something happened to the boy?”

  Faces were turned in my direction expectantly. I drew a deep breath.

  “You!” Bumble boomed, his finger pointed at me as walked inside the hall. “Show me the body.” His eyes scanned the room for reactions to his words.

  Marie-Angelique was the first to react, throwing herself into a renewed fit of sobs and wails. Jolly Ginger jumped from her lap and marched imperiously into the kitchen. I wished I had that option.

  Amélie’s eyes and mouth opened wide in a curiously youthful expression of surprised innocence, while Mateo’s face aged with a deep frown. Denise merely arched her eyebrows, saying nothing—for the moment.

  Bumble never took his eyes from the faces around him as he shouted over Marie-Angelique’s sobs. “The rest of you sit down! No one is allowed to leave.”

  Amélie sat down at a nearby table. She was uncharacteristically silent, most like
ly wishing she’d bailed when she had the chance.

  The Detective’s eyes lighted on Cody. “You the detective that called it in?” he asked. Cody nodded, “Cody Lumos.”

  “Nice to meet you, Cody.” He turned and pointed at one of his officers. “Find the ones that are missing.” He looked around. Then he turned to me. “Let’s go,” he said and led me outside.

  As we walked across the parking lot, I saw yet another uniformed police officer standing in front of the space where Noel Bluebird’s body lay. Maybe Mont-Tremblant wasn’t as small a town as I thought.

  Bumble took me about four feet from the space between the cars and pointed. The renewed sight of his legs sticking out from underneath the skidoo brought the sting of tears to my eyes.

  “Does the body look the same as when you left it?” Bumble’s gruff voice interrupted my thoughts.

  “Yes,” I answered aloud. I lowered my eyes, so I didn’t have to see Noel Bluebird anymore.

  “Did you touch the body?” Bumble asked.

  “No,” I answered. The shorter I kept my answers, the sooner I could leave. Or so I hoped.

  “How about Mr. Vallerand or Mr. Lumos?”

  “No,” I answered again.

  “Which one of you lost your breakfast?” He sneered.

  “Lucas,” I said quietly, refusing to return his smile.

  As Detective Bumble and I climbed the stairs together, my legs began to tremble. I wondered if I’d make it all the way up. I did. But by the time we reached the dining hall, the trembling had spread to my arms and hands. Even my face.

  Detective Bumble put his hand on my shoulder and guided me past the cluster of suspects in the center of the room. “Have a seat,” he ordered. “I’m going to talk to some of the others first.”

  I jerked my shoulder away from his hand and marched my trembling body to a seat next to Cody, smack in the midst of the suspects.

  Fifteen

  _____________

  F elix’ words galvanized the room.

  “Calm down, son,” Detective Bumble said in a low, reasonable voice. “Let’s go and find your dad.”