by Cole,Lyndsey
She had nothing to do today.
While she was enjoying her peace and quiet, her phone rang, piercing the silence. Piper rolled over and unplugged it from the wall charger.
It was Meadow. Not how she wanted to start her Monday.
“Where are you?” her sister hissed at her through the phone. No hello. No how are you? No did you sleep well?
“I’m at the Morettis. I’m house sitting until the end of—”
“You’re supposed to be at Ariel’s school. Her dance recital is this morning and she’s refusing to get on stage until you’re here.”
Piper sat bolt upright. She was her eight year old niece’s favorite relative and she’d promised to be at her dance recital this morning.
“Oh my God,” Piper whispered. “I’m on my way.”
“Don’t bother,” Meadow said. “You’ve already ruined it for her. With all the snow, you won’t get here for an hour and it’ll be over by then.”
“School wasn’t canceled?” Piper asked, surprised that the buses could pick kids up this morning if Emerald Island was really out of salt.
“No, Piper. It wasn’t. Here’s Ariel. Explain to her why you’re not here. I’m not going to break her heart for you.”
There was a moment of silence before a tear-filled voice rocked Piper’s heart. “You’re not coming?” Ariel asked between sniffles.
Piper sighed. She wished she could go back in time, wake up early, and make it to her niece’s dance recital. “I’m so sorry, Ariel. I can’t get there because of the roads.”
“But Mom made it. She drove here from work. Can’t you come?”
“I don’t have a car,” Piper reminded her. This was reason enough for Piper to pull her life together. She hated letting Ariel down.
“Oh. Okay. Here’s Mom.”
Piper didn’t want to talk to her sister again. She had nothing to say to Meadow after yesterday’s argument.
“Good work, Piper.” Meadow hung up before Piper could even defend herself.
Piper flopped back into the down feather pillows. This was the most luxuriously she’d ever lived. The house, the gated community, even the bed made her feel like she had her life more put together than she did.
She was only given a few seconds of quiet before the dogs jumped on the bed and licked her face. “You guys hungry?” Piper asked them. At least she wouldn’t let them down.
In the kitchen, Piper pulled out the thawed steak from the fridge and got to work making the dogs’ breakfasts and dinners for the next week. She followed Jacqueline’s directions to a tee. The dogs were picky eaters and any deviation from their normal diet would likely result in the dogs refusing to eat.
When Piper finally ate her own breakfast of oatmeal with blueberries and walnuts, and filled up on coffee, she headed to the front door to check on the snowy roads.
She had a plan for today, and it included getting on her bike.
The fresh two feet of heavy wet snow had been plowed from the driveway and the road. Maybe she could have made it to Ariel’s recital if she’d set an alarm. Meadow was right, she did have to make it up to her niece.
But first, Piper piled on her biking layers, ending with her pink windbreaker, and rode into town to find Mariah Thorton. If she couldn’t be reached online, then talking to her in person was Piper’s only option.
The roads in the Morettis’ gated community were nearly completely free of snow. They were wet, but had definitely been salted.
As soon as Piper turned onto the road heading to Emerald Island, the snowpack increased and there was a definite lack of salting. The gated community must have used their own salt supplies and plows, because the difference in quality was staggering.
The roads only got worse as she reached downtown. The city definitely wasn’t shut down, but plenty of cars had slid off the roads or were plowed into parking spots. Riding a bike was preferable to navigating the snow-covered streets any day.
The Sunday Voice was three blocks from Gone Fish’n and Piper went out of her way to avoid riding by her old place of employment. It was already after noon when she would have ridden by the food truck and she wasn’t ready to face her aunt or her mother. Thankfully neither of them had called her to try to talk some sense into her.
Piper locked her bike to one of the only light poles that wasn’t half buried in snow and headed into the office building housing the tabloid. Piper took the stairs to the third floor, refusing to give in and take the elevator when she had perfectly healthy legs.
She opened the door to the faux newspaper and was met with more noise than she thought possible. It was silent in the hallway, but the tabloid’s office was teeming with life.
“Can I help you?” a young man asked Piper. He held a clipboard and had a headset on. There was no reception desk so she wouldn’t have known who to ask for directions.
“I’m looking for Mariah Thorton,” Piper told him.
He checked his watch and rolled his eyes. “Aren’t we all? Right this way.”
Piper was led through the huge room between rows of cubicles. It was amazing how many people worked at The Sunday Voice. For a tabloid she’d only just heard of, Piper thought there was a lot going on.
“She’s not back from lunch yet. But have a seat.”
Piper was surprised. Why didn’t he make her wait somewhere else? Somewhere that would give Mariah a chance to refuse her visit? Piper wasn’t going to complain. She sat down in one of the outer offices and waited.
Piper took in the liveliness of the office. Phones rang constantly. Computer screens lit up faces. And there were at least a half dozen people walking from one end of the huge room to the other at any given time.
“You are … ?” a not very friendly voice asked Piper, returning her attention to the small office on the edge of the huge room.
Piper stood. “Piper Carson.”
“You’re not a reporter, so what are you doing here?”
“Are you Mariah Thorton?” Piper asked, hoping she was in the right place.
“I am.” Mariah sat behind her desk. “And you’re not the first person to come talk to me today. I practically had to chase Lydie Jackson out of here.” Mariah made a face when she said Lydie’s name like she’d just bit into a lemon when she expected to be eating an orange.
Piper was shocked. “Lydie was here? This morning?”
“Yeah.” Mariah unlocked her computer and turned her attention to her screen instead of to Piper. “What’s it to you? I know you don’t work at the Bulletin.”
“You’re right. I don’t. I’m unemployed right now.”
Mariah met Piper’s eye. Finally. “Are you looking for a job?” She huffed. “I’d run outta here as fast as possible if I were you. You’d be selling your soul.”
Piper shook her head. “I’m not looking for a job. I—”
Mariah huffed again, stopping Piper in her tracks. “You’re one of those. You don’t have to work. What, you’re living off a trust fund or something?”
Piper couldn’t believe her ears. This woman was unbelievable. “No. I just lost my job yesterday. I haven’t gotten things together enough yet to find something new.”
Mariah nodded. “Oh.”
“I came here because I wanted to ask you about Wyatt Brennan.”
Mariah’s eyes squinted. Piper could tell Mariah didn’t trust her.
“You used to work with him at the Bulletin, right?” Piper asked.
Mariah made no expression but answered bluntly, “I did.”
Piper had hoped this conversation would go smoother.
“You’re not with the police, are you?” Mariah’s shoulders stiffened.
Piper nearly laughed out loud. “No. I’m not a cop.”
“Then why are you asking me about Wyatt? I don’t have to tell you anything.” Mariah leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.
“You’re right. You don’t have to tell me anything. But I learned last night that Wyatt replaced yo
u and maybe he was responsible for getting you canned. I just wondered what the real story was.”
Mariah tipped her head back and belted out a laugh. “You heard he got me canned? I quit, Piper. I couldn’t work there anymore. It was all political. And I was put on stories that barely made the back page. I wrote half an inch of text. Half an inch,” she repeated. “Do you know how menial that was?”
“I thought you told me I wouldn’t want to work here, though.” Piper was confused. If Mariah quit at the Bulletin, why did she come to The Sunday Voice? It seemed like a step down.
“At least I get to write more than half an inch. Now,” Mariah stood and headed toward the door, “if you don’t mind, I have work to do. You’re not a reporter, you’re not a cop, I don’t really know why you’re here. So I’d like it if you left.”
Piper made one last ditch effort. “I’m here because you have a motive to want Wyatt dead.”
12
Mariah’s face drained of all color. What had been rosy cheeks became as white as the freshly fallen snow.
“I already told you, I quit. Me leaving the Bulletin had nothing to do with Wyatt.” Mariah was adamant about her story so Piper had no choice but to believe her. Either she or Lydie was lying.
Or they both were and the truth was even further hidden.
“Okay. I’m sorry. I’ll get going.” Piper slung her messenger bag over her shoulder and left The Sunday Voice.
The chaos never seemed to quiet down. The pace of the office was overwhelming and Piper was glad to walk back outside.
Piper had no responsibilities. The dogs were fed back at the Morettis’ mansion. She didn’t have work to go to. She didn’t have any family obligations. Piper didn’t know what to do with her free time.
But she didn’t have to decide. Her phone rang and she dug it out of her windbreaker pocket. It was Eli.
“Hello?” she asked, wondering if it was really Eli on the other end of the phone.
“Hey Piper. Want to finish that drink we started yesterday?” He sounded completely relaxed. Not what Piper expected after being questioned yesterday about his best friend’s murder.
Piper’s head still felt foggy from all of yesterday’s alcohol but she wanted to be there for Eli. That was the excuse she told herself anyway.
“Sure. Can we make it lunch?” Was that too forward? “I haven’t eaten yet,” she added quickly, not wanting to make this into a bigger date than he was ready for.
“Perfect. Munchies?”
Piper glanced at the snow-covered sidewalk. “Sure.” Munchies was on the other side of downtown but if it was convenient for Eli, then she’d meet him there. “Are you not at work?” she asked, realizing his office was only a few blocks from her current location.
“Nope. They told me to take the week off. They paid for counseling, even.”
Piper nodded. “Okay. See you in twenty.”
“Great.”
Piper unlocked her bike from the light pole and carefully maneuvered the slippery sidewalk. There were hardly any pedestrians, otherwise she’d avoid the sidewalk at all costs. But the slick roads were too dangerous with cars ill-equipped for the snow.
Twenty three minutes later, Piper opened the door to the sandwich shop. Why could she never be on time? Eli was reading a newspaper, sitting at a table for two in front of the window.
He waved when he saw her and Piper took off her winter beanie. She ran her fingers through her hair, hoping she still looked somewhat presentable.
“You look freezing,” Eli said. “You biked here? That’s hard core.”
Piper smiled. Being called hard core was a compliment. “I don’t have a choice. I don’t have a car.”
“What about the bus on a day like today?” Eli sat back down and Piper took the chair opposite him. She removed her windbreaker, her fleece-lined sweatshirt, her scarf, her gloves, and unbuttoned the top button of today’s flannel shirt.
“It doesn’t come out to where I’m staying. Since I was already on my bike by the first bus stop, I figured I’d just keep riding.” In truth, Piper didn’t even consider taking the bus this morning when she left the Morettis’ house.
Eli opened his menu but didn’t look down. He kept his eyes trained on Piper. “I wanted to explain about yesterday. With the cops,” he added when Piper didn’t register any recognition.
“Oh right. Yeah.” How did she forget? Maybe all the alcohol. Was it really a good idea to have another drink so early in the day?
“I wasn’t arrested. I’m not a suspect. There were just a lot of questions about my two phones and where I was. But there’s video surveillance of my apartment building’s lobby and I got home at five past two on Sunday morning. There was no way I could have killed Wyatt. Not that I’d even want to,” he explained.
“Great.” Piper was relieved but she didn’t let it show. She didn’t want him to think she still suspected he could be guilty.
Eli sighed. “Now that that’s out of the way. Lunch is on me.”
“That’s okay. I can pay for—”
“I left you with a bar tab yesterday. No arguing. I’m paying,” he insisted.
Piper nodded once and looked down at the menu. “Well, when you put it that way. What’s the most expensive thing on here …”
“The crab BLT.”
Piper scanned the menu, looking for the crab BLT. It sounded delicious. “I don’t see it.”
“It’s off the menu. But trust me, it’s worth asking for. And don’t even ask how much it costs. And the tart Hefeweizen is the perfect beer to go with it.”
Piper kept her eyes on the menu and nodded. “It sounds like you’ve been here before. I’ll trust you.” She closed the menu and smiled at Eli.
“Music to my ears.” Eli raised a finger toward the waitress and placed their order—two crab BLTs and two Hefeweizens.
A long awkward pause filled the space between them while Piper tried to figure out what to say. With no alcohol, and no Aria or Wyatt to fill the gaps, their easy conversation from Saturday night turned into Monday afternoon self-consciousness.
“I talked to Mariah Thorton about Wyatt,” Piper finally said.
“Who?” Eli asked.
Piper tilted her head to the side. She’d expected Eli to know more about Wyatt’s life if they were such good friends. “Mariah Thorton. She used to work at the Emerald Island Bulletin. But Wyatt got her job. I thought maybe she had a motive to want him dead. You know, revenge.”
Eli nodded. “Yeah. Maybe. I don’t know much about his work.”
“Oh.” That conversation fell flat on its face.
“But maybe Amber Choate.”
Piper remembered that name from Lydie’s list of possible suspects. “His ex-girlfriend?”
“Ex-girlfriend in his mind. But not in hers. She’s certifiably crazy.” Their beers were delivered and Eli took a sip. “Perfect.”
Piper followed suit and agreed. The beer was delicious. She couldn’t wait for the crab BLT to arrive. “Actually crazy, like diagnosed?” she asked, bringing the conversation back to Amber.
Eli shook his head, a little bit of beer foam coloring his top lip white. “Not that I know of. I haven’t talked to her since they broke up a year ago. But Wyatt always talked about how she was stalking him. Maybe she took it too far.” Another pause filled the air around them. “But if it wasn’t her, maybe Andy Hayward.”
Wyatt’s aggressive behavior from Saturday night suddenly flashed through her mind. “Wasn’t it Andy Hayward that Wyatt was arguing with?”
Eli looked up quickly. “You know him?”
Piper nodded. “I house sat for him last year. He and his wife have a couple Dutch rabbits.”
“From the gist of their argument Saturday night, Andy’s wife left him. And took the rabbits.” Eli chuckled. “Andy blamed Wyatt.”
“Why?” Piper asked.
The waitress returned with their sandwiches and Piper’s mouth watered. She was starving.
“Don�
��t let it get cold,” Eli said, picking up his crab BLT and never answering Piper’s question.
Piper dug in, the flavors complementing each other perfectly. She chewed slowly so she could savor every bite. She let her mind wander with new questions about Amber, Andy, and Mariah. If Eli was innocent, then one of those three could be guilty.
Or a fourth person, she suddenly realized. Wyatt’s body was found inside Spiced Up. Piper knew the owner only because she was competition for Gone Fish’n.
Heather O’Brien.
Was she still at Spiced Up when Wyatt was killed? Did she kill him?
13
By the time Piper and Eli parted ways, Piper was convinced that Eli was innocent. But she had plenty of other suspects—Mariah, Amber, Andy, and now Heather.
Before she could take the time to investigate any of their motives or alibis, Piper had an unhappy niece she had to make it up to. She headed to the only kids store she knew of in Emerald Island, though she was sure there was another somewhere.
Piper opted to bike on the roads this time since more people were out. She’d received enough dirty looks from pedestrians in the past to know it wasn’t worth arguing over whether she should be on the sidewalk or on the road.
By law, she knew she should be on the road.
Piper leaned her bike against the front window of the Giggling Goose and opened the door. She knew what she was going to get Ariel so she wouldn’t be long. She trusted that no one would be crazy enough to take her bike right after a February snowstorm.
Piper knew her way around this store like the back of her hand. Unfortunately, she’d let Ariel down enough times in the past that she frequented the Giggling Goose more than any other woman in her early thirties without kids. She headed straight to the Disney aisle.
Piper picked out wall decals for Ariel’s bedroom. Ariel’s favorite Disney movie was The Little Mermaid because of … well, Ariel. Her second favorite was Cinderella because of the ball and her fairy godmother. Ariel loved dancing so Piper picked wall decals of Cinderella at the ball.
“Will that be all?” the cashier asked.