said.
“Well,” Emily looked at Isabel, who through Alex, also knew about Josh’s current status. “He’s kind of not in the Navy anymore.”
“What?” Maggie cried. “Does anybody tell me anythin’ anymore?”
“I’m sure he’ll fill you in later, Maggie. He didn’t want to burden you with it before your wedding.” Emily rubbed Maggie’s shoulder.
“Do you think Josh did it?” Isabel asked Emily.
“Isabel!” Camille’s eyes darted to Maggie. “How can you ask that? Especially in front of poor Maggie.”
Maggie’s eyes widened, looking at Emily in anticipation.
Emily bit her lip, wondering how to best respond without inciting another round of wailing from Maggie.
“I’m so sorry, Maggie. I don’t mean to be insensitive.” Isabel sat forward in her chair. “I was just wondering what Emily thought Josh’s odds were.”
“Isabel,” Camille reprimanded again. “Why don’t you talk about this in private with Emily—later.”
“All right,” Isabel relented, plopping back in her chair and crossing her arms like a child who had just been scolded.
“Emily?” Maggie asked. “Do you think my son killed Lucas?”
“I don’t want to believe it, Maggs—and if he did do it, I don’t think he meant to kill him—but I have to be honest, the evidence is pretty compelling.” Emily squeezed Maggie’s hand. “Just know Colin and I will do everything we can to find the truth.” Emily hoped that meant proving Josh innocent.
“I appreciate that.” Maggie’s voice was small and trembling.
“But you do have to consider the possibility that he did it,” Emily warned. “He was furious, he admitted to beating the snot out of him, and he was there very close to the time Lucas died.”
“I’m gonna support my son, no matter what, Em. He’s my family.”
“I understand,” Emily replied.
“Whatever I can do,” Isabel offered, “if there’s anything Emily needs from the FBI resources, I’ll do my best to get it done.”
“There is one thing on Josh’s side,” Emily remarked. “The murder weapon hasn’t been found.”
“I thought he was beaten to death,” Camille said.
“Well, according to the medical examiner, the cause of death was being hit in the head from something sharp and jagged,” Emily explained.
“What on earth?” Maggie exclaimed.
“Something like that paperweight you said you got in Sun Valley, the one in the shape of mountain peaks,” Emily told her.
“How do you know that?” Maggie asked.
“Um, well, you’re not going to like this, but—”
“But what?” Maggie interrupted, her blue eyes turning gray with worry.
“I borrowed your paperweight when I was here Saturday.”
“Borrowed? What for?”
“Well, that’s the part you’re not going to like.” Emily glanced at Isabel, then back to Maggie.
Maggie frowned at her as a perplexed expression washed over her face.
“I wanted to give Isabel something that might have Lucas’s fingerprints on it. Isabel and I had an uncomfortable feeling about that man and we wanted to find out more about him.” Emily braced herself for Maggie’s reaction.
“You did what?” Maggie’s face turned from confusion to anger. “Behind my back? How could you, Emily? Isabel?”
“It appears we were right to do it, Maggie,” Isabel said in their defense. “I wish we had done it sooner, maybe he would still be alive, and Josh wouldn’t be in jail.”
“Why are you sayin’ that?” Maggie cried.
“Isabel’s right, Maggie. I haven’t told her this yet, or Alex for that matter, but I just learned the whole Whitetail Resort was a scam,” Emily admitted. “But that information doesn’t leave this room. Understood?”
Maggie and Isabel nodded in agreement.
“I knew it,” Isabel muttered angrily. “A hundred grand gone.”
“Camille, not a single word to anyone about this—not even to your husband,” Emily warned.
“I understand,” Camille agreed.
“A scam? Oh, Em, are you sure?” Maggie buried her head in her hands.
Emily gently stroked her back. “Yes, I’m sure, but we’ll help you through this, Maggs. Whatever you need.”
“Wait a minute,” Maggie gasped, shooting up straight in her seat. “You said the murder weapon was like the mountain paperweight?”
“Yes,” Emily replied. “Dr. Walters said the peaks are a perfect match to the wound.”
“Was it my paperweight?” Maggie asked. “Or did they find the paperweight in Lucas’s office?”
“In Lucas’s office? No, I had it with me the whole time,” Emily said.
“No, Em, you don’t understand.” Maggie shook her head, causing her blonde ponytail to flop from side to side. “There were two.”
“Two?” Isabel’s expression changed from surprise to comprehension.
“You know what that means,” Emily deduced.
“The other one could have been the murder weapon,” Isabel answered.
“Where is the other one?” Emily asked.
“Lucas gave me one and he put the other on his desk,” Maggie said. “He said it would keep us both close to