of heading to the next town over and the police station, we drove around the lake and stopped about a half-mile or so from the mill. Murphy opened the door on the cop car and waited for me to get out.
My heart pounded. “Why are we here?” And why did I see a white van and another police car?
“We found a body.”
My heart stopped. “Oh.” It emerged faint and high-pitched.
“We need you to see if you can identify it.”
It had to be the person I’d shot a few days ago. Why else would Murphy fetch me? Perhaps he hoped seeing my deadly handiwork would cause me to confess.
He was quite possibly right. I shook as I followed him through the snow tamped down by the passage of feet. We emerged onto the shore of the lake, the side opposite my cottage and within view of the mill.
Not a single curl of smoke rose from any of its stacks, but it didn’t hold my attention long. My gaze couldn’t help but stray to the black bag on the ground. Zipped shut. People dressed in protective gear just beyond it, dropping marker cards and taking pictures.
“Who is it?” I asked. I’d seen Kane the other day. Darryl had popped by with new items just that morning. Jace, being Jace, skulked the properties.
“I don’t want to say, but I will warn you, this will be disturbing.” He gestured, and two of the officers working farther down the beach returned. At his direction, they lifted the body and carried it toward me.
The person I’d killed.
I’d finally see their face.
See what I’d done.
My stomach churned. Would I get in even more trouble if I threw up on the body?
Murphy knelt in the trampled snow and pulled the zipper. I swayed on my feet, clasped my hands, and let out a sound—more a sob than anything—as Martin’s frozen face appeared.
“Oh God.” I couldn’t help but moan. I’d done it. I’d killed my ex-husband. I’d be going to jail. I’d—
“…days.”
I blinked. “Excuse me, can you repeat that?”
“I was saying the body was discovered this morning, but according to the ME, it’s been out here for days.”
“How did he die?” I tried to pretend as if I didn’t know.
Apparently, I didn’t.
“Exposure.”
“What?”
“From the looks of it, he got lost outside and wandered around. With the nights being subzero, he ended up freezing to death. Now, I’m pretty sure I know the answer, but could you confirm. Do you know this person?”
“Yes. It’s my ex-husband. Martin Dunrobin.”
“Thank you, and I am sorry. Usually we’d have you come down to the morgue to do this. However, with Christmas a few days away…”
“It’s fine.”
It was and wasn’t. On the one hand, apparently, I hadn’t killed Martin. On the other…
Who did I shoot? And were they still out there?
When I was done telling Winnie what I’d spent the evening doing, she stared and mumbled, “I can’t believe he’s dead. And you didn’t do it.”
The elation at the realization made me feel guilty. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” She yelled suddenly, her voice thick with tears. “Dad was an asshole. He was mean to you, to me, to Geoff. And he got meaner as he got older.”
“I should have stopped him.”
“You mean divorced him awhile ago? Yeah, you should have.” Winnie sniffed. “But that wouldn’t have changed the fact he hated us. Hated me. I don’t understand why I’m crying.” She scrubbed at her eyes.
“Because he was your father.”
“He was a fucking dick.”
I said nothing. I didn’t want to agree, but I wasn’t lying to her anymore.
She leaned against me. “What happens now?”
“We go on, like before.”
“Without the fires and vandalism.”
“Yup.” I lied to her. A small white one because much as I wanted to believe my problems ended with Martin, I couldn’t help but wonder.
Was the real culprit dead?
The next day I chose to stay home with Winnie. Forget the shop. My girl needed me. Trish arrived that morning with a box full of goodies.
“Orville sent this. He’s bringing more after work. He’s shutting down at three today.”
It was only then that I realized it was Christmas Eve. And I’d not gotten any gifts. Heck, I’d not even found a tree.
I’d failed as a mother. Never mind Winnie was old enough to not care. It was Christmas Eve, and I’d forgotten not only to decorate but gifts, too.
I eyed Trish. “I need to go into town for a few hours.”
“You need to sit down and relax. You’ve had a shock.”
“Please, Trish.”
She pursed her