“I’m appeasing Ian,” I said.
It had been three days since Amy’s dad had been taken into custody and was waiting at the county jail for federal agents to pick him up. With a multitude of killings in about twenty states, Noah was the feds responsibility now to all our relief. More and more information was coming to light about the various killings. Noah told my dad what area to search where he had buried the six bodies on lodge property but nothing could be done at the moment with the ground frozen and the snow. It was obvious that Noah Berwick would spend the rest of his life in prison or possibly face the death penalty.
My dad warned Amy that more things would no doubt surface, and she should be prepared for them as best she could. Finding out Noah Berwick was one of many names her dad had gone by was one of them.
Amy also had to contend with a rash of calls from newspapers and TV for interviews about her dad. Thankfully the snowstorm had prevented camera crews from being able to invade our small town.
“I don’t believe for a minute that you’re doing this to appease Ian,” Amy said with a laugh, drawing my wandering mind back to the conversation. “You’re doing this because you’re afraid of Sylvia.”
“And you’re not? Sylvia was adamant about you signing with her. Though I hate to admit it, she did give you sound advice.”
My agent, Sylvia, had called and demanded to talk with Amy after the news about her dad hit the major news networks.
“Get ahead of the vultures, Amy,” Sylvia had warned. “Sign with me and I’ll get you a spectacular publishing contract on a book about your dad and probably a movie deal as well.”
I’d been shocked when Amy asked, “Can Pepper co-write it with me?”
“Smart girl,” Sylvia had said. “I can make that happen.”
“I think I may sign with her as long as you’ll write the book with me. I’m not naïve enough to think other books won’t be published that put their own spin on things, but at least mine will be out there with the truth. I’d like to take the earnings made from the book and start a foundation in my mom’s name the money distributed to organizations that help missing and exploited children.”
Amy was the best and she didn’t have a shred of her dad in her.
“You are amazing and, of course, I will write the book with you,” I said and hugged her.
“My turn,” Beau said and took Amy in his arms.
“No worries, Amy,” my brother Josh said. “Willow Lake’s finest will keep the vultures at bay. You’re safe here.”
“I appreciate that, Josh,” Amy said, melting into Beau’s hug.
“However, I do have a question for Ian,” Josh said, turning to him as he approached me. “How did you know where to find my sister in the woods?”
“I didn’t,” Ian said, coming to stand beside me. “Mo did.”
I smiled, looking to Mo walking around not far from us, Ian having told me what had happened.
“Mo? How?” Josh asked.
“I’m not sure,” Ian said. “We finished the last shoot and Mo’s ears suddenly shot up. The next thing I knew he took off barking. I followed after him and the guys followed me. It wasn’t long before we heard a gunshot and Mo picked up speed. That dog can run. Then I heard Pepper’s name shouted and I picked up speed, then two more gunshots sounded before I broke past the trees and spotted Noah.”
I chuckled. “I can laugh now recalling how Noah ran at me, yelling, “Run, run, Vikings!””
“I guess we gave him quite the fright,” Beau said proudly.
“I never thought I’d say this,” Josh said, “but I’m glad Vikings landed in Willow Lake.”
We all laughed and agreed.
“All ready,” Garth, Ian’s photographer, called out.
Amy held her hand out to me. “Jacket.”
“I’m nervous,” I whispered to Amy as I slipped off my jacket to hand to her.
“No reason to be. Ian is with you,” she whispered back and walked off with Beau and Josh.
“You’ll do fine,” Ian said when I turned. “All you have to do is relax in my arms.”
“With an audience,” I reminded.
“Don’t think about anything but you and me,” he said in a soft whisper as he slipped his arm around my waist and drew me back against him. “Keep your eyes on me, Pep. Me and only me.”
I melted back against his lean, hard body, my face turned up, his eyes capturing mine and…
“OH MY GOD! What is that awful stench?” Beau called out and gagged.
Ian gagged as the stomach-turning stink hit us.
I looked around to see Garth and Josh gagging while Amy held her nose and laughed.
“Who gave Mo beef jerky?” I yelled out.
The end…
until the next Pepper adventure, Pepper, the Biker & the Vanished Body.