Chapter Seven

Anarchy and I took cover beneath the spreading limbs of an oak tree not far from Mel and Fred's cabin. The sheriff’s deputy, who looked to be only a few years older than Grace, huddled in the shade with us. He held the top edge of a plastic bag. Inside the bag was the gun I’d found in Mel’s couch. The Luger looked ugly. Not a showpiece, but a deadly weapon.

Perry had taken one quick look at the gun and given a grim nod. The gun belonged to him.

His pale-faced admission had made a bad day worse. My heart ached for Sumner, my shoulder ached from too much shooting, and my stomach churned with worry for Liz and Perry/

Despite the oak’s shade, the heat did its best to burn us to a crisp. I waved at stifling air perfumed by the aroma of meat in a smoker and gave silent thanks it wasn’t my job to manage coals.

The sheriff’s deputy, whose name was Cole Harden, asked, “Will there be anything else, Detective Jones?”

“Just get the weapon processed. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find fingerprints.”

I, for one, didn’t think we’d be lucky enough to find any prints but Perry’s.

“On it.” Deputy Harden nodded a goodbye, then trudged toward the parking lot.

Anarchy wiped his brow with his forearm. “Tell me how Mel reacted when you found the gun.”

“She was shocked.”

“Acting?”

I considered his question. “I don’t think so. She swayed, and I thought she’d fall.” Mel had grabbed a chair back to remain standing.

He scowled at the leaves protecting us from the scorching sky. “Deputy Harden searched their cabin earlier today, and he swears the weapon wasn’t there.”

“Why Mel and Fred’s cabin? Is someone trying to frame them? Why didn’t the killer toss the gun into the woods, where you might never find it?”

Mel and Fred had the first of eight cabins. Buffy and Bill had the second. Then came Merit and Tommy. After them, came Libba and Charlie and Willa and Thatch. Liz and Perry were next. Anarchy and I were in the seventh. Sumner and Graham had been in the eighth.

The club manager kept a small apartment in the clubhouse. The catering staff were housed in a lodge near the lake that was hardly habitable. Thus far, Misty and her people hadn’t complained.

Anarchy rubbed his chest, as if the whole situation was giving him heartburn. “I don’t know. And, I have to wonder if Harden missed the gun when he searched.”

“The gun wasn’t well hidden.” My bottom could attest to that.

I wiped sweat from my hairline. “It’s so hot, I can’t think.”

“Why don’t you go back to the cabin? The air conditioner might be loud, but at least it’s cool.

“Good idea.”