“So you thought hiking a cliff with three would-be killers would be a good way to fend off imminent death?”
“I didn’t know it was a cliff. I thought it was just some ordinary hiking trail along the beach. And the only reason I suggested hiking was because I figured it’s the thing they’d least want to do. I mean, why ruin your pedicure if you have other options? But surprise, surprise, they love to hike.” She let out a dismissive snort. “Sure they do. And I’m Luke Skywalker.”
“What made you think they were lying? They’re in great shape. How do you know they haven’t hiked all over Texas?”
“They asked if the vending machines along the trail would be offering Coke or Pepsi products.”
I shook my head with doubt. “I don’t know, Jack. I think you’re off base with this one.”
“Easy for you to say. You haven’t been skewered with their spiteful stares. I tell you, Emily, my head’s on the chopping block. I’m not imagining it. They have it in for me. Blonde hair, black hearts. I need to figure out a plan to stay alive before they figure out I’m onto them.”
Thankfully, her new plan sounded a lot less self-destructive than the one she promised to devise last night while curled up in a fetal ball in her cabin. But still. “I hope this means you’re going to forget about your vow to get even with them.”
“Why should I?” Her eyes lit up with supreme satisfaction. “In fact, you might be interested to know that I’ve already set my plan in motion.” She ticked off an imaginary item in the air. “Step one. Check.”
I gasped so loudly, my ears popped. “You said you had nothing to do with Krystal’s death!”
“I didn’t! When my feet hit the hiking trail, I fired the afterburners and put as much distance between me and them as possible. When the accident happened, I was actually standing on a footbridge talking to a lovely couple from England.” She pulled her camera out of her shoulder bag. “Clive and Fiona. I took pictures. You wanna see?”
“Please tell me the police cleared you.”
“They didn’t even bother to question me. I told you! I was too far away to be of use to their investigation.”
I gave her the evil eye as I blew out a calming breath. “If you were intending to give me the fright of my lifetime, Jack, it worked.”
“Sorry.” She bowed her head in contrition for a whole half-second. “So … do you want to see my photos? They’re really good. The perspective is amazing from three hundred feet up.”
A commotion at the opposite end of the lounge announced the arrival of Nana and the rest of the gang. I shot my hand into the air to get their attention, then watched them descend on us like a swarm of hungry locusts.
“I got news,” Nana choked out as she reached a nearby chair a full body length ahead of Helen Teig.
Helen crossed her arms beneath her ample bosom and tapped her foot with impunity. “I was here first, Marion.”
“Then how come I’m the one what’s sittin’ down?”
“DICK! GET ME A CHAIR.”
As the gang rearranged the loveseats and chairs into a “circle-the-wagons” grouping around us, the barmaid hovered at the perimeter, waiting to take drink orders.
“I’ll have a Shirley Temple,” said Nana. “Hold the ice. Double the grenadine. As many cherries as you can spare.”
“I’ll have the discounted special,” said Dick Stolee. “Don’t care what it is as long as it’s cheap.”