Chapter 41

  

When Penelope got back to the set, Jennifer hurried over to her.

“Where have you been?”

“I was in town talking with the sheriff. I left Francis in charge. What’s up?”

“Oh, I don’t know—someone put a piece of chicken on Janie’s plate and she almost threw up,” Jennifer said. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes flashing.

Penelope looked at her doubtfully. “I’m sure she didn’t throw up from looking at chicken.”

Jennifer sighed. “Fine. You’re right. I’m just freaking out over here.”

“Relax,” Penelope said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“I just wish she would leave, but it looks like they’re staying a week at least. They’ve lost confidence in me as a director.”

“Did they say that?” Penelope asked.

“No,” Jennifer said. “But I can tell.”

“I think you’re imagining things,” Penelope said.

“Maybe you’re right. I should be more confident,” Jennifer said. She barked a quick laugh and hugged her arms across her chest.

“Hey, have you been approached by Ava about an investment opportunity?” Penelope asked.

Jennifer shook her head. “No. Thank God,” she added. “I have enough going on without getting pitched by a quasi-friend and business partner.”

“You’re right about that,” Penelope said. After Jennifer wandered away, Penelope thought about Denis. He was a regular guy, unfussy, didn’t wear flashy clothes or drive an expensive car. He knew a lot about wine, but shared with Penelope he didn’t have the wallet for some of his most expensive bottles, which was why he enjoyed his job. He didn’t strike her as an obvious client for an investment portfolio.

Sybil, on the other hand, was a well-known actress with an established career. Shirley and Jacob Pears appeared to be comfortable, but they were still working full-time close to retirement age. And she herself was a business owner with a more than substantial income, yet Ava hadn’t breathed a word about investing in Herring – Steele to her or Jennifer. Something wasn’t adding up.

Penelope checked in with her crew and found they were finishing up their final meal of the day. “I’m going to head into the woods for a bit, check on something.”

Francis looked at her with amusement. “I think I’m the boss on this one, Boss.”

Penelope smiled at him. “You are. And I appreciate it.”

She trekked up the main path toward Bailey’s camp, keeping an eye out for the sheriff and his team. She spotted them a few hundred yards before she arrived and stopped to watch as a few members of the Quincy team stepped gingerly around the woods.

“What are you doing up here today?” the sheriff asked, coming down to meet her on the path.

“Taking a walk.”

He looked at her skeptically.

“Okay,” Penelope sighed. “I wanted to see what you found.”

The sheriff folded his arms and looked down at her. “You should get back to work. This isn’t related to our other case.”

“How can you say that?”

“Look,” he said, turning his back to the team. They were too far away to hear them, but Penelope appreciated he wanted to stay discreet speaking to a civilian. “We may have uncovered a burial ground.”

Penelope put her hand over her mouth.

“I’m only telling you because I don’t want you coming back here and poking around yourself.”

“Do you think it’s the missing kids? The Forrestville Five?” Penelope reached for her phone to look at the posters again.

“Too soon to tell,” he said.

“Someone lured those kids up here and killed them,” Penelope said. “Then buried them in the woods. That’s a serial killer. Now Jordan’s dead. For a place with no murders in it, now you might have six.”

“Miss Sutherland, please let me handle this.”

“Bailey invited two girls from the set to come and party with him in the woods.”

“I’ve heard you; now I’m going to ask you to leave and let us do our jobs.”

Penelope reluctantly turned away and headed back toward the inn.