Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

I glanced at the dirty dishes and messy counter. "He'll be here in a half-hour. Maybe we can finish the cookies before he comes."

I called the kids back into the kitchen, and the girls were excited to resume the cookie making after Neely Kate pulled the dough from the fridge. Mikey was still drawing everyone, although he was disappointed that his drawings didn't look like Tony's.

"Tony didn't just draw people perfectly from the beginning," I said. "He had to practice a lot. Plus, he probably took art classes."

"Can I take art classes too?" he asked enthusiastically.

"Sure," I said, worried about how much they would cost and whether we could afford them. But he was so excited; I couldn't tell him no. I'd find a way to make it happen.

We had the last batch of cookies in the oven, and the kids had gone back into the living room when there was a knock at the back door.

Jed walked over and let Dermot in.

"I hear you had a visitor from the sheriff's department this afternoon," he said without greeting. Dark circles underscored his eyes. He looked exhausted.

"That's where the sketches came from," I said with a frown. "Are you okay? Maybe you should go home and rest. You look tired."

"There's no rest with these murder investigations goin' on," he said, then gave me a pointed look. "Not to mention, I spent three hours at the sheriff's station this morning, answering a shit ton of questions."

"A detective hauled you in?" Jed asked.

"Nope, the sheriff himself."

I felt guilty for not warning Dermot, but I also felt loyal to Joe. If I was going to ride this line again, I had to be careful about what I shared with both of them.

"Do they really think you had something to do with any of this?" Neely Kate asked.

"I don't know," Dermot said, taking a seat at the end of the table.

"Did you?" I asked him with a hard stare.

He stared back, his eyes cold. "Which murder are you referring to?"

"Any of them."

His brow lifted, and he continued to stare at me long enough that I could feel Jed tense next to me. "No. Why? Do you think I might have?" he finally asked.

"You seemed to know something about the first murder when you showed up to talk to Austin."

"I knew who'd been murdered and that it was over drugs, but I didn't kill him," he said in a deadly tone. "Any other questions or concerns?"

I considered making him swear to it, but it seemed like I'd be pushing the boundaries of our friendship too far. "No."

"Good," Dermot said, his posture softening as he turned to Neely Kate. "The trip to the sheriff's station was a fishing expedition. I think he was trying to find out if I knew anything. Got any coffee?"

"I started a pot earlier," Jed said, then grabbed a mug and poured him a cup, setting it in front of him. "Tell us what you do know."

"I don't know what the hell's goin' on. Don't even know where the body of the second murder victim was moved—only that it was." He glanced over at Jed. "My gut tells me this isn't a random string of murders, though. There's something deeper goin' on. Something I can't put together."

"We keep hearin' drugs," Jed said. "The question is, where are they from?"

"Agreed. I have some guys tryin' to find the first victim's friends. Maybe they know something."

"You don't know who was supplying them?" Jed asked, his words tinged with disbelief.

"No," he grunted, obviously not happy about it.

"We're talking about Harvey Smith's friends?" I asked. "Neely Kate and I met his sister at Dena's bakery."

"You know his sister?" Dermot asked, his brow lifted.

"I wouldn't say we know her," I amended. "We just met her, so she's more of an acquaintance, but she might be willing to talk to us."

"That would be helpful," Dermot said. "Because while I know about most of the drug running around the county, I don't know shit about the two known murder victims."

"You think someone's movin' in on your territory?" Jed asked.

"That's what I'd like to find out."

My stomach twisted into knots. "Harvey's sister's name is Darlene Smith, and I gave her Joe's business card, telling her to call." I made a face. "I never asked him if she did."

"Think she'd be willing to talk to you?" Dermot asked quietly.

Dammit. I didn't want to get back into investigating murders, but what if this was connected to my visions after all? What if I could save the woman whose murder I'd witnessed?

"I think she would," Neely Kate said softly, obviously understanding the seriousness of what Dermot was suggesting. Three years ago, she would have jumped at the chance to interview Darlene. She was more cautious now, but she was still very much herself. "Darlene was eager for the sheriff's department to look into who murdered Harvey. If she's not happy with their progress, I suspect she'll talk to us, if for no other reason than Rose has Joe's ear. And I'll let her know that I'm Joe's sister. Double our chances—and hers."

"What do you know about the second murder victim?" I asked Dermot.

"His name is Noah Parker. Best I can figure, he didn't know Harvey Smith."

"Where did he work?"

"Nimble's Lumberyard."

"Darlene said her brother worked for Jefferson Sanitation," Neely Kate said.

Dermot nodded. "We already looked into a possible connection. Jefferson doesn't pick up the trash at the lumberyard or Noah's house."

"So we need to find out what else they could have in common," I said. Talking to Darlene couldn't be that bad. I'd follow up and make sure she contacted Joe. But I wasn't sure Joe would agree with that strategy, especially after our argument last night and this morning.

Dermot turned to me. "Now tell me where you came across those two people in the sketches."

I told him about my visions, ending by telling him that I didn't know a Selena and had never seen either one of the people in the sketches.

"You think the vision might be tied to these murders?" he asked once I'd finished.

"The timing is right," I said. "Or it could be related to the box we dug up, but that seems unlikely."

"What box?"

Neely Kate and I told him about the box and our search for the person who buried it.

"What's in it?" Dermot asked.

"We opened it yesterday and didn't find much," I said. "An empty locket, a quarter-carat diamond engagement ring, and a few cards with a note from who we presume was a guy telling a girl he was going away because their families didn't approve."

"You got it here?"

I started to shake my head, but Neely Kate piped up. "It's in my car."

"Let's take a look."

Jed retrieved the box, and he and Dermot examined the contents for a few moments.

Dermot picked up the ring and examined it. "I doubt this was the reason for your vision. Can't see someone killing over this."

"People have killed for far stupider reasons," Jed grumbled. "But I don't see that happening in this case. Unless it's personal, it's not big enough for the effort."

Dermot picked up the cards and read them, reading the longer note out loud.

"Initials," he said when he finished. "Not very helpful."

"Maybe, maybe not," I said. "We met with several previous homeowners, and one thinks the box could have been buried by a teenage girl who lived in the house next door. Her father was supposedly arrested, so maybe he forbade her from seeing this boy."

"Or J's mother could have forbidden him from seeing S," Jed said. "He mentioned that her father and his mother wouldn't approve."

"But Miss Adolpha said the dad went to jail." Neely Kate said. "And then everyone in the house moved out. She could have gone to him then."

"Maybe she did," Jed suggested.

"You think she'd leave the ring?" Dermot said in disbelief.

"Unless she didn't bury it," I said. "What if someone else did, trying to break them up?"

"It's all so sad," Neely Kate said, walking over to Jed and putting her hand on his shoulder. He covered her hand with his.

We all stared into the box for a moment until I broke the silence. "I asked my friend Randy to see if he could find anyone with a criminal record listed at the house next door. I haven't heard from him yet."

"So if we find out his identity, then we could find the daughter," Jed said.

"Daughters," Neely Kate said. "Plural."

"Since Randy hasn't gotten back to you, I'll look into it," Jed said. "Now, about Darlene Smith." He hesitated, then held Neely Kate's gaze. "I'm not sure it's a good idea."

She propped a hand on her hip and shot him a glare. "Why the heck not?"

"What if Harvey Smith's murderer is watchin' his sister? Do you really want to be seen with her?"

"What if we meet her in public?" I suggested. "We met her by chance at the bakery. Maybe we could not-so-accidentally run into her somewhere else."

Jed crossed his arms over his chest. "Like where?"

"I don't know," I said. "Maybe we could arrange to meet her at the grocery store. I usually do my shopping on Saturday, but I didn't get a chance to go today."

"I don't like it," Jed said. "And I know Joe wouldn't."

"Joe wouldn't like me grocery shoppin'?" I asked in mock disbelief.

"You know damn good and well why he wouldn't like it."

I pushed out a heavy sigh. "You know I need to do this, Jed. You're just being stubborn."

"You call wantin' to protect you stubborn?"

"If she didn't call Joe, then she's not gonna talk to the police," I countered. "And you darn well know it. If we can find out something to help catch the killers…"

"It's not your job, Rose," Jed countered. "Not anymore."

"I know. But I've seen that woman in my vison murdered twice now. Three times if you take into account my first dream. It might not have anything to do with the murders, but it seems far too coincidental. Not to mention, I feel something deep inside…" I placed my palm over my chest. "There's this urgency to save the woman in my vision. I can't explain it, but it's like I know her, even if I don't." I took a breath. "On the off chance my vision is related—and even if it isn't—Darlene might be able to help us figure out what ties Harvey and Noah together. And if we can figure that out, then maybe we can identify the third murder victim." I paused. "Surely his family has filed a missing person's report."

Dermot snorted. "Not necessarily. If he was a hardcore drug addict, there's a chance his family wrote him off years ago. And his friends wouldn't report it."

All the more reason for me to help if I could.

"How about I bring someone with me when I meet her?" I asked. "You could come with me, Jed."

He didn't say no, which I took as a good sign.

"You're presuming she's gonna agree to talk to you," Dermot said.

"True," Neely Kate said. "She might not, especially if you're super weird about it."

"All I can do is try," I said, then turned to Dermot. "What do you think? You've been suspiciously quiet about my plan to talk to Darlene."

He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin before shifting his gaze to Jed. "I'm gonna have to agree with Rose on this one. The risk is minimal if Darlene agrees to meet her in public, and we could learn some valuable information. Perhaps keep anyone else from gettin' murdered."

Jed grumbled under his breath, then said, "Fine. But Neely Kate's not goin'."

"Why not?" she protested.

"Someone has to watch the kids," he grunted, then turned his attention back to me. "When's Joe gonna be home tonight?"

"I have no idea. I haven't talked to him all day."

"Well, it might not work out today anyway," Jed said. "It's nearly six. Unless she doesn't have a social life and likes to grocery shop on Saturday night."

Crap. He had a point.

"I could ask her to meet me tomorrow," I said. "I really do need to go grocery shopping. If Joe's home, I'll just leave him with the kids."

"And then I can go too," Neely Kate said.

Jed shot her a dark look.

"We still need to figure out how to contact her," Dermot said.

"I already got her contact info," Neely Kate piped up.

"What?" I asked in shock. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

She shot Jed a look, then made a face at me.

"How did you get her information?" Jed asked.

Neely Kate propped her hands on her hips. "At Dena's. I saw her head to the restroom at Dena's while Rose was waiting on our order, so I followed her." She tilted her head toward Jed. "So can we go meet with her now ?"

"No," Jed grunted.

Neely Kate grumbled as she opened her phone and texted me the contact information.

"Will she think it's weird that I'm contacting her when you're the one who convinced her to give you the information?" I asked.

Neely Kate shook her head. "I think it's fine as long as you don't give it to Joe or one of the other deputies."

"How'd you get her to give you her number anyway?" I asked.

Her cheeks flushed, and she gave me a sheepish look. "I told her we used to investigate crimes, and if the sheriff's department didn't find out what happened to her brother, then we might be able to help her. And I may have mentioned that you knew what you were doing because you'd helped bring down the Hardshaw Group. In fact, I'm surprised she hasn't reached out to us yet."

I could have admonished her for putting us out there like that, but it would probably be hypocritical since we seemed to be doing the very thing she'd told Darlene we used to do.

"I'm going to text her," I said. "If she doesn't respond, then maybe Neely Kate can call. I'm presuming you gave her your number?"

"I gave her a business card with both our numbers."

"A landscaping card or one of those sparkly cards you used to carry around in your purse?" Jed asked with a hard edge to his voice.

Before we'd had kids and gotten married, Neely Kate had wanted us to open a private investigation firm together. She'd wanted to call it Sparkle Investigations and had even ordered business cards. I'd nixed the name, but I'd been open to becoming PIs. We'd even worked some cases with a grumpy PI as our mentor.

Funny how things had changed so quickly soon after that.

"A landscaping business card," she said, her chin lifted high. "If you must know."

I picked up my phone, entered her number, and composed a text.

Darlene, this is Rose Gardner. Neely Kate gave me your contact information. I'd like to talk to you about your brother. Neely Kate and I are looking into a possible connection between your brother and the latest murder victim. Would you be able to meet me somewhere public, like a restaurant or the grocery store?

I pressed send, then set the phone on the table like it was covered in a deadly virus. My gut told me I needed to talk to her, but it still felt like sneaking behind Joe's back. "Now we wait."

Except we didn't have to wait long. She texted back within seconds.

Are you gonna tell your husband? Neely Kate said if I talked to y'all it would be confidential, but…

I glanced up at Neely Kate and read the text to everyone. She moved behind me and stared down at my phone as I answered.

I won't tell him if you don't want me to, but I promise he'll be understanding

She responded immediately.

You have to keep it to yourselves

I was slightly ashamed of how quickly I typed and sent: Okay

She didn't respond for nearly half a minute, and I thought she'd decided it wasn't worth the risk, but then a text popped up on my screen.

Just tell me when you can meet me and where

Then she sent: Neely Kate has to be there too, or no deal

Neely Kate let out a grunt of triumph as I looked up at Jed. "She says Neely Kate has to be there, or she's not meeting me."

Jed narrowed his eyes at his wife. "What did you two do?"

"Not a dog-gone thing," she snapped. "And look how hypocritical you're bein'. You'd let Rose go but not me?"

He started to say something, then wisely clamped his mouth shut. He seemed to be doing a lot of that lately.

"When's the meetup?" Dermot asked.

I texted: When and where?

I need some milk and bread, so tomorrow at the Piggly Wiggly at 2. But if I see any sign of your husband the sheriff or any other police officer, I ain't saying a word

My heart sunk as I sent: My husband and his coworkers will be clueless. I promise

I hated that I meant it.