Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

I hung up and went back into the kitchen. The kids were sitting around the table, eating yogurt, and each of them had one of the cookies we'd made the day before. They wanted to save the cupcakes so they could show Joe. Neely Kate got up from the table and met me by the entrance, lowering her voice so the kids couldn't overhear us. "Everything okay? Did Joe say when he'd be home?"

"He's still not sure," I said, watching Liam smear his yogurt on his tray like he was finger painting. It was also all over his face and partially in his hair. "I told him we were just fine and not to worry about us. He's going to have Randy go talk to Darlene."

"You told him to do that?" Neely Kate asked in surprise.

I made a face and turned to look at her. "I may have pointed out that we talked to her, and she mentioned no one from the sheriff's department had given her a proper interview."

Neely Kate frowned. "It's still going to look suspicious."

"There's nothing to be done about it, and I don't regret telling him. He would have figured it out on his own, but it may have taken another day or so. I told him to send someone kind and understanding because the first guy was an asshat, so he's sending Randy. Hopefully, he'll get something Joe can use."

"While Dermot's working off what she told you? What if they cross paths?"

"Dermot will be just fine." I had no doubts about that.

When the kids finished their snacks, I pulled Liam from his highchair and took him upstairs for another bath. Neely Kate kindly offered to clean up the mess, while Witt took the other kids outside again to keep them entertained until dinner.

After I got Liam bathed and dressed, I headed back downstairs to figure out what to make for dinner. I had spaghetti and jar sauce and some frozen meatballs and broccoli. Spaghetti it was again…even though I'd just given Liam a bath.

After I had dinner made, we'd just sat down to eat when my phone rang. Dermot's name popped up on the screen.

"It's Dermot," I said to Neely Kate as I got up from my chair. "I'm going to take this in the living room. Have you heard anything from Jed yet?"

Worry covered her face. "No."

I headed out of the room as I answered. "Hey, Dermot. Got any news?"

"Hugo Dempsey is alive and well."

I stopped in my tracks. "Wait. What? "

"I talked to the man myself just a few minutes ago. He isn't the third murdered man."

"So who is?"

"Hell if I know, but it's not Hugo. However, I did find out the identity of the man who recruited Hugo and his two friends. Hugo only knows him as Kramer. Don't know if it's a first name or a last. Supposedly, he's been staying at some residential hotel down in Sugar Branch. I'm about to go find him now."

"Did Hugo mention anyone else selling with them?"

"Nope. Just the three of them."

"But this Kramer could have recruited someone from somewhere else, right?"

"Very true, but it all seems kind of odd. He's gonna have a devil of a time gettin' anyone to work for him if he's murderin' his hired help this early in the game."

He wasn't saying anything I hadn't thought of myself.

"So you don't think Kramer killed them?"

"My money's on Sloan, although that's pretty stupid too, and it doesn't account for the third murder. But if he's trying to send a message, Hugo Dempsey heard it loud and clear. He's been in hiding since he found out his buddies were dead."

"So do you plan to talk to Sloan next?"

"After I track down Kramer. He may not have killed those men, but I want to know where he came from and why he chose this county. He needs to know he's stompin' on my turf, and if he's plannin' on stayin', he needs to pay his dues like everyone else."

"Do you think he's with Hardshaw?"

"No. I think Hardshaw's six feet under, but it doesn't mean some other cartel might not be trying to move in. There's plenty to go around."

My stomach sank. "How would they know about the Lady in Black?"

"She's a legend, Rose. People talk."

"Three years later?"

"If a new cartel is moving in, and they know Hardshaw met its end here, it would be prudent to know who or what helped lead to their downfall."

My panic started to rise. "I didn't bring them down, Dermot."

"But you did inadvertently." He paused. "I take it your husband's not home yet."

"You think I'm in danger?"

"I didn't when I thought this was all Sloan, but now…"

"You are?" I pressed.

"I'm gonna send Jed to stay with you."

"Dermot, one more thing." I hesitated, feeling like I was betraying Joe's trust, but his concern over my well-being assured me I could trust him. "Joe's sending a deputy to talk to Darlene. The deputy he's sending is a really nice, caring guy."

"You think I'd be stupid enough to do something to a sheriff's deputy?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Of course not," I assured him. "I'm just saying there's a good chance she'll open up to him and tell him everything she told me. If that happens, you two might cross paths."

He paused. "Thanks for the info."

"You're welcome."

I hung up and went back into the kitchen, Neely Kate's gaze tracking me as I entered the room and took my seat. Everyone was still sitting at the table, eating their dinner. Liam was already covered in spaghetti sauce, and based on the sauce smeared on the floor, half his food had dropped there—where Muffy was sitting in wait.

"Jed's coming over soon," I said, picking up my fork.

"Uncle Jed's comin' to see us?" Hope asked, sounding excited.

"Hey!" Witt protested. "What am I? Chopped liver?"

"What's chopped liver?" Mikey asked, his face scrunched up.

"Something disgusting," Ashley said.

Hope's eyes widened. "I don't think youwa disgustin', Uncle Witt."

"Well, thank you, Hopey," he said with a laugh.

I turned to Neely Kate and said, "Dermot had a chat with Hugo Dempsey."

Her eyes grew round as she realized what that meant. "You're kiddin'."

"Nope, and Hugo gave Dermot the name of his new friend. Dermot's gonna pay him a visit."

"That's good news," she said, looking cautious. "But he's still sending Jed to come hang out with us?"

"Yeah."

I expected Witt to protest that he was all the muscle we needed, but instead he engaged the kids in playful banter during the rest of dinner.

After we finished eating, Witt took the kids into the living room while Neely Kate and I cleaned up. Now that little ears weren't around, I told her more about Dermot's call. It had been nearly forty-five minutes since I'd talked to him, and the fact Jed wasn't here yet had us both worried. Even if Jed had been at the bottom of the county by the Louisiana border, he still should have been here by now. I was about to suggest she call to check on him, but my own phone rang. I was surprised to see Bruce Wayne's name on the screen.

"Neely Kate's here with me," I said when I answered. "I put you on speaker."

"Good," he said, sounding tense. "I'm glad you're both there. I got a notification that the alarm went off in the landscaping office, so I went to check it out." He paused. "Someone broke in and trashed the place. They didn't take the computers or anything of worth, but it's obvious they were lookin' for something. I just don't know what."

I gasped and stared at Neely Kate.

There was only one thing I could think of that they'd be looking for.

Neely Kate and I said it at the same time.

"The package."