Page 126 of Trouble Comes in Threes

“Could be, but it’s strange they’d call it a package.”

“Agreed.” Mikey and Ashley started kicking a soccer ball around, while Hope sat on the bottom porch step with Muffy.

“Where is it now?”

“Darlene gave it to me. She said she didn’t want it.”

“Can you take a photo of it and text me?”

“Sure. I’ll do it as soon as we get off this call.”

“Great. For now, just hang on to it.”

“Okay.” Hope let out a squeal as Muffy licked her face. “Do you think the outsider who convinced Harvey and the others to sell his drugs could have killed them?”

“Sloan seems likelier, but I’m not ruling out the new dealer. And Sloan’s been around long enough to know about the Lady in Black, so his guys could have been in your vision of Austin being hunted down in the woods.”

A chill ran down my back. “How dangerous is this guy?”

“Dangerous enough that I’m checking him out as soon as we get off this call.” He took a breath. “Where are you now?”

“At the farm.”

“If Sloan’s behind this, you’re safe. He’s under my control, and I’ll make sure he knows you’re off limits, so I’m pulling my guys off you.”

“You’re sure it was Sloan?”

“I’d feel better if Jed or your husband were there, just in case I’m wrong, but I need those men for another job.”

“Jed’s not here, but Neely Kate is on her way. Between the two of us, I think we’ll be okay,” I said. “We can hold our own.”

“You’ve done it more times than I probably even know about. I’m gonna go have a chat with Derby Sloan and see where he stands. I’ll be in contact.”

“Thanks, Dermot.”

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat, then asked, “What do you plan to tell your husband?”

My head began to pound. “This seems too big to keep from him, but the only way I can get these people to talk is if I promise not to tell Joe and his staff.”

“Which puts you between a rock and a hard place.”

“Yeah. I take it Austin hasn’t changed his mind about talking to me?”

“Nope.”

“Have you convinced him not to talk to me?” I asked bluntly.

Silence hung over the line for a moment before he said, “While I haven’t discouraged him from taking the call, I haven’t encouraged him either. You’ve done your part to protect him. The rest should be up to me.”

That ticked me off, but I kept my temper under control to ask my next question. “I also take it you haven’t found out anything about the man or woman from my vision? Scott said he’d never seen either one of them, and he doesn’t know a Selena.”

“I haven’t found out anything either. I’ll be sure to let you know when I do.”

“Will you?” I countered.

“It sounds like your life may be on the line,” he grunted, “even if you’re not the woman in the vision, so you can bet your ass I’ll let you know what I find.”

My heart softened a little. “Thanks, Dermot.”

---