Page 133 of Trouble Comes in Threes

“The package.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“What package?” Bruce Wayne asked in surprise.

“The kid who showed up at the job site saw someone murdered over a package,” I said, realizing Austin had told us about the package in the truck—out of Bruce Wayne’s earshot. “If they found out Austin came to someone at RBW Landscaping, maybe they think we have it.”

“Shit,” Bruce Wayne said.

“Agreed,” Neely Kate said, looking pale.

“Do you know what this package is that they’re lookin’ for?” Bruce Wayne asked.

“I’m not entirely sure what it is,” I said, which was true, but I suspected the envelope in my purse was part of it.

“What about that box you dug up?” Bruce Wayne asked.

“No,” I said. “I don’t see how it could be that.” I told him what we’d found.

“You’re right,” he said. “That doesn’t make sense.”

My mind was racing. “I need to call Joe.”

“The sheriff’s department is here,” Bruce Wayne said. “But I haven’t seen Joe.”

“We should go down there,” Neely Kate said.

“We can’t take the kids,” I said. “And I don’t feel right leaving them with Witt.” I took a breath. “Neely Kate, why don’t you go down and take a look, and I’ll stay here with the kids.”

“Are you sure?” she asked in surprise.

“Yeah. You can check to see if anything’s missing, and I’ll call Joe. I’ll have him meet you there.”

Uncertainty filled her eyes, but I put a hand on her arm for reassurance. “I have no interest in seeing our office torn apart right now. With everything else goin’ on, it would be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. You know?” I asked as tears stung my eyes. “You go, and let me know what you find.”

She grabbed her purse, then found Daisy in the living room and told her she’d be staying with me and Witt while Momma went to check on something in her office. Daisy was too busy building Legos with her cousins to be upset.

Neely Kate gave me one last look, then headed out the door.

Witt moved close to me and said under his breath. “What’s goin’ on?”

“Someone broke into our office.”

He looked startled. “What?”

“Bruce Wayne got notice that the alarm went off, so he went to check it out. He said the place was trashed, but it didn’t look like they stole anything. She went to see if she could figure out if anything was missing.”

His brow lifted. “What do you think they were lookin’ for?”

“I’m not sure,” I said, not willing to get into it. “I’m gonna go out to the front porch and call Joe.”

He nodded. “Go. I’ve got the kids.”

I headed out the door and sat on the porch swing as I pulled up Joe’s name on my phone and placed the call. It rang several times before he answered.

“It’s not a good time, Rose. Can I call you back?”

“Sure, but I wanted to let you know that someone broke into the landscaping office. Bruce Wayne is there with a few sheriff’s deputies, and Neely Kate went to see if anything’s missing. Bruce Wayne says the computers are still there. The place just looks trashed.”

---