Page 146 of Trouble Comes in Threes

“Was Sloan lookin’ for the paper Darlene gave Rose?” Neely Kate asked.

“Joe thinks so,” Jed said. “He thinks the name on the paper has something to do with the dealer who roped the two guys in, and Jeremiah’s friends said he’d recently started selling pot, so we think that’s how he ties into this. Sloan was wanting revenge, and he wanted to eliminate the source of his competition. Only the men he murdered didn’t know enough to help Sloan find the guy.”

“Why did they call the paper a package?”

“Because the paper was only one part of what he was lookin’ for. Harvey took the paper with the name and bank number, and Noah took a paper with the supplier’s sources. Hugo had a third part that I can’t tell you about, but he said he and the other two guys took them from the dealer’s motel room after he started getting pissed at them. They thought they could use it as leverage.”

“Sounds like it just got them killed,” Witt said.

“Maybe, maybe not,” Jed said. “Joe’s hopin’ to get Ballister to rat Sloan out to protect himself, so hopefully we’ll find out how Jeremiah plays into this.”

“So that means it’s over?” Neely Kate asked in a hopeful tone.

“As soon as those two guys are in jail, y’all are free to come home.” He paused. “You can even make your doctor’s appointment tomorrow morning if you leave early enough.”

Relief washed over Neely Kate’s face, chased by worry.

“And Ashley can go to school,” I said, hoping to change the subject in case Neely Kate was considering canceling. “I think she’s worried she’s going to fall behind.”

“Like that could ever happen,” Neely Kate said with a wave of her hand.

“Joe was heading out to make the arrests,” Jed continued, “so I don’t see why not. He’s had eyes on Sloan for the past few hours while he was securing the search and arrest warrants. I’m sure he’ll call you when he thinks it’s safe.”

“That’s great news,” Witt said. “Do you want me to drive with the girls and the kids tomorrow, or leave earlier to open the shop?”

“They should be fine goin’ on their own,” Jed said, “but I’ll let you know if I hear otherwise.”

I blew out a sigh of relief. My kids would be safe. The danger had passed.

“Is there anything else you need Rose and Witt to know?” Neely Kate asked. “Because if not, I’m going to take you off speaker and head to the front porch so we can talk privately.”

“That’s all,” Jed said. “Other than thank you, Witt. I owe you for protectin’ my family.”

“Neely Kate’s like a sister to me, and Daisy…” His voice broke, and he cleared his throat. “I would never let anything happen to them.” He nodded to me. “Rose and her kids too.”

“I know. There are very few people I’d trust with them. Just you and Joe. That’s it.”

Their exchange made me think of James. At one time, Jed would have trusted James with his family, but that had changed years ago, and I couldn’t help thinking about how much James had lost. His lifelong friendship with Jed. His daughter. And, for a while, his freedom. As far as I knew, he was alone, and I couldn’t help feeling sad for him. There was a part of him that wanted to be loved and needed, even if he refused to admit it to anyone. Despite everything that had happened, I hoped he would find that again someday.

“What about Dermot?” I asked, but Neely Kate had already taken him off speaker and was headed out the front door.

Witt sank back into the sofa cushions, relief washing over his face. “That’s all good news.”

“The best.” But while my kids were safe, the sister I hadn’t known I had might not be, and I had no idea what to do about it.

“As long as we get the all-clear before dawn, I’ll take off early and probably won’t be here when you get up,” Witt said. “I need to go home and get a uniform before I open the shop at seven.”

“Don’t worry about us.” I gave him a warm smile. “We’ll be fine. Thank you for taking the day off to stand guard.”

“Are you kiddin’? I had the best day,” he said with a huge grin. “Your uncle was showing us everything about the farm. I think he wishes he had someone to pass it on to.”

“I suppose we could keep it for Mikey or Ashley if they’re interested in it one day,” I said, my mind racing. “Uncle Albert did the same for my farm until I found out my birth mother had bequeathed it to me.” I shook my head. “But what are we talkin’ about? Uncle Albert’s got years left in him.”

“Maybe so, but he told me he’s gettin’ too old to run the farm on his own.” But something in his gaze suggested there was more to it.

I cocked my head. “What aren’t you sayin’, Witt Rivers?”

“Uncle Albert asked if I’d be interested in taking over the farm.” He held up his hands. “He’s not giving it to me, so don’t go worrying about that. I’d just run it for him, and if I love it, then he says he’ll sell me part of it so I can have a farm of my own.”

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