Page 40 of The Jade Stone Sleuth

“How dare you?” Pamela screamed at him. “You fell for her! How could you?”

Brex felt compassion for this mother, but it didn’t change the truth or how angelic Clara was.

“I will be speaking to Aiden Porter about this,” Rulon threatened.

“You have every right to do that. I’ve consulted throughout the case with him and Nick Jacobs, and they agree with me.”

Aiden would back Brex up.

Pamela’s screams muted and Rulon growled into the phone. “You’re willing to give up a million dollars for that woman?”

How they’d guessed he’d fallen for Clara he couldn’t be sure, but the entire valley had bought that they were together.

A million dollars. It would’ve ripped him apart to lose it … before he fell in love with Clara.

“Clara Gem is innocent. That is irrefutable. I hope you and your wife can find peace and move past your son’s death.”

“Don’t you dare tell me how to move past my son’s death!” Rulon yelled. “You’re finished. And I’ll find a way to finish Aiden Porter as well!”

The line went dead.

Brex hated the way that conversation had gone but hadn’t expected much better. He’d had ugly conversations plenty of times in his years as a detective. He’d warn Nick and Aiden that the Hendrys would most likely try to press lawsuits or defame them, but he knew he had his boss’s support.

Now he was free of any association with the Hendrys, any guilt, and he’d given up a million dollars to prove, at least in his mind, that Clara meant everything to him.

He had to tell Clara the truth. Only two days before they’d go their separate ways. He had to find the perfect moment. If only he could pray that she’d forgive him, but he didn’t have any faith that God would help him. He’d been too distant.

He thought of a story his grandpa had told him of an old cowboy caught in a blizzard with a dead truck battery, prayingfor God to start the engine. When the cowboy got to heaven, God explained he’d started a truck’s engine in Montana instead of North Dakota in a case of mistaken identity. He’d been confused that the old cowboy had prayed when he hadn’t spoken to God in fifty years.

That was Brex. He’d let himself become distant from God because of Alayna’s rejection and had grown away from the faith of his youth. He’d never denied it or gotten bitter like he’d seen some do, but the darkness he’d seen throughout his years on the police force had taken its toll on him and he’d become selfish and status-driven.

Clara. She was light and joy and everything heaven above would want her to be. What if the good Lord above didn’t want an angel like her with a lying man like him?

He closed his eyes and prayed. “Please, Father. If you can, help Clara not to hate me. Most of all, help her to be happy and to stay genuine and filled with light and Your love. Help me not to hurt her. Amen.”

It was lame as far as prayers went, but he felt good. The conversation with Nick. The closure with the Hendrys. Rising above the lure of the money and the shallow goals that had motivated him for years. Attempting to pray.

Clara was genuinely good. If anyone could forgive him for deceiving them, it was her.

Brex would tell her the truth.

He might be ending all happiness in his life, but he couldn’t be fake anymore.

No matter what, he couldn’t go back to the shallow life he’d led before.

Chapter

Thirteen

Clara noticedthat Brex seemed brighter and happier than she’d ever seen him. He was dressed casually for her farewell barbecue in her parents’ backyard with most of her family and many friends from church and the community. He still looked incredibly handsome in a T-shirt and joggers, and his clothing still probably cost more than anybody else’s, but he wasn’t as decked out as usual. Interesting.

Was he happy they were parting ways? No. He seemed more invested in her than ever and didn’t leave her side or hardly look away from her face all evening. He didn’t even shake his wrist and look at his watch.

It was as if a burden had been lifted. She was anxious to get him alone and hoped he would share what had changed. He also kept trying to get her alone, but it never happened with the crowd inside and outside her parents’ house.

When she walked him to the front door to say goodbye, his dark eyes grew intense. “Clara … I need to tell you something.”

“Okay.” Anticipation filled her. What if he’d made arrangements to come to Angola with her? What if this wasgoodbye? His job here was done and he didn’t know when he’d return?

---