Page 36 of Promise Keeper

"I can't say for sure," Ben said. "I'll have to talk about it with Reins, and the Franklin County police have been involved. I'll do my best to see that you're treated fairly."

"That's all I can expect," Soapy said. "I hope you folks don't think too poorly of me after this."

"Not at all," I said. "You came forward and did the right thing. It might have been a few days delayed, but it was a tricky situation and everyone makes mistakes sometimes."

Ben nodded in agreement. "Like Cam said, what's important is that you came forward."

Monica nodded along with us as well.

Soapy let out a huge breath. "Feels like a hundred pounds off my shoulders." He stood up. "Thank you all for your kindness. I'll get out of your hair and let you get back to your day." He stopped abruptly and looked at Ben. "Unless I'm under arrest and can't leave?"

Ben stood and clapped him on the shoulder. "No, you aren't under arrest."

"Theresa would have my hide if she had to run that shop alone," he said.

"People in this town would help her if it ever came to that," Ben said, sending a jolt through me. What did he mean if it came to that?

Ben saw Soapy out and came back to the table shaking his head. "This isn't good."

"What do you mean?" I asked. "We just eliminated a suspect."

"No, we just got a confession that one was involved. Soapy is the only person we can directly link to those bones."

"So he's still a person of interest?" I couldn't believe it.

"Cam, he's the main person of interest. They might want to see if they can issue a warrant for his arrest."

"Oh, good gravy! That's not fair. He came to clear his name, not put a target on his own back."

"I'm sorry, but that's the way the law works."

"If that's justice then it's all upside down and catawampus!"

"Justice is determined by the court, not the police."

"Well, do you want to arrest me for finding them in the attic? Maybe arrest yourself too, since you live here. Maybe throw in Monica for good measure? Cuff all of us!"

"Cam..."

"I'm going for a walk. Liam! Walk!"

I hooked on his leash, grabbed my handbag, and scuttled out the back door with Monica on my heels. "I'm sorry," I told her. "I had to get out of there. My mouth was running unfiltered."

"I know. I don't know how I managed to keep mine shut."

I groaned. "I know he's only doing his job, but sometimes it seems like he's on the opposite side from the rest of us. You can't tell me he thinks Soapy had those bones all along, hiding them in his shed. And what is he going to be charged with? Hiding a skeleton for a hundred years? Nobody even knows who that man is, let alone what happened to him that long ago."

"This just means we need to find out and fast. Get the troops on the phone. Logan and Anna should be out of school soon. Let's meet at the church since the raccoons are gone."

"Good idea. I'm glad you're thinking straight since I'm not." I dug in my purse for my phone, dredging up a little velvet box for jewelry that I kept safety pins in, a cracked outlet cover that I needed a replacement for in the bathroom, and a box of staples. "Where is that phone?"

"Here, use mine," Monica said. "I have their numbers in my contact list."

I took her phone and called in the troops. We needed to find out everything we could about the bones, especially who had them first or Soapy could end up behind bars.

16

"Iknew Soapy didn't do nothing detritus," Roy said, frowning.

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