Page 119 of A Secret to Die For

“Five minutes ago, the cops took EJ away in handcuffs.”

“What? I mean, why? Colt and Luca arrested him?” I asked, just to make sure.

“Not them. The state police. Homicide was mentioned, which is quite ironic because he keeps saying how much he misses Marianna. Maybe they could share a cell?”

Garrett was watching me now. “You okay?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know. Parker, you’re gonna have to start from the beginning.”

“Sure, I would if I knew what that was. The cops knocked on the door just after six, I showed them through to EJ’s room because I’m a helpful, law-abiding citizen, and they read him his rights. Do you think I should call a lawyer? I’d happily let him rot in jail, but appearances…”

Homicide? My brain was still catching up. And I agreed with Parker—after hearing from Eryk what EJ had done to my dad, how he’d driven him from Baldwin’s Shore, I wanted him to stay in jail for as long as possible. I’d been wrong. Parker did give gifts after all, so many gifts.

“Could you call a really bad lawyer?”

Parker gave a rare chuckle. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“And I’ll call Luca. Maybe he’s heard something about the arrest. Oh, wait—he’s actually calling me. I’ll get back to you, okay?”

“Who got arrested?” Garrett asked as I juggled calls.

“EJ. Shh. Hey, Luca.”

Garrett waved down a passing waiter and asked for a bottle of champagne with two glasses. A knot of tension tightened in my stomach because what was this about?

“How’s France?” Luca asked.

“It’s wonderful. We went to the Moulin Rouge last night.”

“Is that the thing with the windmill and the strippers?”

“The dancers are only topless, and it’s very tasteful.” But who cared at this moment? “Is it true? Did EJ get arrested?”

Luca barked out a laugh. “The state police let us know ‘as a courtesy’ after they took him away.”

“What did he do?”

“Therein lies the question.” Luca blew out a long breath. “They arrested him for arranging the murder of your parents.”

All the air whooshed out of my lungs. “What?”

I was saying that a lot today.

“A week ago, a man walked into a police station in Roseburg and confessed to running your parents off the road sixteen and a half years ago. Said he’d recently found God, and he needed to get his sins off his chest. He claims EJ hired him for the job. Apparently, suspicions were raised at the time regarding EJ’s involvement, but nobody followed up until now.”

“And the man was…”

“Seth Harless,” Luca finished. “They’re both in jail.”

“Oh my gosh.”

“Harless claimed EJ and your dad had a fight a couple of weeks before the accident. Is that true?”

“Yes, at Grandpa’s birthday party, but…but…”

“The Bad Samaritan moves in mysterious ways,” Luca said. “I need to go, but I expect you’ll get a call from the state police soon. I gave them your number.”

Holy smokes.

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