Page 32 of The Secret of Emerald Cottage

“He’s under the weather,” Pastor Pritchett said, his gaze following Alan’s to where Roy’s house apparently sat across the lake. “He hasn’t been himself lately, which I will admit, has me worried.”

Alan grunted as he reclaimed his chair next to his wife. “He hasn’t been himself with me for years now, no matter how hard I try to make amends, but I refuse to give up.” He gave his wife’s shoulder a light press. “Marla and I will just have to drop by to see him before we head home.” He suddenly turned his attention back to Aunt Lilly with a scrunch of his nose. “But I sure do feel badly about all the real doubloons we lost for Uncle Hal.” He peered up in a squint. “Did he ever find any of his real coins and doubloons?”

Miss Lilly shook her head, her smile almost sad. “Not many as I recall, but it’s no wonder with a sewing chest at the bottom of the lake and some buried in the garden. But at least it taught him a valuable lesson, along with you boys, when he learned to hide his collection away and leave the fake doubloons in the drawer.”

Alan stared into the fire. “That’s a real shame, Miss Lilly, especially since Uncle Hal nurtured a love of coin collecting in Blaine and me, making collectors out of us both.” He glanced up, as if a thought had just occurred to him. “You know, I’d be real happy to take a look at those loose coins from your coffee can before we leave if you need me to, just to see if they’re real or not.”

Chuckling, Miss Lilly waved him off. “Thank you kindly, Alan, but not necessary, son, because I plan to tackle it myself. I’ve been a-wantin’ to go through Harold’s office real thorough for a long time, and now that I’m feeling better and have some moral support”—she patted Brec’s arm with a smile before turning to do the same with Molly—“it’s my next project. Then I’ll have Harold’s appraiser over for a look and a long overdue lunch.”

Alan blinked, the smile fading from his face as concern etched deep in his features. “Miss Lilly, surely you’re not saying you keep Uncle Hal’s collection in the house, are you? I mean, you do have it in a safe-deposit box at the bank, correct?”

She dismissed the notion with a flop of her hand. “Oh, I couldn’t put Hal’s beloved collection in a cold steel box, Alan, but don’t you worry none, because it’s a-restin’ safe and sound in a real secure place.”

“Well, thank God for that,” the judge said, visibly relaxing as he released a long sigh of relief, “but I can’t help but think a safe-deposit box might be the safest course, ma’am”—his gaze flicked to Sloan—“don’t you think so, Detective, given the trouble she’s had?”

Sloan glanced up and gave a nod, causing Alan to turn back and flash Aunt Lilly a little-boy smile that Brec suspected he’d used many a time over the years with his aunt. “Because as I’ve told you many times before, Miss Lilly, that I’m still mighty interested in buying his collection if and when you’re ever of a mind to sell it.”

“Oh, heavens no.” She offered Alan a smile before she turned to give Brec’s arm another pat. “Like I’ve told you in the past, Alan, that collection is a piece of both Harold and our family, and although Brec here doesn’t fancy coins as much as his father, the collection will be his nonetheless when I go home to my reward. But, after that?” She reached up to gently caress Brec’s cheek, the tenderness in her eyes taking him back to all the love she’d given him as a boy, “he can do with it whatever he likes, so don’t go losing hope.” Drawing in a deep breath, she sank back into her chair with a satisfied smile, hands folded on her chest. “Because you may just get that collection yet.”

“Miss Lilly!” Molly turned to face her in a playful scold, hooking her shoulders to give her a side hug. “No talk of your great reward tonight because we want you around for a good long time, missy, you hear? Besides,” she said, sending a wink Brec’s way, “it’s getting late, and I believe there’s another ‘great reward’ waiting at home that L’il Pelé made just for you.”

“Is there now?” Miss Lilly chuckled as she attempted to get up from her chair, allowing Brec to assist her. “Then we best get a move on, because I snuck a peek in the fridge, and I’m a-droolin’ already. Sorry to leave, folks, but it’s been a truly lovely time, and I thank you all kindly.”

Hey, what the …?” Chase bolted up from his chair, almost knocking it over.

Whirling around, Brec did the same. His stomach dropped when he followed Chase’s line of sight to the other side of the lake where billows of angry smoke boiled into the air. The stench of destruction rose, defiling the night as everyone gasped.

Fire!