Page 82 of The Secret of Emerald Cottage

“Sloan!” Molly hurried over to give him and Chase a hug before standing back with a crimp in her brow. “Did you find him? How is Pete?”

“Let’s talk,” he said quietly, motioning his head toward the table where Miss Lilly still sat, turned their way in expectation.

“Do you want coffee?” Molly asked. “I can make a fresh pot.”

Sloan offered a tired smile. “No, Chase and I just finished a pot at his place, but thanks for the offer.”

“What’s wrong?” Aunt Lilly whispered, peering at Chase as he took the seat beside her.

Sucking in a deep draw of air, Chase exchanged looks with Sloan before he took her hand in his. “Pete’s dead, Miss Lilly.”

Both Molly and Miss Lilly gasped at the same time, the shock on their faces in league with Brec’s own.

“Apparent suicide,” he continued, voice gentle as he remained holding her hand, “carbon monoxide poisoning. The police found him in his car in the garage with a note.” His thumb gently grazed Aunt Lilly’s knuckles as a muscle convulsed in his throat. “A note where he confessed to the accidental murder of Greg Schulte.”

“Sweet Mother of mercy,” Aunt Lilly said. Bowing her head, she closed her eyes, lips moving silently as if uttering a prayer.

“Did you find his nephew?” Brec asked quietly, his concern for Molly’s safety foremost on his mind.

Sloan glanced over, his weary gaze void of any of the hostility Brec had expected to see. “No. He was gone when my men arrived, so we have an APB out on him. But Molly wounded him with a shot, so I can’t imagine he can get far without medical help. We’ll find him.”

Squaring her shoulders, Aunt Lilly looked up, her jaw as tight as Brec’s suddenly felt. “What did the note say?”

Sloan idly massaged his temple as if he had a headache and for the first time, Brec felt his respect for the man and the job that he did, begin to rise. “That he had terminal cancer and wanted to get some things off his chest before he ended it altogether. Claimed he, Roy, and Greg got involved with drug trafficking when Greg was in college, but when Greg found out it was Mafia-related, he wanted out and threatened to go to the police. They got into a fight where Pete punched Greg so hard, he accidentally hit his head on a rock, killing him in a freak accident. Pete said that he and Roy panicked and covered it up by dumping Greg’s body in the lake, weighting it down with cement blocks.” He paused to scan the table with a sober look. “Wrapped him in a tarp, but forgot the rope to secure the blocks when they were out on the lake, so they panicked and used their belts and Greg’s instead.”

He homed in on Aunt Lilly. “According to Pete’s note, they’d been drug trafficking all these years along with his nephew, Harley, who found out about Uncle Hal’s coin collection from Roy, so he was the one who ransacked your house, Miss Lilly.”

Chase massaged Aunt Lilly’s shoulder with a tenderness Brec now appreciated, grateful that this man—who was now becoming a good friend to Brec as well—had been there for his aunt all these years. “Harley was also the one who murdered Roy and burned down his house according to Pete’s confession, because Roy wanted out.”

“Oh, sweet Lord of Glory, have mercy on their souls,” Aunt Lilly whispered, absently patting Chase’s hand on her shoulder.

Sloan turned to Molly with that same hint of affection Brec always saw in his eyes, only this time it didn’t provoke as much jealousy. Brec reflected on what had happened before Miss Lilly came home, gaze softening as it settled on the woman he loved. And who was well on her way to loving him back, he hoped, if their prior conversation—and first sanctioned kiss—in the kitchen earlier was any indication. And Brec certainly planned to employ his newly found habit of prayer to make bloomin’ sure.

“Does Pastor Dave know?” Molly asked, grooves of concern fanning from the sides of her eyes. “I know he and Pete were close.”

“Yeah, he knows.” Expelling a lengthy breath, Chase kneaded his temple, appearing as exhausted as Sloan, but then Brec wasn’t surprised. He’d quickly come to realize what a caring person Chase was, actually strengthening Brec’s faith without ever knowing it. And he and Sloan were close, Brec knew, “tight as ticks,” as Aunt Lilly liked to say.

Chase rolled his shoulders as if working out the kinks. “He insisted on arranging the funeral service on his own because he needs to stay busy, he said. Plans on a memorial at Hope Church with a small luncheon at the rectory after.”

“Well, we’ll just see about that,” Aunt Lilly said in a huff, sparks suddenly replacing the fatigue in her eyes. “He can ‘stay busy’ helping me here while I give the luncheon.”

Chase offered a tired smile. “I’ll let you tell him that, all right?” Glancing at his watch, he rose and gave Aunt Lilly’s shoulder a gentle press. “Gotta go. It’s bath night at the Griffin household, and after wrestling with both twins, Cat tends to get a little cranky. ’Night, all.” He gave a backhanded wave on his way to the door.

“I need to head out too.” Sloan stood from his chair as well, offering Molly a somber smile. “As soon as we have any info on Harley’s whereabouts, I’ll let you know, Molly. Till then, do me a favor and don’t go anywhere by yourself, all right?”

“She won’t,” Brec answered for her, both his tone and his expression no-nonsense.

“Good.” Sloan pushed in his chair, his demeanor softening as always when he looked at Molly. “Because if you did, young lady, I guarantee that my “cranky” would win over Cat’s any day, understood? Good night, everyone.” Offering Molly a tired smile, he nodded toward the front door. “Walk me out?”

“Sure thing.” Molly popped up, darting a quick glance at Brec before she followed Sloan outside, the click of the front door causing Brec’s mouth to clamp into a scowl. Because just thinking about Kennedy being alone with Molly? A nerve pulsed in his jaw. He was pretty bloomin’ sure his “cranky” would definitely take the prize.