Saving Shadows

by Kathleen Brooks

Tinsley and Ellery screamed and then hands pulled them inside. “What in Sam Hill is going on out there?” Miss Ruby asked.

  “A man tried to kidnap Ellery in the bathroom at the bar, and we were running to the sheriff but then this woman hit Ellery with her car and shot at us,” Tinsley said in a rush as Miss Winnie dragged a chair over to the door and precariously stood up in it. “She’s halfway across the street,” she said as she looked out the small square of stained glass windows. “And she looks like she knows how to handle a gun. It’s a cute little thing. I wonder if I can get one like that. That handle is lovely.”

  “Ladies!” Reverend Winston said, drawing their attention. “We have a member of our community in trouble. Grab your prayer books. You know what to do.”

  “Reverend,” Ellery said as women went scrambling, “I don’t think prayer is going to help. That’s Sylvia Coldwell—Hollis’s mother. She will not stop until I am dead. She refused to reschedule the debutante ball when Hurricane Joaquin hit in 2015. Sixteen inches of rain in one day, and she made it so the debutantes were escorted in on boats. She does not give up.”

  “Ladies, get in position,” Reverend Winston said, ignoring her warning. A woman who looked like she needlepointed cat pillows stood at the door. Winnie had her position at the window. Miss Ruby and two others knelt down as the women lined up standing in three rows of three directly behind where Miss Ruby knelt. Each woman clutched their prayer book in their hands. “Miss Winnie?”

  “Two o’clock.” Miss Winnie answered so seriously Ellery hardly recognized her southern drawl.

  “Now, Mildred,” the reverend said calmly.

  Mildred yanked open the door, and in a blink three prayer books were flung like Frisbees out the door.

  The row behind Miss Ruby threw their payer books and then the door slammed shut. “Direct hit!” Miss Winnie yelled. “She’s down, but she’s not out ladies.”

  “Second group, take position. First group, get your things,” Reverend Winston commanded. Two rows moved forward. “Miss Winnie.”

  “One o’clock.”

  “All at once. Go.”

  On Reverend Winston’s command, cat lady opened the door and prayer books went flying along with bullets. Cat lady slammed the door shut as the bullets dug into the wood. “Oh, my,” she said with a little grin. “I got a tingle from all this excitement. Is anyone suddenly craving those brownies Sissy King used to make?”

  “Don’t you worry, Kordell gave me the recipe,” Miss Ruby yelled from the front of the church.

  “Such a nice young man,” Miss Winnie added. “Here she comes, ladies.”

  “We’re ready,” Miss Ruby called out. Ellery turned and looked to find the six women tipping over the tall floor candle stands that lined the altar.

  Ellery felt her mouth drop open. “Is that a cutlass?”

  “This church has never been invaded, and we won’t allow it now,” Reverend Winston said, tipping over another one of the floor stands and pulling out a wicked looking steel pointed pike. “Boarding pikes are up here, ladies. Cutlasses are by communion.”

  “Wait!” Miss Winnie yelled. Everyone stopped talking as the sound of an engine roared down the street. “We need a distraction.”

  Ellery grabbed the pike from the reverend and in three long strides was at the door. “Open it, just a bit. Miss Winnie, you keep a lookout.”

  “What are you doing?” Tinsley asked in a whisper, as if she was afraid Sylvia would hear her.

  “Causing a distraction.”

  The door opened about a foot, and Sylvia froze on the sidewalk. She leveled her gun and smiled. She looked rather ridiculous standing in the middle of prayer books with what was looking like a cut cheek, two black eyes, and an egg shaped bump on her forehead. Her normally perfect hair was now falling from her jeweled barrettes.

  “You realize we’ve all seen you. Right, Sylvia?” Ellery asked.

  “Mrs. Coldwell,” she snapped. “And that name means I can do whatever I want. Especially to a nobody like you. My brothers won’t let anything happen to me.”

  “It wasn’t Hollis who sent the men after me, was it?” Ellery asked as the sound of an engine grew closer.

  “Of course not. He couldn’t even kill you properly. Bless his heart, he’s always needed his mother to clean up his messes. And that’s what you are. A mess.”

  “He killed Mark. I saw him,” Ellery called out the slightly open door.

  “So what? Mark was a nobody just like you. But if you disappear, I can fix everything. If he’d just listened to me the other night, then none of this would be an issue. I told him when I arrived at the gallery to drive your car to Mark’s, but he had to wipe it down. Did he listen? Stupid men. But I can still fix it.”

  “So you’re going to kill me, but what about all these people inside the church?”

  “I’ll burn it to the ground. It’s of little consequence to me. Although the stained glass is beautiful. I might buy it after the church is destroyed. It would look lovely at the plantation.”

  “You’re unhinged,” Ellery cried. The woman was probably planning the garden party she’d have to show off her new treasures, not caring a whit that she’d murdered fifteen people.

  Sylvia shrugged one silk clad shoulder and raised her gun. “And you’re all expendable.”

  The sound of a war cry sounded, and from the side of the church a red scooter driven by Mr. Gann slid onto the sidewalk. He revved the massive engine he’d built for his scooter and bolted toward Sylvia. She spun to see what was coming, took a step back in shock at the elderly man with three white hairs blowing in the wind and huge glasses on his face, and almost stepped on a prayer book. She braced herself and raised her gun as Mr. Gann reached down to pull his cane free from its holder. Ellery shoved open the door and threw her pike. It missed by several inches, but it caused Sylvia to briefly turn away from Mr. Gann.

  “Motherf—” Tinsley began to whisper the curse.

  “Favor us,” Reverend Winston finished for her from where he and everyone else were crammed, staring out the door.

  Using his cane as a jousting lance, Mr. Gann aimed it at Sylvia and then . . .

  Ellery sucked in her breath as the cane struck Sylvia square in the stomach. The power of the hit not only doubled Sylvia over but pushed her backward. Her foot stepped on a prayer book and slipped. Her arms pinwheeled, and her gun sailed into the street as she let out a screech.

  “Timber!” Miss Ruby called out.

  The door to the bar opened and the patrons filed out. They took one look around and were running across the street. Except for Gator, who was carrying the hired goon over his shoulder. He dumped him in the wooden gator box and hammered it shut as the church doors were flung open and the reverend led the ladies’ group outside armed with cutlasses and pikes.

  “That was so sexy,” Miss Winnie whispered as Mr. Gann sent her a wink. “He’s been wanting my apple pie for months now. I think I’ll finally give it to him.”

  “Miss Winnie!” Tinsley said as Ellery joined her giggling.

  “It’s really good apple pie,” Miss Ruby added, and Ellery lost her battle of the giggles and broke out in belly laughs.

  “What the hell happened?” Gavin asked as sirens wailed in the distance. He pushed through the crowd, circled around Sylvia Coldwell, and ran to Ellery’s side.

  “It’s finally over.” Ellery sighed with relief and rested her head against Gavin’s shoulder. “Unless . . .”

  “Unless what?” Gavin asked, but Ellery was already pulling away from him and walking to where Turtle was looking full of himself as he told Sylvia he was making a citizen’s arrest.

  “Did you send anyone else after me?” Ellery asked as she looked at Sylvia lying on the sidewalk surrounded by prayer books.

  “I think my hip is broken, you bitch!” she cried out.

  “I happen to have a doctor here who could give you something for that pain, but he’s not going to until you answer my question.” Ellery m
otioned to Gavin and waited as Sylvia looked at him and then back to her. Her lip pulled up in disgust.

  “You moved on from my son already? I knew you were cheap. And to a simple doctor? But even he’s too good for the likes of you,” Sylvia spat.

  Harper used the toe of her boot to nudge Sylvia’s side, and Sylvia screamed so loud Ellery was worried the beautiful stained glass might break.

  “I bet morphine sounds nice right now, huh?” Ellery asked sweetly. “Now, did you hire anyone else?”

  “No,” Sylvia admitted through clenched teeth. “My brothers helped, but I only hired the one man.”

  Ellery looked around and saw most of the town had their cell phones out and were recording. “You hired one man after Hollis killed Mark, and you tried to frame me for his murder. How did you know Hollis hadn’t succeeded in killing me too?”

  “I answered your question. Give me the drugs now. This hurts,” Sylvia snapped, and Ellery nodded to Gavin as Granger and Kord pulled up. Gavin jogged off to tell them what was happening.

  “See, he’s going to get it. How did you know Hollis didn’t succeed in killing me?”

  “I had sent my man there with one of my brother’s assistants to see if the report from the local sheriff was really you. They said they were thwarted from getting a good look. I let it go for a while. After the Coast Guard started asking questions and nosing around, I got suspicious and later that night I went home and thought about it. I had been talking to Wade and Ryker Faulkner, and that was the name of the house a possible Ellery was spotted at. I had them go back and look for you, but you weren’t there. I had them leave you a little surprise, but they messed that up too. No one saw you after the explosion. But then the police spotted you at your condo. I knew I had to do the job myself.” Sylvia glared at Ellery then put her head down and closed her eyes. “Now, give me my morphine and take me to the hospital. Charleston Memorial. My niece is the chief of staff.”

  “Right after we do one more annoying thing, ma’am,” Granger said with a grin on his face. “You have the right to remain silent . . .”

  Sylvia waved her hand. “I know all that. Don’t you know who my brother is? Call him for me, will you? He’s Charleston’s top judge. And while you’re at it, call my sister, Charleston’s top attorney. Oh, and our dear family friend, the Attorney General of South Carolina.”

  “Ma’am,” Granger said, his smile widening, “after I book you into jail, I will happily let you decide which one person you’d like to call. But I can tell you, it won’t matter much. You better like having a roommate. Maybe if you ask the Attorney General real nice like, he might allow a mother/son cell.”

  Ellery felt two arms wrap around her waist and someone at her back. She looked to her right, and Harper winked at her. She looked to her left, and Tinsley gave her a smile. She looked behind her and tears started to flow. Edie, Trent, Ridge, and Wade all had her back. Somehow she’d found a family in Shadows Landing.

  28

  Gavin administered medical attention to Sylvia Coldwell while she bitched at him continuously. An ambulance arrived to take her to the hospital in Charleston, and Gavin diagnosed her with a probable broken hip.

  “Two out of three?” Kord asked as he and Granger stood over a glaring Sylvia.

  “Let’s go,” Granger said as their fists hit their open hands. “One, two, three.”

  “Hell ya,” Kord said as his paper covered Granger’s rock.

  “One, two, three,” Granger said seriously now as their fists hit their hands. “Crap.”

  “Scissors for the win!” Kord celebrated.

  “Fine. I’ll escort her to Charleston and hand her off to the FBI. But you get to do the paperwork.”

  Kord groaned, and Gavin snickered as he stood up to deliver his report to the EMTs. The whole time he had been working, he’d kept an eye on Ellery. He hated that he couldn’t be by her side right then, but as the town’s only doctor, that was his job. Even if he didn’t want to treat Sylvia and would rather see her endure twice as much pain, he knew it was his duty.

  “Granger!” Gavin called out. “We forgot about the guy. He’s in the back of Gator’s truck.”

  Gavin and the rest of Shadows Landing looked around. No Gator. No truck. Granger grinned even larger now. “You’re up, buddy. I have to get to Charleston.”

  Kord groaned dramatically. “I hate going to the swamp. You know that’s where he’s taken him. I won’t come back with less that twenty mosquito bites and those bastards are bigger than most compact cars.”

  “Should have waited before issuing the rock paper scissors challenge,” Granger taunted as he hopped in the back of the ambulance. “I’ll be back with one of the agents. Just get that guy back before he’s gator food and put him in our cell.”

  “Yes, sir,” Kord grumbled as he opened up the car door and pulled out a massive bottle of bug spray.

  Finally, Gavin had fulfilled his duty. Well, unless Gator had harmed the man they’d hog-tied. He made his way through the throng of people standing outside the church to find Ellery. He found her leaning down and giving Mr. Gann a kiss. The old man revved the oversized engine on his scooter in return. Ellery laughed and Miss Winnie sighed.

  “How did you know I needed help, Mr. Gann?” Ellery asked as she stood up.

  “I didn’t. I was lucky enough to see the trouble. See, I’m always around here when the ladies’ group lets out. It’s the best place to pick women up. I can offer them a ride on my lap to their car.”

  Gavin saw Ellery struggling not to laugh. “So, you literally pick them up.”

  “If I’m lucky they give me a little pie.”

  “I’ll give you all the pie you want tonight, my hero,” Miss Winnie whispered as she leaned down to his ear.

  “I can’t tell if they mean actual pie or if it’s an innuendo,” Gavin said softly as he stepped up behind Ellery.

  “I don’t know, but when I tell you I’m going to give you my pie tonight since you’re my hero, I mean sex. Lots of it. Even the kinky kind if you want.”

  Gavin stepped closer to hide his immediate reaction to her words. “Really?” he asked, letting his lips gently brush her ear. “What kind of kinky are we talking about?”

  “The kind that involves pie.”

  “Have I told you I love you yet?” he asked with a laugh.

  Ellery looked at him, and he knew this was his future. “Not out loud. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing you say it. I love you too, Gavin.”

  Gavin turned her in his arms and lowered his lips to hers. “Don’t ever stop saying it and I won’t either.”

  “That’s a promise I can keep,” Ellery said a moment before he covered her mouth with his.

  The kiss went from loving to kinky pie level in seconds. He couldn’t help himself. It was the rush of knowing he had found his forever.

  “Oh my,” Miss Winnie said with surprise. “That’s giving me a whole other kind of tingle.”

  Gavin and Ellery pulled apart, embarrassed they’d gotten carried away. But when they looked at Miss Winnie, she wasn’t paying them any attention. She was on Mr. Gann’s lap, and he was revving his engine. Gavin pulled Ellery to his chest in a hug as they both laughed. This was perfection. His town. His family. His love. Gavin had never felt so complete.

  Ellery stood back and looked at the painting. She stepped forward and adjusted it slightly then stepped back again. Perfect. Tinsley’s newest painting was the highlight of the newly opened St. John Art Gallery.

  It had been eight months since Hollis and Sylvia took their plea deal. Sylvia had wanted a trial, but her sister convinced her she wouldn’t make the most sympathetic witness or defendant. Plus, Gator had recorded the hired man spilling all he knew about Sylvia hiring him and her criminal intentions toward Ellery. When Gator showed them the clip, it appeared the man was sitting in a chair giving the confession. Turned out the chair was suspended over Bubba and Bubba was hungry.

  After the plea deal, Hollis l
ost his Mimi Hollis inheritance, and, since Hollis had never had kids and the rest of the Hollis-Coldwell family wanted nothing to do with the now disgraced art gallery, a piece of Charleston history had died. That was until Gavin convinced her to go to the closing reception at the gallery. They’d quietly let the art world know they were getting rid of everything, including the building.

  She’d been scared to death walking into the gallery with Tinsley, Gavin, Tibbie, and Elijah. Ellery thought she’d have flashbacks, but instead all she felt was sadness. That place had given beauty to the world, not death. Hollis’s uncle, the banker, and one of the few besides his attorney aunt, who had not been arrested, had told her a company was interested in buying the building to turn it into small condos.

  “How much are you selling it for?” Ellery had asked, torn at the idea of the beautiful building born from the love of art being broken up like that.

  “The money from the trust gets divided now. We’ve established a charity to help the arts with three quarters of it, and then the remainder is divided between those of us not in jail and a disgrace to the family name,” he’d told her. “So, we’re selling it for the taxable property value of two million dollars.”

  “That’s a good deal,” Elijah said as the brief spark of hope at buying the place died. It might be a good deal, but she could only come up with a half a million in cash and didn’t know if she’d qualify for a loan. She had some in savings, some from her family inheritance, and then most from the sale of her condo. She’d been living with Gavin, and they’d finally made their living arrangement official when he told her she should sell her small condo and move in with him.

  “Yes, it’s very generous,” she had said, sounding more defeated than she should over a spur of the moment idea.

  “Why do you ask? Are you interested in purchasing the gallery?” Mr. Coldwell had asked.

  Ellery had shaken her head. “It was just an idea. I thought I could keep it an art gallery, but I can’t afford that price.”

  Mr. Coldwell made a “hmmm” noise and then waved his mother over.