25
Ellery paced Ryker’s massive living room that overlooked the water as she waited for news. Gavin’s cousin, Ryan Parker, had arrived at six in the morning. He was as nice in person as he’d been on the phone, but he’d left almost immediately after checking on them. He was going with Peter Castle to get a warrant for Hollis’s properties.
It was going to be an uphill battle though. Hollis’s family was just as connected, if not more so, than Atherton’s. Hollis’s uncle was the mayor. His mother was a society icon. That wasn’t counting the rest of his aunts, uncles, and cousins. There was a Hollis or Coldwell in power at practically every level of Charleston society from police officers to judges to newspapers. And there were the ones who ran every organization under the sun. They held influence, sway, and power.
Gavin sat quietly, watching her pace. They all hoped the two FBI agents could get a warrant from a judge that wouldn’t try to protect the Hollis-Coldwell family name. Gavin’s phone indicated there was a text message and both fear and excitement filled Ellery.
“Is it them?”
Gavin breathed out in relief. “Ryan brought along some of his team from Lexington, and the Columbia, South Carolina office is partnering on this task force. They got the warrants and are about to execute them.”
Ellery’s hands shook as she nervously twisted her fingers and waited. The minutes stretched to hours and finally Gavin’s phone rang. She practically fell from the couch, trying to get to it to see who it was before Gavin answered.
“Hi, Miss Tibbie,” Gavin said with a smile on his face. “Yes, ma’am.” Gavin held out the phone for her and Ellery took it.
“Hello?” Ellery asked, both wanting to hear what was said and not wanting to hear at the same time. She was living in a constant state of fear that Hollis would get away with this, and she’d have to flee the state, possibly the country.
“Well, the Historical Women of Charleston are in a tizzy. And Elijah said it’s all the Yacht Club is talking about.”
“What is?” Ellery asked, trying not to sound too impatient.
“That the FBI is swarming the gallery, Hollis’s homes, and his boat.”
In that instant Ellery was transported into the past.
“No,” she tried to yell as the hands gripped her. Hollis pulled her up and pushed her against the hard wall, and then she was falling. Her breath was taken when she hit the water. Pain exploded in her head as her legs dropped like anchors into the ocean water. Her eyes closed as the pain in her head called her into the darkness once again.
“Just let the water take you,” Hollis called to her.
Now Ellery knew how she’d gotten into the ocean. Hollis had taken her out on the boat and shoved her into the ocean.
“Ellery!”
“Sorry,” Ellery muttered as she tried to calm herself. Her palms were sweating as she recalled the nightmare.
“Hollis’s mother, Sylvia Coldwell, was at the committee meeting with me when her brother, the judge, called, giving her a heads up. She called her younger sister, the lawyer, who immediately went to Hollis’s so he couldn’t be questioned. Sylvia made it very clear—you are a spurned lover who murdered Mark, and you’re trying to get your revenge on her son for turning you down.”
“I can’t believe this. Why would anyone think I had a thing for Hollis?”
“Because Sylvia and Louisa Hawthorne are painting you as a gold-digging hussy, that’s why.”
“And people are believing it?” Ellery sat down with shock. She’d never been anything but nice to people. She only wanted to share her love of art, and now her reputation was in tatters over lies.
“Not all of them. It helps that Beatrice Hawthorn, Louisa’s mother-in-law, and I are countering the rumors, but we can’t hold them back forever. Elijah said the same discussion is going on at the Yacht Club. You have a surprising number of friends yourself, including Atherton’s father, which is a big deal for you. Now we just have to hope they find some evidence to support your claim of innocence.”
“Thank you, Tibbie.” Ellery collapsed on the couch. She had only thought about getting Hollis arrested, she hadn’t thought she’d have to try her own case in the court of public opinion. She needed the smoking gun. She hadn’t been able to find it last night, but maybe . . . “Miss Tibbie,” Ellery said before her old friend could hang up.
“Yes, dear?”
“I need one more favor.”
“Anything,” Miss Tibbie said.
“I need to find a statue of a palmetto tree Hollis probably sold at some point after the gallery exhibit. I can’t imagine he’d keep it since it’s the murder weapon. If it didn’t sell in three months, it would go back to the artist. And I found a carbon copy check to the artist dated on the Monday after the signing, which leaves me to believe it had to have been sold.”
“On it! I feel the need to redecorate. I’ll ask the ladies at the Women’s Auxiliary Committee meeting in two hours. I’m guessing Sylvia will be too busy to attend, so hopefully I’ll get more gossip.”
“Thank you, Miss Tibbie,” Ellery said before hanging up with a slight smile. She felt a little hopeful now. She had more faith in Miss Tibbie finding the statue than she did the FBI. Ellery had searched Hollis’s office the night before, and while she found the copy of the check, she didn’t find a sales receipt telling who bought it, and that was very unusual. However, as long as there was money going in, the commission being held out, and the artist being paid, accounting wise that was all that mattered. The name technically didn’t. However, it was enough to be a glaring incident simply because they usually kept full records for provenance.
“Do you think she can find the statue?” Gavin asked as she handed his phone back.
“Do you think iced tea should be sweet?”
Gavin gave a little chuckle and patted the couch next to him. “The late morning news will be on in a couple of hours. Let’s wait and see if they have anything about Hollis.”
* * *
The minutes ticked by so slowly Ellery could barely stand it. Miss Winnie and Miss Ruby stopped by with food and words of encouragement. Harper and Tinsley also stopped by to check on them, but all Ellery could do was stare at the clock. Even when Wade tried to make her laugh, Ellery was too scared and nervous to smile. Wade gave her a hug before he left and whispered that everything was going to work out for her.
After what seemed like days of pacing, it was time for the local news. Ellery took a seat and pressed against Gavin for support as he turned on the television. His heat and strength gave her strength even though her stomach was doing summersaults.
The news started and Ellery grabbed Gavin’s hand. The anchor came on with a serious face. “We have breaking news in downtown Charleston this morning. Ellery St. John has been found alive, but a rogue FBI agent is refusing to disclose the murder suspect’s whereabouts.”
“Oh no.” Ellery gasped as her stomach violently rolled. “The Coldwells have gotten to the media first. I should have known. The family owns so much of the town, how could I have forgotten about the media?”
Gavin flipped channels and an image of Peter Castle flashed onto the screen. “Going against direct orders, FBI Agent Peter Castle has brought in FBI from Kentucky and Columbia to search Charleston icon Hollis Coldwell’s gallery, house, and boat for signs of foul play. We’ve asked for a comment, but head of the local FBI, Randy McCarthy, has said Agent Peter Castle has been put on immediate suspension for ignoring a direct order to let local police handle the investigation into Mark Vosslinger’s alleged murder at the hands of Ellery St. John, who has been missing since Friday night. Her vehicle was found at the victim’s home, and local police have named her as a person of interest.”
“Oh no,” Ellery said, her world falling apart more than she thought possible. “I’m going to jail for a murder I didn’t commit.”
“However,” the reporter continued to say, “we’ve learned from a source involved in the investigation that highe
r-ups have ordered no other suspects be investigated, which is why the FBI from Kentucky and Columbia have been called in by Agent Castle. If true, and the case is being manipulated at a high level, there could be a huge criminal corruption case not counting a civil case brought by Miss St. John, if she’s still alive.”
“It’s okay, Ellery. Breathe,” Gavin said to her as he rubbed her back. “There are four local channels, and only one is beholden to the Hollis-Coldwell family. Your story will be told, and you’ll be vindicated. Just let Castle and Ryan do their jobs.”
On the screen came live footage of Castle and Ryan standing side by side inside the art gallery’s door looking to where people were on their hands and knees. They were partially blocked from view by Castle and the rest of the agents standing around. Crime scene tape was up and barriers set up around the front of the gallery were holding people back. However, that didn’t stop all the reporters from screaming out to them for a comment.
“We’re going to Shelly Jacobson for an on-scene report. Shelly?” the anchor requested, sending the interview to the onsite reporter.
“Thanks,” Shelly said seriously. “I am at the Mimi Hollis Art Gallery in downtown Charleston where one hour ago FBI agents descended with a warrant and crime scene technicians. We do not know what they are looking for, but a source close to the case says there might be evidence of foul play inside. Now, we are unable to confirm if gallery owner, Charleston socialite and heir to the Hollis-Coldwell fortune, Hollis Coldwell, is the target or if person of interest Ellery St. John is. What we do know is fifteen minutes ago more lab technicians descended on the art gallery along with Mary Coldwell-Helmshire, Charleston’s top defense attorney, and Mr. Coldwell’s aunt. It’s presumed she’s here representing the Coldwell family.”
“She’s big trouble,” Ellery whispered to no one in particular. Gavin nodded. Everyone in the state knew Mary. She was ruthless. “Who’s that?” Ellery asked, pointing as an unmarked car pulled up. Apparently Shelly saw it at the same time because she turned to look and put a finger to her earpiece as an older man in a suit got out and looked around.
“I’m being told,” Shelly said, “that Charleston FBI agent in charge, Randy McCarthy, has just arrived. Agent McCarthy! Do you have a comment?” The agent strode past the barricade and looked none to happy to be stopped by Peter and Ryan.
This time it was Ryan who didn’t look pleased. In fact, he looked downright scary as his jaw clenched, and his hazel eyes narrowed. McCarthy went to grab Castle’s arm, and Ryan moved so fast Ellery gasped.
Ryan shoved McCarthy up against the glass window of the gallery for all to see and had McCarthy in handcuffs in just a matter of seconds. Shelly stood frozen in shock, as did everyone outside the gallery. McCarthy rain downed a hail of threats as two FBI agents came forward to drag him outside and into a parked car.
“What just happened?” Ellery asked as if Gavin would know. Shelly was sputtering as she tried to explain with barely contained excitement at being live for this scoop.
“We don’t have any details, but you’re seeing it here—FBI agents from out of town have arrested the local FBI agent in charge. They put him in cuffs as he threatened their jobs, and he’s being driven off.”
Gavin’s phone rang and at the same time they saw Ryan, with his phone to his ear, walking away from Mary Coldwell-Helmshire and getting into a car.
“Ryan, what’s going on?” Gavin asked as soon as he accepted the call on speakerphone.
“We found blood in the cracks of the hardwood floor. It was well cleaned, but we pried up the floorboards and found it. It’s on the way to the lab with one of my agents accompanying it. We also recovered glass shards from where Ellery said Mark had smashed the glass. Hollis’s attorney is here, threatening lawsuits left and right and McCarthy tried to shut us down. However, the warrant for Hollis’s properties weren’t the only warrants we got this morning. We also got one for McCarthy’s communications and one for the police chief’s,” Ryan told them.
“What did you find?” Ellery asked as her leg nervously bounced. She gripped her hands tightly together, thinking it had to be something if they arrested him.
“We found an email sent from the mayor to the chief demanding the investigation into you as the sole subject of the murder. The chief sent that to the FBI head, asking for a personal favor to let the local police handle the missing person case. In return, McCarthy would get a boat.”
“Hollis’s boat? The boat I was most likely tossed overboard from?” Ellery asked with anger and disbelief.
“Yes,” Ryan answered as she watched his vehicle pull away from the scene. “We arrested the police chief already and now McCarthy for corruption charges. We’re on our way to talk to Hollis and the mayor. I’m sure his attorney is on her way as well.”
“Will it be enough to arrest him?” Ellery asked worriedly. “They’ll say I killed Mark at the gallery. After all, I was there.”
“I got a message from my lab techs that they’ve collected evidence from your car and from the boat. Your car apparently had blood in the trunk, which looks bad for you. However, I need to know if Hollis was ever inside your car.”
“Inside my car? No, why?” Ellery asked.
“Ever? He never once rode in your car?” Ryan asked again.
“No. There was no reason for us to ever be in a car together. Why?” Ellery asked again.
“While we found blood and hair in your trunk, the front was entirely wiped down with bleach. But we found a fingerprint on the seatbelt buckle. He must have grabbed it to lock it in place. It belongs to Hollis.”
“Oh my God. You got him!” Ellery’s eyes shot to Gavin’s with excitement.
“It’s something, but I’d like more. We’ll need to wait until the lab results come in to determine if we can arrest him.”
The phone beeped and Ellery saw Tibbie’s name. “Ryan, I’ll call you back. We have someone looking into the case for us, and they’re calling.”
“Text me. I’ll be questioning Hollis.”
Gavin accepted Tibbie’s call, his eyes never leaving Ellery’s. They were bright with hope, and Ellery crossed her fingers for luck as Gavin answered the call.
“I found it!” Miss Tibbie screamed in a whisper. “I’m at the meeting, and I was talking about wanting to redo a room with palmettos. Octavia Thorpe said she just bought a gorgeous one-of-a-kind marble palmetto statue for her living room. She rubbed it in good that she had it, knowing I wanted it. I offered to buy it from her, but she won’t sell just to spite me.”
“That has to be it.” Ellery gasped as Gavin held up a hand to calm her.
“Miss Tibbie, we need to know when, where, and from whom she bought it.”
“Sonny, do you think I was born yesterday?” Miss Tibbie chuckled. “Octavia said Hollis Coldwell opened the gallery especially for her on Sunday because he knew she had liked the statue when she saw it Friday night. He called her and offered her a special deal on it, since it was going to be sent back to the artist on Monday.”
“Now we have him,” Gavin said with a smile.
“Miss Tibbie, you did it. Oh my gosh, thank you so much,” Ellery said as tears threatened to spill.
“Goodness, child. You’re welcome,” Miss Tibbie said, sounding a little choked up herself with emotion. “Now, I’ll keep Octavia here while you get someone over to her house to get that statue.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Gavin said as he hung up and sent a text to Ryan.
Ryan: Going there now with a lab tech. Will let you know what we find.
And for the first time since Ellery woke up to Gavin giving her CPR, she had hope.
26
The next night Gavin and Ellery sat with Wade, Trent, Ridge, and Tinsley as they ate dinner and watched the continuing live news coverage of Hollis’s arrest. Gavin didn’t think Ellery or he had slept since Ryan and Peter had started arresting people the day before. Gavin was worn out, and he hadn’t left the couch the whole day. His emotions wer
e raw and he knew Ellery felt the same.
“We’re live outside Hollis Coldwell’s home in his elite neighborhood in downtown Charleston. FBI, assisted by the Shadows Landing Sheriff’s Department, has escorted Mr. Coldwell from his home with handcuffs hidden under a sport coat and his aunt, famous attorney Mary Coldwell-Helmshire, following close behind. Agent Peter Castle, the new acting agent in charge of the Charleston office after the shocking arrest of his superior on corruption charges, has stated Mr. Coldwell is under arrest for the alleged murder of local artist, Mark Vosslinger, and the alleged attempted murder of art gallery director, Ellery St. John. Ms. St. John’s whereabouts are unknown to the public at this time, but Agent Castle said in a brief statement she is safe and her report of the incident has been recorded,” Shelly stated in front of the large Hollis-Coldwell mansion.
“Further, it is reported that there have been five arrests on corruption charges thus far. Various members of the police force, including the chief of police, the head of the local FBI office, the mayor, and his assistant have all been placed in custody. The FBI is asking for them to be transported to Columbia for trial since Hollis’s uncle is a very influential judge in Charleston and could pose a bias for the case. “Shelly looked into the camera with a serious face. “We’re trying to locate Ms. St. John for a statement and will be at the change-of-venue hearing to keep you updated on the latest.”
Gavin turned off the television and sat back with a deep breath. “It’s over. Hollis’s fingerprints and both yours and Mark’s blood were on the statue. It was Mark’s blood in the gallery and Hollis’s hair and fingerprint found in Ellery’s car.”
“And don’t forget traces of Ellery’s and Mark’s blood on the boat,” Wade said, setting down his empty plate of food. “How are you feeling?”
Gavin looked to Ellery who looked shell-shocked. “I need a drink,” she said with a laugh.
Saving Shadows: Shadows Landing #1 Page 19