by Mary Coley
The sheriff appeared in the doorway. “Jenna Wade? Could I speak with you inside, please?”
Jenna stepped into the house.
~ Chapter 63 ~
Jenna
The sheriff led her across the living room to the table by the window and motioned for her to sit. “Mrs. Wade, it’s my understanding that your real name is Sharon Bergen. Your parents were killed in a cabin fire here twenty years ago. Is that correct.”
“Yes, sir, it is. And Dale Hardesty is my sister, Molly.”
The sheriff scratched his head. “Do you wish to have counsel present?”
“Am I a suspect? For committing what crime?” The chill she’d been fighting for the last few minutes grew icier.
He squinted. “Nope. I just want to be sure I got everything straight. Your face has been on a Missing Persons poster in my office for twenty years. I’m glad to be able to write ‘found’ across that poster and file it away.”
Jenna sighed in relief. “I know it was wrong to have left the scene, and to have left my sister behind. I’ve regretted it every day of my life. And I’ve regretted I didn’t do more to try to save my parents.”
“Your sister has told us what happened. Unless your version of that evening differs greatly from hers, I think we can finally mark that incident as an accidental fire. I’m sorry you lost your parents in the blaze.”
“The blaze was accidental, but my parent’s deaths were not. Max Hardesty knocked them both unconscious before the fire started. Then he left without trying to help.”
“Your sister didn’t tell me Max was responsible.”
“My sister didn’t see everything that happened before the candle fell and caught the tablecloth on fire. I did.”
“So, you allege that your sister’s husband killed your parents? You realize there is no way to prove a crime was committed at this late date? I will check the files, but your parents remains— cremains—were buried in Boulder, CO. I was here that day with the investigative team. I remember. There wasn’t much left. Dental records were used for identification.” He leaned toward her.
Jenna flinched. “I… didn’t… know.” She remembered her parents as she’d last seen them crumpled and lying on the cabin floor. At least they hadn’t been awake when the fire took them.
“I’m sorry if I shocked you. Will you tell Dale the truth?”
His question startled her. She considered her answer before she responded. “I’m sure that learning what her husband has done all these years to block her memory upsets her. Why add to that trauma? Max imprisoned my husband and my friend Mandy, intending to kill them. I’m sure both will file charges.”
The sheriff stood. “Well, that’s another thing. We can’t find Chad. We’ve searched his cabin, and other than finding a whole lot of photos and paintings of you, we found no clues as to where he might have gone. But he’s definitely gone.”
Jenna sank back in her chair. Despite what Chad had helped Max do to Sean and Mandy, she would have liked to look him in the eye to see if anything was left of the gentle cowboy she’d fallen in love with. Now she’d never have the chance.
Her husband would do everything he could to see to it that Chad was caught. Sean was a good investigator.
Part 5 – SATURDAY
~ Chapter 64 ~
Jenna
Jenna rolled over on the soft mattress and stretched. When she opened her eyes, Sean lay beside her, watching her.
“You’re awake.”
“What time is it?” She looked around the unfamiliar room and found the radio alarm clock on the bedside table. “10 a.m.! I never sleep this late.”
“I think you were overdue. I’m going to ask Mrs. Childers if I can bring up a breakfast tray. Service downstairs was at 9.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can get something later.”
“I want to do it. I want to spend every minute of this day with you.”
“What about the takedown? The art forgers? Max and Chad Hardesty?”
“Max is already in jail. Chad is missing. I have the day off. The investigation is far from over, but my team is working with the police, combing through Max’s office and Chad’s cabin and studio right now. I’m confident we’ll find more than enough to cement the forgery charges in court and send them both to jail for a long time.”
Jenna sighed. “I can’t help feeling sorry for Chad.”
Sean frowned. “Seriously? He should never have gotten involved with his brother’s forgery ring. He was a pawn at his brother’s beck and call, but he participated, unconcerned about the outcomes and who might get hurt. Max is the real criminal, but Chad must be held accountable. We’ll find him.”
Jenna nodded and laid her head back on the pillow. Her mind turned over the events of the previous evening. Her heart ached. Molly had been at Max’s mercy, too, for so many years. He’d poisoned her thoughts with lies about the night of the fire.
Sean interrupted her rolling thoughts. “Mandy called. She woke up early and drove out to Jandafar with your sister. Invited us to come out when we can.”
Jenna sat up. “I want to see her, but I’m in no hurry to go back to Jandafar. Could they come here?” She picked at the thick comforter. Being at Jandafar had brought everything back–the shame and the fear. She’d found her sister; she didn’t need to go back to Jandafar again.
“I can ask. And another thing. Will is here. He came in late last night. He’s out at Jandafar, too.”
“I didn’t expect that. Maybe he really does love her. Though I’m not sure she can forgive him for lying to her about everything.” She looked up at Sean, knowing how her own lies had jeopardized her marriage. “I hope you can forgive me.”
He sat down on the bed and leaned over to kiss her. “I understand why you lied. And while we’re on that subject, I must tell you that your secrets were not quite as secret as you thought. Will investigated things. I connected some dots.”
He kissed her lightly. Her heart jumped. Sean already knew. She choked back a sob as a tear spilled onto her cheek.
“Mandy has a lot to consider. She and Will haven’t known each other as long as we have. And there’s another thing that must be thrown into the mix. She has feelings for Lamar.” He gently pushed a lock of hair behind her ear with one finger.
“She does? I’ll ask her about that.”
Jenna rolled out of bed and slipped a robe on over her nightgown.
“You think Molly’s been brainwashed by Max, don’t you?” Sean asked.
“Yes, and I’m not sure I want to set her straight about what happened at the cabin. At the same time, I can’t listen to her defend Max when she doesn’t know everything he did that night.”
“Surely she won’t want to stay on at the ranch.”
“I’ll ask her in a few days, when she’s feeling better. Meanwhile, she should go home with us.”
“Home? Remember what happened? We have an empty house. Nothing to return to. You resigned. We were going to relocate.”
“Oh, yeah. I don’t have a job. You don’t want to go back to Tulsa?”
“I’m open.”
Jenna crossed the room to the window. She lifted the sash and hot August air flowed into the room. She closed her eyes and let it blast her face. Lightness filled her. She was no longer burdened by her past, and she’d found her sister. Many things still had to be resolved, and it would take time for the two of them to get to know one another again. But thankfully, she no longer had to look over her shoulder, no longer had to be prepared to run from the police. She could go anywhere, do anything.
“I’m free,” she said.
Sean stepped up behind her and slid his arms around her. “You are. Now what do you want to do with your life?”
Chapter 65
~ Mandy ~
Mandy Lyons sat on the porch swing, elbows propped on her knees. Will sat in one of the Adirondack chairs.
“Well, when are you coming back to Tulsa? I asked you to move in with me, remembe
r?” Will’s voice was deep and forceful.
Mandy looked up, but she didn’t look at Will. She glanced at the green lawn, the fenced stable yard and the barn, the horses grazing in the meadow, and the two dogs leaping and charging one another as they played near the driveway.
Moby looked her way and raced to her, his tongue hanging out and his eyes sparkling. He stopped just short of leaping into her lap but swiped his tongue across her forearm instead.
“You’re not planning on keeping that dog, are you? He’ll have to learn manners.” Will sat back in the chair and crossed his arms.
“I love it here.” Mandy ruffled the curly hair on Moby’s head and the dog playfully backed away and then lunged at her.
Will stared. He sat forward. “Okay. Here, boy. Come on over here.” He stuck a hand out toward Moby.
Moby wagged his long tail and sat beside Mandy. She scratched his ears and under his chin, his favorite spot.
“Are you playing a game? I need to get back to Tulsa. You’ve found Jenna and everything is good. We don’t have to hang around, do we? I love you, Mandy.” Will continued to try to get Moby to come to him, but the dog refused.
Mandy was listening to the conversation going on inside the house. Lamar and Dale were trying to speak quietly, but she could still hear them. She wanted Will to stop talking so she could make out every single word.
So far, she had heard bits and pieces that told her the gist of their conversation. Dale was filing for divorce and wanted to sell the B&B and the ranch property. She was offering a first option to Lamar. Dale wanted to be with Jenna; wherever she and Sean decided they would make their next home, that’s where she was going. And Lamar was making excuses for why he wasn’t qualified to own a place this big, either as a ranch or a B&B.
She bolted up out of the swing and into the house. Lamar and Dale looked up as she burst in with Moby close behind. The dog trotted over to Dale, tail wagging.
“Mandy, when did you find Shah, Chad’s dog? He’s been missing a while.”
“What?” Mandy couldn’t process what Dale had said about the dog. She felt a stab of worry at Lamar’s bruised face. His arm was in a sling. Broken ribs, she guessed.
“Lamar, you are passing up a great opportunity,” Mandy lectured. “You love this place. You would do a fabulous job of running it. And I’ll help! I like to cook, I love the area, and if we hire maids and a couple of cowhands, we can do it together.” The words spilled out before she could stop them.
She’d quit her job. Jenna wasn’t going back to Tulsa either. And she knew they’d stay in touch. What reason did she have to be anywhere but here?
Lamar’s face was a mass of purpling bruises, but she could still see the handsome underneath. His sandy hair was tousled. He stood and crossed the room to stand in front of her.
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears when Lamar’s own sparkling eyes studied her. Dimples popped out in his cheeks.
“Well now, are you proposing to me, Mandy?”
About the Author
Mary Coley splits her life between Tulsa and north central New Mexico. A certified interpretive guide, naturalist and environmental educator as well as a writer, she occasionally blogs about writing and nature at www.marycoley.me. She is a recognized professional both in the environmental education field and as an author. Her book, Environmentalism: How You can Make a Difference, published through Capstone Press, received a first-place award for Best Juvenile Book from the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. A frequent winner in annual OWFI contests, Coley has also published two volumes of short stories, including several stories previously published in anthologies.
She is a member of The Tulsa Nightwriters, the Oklahoma Writer’s Federation, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime and the Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrators and is a frequent participant in the Around the Block Writer’s Collaborative workshops.
Coley is available for speaking engagements and writing workshops. Topics include: The Writing Life, How to Write (and Edit) for Mysteries, Where Do Ideas Come From?
She is also available to speak about her books at book clubs, schools and libraries in Oklahoma. Contact her at [email protected].
Awards Received by Mary Coley’s Mysteries
Chrysalis – Silver Falchion Finalist, Killer Nashville International Mystery Writer’s Conference, 2019. First Place Winner, OWFI Mystery/Suspense category 2018.
Blood on the Cimarron – The Hillerman Award Winner, New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards, 2018. First Place Winner, OWFI Mystery/Suspense category, 2016.
Ant Dens – Oklahoma Book Awards Finalist, 2016. Delta Kappa Gamma Creative Woman of Oklahoma award, Best YA Fiction, 2016.
Cobwebs – Delta Kappa Gamma Creative Woman of Oklahoma award, Best YA Fiction, 2015. First place winner, OWFI Mystery/Suspense category.
Contact Information
Visit https://marycoley.com to learn more about Mary’s writing life and each of her books. All books are for sale on her website.
All of her books are available in trade paperback and e-book from all online booksellers, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-a-Million. In addition, her first book, Cobwebs, is available as an audiobook from Audible.
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