Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
“ I ’m sorry, Pepper, things just aren’t going right today.” Kelly sighed, rubbing her very pregnant stomach. “I thought I’d have the truck and some helpers to pick up the items I bought at auction, but Danny needed the truck for some unexpected huge purchase. I couldn’t exactly tell him too bad, I need it.”
“It’s alright, Kelly, no problem at all,” I assured her. “I had to pick up a few things for the Willow Lake Historical Society anyway, so grabbing your few purchases is no big deal.”
Kelly winced slightly, shifting her weight.
“Are you feeling okay?” I asked, my worry spiking. The last thing I needed was for her to go into labor while I was driving. I had absolutely zero experience delivering a baby, and I had no desire to change that today.
“The baby’s just so active. I swear, it’s like he’s doing somersaults in there.”
The thought made me momentarily reconsider whether I really wanted kids. Ian and I had talked about it, and early on, he’d mentioned wanting a few. At the time, I’d thought the same. But growing up with three older brothers had been an experience, to say the least. Terrifying at times, with them pulling every possible prank they could think of on me, but also comforting—because whenever I needed them, they had my back. Annoying as they were, I loved them.
Still, watching Kelly go through this, I might need to reconsider.
“We’ll drop off the historical society’s stuff at the Willow Mansion first,” I said, pulling myself back to the task at hand. “Then I’ll take you to the garden center with the things you bought for there, and my last stop will be your house. I’ll put everything in the garage so Danny can help you move it wherever you want.”
Kelly gave me a grateful smile. “You’re the best, Pepper. You’re going to make a great aunt.”
“You don’t have to butter me up. Ian and I are already looking forward to babysitting,” I said. “Though I doubt we’ll get much of a chance. Mom’s going to hog all the time with her first grandchild.”
“She won’t have that much time if she becomes mayor,” Kelly pointed out.
I laughed. “Wanna bet?”
Kelly chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re right. Your mom is exceptional at multitasking.”
Mo barked from the backseat, as if agreeing.
Kelly smiled. “I’m so glad you brought Mo with you. I haven’t seen him in a while.”
“Mom’s gotten him so used to going places that he doesn’t want to stay home anymore. He stations himself by the door in the morning with his vest in his mouth, waiting to see who he’s going with—me or Ian.”
Kelly raised a brow. “And how does he decide?”
I smirked. “Bacon.”
She laughed. “Bacon?”
Mo barked again at the familiar word.
“He can smell bacon from miles away,” I explained. “And he knows when Ian’s chef is cooking up a bunch of it. That’s when he ditches me and goes with Ian.”
Kelly shook her head, still laughing. “He’s so smart—and such a lovey. I can’t wait for him to meet—” She stopped herself and let out a frustrated sigh. “Your brother and I still can’t agree on a name. He wants Parker?—”
“After Granddad,” I said, nodding. “Danny was really close with him.”
Kelly sighed. “Yep. And I want Brock, after my great-grandfather. He was such a kind, loving soul, but I only have a few memories of him.”
“Name him Michael,” I said.
Kelly frowned. “Who’s Michael?”
“Nobody. That’s the point. He’d have his own name.”
Kelly laughed. “Honestly? That might not be a bad idea.”
Arriving at Willow Mansion, I pulled up to the front entrance, relieved that the mansion was closed today. That meant no visitors—just Edna, who was already waiting outside, the double front doors wide open.
“I need to get out and stretch,” Kelly said, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
Mo barked in agreement.
“Wait until I get around to help you,” I said, quickly jumping out and hurrying to her side. After helping her down, I opened the door for Mo, who immediately sniffed around, taking in his surroundings.
The moment Edna’s eyes landed on Mo, she frowned. “You do know Mo can’t come inside the mansion, right, Pepper?”
“He’ll be perfectly happy moseying around out here,” I assured her.
Kelly wandered inside with Edna, and I started unloading the pieces. None of them were too heavy, though the French walnut armchair gave me more of a struggle than I’d care to admit.
I smiled as I carried in piece after piece, setting them aside while listening to Edna regale Kelly with stories of the mansion’s history. She spoke highly of my Aunt Effie’s impeccable eye for period pieces, how she’d carefully curated them for the mansion, and how their value had increased over the years.
“It’s sad that we don’t have more visitors to the place,” Edna said with a sigh. “And even sadder that our past president left the historical society on shaky financial ground.”
“I didn’t know that,” Kelly said, frowning. “That is a shame.”
“Oh dear, I shouldn’t have mentioned that.” Edna shook her head. “I assumed Pepper had already told you about our financial difficulties. Melvin Waters cared more about his treasure-hunting expeditions than actual preservation. He treated the society like his personal piggy bank, shaking out almost every last cent.”
Kelly’s eyes widened. “Oh my. That must be how he managed to fill his home with so many beautiful antiques, collectibles, and art.”
Edna sniffed. “He was a man who simply could not deny himself anything,” she said with a note of disdain. “Which is probably why he died penniless.”
That made me pause.
How did Edna know Waters had died broke?
“How sad,” Kelly murmured, pressing a hand to her lower back. “Mind if I sit while I wait? My back won’t stop aching today.”
I nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll just grab the last item from the truck.”
As I reached the truck bed, I quickly sent a text to Amy: Did you ever talk to Edna about Waters dying penniless?
Her reply was almost instant: Not a word. What’s going on ?
I’ll tell you later.
I stuffed my phone into my pocket, my mind racing. How could Edna know that?
My thoughts spun faster. Edna was the one who told my mom that Waters had been the one to include the story about the Willow necklace in the book on Willow Lake. But did we have any actual proof of that—besides her word?
And another thing… how was she so familiar with the value of the mansion’s antiques? Was it simply for insurance purposes? Shouldn’t she be more focused on their historical significance?
Then came the most disturbing realization of all.
Edna was the only one who knew my mom and I was at Willow Mansion the day my mom was attacked. Had she tipped off Jones? Had he been working with her all along?
I thought back to when I first met her at the garden center—the same day I found Guy Braven unconscious in the greenhouse. Had she had something to do with that?
Did she know Guy had been squatting in the building on the Willow Mansion property?
But how could an elderly woman be involved with high-end thieves?
And then there was Waters.
Had he been working with her? If so, how had he died broke? Wouldn’t he have squirreled money away? Or… was that why Amy hadn’t been able to find any secret bank accounts in other countries connected to him?
Had he simply spent money as fast as he got it?
I had endless questions, but I couldn’t pursue them now—not with Kelly here. I wasn’t about to put her in danger.
I glanced toward Mo, who was sniffing around the truck. I called him over in an urgent whisper.
“Stay by the truck, Mo. We have to go.”
Mo’s ears perked up, and he obediently sat, waiting.
I grabbed the last item and hurried inside, only to freeze in my tracks.
Kelly was standing—her eyes wide, her expression stunned.
A puddle of water pooled at her feet.
“My water broke,” she whispered, looking completely shocked.
My stomach flipped. Oh no.
“Okay,” I said, forcing calm into my voice. “I’m getting you to the hospital.”
I rushed to her side, wrapping an arm around her to guide her toward the door. My heart pounded as we neared the exit. I just needed to get Kelly out of here, away from Edna, before?—
A figure stepped in front of us… Edna, and she was holding a gun.
Before I could react, she swung the door shut behind her.
“Sorry, Pepper,” she said, her voice calm. “But I can’t let you do that.”
She slammed the second door shut and turned the lock.
I yelled out, “HELP, MO, HELP!”
Edna didn’t flinch. Instead, she smiled and shook her head. “I’m so glad Ignatius Willow built this mansion a distance from town. By the time your dog brings help, it’ll be too late. And I’ll be long gone.”
I didn’t bother telling her about the text I’d sent Amy.
Kelly moaned beside me, shaking. “What’s going on?”
Edna sighed. “Your sister-in-law is too smart for her own good.”
I was so tired of hearing that.
Edna pointed the gun at me. “What made you realize it was me?”
I needed to stall her. Mo would be running for help by now. If I could just buy us time, there was a chance I could get Kelly out of here safely.
I squared my shoulders. “You tipped your hand when you told Kelly that Waters died penniless. How could you possibly know that? Amy and I had just found out. And wouldn’t you have assumed he had money, considering he embezzled from the historical society?”
Edna’s expression didn’t change.
“And then there’s your precise knowledge of the mansion’s antiques,” I continued. “Not to mention my mom’s attack. Did you call Jones after you left us that day?”
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
“The idiot was tasked with finding Waters’ keys,” she muttered.
I nodded slowly. “So, you could break into the Mercantile.”
Kelly whimpered beside me, gripping my arm. I could feel her trembling. She was scared—rightfully so. I had to get her out of here safely. Because if Edna didn’t kill me, my brother Danny would for failing to protect his wife and unborn child.
Edna scoffed. “Please. I don’t need a key to get past a lock.”
A realization slammed into me so hard I blurted it out before I could stop myself.
“You’re The Shadow?”
Edna let out a small chuckle. “A logical guess,” she admitted. “But no. I was the brilliant mind behind The Shadow.” Her lips curved slightly. “That title belonged to my husband, Henry. God rest his soul.”
She spoke with pride.
I wasn’t sure what unnerved me more—her complete calmness or the fact that she truly seemed to think this was all just business as usual.
“We had a good life together,” she continued. “My brilliant planning, his talent for disguise, and his almost supernatural ability to slip in and out of places no one thought a human could fit.”
“Like a rat,” I muttered.
Edna’s expression darkened.
“My Henry was no rat,” she snapped. “He was a brilliant thief who never got caught.”
My mind spun faster. If Henry was The Shadow, then that meant—Guy Braven.
I stared at her. “His son inherited his talent.”
Edna’s eyes gleamed. “Every bit of it. And then some.”
A slow, cold realization settled in my gut.
“And a son would never sell out his mother,” I murmured.
Edna’s smile returned. “Never,” she agreed. “He told the Feds what they wanted to hear… and then he slipped away.”
Her grip on the gun tightened.
“And now,” she said, “he’s come to me—because he knows I can make us disappear.”
“Why come here—to Willow Lake—to begin with?” I asked. “Why not some exotic place to live out your days?”
“I needed an average, but kind of no-nothing place to stay for a while to give me time to regroup and to give my son time on his own to see if he wanted to continue in his dad’s footsteps. I knew he’d want to see if he could make it on his own and I knew he’d realize soon enough that he needed me. I was about to contact him, bored out of my mind here, when he contacted me. Waters embezzling was a gift I couldn’t resist.” Edna motioned with the gun. “Enough talk. Start walking.”
I tightened my grip on Kelly, helping her move, though my mind raced ahead. How do I stall? How do I get us out of this? Mo was fast, but time was working against us.
“Where are we going?” I asked, buying every second I could.
“You’ll see soon enough,” Edna said. “Now keep moving.”
I kept my voice casual. “You know, for someone as brilliant as you claim to be, I can’t believe you left a trail like this.”
Her jaw clenched. “I didn’t.”
“Sure, you did,” I pressed. “I just had to connect the dots. You knew Waters was embezzling. That’s how you blackmailed him into working for you.”
Kelly let out a quiet moan, gripping my arm tighter. I squeezed her hand in reassurance.
Edna let out a slow breath, then shrugged. “Might as well know the truth. I realized what Waters was doing before he did. He wasn’t exactly a mastermind. All I had to do was let him believe he was. The man had no self-control—his greed always got the better of him.”
“So, you blackmailed him,” I said.
“He was perfect for it,” she admitted. “He spent his life hunting treasure. And what does a treasure hunter do? Case locations. He was already researching places that held valuables, already traveling. All he had to do was take it a step further—gather information on security, vulnerabilities, things my son could use.”
“And in exchange, you let him keep skimming from the historical society,” I guessed.
Edna smiled slightly. “See? Smart girl.”
I ignored the compliment. “Then what happened?”
Edna’s face darkened. “He got sloppy. He stopped thinking of it as a partnership and stupidly thought he could steal some items himself.”
“Waters is the one who slipped those gold coins into Anderson’s luggage,” I said, the realization hitting me.
“By sheer stupidity.” Edna scoffed. “Anderson was supposed to hitch a ride with a friend on a private plane, and since private planes have their own security checks, Waters didn’t think it would be an issue. Unfortunately for him, Anderson wound up taking a regular flight. The fool opened a whole can of worms with that dumb move.”
“That made Waters even more desperate for money,” I said, keeping her talking.
“Exactly. He demanded more money—upfront—before he’d give us the last two locations we needed. Desperate and broke don’t mix well.”
I tilted my head. “Why not just pay him and be done with it?”
Edna let out a sharp laugh. “A mastermind like me, submitting to his demands? You must be joking.” A cold smile curved her lips. “What do you think gave him the heart attack?”
I swallowed, my stomach churning. “Quite convenient.”
She rolled her eyes. “No, Pepper. I didn’t kill him. But I wasn’t exactly devastated by the news.”
I pushed through the revulsion creeping over me. “So, you sent Jones on a wild goose chase when you already had what you wanted. You tipped him off about my mom being at the mansion, and she got hurt for no reason at all.”
Edna gave me a look of mock sympathy. “Oh, Pepper. You and your mother are so nosy. I couldn’t afford you digging around. So, I misdirected you. You worried me the first time we met at the garden center. I feared you might have seen my son and me together though we had taken precautions. Then I spotted Jones and worried that he might hurt my son again.”
“Your son had a message for you that day,” I said. “I found the slip of paper. It read not there. But I see now that it had nothing to do with treasure. You thought Waters may have hidden what you were looking for in the mausoleum and it was the first place you had your son look.”
“Too smart. Too nosey. Too annoying,” she snapped.
“You really must have gotten upset when you found out that I was nosing around the mansion’s backyard and came across your son’s makeshift hidey-hole.”
She looked like she wanted to shoot me there and then.
“I wish I had time to pay your mom a visit before I leave this boring town and see that she gets what she deserves for bringing you to the museum and causing a whole host of trouble.”
I really, really hated this woman.
“But I will see that you get what you deserve, just as I made sure the man who assaulted my son three times got what he deserved.”
I blinked. “Jones is the one who attacked your son in the Treetop parking lot?”
“He is,” Edna said, her tone suddenly sharper. “The fool bragged about it to me, not knowing that Guy was my son, thinking he was after the Willow treasure like Swatcher.”
I exhaled slowly. It all made sense now.
“So, when you found out Swatcher hired him, you made him an offer,” I said. “You paid Jones to find the information that you already had from Waters. Meanwhile, he was also feeding you intel on Swatcher’s movements.”
“So I could keep track of what those two were up to,” she confirmed.
“And then you waited for the right moment… to kill him,” I said.
Kelly gasped.
I felt her stiffen beside me, clutching my arm. She understood exactly what I had just done—I had forced Edna to confirm she was a killer.
If Edna could kill Jones, she’d have no problem killing us.
A slow, pleased smile spread across Edna’s face. “As I said I made sure he got what he deserved. He never saw it coming. I stabbed him as soon as he stepped out of the tunnel, and he went down hard. Then I kept stabbing him.”
My stomach twisted.
“And when I knew he was close to death,” she continued, her voice filled with satisfaction, “I made sure to let the fool know that he was paying with his life for what he had done to my son.”
Kelly whimpered beside me, her body trembling. I could feel her weight pressing into me, her fear mixing with the pain of her impending labor.
We were running out of time.
I had to do something and… NOW.