Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
F irst thing the following Monday morning, Palmer parked his rental car next to his brother’s truck and got out to watch his crew unload the excavator.
“Morning.” He shook Parker’s hand and then took another sip of his coffee.
“Morning.” Parker leaned against his truck. “Now the fun begins.”
“You know it. I can’t wait to get in there and start working on the inside.”
“First things first. We’ve got to dig up the old pipes and replace them, along with the well.” Parker sighed.
“Yeah, all the hard stuff first.” He groaned. It was an ongoing joke between them. “So, Sophia had another run-in with Aaron and Leo. Well, more accurately, the brothers caused another ruckus on Friday night at the restaurant.” He turned to his brother. “It makes me realize how thankful I am that you took me in.” He held out his hand.
Parker smiled. “Don’t go getting all mushy on me this morning.” His brother shook his hand and then hugged him. “I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. The best day in my life was the day I was gifted a brother.”
“Isn’t this sweet. I can feel the brotherly love from across the field,” Larry, one of their crew members, said as he stomped the mud from his boots. “So, who wants to drive the excavator?”
“Me!” Palmer said as he pushed his brother out of the way and raced towards the machine. Parker laughed behind him.
Four hours on the excavator and not only had they exposed all the old plumbing pipes, but they had found at least four leaks along the way. The plumbers would spend the next few days replacing the old with new. After lunch, Parker took over the excavator and started digging a new well, while he and the rest of the crew got to work tearing down the old well house. The new well would be farther away from the edge of the cliff and closer to the barn. The old shack, which was half falling down, had to come down the rest of the way.
It didn’t take long. Some of the better pieces of wood were kept for a project Max would be doing in the barn.
By the end of the first day of work, the lighthouse property looked worse than when they’d arrived. He knew more than anyone that this was the norm. He and the crew were all caked in mud when they climbed into their trucks to head home.
“Need a ride?” Parker joked as Palmer tried to clean off before stepping into the rental car.
“No, thanks.” He shook his head. “I’ll get my truck back next week.” He sat and removed his muddy boots.
“Any other incidents?”
“None, you?” he asked, tossing his boots in a bag and shoving them in the back seat.
“No, but we’re still at the B&B until tomorrow night. Aiden assures me that they’re keeping an eye out for them.”
“Everyone in Pride is,” Palmer said. “See you tomorrow.” He climbed into the car. Thankfully, he’d brought a change of shoes, because he wanted to stop off and grab Sophia those flowers he’d wanted to get her all those days ago.
He took his time picking out her favorite flowers, white carnations, more than two dozen of them. He chose a bright multi-colored vase and had Suzie, Aiden’s wife, arrange them with a few green leafy plants.
He sent Sophia a text and told her that he’d pick them up takeout dinner from the Golden Oar and meet her at home.
One of his first jobs with his brother had been in the kitchens at the Oar. They had added shelving to their walk-in pantry. He and his brother had had a lot of good times at the place learning about one another. Growing, becoming brothers.
Not knowing each other for the first part of their lives made them appreciate their time together even more. He was thankful Sophia and Lucas had the same type of relationship. He could tell they loved one another.
Would their children, if they had any, be close? He hoped. For as long as he could remember, he’d sworn he’d never stop at just one kid. He’d been lonely growing up but had also been thankful his parents hadn’t put another kid through what he’d gone through.
He walked into the Golden Oar and went over to the bar area to order their takeout. He sat down and had a beer while he waited. During the next fifteen minutes, he caught up with a bunch of townspeople who came and went.
When he stepped outside with their food, he was feeling pretty good about his life, the town he lived in, and the woman he loved. Then he saw his mother standing next to his car and groaned.
Before he approached her, he sent a group text to Aiden, Nick, and his brother.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” he told her, setting his food inside his car. “Where’s your partner in crime?”
“I left him,” his mother said, crossing her arms over her chest. “He… wanted to do things, to cross lines I didn’t agree with.”
“You’ve played that card before,” he pointed out. “You tried to persuade Parker that you left him years ago.”
“No.” She shook her head, her hair flying everywhere. “This time it’s real.”
“Good for you then.” He watched her. “Have a nice life.” He moved to get into the car.
“I… need help. I… I’m not sure where to go.”
“You’re not getting a dime from me,” he answered quickly. “Or from Parker and his family.”
“I don’t want money. I never did. Jack was the one…” She shook her head. “I just want to see my grandkids. I want to make sure they’re okay. I’m tired. I want to have a normal life. You can talk to your brother for me, set everything up.”
“Right.” He laughed. “Why should I? There is no way I’d let you get within a hundred yards of those kids. After all, you were such a great mother. Just leave them alone.” He climbed in his car. “If I were you, I’d leave before the police get here.”
She glanced over her shoulder, and he could hear the sirens getting closer.
“You were always such a little terror. Both of you,” she hissed. She turned to go but stopped. “It’s true, though, your father is gone.” The way she said it made him believe it was true. At least for a second or two.
“Like I said, good for you,” he replied dryly.
He watched her walk over to a dark sedan and climb in and drive away. Moments later, Nick showed up.
“She left,” Palmer said and then quickly filled him in on what his mother had said and the car she was driving.
When he pulled into the garage, Sophia was waiting for him.
“Your brother called,” she started, but she stopped when she saw the flowers. “Oh, look at how beautiful.” She buried her face in them and then hugged him. “Thank you. Are these to make up for not calling me and telling me you had a run-in with your mother just now?”
He shook his head. “No, these are just because I should have gotten you flowers sooner.” He kissed her, then went back and grabbed their food. “Let’s eat outside,” he suggested. “I’ll fill you in.”
“Was it that bad?” she asked with a frown as he followed her through the house with Loki doing his “happy you’re home, Dad” dance between his legs.
“No, just…” He shrugged. “Same old tricks. She claims she’s left him.”
“That’s…” She set down the vase of flowers. “Good?”
“It’s a ruse. She told Parker that years ago, and then they attacked him and Sara.”
“You don’t think.” She glanced towards the door.
“No, I don’t think they’re going to attack us. Parker and Sara are back home tonight. They’re on high alert. Aiden and Nick and the rest of the police are going to drive by here and their place every hour for the next few nights just to be sure.” He set their food down and then hugged her tightly. “God, you smell so good,” he whispered. “You smell like home.”
She chuckled. “You smell like dirt and the ocean.”
“I’m sorry.” He started to pull away. “I’ll shower.”
“No. I like it. It’s…” She inhaled again. “Sexy.” She kissed him again and, suddenly, his hunger changed.
When he started walking her back towards the bedroom, she laughed and stopped him.
“Not that sexy.” She laughed as she held her hand against his chest. “Food first, shower, then…” She wiggled her eyebrows. “I’ll thank you properly for the flowers.”
“Hot damn, I’m bringing home flowers every night from now on.”
She laughed as she grabbed their food and took it out on the deck.
He tried to steer the conversation towards lighthearted topics but knew that she wanted more details about his run-in with his mother. They were just about to head inside when his phone rang.
“Hey,” he answered Parker’s call.
“Hey.” The tone of his brother’s voice had him sitting up.
“Is everything alright? Sara? The kids?” he asked, instantly worried. Sophia tapped his arm, and he placed the call on speaker.
“Yeah, we’re all okay. It’s… after you gave Nick the vehicle details for the car Mom was driving, they ran the plates.” His brother paused. “The car belonged to Jack’s sister, Josie. Palmer, they sent the police over to do a welfare check on her and… It’s not good.”
“What?” He frowned, thinking of the aunt that had tolerated his existence for a few years. He’d lived there with his cousins Everette and Caspian until he’d become too out of control for her to handle. Everette had been a year older than Palmer and Caspian a year younger. She may not have been the best aunt, but she’d been kinder than they had to him.
“They haven’t said much, other than they found her body.”
He stood up. His anger swirled with the pain in his gut. “What?”
“I’ll know more soon. They’re going to call—” He stopped and he could hear his brother talking to someone. “We’re heading back to Sara’s folks’ place for the night. Just… to stick close. Why don’t you and Sophia come too? They’ve cleared the guest rooms or there’s an empty cabin. Bring Loki too.”
He could hear the strain in his brother’s tone and, without thinking, agreed.
“Is that okay?” he asked after he hung up with his brother.
“Yes. I’ll go pack a bag.”
After tossing some clothes into a bag and packing up Loki’s food and his bed, they headed to the Jordan’s place. Pride’s Bed and Breakfast was another of the most popular businesses in the small town. People traveled from all over the world to stay in one of the small cabins that were nestled between the Jordan’s main house and the beach.
Since he knew he could ride with his brother the next day to work, they drove Sophia’s car.
She parked next to his brother’s truck in the parking area by the main house.
The Jordan’s house was a massive white two-story place. There were long green shutters on either side of picture windows that lined the front of the place. The front door was bright red with a brass knocker, and there were stained-glass windows on either side of the door. The house glowed invitingly in the darkened night.
There was a lit pathway off to the left that led towards the cabins. A couple cars were parked in the spots designated for the rentals.
Parker met them out front on the wide front porch and gave him a hug.
“I never met our aunt Josie before. Hell, I didn’t even know she existed before you came into my life, but I know she took care of you. I’m so sorry,” he said as he hugged him.
Palmer nodded, a wave of emotions causing his eyes to burn.
“Even though she sent me to the home, she was a good woman. She hated Jack and Joanne’s bullshit as much as we did.”
“When was the last time you talked to her?” Parker asked as they walked into the house.
“Shortly after I graduated school. I’m in closer contact with Everette and Caspian. I just texted them a few days ago.” He set his and Sophia’s bags down as Loki went to explore the house and play with the Jordan’s dog. “Casp lives in Edgeview. Rhett lives in Portland still, just a few blocks from his mother.”
“I feel bad that I’ve never met them.” Parker sighed. “Well, come on back. Megan’s made brownies. The kids are having hot fudge sundaes, and we’re watching Harry Potter for the millionth time.” He chuckled.
About an hour after they’d gotten there, Parker’s phone rang and he stepped out of the room to answer the call.
Loki was snuggled on the sofa fast asleep in Ellie’s arms. She’d tied a pink scarf around his neck, and the dog seemed to be very proud of his new wardrobe. The boys were arguing over the last brownie while Sophia, Megan, and Sara all chatted at the kitchen table.
Palmer followed his brother into Todd’s office and listened in to Aiden’s call.
“We’re both here,” Parker told Aiden.
“We’ve located your mother at the hotel in Edgeview. We’ve impounded the car and, from what she’s telling us, she had no clue of your aunt’s passing. The last she saw of Jack was yesterday morning,” Aiden said.
“Josie?” Palmer asked. “Was it natural causes?”
There was a long pause. “No, when they impounded the car, it was because there were signs of foul play.”
“Meaning?” Parker asked.
“Blood. A lot of it in the trunk and the passenger’s seat. Joanne claims to not know where the blood came from. Trust me when I say, there is no way she could have not seen it. We’re not sure all of it belongs to your aunt. Since she was found…” There was another pause. “I’m not sure how much I should be disclosing here. Since you’re my brother-in-law, I’m keeping you in the loop here.”
Aiden was married to Sara’s younger sister, Suzie, who owned Pride’s flower shop, All in Bloom. Suzie was Todd and Megan’s youngest daughter.
“Everything,” Palmer said. “Tell us everything. We can handle it.”
“Right.” Aiden sighed. “I’m friends with the CSI guys in Portland. Larry says that your aunt was killed in her bedroom. There is a trail of blood, like the body was moved, dragged, but then the trail stops. Like maybe they had been picked up at that point.”
“What does that mean?” Palmer asked.
“The blood in the car was in the passenger side and in the trunk. More blood in the seat than the trunk. The working theory is that the trunk’s blood will match your aunt’s. The rest isn’t making sense, yet. We’ll know more later but the main question at this time is who bled out in the passenger seat?”
“Have you found Jack?” Palmer asked after a moment.
“We’re looking. They’ve contacted your cousins. Both of them are safe.”
“Good,” Parker said and then turned to him. “Do you know anyone else who could have been with our aunt?”
He shook his head. “No, her husband died right before she sent me to the home. It’s one of the reasons she couldn’t handle three boys in her house. I’d gotten into trouble and she couldn’t afford me financially or emotionally.”
Parker nodded. “Keep us posted. We’re all staying at the B&B tonight.”
“Will do.” Aiden hung up.
Just then Todd walked into the office. “Any updates?”
They filled Todd, Megan, and Sophia in, all while trying to keep their voices low so the kids didn’t hear. By the time the kids were shuffled up to bed, they had all come up with ideas about what the blood in the car meant and why his mother was acting like nothing had happened. Like she wasn’t driving around in a vehicle that had, according to Aiden, amounts of blood so great that they were pretty sure whomever it belonged to was dead.
“Joanne is in custody, right?” Sara asked when she came back downstairs after making sure the kids were all settled.
“Yeah,” Palmer and Parker answered at the same time.
“So then all we have to worry about is Jack. You don’t think the blood belongs to him, do you?” she asked. The question threw everyone off, and they all went silent.