Chapter 33
Drew’s stomach twisted in a knot. Could Scott really keep him safe? Tori too? And maybe find the person who killed Jenny? Drew picked up a rock and tossed it toward the water. “How well did you know Jenny?”
Scott leaned back on the rock. “Probably as well as I know anyone at church. I admired her and always figured she was one of those what-you-see-is-what-you-get people.”
“Yeah. Jenny was always straightforward, and she never put on airs. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her when Mom died.
Last week she came over to the house and made sure I had clean clothes.
Dad too.” Drew picked up another rock and ran his thumb over the rough surface.
“She changed this last year, but I don’t think anyone else noticed it. ”
“What do you mean?”
“Something seemed to be bothering her, but she wouldn’t tell me what it was. Said it was an adult thing.” He chewed his lip. “She called me that night. Asked me to bring something to her.”
“Bring what?”
Drew turned and stared out toward the water. There were no boats out there now, and the lake was flat, but he knew beneath the placid waters the current could grab you and pull you under.
“Drew?”
“She’d put something in a secret place I showed her and wanted me to bring it to her. The thing is . . . When I looked where she told me, there was all this money. Bundles of hundred dollar bills.”
“What?” Scott sat up straight. “Are you sure?”
“I know what money looks like.”
“Sorry, it’s just I don’t understand.”
“You and me both.” He turned to face Scott. “Where’d she get it? I can’t believe she did anything illegal,” he said, his voice cracking.
“That’s what you were doing in her neighborhood, taking the money to her?”
Drew nodded. “We were supposed to meet at this house she’d been taking care of, and I was going to ask where she got it, but she never came. So I walked to her house.”
“Was she dead when you got there?”
“Yeah,” he whispered. Drew closed his eyes, remembering the scene, and shuddered. “I never got a chance to ask her.”
He felt Scott’s hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry. That was a bad thing for you to go through. Why didn’t you tell Ben Logan?”
Because Ben would ask if he found his dad’s gun at the house, and he would’ve known Drew was lying if he said no. His heart raced. “I couldn’t.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I-I just can’t.” He looked at Scott. “What if Jenny was killed because of the money? They might kill me and my family.”
“Not if you turn it in. Where is it?”
“In a safe place.” He had to move the gun before he told anyone where he’d hidden it.
“Drew, you need to—”
He froze, knowing what Scott was about to say. “No, you promised you wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“You know Tori is investigating Jenny’s shooting because she’s afraid you might be arrested. What if she stumbled into this person and—”
“But I don’t know who it is.” He wished he hadn’t told Scott anything. Drew pressed his thumb against the sharp edge of the rock, drawing blood. What if Tori crossed paths with whoever Jenny got the money from? The person might hurt her . . . or worse.
“Maybe Tori and I can work together and solve this.”
Drew wished he could believe Scott, that they could solve it. But Jenny’s murderer had killed once . . . it wouldn’t bother them to kill again.