Mountain Men of Liberty (Complete Box Set)

by K. C. Crowne

  “So you weren’t outside James’ house the night he disappeared?”

  “No, I—I was out of the country, as I told the Feds.”

  “For how long?”

  “For almost a year.”

  “And you never came back to Liberty? Not at all during that time?”

  “I don’t have to answer these questions,” she sniffed. “You’re not a cop.”

  “No,” I said, leaning back in my chair and steeping my fingers, carefully studying her. “Yet you’re still here. You didn’t storm out after I mentioned your car. Why’s that?”

  “Because I want to know what happened to James as much as everyone else. He was my ex, yes, but I still cared about him.” Lauren kicked her chin out and stared me straight in the eyes.

  “You know what I think? You killed him because he wouldn’t take you back.”

  Lauren scoffed out a laugh. “Impossible. I wasn’t even in the country, as I’ve said several times.”

  “If that’s true, then why was your car outside of his place the night he disappeared?”

  “I didn’t even have my car at the time. My brother did because his was in the shop…” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized they had been a mistake. She clamped her jaw shut and refused to look at me.

  “So Alex was at James’ place? Why’s that?”

  “There’s no reason he should have been, and I don’t believe that my car was outside his house.” Her voice was weaker, less certain. She was hiding something, protecting her brother, but why? And from what?

  “We need to tell the police about this.”

  “I’m done here,” Lauren announced. She grabbed her purse, stood up, and hurried out of my office. I followed her, but she refused to say another word.

  I followed her all the way to her stupid car, which looked so out of place on the streets of Liberty. It would look out of place anywhere, which is exactly why Violet remembered it. And I believed her.

  Lauren got behind the wheel of her car and drove off. If she wouldn’t go to the police, it left me with very little choice. Luckily, the sheriff, Teddy, and I were old friends. I had his number stored in my phone. I trusted him more than the Feds, so I called him while standing out on the street.

  “Teddy, I think I have a break in the James Fitzhenry case.”

  I told him everything I knew.

  Jeremiah

  Amelia and Grace were on the floor for some belly time, as Piper called it. Amelia was the stronger of the two, her head lifting off the ground easily. Grace was still getting there, but she was working her hardest.

  I was on the floor with them, feeling a bit antsy. It had been a very long time since I’d spent this much time at home, not working. Even as a kid I was usually outside getting into trouble.

  I had an urge to work, but not at the mayor’s office. I wanted to build something. I’d made the girls’ beds and nursery furniture, but that was the last time I’d touched a project. As a single father, I didn’t have much time to do anything but care for Amelia and Grace.

  But no matter how antsy I got, I really wasn’t missing City Hall.

  A knock came at my door, followed by Elle’s voice. “Jeremiah, it’s me.”

  I wasn’t expecting her back so early. I got up and walked over to the door, keeping an eye on the girls as I did so. I opened the door, and as usual, Elle rushed into the house without so much as a greeting.

  “There’s a break in the case! I found something.”

  “Oh yeah?” I scratched my beard. “Was this the work thing from this morning?”

  “Yes. I met with Lauren and—”

  “Wait, you met with Lauren Holt? Why? This has nothing to do with the Holt family.”

  Elle smirked and shook her head at me. “That’s what you think. So while Lauren wasn’t in town, her brother had her car for a few days during the time of James’ disappearance. Something about his car being in the shop or something.”

  “Stop, Elle. We don’t even know if Violet’s testimony is correct. She’s not exactly a reliable witness.”

  “I know, I know,” she said with a sigh, walking over to the girls and sitting down beside them with a smile. But her eyes were on me. “You should have seen her response when I asked about it, though. She knows something. I alerted Teddy to everything and—”

  “What? You got the Holts pulled into this now too?”

  I clenched my fists at my side and paced across the room. My head was spinning. This was a mess, and the more Elle helped, the messier it would get. Dragging Lauren into this wouldn’t be good for anyone. I had to make her stop.

  “Oh come on, Jeremiah. It’s not like they’re saints or anything. Even if they’re innocent, I don’t feel bad about having them investigated. I’m sure the police can find something in their shady ass background.”

  “Elle, please, I’m not going to ask you again. Let this go.”

  I couldn’t even look at her at first. I feared my anger would show on my face, and I never wanted her to see me like that. But she needed to listen to me.

  “I told you I’m not going to let this go. I’m doing this for you and the girls. And because you need to get re-elected, Jeremiah. Don’t you want that?”

  I turned on my heels. I was so fucking tired of that question. “What if I don’t want to get re-elected?”

  Elle’s eyes widened, and she seemed genuinely stunned by my answer. She hopped to her feet. “Wait a minute. You’re telling me you don’t want to be mayor?”

  “Are you surprised? I hate the public eye. I’m only doing this out of a sense of obligation.”

  “And because the alternative - George Holt - would destroy Liberty.”

  “I know,” I admitted, my voice softening. I closed my eyes. “It’s the only reason I haven’t stepped down. I know all this. Doesn’t mean I want it.”

  “Well you have to do this, Jeremiah.”

  My eyes popped back open. “If taking care of Liberty matters so much to you, why don’t you run for mayor yourself?”

  She gasped, at first acting like it was an insult. Then I watched as a realization fell over her face - maybe I’d meant it. Maybe I wasn’t being sarcastic. A lot of emotions crossed her face and in her eyes.

  I had initially spat it out in frustration, tired of being pressured. I’d been told for so long that there was no one else - and I’d believed it. But there was an alternative, and she was standing right in front of me.

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” Elle snorted. “Me? Mayor?”

  “Why not?”

  “Because…well, because I’m a journalist.”

  “Who’s whip smart and passionate about politics and this town. I can’t think of anyone better.”

  “Liberty has never had a woman mayor.”

  “You could be the first,” I said matter-of-factly.

  Elle began to pace around the room. I sat down by the girls, feeling calmer than I’d felt in a long while. Maybe there was a happy ending for all of us. As long as I didn’t end up in jail.

  “You’re joking,” she said again.

  I picked Amelia up in my arms, and the little girl cooed at me. “Not at all. I want to teach my girls that women can do anything men can do. Why wouldn’t I believe the same about you?”

  “Because…” She didn’t finish her thought.

  “I know it’s a shock, but think about it, Elle. But not too long. The deadline to register as a candidate is coming up. But as far as I’m aware, you meet all the requirements.”

  She turned and stared at me with a weird look on her face.

  I continued. “You attend every city council meeting for the paper already, you know what’s going on in the city government. You’ve made connections with local businesses; I guarantee they’d support you. You’re well-loved around here, Elle. You’ve lived here most of your life, bar the time you went away to college and interned. You’ve always had a passion for politics. You’re perfect.” And not just for the mayor’s pos
ition, I thought but didn’t say aloud.

  “I have to think about this,” she stammered. “I’m passionate about politics and Liberty, yes, but I always pictured myself working from the side lines. I can’t– I mean, I don’t know if I can do this right now. We have to clear your name…”

  “Those are excuses, Elle. I know you better than almost anyone, and I know when you’re doubting yourself. Stop it.

  “But the case, Jeremiah.”

  “I want you to lay off the case, Elle. I mean it.”

  “I can’t,” she said softly, shaking her head emphatically. “And it’s not just because I want you re-elected. I want to clear your name.”

  “I want my name cleared too, but you’re getting too close to this. I’m worried about you.”

  Amelia cooed and gurgled, causing Elle’s eyes to fall on the little girl instead of on me. The look on her face was so soft and full of love. She cared about my girls so much already. She cared about everyone. She had such a big heart.

  I had to get her to listen to reason.

  “I have to go. I have a lot to think about right now.”

  I didn’t stop her. I still had Amelia in my arms and couldn’t get up fast enough. She exited my house as quickly as she’d entered.

  I sighed, worried that maybe she was getting too close to this.

  No, no maybe. Clearly she was.

  And I needed to convince her to back off. Not just for her well-being, but all of ours.

  Ooo000ooo

  I fell into bed late that night. Even though I wasn’t getting much sleep lately, I knew that I’d probably have trouble falling asleep. No matter how tired I was, I couldn’t shut my brain off.

  Elle hadn’t returned my texts or calls, which wasn’t like her. I hadn’t heard from her since I’d told her to back off. I couldn’t help but worry about her.

  I glanced over and saw the photo on my desk, still flipped over, but I knew the image by heart. I closed my eyes and remembered that day very well.

  It was the day I’d decided I wanted kids of my own one day. Girls or boys, it didn’t matter. Elle hadn’t taken to fishing, sure, but that didn’t mean we had a bad time. She scrunched her nose up when we cleaned her little fish, and later felt bad about killing it. I saw the innocence and love in her eyes for all living things and I respected the hell out of it. So often, we get cynical and burnt out as adults. We forget about the beauty in nature, the beauty of life.

  I’d worked hard my entire life. I’d burnt out. Even back then, I worked hard and hardly ever played. But spending time with Elle back then had revitalized my soul in ways I never knew possible. I’d hoped I could father children of my own after that day. And I really wanted a little girl, just like her, if possible.

  And now I had two.

  I only hoped I’d be able to raise them as well as Carl raised Elle.

  I hoped I could be there for them.

  I opened my eyes and let out a deep sigh. It was so hard to reconcile the woman I was sleeping with and the little girl that tagged along adoringly after her dad. It still didn’t sit right with me if I thought too long and hard about it, but there was detachment in my head when she was around. It was like they were two totally different people.

  “I’m sorry, Carl.” I wasn’t sure if I said the words out loud or only in my head. Did it matter? It wasn’t like he could hear me anyway.

  I was apologizing not just for sleeping with his daughter - but that was a start. I was apologizing for dragging her into my mess. Not that I did much dragging; she threw herself into the pit all by herself. And deep down, I knew Carl would understand that part. He knew his daughter was hard-headed.

  But me sleeping with her? Well, that he might not ever forgive. Maybe I was wrong and he would be fine as long as she was happy and treated well. I’d never know the answer.

  But I'd do my best to take care of her.

  I laid there, with my eyes closed for what felt like an eternity. Eventually, I did fall asleep - but I wished I hadn’t.

  Elle was standing at the end of the aisle, dressed all in white. A fairy tale wedding for a real-life princess, because that’s what she was. A cathedral length veil fell down her back and covered the entire aisle. She turned and looked at me, her brown eyes so full of life. My eyes fell to her stomach.

  She was with child.

  And I was the groom, walking toward her.

  I stepped up on the altar, and I looked down at my feet.

  Blood. So much blood.

  Any happiness was short-lived, since when I looked back up to try and locate the source of the blood, Elle was gone.

  Her dress was on the ground in a heap.

  I rushed forward, thinking maybe she was in that heap of white dress and found a woman there.

  But it wasn’t Elle.

  It was Lauren.

  Her dead, unblinking eyes stared back at me. Blood dripped from her nose and mouth and the back of her head. So much blood. It covered the floor and stained the white dress red. Even though she was clearly dead, her lips moved, “You did this to me, Jeremiah. It’s your fault.”

  “I killed her for you, Jeremiah,” Elle’s voice spoke from behind me. “To clear your name.”

  I turned toward Elle, and the sweet girl that I remembered - the one from earlier with her eyes so full of hope and her belly with child - stared back at me with dark eyes. She was no longer pregnant. I glanced back at Lauren on the ground, her belly swollen with child. I’d been mistaken; it hadn’t been Elle all along. It had been Lauren.

  She was holding a knife covered in blood, wearing the same dress as earlier. The same one Lauren had been in.

  “Elle, no,” I stammered. “You don’t understand. It’s all a mistake. Lauren didn’t do anything.”

  “She’s a bad person,” Elle said, walking toward me.

  “This isn’t you.”

  “I’d do anything for you, Jeremiah. Anything.”

  Her hands reached out for me, pulling me from the floor. When her lips touched me, I felt nothing.

  I awoke with a start, sitting up in bed with sweat dripping down my brow. It was only four a.m. Still another couple hours, at least, before the girls would wake up for breakfast.

  Elle would never do anything like that, I told myself. And I knew she would never kill anyone, not even Lauren. But knowing that she would do anything for me, well, that idea frightened me.

  I climbed from my bed, knowing I wouldn’t be able to sleep anymore. I would get started on a project, something to keep my hands busy. My mind too.

  I knew that it was a nightmare, I knew Elle wasn’t capable of anything like it, but she was getting too close to this situation, and I had to stop her before she did something she couldn’t take back.

  Elle

  “I can’t believe I’m considering it,” I said, nibbling on a piece of lettuce from my salad. I’d mostly pushed my lunch around on my plate, only taking a bite here and there to pretend I was eating. I didn’t have much of an appetite.

  “I can,” Josie said, smiling at me across the table. “And I agree with him, you’re perfect.”

  “I’m not perfect.” I rolled my eyes. “Far from it, actually. I have no experience in politics.”

  “You’ve attended every single city council meeting.”

  “For the paper, yeah.”

  “But you know what’s happening in Liberty. Probably more than anyone else.”

  “It gives me authority to write on it, but to actually run the city government? That’s an entirely different set of skills.”

  “Which you have,” Josie pointed out, taking a bite of grilled chicken.

  “I don’t have experience running anything like that.”

  “You’ve run the paper for a while now.”

  “The paper is different, Josie. It’s totally different.”

  “Sure, but you’re a smart woman, Elle. You know how things work in the government, and I think you’d figure out anything you don’t already know f
airly easily. Everyone has to start somewhere. Do you think Jeremiah knew anything about city government before taking over?”

  “No, but…” I really didn’t have anything to finish that thought with. There was no but. She was right. He’d had no experience and even less knowledge of the government than I did.

  “Exactly.” Josie shrugged and offered an all-knowing smirk.

  “I don’t know. I’d have to act fast. The deadline to register as a candidate is coming up, and I’d need to get so much support in order to make it possible. Plus, I’d be running against Jeremiah.”

  “It sounds like he doesn’t really want it,” Josie commented. “I bet he’d drop out and support your run instead.”

  I opened my mouth to argue, to tell her that Jeremiah would never drop out. That he’d never give up on Liberty. And he wouldn’t give up on our town, no, but if he believed in me, I could see him backing me as a candidate.

  Which was just too much damn pressure. I rubbed my temples.

  “What is it?” Josie asked. “More nagging self-doubt?”

  “Always,” I muttered, dropping my hands. “It just seems too complicated. What would I do about the paper? I couldn’t do both at the same time.”

  Josie shrugged and gave me a look that said I wasn’t going to like what she was about to say. “Maybe it’s time to let the paper go. No one really reads print journalism anymore.”

  “I can’t do that. Liberty needs their local news. The larger sources don’t cover our small-town news.”

  “Right, but there are better ways to handle this. Perhaps an online paper?”

  “I couldn’t run it if I’m mayor.”

  “No, but I’m sure someone else could. Someone else in your office.”

  I bit into a cherry tomato, the explosion in my mouth a perfect metaphor for my life right now.

  “Come on, Elle. We both know how passionate you are about politics and this town, and even though you don’t say it, you’re looking for something more than writing about high school basketball games and the occasional small-town scandal. You’re smart, you deserve to do great things - and I think Liberty needs someone like you.”