Dirty Money

by Denise Grover Swank

  “I don’t think so,” I said, dropping my arm and returning to the cutting board. “It’s called guardin’ your heart. And the whole reason you’re here is because your heart was broken.”

  “Yeah…” She shot me a worried look. “How are you doin’ with the news of Rose’s pregnancy?”

  My face burned with humiliation. She clearly knew how I’d reacted to the news that first night.

  She put her knife down and turned to face me. “Don’t you be embarrassed, Neely Kate. Your reaction was perfectly normal.”

  “Rose needed me to be supportive and I abandoned her.”

  “She was surrounded by people who love her, and she was worried about you.” Her voice lowered as she asked, “Now really. How are you doing?”

  I started to tell her fine, but the sincerity in her eyes cut me short. “Some moments I’m so happy for her I could bust. Others I feel like cryin’. Thankfully those come when I’m not with her, maybe because I’m so worried about her. She’s just so…beaten down. I’ve never seen her like this—not even after Joe or Mason left her last year—and it worries me.”

  “Losin’ a sister is different than havin’ a man leave you,” Carly said with a distant look. “Rose had had Violet her entire life and she’d only had those men for a few months.”

  When she put it like that, it made perfect sense.

  “Don’t feel ashamed when you feel bad about Rose’s pregnancy,” Carly insisted as she resumed her chopping. “You’re entitled to those feelings, and trust me, Rose understands.”

  “How do you know so much about how it feels?” I asked, narrowing my eyes to study her.

  “I’ve never suffered with infertility, if that’s what you’re asking,” she said with a smile. “But my friend Amy has been trying to get pregnant for five years. I saw how upset she was when our other friend told us in person that she was pregnant. The more Amy tried to ignore the way she felt, the worse it became. I could tell it was twisting her up inside, so I finally sat her down and told her I was a vault and what she told me would never be revealed. We drank two bottles of wine and she told me every single bit of pain and jealousy and sorrow she felt, and do you know what?” She gave me an understanding look. “She felt better when she was done. She let all that negative stuff out, and it was easier for her to be happy for our friend.” She paused. “I know you don’t know me very well, Neely Kate, but I can be that person for you if you need one. Jed’s probably giving you all the support you need, but if you ever need someone else, I’m here.”

  I set my peeler on the counter and turned to study her with new eyes. “Why did you really run, Carly?”

  She froze and her face paled.

  “You had friends—really good friends—yet you’re hiding here in Henryetta, Arkansas. Something happened to make you run, and I know it’s more than finding out your fiancé tricked you. Why are you really here?”

  She stared at me with wide eyes, taking a step back.

  “Don’t be scared,” I said softly. “You have to know I only want to help you.”

  I heard the front door open and Jed said, “Hey, Muffy.”

  Ordinarily I loved it when Jed walked into a room, but this time I cursed his bad timing as he entered the kitchen.

  He took one look at the two of us and his guard went up. “Everything okay in here?”

  Carly’s hands shook as she glanced from him to me. She took another step back.

  “Carly,” I pleaded. “Please let us help you.”

  Her mouth opened, but one look at Jed, and she clammed right up again.

  “We know something bad happened,” Jed said in a soothing tone, obviously picking up on what was going on. “We want to help you, but we need to know what you’re running from.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “I can’t go to the police.”

  “No one said you had to,” Jed said. “I think by now you’ve figured out that we’re not dial 911 first kind of people.” He tilted his head toward her. “I can help you, Carly. But you have to let me.”

  “I don’t know,” she said as a tear fell down her cheek. “I’m scared.”

  “I know,” I said, taking a step closer and reaching for her hand. I took it as a good sign when she didn’t pull away. “If anyone can help you, we can. But Jed’s right. We can’t help if we don’t know what happened.” When she remained silent, I asked, “Did you do something you’re afraid will get you into trouble?”

  She shook her head.

  “Did you see something, Carly?” Jed asked.

  She turned her eyes to his and, after a few seconds of hesitation, nodded.

  “It had to do with your dad, didn’t it?” he asked.

  She nodded again.

  “Are you afraid for your life?” Jed asked with a little more firmness than before.

  She hesitated, as though unsure how to answer, then nodded.

  I gave her an encouraging smile. “That wasn’t so bad, right? Just like you did with your friend Amy, I bet it felt good to finally admit it.”

  Her chin trembled. She looked close to breaking down when I heard Joe’s voice call out, “Something smells good.”

  Carly’s eyes flew wide and she whispered, “You can’t tell Joe. Swear it!”

  “We won’t,” I assured her, giving her hand a squeeze.

  “You’re in charge of who knows and what we do with it,” Jed assured her.

  I wondered what she might have told us if Joe hadn’t come home just then.

  Chapter 9

  I sent Carly up to check on Rose, figuring it would also give her a moment to get herself together. She walked past Joe without a word as he entered the kitchen.

  “Is Carly all right?” he asked and threw a glance over his shoulder.

  “She’s upset over Violet,” I said, returning to the salad prep. “And she’s checking on Rose.”

  “And how’s Rose doin’?” he asked, still looking back toward the living room.

  “Honestly, Joe?” I said. “I’m not sure. She was exhausted after we left the attorney’s office, but it was more than that. It was like she’s beaten down.”

  “She just buried her sister and found out she was pregnant in a matter of days. I suppose that’s to be expected. The missing envelope won’t have helped, not to mention she likely feels like the evil aunt who stole her niece and nephew’s inheritance.” But he didn’t look convinced.

  “Keep an eye on her,” Jed said to me. “Maybe she needs to get out of town for a few days to clear her head.”

  “I already offered to take her up to Hot Springs for a girls’ spa trip,” I said, “but she doesn’t want to leave town.”

  Joe stared at us both. “Can she leave town?” His expression was troubled, maybe even pissed.

  Neither one of us said anything.

  “You’ve got her mixed up in something that I suspect is diggin’ her deeper into trouble instead of pullin’ her out of it.”

  “It wasn’t our decision, Joe,” I insisted. “It was hers.”

  “Made under duress,” he said sharply.

  “Rose makes her own decisions,” Jed insisted. “This wasn’t my idea, but I supported it.” Joe started to protest, but Jed held up a hand. “Hear me out.”

  “Okay, but I think I’m gonna need a beer first.” Joe walked over to the fridge and grabbed a couple of bottles of beer. He offered one to Jed, who took it with a look of surprise. They’d come a long way, but this gesture implied a new level of comfort.

  Joe sat at the table, beer in hand, and nodded to the chair across from him.

  “Rose is part of this world,” Jed said as he sat, “whether any of us like it or not. That’s a fact. But she hasn’t done anything that will come back to haunt her. It won’t surprise you to hear she’s not interested in taking part in illegal activities. She’s in this for the good of the county, and these people respect her neutrality. They come to her for help. She takes that very seriously.”

  Joe paused. “What do you mea
n people come to her for help?”

  “A boy came to her for help after he was shot,” I said. “People were lookin’ for him and she got him medical care and protected him until she could clear his name.” I didn’t go out of my way to tell him it was Marshall.

  “You’re tellin’ me she gave aid to a kid with a gunshot wound? How the hell did she take care of that?”

  “She’s resourceful,” I said. “Leave it at that.” When he didn’t press for more answers, I said, “Buck Reynolds asked her to find Scooter Malcolm to clear his name. And a woman came to her for help just last week, asking for protection from another criminal who thought she had something he wanted. We helped her too.”

  Joe’s eyes bugged out. “We? You’re involved in this too?” He pushed out a sigh. “Of course you are.”

  “She’s makin’ a difference, Joe. Word is spreading that she can work out sticky situations to the benefit of everyone.”

  Joe pointed his finger at me. “And that right there is why I’m worried. Sometimes there are people who don’t want things worked out. They don’t want a mediator in their midst.” He took another sip of his beer. “If she shows any kind of authority in that world, it makes her a threat to the people who aim to control it.”

  Jed and I remained silent. We’d talked about this.

  “Hardshaw’s slippin’ tentacles all over the county,” Jed finally said. “The police department, the prescription drug ring, and I suspect they had their hand in the attempts to start a prostitution ring. It won’t be long before they move in like a bulldozer, and they’re likely to go for the one person who that can unite us all.”

  Joe’s face reddened. “I was right. She’s in more danger than ever.”

  “Maybe,” Jed admitted, “but I suspect she would have been a target for them regardless—she’s soothed too many criminals’ egos to escape Hardshaw’s notice, and the fact she was associated with Skeeter and now isn’t… They’ll see her as a double enemy. She’s a sitting duck, Joe. This is the only way I know to protect her.”

  “How in God’s name would they have found out?” Joe asked, getting angry.

  “I suspect they have people all over the county reporting back to them.”

  Joe sat up straighter. “What makes you say that?”

  Jed shot a glance to me, silently communicating it was time for me to take over.

  “Ronnie worked for Hardshaw,” I said.

  Joe stared straight at me. “How the hell do you know that?”

  It was then that I realized my mistake. I hadn’t told Joe about anything I’d learned today. “Because Kate called me this afternoon.”

  He shot out of his chair. “What?”

  “Don’t be mad, Joe,” I pleaded, looking up at him.

  His gaze narrowed. “Was this before or after I saw you at the attorney’s office?”

  Shame washed through me. “Before.”

  “And you didn’t bother to tell me.” The pain was evident in his voice.

  I bolted out of my chair and practically threw myself at him, pulling him into a hug. Liquid fear shot through my veins when he kept his arms to his sides. “It wasn’t like that, Joe. I swear. I was more worried about Rose and what Violet could have left her, not to mention it wasn’t the kind of thing I wanted to talk about in public. I needed to wait until we were alone.”

  “Are you in danger?” he asked, his body relaxing as his arms wrapped around me.

  I rested my cheek on his chest, relief pouring through me. He wasn’t leaving me. I hadn’t turned him away. “No. She called with information.”

  “About Ronnie?”

  I dropped my hold and looked up at him. “Yes.”

  His jaw clenched and he sat back down. “And?”

  “Before I tell you about Hardshaw, I need to tell you something else first.”

  “Okay…”

  I didn’t blame him for his leery tone. He knew our sister even better than I did. “Ronnie’s married. Kate sent me his marriage license.”

  His eyes widened. “So he really did marry someone else without divorcing you first?”

  “Actually, it’s the reverse,” I said. “Ronnie was married when he married me.”

  “What?” Rose asked from behind me. “How did you find that out?”

  Cringing, I turned back to face her. I was glad she was here so I didn’t have to share the story twice, but I would have liked to spare her my own issues right now. Then I saw the look on her face, the same one she got when she decided to jump feet first into an investigation, and I realized she’d much rather deal with my issues than stew in her own. I wasn’t sure that was healthy, but there would be no dissuading her. I’d make sure Jonah talked to her soon.

  “Kate,” I said, deciding it would be better if I pushed on through. “She called me this afternoon.”

  Rose walked into the kitchen and sat down on the other side of Jed, but Carly hesitated in the doorway.

  “You’re welcome to come listen,” I told her. “You’re part of this too.”

  She walked into the room, flashing me a grateful smile, and took a seat on the other side of Joe.

  I told them all about Ronnie’s marriage certificate and the fact that there was no record of a divorce. Rose insisted we couldn’t take Kate’s word for it, but Joe and I both thought we could trust her information. Jed agreed—in all the times we’d visited Kate in the psych ward, she’d always told the truth.

  “So you’re not married,” Rose said.

  “No.”

  She stared at me in disbelief. “I don’t believe it.”

  “I can’t either.” Then I added, “But there’s more.”

  “Okay,” she said, looking nervous.

  “Ronnie was working for Hardshaw.”

  “Kate told you that?” she asked, sounding incredulous.

  “Yes,” I said, “and it makes sense. When Ronnie was seventeen—before he moved to Henryetta for the first time his senior year—he was arrested with a guy who’s associated with Hardshaw. She thinks they coerced him into cooperating with them.”

  “Was he here because of you?” Joe asked. “Or was that a coincidence?”

  “I think he came here for her,” Jed answered. “It’s too much of a coincidence otherwise.”

  My face burned in embarrassment.

  “They may have sent him to keep an eye on her, but he cared about her,” Rose said softly, giving me an encouraging smile. “I saw how he looked at her and how he treated her. If he was coerced into it, it wasn’t a hardship for him.”

  Thank you, I mouthed.

  “I only speak the truth,” she said.

  “It still doesn’t make any sense,” Joe said. “Why send Ronnie if he was married? Why send him at all? What did they want from you? He came to town before Kate went to Ardmore.”

  “Exactly,” I agreed. “He never questioned me about my time in Oklahoma and he sure didn’t ask about the money, but Kate seemed to think he left town after Gentry’s fall because Hardshaw wasn’t happy with his level of communication about me.”

  “How does Kate know any of this at all?” Carly asked, sounding embarrassed to butt in.

  Jed, Joe, and I remained silent long enough that Rose became suspicious. “What are you not telling us?”

  “We think Kate had some kind of in with Hardshaw,” I said. “I think she was working with them while she was gone those two years after her fiancé died.”

  “Why would she be workin’ with Hardshaw?” Rose asked.

  I shook my head. “Your guess is as good as mine, but she seemed like our best hope of findin’ out why they were interested in me.”

  “Which is why you let her go,” Rose said, putting the pieces together.

  She was right. Although we’d told the authorities Kate had escaped after her murder spree, we’d let her go. That hadn’t been the plan, but Joe and Jed had been adamant about protecting me from Hardshaw—and Kate seemed to have the ability, and desire, to do that.

&n
bsp; I’d relived that moment many times over, and there wasn’t a day that I didn’t question that selfish decision. Had Kate hurt innocent people because I’d given my sister her freedom? Could I live with the guilt if she had?

  “I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” Jed said in a firm tone. “If it means protecting Neely Kate.”

  “Do you think she knows more she’s not saying?” Rose asked.

  “I’m sure of it,” Joe said. “But knowing our sister, she’ll tell us in her own time and in her own fashion.”

  Since Kate tended to prefer drama, her “fashion” was exactly what had me so worried.

  Chapter 10

  Carly got up and added spaghetti to the simmering pot of water on the stove, and Rose turned to Joe. “Did the techs get any prints from Mr. Gilliam’s safe?”

  “They did, but honestly, Rose, I’m not hopeful it will turn up anything.”

  “So we just give up?” she asked in outrage. “My sister had something important in that safe, and now we might not ever know what it was.”

  “I’ll do everything I can, darlin’,” he said. “Mr. Gilliam didn’t have surveillance cameras, but the insurance office next door did. I’ll go over their footage from the weekend first thing in the morning.”

  “Why not tonight?” she asked.

  He shot her a sad smile. “Trust me, I tried to get it tonight, but the company that runs it can’t get it until tomorrow morning. I’ll go through it myself.”

  “Thank you,” she said, looking exhausted again now that her anger had faded.

  “Rose,” he said, “I’m not gonna let this fall between the cracks. I’m gonna stay on top of this. I promise.”

  She nodded.

  We served dinner and the five of us tried to have a conversation that didn’t dwell on Ronnie, Hardshaw, Violet, or the missing envelope, but failed miserably. It was clear that Jed was biding his time until he could bring up why he’d summoned us for this dinner.

  Sure enough, as soon as everyone was finished, Jed pushed his plate a few inches toward the center of the table. “Joe,” he said, “we have to address something I don’t think you’re gonna like.” He glanced up at Rose. “I don’t think you’re gonna like it either.”