AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Harvey exhales a cloud of smoke, his gaze growing distant. “Your father is a good man. I knew that the first time he and his wife walked in here."
“The first time? When was that?” I ask.
He studies us for a moment, then nods. “Follow me.”
He leads us through a narrow hallway at the back of the shop, stopping at a door marked ‘Private.’
Inside, the room is cluttered with papers, old photographs, and maps. Harvey shuffles through a pile, pulling out a faded photograph of Pepper’s parents. It’s from a newspaper cutout.
“This is how I knew him. Nine years ago, Woods was on trial for money laundering. Case brought against him by Stern & Associates."
"A firm that made him a partner just two years earlier," I state, letting him know I know this case backward and forward.
"I only know 'bout what I read in the papers. I knew his face the moment he walked in here. Can tell just by looking at the couple they ain't do nothin' wrong."
"What did they come in here for?"
He gives me another hesitant look.
"Look, I know the man was framed. I'm just trying to clear his name so he can come home."
Harvey sighs. "He tried to do that himself but ran out of time. So, they were making a run for it. Came in here for camping supplies to… start a fire or whatnot," he pauses. "I had a better idea."
Charlie and I exchange a glance.
"I sold them a set of …let’s call them fireworks…told him how to use it on his car a mile down or so and then I'd give him and his lady a ride to the train station for their one-way ticket out of town. They'd lose a car, but at least no one would come looking for 'em."
"That doesn't explain where the bodies came from," I say, hoping I'm not pushing it with that when he'd already given us so much.
"Woods was hesitant to the idea. Afraid he might make a bigger explosion and start a forest fire or something. So I followed him in my truck and offered to do it for him safely…for a price. On the way to the location, we found a car wreck and stopped to help. The car wasn’t in bad shape, but the couple inside…dead on contact. No identification. Robert and I moved the bodies into his car. He and his wife took off in theirs."
Charlie gasps beside me.
“Where’ve they been all this time?”
He glares at me. “I know that if the wrong person finds out you’re looking for people presumed dead…”
“Yeah,” I nod. “We’re aware of the risks." I hand him another card. "In case they happen to stop by or…if you have a way of letting them know their daughter is getting married."
He takes it and nods.
"Thank you for your time.”
“Was that another dead end?” Charlie asks when get back in the car.
I shake my head. “Let’s hope not.” I pull her toward me and kiss the side of her head. “You did great.”
23
On Sunday night, I dab cologne on my neck after shaving. An extra step I never do before dinner with my family. Since Pepper started joining us, the only difference is we don’t curse as much.
It’s not entirely true. Since Pepper started joining our dinners, there’s been almost a guarantee that we won’t have a fight about Elliot, or the Inn, or what a piece of work Levi’s ex-wife is. It’s been as respectful as the four of us are capable of being.
And it’s been good for us.
After everything Chase has been through after Elliot’s death, it’s good to see him happy and settled. With someone like Pepper.
Now if we could find someone Levi is willing to put up with. Someone he could trust with not just his kid but his heart, we’d be golden.
