Page 74 of Hold a Candle

“Aye, the hatchery was nothing but ashes when the task force went in last night. No evidence that drugs had ever been there. Whoever cleaned up did a good job,” he admitted. “And ye could practically eat off the basement floor at Hope Barks. No evidence of drugs there either, according to Quinn. The task force is beside themselves, and Quinn is really pissed at losing Florence. Juice, he understands, but he’s still down two constables. And Florence leaves behind a kid. He’s feeling like a right failure for not investigating Juice more deeply.”

“I guess we were wrong about Florence,” Jamie added, his brows creased in a frown.

“Mayhap,” Pauley replied. “Then again, mayhap we weren’t, and her failure to clean up loose ends made her one.”

“I’ve been thinking about that, Pauley,” Mica said. “And the more I think about it, the more I think Luca was a distraction. Maybe Belton, too. A way to divide police resources and keep everyone off balance.”

“But isn’t Belton the one who helped Tommie and Arthur unload a shipment of drugs into the animal shelter the night Tommie chased Luca?” Pauley argued.

Mica hesitated. “About that...the van has disappeared completely. It wasn’t at the hatchery, and they haven’t found it burned out anywhere. Most likely, it’s been repainted and relocated somewhere else. There is no proof of what they were hauling that night, either.

I already talked to Belton earlier, and he said he never saw what was in the boxes. They were marked as cans of cat and dog food. And with both Tommie and Arthur dead, the drugs they were supplying Belton with dried up.

To be on the safe side though, ye need to keep Luca and Belton there, at least through today. Tomorrow is Luca’s hearing, but unless something else happens, I think it’s safe to say he doesn’t know enough about anything to cause anyone problems. Belton selling a few drugs to help his mother out isn’t going to go anywhere either,” he added. “I talked to Eva and she was appalled, or so she acted, that anyone had been selling drugs on her premises. Belton will need to find a new job when he gets back.”

“How does she explain the truck at her place of business at night?” Pauley growled.

“She said they get deliveries of donated animal food every now and then,” he replied. “Sometimes companies will deliver at night because it’s quieter and it won’t disturb the foot traffic of people and animals coming to the shelter during the day. That was one of Belton’s jobs, to handle any night deliveries.”

“I can see that,” Pauley admitted grudgingly. “There are plenty of night deliveries at other businesses for some of the same reasons.”

“We both know Tommie and Arthur weren’t delivering donated animal food,” Mica growled, “but proving it is the problem. Eva said she didn’t recognize those two men, but that didn’t mean anything. She rarely saw any of the night deliveries. That’s what she has staff for, so she doesn’t have to. Plus, Belton didn’t actually know what was in the cargo. They gave him his drugs to sell on other occasions.”

“And Tommie and Arthur are dead ends,” Jamie said with a nod.

Pauley was actually relieved. “If that’s all true, then I’m glad,” she replied with a sigh. “I’d hate to see anything happen to Belton or Luca. They are just kids. I hope ye are right, Mica, and it’s almost over with. Belton will have to pay for his mistake, but I’m sure the courts will be lenient given the situation with his sister. It’s better than being dead.”

“I agree. I’ll let you know if I find out anything else.”

Mica hung up and Pauley looked over at Jamie. “Well, I think it’s almost over.”

Jamie nodded and looked around. “The sun is already starting to creep over the horizon.” He stiffened suddenly; his gaze drawn to the back of the barn near where they’d been earlier.

Her flesh suddenly goose-pimpled at his intense gaze. “Jamie, what is it?” she whispered, flicking her head around to follow his eyes. She searched the darker recesses of the hayloft, but all she saw was some wispy cobwebs floating in the air as they spun slowly in the beginning morning breeze.

Jamie’s eyes refocused on hers. “I-It looked like Simon again,” he grunted, “except this time, he just grinned and waved before he turned back into a cobweb.” He shook his head as if to clear it, and looked again. “There really is nothing there,” he murmured. “Do ye think I’m crazy?”

Pauley smiled, her heart feeling warm and soft for this man. “I think it’s whatever ye wish it to be,” she said simply. “Mayhap it was Simon, letting ye know that he won’t be back after this. Mayhap it was yerself looking for a goodbye since ye might have achieved whatever peace ye thought he wanted ye to have.”

Jamie looked around with a sudden shiver. “Do ye suppose he was listening to us?”

“I don’t think the spirits have to listen to us to know what’s in our hearts,” Pauley replied.

“Then ye do believe in spirits?”

“Do ye?”

He nodded his head. “Aye, I think I do. But I’m no wanting them to come visiting me.”

“And maybe he’s through playing pranks on ye for now,” she teased. “I don’t know about ye, but I’m ready for some breakfast. Shall we go make some for everyone? Or do ye think Lucerne will be up early and already cooking?”

Jamie stood up and held out his hand to pull Pauley up and into his arms. “Under normal circumstances, I’d say Lucerne would be up and getting her skillets out. But knowing her protective husband and the night we had last night, I’d say she won’t be allowed to set one toe on the floor this morning.”

Pauley yawned. “I don’t know how much sleep everyone else got last night, but after breakfast, I’m ready for at least a couple of hours.”

In the kitchen, they found Darro and Angus at the table sipping on some coffee, but no one else was up.

“And just where have ye two been all night?” Angus teased, although he looked about as tired as Pauley felt.

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