Chapter 30
“You can come and see Jewel anytime you want. Well, as long as I’m fostering her,” Brynn said as Chelsea slipped into her car.
“Thank you, Brynn. I’ll think over everything else, too,” she said, and started her car. Becky and Brynn waved as she pulled away.
Becky sighed. “I’m not sure how I feel about her, but we better get inside.” The skies were growing dark and the wind was whipping the trees around.
As they turned toward the house, Wes and Max were walking over from the guest house.
“What was she doing here?” Wes asked, not even bothering to say hello.
“Come inside and we’ll talk,” Brynn answered. He hesitated. “I’m not sure she should be anywhere around me.”
They went toward the house.
Becky opened the door. “We’ve got a plan.”
They entered through the door and into the house, spilling out into the living room.
Brynn recapped their plans with Chelsea.
“Clever,” said Max.
“Wait a minute,” Wes said. “It’s too dangerous. Some sophisticated hacker is out there trying to frame me for murder. I figure Chelsea has something to do with it. I don’t know what. But in any case, I’m uncomfortable with her being here.”
Brynn’s heart dropped. She should have thought about that. “Okay, I’m sorry. But it was a ruse. We’re not planning on doing any of this. We’re just digging for information.”
“Brynn, I realize you’re trying to help, but this is serious. I could go to prison for this murder.”
“A murder you didn’t commit,” Max chimed in. “And law enforcement is moving too slowly, if you ask me. Brynn’s trying to help. It’s a brilliant idea. I’m in. What can I do?”
“You are not in,” Wes said. “You’re going back to New York and finishing your internship. Dad is going back home and my lawyer will deal with this, without any help from Brynn.”
Duly scolded, Brynn sat with her hands in her lap.
Wes softened as he looked at Brynn. “You almost got yourself killed when you were investigating Gram’s murder. I won’t have it.”
He was right. What did she think she was doing?
“I’m sorry.”
“You need to focus on healing,” Wes said.
“Hear, hear,” Becky said. “Speaking of which, it’s pill time. I’ll go and get your next dose.”
Brynn didn’t want to take any more pills. She didn’t want her sister and others fussing over her. She wanted her life back—which included the happy Wes working around her kitchen, experimenting with cheese, or hunched over the computer intent on some project.
Or him hanging out and watching Downton Abbey with her.
“Wes, like Dad said, the cops wouldn’t have even known about the credit card without him finding it,” Max said. “Don’t be foolish. They have very little staff and resources. They’re overlooking a lot, I’m sure. It won’t hurt if we help you.” He paused. “Brynn’s plan with Chelsea was brilliant. I think she should continue to reel her in. If she’s completely innocent, what harm would it do? If not, maybe she’ll slip up and reveal a nugget that’ll turn the case.”
“I don’t like the girl. She makes me nervous,” Wes said.
“But you don’t have to be around her. Brynn, did you get any information?”
Brynn took a few minutes to consider it. Her head was unclear. “Well, I think she’s afraid of Wes.”
“What?” he exclaimed.
“She seems to believe you killed Donny, and she was leery of working for me because of it.”
Silence filled the room.
“That means nothing,” Wes said. “She’s a good actress. Don’t believe a word she said. She’s been stringing Roy along for months. I’ve caught her in some whoppers and called her on it. She doesn’t like me, but is she afraid of me? No. She’s not afraid of anybody.”
“She sounds diabolical,” Becky said as she entered the room with Brynn’s medication.
“Good word for her,” Wes said.
“Did you say she’s been stringing Roy along?” Brynn remembered the pimply-faced young man from the first night of the fair—and then later at the concert. He was with Chelsea that night—or at least it appeared so.
“Yes,” Wes answered.
Brynn leaned forward. “Well, they were pretty snug during the concert.”
“What? That can’t be. I don’t believe it,” Wes said, jaw tight. “Why would Chelsea go out with him? As I said, she’s been stringing him along. I’ve no idea why. But the guy is a waste of space. I mean, he’s good at hacking and gaming. But that’s it. He’s not nice, and he’s completely unattractive.”
True. And Chelsea didn’t seem like the sort of person to discount looks.
“I’m telling you what I saw,” Brynn said. “I remembered it because I thought it was strange.”
“Stranger than you think,” Wes said.
A cold shiver passed through Brynn.