Sirens blared. Lights flashed.
I have no idea how long I sat on the ground, but eventually I looked up and saw Red, soaking wet, walking toward me with two drenched dogs clutched to his chest. Beside him, Lucky shook several times and then trotted over to Stephanie who threw both arms around his neck.
I wrapped my arms around Red, nearly crushing the poodles. “Are you okay?”
Red nodded. “I’m fine.”
I held onto him and the poodles for several seconds until an EMT rushed up and threw a blanket around his shoulders. “I’m sorry. You must be freezing.”
He smiled. “Actually, I’m feeling pretty warm right now.”
I laughed. “If you’re well enough to joke then you must be okay.”
He handed Aggie and Rex to me and I clutched them to my chest.
“I’ve got to go.” He motioned toward the police and when I nodded, he left.
I glanced up. Dr. Morgan embraced Mai. Stephanie embraced Lucky, and I hugged my two poodles.
Later, Stephanie, Red, Joe and I sat in the RV drinking hot coffee. Red took a hot shower and changed into a pair of Beau’s clothes, which were too big but had the advantage of being dry, while Dixie put his into the RV’s dryer.
Joe had an arm draped around Stephanie while she rested her head on his shoulder. Lucky was sprawled across her lap and Turbo was lying next to Joe with his head on Joe’s leg.
Dixie hovered over Beau who had a bandage over the cut on his head.
Mai and Dr. Morgan were snuggled together and he had a tight grip on her hand.
Rex was still shivering as he lay on my shoulder and Aggie was asleep on my lap.
Addison sat cross legged on the floor with Chyna and Leia while Monica Jill and B.J. sat at the dining room table.
“Will someone tell me what happened?” Monica Jill ordered.
Red looked around and then began to explain. “Eli and Fergus saw that we were watching them, so they got Mary and Fiona to go for the dog.”
B.J. shook her head. “Ain’t that just like a man, leaving the dirty work to the women.”
Red smiled. “I think Eli just intended for them to get the collar away from Rex. He swears he didn’t order them to take anyone hostage.”
Monica Jill turned to Mai. “How did you end up getting taken as a hostage?”
Mai shrugged. “When Fiona busted into the RV, she tried to take Rex. I wasn’t about to let her have him. That’s when Mary came in with the gun and said, ‘Let’s just take her too. We might need a hostage.’”
“Where did you learn to fight like that?” Stephanie asked.
Mai smiled. “Two years in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.”
Dr. Morgan gawked. “You’re just full of surprises.”
B.J. turned to me. “So, Lilly was right? Archibald Lowry was the brains behind the bank robbery?”
Red nodded. “Eli Goldstein is spilling his guts. According to him, Lowry was the brains behind the entire thing. Clarence Darling and Ivan Bradington were the muscle, but things went badly and Bradington shot the bank teller. The police got him, but he served his time and kept his mouth shut.”
B.J. snorted. “I’ll bet he kept his mouth shut.”
Red smiled. “He never ratted out his partners, but that didn’t help him while he was sitting in jail. Clarence Darling and Oscar Goldstein died.”
“Fiona Darling was a niece and Darling told her everything. Apparently, Oscar Goldstein told Eli. When they were old enough, they both went to Lowry expecting a cut.”
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” I said. Red stared at me. “That’s what Archibald Lowry said to me that night at the museum.” I turned to Dixie. “Remember, he said, ‘People always ask me how I made my money’. Remember what he said?”
She thought for a moment. “He said, ‘The same way every other person has become rich. I stole it.’”
I nodded.
B.J. stared. “So, Lowry took the bank money while Ivan Bradington went to jail. Bradington gets out and then comes and works for Lowry?” She shook her head. “That don’t seem right.”
We turned to Red. “Apparently, Lowry told him the money was tied up in investments, real estate and businesses. I don’t think he told them about the jewels, or they would have figured out about the collar sooner. Bradington was pushing Lowry to divest and give him his share.”
“In the meantime, Eli and Fiona had partnered to get more than the share they felt was owed to them on behalf of their uncle and father. They wanted the whole lot,” Joe said.
“Fiona got a job with the bank’s insurance company so she could keep an eye on things and make sure no one else got close to the money.” I turned to B.J. “Remember, you said your contacts from the insurance company felt she was too close to the case.”
B.J. nodded. “Well, I’ll be.”
“Why’d they kill Paul Carpenter?” Monica Jill asked.
“Remember at the dog show, he said ‘I don’t claim to be something I’m not. I don’t argue with someone and once he’s dead pretend that we didn’t disagree.’” I think Eli was afraid that Carpenter had seen and heard too much.”
Red nodded. “He heard Eli talking to Fergus and realized they weren’t Lowry’s relatives, nor were they running a legitimate foundation.”
“Who were they?” I asked.
“Fergus and Mary were grifters,” Red said.
“What’s a grifter?” Dixie asked.
“A con artist,” Stephanie, Joe and Red all said together and then laughed.
Dixie glanced at me. “That explains the mixed-up accents.”
Red stretched. “Grifters are often great actors.”
“Eli defended him when he was just starting out. Later, he looked him up and promised him a cut of the money. Eli set up the phony foundation and the story about Mary and Fergus as distant relatives. He knew Lowry was goofy over all things Scottish.” He shrugged. “I guess he figured worst case scenario, if he killed Lowry and all of his wealth went to the foundation, then he would still be able to get his hands on the money.”
I shivered. “So, they killed the chauffeur, Carpenter, because he overheard them talking and figured out what they were up to.”
Joe nodded. “Plus, Carpenter was an extortionist. Once a blackmailer, always a blackmailer.”
Dixie turned to Red. “Mrs. Huntington?”
“She saw Mary and Fergus poisoning Lowry’s tea.” He shrugged. “Or they thought she saw them.”
“So, they really did push that poor woman down a flight of stairs?” Monica Jill asked.
Red nodded. “Pushed her and then planted the flask filled with alcohol so we’d think she tripped.”
Addison yawned.
Monica Jill looked at her watch. “Oh my God. I didn’t realize how late it was. I’d better get this girl home before her father strangles me.”
Addison stretched. “Do we have to go? I want to hear more.”
“Yes, we have to go. I have to try and explain all of this to your father, so get moving.” Monica Jill grabbed her purse and a reluctant Addison and they left.
B.J. stood up. “I need to get out of here too. Snoball will be mad that I left her so long and will most likely have left me a package to clean up.” She waved goodbye and left.
Dr. Morgan and Mai were the next to leave, taking Max and Skye with them, but not before Mai promised to stop by the police station the next day to complete her statement.
Red’s phone rang and he stepped outside to take his call. After a few moments, he stuck his head in the door and asked me to step outside.
Once we were outside, he stared at me. “You promised me you’d stay in the museum.”
I felt a flush of heat rise from my neck because I knew I had gone back on my word. I searched for some way to get out of the mess, but nothing came. I forced myself to look him in the eyes. “I’m sorry.”
He stared at me. “That’s it?”
I nodded. “I shouldn’t have lied, but…I heard Aggie barking and when we opened the door she flew out and that’s when I realized that almost everyone I cared about was out there and in danger.” I looked up at him.
He leaned close. “Everyone?”
I smiled. “Almost everyone. Rex, Aggie…” I gazed into his eyes. “And you.”
He pulled me close and kissed me. When he released me, he stared into my eyes. “Lilly Ann Echosby, I think I’m falling in love with you.”
I smiled. “When you jumped into the river to save Rex and Aggie, I knew that I loved you.”
He wrapped me in his arms and kissed me hard. When we finally came up for air, we stood there in the night air and held onto each other.
He nuzzled my neck. “You know, that little Aggie is something else. I couldn’t believe it when she leapt into the water. That’s one amazing little dog. She’s fearless.”
I smiled. “She takes after her namesake.”
He shook his head. “No, I think she takes after her owner.”
I looked up at him and traced the scar that ran along the right side of his face. “I’m not fearless. I was very afraid for you.”
He took my hand and kissed me again. When we separated, we held each other and gazed at the sunrise over the Tennessee River. I thought of my family and friends and my heart was filled with love. I said a silent prayer of thanks for love and new beginnings in my happy place.