“Not yet. He told me he got a tip and headed to Dallas. I hope he gets back soon.”
The sound of the front door opening had Serena glancing toward the opening, surprised when Rafe walked in. “Afternoon, ladies.”
“Son. What brings you by?”
“I talked with Antonio. He’s on his way. Should be home soon, once he gets through all the Dallas construction.”
Serena started to stand, but sank back into her chair at Rafe’s glare. “He’s okay? Did he find anything?”
Rafe moved to sit on the loveseat beside Ms. Patti, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, and snatched a cookie off the plate. “He’s going to want to tell you all the details in person, but let’s say it wasn’t a wasted trip.”
“Boy, you better tell me more if you ever expect me to cook for you again.” Ms. Patti folded her arms across her chest, her eyes firmly on Rafe.
“Momma, you know I can’t talk about an ongoing investigation.” He turned his head and winked at Serena. “But since it’s not actually my investigation, I’ll tell you what I can. Antonio got an anonymous tip yesterday. Somebody claimed to have enough incriminating evidence to keep Big Jim Berkley behind bars and derail any efforts he might entertain for an appeal.”
“A tip? Did it seem legit?” Serena cradled her wrapped wrist against her chest and scooted forward, studying Rafe intently. When he was in sheriff mode, he was nearly impossible to read, and right now, his face was an inscrutable mask, except for the hint of humor in his eyes, which he didn’t attempt to hide.
“I’m not at liberty to divulge what Antonio may or may not have found,” he said, holding up both hands, palms out, “but I’ll go out on a limb and say the government is going to be happy.”
“Does it mean Serena’s safe? That’s all I care about.”
Rafe wrapped his arm around his mother’s shoulder. “Serena’s never going to have to worry about Big Jim or any of his lunatic fringe ever again.”
“Son, that’s the best news! I’m going to make you the biggest pan of banana pudding you’ve ever seen. And you don’t have to share.”
Rafe grinned and rubbed his hands together. “I love being the bearer of good news. I get all the rewards and none of the flack.”
The screech of tires outside brought everybody on their feet, racing for the door. Serena heard the thud of boots against the wooden porch before she made it to the front door. It swung inward, and Antonio stood in the doorway, his eyes meeting hers, his lips curved upward in a slow grin.
“Sweetheart, we’ve got him!” Rushing forward, he pulled her into his arms, lifted her off the ground and spun her around. “There’s enough evidence to put him away and keep the feds chasing after his followers for years to come. It’s all over but the shouting.”
“I can’t believe it! It’s really over?”
“I e-mailed copies of everything to Williamson in Austin. Sent another sent to Rafe. I have the originals under lock and key in my own safe deposit box in Dallas, which I’ll turn over to Williamson in the morning. I didn’t want to drive back with them, in case somebody tried to pull something. But it’s over. There’s no way Big Jim escapes wearing an orange jumpsuit for the rest of his natural life.”
Serena sagged in his arms, relief swamping her. Her nightmare was ending. She was finally free.
Antonio led her back into the living room and helped her into the rocking chair. He moved the tray to the floor and sat on the footrest in front of her. Taking her free hand in his, he ignored his mother and brother, who stood in the opening to the living room, his focus solely on her.
“You’ll need to stay here for a while longer, until all the paperwork has been disseminated and verified. Williamson assured me they’re going after Drury too. They found his fingerprints all over the wrecked rental car, and they’ve got footage from the security cameras at the car rental place. He didn’t do the actual rental, his wife did, under the name Sharon Berkley.”
Serena started at Antonio’s words. “Corinne used my name? Why on earth would she try and pretend to be me? It would raise all kinds of red flags with the people looking for me.”
“A question for Williamson to ask her, but she had identification with your name and your information, so it wasn’t a random act. Makes me think the Drury’s had their own agenda.”
“Maybe it has something to do with what Jonathan said, about me being his ticket to freedom, though I’d have to think about it some more. I don’t care, as long as my uncle stays behind bars, and can’t hurt anybody ever again, that’s what matters.”
“Even with the best attorneys money can buy, he’s not getting out of prison. Nobody was killed in the bombings, which was a miracle in itself, but—he has killed. I’m sorry, Serena, but the evidence in the safe deposit box outlines multiple people who were murdered on his orders.”
Serena stared at him, the words sinking in, a hollow acknowledgement of what she’d always suspected. Her uncle was a cold, calculating monster with no regard for human life or the wants and needs of others. An awful thought pushed its way to the front of her mind, and she couldn’t shake it, didn’t want to voice the question. But could she really live with herself if she didn’t?
“The people he had killed, was one of them my mother?”
Antonio shook his head. “I looked, but didn’t see anything about her. I remembered you saying she went missing when you were little. There isn’t anything to indicate what happened to her.”
Serena closed her eyes, trying to picture her mother’s face, but it had been too many years since her mother had disappeared from her life.
