For that, Ivy was grateful. There was still a chance for everyone to get out of this with their lives, if not their freedom. Well, except for Sasha.
“I don’t understand why you’re doing this,” Ivy blurted out as she regained her footing, attempting to buy herself time. “I mean ... I really don’t understand why you’re doing any of this.”
“Because I have a business to protect.” Betsy’s answer was simple, delivered with zero emotion. She looked more annoyed than angry. “I guess you could say that I didn’t plan for my retirement very well. Or, at all. Then I stumbled on the pot business, which led to the meth business. I should have my retirement secure in about a year. Then I’ll be out of this business, if it’s any consolation.”
Ivy made a face. “Why would that be any consolation?”
Betsy shrugged. “Because I’m going to be fine.”
“Yes, but you’re going to try and kill me.”
“I don’t have a choice in the matter.” Betsy almost looked contrite. “You wouldn’t mind your own business. This is on you.”
“I didn’t know you were a killer,” Ivy shot back. “I knew you were growing pot but that’s it.”
“You pointed your boyfriend at my grandson.”
And that there was a kicker. Ivy had no idea what Betsy was babbling about. “Who is your grandson?”
Sasha made an impatient sound that was halfway between a growl and a snort. “Greg, you moron. She’s talking about Greg.”
Ivy glanced back at the ghost, dumbfounded. “But ... how?”
Now it was Betsy’s turn to be confused. “How what?”
“We were all in it together,” Sasha explained. “Greg’s mother is married to Brad Dunham. He owns the resort. Greg had the bright idea to take over that entire operation, sell to the tourists. We were splitting the money.
“Then we found out that Jason was moonlighting up there,” she continued. “They wanted me to get close to him, dissuade him. I thought I had until that night.”
And that’s when the final pieces fell into place for Ivy. “They thought Jason wasn’t an issue but came to a realization when it became apparent you hadn’t held up your end of the bargain.”
“This old hag went crazy.” Sasha jabbed a finger at the woman. “She kicked me out of the car and then tried to run me over. I ran and tried to get away but ... .” She trailed off, fury returning with a vengeance so bright it caused the surface air surrounding her to ripple.
“You couldn’t get away,” Ivy surmised, pressing the heel of her hand to her forehead. “Betsy hit you and that was it.”
Sasha nodded. “I ran into the woods, thinking I could get help thereafter. I fell asleep, though.”
“And died,” Ivy said, her heart constricting. “Oh, geez.”
Betsy worked her jaw. “Who are you talking to?” she asked finally. “I mean ... it’s not going to stop me from killing you, whatever it is. If you’re faking being crazy or something, that’s not going to work on me.”
“I’m not crazy,” Ivy said. “I’m just ... putting things together.” She didn’t owe Betsy an explanation, and there was no way she could make the older woman understand what was happening. Honestly, it didn’t matter. “You really screwed up your life, Betsy. Now, instead of the retirement you thought you were going to get, you’ll be spending your golden years in prison.”
Betsy snorted disdainfully. “And how do you figure that?” She waved the branch. “I’m the one with a weapon.”
“And yet Ivy was the one with a plan,” a male voice announced from behind Betsy, causing the woman to jolt.
As Betsy turned, ready to hurt whoever would dare interrupt her big moment, Max deftly caught her wrist so she couldn’t hit him with the piece of wood.
“Who are you?” Betsy asked blankly.
“The cavalry,” Max replied, offering Ivy a wink as he pressed the pulse point on Betsy’s wrist and caused her to drop the branch. She viciously cursed and tried to kick him in the shin, but Max’s reflexes were good and he easily avoided the contact. “You make the nicest friends, Sis.”
Ivy nodded, sadness overwhelming her. “Yeah. I guess I do.”
19
Nineteen
Jack and Brian had Greg in custody when Max, Ivy, and Betsy emerged from the trees. The crew chief was face down on the ground, his hands cuffed behind him, and he was screaming bloody murder.
“I’m going to have both your badges over this!”
Jack ignored the man and made a beeline for Ivy, sweeping her into his arms as he regarded Max and a struggling Betsy over her shoulder. “What’s this?”
“They were in it together,” Max supplied, making a face when Betsy attempted to kick him for the fifth time. “Betsy is his grandmother.”
“It must be on his mother’s side,” Brian noted as he stepped forward, pensive. “She’s not Dunham’s mother.”
“I’m going to sue you if you don’t let me up right now,” Greg threatened. “I’m going to own both your houses if you don’t correct this right now.”
“Shut up,” Brian intoned darkly. “You’ve been read your rights. You might want to keep in mind that anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law ... and we have plenty of witnesses.”
Ivy smiled at Jack as she pulled back, sending him a reassuring look. “I told you I would be fine. Max hiding in the bushes and spying was a stroke of genius, right?”
Jack didn’t want to encourage her wild ideas, but she looked shaken enough that he had to give her what she needed. “You’re a genius,” he agreed, blowing out a sigh as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’re the smartest woman I know.”
“No, I’m the smartest woman,” Betsy argued, wriggling hard against Max’s grip. “I’m going to sue you, too. I’ll live in your house for my retirement.”
Even though he wanted nothing more than to hold his fiancée, Jack recognized he had a job to do and reluctantly released her. It was with great disgust that he
