was Alice, holding a small silver pistol.
The driver, whom she had struck, was lying on the ground, not moving.
I saw Brian and his team moving in and yanking the passenger door open. A woman was pulled out, Margaret, I should have known. The driver had the same build as Father Montgomery. It had to be him. Who else could it have been?
“Sutton?” I turned my face to see Natalie’s worried gaze right above me. “We are clear. Let’s get you out of there.”
I took her outstretched hand and was pulled to my feet. I threw my arms around her and hugged her close.
She hugged me back while whispering over and over, “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”
A few moments later, I heard Mark’s voice. I didn’t like the sheer terror I heard in his tone when he asked where I was.
I went from Natalie’s arms straight into Mark’s. Nearly knocking him to the ground, I hugged him as tightly as I could.
“He tried to kill me with his car,” I stumbled over the words, trying to get them out. “If Brian hadn't warned me, he would have hit me. I felt the air whipping past. Mark, I would have been gone—dead. You and the girls, shit, what am I doing here? Why are we still in this crazy fucking place? I'm sorry, so very sorry.”
“Hey,” Mark said softly. “What is this all about?”
“I know I’m making you stay here in Otterville Falls. I’ve been selfish and unfair. It’s probably why all these bad things are happening. It’s all my fault.”
Mark hugged me closer. “You’ve got it all wrong, sweetheart.”
I didn’t even know I was crying until Mark moved back and wiped my cheeks with his thumbs.
“I’m just so sorry,” I cried.
“Hey man, why don’t you get her home,” Brian called out. “I’ll clean up this mess and have someone out to take her statement when she’s ready.”
I didn’t argue when Mark led me to his car. I allowed him to put me inside and to buckle my belt. I don’t know where it came from, but I felt tired. I was utterly exhausted. Before we even arrived home, I had fallen asleep.
15
Sutton
“She hit him in the lung,” the pretty new deputy named Katie told me. “He didn’t even make it to the hospital, but we did get Margaret’s statement. She confessed to everything, including Forrest’s involvement. Looks like the plea deal is off the table. He’s going to be put away for a very long time.”
“How is Alice?” I asked.
A slow smile spread across Katie’s face, “Prouder than a peacock. Apparently, when your friend Max stayed with the elderly ladies, he taught them to shoot. They didn’t have a license for the gun Max gave them. Knox is pretty sure it’s stolen. However, he got them both signed up for gun safety classes and conceal to carry permits. He’s a good man, the sheriff.”
“So it’s over?” I asked hesitantly.
Katie smiled kindly at me. “I’m terribly sorry, Mrs. Williams. I know you have been through far more than you deserve. But to answer your question, yes, it’s over for now. When we go to court, we will need you to testify.”
I nodded. “I am happy to.”
“Honestly, I heard Forrest coughing this morning in his cell. I don’t know if the man will make it to trial. However, Margaret Landry is young and will be spending a lot of time behind bars.”
“She’s my cousin,” I said, not sure why I felt the need to offer this information up.
“I’m sorry about that,” Katie said, patting my hand.
“I didn’t really know her,” I answered with a shrug.
The corners of her mouth tipped up. “Well, I heard that Abberly’s makes a mean cup of coffee. If you ever want to meet me there?”
I nodded. “I’d like that. Thank you, Katie. And please, call me Sutton. You’re staying in that rental of Alice and Reena’s, aren’t you?”
I saw her cheeks pinken as she ducked her head. “Yup, right next to your brother-in-law’s place.”
I quirked a brow. “How is Brian as a neighbor?”
Her cheeks went from light pink to a healthy glow. “Oh, he’s amazing, I mean, good. Yes, he’s a good neighbor.”
I fought a smile. Miss Katie Deputy Sheriff had something of a crush on my brother-in-law Brian.
“Well, amazingly good. That’s quite the recommendation.”
Katie dropped her head in her hands. “Ugh, I am mortified. Please don’t repeat that to him. I don’t know why my mouth blurts out the thoughts that ought to remain in my head.”
This