Harbour Falls (A Harbour Falls Mystery #1)(114)

Adam ran a hand over his face and quietly asked Detective Mitchell, “What made her decide to plead guilty?”

I wondered as much myself, especially since Ami had guarded her secrets so intently—not to mention very successfully—over the last several years.

“Her husband,” Mitchell replied, and then he turned his gaze to Adam. “Sean Hensley said convincing her to plead was his way of saying ‘thanks’ to you.”

Poor Sean Hensley, just another victim in all of this. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the torment he must feel at knowing the true depths of Ami’s instability. Perhaps he’d wanted to return Adam’s favor—helping him when he believed his wife to be missing—but I was sure Sean had his own personal reasons for wanting to avoid a very public trial. In any case I was grateful, and I found myself hoping he could someday pick up the pieces and eventually move on with his life. Sean deserved some kind of happiness after all that had happened.

Detective Mitchell then provided answers to many of the questions Ami’s confession had raised.

For example, unbeknownst to me, Jennifer had followed me on my very first visit to Billy’s. I hadn’t even thought to look for people trailing me that day. Jennifer was also the one who sent Ami to LA, to try to waylay my burgeoning investigation. She had suspected right from the very beginning that I would investigate the Harbour Falls Mystery. After all, my books were murder mysteries. And she worried that unaccounted-for evidence could begin to surface with someone like me digging around. She’d been right to worry.

Detective Mitchell also told us where Ami had holed up during her faked disappearance. There was a seedy roadside motel named Fowler’s that was located on the outskirts of Harbour Falls. It was the kind of place where no questions were asked, and patrons could retain complete anonymity. Jennifer had rented a room there and hid Ami away in the rundown establishment. Thus giving the woman who’d killed Jimmy time to lay low and subsequently appear to have gone missing. And to more easily implicate me, of course.



Detective Mitchell was getting ready to go, when I suddenly remembered that my dad had told me the police had taken a statement from J.T. O’Brien. Mostly to find out what he’d known of Jennifer’s involvement in the mystery. So I asked, “What about J.T. O’Brien? Was he involved in any way?”

Detective Mitchell shook his head and surprised me by saying, “No, not at all.”

My eyes met Adam’s. We’d not been able to find the location where I’d witnessed J.T. burying something over on the east side of the island, even when we’d driven back down with Max yesterday. The recent storms had left the area in shambles. Trees downed everywhere, ruts in the access road turned into gushing torrents. It had been impossible to discern where J.T. had been digging. I’d told Adam I wanted to try again, but he stood firm, insisting that whatever J.T. had been doing, it had nothing to do with the case. Now it appeared he’d been right.

Adam’s gaze held mine, and I was sure he wanted to convey that it was time to scrap any further plans to locate that spot.

Well, we’d see about that.

Detective Mitchell, noticing our silent communication, cleared his throat. Adam and I both looked away. “Uh, one more thing you may be interested in hearing.” My eyes returned to the detective. “O’Brien admitted himself to an eight-week rehab program over in Bangor. He’s pretty broken up about this whole thing, and I guess he wants to start fresh.”

Adam had told me he’d heard from his sources—probably Max—that J.T. wasn’t taking it particularly well that Chelsea Hannigan had been murdered by his ex-wife. For as much as I was no fan of J.T.’s, I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him. After all, Chelsea had influenced the path he’d taken. Unfortunately for him, he had really loved her.

Now that Jennifer was dead, Brody stood to inherit Jennifer’s half of the business, so he and J.T. would be the sole owners of the ferry service. If J.T. could finally get help with his addiction, maybe he’d find his way after all. I knew somewhere behind all that vitriol was the kind, gentle J.T. I’d once known and cared for.



I was sure Adam was less concerned with J.T.’s well-being, but he was still thoughtful enough to state, “Maybe O’Brien can finally get sober now that he can put all of this behind him.”

I knew he was speaking for my benefit, so I whispered a heartfelt, “Maybe.”

Detective Mitchell left shortly thereafter. I sat for a bit longer in the study just thinking. Adam walked the detective to the door, and when he returned, he pulled the chair next to me close and sat down. “You holding up?” he asked, taking my hand in one of his own.

I breathed out. “I think so. It’s just been a lot to take in.”

“I know,” Adam soothed, his thumb caressing the back of my hand. “What can I do to make things better?”

I closed my eyes for a few seconds. “I think…I think I need a break from Fade Island. I don’t know. Maybe get away for a few days.”

“Are you sure you don’t need a break from me?” Adam asked, and though his tone was light, I saw sadness in his expression when I opened my eyes.

“Of course not,” I exclaimed, placing my free hand on his cheek and capturing his gaze. “I love you, Adam. I just want to get away for a little while. But not alone. I want us to go somewhere together.”