Holly Banks Full of Angst (Village of Primm, #1)(84)

“I’m almost understanding.” Holly winced, understanding a bit more their sudden move to Primm. Why Jack was so stressed, so secretive—spending so much time with Bethanny. When the feds are breathing down your back, it’s time to act.

“We set up the system. But we didn’t commit the fraud. Pretend I’m an architect who over the years built an enormous vacation home without ever questioning the client’s requests. What you end up with is a house with secret portals and hallways and staircases that lead to nowhere. The house that was built offshore was custom built, but our clients are white-collar criminals dealing in high-end luxury, and they’re using that structure to build and protect their wealth.”

“Plume.” Holly rested a hand on Jack’s arm. “She’s insured. The girl at the ticket counter told me that. And Meek Hopscotch owns the Topiary Park.”

“I know. Plume is insured,” Jack confirmed. “And she’s worth a pretty penny now that she’s in full bloom and attracting so much tourism to the Village of Primm. Michael St. James—well, actually, his offshore shell company—holds the policies on every animal in the Topiary Park Petting Zoo. Their insured value today far exceeds their original cost, so there will be financial gains in the insurance settlement. Taxable financial gains. If those plants die . . . if those plants were killed in an act of insurance fraud and that can be proven . . . the US government won’t take too kindly to missing out on taxes because someone committed a crime on US soil. Insurance fraud. Tax evasion.”

“But what happens to Plume?” Beautiful Plume. She never hurt anyone.

“My guess? If someone doesn’t figure this out fast—the bugs’ll eat her. She’ll rot and die. Other topiaries will rot and die. Michael’s offshore shell company will collect the insurance money, evade taxes, and Michael will fly off to Sweden to buy a large block of rare ABBA memorabilia for his music collection.”

“The winner takes it all,” said Holly, finding the whole thing ironic. Sad. Unnecessary.

Holly heard the refrigerator door close. Ella didn’t fix herself things from the refrigerator yet. It was a wonder Jack wasn’t asking who was in the kitchen.

Holly picked at a button on a pillow. “Anna Wintour is in our kitchen. Topiaries are a big deal in Primm. They’re like family pets. Ella loves Anna. I love Anna. I’m sure the other family topiaries will die too. The chilli thrips are sweeping the village, Jack. It started in the Peloton enclave by the Topiary Park and then spread to Blythe. Peloton and Blythe are completely overwhelmed. They’re calling for village-wide topiary bonfires to kill the bugs.”

Holly remembered watching the horticulturist, witnessing her desperation, her willingness to do anything to save that bird. The entire town was devastated. Lil’ Molly, Milly, and Billy O’Malley? Their mom, Sally O’Malley? Botanist Billy O’Malley, lil’ Billy, Milly, and Molly’s Dillydally daddy, was hospitalized after Plume’s stomach fell on him. “I can’t believe Mary-Margaret’s husband is behind all of this. I’m so angry. And Meek Hopscotch! That old man. And it’s such a shame because he has such a cool dog.”

“How do you know about the chilli thrips? I didn’t know about the chilli thrips until I read the Devil’s Bay letter and found out why the vineyard offer on the Stone House was in jeopardy.” Jack eyed Holly suspiciously. “Has the Topiary Park released that information?”

“No, I don’t think so . . . My Love’s wife told me. She mentioned the chilli thrips in a voice mail. She said it like a teenager with tightened braces. ‘Chilli th-whips.’ Something like that.”

“Really?” He perked up. “She left that in a voice mail? Do you have a copy of it?”

“I think so.” Actually, Holly was pretty sure she’d erased it. “So what happens now? Mary-Margaret’s not in trouble, is she?”

“Depends on what she knows and when she knew it.”

“Jack? If you ever want to collect something—music, wine, bobbleheads—anything, whatever. Just do it. It’s okay. I promise I won’t give you a hard time. And if you need a room in the house to display everything—fine. Have at it. I don’t care. Just no secrets. Don’t feel you have to kill a plant or launder money through an offshore shell company thinking I’ll complain because you’re buying more ABBA. Because I won’t care. I promise. Just no secrets. And don’t break the law. And stop hiding things from me. We’re in this together.”

He took Holly’s hand and kissed it. Pulled her close so she could slide into the nook of his arm and lean her head against his shoulder.

“So what now?” Holly asked.

“Right now, no one knows how the chilli thrips got here. Someone’s floating the idea they’re coming from a pumpkin patch in Southern Lakes.”

“Always blaming Southern Lakes.”

“I need to prove Michael St. James is trying to kill Plume to collect on the insurance. If I can prove that, then I can prove he’s operating outside of the scope of the accounts that I set up. That’s the one missing piece that would clear my name from all of this.”

“And if your name is cleared, you keep your job, and we keep our life in the Village of Primm?” Holly needed to understand. “But to do so, you need proof My Love is guilty.”