“Next week.” Thomas tightened his grip on the paper lest the wind carry it off. It brought an odd sort of comfort, the crinkle of the paper in his gloves, the undeniable black words that stated a man would go to trial for attempting to kill his wife. He drew in a breath, then handed the paper back. “I thought I just got good news from Mrs. Runkle, but yours might be better.”
“He’s going to be put away for a good, long time.” Isaac took the paper and folded it before slipping it back into his pocket. “Don’t suppose this means you’ll come back to work now?”
“Maybe after the trial.” Thomas stared up at the porch rafters. Jessalyn was somewhere above them, inside theapartment, happily sewing a shirt or sketching a dress design, maybe even cooking. “I don’t like the thought of that villain being only a street away from Jess, even if he’s behind bars. I want him behind barsandat least three states away if I’m going to leave Jess and the girls alone at night.”
“Not sure I can get him three states away, but southern Michigan is about six hundred miles from here. Have to admit, I’ll be glad when this is settled next week. I’m ready to put this business behind us, though probably not as eager as you.” Isaac blew out a breath so long and hard it rivaled the wind gusting over Lake Superior. “Wanted to let you know Elijah and I searched Ebberhard’s house yesterday.”
Thomas turned at that. “I don’t even know where he was staying.”
“In the woods about a half-mile out with one of the other loggers. I found the rest of Betty Ranulfson’s jewelry there and Miss Brogan’s hair brush, all of which Ebberhard’s roommate claims Ebberhard took on his own.”
“Anything to tie him to the thefts at the brothel and warehouse?”
Isaac shook his head. “If not for Ebberhard confessing the first fire to Jessalyn, I wouldn’t even be able to tie him to that.”
He’d have thought sure Jess’s shop fire and the brothel burglary were connected, seeing how they both happened on the same night. Thomas scratched the back of his neck. Truth be told, he’d hoped investigating Ebberhard would lead to the arrest of whoever was behind all the burglaries in town. But maybe Ebberhard’s burglaries were truly separate from the others.
So did they still have another burglar or two to catch? Or had the thieves moved on to another town? Outside of Ebberhard’s actions, things had been quiet for over a month. “What about the map? Did you ever find it, or at least find out what it was to?”
Isaac shook his head, his face grim. “The man won’t say a word to me. I figured once he sat behind bars for a few days, he’d start talking. But he’s given me nothing. I’ll have the burglary charges added to Ebberhard’s case when the judge comes through.”
“Jessalyn still swears she never saw a map.”
“It likely burned in the fire, is why he torched her building in the first place. He only thought she saved it after we started searching the woods.”
“Except we didn’t search the woods because of any map, but because it’s the only place that makes sense to hide the warehouse and brothel goods.” His gaze drifted next door, to where two feet of snow now blanketed the rubble-heap of Jessalyn’s building.
Isaac rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Ebberhard didn’t know that though, and so when we were searching, he figured Jessalyn had given us his map.”
Thomas looked out over the street. “Have to admit, I’d like a few more answers, but if what we have now means he’ll not be able to hurt Jessalyn again—or anyone else, for that matter—then I’ll take it.”
“I agree. With a man as obstinate as Ebberhard, I doubt we’ll ever know the full story, but he’ll be locked up for a good, long time.” Isaac stomped his boots on the porch, probably to get some feeling back in his toes if he’d been outside for any length of time. “Even if you don’t come back to work when this is over, thank you for your help.”
Thomas clasped a hand on Isaac’s shoulder. He’d not come to Eagle Harbor looking for a friend, but it seemed he’d gotten one anyway. “I’ll be back in another week, if you can tolerate a deputy with an ailing shoulder, that is. It seems the least I can do for you after you looked out for Jess and the girls the years I was away.”
Isaac offered a small smile. “She’s happier now than she ever was when you were gone. Don’t let her tell you otherwise.”
Thomas’s gaze drifted up to the porch rafters once more, and he smiled. “I don’t plan to, Sheriff. But speaking of my wife, I need to go see her.” And quickly. Mrs. Runkle’s five minutes of silence were bound to be up.
He stepped off the porch and headed around the side of the building to the second-floor entrance and stairs, a whistle on his lips. And if his hand just happened to slip into his pocket and feel the paper of the telegram, well, he could hardly help touching it, or the smile that spread across his face as he did so.
He bounded up the stairs. The scent of cookies reached his nose before he opened the door, and his grin widened. “Smells good in here.”
Jessalyn turned from where she stood near the stove, a smudge of flour on her cheek. “I know they’re not as good as the bakery’s, but I needed to make biscuits for dinner, so I figured I’d do up some cookies too.”
“Whoever said they’re not as good as the bakery’s lied.” He snagged a cookie off the cooling rack and let the warm, sweet taste fill his mouth.
Jessalyn rolled her eyes. “More like whoever said they were better than the bakery’s is the one lying.”
“I don’t think so.” He caught her around the waist then pressed a kiss to her cheek, his mouth still full of cookie.
She pushed away from him and swiped at the crumbs clinging to her skin from the sloppy kiss. “I need to get these biscuits mixed if you want them in time for dinner.”
“I have something for you first.” He reached into his pocket and held out the note.
She looked up, her eyes suddenly worried. “Not another telegram. I barely survived the last time you got one of those.” But she took it anyway, her brow knitting as she glanced at thewords. Then her head jerked up. “Somebody wants to buy your hotel?”
“They don’t just want to. They are. I already sent a message back accepting the offer.”
