“We think Jude and his wife might be looking for more of Leroy’s bombs,” Maudie told him.“Bethy remembered something today.Dere is another place Leroy used to go to.He’s been living here her whole life and if he’d been making bombs the whole time he might have more than just da ones you took last time.”
They all heard Shay sigh hard.“I’ll get a team together and be there by dawn.We have to find out if he had another stash and what it was to be used for.I’m beginning to believe this might be all connected.”
Boomer nodded as he added, “I asked Baby Girl to find out for us.Bethy also told us Jude and his wife visited her house more than once.So now we are wondering if this woman could be her mom’s sister?”
Shay was quiet for a long moment then said, “We can check that out for sure.It might also mean Jude is linked a little closer than we originally thought.Damn, this case is getting weirder all the time.But we might actually find all the puzzle pieces and be able to see the whole puzzle the more we learn about this family.”
“Just be careful when dealing with Jasmine,” Bethy spoke up.“She’s got a temper, she’s rude and she can get really mean when her plans are messed up.”
“Well if she is the Fat Lady,” Shay replied.“The one that will kill Leroy, then she is more than just mean.”
Chapter Eight
When Boomer ended thecall, King looked over at Bethy and asked, “Can you find this place you call Shimmer Valley for us?”
Bethy shrugged.“I think so?Although it’s been a long time since I went there myself.My dad always told me to stay clear of that place.He used to tell me I would get lost in the fog and no one would ever look for me there.”
Maudie snorted.“Dat man was a rotten father and husband.He deserves whatever Shay can do to him.”
“What are we gonna do about Leroy’s place?”Mickey asked.
“I think we should just stay away from it for now,” King told the room.“If Jude and Jasmine are really there we’re gonna need more power than we got right now.”He turned to Bethy and asked, “What do you think they are here to get?”
Bethy shook her head and replied, “If I know them they are here to collect whatever my dad left behind and Shay missed before.My dad has been making bombs all this time.He might have a whole lot more than just at the church.Yes, it’s possible he had another place before he started at the church.He was gone most of the day ever since I was little.Mom stayed at home with me all day long and she was happier whenever he left.That’s what I remember the most when I was little.”
Tannin wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him.“It's alright honey, you did your part.Just help us find this Shimmer Valley.”
Bethy looked up at him and said, “To find the valley I have to go back to the house to start.”She shivered at the thought.
Tannin shook his head and told her, “If Jude and Jasmine are still there you can’t go back, they will try to force you to show them the way and if they get their hands on whatever your dad left behind, they will kill you to get their hands on it.You can’t go back to that house ever.”
Bethy sobbed into his chest.“That’s the only way I know how to get there.”
Mickey stared at the people around the table.He pushed his chair back and walked out of the kitchen.Heading to the living room, he stared out the window, looking into the deep brush of the swamp.
There had to be another way to find this place.When she mentioned Shimmer Valley no one else recognized the place she was talking about.They knew every valley and secret place around here.But Bethy and Leroy lived further north and the Hogans didn’t know that area of the swamp as well.
