Finally Found (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 10)

Jacob squeezed her hand. “Whatever it is.”

“Ever since I left Willie, I’ve been carrying a red suitcase. Do you remember how worried I was about it on our first horse ride?” She closed her eyes. “This is harder than I thought.”

“Just say it,” Jacob urged.

“I just have to blurt it out. One. Two. Three.” Her eyes opened. “There’s two million dollars of stolen money in that suitcase. It’s upstairs in my closet.”

“Oh my God, Carrie,” Jacob said. “You’ve been lugging that around since you were sixteen?”

She nodded. “I took it when I escaped Willie. I swear I haven’t spent a dime of it. It’s all there. I just want to get it back to the rightful owners. I tried once, but that’s when Willie nearly caught me. I was scared and didn’t know what to do. I still don’t.”

“First thing you need to do is tell Matt, Sean, and Jena, sweetheart,” Josh said, holding her close. “They’re CIA. They’ll be able to help you.”

“I’ve planned on telling them, but I haven’t found the right time.”

Matt walked out. “Jena sent me out to see if you three wanted anything to drink. We’ve got the kitchen cleaned up, and Kimmie put to bed. Mom and Gary left for an evening stroll. Sean just opened a bottle of scotch. We all are ready to relax, if you three would like to join us.”

Josh looked Carrie in the eyes. “Seems like the right time is now to tell them.”

“Yes it is,” she said. “Matt, after you pour the drinks can we all sit down. There’s something very important I need to tell you.”

* * * *

Glad to have Jacob and Josh next to her on the sofa, Carrie took a sip of the scotch that Sean had poured for everyone. It was liquid courage that she definitely needed right now.

Matt sat next to Jena on the matching sofa opposite theirs. Sean was in the chair by the fireplace.

She was nervous, but was so thankful she finally had this opportunity to come clean about the money.

“Okay, Carrie,” Matt said, looking her directly in the eyes. “I’m your big brother. You can tell me anything.”

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. One. Two. Three. She opened her eyes. “There’s two million dollars of stolen money in my red suitcase.”

“Two million dollars of stolen money?” Matt looked shocked. “I know you’re not a thief. So where did you get that kind of money? Of course, Willie. Right?”

“Yes.”

Jena shook her head. “You’ve been carrying that money around for thirteen years?”

“Since she was sixteen,” Jacob said, putting his arm around her.

“It’s a very long story,” she said.

“Hold on, Carrie.” Sean stood. “Let me get the suitcase first and then you can finish telling us everything.” When he returned, he placed it on the coffee table. “It’s locked.”

She pulled out the chain with the key and unlocked it. She brought out the satchel and placed her Glock and the stacks of cash onto the table.

“Oh my God, Carrie,” Jena said. “You could’ve been killed for that kind of money.”

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“But at least she’s packing,” Sean said. “Definitely a member of this family.” He opened his coat and revealed his own gun.

“I know it was dangerous, Jena, but I was always very careful. No one ever knew what was in my suitcase.”

“Willie knew,” Matt said. “I can’t even let myself think of what would’ve happened if that bastard had found you.”

“He almost did. That’s why I’ve never been able to return the money to the rightful owners. He was always too close.” She told them about how she’d returned to Bronte, hoping to give back the fifty thousand dollars that belonged to the church Mrs. Kearns attended. “I spotted Willie at a rest stop on the highway into town. He had a full beard, and was wearing sunglass and a hat, but I recognized him despite the disguise. I knew he had come back to Bronte to get me. How he’d learned what I was planning, I don’t know. Maybe I told someone at the café I was working at. I just don’t remember. But I knew it wasn’t safe for me to go through with my plan. So I drove through Bronte without stopping and never returned.”