“I think he just became involved with Phoebe. When you stopped seeing her, she started planning her revenge. I think she was trying to find a way to make her past part of yours. Instead, she discovered that Scully is a distant relative,” Jane said.
“And,” Sloan explained, “once she’d come up with her plan, she knew she needed help. And poor Mr. Green, alone and lonely. He was no match for Phoebe. He did what she told him. I believe she had him convinced that she had to do what was right for you and if so, she’d be with him forever and ever.”
“But she wanted me,” Emil said, confused.
“She didn’t tell Green that part. She took care of the killing herself. But she needed him to help when it came to getting rid of you and Scully.”
“As if she’d have ever gotten away with it,” Logan muttered angrily. “The Krewe of Hunters doesn’t lose. We come on harder and harder until a case is solved.”
“We’ll never really know what was on Green’s mind, will we?” Kelsey asked.
Sloan lowered his head and shook it.
When he’d tackled Green, he’d subdued him and tied his hands. He’d never suspected, though, that the bound man would pitch himself over the cliff. But that’s exactly what had happened once Green realized Phoebe was gone. He looked up. Logan was watching him, knowing what he was feeling.
“We try to save the victims first and always,” he said.
“You saved Scully for me,” Emil said.
Sloan decided not to tell him that Jane had saved Scully. He’d saved his own love and his own life with a well-placed shot.
“What will happen now?” Jane asked. “With this place?”
“I think I’ll close it,” Emil said. “Funny, I always dreamed I’d be married here one day. I’m not huge on tradition, but my parents were married here.”
“I think you should be married here,” Jane told him. “Prove to the world that the castle isn’t evil. Only people can be evil. Make the castle a place of joy.”
“She’s right,” Scully said.
“We get to be bridesmaids!” Lila said.
“Oh, yes! Except, of course, we get to be in on picking the dresses,” Sonia added.
“You’ll need a best man,” Chef told Emil.
“And ushers,” Harry said.
Detective Forester stood. “I’ll at least expect an invitation. And one for Flick, too, of course.”
“You got it,” Emil promised. He looked at Jane. “But, you did plan to have your wedding here, you know?”
“But we’re not the lord and lady of the castle,” Jane said.
“I think we’ll be headed for an island in the Caribbean,” Sloan told him.
“You’ll always be welcome here,” Emil told them. “And anywhere I have holdings. And, I know that with Scully at my side, I’ll make good. And we’ll do good things. I swear it!”
“I believe you will,” Sloan assured him.
“Flick and I will be leaving now,” Forester said.
“I’ll walk you out,” Sloan offered.
Jane stood as he did. He smiled at her. They were both still muddy and grass-stained. They might not be married at the castle, but he did intend to make good use of the elaborate shower in the bridal suite as soon as he could.
They walked to the door and out onto the front lawn.
Emil was going to need a new caretaker, too.
But, as they waved good-bye to the detectives, Sloan was certain he’d never seen the place more beautiful.
Elizabeth Roth had realized that she could leave the castle. She stood with her beloved John down at the gates, oblivious to all else. She and John didn’t notice the car that drove by them. They were engaged in a long kiss. And as the car passed, the sun rose high above them, crimson rays of extraordinary light raining down, more like twilight than dawn.
Sloan lifted a hand to shield his eyes, blinking against the glare.
When the light shifted, they were gone.
“Do you think—?” Jane asked.
“I don’t know. But I do know they’re together.”
“Like we’ll always be,” she said.
“Shower,” he said. “And then—”
“We’ll fool around?”
“Isn’t that how all of this started?”
That it was, she thought.
“Then, off to the Caribbean,” he said. “Some place warm, with lots of blue water and sunshine. And we’ll fool around for a lifetime.”
She lifted her dirt-smudged face to his.
And he kissed the most beautiful lips he’d ever seen.