Silver River Secrets

“So was Al Jr. the one who found it? Was that why he came that day? The necklace wasn’t mentioned at the trial. The prosecutor wanted everyone to believe Al came to see Mother when no one else was home.” Lacey looked down at her hands. Talking about her mother’s adultery—supposed adultery—always made her uncomfortable.

“I knew she lost the necklace at work, but she never said anything to me about anyone finding it.”

“Did the police ever see the journal?”

“No. Although I would see her writing in it, she never left it around for anyone to read. Months after she passed away, I found it behind some books on the shelves in the living room, by the fireplace. Like I told you, I didn’t read it. I put it with the rest of her things that I’d been gathering up.”

“Did you ever see the necklace again after that day?”

“No.”

“It wasn’t found on Al. That surely would have come up in the trial. So what happened to it?”

Gram pressed her lips together and shook her head. “I don’t know, but let’s say Al did return the necklace. Then I’m guessing that after your father shot Al, he took it.”

“But it wasn’t found on Dad, either, when he was arrested. We would have heard about it in the trial.”

“He probably pawned the necklace before the police caught up with him.”

“Pawned it? Why would he do that?”

“Oh, come on, Lacey, you know your father always needed money to pay his gambling debts.”

Lacey bit her lip. Gram was right. She’d heard her mother and father arguing about his gambling often enough, and her mother had mentioned the problem in her journal.