The Trouble Up North by Mulhauser Travis

Author:Mulhauser,Travis [Mulhauser, Travis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2025-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

jewell

Out on the property, the sisters were standing on the front porch of Mabel’s house. There was a rucksack at Jewell’s feet and a nine-millimeter tucked in the hip of her jeans.

Jewell had showered and had her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She was wearing a black T-shirt and shades and she was as skinny as ever—all knobby knees and elbows as she handed Lucy one of their father’s gummies.

Lucy chewed tentatively at first, but was able to manage and washed the gummy down with a small gulp of water from Jewell’s canteen.

“I washed yours out, too,” said Jewell. “It’s on the kitchen counter. I’ll snag it for you here in a minute. We should probably head out.”

Lucy handed back the canteen. “You know this is ridiculous, right? Hauling me to the cabin like this.”

“I know it’s a pain, but I think it’s a good idea.”

“It might be a good idea for you, but I’m not the one who set a boat on fire.”

“I need to tell you something else, and if you still don’t think the cabin is necessary after that, I’m fine with you staying here.”

“There’s something you haven’t told me?”

“I’m afraid there is.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

Jewell looked at her sister. It was such a strange thing to consider, let alone say out loud. It didn’t seem real yet, and maybe it never would. In some ways, that strangeness was what allowed her to say it at all—because it was still a surprise to her it felt less like a confession.

“Van is dead.”

“What?”

“Van,” said Jewell. “He died.”

“What do you mean, he died?”

“Apparently, he was on the boat when I burned it.”

“What do you mean, apparently?”

“He was on the boat,” said Jewell. “It is apparent.”

“He died in the fire?”

“Actually, he committed suicide and then I burned the body, unknowingly. So it’s gone from an arson to a potential murder situation.”

“A murder situation?”

“Yes.”

“Murders aren’t situations, Jewell. They’re fucking murders.”

“I didn’t kill him, though. It just looks like I might have. I’m actually a victim here, in a way.”

“So he got drunk and passed out and you set the boat on fire with him inside, but didn’t know it?”

“No, he killed himself. He’s trying to get the insurance money for Franklin so he set me up to make it look like a murder. Insurance doesn’t pay on suicide.”

“How do you know that’s what happened?”

“Because he apologized for it.”

“For what?”

“For everything. For stiffing me on the money and setting me up. He sent a note up here this morning with the Shipley boy.”

“Where’s the note?”

“Dad has it.”

“Dad knows?”

“Dad is the one that figured it out.”

“Why didn’t he tell me?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “He probably thought you knew.”

“I would have said something to him if I knew! I wouldn’t have just not mentioned a fucking murder!”

“There again, that’s just not how I prefer to frame it.”

“He has to keep that note. To show the cops. That’s evidence.”

“I wish it were, but it just says I’M SORRY.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Yes. All caps.”

“It’s his handwriting, though, right?”

“He printed it.

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