13

Boyett Farm

Good Hollow Road, Fayetteville, 12:10 p.m.

Vera stood on the front porch of her childhood home and watched Bent drive away. It was as hot as blazes, and still she felt chilled to the bone.

Before she could stop it, the memory of tugging with all her might to get Sheree s lifeless body out of that bathroom expanded in her brain like a balloon being blown up, stretching bigger and bigger until it was ready to pop.

Sheree had weighed a lot more than Vera had expected, no matter that she was hip bone-jutting thin. The only things of any size about her had been her breasts and her lips. Both had gotten her enough male attention to go to her head. She d used those assets to get what she wanted. Never caring one iota about the impact of her behavior and decisions.

Vera shuddered at the memories.

Two more sets of remains.

How could that be?

The memory of Luna wailing made her twitch. The whole time she d been tugging at Sheree s deadweight, the baby had been strapped on Vera s back in a backpack-style carrier. It wasn t like they could have left her screaming in her play yard or crib. Eve argued the point, but Vera refused to leave Luna alone in the house for the time required to do what they had to do. Taking her with them was the only option, even if it had been horribly gruesome.

As if the memory had summoned her, Luna s little electric car-probably the only one in the whole county-zoomed into the parking area. Vera shook herself. Had to pull it together. She squared her shoulders and cleared her head. Did she tell her sisters about this new find? It wasn t like she could keep it from them, but . . .

This shouldn t be happening.

Vera squeezed her eyes shut a moment in hopes of resetting. Surely there was some mistake.

Pull it together, Vee. There is no mistake.

The solid thump of a car door closing forced Vera s eyes open. She moistened her lips and formed them into a smile. Hey, you home for lunch? I should have prepared something.

But Vera was just getting back from rescuing Eve . . . from learning that there was something way bigger than their secret in that damned cave. Someone had left two bodies in there- before Sheree. In a part of the cave Vera and Eve hadn t known existed.

They had never gone beyond the main cavern. They hadn t realized there was a hidden access to something bigger. Conover said the access was concealed by rocks. No reason they would have seen it.

It was . . . unbelievable.

How the hell had this happened?

There was only one answer: someone else had used that cave as a hiding place.

The possibility that the someone in question may have come back at some point and seen the makeshift burial site that she and Eve had made for Sheree unnerved Vera.

Sent a thread of fear weaving along every nerve ending.

That day . . . twenty-two years ago, Eve had slipped out of the cave while Vera was placing all the rocks she could scrounge up over the body. Her sister returned minutes later with an armload of flowers or blooming weeds (Vera could never tell the difference) she d picked in the woods and the pasture beyond-anywhere along the path between the house and the barn.

Vera shook off the memories. Anyone going into that cave days or a few weeks later would easily have recognized the emotional connection to the deceased those dead flowers represented.

What a stupid, stupid move. But at the time, barely seventeen-year-old Vera had thought it was a nice gesture.

What idiots they had been.

Just hold up. Vera steadied herself. At this point she had no idea the condition or circumstances of these other remains. Until a forensic pathologist examined them, there was no way to be certain. The estimate Conover had given could be way off. They could actually belong to long-ago residents of the area. Some folks buried family right on their property. The cave could have been used as a tomb. It could be soldiers from the Civil War. Could be injured criminals who had hidden there decades ago and died of natural causes or starvation. There were any number of reasonable explanations that didn t include murder . . . or a member of her family.

Vera wrenched her mind from the worrisome thoughts of the past. Staying grounded and focused, solidly in the present, was far too important right now to be sucked into what-ifs.

Luna climbed the steps to the porch. It s all right. I ll just have tuna and crackers. She patted her concave belly. I have to watch my caloric intake if I m going to get into that wedding dress.

Vera drummed up an effort at a casual laugh. Women always have to work the hardest for these big events.

Luna rolled her eyes. I swear, there are just a million things to do. She sighed. And on top of that, now there s Mama s memorial service. She put a hand on Vera s arm. I ve set it up for Saturday at two. I want everyone to be able to come.

To the best of Vera s memory, Sheree had zero friends and no family in the area. All the other women in town had hated her, because she was always either flirting or sleeping with their men. That s a good idea, Vera offered, the words tasting sour in her mouth.

I ll need to go to Huntsville shopping before then, Luna bemoaned. I m certain I don t have anything proper to wear. Would you like to go with me, Vee? Now she wrapped both her arms around Vera s one and held on tight. That would mean so much to me.

I d love to go with you, Vera lied. Whenever you d like. Except for now. Vera had to find and talk to Eve. There was no way to put off telling her about the discovery in that damned cave. Word traveled at lighting speed in small towns. A frown furrowed Vera s brow. She should tell Luna about Eve s accident . . .

Not now. There just wasn t time. Maybe later.

Thank you. Luna gave her arm one last squeeze. That would be wonderful. I m planning to bury Mama on the other side of Daddy s plot, if you and Eve have no objections. The plot is available, and that way Daddy has both the women he loved next to him, one on either side. It s perfect, don t you think?

Vera mustered up another smile. I m sure Daddy will love that idea.

Thankfully he wouldn t have a clue what Luna was talking about. Or, if he did, he wouldn t for long. Lucky him.

There were so many things just now that Vera desperately wished she could forget.

Barrett s Funeral Home

Washington Street, Fayetteville, 12:45 p.m.

Vera had seen plenty of dead folks in her time-definitely not as many as her sister, but more than she would have liked. Growing up, the only transgression worse than not putting in an appearance at a viewing or the funeral of a neighbor was taking God s name in vain. Which meant Vera and Eve had loads of experience with funeral homes and the dead.

As an adult, most of the dead that Vera encountered had been homicide victims. Usually victims of violence. She d sat in on more than her share of autopsies. But she d only been present at the final preparations for burial once or twice. Both times, like now, with her sister.

When Vera arrived, Eve insisted she put on an apron and gloves, no matter that she had no intention of touching the corpse or any of the equipment in the room. Her sister had begun setting the features of the deceased, an eighty-year-old female heart attack victim named Mary Jo Kaufman. Mrs. Kaufman had played piano at the church they d attended from the time the elderly woman was fifteen until the Sunday before her death. Like most of the kids who had attended the Presbyterian Church, Vera and Eve had taken lessons from her. Who could forget the ruler Mrs. Kaufman had used to snap their hands when they made mistakes? She wondered if Eve thought about that when she was preparing the body. Vera suspected there were times when the work was particularly satisfying.

Eve had stuffed cotton into the appropriate cavities of Mrs. Kaufman s head. Now she negotiated the suture thread through the lower gum area and up into the palate, passing into the right nostril, through the septum, and into the left nostril before slipping back into the mouth. The two ends of the suture thread were fastened together, and voil , the jaw was secured shut.

Vera pressed her lips together. She intended to be cremated. If she d ever had any misgivings, she had none now.

What happened that made you decide it was necessary to visit me at work? Eve asked as she massaged Mrs. Kaufman s lips and face. She glanced up. It couldn t wait until later?

Eve never liked being interrupted at work. She insisted the preparation process was like art-one needed time and focus to do their best. And it was unquestionably intimate, between her and the deceased.

Vera s stomach twisted at the thought of the less-dignified steps that came next-all for the entertainment of those left behind. Clean it out, stuff it, dress it up for proper presentation, and then stick it in the ground. Inside, she shuddered. There s been a development at the scene.

Eve glanced up. In the cave?

Vera nodded. They found more remains.

Eve s expectant expression slipped into a frown. As in human remains?

Vera made a face. If they weren t human, it wouldn t be a development and we wouldn t be having this conversation.

Eve stared down at the gray-skinned woman on the table. Ignore her tone, Mrs. Kaufman. Vee has always been snippy, as you well know.

Frustration lit inside Vera. This is a serious matter.

Eve met her pointed look with an indifferent one of her own. I m not stupid, Vee. I totally get it. This complicates matters.

That was one way to put it.

How could someone else bring a body, Vera challenged, not once, but twice-into that cave without our knowledge? How did they even know about the cave? She shook her head. And if they ever came back and saw her . . .

Eve made a whatever face. They probably didn t. But even if they did, what were they going to say? Hey, I hid a body or two in your cave. Did you put one there too?

Vera bit her lips together to hold back an equally smart-ass response. I mean, why wouldn t they try and use the information for personal gain?

Eve glanced down at Mrs. Kaufman, then hummed. Who knows? Could be people who lived on the farm generations ago.

Vera reminded herself that patience was essential. I understand that might be the case. But it s the possibility that someone involved with those remains returned after Sheree that we have to be prepared to deal with. Think, Eve. In all this time, Vera demanded, have you been aware of anyone exploring the farm? Maybe someone who asked to hunt on the property? Preparation was key. They had to be in a position to provide some sort of reasonable explanation for any surprises.

Daddy never allowed anyone to hunt the land. Eve looked down at the deceased woman again, inclined her head, and frowned, as if noting some issue.

What are you looking at? Vera studied the dead woman s face. She saw nothing that should be distracting Eve from the conversation. This was an important conversation.

Eve s frown deepened, as if Vera had spoken in a foreign language. I m not looking at anything.

You keep looking down at Mrs. Kaufman as if there s a problem.

Eve scrutinized Mrs. Kaufman again, then shifted her consideration back to Vera. Well, she s right there. It s not like I can ignore her. You did interrupt my work.

Mrs. Kaufman s once brown eyes were gray and opaque with death. Admittedly, having the deceased lying on the table, eyes open, was hard to ignore. But the real trouble was that Eve just kept glancing down at her while she and Vera were having this very important conversation. It was unsettling.

Why haven t you set her eyes? Vera turned back to her sister. Having this discussion with her lying there that way is a little distracting.

I do the eyes last. Eve shrugged. I wouldn t want my eyes closed while I was still being worked on.

Dear God, her sister had the strangest ideas about dead people. Always had.

And no, Eve continued, I do not know of anyone ever hunting on or exploring our farm. I can t say for an absolute certainty that it hasn t happened, because I ve heard hunting dogs a time or two, but they may have been on the Jennings farm. Sound carries at night, you know.

A reasonable explanation.

Did you, Vera continued, ever go back into the cave after that day?

This was the biggest question, looming like a black cloud. Bent hadn t mentioned discovering any trace evidence, but she couldn t be sure that he would share his findings at this point. Just because they had once been lovers didn t mean he felt he owed her anything. Least of all information related to an ongoing investigation.

Eve made a face. Why would I go back to the cave?

I don t know, maybe because, Vera glanced down at Mrs. Kaufman, you have a morbid fascination with death.

Eve had always, always liked watching things die and hanging out with the dead. Not that she d gone around injuring animals or birds or even insects, but whenever they had come upon something fatally injured, she had insisted on watching until it was over. Then there would be the burial. Vera had never understood that creepy need.

For a moment Eve said nothing. Finally, she looked to her sister and responded. I always hated the thought of anything dying alone. It s too sad.

I m sorry, Vera offered. I never considered that you might feel compelled in that way. Maybe she was the creepy one for not being more sympathetic. But I need to know if you ever went back. If you saw anything that looked out of place from when we were there last.

Eve stared at her a moment. Yes. I did. Twice, just to see how she was doing, and then I left.

Vera groaned. She knew it! Damn it. How she was doing? For God s sake! She was decomposing. What d you think? That she d gotten up and left? Gotten a new hairdo?

I ll pretend you didn t say any of that. But, for your information, my visits were a really long time ago, Eve argued. Like only a few months after. I never went back to see her after that.

Vera gave herself a mental scolding. So much for calm and understanding. Thank you for telling me.

By the way, I ll probably stay with Suri until my car is repaired, Eve said, dragging Vera to a different topic. It s just easier for getting to work.

Sure, Vera agreed. She opted not to mention that this would leave her at home alone with Luna. She d already been more than a little insensitive to Eve s feelings during this conversation. The idea that she could have been killed in that accident still twisted Vera s stomach into knots.

But what if it wasn t an accident? Could someone know what they had done and have been waiting all this time to take action? The possibility didn t make sense. Why not come after one or both of them twenty-two years ago? Fifteen or even ten years ago?

Do we know who these people are? Eve asked.

Vera shook off the other thoughts and frowned. People?

The remains, Eve explained. Have they ID d them yet?

If they have, Bent didn t tell me. She and Eve had put Sheree s handbag and a suitcase with some of her things inside in the cave with her. At the time it had felt like the right thing to do. The missing items went along with the scenario that she d run off.

Vera tried to remember what on earth had given her such an idea. Had she seen it on television, or had sheer desperation prompted a plan that had been completely her own? Poor Eve had been far too distraught.

I guess we ll just have to wait and see what they learn, Eve noted. She returned her focus to Mrs. Kaufman.

I suppose so, Vera agreed. I should go. I ll touch base with Bent and see if he knows anything more.

Eve was smiling down at Mrs. Kaufman now. She d done the necessary massaging to loosen the muscles of her face and lips. A quick application of glue, and then the final step of adjusting the lips into a smile. A far more pleasant expression than the woman had ever worn when she was alive.

Do you still talk to them? Vera ventured. Their parents had caught Eve more than once talking to the deceased at a viewing when no one else was looking. She had insisted that she wanted to be nice, since they were so lonely and no one else would talk to them.

Eve scoffed. Of course not. That was just a phase when I was a kid. She shook her head. This is my job, Vee. I like giving it my best. Believe it or not, being attentive and considerate makes my job easier. Makes all this -she waved her hands around to indicate the room at large- easier.

Vera believed her. The clients who passed through this funeral home were lucky to have Eve. I m sure the family is grateful for all you do.

Let me know what you find out from Bent, Eve said almost absently as she readied to set Mrs. Kaufman s eyes.

Vera winced as she lined first one and then the other eyelid with glue. Sometimes, Eve had told her, the eyes didn t want to stay shut. One method to facilitate closure of stubborn lids was the glue she d just used. If that didn t work or didn t provide the look she was going for, she used eye caps.

Vera blinked at the thought, hated when anything touched her eyes. Sure, I ll let you know what he says. Talk to you later. Vera hesitated. Be careful. If someone does know something and what happened to you today is an indication of that, he or she may try something again.

Eve nodded. I m working hard not to think about it at the moment, but you re right.

Just stay watchful, Vera suggested.

Promise. Eve used her forefingers to push the woman s nose more to the center.

Vera hesitated again. Thought of all the times her sister had made her promises. Sometimes her follow-through left something to be desired. Vera could only hope this wouldn t be one of those times. She made her way to the door, discarded her gloves and apron into the hamper there. Once she stepped outside the room, she didn t allow the door to close completely so she could covertly watch her sister for a moment.

It wasn t that she didn t trust Eve to tell her the truth. It was just that she might be trying to protect Vera from worrying. As the oldest, Vera had always been the worrier.

Now, Eve said, peering down at Mrs. Kaufman, where were we? A little birdie told me your older son was thinking of retiring. He s the one who found a wife online, isn t he?

Vera s hopes that everything was as it should be deflated a little as she eased the door shut and walked away.

All these years she had, deep down, known that something was a little different with Eve. Well, that wasn t fair. What Vera had just witnessed could be chalked up to eccentricity. Whatever the case, she just hoped it hadn t amplified or evolved over time.

Vera needed Eve to be okay.

She loved her sister, and she would do anything to protect her.