17

Wednesday, July 24

Methodist Church

Elk Avenue, Fayetteville, 7:30 a.m.

Eve sometimes wondered why she bothered with this.

The meetings were more for Suri and Vee than for Eve. She had stopped needing Alcoholics Anonymous ages ago. If she said this to Suri or to Vee, they would think she was crazy. Maybe she was. But she had found the way to assuage her needs, and alcohol was not the answer any more than the other drugs she had tried.

She surveyed the gathered group that sat before her. Most of them were people she had known her whole life. Some were from outside the county. Those were the ones who didn t want their neighbors or friends and family to be aware of their AA attendance. In her opinion, those were also the ones who would more likely fail. Based on Eve s experience, people who felt the need to hide their problems were the ones who never stayed sober.

But who was she to judge?

Seated in the back, away from the others, was Bent.

He only came occasionally. Since he d come last week, she figured he had some other reason for coming today. It wasn t like he couldn t have come on another day of the week. Wednesdays were her day to lead. He knew she would be here, and he probably had questions, which meant she d have to figure out how to answer them. The knack to providing satisfactory answers-even when not being completely truthful-was in the ability to respond without hesitation. So, while the attendees in the circle talked about their battles, she mulled over how to answer what Bent would most likely ask.

She liked Bent. He was kind of like the brother she never had. After her mom died, he d made it a point to be extra nice to Eve. In part maybe because he had been screwing her sister. But Eve hadn t cared. She d needed someone to show some level of attention to her, especially since her daddy had been reliving his youth with Sheree and Vee had been busy proving she could feel something.

They d all had their issues.

When Bent left town, and with Sheree and baby Luna the only things their father cared about, Eve started sneaking around to get high. Even Vee didn t know. Eve stayed over with friends whose parents kept liquor in the house. She did a lot of things to get her hands on alcohol. Her sister didn t lose her virginity until she was sixteen, nearly seventeen. Eve, on the other hand, did before she was fourteen. She had no other tradeable assets, and she needed alcohol or whatever-something to ease the pain.

Trevor Redmond stopped talking, and Eve forced an affirming nod. Thank you for sharing, Trevor. It wasn t necessary to hear his story. It was the same every time. His latest girlfriend had dumped him, and no one-relative or friend-would let him stay over anymore. He d passed out and pissed on their sofas too many times. Now he slept in his truck in front of their houses.

It was sad. But at least he was coming here and saying the words. That was something.

Eve forced herself to pay some measure of attention as one after the other had a turn at spilling whatever was on his or her mind. She didn t wait for Bent to speak up. He never did. Just showed up once in a while and listened. Maybe it was his way of reminding himself that his life didn t suck as much as he thought. Maybe to prove he was a sheriff for all in the community.

Or maybe just because he had nothing better to do.

When the meeting was over and the dozen gathered had wandered out, Eve started the cleanup. Whoever was in charge made sure that was done before leaving. Most of the attendees tossed their coffee cups in the trash and put away their chairs, but some didn t. Bent took care of the remaining chairs while Eve removed the trash bag from the can. Whenever Bent showed up, he always helped. Eve had figured out that part of the reason he did was so he could ask questions about Vee. He didn t ask about her every time he came, but nearly every time.

Did you get your car back? he asked as he put away the last chair.

Friday, she said, grateful for an easy question. Luckily Mr. Garner was able to find used parts, so the cost wasn t as bad as it could have been.

Bent picked up his hat from the table where the stack of flyers about the AA program sat. Mr. Garner was close friends with your daddy back before your mother passed.

He was.

Vee had let Eve know that Bent was asking questions about their father. No big surprise. There had been plenty of that back when Sheree first disappeared. But Sheriff Fraley had known Vernon Boyett since they were schoolboys, and nothing would have made him believe his old friend would ever hurt another human. Except he had. He d hurt Eve and Vee. But he hadn t really meant to. He d just been easing his grief the only way he thought would work. They d all done that in one way or another.

The Garners helped out for a while after she was gone, Eve went on, hoping to direct the conversation rather than allow Bent to go where he would. His wife cooked for us for weeks.

Until, Bent said, Garner and your daddy had a falling out.

Eve cringed inwardly. Damn it. She d forgotten about that stupid incident. Mrs. Garner had come around so much her husband had gotten jealous. He and his lifelong friend-Eve and Vera s daddy-had a very public argument about how much of Mrs. Garner s attention he was getting. They worked it out soon after, but no one forgot the incident. Folks would be talking and trying to remember every little thing from that time frame. As Vee would say, it was human nature.

You remember they worked it all out, she said, putting the flyers away in the drawer designated for AA s stuff.

You re right, but I also remember there was an issue at one time between your mom and dad about the hospice nurse who saw her in those final weeks.

Okay so he just wanted to talk about the past. She could handle that with no sweat. Taylor Williams. He was a good nurse. Vee and I took care of her bathing needs. There was no reason for Daddy to be upset about a male nurse. Mama liked him.

But your daddy thought he was coming around a little too much that last week or two.

Daddy was just mad because he couldn t take off work enough to see after Mama himself. This was true. He d blamed himself for not being there the way he thought he should have been. Eve remembered the way he cried when he thought no one was looking. She also knew for a fact that his boss would have allowed him to take an extended leave. She heard the man say as much to her daddy on one of his visits. The truth was, Eve suspected, her daddy wanted to stay, to do all possible for his wife, but he couldn t bear it, so he didn t. As strong as he had been, he just hadn t been strong enough.

Taylor had a bad accident one night after leaving your farm.

There was that. She opted not to comment since it wasn t a question.

I seem to recall, Bent said as they walked toward the stairs, there was an issue with the brake line or something like that.

Eve paused at the bottom step. Sheriff Fraley said the brake line broke. It was just one of those bizarre things that happen sometimes with older cars. She frowned. Are you accusing Daddy of something, Bent?

He settled his hat into place. Just confirming a few things I read in the case file.

Eve pushed through the lower-level street entrance. Bent followed. The morning sun was already oppressive. Daddy wouldn t have hurt anyone, Eve pointed out. You re wasting your time digging up those old rumors.

He glanced at the line of cars parked along the street before settling his attention back on her. This is just between you and me, Eve. I won t be stirring this pot publicly. But you need to be prepared, because others likely will.

She d figured it was just a matter of time before the gossipmongers got started. If what you want to know is if I recall anything unusual related to Daddy s activities after Sheree s disappearance, there s just one thing.

Vee had told her how Bent was pressing the idea. Eve was prepared.

What s that?

He was devastated. The same way he was when Mama died. Personally, I thought it was damned shitty of him for being so torn up over that woman after the way she treated us and disappeared on him and Luna.

Could ve been guilt, Bent suggested.

Eve shrugged. Maybe. He was pretty upset with her for cheating on him, but he would have done anything to keep her, so I m fairly certain killing her wouldn t have been on his mind. I mean, I suppose it could have been some sort of freak accident. But if he had been involved with whatever happened, he would have called an ambulance or taken her to the hospital himself. He wouldn t have left her to just die.

Bent considered what she said for a moment. Whoever did this to Sheree, I have my doubts as to whether it was an accident. There were multiple fractures to her skull. Her head was hit with something hard or banged against something hard more than once.

Eve stilled. Inside, the beating of her heart, the rush of her blood all seemed to quiet. Unless she was arguing with someone and accidentally fell down the stairs. Her voice sounded strained, distant even to her own ears. Our stairs are steep-not like the stairs in new houses.

Do you think she was arguing with someone? he asked. Wouldn t you have heard their voices? You were home that day, right?

One, two, three . . . Eve held her tongue. Ordered her heart to slow its racing. Calmed her thinking. Sounding calm was far more important than not hesitating. I don t know. She swallowed to wet her throat. But, yeah, I was home. I didn t hear any arguing . . . just the baby crying. Like I said back then.

Bent inclined his head as if weighing the possibility. A fall down the stairs could cause multiple head injuries. The lab in Nashville will tell us more. All we have right now is the preliminary report.

Had he told Vee about this? Eve s heart abruptly started to pound and all that sound-the thundering beneath her sternum and the roar in her veins-nearly deafened her.

She forced her lips apart and her tongue to work. What did Vee say about the skull fractures?

I haven t talked to her yet about those specifics. I m meeting with her later today. The TBI folks are on the way, so I have to rendezvous at the scene with them in half an hour.

Eve forced her head up and down. But you believe, she dared to venture, it was not an accident.

An icy chill flowed through her during the long seconds that elapsed before he responded.

This was the worst possible news. How would they ever get Bent or anyone else to believe the truth . . . if doing so became necessary?

He bracketed his hands on his hips. I really can t say. On first look, the accident scenario seems unlikely, but as you suggested, she could potentially have hit her head multiple times falling down the staircase. Whoever was with her may have gotten scared and buried her. Tried to make it look as if she d run off. The state lab has people who specialize in determining how these things happen. They measure all the different aspects of injuries. Determine the types of fractures, depressed or ring or whatever. Hopefully they ll give us something soon, and then we ll know with some measure of certainty.

So they won t be releasing her remains as quickly as we first thought? Luna would not be happy. She already had a memorial planned. She dragged Vera to the mall in Huntsville last night for dress shopping.

It might be a little while, yes.

Eve nodded. I ll let Luna know. She s anxious to have a memorial service.

She can have a memorial service anytime she likes, Bent said. Just no burial.

I ll be sure to explain the situation to her.

Bent started to go. Eve s knees almost gave way with relief. But then he paused and turned to her once more.

Think about that time frame, Eve, he said. If you recall anything that might be relevant to what happened to Sheree, let me know. I don t want folks speculating too much. Better to figure this out and wrap the case up before the rumors and the speculation get out of hand.

Sure. She nodded. I ll do all I can. Vee and I will put our heads together. See what we can recall. Maybe one of us will remember something useful.

That would be really helpful. Thanks, Eve.

She watched him go. The only thing Eve could think was that she really, really needed to call Vee.