19

Boyett Farm

Good Hollow Road, Fayetteville, 12:30 p.m.

The message at the house was not at all like the one on Vera s car. That one had been very specific-very pointed-yet made no actual threat.

But this one was different. This one was a direct threat.

I should have killed you all when I had the chance.

On the porch, Vera, Eve, and Luna stood shoulder to shoulder, staring at the words spray-painted across the front door in four lines.

This message was a scare tactic. For Luna, it had done its job extremely well.

Who would do such a thing? Luna wailed. She d settled down after Vera and Eve arrived, but now her emotions were getting the better of her again.

Someone who s playing a game, Vera suggested. Who wants to take advantage of the situation.

It could be the person who hurt Sheree, Eve said, her gaze glued to the words.

Vera wanted to shake her. What was the point of scaring Luna further with that suggestion? Damn it. The person who hurt Sheree, Vera challenged, could be dead himself by now. Or too old to get around. We can t know for sure that this is related to who hurt Sheree. It could be someone who wants to make us miserable. To capitalize on the situation. Grab a minute of fame.

Just saying, Eve argued. My explanation makes a lot more sense.

Vera glared at her, but it did no good since Eve wouldn t meet her gaze. Did she really think her suggestion was going to help?

Moments after Vera and Eve had arrived, a news van from Memphis stopped at the road in front of the house. Patricia Patton and her cameraman stood next to it, staying well away from the property line. Vera had wanted to walk out there and demand that they leave, but they were in the road, so she couldn t. What she and her sisters could do was keep their backs to the camera, which she had warned them to do. Although the house sat back from the road a good distance, a zoom lens could zero right in on the situation.

Bent pulled up, and Vera, keeping her back to Patton, waited for him at the bottom of the steps. She and Eve had decided they weren t going to tell him about the other messages. Those would only lead to questions neither of them wanted to answer. Fortunately, the message on her SUV had been written using one of those glass markers designed to put for-sale information on cars. The wet wipes she carried in her car contained alcohol, which made removing the words easy enough.

Besides, Vera had someone working on the text messages. Bent couldn t do any more than what she had already set in motion.

Someone left an ugly message on the front door, she said, rather than hello. Luna s very upset. She turned to her sisters, who huddled near the door, staring at the assault on their home as well as their senses. Eve s taking it fairly well, but it takes a lot to faze her.

Yeah, Bent agreed, she s pretty unflappable. He studied Vera as they made their way up the porch steps. You okay?

I m fine. She saw far worse than this all the time in Memphis.

I m sure you ve seen way worse, he said, reading her mind, but this is personal.

Maybe he was right. She should be more affected. But it was difficult, knowing what she knew. I m trying to keep my reactions in neutral territory until we know more. And for them. She nodded to her sisters. As well as the vultures on the road.

Vera didn t dislike reporters in general. Just this one. Many reporters were helpful during investigations. Not Patricia Patton.

That s smart-if you can manage it, Bent commented.

She scoffed. Believe me, I m an expert.

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted having said them. Statements like that could come back to haunt a person. Thankfully this investigation had not pointed to Vera and Eve just yet, but it very well could eventually.

It was all these extra little surprises-like three additional sets of remains-creating havoc deep inside Vera.

Her instinct was to start questioning people who had known and been friends of the family during that time period. Find out if anyone worked on the farm for her father. Cut hay or trimmed trees. There was a time when they had horses and a few head of cattle. It was possible someone had helped with the animals. Vera had no memory of a handyman or a helper of any sort.

As she and Bent neared, Luna and Eve stepped apart, clearing the path for him to see the message left on their front door.

Afternoon, ladies, he said, his gaze fixed on the words spelled out in red paint across the yellow front door.

The house was white, and the door had once been a pale green-their mother had loved green. Sheree, wanting to put her stamp on at least a few things, insisted it be painted her favorite color-yellow. After Sheree was gone, Vera and Eve painted it green again. Looking back, it seemed a bit childish, but it had made them feel better. Later, when Luna was twelve, she noticed a photo of her mother standing on the front porch and saw that the door was yellow. Their father had told her how Sheree loved the color. Luna begged him to repaint it that bright daffodil.

Vera had been immensely grateful she was long gone by then. Eve had been furious about the change.

Since neither of them would hurt Luna by commenting negatively, the door remained yellow evermore. Besides, after Sheree disappeared, Luna had become Daddy s little girl, while Vera and Eve had become irrelevant. She supposed it was understandable to some degree, since Luna had been a baby. Within a year Vera was off to college and Eve was in trouble all the time. Luna was by far the easiest to love, and it didn t hurt that she had adored their father. Vera and Eve hadn t done that in a very long time. Not since he brought home a woman to take their dead mother s place.

Do we have a time frame when someone may have done this?

It had to be between eleven thirtyish, Vera said, and whatever time Luna arrived, because I was here until then.

I got home about ten after twelve, Luna said. I come home for lunch a couple of times each week.

We can assume then that it was someone who knows your routine, Bent suggested. Otherwise, they were taking a big risk on being caught.

Vera agreed with this to a point. Whoever vandalized the door had to be watching the house, because my being here is not part of the routine.

Bent nodded. His gaze meeting hers. Good point. He shifted his attention to Eve and Luna. I ll have someone drop by and check for prints in case the perp touched the doorknob or some part of the door. I m doubtful we ll find anything, but we ll try.

Luna shook her head. Can we just cover it up? She glanced farther down the road, beyond the trees that provided some amount of cover for them. I don t want more of those reporters rushing over here.

We can, Bent said. If that s what you prefer.

Luna s right, Vera agreed. Since it s unlikely you ll find anything useful, the harm those reporters could do represents the bigger threat.

All right then. Bent looked from one to the other. Any yellow paint around here?

I ll get it, Luna offered. But if it s all right, I ll go back to the library and have lunch there. I can t be here right now.

I should get back to work too, Eve said. She turned to Vera then. If that s okay.

Vera waved her hand in dismissal. Sure. I can handle this.

We, Bent corrected. I m pretty good with a paintbrush.

The surprises just kept coming-from this man . . . and whoever else was intent on making their lives miserable.

Luna rounded up the can of yellow paint she used to refresh the door from time to time and a couple of brushes, along with a stir stick. By the time the paint was blended sufficiently and Bent and Vera were applying it to the door, Eve and Luna were long gone. And, thankfully, so were Patricia Patton and her sidekick.

For a while Vera and Bent didn t talk. She had a feeling he had something to say, but it required some fortification.

Finally Bent said, I need to try and question your dad, Vee. I can t put it off any longer.

She d expected that would be coming.

Like I told you already, Vera reminded him, I don t believe it ll do you any good, but if you feel it s necessary, then we re okay with that.

Although she hadn t mentioned it to her sisters, it was unnecessary. That excuse had been for buying time, nothing more. At this point, she recognized there was no avoiding the step.

Long ago she had learned that when trouble started, it was best to choose her battles. She had a very bad feeling that the real war was yet to come.

Hillside Manor

Molino Road, Fayetteville, 2:55 p.m.

When they found her father, he sat in a chair in the garden beneath the shade of trees. Nearby, a bubbling fountain in a small pond appeared to have his interest. The residents loved the pond. It was full of koi, and whenever they were outside, one of the attendants manned the perimeter of the shallow water to ensure no one decided to take a dip or tried to catch a fish.

Hi, Daddy. Vera sat down next to him.

Vee, he said, smiling, what re you doing here? Did you finally decide you could leave the big city long enough for a visit?

She smiled, grateful he seemed lucid for the moment. She d seen him when she first arrived, but obviously he d forgotten. He d probably forgotten that Sheree s remains had been found, as well.

It was time for a visit, Daddy.

Bent sat down on a matching bench that stood at an angle to the one where Vera and her father sat, giving all seated nice views of the pond.

Daddy, you remember Bent, don t you?

Course I do, he said, his smile gone now. Evelyn was always trying to help him. He shook his head. But I had him figured for a lost cause. His gaze narrowed in on Bent. Guess I was wrong.

Maybe they really had caught him on a rare good day.

I ll take that as a compliment, Mr. Boyett, Bent said. I came by today to ask if you recalled anything from when Sheree went missing that might help us find out who took her away.

Vera s father shook his head. I tried to do right by that girl. Tried to give her a nice home and everything she needed, but there was no making her happy. She just kept cheating and whoring around.

Vera cringed. Daddy, I need you to think carefully before you speak. You loved Sheree.

He nodded. I did, but I also knew what she was. I finally had enough, and I told her to leave.

His words stunned Vera. When did you do that?

Right after I found out she was back with that no-good bastard again. I told her to leave and never come back. If she did, I intended to make her regret it. I meant every word of it too.

Oh hell. Daddy, Vera warned, I m sure you had no intention of hurting Sheree.

I thought about it, he said, eyeing Vera now as if he suspected she was some stranger, but lucky for her, she took off before I had no other choice. At least she left Luna with me. That was likely the best thing she did in her whole rotten life. I couldn t bear the thought of her dragging that baby off to her disgusting rendezvous.

Can you tell me who she was involved with at the time she disappeared? Bent asked.

The question had been asked and answered twenty-two years ago, and Vera saw no reason for him to dig up that business now. Her father had suffered enough. She started to say as much, but her father spoke first.

Who wasn t she involved with? he snapped. I m surprised some of the wives hadn t gotten together and skinned her alive. She screwed around with husbands and single men alike. Whore. He mumbled the last.

Vera was so grateful Luna wasn t here. She d never heard her father speak like this about Sheree. Right now was not a good time for him to start.

But at the time of her disappearance, he went on, I had reason to believe she d gone back to Garth Rimmey. But really, who knows? I told all this to Walt.

Any husbands in particular that you recall? Bent asked.

Vera closed her eyes at the reality that Bent was digging for suspects to go after. The investigative analyst in her wanted to tell him not to waste his time.

But the sister in her wouldn t allow her to do so. She had to protect Eve.

Burt Roberson over at the market, he said. Clive Todd at the bank. He made a disgusted sound. Take your pick. If they had money or any sort of authority around town, they were her targets. Course, it didn t seem to matter when it came to that damned Rimmey. He was a nobody who had nothing. She never could fully break ties with him.

Daddy, Vera countered, I ve never heard you say things like this about Sheree before. Are you sure this is all true? It was. She knew it was. But casting doubt in Bent s mind was important.

Believe me, Vee. I know the things she did. If I hadn t been a fool, I would have killed her myself well before someone else did. But I had you girls to think about.

Vera shrank into herself. Maybe it was better if she said nothing.

Did you and Sheree argue frequently? Bent asked.

After Luna was born, that s all we did was argue.

Vera desperately wished her father would go back to that place where he couldn t remember. At least for the next few minutes.

Did the two of you ever go to that cave about a mile behind the barn? The one that you have to get down on all fours to go into?

Vera froze. She had no idea what her father would say in answer to that one. How many times had he raised hell with her and Eve about playing in that cave?

Rather than answer Bent, he turned to Vera. I told you and your sister not to be going in that cave. It s no place to play.

Vera opened her mouth to assure him that she and Eve only went a few times, but Bent spoke first.

The girls played there a lot? He didn t look at Vera as he asked this question.

All the time. Her daddy shook his head. I warned them that they could get hurt in there, but it didn t do one bit of good. Both are as hardheaded as a rock.

Do you recall the last time you caught them there?

Vera s mouth gaped. She stared at Bent, but he wouldn t look at her.

Not long before Sheree disappeared, her father said. I think they were trying to get away from her and the baby. Sheree put poor Luna off on them every chance she got. They were just kids themselves, you know.

No matter that she was as mad as hell at Bent, Vera felt stunned that her father had been so aware of all that was going on. He d seemed removed most of the time. Uncaring, even.

You re sure about the timing? Bent asked, daring to look at her then.

Vera glared right back at him. What the hell was he up to?

Of course I am. Vernon tapped the side of his head. Memory like a steel trap.

If only, Vera mused.

But after Sheree disappeared, her father went on without provocation, they knew better than to go back in there.

Why is that? Bent pressed.

Vera stood. Well, Daddy, it was good to see you, but Bent and I need to be on our way. She glowered at him. We have things to do.

One last question, Mr. Boyett, Bent said, ignoring her edict.

So much for hoping she could count on him for leeway in all this.

Her father raised his chin. I m listening.

Were you aware there were more remains-of other people-tucked away in that cave?

Daddy- Vera started, but he cut her off.

I told them, he said. I told them to stay away from that cave. But they didn t listen.

Vera leaned down and kissed his cheek. We have to go, Daddy. You enjoy the rest of your day.

Before she could move away, he grabbed her arm with surprising strength. Don t go in that cave, Vee. There are things in there no one needs to see.

Bent was suddenly right beside her. What kind of-

Vera got between her father and Bent, cutting him off. This ends now.

Bent nodded his understanding, but it was impossible to read his reaction. Good day, Mr. Boyett.

It wasn t until they were outside the facility and headed to Bent s truck that Vera turned on him.

What the hell was that about? Were you trying to make my father incriminate himself when most of the time he can t even remember the names of his own daughters? We cannot be sure a single word of what he said is accurate.

I did what I had to do. Bent paused at the passenger-side door of his truck. You know the drill. You would have done the same thing if this was your case.

He had her there, but that wasn t the point.

First, anything he says will be thrown out by a judge, and you know it. She would see to it.

Bent inclined his head and considered her as if he didn t understand why she was so angry. But he told me the names of other people who may have wanted Sheree to disappear. Isn t that our goal? To find out who killed her and to see that justice is done?

Bent had no idea that in this situation there was no justice any way one looked at closing the case. But how did she make that clear without giving away the one part she couldn t share with anyone?

Before she could figure out a response to his question, her cell vibrated. She yanked it from her pocket, grateful for the distraction. William Talbert s name and face flashed on the screen.

The chief of special operations in Memphis . . . her boss .

I have to take this. Vera walked several yards away and accepted the call.

At this point she wasn t sure which was worse, going down this path with Bent or hearing from her boss about the investigation of her team.

One was about as appealing as the other.