26

Boyett Farm

Good Hollow Road, Fayetteville, 12:15 p.m.

Why the hell would Eve lie to her?

By the time Vera reached the house, she was thoroughly pissed.

She climbed out of her SUV and shoved the door shut. Lying to Bent was one thing. Even lying to Luna was acceptable, if it was for the right reason. They d been lying to their little sister and basically everyone else for years. But having Eve lie to her? After what they had been through together-that was just over the top. Unacceptable.

She shoved the key into the door and gave it a twist. If Eve was hiding something awful, and Vera feared she was, she had better get ready to come clean. Vera could not help her if she wasn t honest.

Wasn t that the way of it? Damn it.

The ones who did bad things never understood why friends and family didn t help them more often. It was difficult-no, impossible-to help a person who hid things from you and/or lied to you.

Her omissions with Bent were different. Yeah right.

She slammed the front door. What the hell was she even doing here? She should have just told Bent the truth from the beginning and accepted whatever charges the man saw fit to try to drum up. There really wasn t much of anything. Sheree wasn t murdered. It was an accident.

Wasn t it?

There were multiple skull fractures suggested in the preliminary examination.

She stalled, struggled to draw in a breath. Maybe Eve hadn t been completely honest about what happened.

Vera tossed her bag onto the bench by the door. Damn it!

But Eve had been a kid. Why would she lie?

The memory of dragging Sheree s lifeless body down those stairs bloomed in her mind. Her head bumping down one step after the other. Vera s shoulders sagged. There was that . . .

Whatever happened, Sheree had been dead when Vera arrived at the house. She had helped her sister haul the body and then tuck it into that damned cave. Sure, she had tampered with evidence. Probably abused a corpse-sort of. But both of those things were no longer even relevant where the law was concerned. The statute of limitations had long ago run out.

Murder was the only crime from that day that could survive twenty-two years.

But no one had committed murder . . . had they ?

A clunk on the wood floor over her head jerked Vera s attention upward.

She froze.

Footsteps.

Someone was up there.

Eve? Her sister hadn t gotten her car back yet. Maybe Suri had dropped her off.

If it was Eve, no problem. If it was a reporter, by God, Vera intended to kick his or her ass. She hit the stairs at a run.

She bounded up the final step, rounded the railing, and immediately rammed into a solid body in the shadows of the upstairs hall. She stumbled back. Tried to see, but there was something in the way.

Mask.

Son of a bitch.

Anger and frustration coalesced inside her. No visible weapon . . . dark clothes . . . dark mask. She charged toward the intruder.

Strong gloved hands pushed her away. Vera hit the wall on the opposite side of the hall.

The dark figure bolted down the stairs.

Vera regained her balance and rushed after him. No way was she letting this bastard get away.

Halfway down the stairs, she grabbed at the back of his shirt, and an elbow jammed her in the chest, knocked her onto her butt.

He kept going, heading toward the kitchen.

Vera attempted to right herself and capture her balance, but she failed. She tumbled the rest of the way down the stairs, hit the floor. Hard.

She grimaced at the pain, scrambled up, and hobbled toward the kitchen.

Too late. He was already out the back door, leaving it standing wide open. She stood on the porch and stared into the woods that surrounded the backyard. He was gone.

What s going on?

The demand came from Eve, who now stood in the kitchen with her hands on her hips, glaring at Vera as if she d put her out by insisting she come home straightaway.

A fresh wave of fury whipped through Vera. Someone was in the house. He knocked me down the stairs getting away. She gestured to the door. Then disappeared.

Are you okay? Eve surveyed her, from mussed blonde hair to worn sneakers, her frustration turning to concern.

Vera moved her shoulders and then flexed her feet, one at a time. I ll live. I don t think he took anything-I didn t see a bag or anything in his hands. But we need to be sure.

Eve closed and locked the door, then the two of them walked back to the front hall and climbed the stairs, a hell of a lot more slowly this time. Vera noted an ache in her right hip and her chest. She was going to be sore. Damn it.

Vera s and Eve s rooms were undisturbed. Nothing appeared to be moved or missing in Luna s either.

Their father s room was a different story. The dresser drawers had been opened and items were slung onto the floor. The closet door stood open, and items that had been folded and stored on shelves now lay on the floor.

What would anyone be looking for in here? Eve asked, surveying the mess. Daddy has been in Hillside for two years.

Who the hell knows? Vera collapsed onto the bed. We should call Bent.

Eve sat down beside her. Maybe he can find some prints.

The bastard had on gloves.

Oh.

Vera hated to go down this path with Eve, but she had no choice. Before we call . . . Bent knows you backed into that deacon s truck, and he knows you made up the story about being run off the road. I m hoping there s a reasonable explanation for why in the world you decided to fake the event.

God, she was tired and frustrated and flat-out pissed off.

Eve huffed out a put-upon breath. I never was very good at being sneaky.

Vera s whole body sagged with the new weight of her sister s admission. She bit back the first thing that came to mind. Why did you do it, Eve? Damn, don t we have enough trouble without adding some stupid thing like this to the mix?

I thought I could make Bent believe someone was after us. She shook her head. That maybe it was the person who killed Sheree. If I was successful, maybe he wouldn t be looking only at our family. She stared at the floor. I wanted you to believe too. I mean, that there was someone else.

More of that load settled on Vera s shoulders. This was exactly the reason people who might never have been caught after committing a crime often were for the most seemingly insignificant reasons. I have told you a dozen times. All we have to do is stick with our story. This thing you did -she shook her head at Eve- is not going to help. And you should know me better than this. I would never not look at all the possibilities.

I m sorry, Vee. I should have trusted you. Bent too. I ll pay for the damages. Maybe Bent can arrange it where I can do it anonymously.

Vera sighed. So what re you going to tell him to explain why you did this?

The truth, I guess. Eve scrunched her face. That I was worried they were going to try and blame Daddy and I wanted them to look further.

Vera couldn t argue her good intentions. I suppose that s as good an excuse as any. She stretched her back and groaned, then another thought suddenly occurred to her. Please tell me you didn t put that message on the front door. The mere thought irritated her. And on my car at the cemetery.

Eve leaned away. I should take the Fifth.

Vera s jaw dropped. And the text messages?

Eve winced as if Vera had landed a blow. Like I said, I had to be sure you were taking the possibility of other suspects seriously.

Vera rubbed at her forehead. No more. Got it? No more!

Eve held up her hands in surrender. I promise.

Vera narrowed her gaze, anger stirring. You didn t have anything to do with this intruder, did you?

No! Oh my God, do you think I m crazy?

Vera sent her a pointed look that said she didn t want to hear the answer to that one. I have to call Bent about this break-in.

As she opened her contacts, she started a mental inventory of what she remembered about the intruder. Taller than her. Heavier, muscular. Smelled . . . like an aftershave she d encountered before. Something unique. She couldn t call the one to mind just now, but she would in time.

She made the call, and while they waited for Bent to arrive, they looked for the point of entry. The front door had been locked when Vera arrived.

He could have unlocked the back door, Eve said. It s an old lock.

True, Vera agreed. She checked both the locks, front and back, spotted no indications of forced entry. Unless I left it unlocked this morning, which is entirely possible. If not, the intruder either came in through a window or he had a key.

I haven t given anyone a key, Eve said, as if the statement was an accusation. I know I ve done some stupid stuff in my time, but I ve never given away a house key.

Vera opted not to go there just now.

Her concern was the motive for the break-in. Why would anyone think there was something in Daddy s room? Vera didn t get it. Although their family was reasonably financially secure, they weren t rich. There were no family jewels or precious metals hidden in the house.

Maybe it was a reporter, Eve suggested. You said that was your first thought. Maybe he hoped to find a journal or something.

Vera laughed, a not-so-kind sound. Can you see Sheree having a journal?

Eve smirked. That s a hard no. And we both know Daddy wouldn t have been journaling.

But, Vera supposed, if it was a reporter, he wouldn t have any way of knowing this.

You re pretty sure it was a he, Eve said.

I am. And I think I recognized his aftershave.

A rap at the front door announced Bent s arrival.

Just to be certain, Vera checked out the window first, then opened the door. It would be just like Patricia Patton to show up unannounced again. The memory of her tall, broad-shouldered cameraman had Vera trying to recall if she d gotten close enough to smell his aftershave. She didn t think so.

Bent walked in, closed the door, and looked from Vera to Eve and back. What happened?

Come with me. Vera grabbed him by the arm and started for the stairs. Her hip complained, but she ignored it as she focused on repeating the details of her encounter with the intruder.

Eve followed, but stalled at the door as they walked into the ransacked bedroom.

You said he was wearing gloves.

Vera nodded. Looking for prints or anything else is likely a waste of time. I m thinking I must have interrupted him before he found whatever he was looking for, because his hands were empty. There was no bag or backpack.

Okay then. Bent surveyed her. You re sure you re okay?

I ll be sore, but nothing is broken. She hugged her arms around herself, feeling vulnerable. Maybe it was Bent s slow perusal, or maybe the confrontation with the intruder was catching up with her. Charging him the way she had wasn t exactly smart, no matter that she hadn t spotted a weapon.

Bent removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair, his gaze roving the room now. Any ideas as to what he may have been looking for?

Vera thinks he was looking for a journal, Eve said, stepping into the room. He may have thought Sheree left one.

Bent eyed her for a moment. I m thinking he was more interested in a journal one of you-or maybe Luna-might have.

Eve and Vera shared a look. Did you ever do any journaling? Vera asked.

Eve moved her head side to side. No. You didn t, either, did you?

Not since I was like twelve. What about Luna? Vera had been gone for most of Luna s posttoddler life. She really had no concrete idea what the girl had done during her adolescent years.

Eve shrugged. Maybe. She was always very private about her thoughts, so if she did, I didn t know anything about it.

I m posting a security detail, Bent said. I should have already.

That was his guilt talking. Besides, Vera didn t want an extra pair of ears around listening unless there was no other choice. She suggested, I really don t want to be diverting resources. Maybe we should just get a security system.

Eve nodded. That would probably be better.

As long as you get it today-tomorrow at the latest, Bent said, I m good with that.

I ll call someone, Eve said. She stared at the floor a moment, then reluctantly met Bent s gaze. I m sorry about what I did. She glanced at Vera before turning back to him. I was afraid y all were just going to try and blame this on Daddy and wouldn t look for anyone else.

You should know me better than that, Eve, Bent said. I ve known your family for a very long time. I would never take the easy way out or try and blame your father for something he didn t do.

I know. I m sorry. I ll pay for the damages, and I ll even apologize to Mr. Carmichael. Eve shrugged. I was going to ask if I could do it anonymously, but I should just bite the bullet and make it right.

Bent smiled. I m glad to hear it. To Vera, he said, When we re finished up here, we ll go to the cave. You ve been asking for access. I can give you that now. Conover and his guys are done. The Feds will be on site later today or early tomorrow. It s now or . . . way later.

Great. Vera needed to see the scene firsthand. Pictures were better than nothing but never as good as the real thing. No matter that she d been in that cave as a kid, memories sometimes took on a life of their own. Changed, expanded. She wasn t sure what she hoped to learn, but she had to try.

The front door opened, and Vera jumped.

Luna stood in the doorway, looking from one to the next. What s going on?

Vera ushered her inside and explained about the intruder.

Do you know if he took anything?

We can t be sure.

Oh my God. I need to check everything. Luna rushed up the stairs.

Eve sighed. I ll see if she needs any help.

When the two had disappeared down the upstairs hall, Bent turned to Vera. So you re good with Eve s explanation?

I can see her trying to protect Daddy. She was so young when Mama died. She wouldn t have wanted to lose him under any circumstances. She laughed, a dry, humorless attempt. I, on the other hand, might have been more than happy to send him up the river.

We do that when we re teenagers, he reminded her. Draw away. It s part of the process of becoming independent.

Yeah, well anyway, I find it a reasonable-however not very well-thought-out-explanation. Vera shook her head. I really worry about her. Between all that happened when Mama died and later, the drugs and drinking, it s possible she s a little behind the curve with emotional development. It s not unusual to find some level of immaturity in those circumstances.

He glanced toward the stairs, and Vera had the sudden impression there was something more he wanted to say.

Is there news from the scene or the lab? she asked.

By now the remains were likely all at the crime lab in Nashville, though she felt confident there had not been enough time for autopsies.

Nothing they re sharing. You know the TBI, they re like the Feds, they don t like to share on anyone else s timeline.

Vera shook her head. I ve always found that so strange. After all, they are here to assist the local police, and somehow they always wind up taking over and setting the locals aside.

The intruder didn t take anything from my room, Luna announced as she and Eve descended the stairs. He wouldn t have figured out where I kept my journal in a million years.

That s for sure, Eve commented.

Vera didn t ask. I m glad your things were secure.

As Luna came down the final step, her jaw dropped. Oh my gosh, I almost forgot to tell you. She looked from Vera to Eve and then to Bent. A woman who lives in Huntsville called me.

Huntsville was just across the state line in Alabama. Vera hoped it wasn t another reporter.

She claims she was a friend of my mother, Luna went on. She wants to meet with us. She says she has information that might help with the case.

Now there was the kind of news Vera liked to hear. Sheree never really appeared to have any female friends-at least not locally. Maybe all her friends had been in Huntsville, where the bigger nightclubs were.

I can follow up, Bent offered. Make sure she s legit before we invite her for a meeting.

I think that s a very good idea, Vera agreed.

For sure, Eve seconded. Because . . .

The way her eyes rounded told Vera that she realized what she was about to say would be hurtful to Luna.

Well, Eve said, a lot of women were jealous of Sheree-she was so beautiful and everything. I wouldn t want some stranger to say something hurtful just because they were jealous.

Luna made a sad face. Oh, Eve. She hugged her sister, who looked pained, as usual, at the gesture. You are so thoughtful. Thank you. I never even thought of that. She drew back and turned to Bent. Her name is Teresa Russ. I ll send you her cell phone number. I would really appreciate you checking up on who she is.

Be glad to, Bent confirmed.

Teresa Russ. The name didn t ring a bell for Vera, but if she was a friend of Sheree s, there was one thing Vera knew for sure. She was trouble.