“She was a crazy bitch,” Eve grumbled. “That’s the problem.”
Vera held up her hands. “You don’t say anything like that out loud again either, okay?” Eve reluctantly nodded. “First.” Vera turned to Luna. “How is Jerome’s father?”
“The same. He’s in and out of consciousness but hasn’t been able to speak yet. Anything he tries to say is gobbledygook. They’re planning surgery in the morning. They want his vitals a little more stable first.”
Damn. “I’m sorry to hear that, Lu. Poor Jerome.”
Bent leaned against the counter next to the sink. “Luna, let’s go through what happened this morning one more time. Then I want you to make a list for me of all the inappropriate things Jackie did since you and Jerome married. The things she said. Also make a list of any arguments you and she have had. Anything you said to anyone else about Jackie that could come back to haunt you. You can pass all that along to Vera when you’ve finished.”
Luna shook her head. “I have never said anything about her to anyone. I know better.”
“She hasn’t,” Vera pitched in. “Luna doesn’t do that. She’s barely mentioned anything to us.”
“That’s good. It’ll work to your benefit.” Bent glanced from Luna to Vera and back. “You need to find a way to tell Jerome about this before Geneva does.”
Luna drew in a big breath, her hands bracing her belly. “I will.”
This was enough. “When Bent is through with his questions, I’m taking you to the farm.” Vera didn’t want her sister staying here alone. “Just until Jerome is back.”
When Luna would have argued, Vera went on. “You have to protect yourself, Lu. If Geneva shows up and you’re here alone, she can say anything about how you react, and it’ll be her word against yours. You don’t need to be alone. And if she catches you alone, take your cell phone out immediately and start recording.”
“I need to finish the nursery.” Luna looked ready to cry, and Vera didn’t blame her. This was insane.
“Eve and I will help you finish. But you can’t be alone right now.”
“Suri’s out of town for a conference.” Eve shrugged. “I can stay here with you at night and help with the nursery. You’ll be at the library most days.” She looked to Vera. “Vee will have her hands full helping Bent with this.”
Vera was surprised at Eve’s initiative and, at the same time, tremendously grateful. She did need to focus on clearing up this mess, andthere was the triple homicide investigation. She held her breath as she waited for Luna to make her decision.
Luna nodded. “Okay. Let’s do that.” She turned to Vera. “I can come to the farm when Eve goes to work on my days off from the library.”
“That sounds like a really good option.” Vera was grateful Luna hadn’t put up a fuss. Being alone right now was too risky on more than one level.
“You two are going to be busy.” Eve looked from Vera to Bent. “I just heard about the murders at the Wilton place.”
Luna looked surprised. “Who was murdered?”
“Thomas Wilton,” Bent answered, “and two visitors we’re assuming he or his wife invited for the weekend. Alicia, his wife, survived, but she’s in critical condition.”
“What about Valeri?” Luna asked. “Is she okay?”
“You know Valeri Erwin?” Vera shouldn’t have been surprised. Luna had been the library director for a while now. She knew anyone and everyone who ever checked out a book at the local library.
“I do. She came to the library a few times.” She frowned. “I haven’t seen her in a while, though.”
“Maybe you can tell us more about Valeri while we’re here.” Vera needed a better grasp on the woman.
“I don’t know that much.” Luna eased onto a stool. “She picked up two or three books on a few occasions. She was always friendly.”
“Has she ever come to the library with a friend?”
Luna appeared to think about that one for a moment. “Not that I’ve seen.”
“What genre does she read?” Bent leaned against the counter next to the sink.
Bent was quite the reader himself, Vera had learned. Westerns. True crime and even a few romance novels had made their way onto his bookshelves at home. She loved the idea of Bent reading a romance.
“Mysteries or something on that order, I think. I’ll check tomorrow to be sure.” Luna sighed. “I’m sorry, but I think I need to lie down. I am utterly exhausted.”
