But then, that was all Geneva Fanning was, wasn’t it? A witness via secondhand information. She hadn’t seen one damned thing with her own eyes. The rumors—if true—would certainly add to the uncertainty of her “good” word.
Vera smiled. Good to know.
“I don’t know for sure,” Eve said, “but it sounded like a long-running behavior.”
“I’ll look into it. Thanks, Eve.”
“FYI, Jerome is coming home tonight as long as his father continues to remain stable, and he’ll go back tomorrow. So Luna will be good for tonight.”
As long as Geneva hadn’t spent the day filling Jerome’s head full of lies and innuendos, Luna would likely be thankful to have him home.
“I’ll catch up with her today and make sure she’s okay,” Vera promised. Luna needed all the moral support she could get right now.
“All right. Talk to you later.”
The call ended, and Vera turned onto Washington Street.
Damn. She needed to go by the hardware store. Her continued avoidance of following up on that damned receipt just showed how worried she was that it would prove Luna had done something ...bad.
Impossible. Vera shook her head, and thankfully it only hurt a little.
Luna didn’t do bad things.
As Vera stopped at the four-way of Washington and Franklin, her gaze settled on the historic house-turned-apartments where Erwin lived and now managed her own tenants. On second thought, Vera made a left instead of going straight and heading for Bent’s office. Maybe Erwin had new tenants since she had taken over the building. Tenants meant neighbors. Just maybe those neighbors would have things to say about her. Rumors. Hearsay. Probably. But it wouldn’t hurt to stir that pot. Maybe the idea that she was questioning neighbors would make Erwin nervous. The fastest way to a mistake was to get nervous.
Vera parked and climbed out of her vehicle. She followed the sidewalk around to the front entrance. There was no locked door that required being buzzed in, so she walked right on inside. A door on each side of the entry area provided access to the two downstairs apartments, Vera presumed. A narrow staircase led up to the same on the second level.
With no clue which one was Erwin’s, she knocked on the door to her right.
A few knocks later, and it was clear there was no one home, or at least no one interested in answering the door. She moved to the one across the hall. The sound of children on the other side of the door gave Vera hope that someone was home. She knocked. A female voice inside urged the kids to be quiet. Then the lock turned, and the door opened. Young woman, mid- to late twenties maybe. Deep mahogany skin and even darker hair and eyes.
“Yes?”
Vera stretched out her hand. “I’m Vera Boyett with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department. I have a few questions for you, if you have a moment.”
The woman blinked, ignored Vera’s hand and glanced upward toward the second-story landing. Vera instantly knew that was where Erwin lived.
“Can we talk right here? I don’t want my children to hear any of this.”
“Of course. Wherever you’re most comfortable.”
“Just a moment.” The woman ducked back inside and ordered her children to sit and be quiet, or she’d turn off the television. Then she stepped into the corridor once more, closing the door behind her. She met Vera’s gaze. “What has he done this time?”
Oh damn. “I’m sorry?”
“My brother. Is he in trouble again?”
“Oh no. It’s not what you obviously think. I’m here about Valeri Erwin.”
“What about her?” Again she glanced up to the second-story landing.
“First, may I have your name?”
The woman seemed to melt into the door behind her in an effort to put distance between her and whatever uncertainty had appeared on her doorstep. “Is that necessary?”
“Actually no. It’s fine. We can keep it off the record.” Vera held up her hands palms out and shook them side to side in hopes of allaying her fears. “I just wanted to confirm that Ms. Erwin was home last weekend. Monday afternoon and evening in particular.”
The camera from a Ring doorbell belonging to a neighbor across the street had confirmed that Erwin’s car was home during that time period,and there was no visual of her leaving via the front door. Still, it was important to confirm—if possible—with the folks who lived closest to her.
