Jenny Collins might be a pain in Vera’s ass where Bent was concerned, but she was the top authority on the human anatomy aroundthese parts. Besides, Vera had been back home for more than a year. It was time to make a few friends—useful ones, anyway. A girl could never have too many handy, knowledgeable pals.
No more putting it off. Vera emerged from her SUV and headed into the hardware store. At the counter she smiled for the clerk. “Is Mr. Potter in?”
Luna had said that Clarence Potter shook the can of paint and rung her up that day. He was the owner. Vera wanted to speak directly to him. The quickest way to make the gossip grapevine was to pose a dicey question to the wrong person.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Potter is gone for the day. Can I help you with something?”
Vera didn’t recognize the clerk, but she looked to be about Eve’s age. Maybe someone she went to school with, assuming she was from the area. Vera committed the woman’s glossy red hair and green eyes to memory. She would ask Eve later. If the cash register operation and/or maintenance became an issue, it wouldn’t hurt to have an inside contact.
“Thank you, but I really need to speak with Mr. Potter. What time will he be in tomorrow?”
“He’s generally here by eight and leaves at five. He had to leave a little early today.” She tapped her mouth. “Dentist appointment.”
Another idea occurred to Vera. “Thanks. I just need a ...” She mentally ran down a list of items sold at a hardware store. “An extension cord.”
The redhead blinked. “Sure. I’ll show you where they are.”
Vera followed her down an aisle, wondering what in the hell made her sayextension cord.
“White? Brown? Black?” the cashier asked. “We have several lengths.”
When she stopped in front of an array of extension cords, Vera frowned. “White. Six feet, I guess.”
The cashier snagged one and passed it to Vera. “There you go.”
“Thanks.”
The walk back to the cash register had her stomach tying in knots. Holding her breath, Vera paid for the item.
“Anything else, hon?” The cashier tucked the receipt into the bag with the extension cord, then handed it to Vera. Before Vera could say a word, the redhead pointed a finger at her and smiled. “I know you, you’re Eve’s big sister, Vera.”
Well that answered the question of whether Eve knew the woman. “I thought you looked familiar.” What was one more lie in the grand scheme of things. Lies and fibs were simply a way of life for cops and private investigators. And Boyett sisters, apparently.
“Opal Carmichael.” She gave Vera a knowing nod. “That Eve is a pure miracle worker when it comes to the dead. I can’t tell you how many friends and relatives she’s prepared and somehow managed to make them look so natural. Everyone brags on her work.”
Vera smiled. It was good to hear nice things said about her sister. She had worked hard to earn the respect of this community. “We’re very proud of Eve.”
Opal leaned forward as if she were about to tell a state secret. “I reckon it’s Eve’s calling. She makes everyone look even better dead than they did when they were living.” Her eyes got way bigger. “She really has a special gift, for sure.”
“She does. Well, thank you, Opal.”
“You have a good day!” Eve’s former classmate called after her.
It was way too late for any part of this day to be deemed good—outside Carmichael’s enthusiastic praise for Eve. Vera had endured a car ride all the way to Nashville and back with the snobby son of the woman who had made her life miserable back in high school, then she’d been puked on by her poor little pregnant sister.
This was not a good day by any measure of the definition, and she didn’t expect it to get any better.
She hoped it wasn’t about to get worse. Vera hurried to her SUV. When she was settled in her seat and had started the engine so the cool air would blow on her face, she dared to examine the receipt.
The digital clock on her dash read 4:52 p.m. The receipt showed 4:50 p.m.
Her heart sank. Adding the time it took her to get out of the store and into her SUV, the time was right. Which meant Luna was wrong about the time she left the hardware store.
How could that be?
Her cell vibrated on the console with an incoming call. Vera let it go to the car speaker.Valeri Erwin.
“Shit.” She tapped the Accept Call button. “Vera Boyett.”
