“Yeah, I think so. She’s maybe in shock. She says she went to the hardware store for paint, and when she came back she found Jackie this way.”
“And she called you instead of 911 or Jerome.”
“Yeah.” Vera hated the doubt in her voice. “She recognized Jackie was dead and thought calling me was the right thing to do.”
Bent hesitated a moment as if uncertain what to do. “I’m at a crime scene, but I’ll make the call and have EMS head your way. They’ll confirm the situation and have a look at Luna. Keep her calm, and find out as much about what happened as possible before anyone else is involved. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Got it.” Vera hesitated, a frown needling across her brow. “What kind of crime scene?” The ramifications of what he’d just said suddenly filtered through the haze of worry and fear shrouding her brain.
“We’ve got three dead and one in serious condition out at Thomas Wilton’s cabin.”
“What happened?” Vera rubbed at her forehead with the back of her free hand as she wandered back into the entry hall. Apparently this day was only going to get worse. Three dead? Not the usual crime scene for Bent’s jurisdiction. Certainly not at such a prestigious location. Wilton was like a multibillionaire. Then again, rich people weren’t above murder. They just didn’t generally take a hands-on approach.
“Don’t know anything for certain. That’s why I was about to call you.”
As horrible as a triple homicide sounded, Vera would gladly trade the scene she had walked in on with the one he was working. There was something to be said for impersonal homicide cases.
Her gaze settled on the dead woman at the bottom of the stairs. Not that she was suggesting Jackie’s death was murder. But there was no way to pretend it didn’t appear suspicious, given it happened in her new daughter-in-law’s home—the daughter-in-law she disliked and often openly criticized. The one who didn’t call 911. The only other person in the house.
Maybe Vera had seen too many crime scenes and automatically jumped to the worst possible scenario, but she had a bad, bad feeling about this.
4
Andrews Farm
Boonshill Road, Noon
Vera sat down on the coffee table facing her sister. “Luna, EMS is on the way. They’ll have a look and confirm what we already know. Then they’ll take her body. It’s standard protocol.”
Luna stared at Vera, no blinking this time. “What do we do next?”
“Before Bent gets here to take your statement, let’s go over all that happened. You’ve had quite a shock, and we need to ensure you have everything straight in your mind.”
“Why is Bent coming?” Her big, dark eyes searched Vera’s.
Vera moistened her lips, buying time. She wanted to couch this in a way that wouldn’t make her sister feel like a suspect. The trouble was, she would be a suspect in the eyes of some, and there was no way around it. Gossip in small towns could be hurtful, and there was always plenty of it when something just a little off or slightly peculiar such as this happened. And the icing on the cake: Luna was—had been—a Boyett. Some in this town would always see the Boyett sisters as suspicious under any circumstances.
“Were you here when Jackie arrived?”
After staring at her hands a moment, Luna nodded. “I planned to finish decorating the nursery today.”
Vera worked up a smile. “I remember you saying so on Sunday.” Luna and Jerome were so excited about the baby. They all were. This should have been a calm, happy time for the couple.
“Jackie called me early this morning.” Luna sighed. “She wanted to help.”
“How early?” Vera really, really needed her to focus on the details. Precise details.
“About seven, I guess.” Luna shrugged. “I didn’t look at the time. Anyway, she said she was coming over to help me with the wallpaper and that she would be here about eight.”
Vera didn’t ask if Luna had invited the woman. She already knew the answer. No way. Jackie was too damned bossy and thought everything should be her way or no way. She had been a thorn in Luna’s side since the wedding plans began. The ornery woman had brought Luna to tears more than once. Holding back the spurt of anger that accompanied the thought, Vera focused on what had to be done. This could turn into a real nightmare. She had to protect Luna. The best way to do that was to ensure there was nothing to pick at when it came to her story of this morning’s events.
“What time did she arrive?”
“At eight, just like she said.” Luna placed her hands protectively on her bulging belly. “I remember because the grandfather clock in the hall was counting off the hour when she came in.”
The clock had been Jerome’s great-grandfather’s. It was the first piece of furniture brought into this house. By Jackie and her husband, of course, with the story that it had traveled all the way from England with his ancestors. Vera suspected the woman simply no longer wanted the unattractive family heirloom.
“What did the two of you do when she first arrived?” Vera had to stop drifting off track.
