A knock on the front door had Vera on her feet. “I’ll get it.”
She glanced at the dead woman and hurried to the door. Before opening it, she checked the viewfinder to ensure it was Bent. The cowboy hat and that handsome profile almost made her smile. Almost.
She pulled the door open and nearly wilted with relief. “She’s over there.” She gestured to the stairs. “Luna’s in the living room.”
Bent removed his hat as he crossed the threshold. He placed it on the side table. “EMS is a couple minutes out. I didn’t ask the ME to come. She can examine the body at the morgue.”
As unsettling as the situation was, Vera felt greatly relieved Bent had been able to make himself available right away. She wasn’t sure how this would shake down if anyone else wrote it up. Vera needed some time to ensure any discrepancies were resolved—like that receipt. Bent would give her that time. He would realize Luna could never do this. That was a given. The very idea was ludicrous. Vera just wanted to ensure that absolutely nothing gave anyone even the slightest doubt.
Bent studied the body. Snapped a few pics. Vera should have done that. She didn’t take offense when he checked for a pulse.
“No rigor in the face yet,” Vera pointed out.
Bent stood. “Has Jerome or his father been called?”
Vera shook her head. “I wanted to wait until you were here.”
“Understandable. I’ll talk to Luna. See if she wants me to make that call.”
“Thanks. I’ll get her some water.”
Bent headed for the living room, Vera made her way back to the kitchen. She took a glass from the cupboard and filled it under the tap. Then she walked around and ensured nothing was out of place. All looked exactly as it had on Sunday, sans all the food and hosting decor. Luna had outdone herself for the family get-together, inviting both sides. There had been at least thirty people. Mostly from the Andrews clan since Vera, Eve, and Luna were it as far as the Boyett family went. Their father had died last year after an extended and deep lapse into dementia. Vera and Eve’s mother had died of cancer more than twenty years ago. A few months later, their father had married Luna’s mother—a long and “not so pretty” story—and she’d died on the bathroom floor after trying to drown Luna at nine months of age.
Not even going there.
Now here they were with Luna’s mother-in-law dead at the bottom of the stairs.
Jesus Christ, this was going to be a nightmare on the gossip grapevine, if nowhere else. Anything related to the Boyett sisters was always a hot topic.
When Vera finally returned to the living room, she passed Luna the glass and settled on the sofa next to her. Bent sat in the chair to Luna’s right. He wore his usual jeans and a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department shirt. And cowboy boots, of course. The man never went anywhere without his hat and boots. Her heart reacted to his steady bearing.
“And you’re certain about the time you returned?” Bent’s voice was gentle. Vera greatly appreciated his ability to be kind. Not something she would have expected from the wild younger version she had known. But then he’d had reason to be angry and hard back then. Life had been difficult for Gray Benton as a kid.
Looking back, she recognized that even then he was a good, kind person beneath all the swagger. At least to those who deserved the effort.
“As best I can recall,” Luna confessed. “I can’t remember looking at the time at any point this morning other than when Jackie arrived.”
Vera hated, hated this for her sister. It was a true nightmare.
Bent braced his elbows on his knees, leaned forward. “Luna, I don’t like asking these questions, but it’s necessary. Anytime there is an unattended death—a situation where someone dies alone with no witnesses or easily discernible cause—it’s necessary to confirm as many details as possible just so there are no lingering questions.”
She swiped at a tear that had traced a path down her cheek. “I understand.”
“Did you and Jackie have any problems? Any recent disagreements that were perhaps witnessed by other people?”
“Bent,” Vera spoke up before Luna could answer, “do you think that’s really necessary?”
“It’s all right.” Luna held up her hands. “I understand that he needs to ask. I know how some people will talk when they hear what’s happened. Yes,” she said to Bent. “It’s well known that Jackie and I don’t always agree on things. We’ve had plenty of ...momentsin front of other people. You know—knew Jackie. She wasn’t one to hold back—audience or not.”
“Can you describe the moments you mean for me?” Bent watched her carefully.
Vera knew the tactic. He was looking for the lie. As much as she did not like this and wanted to protect her little sister, it was crucial to a thorough investigation. And this was an unaccompanied death investigation.
“We disagreed about the baby’s name. The color of the nursery. What I cook for dinner. What I wear. Take your pick.” Luna hugged herself. “I can’t do anything to please her. Jerome tells me I’m overreacting, but I’m not blind or deaf. She does not—did not—like me. But I was always respectful. I never spoke disrespectfully to her in any of those situations.”
Thank God. Vera had sensed things weren’t so good between Luna and Jackie, but she had no idea it was this bad. Why had Jerome not intervened? Surely he wasn’t that blind.
“Lu, I’m so sorry.” Vera reached out and squeezed her hand.
