Don’t go down that path, Vee.
Pushing the past back to its place, Vera steeled herself. She hated to do this, but it was time Luna understood what had happened for what it was. The events had played over and over in Vera’s brain like a bad movie reel, and there was only one way to view Jackie’s intent on that day.
“Luna, when Jackie tried to push you down the stairs, she had made exactly that decision.”
Luna wilted onto a stool and sat for a moment, not speaking, not even blinking. “You really think she intended to kill me?”
For Pete’s sake, did she think it was just for fun? Denial. That was the problem. “Luna, she tried to kill you. Worse, she didn’t care if she killed the baby too.”
Luna drew back as if Vera had dashed hot coffee in her face. “No.” Her hands cradled her belly protectively. “That can’t be right.”
“It’s an undeniable statistic. Most pregnant women who are murdered are murdered by a spouse, partner, or family member. Obviously, the baby is a victim as well.”
Vera hadn’t wanted to share this sad truth with Luna, but she needed her to see that Jackie was the evil one in this. The guilt Luna felt needed to be gone.
“Oh my God.” Luna’s horrified expression announced loudly and clearly that she now got it.
Vera regretted being the one to make her understand that awful truth. “So please, tell me every ugly rumor and/or factoid you know about the woman and her sister.”
“All right.” Luna heaved a big breath. “Everybody—at least a lot of people—considered Jackie a pain in the butt. We talked about that. Those who weren’t close to her would say she was selfish and self-centered. Everything had to be her way, which was very true.” She shifted on her stool as if uncomfortable.
Vera couldn’t imagine the effort required to carry around all that extra weight, especially on Luna’s petite frame.
“But the most prevalent rumor that I’ve heard off and on over the years,” she went on, “was about Leonard. There was always this nasty little rumor that he only married her because she got pregnant with Jerome. There was talk of affairs.” Luna blushed. “She was expecting before the wedding, no doubt about that. Then, as the story goes, he only stayed with her because of the cancer she had when Jerome was little.”
Vera made a face. “So she had cancer three times not two?”
Luna nodded. “That’s right. The last time was two years ago.”
“Wow.” Vera imagined the woman thought she would live forever with a record like that.
As if having a similar thought, Luna squeezed her eyes shut, maybe to block the image of Jackie lying dead at the bottom of her stairs, chin jutted out.
“Did anyone ever say who they thought Leonard was fooling around with?” It was a small town. Vera would be stunned if names weren’t mentioned.
“One time I heard the ladies in the women’s group who meet at the library whispering about the woman, theold maid, they called her, who works at the Fanning accounting firm. But later I heard that was nothing but a rumor. She used to do Leonard’s and Jackie’s taxes, so maybe that’s how the rumor got started.” Luna dusted muffin crumbs off her belly. “I’ve even heard that it was Geneva. But I don’t think that’s true.Jackie is her sister, and their husbands are first cousins. I think Trenton, Geneva’s husband—you met him at the barbecue on Sunday—would have noticed.”
“I did meet him.” She had heard of the Andrews and Fanning families. Fayetteville was a small town. But she’d never known them until Luna married Jerome.
As for Geneva’s husband having noticed a potential affair, Vera wasn’t so sure. “You would be surprised how oblivious some people can be. The idea of Geneva wanting Jackie’s husband would certainly up the ante as motives go.”
Luna made an unpleasant face. “I just can’t see Leonard cheating on Jackie with her own sister. That’s just gross.”
“Sometimes it’s the most unexpected that turns out to be the real story.”
Luna shuddered at the idea. “I just hope for Jerome’s sake that this whole nightmare is not about his father.”
“Do you know where these other potential players were when the fall happened? Was Leonard home alone? And what about Geneva?” Those were questions that needed to be asked. Cell phone records for all involved, including Geneva and Leonard, had been subpoenaed and should be in any day. The communication going back and forth between Jackie and her sister that morning had prompted Bent to order Geneva’s records as well.
“Geneva said she was home and that Jackie was sending her all those text messages,” Luna reminded Vera. “I think Leonard was home because that’s where he had his heart attack, and it wasn’t so long after her fall.”
“But what about Geneva’s husband, Trenton?” Maybe they needed his records too.
“I suppose he was at the office. Fanning and Ferguson Accounting.”
Vera knew the place. Right down the street from Barrett’s. Eve probably ran into him from time to time. His alibi would be the easiest to prove or, as the case might be, disprove.
“Oh wait!”
