Kate was too embarrassed to say anything more.
“What my sister is asking,” Randal said, “is if we take on this case, should we try to recreate the party?”
“Actually,” Sara said, “that’s not my concern. We can make all the preparations we want, but how do we get them to show up? Do we contact people who were at the party and tell them the truth of why we’re inviting them?”
When no one spoke, Sara imitated holding a phone to her ear. “Remember that party you went to in Lachlan, Florida, back in 1997?” She paused. “Yes, that’s the one. At Billy Pendergast’s big house.” Pause. “Oh, I’m glad you had fun. Anyway, we found a skeleton of one of the guests sealed up in a closet. He’d been murdered.” Pause. “Yes, we’re sure it was murder. Someone had sawed his skull in half.” Pause. “It is indeed dreadful. So, we’d like for you to come back to the house and let us figure out ifyouwere the one who killed him. No, it won’t take long—unless you’re the murderer, then it’ll take the rest of your life. Ha ha. Can we put you down for the fourteenth?”
Sara’s enactment was so spot-on that they just stared at her.
Randal spoke first, his voice low. “We definitely should give this serious consideration. The murder was twenty-five years ago, and Derek Oliver was a vile man, a criminal. Do wewantto find out who did the world a favor and stopped him? As we know, we could tell Broward and they’ll remove the bones, then we can forget about it.”
“You’re afraid his wife, your girlfriend, did it,” Sara said.
Randal tightened his lips. “In other circumstances, that might be true, but this wasn’t an ordinary crime of passion. He pushed someone to the brink, yes, but it took mental illness to saw the skull apart, and...”
“Scoop out the brain,” Sara said. “It’s attached. Wonder what tool he used?”
No one had an answer to her question.
“Maybe it was two people,” Jack said. “One killed him with drugs or maybe shot him. He could have died of a heart attack. We don’t know for sure what happened. Then someone sawed the top of his head off.”
“We do know that Billy hid the body,” Sara added.
“And don’t forget that Kate’s toy had been stuffed inside,” Jack said.
“What we don’t know,” Randal said, “is who sewed the jewels inside the toy.”
“Or who removed the contents of the skull,” Sara said.
Randal said, “I bet the killer was away, disposing of the contents when Billy found the body.”
“What a shock to find the body gone.” Sara grimaced. “Wonder if the killer ever knew the truth.”
No one replied.
“We need to decide if we want to pursue this,” Randal said. “If we do, someone’s life is going to be ruined.”
They were silent for a moment because Randal knew all about having a life that was destroyed.
“It’s what Billy told us,” Jack said. “If they show up, it will be because they still have something they don’t want found out. Some secret that they want to remain hidden.”
Sara nodded in agreement. “A secret so big that he or she killed to keep it from being discovered. Forever.”
“Forever hasn’t lasted,” Randal said. “Do we want to force that secret being told? That could put everyone at risk. Someone killed to keep it hidden. It could be dangerous.” He glanced at his precious daughter. “To us.”
Kate spoke for the first time since her embarrassing moment. “Something no one is mentioning is the will. I’m curious about the descendant of James Lachlan. Who actually owns that house? I can’t sell it until we know the owner.” She leaned forward. “I’d like it better if those lawyers don’t get the house. The land has been sold off and most of the contents of the house are gone. I think those lawyers have benefited enough!” They knew Kate hated seeing the house desecrated. She looked at her aunt. “Did you ever meet James Lachlan?”
“I did. He was a tall man, with a magnificent head of gray hair, and he had a heavy Scottish accent. He liked Cal a lot. I think...” She took a breath as she thought of the man she’d loved. “I think maybe he saw the bruises on Cal. His father was a bastard of a man! Cal and I didn’t know the story, but if Mr. Lachlan had lost both his son and his nephew, maybe he was redirecting some of what he’d missed onto Cal.” Her head came up. “I just remembered that one time I saw him at one of Cal’s football games.”
“So he didn’t isolate himself,” Kate said. “He didn’t hide out in his movie room and grieve for years.”
“I guess he could have done both,” Sara said.
Jack looked from one woman to the other. “Okay, got it. Whatever we decide to do about the murder, Sara is going to do the research to find the true owner of the house.”
She was smiling. “That appeals to me. So you three are going to solve the murder? All by yourselves?”
“We’ll struggle along.” Randal wore a bored look.
