Jack and Troy took their seats, cold beers were put in front of them, they drained them, then more were served. The Brigade took care of their free entertainment guests.
“Had enough dancing?” Jack asked.
“Not nearly enough.”
“Was that the sheriff?” Troy asked.
“Yes.” Kate gave a look to Jack to let him know that Sheriff Flynn had told her something important.
“Now there’s a job I might like,” Troy said.
Kate and Jack looked at him with interest.
“He’s retiring,” Kate said quietly. “He needs a replacement.”
“Does he?” Troy reached for more chips and salsa. “Does he really?”
Twenty-One
As usual, Sara woke up early. It was nice to be in her own bed. Her mind was so full of her dreams that she needed to occupy herself to clear it, so she got up and dressed. When they’d gone to Lachlan House, they’d left the fridge full. It was hard to believe that was just a few days ago. Sara began cooking, and when everyone arrived, she had enough for a dozen people.
“Something on your mind?” Jack was teasing. He knew she often did physical things to calm her thoughts. “My bathroom could use a good scrub.”
Ignoring him, she looked at her brother. “Still think Barbara did it?”
He was setting the big dining table. This much food deserved the Coalport china. “Her mind was on worrying how her gay husband would take it that she was pregnant.”
“She wasn’t concerned about Harry killing a man?” Sara asked. “Or did she pay Derek Oliver off so that aspect of the murder just disappeared? Vanished?”
Randal was unperturbed by his sister’s snappiness. “Her baby was more important to her than an ancient murder that had little chance of prosecution. Even now there appears to be no proof.”
Sara grimaced. “The person blackmailing her disappeared and no one asked why?”
As they sat down to eat, Jack gave Kate a look ofWhat’s wrong with her?
Kate shrugged. She had no idea. “How about Lea?” she asked Jack.
“As she told us, she thought Oliver would eventually show up. She was dreading the divorce.”
“Lea never searched for him?” Sara asked.
“No. However, I did find out that Derek’s next choice of wife was Rachel. And...” He paused to pull the ring out of his pocket and put it on the table.
That effectively made everyone grow quiet, then they looked at Randal. He took the ring and examined it. “Garnets. Not worth much. I never saw it before.”
“Sure?” Sara asked.
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you asking me if I know my gems? Like I know that the green stone in the necklace you often wear is an emerald while the sparkly white stone is fake?”
Sara picked up the ring. “This just seems to back up that Rachel had her grandmother’s jewels.”
Kate nodded. “We just don’t know if she was stealing them or hiding them.”
“I think hiding,” Randal said. “Derek Oliver would have wanted the big emerald the most.”
“He got it,” Jack said, and they thought of it rolling out of the man’s skull. He looked at Sara. “Lea asked me why you didn’t marry Cal.”
They turned to stare at Sara, but she pressed her lips together and said nothing.
