“That’s the link,” Kate said. “We couldn’t find it.”
“Stewart sucked up to Delia to get near Cheryl,” Jack said.
“Exactly,” Sheriff Flynn said. “Then he bullied the poor girl into dropping Cheryl.”
“So he could have her all to himself,” Sara said. “I guess he liked Cheryl because she dressed like an adult.”
“The other way around. He wanted her to dress like that and she did.”
“The sick bastard,” Jack mumbled.
“TheStory of O,” Sara said but didn’t explain. “I bet you called his ex-wife.”
“We did.” Sheriff Flynn held up a paper. “Here it is. She sure does hate him! She called him the coldest bastard on the planet. Said he went after her because her father is the CEO of a major corporation. She didn’t leave him because she was having an affair as he said she was. She ran away as fast as she could because he wanted her to wear a lot of makeup, silk blouses, tight skirts and four-inch heels. And he was clear that he wanted her to dress like thatall the time.”
He was disappointed when no one seemed surprised.
“Did you find anything in the box of books?” Sara asked.
“Yes.” Sheriff Flynn sighed. He’d been saving that for last. “On top of your books was the tool that Noreen used to stab Verna. She must have tossed it on the ground. Greedy Lester Boggs must have picked it up on Sunday when he took the van. I’m sure the fingerprints on it will match hers.” Sheriff Flynn put down the paper. “I’ve already put in an order to have Hamish’s body exhumed, and there will be a lot more searching for evidence. We’re building a solid case.” He looked at Kate. “You’ll have to testify.”
She nodded. She dreaded it but she’d do it.
There was a noise behind them and they turned. The Lachlan office was filling with men in uniforms and suits.
“They’re going to ask you a lot of questions,” the sheriff said to Kate. “You ready for it?”
“I think so. But between us, I feel bad that I didn’t see through Alastair. I’ve tried to remember what information I gave him.”
“Nothing that kept him from being found out,” the sheriff said. “Now go out there and get some doughnuts. Bessie at the bakery sent them over. She says she owes you big-time for vouching for Alastair Stewart.”
“News travels fast,” Kate said.
“In Lachlan it does,” Sara said with a mix of admiration and disgust. “Come on, let’s get this started so we get it over with.”
As soon as they entered the main room, Detective Cotilla went to Kate. Jack and Sara put themselves so close to her that they were like pillars holding up a roof. They could collapse on top of the man at any moment.
The detective didn’t apologize for the things he’d said before, but he didn’t meet Jack’s eyes. “We’d like to talk to you, Miss Medlar. If that’s all right with you.”
“Certainly. But I’d like my aunt to be with me.”
“Of course. You’ve been through a trauma and—”
“And me,” Jack said.
“I can’t—” Detective Cotilla gritted his teeth. “I will try to get permission.”
With a smile, Jack slipped a card into the breast pocket of the detective’s suit. It was from the clinic that worked with sexually abused children. “Never needed that.” Jack patted the man’s pocket.
Detective Cotilla still refused to look at him.
They took only a few steps when the double glass front doors burst open and they heard voices. In came half a dozen officers in uniform. In the middle of them was a handcuffed Alastair Stewart.
He was perfectly groomed, neatly dressed...and furious. His eyes were pits of blue fire. He halted only a few feet from Kate. “You!” he said.
The officers went to the long desk to deal with paperwork, leaving only two men with Alastair.
The roomful of tall, broad-shouldered people paid no attention to five-foot-tall Sara. Only Jack and Sheriff Flynn saw her slip away and disappear behind two lumberjack-sized men in brown.
