Even her pregnant sister blinked several times.
Millie made a sound low in her throat that sounded like a strangled cat. “For now, I need to talk to you both about the night of Clay’s murder.”
“That’s what we figured,” Valerie said, “after we heard everything.” She took a big drink of the coffee. “Ah, this is good. It’s your gram’s recipe, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Millie said. Verna patted her rounded belly. Scott guessed she was probably around four or five months pregnant, but he didn’t want to ask. He had learned young in life never to ask that question. “How are you feeling?” Millie asked.
“The morning sickness has abated somewhat,” Verna said, kicking out her feet to cross her ankles. “But I’m swelling much faster this time than last time.” She looked up at Scott. “This is my third. Alex and I have been married for about ten years and have two sons. I’m hoping this is a girl.”
He smiled. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Now she blushed even deeper than her sister had.
Valerie sighed and stood, walking over to take a seat. “Not me. Never been married. Can’t seem to find the right guy.” Her gaze raked Scott from head to toe. “What about you?”
Definitely unavailable ran through his head, and he couldn’t help but look at Millie. “Never been married,” he answered smoothly. Millie’s lip twitched, and he wondered if she wanted to smile. “So you two visited Snarky’s the other night?” he asked.
“Yeah. I wanted to see if there were any cute tourists interested in curvy girls.” Valerie shook her head and looked at Millie. “We arrived just as June was leaving, but I asked to speak with you and promised you a ride home. We discussed my design for sleeping pods so patients can rest better in the hospital.”
Millie rubbed her eye. “I don’t remember any of that.”
“Finally, I had to go home,” Valerie said, turning her interested gaze on Scott again. “I work as a nurse at the hospital, and I had a 4:00 a.m. shift.”
Verna nodded. “Right when Valerie left, Clay approached you, and the two of you ordered a beer at the bar. I couldn’t believe it.”
Millie wrapped her hands around her mug as if seeking warmth and safety. “Did I seem to want to talk to him?”
Verna sipped her tea. “Yeah. I was surprised because I thought you hated the guy’s guts. But you sat there and talked, and I wanted to give you space.”
Millie’s shoulders slumped. “If someone drugged my drink at the end of the night, I might not remember the whole day before that.”
Tears filled Verna’s eyes. “I’m hugely pregnant and wasn’t having a lot of fun in the bar, and Buck kept glaring at me because I don’t want to go back to work after the baby is born. So I waited about ten minutes after Valerie left, and then you guys seemed to be talking, and I didn’t want to interrupt. I mean, who knew? Maybe the guy had changed and you would be happy together. I ran to the bathroom, and when I came out, you had left.” She flushed. “I’m so sorry, Millie.”
“It’s not your fault.” Millie reached out and clasped her hand. “Apparently, no one paid much heed. I wish I knew when I left the bar.”
“You left around eleven,” Verna said. “I ran outside and saw you get into Clay’s truck and scoot over to the passenger side.” She wiped at her left eye. “I didn’t see any signs of distress, or I would’ve done something.”
Scott stiffened. “You saw Millie leave with Clay?”
“Yes,” Verna said. “I’m so dumb. Why wasn’t I suspicious?”
Valerie patted her sister’s knee. “I’m surprised you didn’t call me with that bit of gossip. It’s huge.” She blushed. “I mean, it would’ve been huge, if it had been true. Millie and Clay getting back together.”
Verna winced and rubbed her rib cage. “You had an early shift and I figured I’d call you after.” She sniffed. “I wish I had rushed over and said something. Anything. But you seemed fine, Mills.”
Millie’s eyes grew unfocused. “We need to get our hands on Clay’s autopsy results. There is a chance he was drugged as well, but if so, how did he drive us to his place?” She started rubbing her temples as if being attacked by a raging headache.
“Who else drank in the bar that night?” Scott asked quietly.
The twins rattled off a series of names, and Scott made a mental note to track each person down to see what they had noticed, if anything. He also created a list of questions to ask the chief later. Too many blank holes existed not only in Millie’s memory, but with the entire situation.
“Do you think you were drugged?” Verna asked.
Millie smacked her palm against her forehead. “I had to have been because I don’t remember a thing. But some of those drugs aren’t traceable, and the hospital didn’t find any in my blood.”
Valerie clapped a hand over her mouth. “I just can’t believe it,” she said through her fingers, the sound muffled. Then she reached for her cup again. “Seriously, you didn’t look drugged. I never would’ve left you if I had even a hint.”
“I know,” Millie said. “Sometimes you can’t tell with certain drugs like GHB.”
