Bill’s voice remained calm. “Vera, no one is accusing you of anything, and I told the FBI that I kept old journals in it, which is the truth. Though I didn’t point out that they weren’t my journals.”
“Fast thinking, Bill. Though it still feels like the victims are being treated like the culprits,” she said. “First the police asking questions and now the FBI wanting to know more.”
She paced a little, I could hear the movement of her shoes against the floor.
“They already know about Willow Lake Bank,” she said, continuing to work herself up again. “I’m glad I was wise enough to have you clear out the box in Milton as well as the one in Briar Hill before they were hit. That leaves the boxes I have in Chesterfield and Ridgemont. We’ll need to see to them.”
There was a brief pause and then.
“I better get going, that safe you ordered for me is being delivered after ten today.”
I hurried and called out, “Hello? Bill? Are you here?”
Not even a minute later, the door to the back room opened, and Vera stepped out first. She had clearly taken a moment to compose herself. Her shoulders were straight, chin lifted, expression carefully arranged somewhere between dignity and annoyance.
Bill followed a step behind her.
Vera’s eyes landed on me immediately.
“How much did you hear, Pepper? And those bruises are well deserved for not securing your rug properly.
No greetings, just accusations.
I widened my eyes slightly. “Hear what”
Her gaze sharpened.
Before I could answer, her glance dropped to the floor.
Mo had stretched himself out comfortably near the counter and was halfway into what looked like a very satisfying nap.
Vera pointed at him. “Mo is half asleep. You didn’t just walk in.”
I glared at him. Mo didn’t even bother opening his eyes.
“Traitor,” I murmured before looking back at Vera. “I suppose this is going into the notebooks you keep just for me.”
“It absolutely is,” Vera assured me without hesitation.
Bill cleared his throat quietly but wisely stayed out of it.
“And for the record,” Vera added firmly, “I have done nothing wrong.”
“I’m not accusing you of anything,” I said. “I actually wanted to talk with you.”
Vera folded her arms but didn’t interrupt.
“You’ve been visiting quite a few banks lately,” I continued. “Checking on your boxes.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“You notice everything that goes on in this town,” I said. “You’ve got a sharper eye than most people. I figured if anyonemight have seen something unusual around the time those robberies happened, it might be you.”
Vera studied me for a long moment.
Bill looked between the two of us, held his tongue, and took a step back as if saying, “I want no part of this.”
“Come to think of it, I saw that floozy your brother is dating at two of the banks I was at.” She shook her head. “What is the matter with him? She’s got trouble written all over her.”
