Nana June stood and said, “We need to head to the library to talk to Diane.”
Sara Lee was reaching for Pippi’s leash when she spied Sheriff Gordon’s patrol car parked at the curb.Her stomach did an uncomfortable flip. What could he possibly want now?
Nana June caught Sara Lee's eye and raised one eyebrow in silent question.
"It's Sheriff Gordon," Sara Lee said quietly.
Nana June smoothed her cardigan. "Well, it’s our day for visitors. The library will have to wait."
Sara Lee opened the door to find him standing on their porch, his hat in his hands, his weathered face looking uncomfortable but determined. Pippi immediately tried to nose her way past Sara Lee's legs to greet him, tail wagging hopefully.
"Sheriff," her grandmother said warmly, appearing beside Sara Lee. "This is a surprise. Come in, please."
He hesitated on the threshold, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "I don't want to intrude on your morning. I know I was just here."
"You're not intruding," Nana June assured him. "Come in."
That seemed to help his decision, and he stepped inside. Sara Lee caught Pippi by the collar before the small dog could launch herself at their visitor. Pippi whined with disappointment but settled for sniffing his shoes thoroughly.
They moved into the living room, and Nana June gestured for the sheriff to take a seat in the wingback chair while she settled on the sofa. Pippi planted herself at his feet, gazing up at him adoringly.
"I won't be here long. I just..." He placed his hat on one knee, clearly uncomfortable with whatever he'd come to say.
Sara Lee wanted to jump in and ask about Carl while her grandmother waited patiently, her hands folded in her lap, giving him time to find his words.
Finally, he cleared his throat. "I've begun formal interviews with the suspects. Everyone who had a confrontation with Raymond at the festival. Everyone who might have had a motive.”
Sara Lee's pulse quickened. This was the official investigation, moving forward.
"I see," Nana June said calmly. "How is that going?"
Sheriff Gordon's expression suggested it wasn't going particularly well. "One thing I’ve found, as I have a feeling you have too, is that Raymond had a lot of enemies. A thoroughly unlikeable fellow.”
His lips pinched together. “And, you were right. People clam up when they see the uniform, just like you predicted. The Meltons insisted their family attorney be present. Petunia, who usually talks non-stop about anything and everything, only gave me one-word answers. Jerry and Ivy acted like they couldn’t remember details from just a few days ago." He paused, then added with obvious reluctance, "But, Ms. June, they do talk to you and Sara Lee more openly."
Sara Lee wasn’t surprised her grandmother didn't gloat. It wasn’t her way.
Instead, June simply nodded. "People are more comfortable with familiar faces in familiar settings."
He sighed heavily. "I'm not here to ask you to keep investigating. Officially, I can't encourage civilians to insert themselves into a murder case." He met June'seyes directly. "But I'm not here to tell you to stop, either."
Sara Lee tried to keep her expression from showing surprise as she exchanged a glance with her grandmother. Was he actually giving them permission?
"We appreciate you coming by to clarify that," June said, her voice holding the faintest hint of amusement.
He shifted in his chair. "There's something else. Something I wanted to share with you, since you've been..." He searched for the right word. "Helpful. In your own way."
Sara Lee leaned forward slightly, her breath stuck in her lungs as she waited to hear what he would say.
"The lab confirmed there was pentobarbital in Raymond's flask," Sheriff Gordon said. "Same type that went missing from Carl's clinic. But here's what's interesting… there were no other fingerprints on that flask other than Raymond's.”
A slight gasp escaped. “So he poisoned himself?" Sara Lee's voice rang out, surprise and confusion mixing together.
His eyes widened slightly. "That's one theory. Suicide. Though it seems unlikely given his behavior at the festival. The man seemed more interested in making everyone else miserable than ending his own life."
Even Sara Lee was surprised that she and June hadn't discussed that possibility. She glanced at her grandmother, who sat very still, her expression thoughtful.
"Or," June said slowly, "it was just made to look that way."
