A Justified Murder (Medlar Mystery 2)

The sheriff ran his hands over his face. “Who kills someone over a lawsuit? I don’t get it. Tayla could have hired a super lawyer and—”

“What?” Sara asked. “A lawsuit? What are you talking about?”

Flynn looked puzzled. “Didn’t that reporter tell you? Janet Beeson was suing Tayla over the sale of the house. Janet said she paid full price but Tayla pocketed thousands and made no record of it. Janet said Tayla did that with a lot of houses. A case like that would have been in the courts for years. Even if she won, I can’t imagine that Tayla would have any business left after that battle. And she’d certainly be broke.”

He looked at the three of them, staring in wide-eyed shock. “So Tayla killed the woman to keep her quiet. But her conscience got the better of her and she confessed.”

Sara was the first to smile, then Kate. Jack grinned wide.

“What the hell is wrong with you people?” the sheriff said. “I tell you of a murder confession and you’re happy?”

They got up and Jack waltzed Sara around in a circle, then Kate. The big punching bag was nearby and Sara did a dozen or so punches—but not hard enough to injure her writing hand.

Sheriff Flynn was leaning back in his chair and gawking at them.

Chet came through the door. He too was smiling. “Looks like you heard.” He spun Sara around.

Sheriff Flynn picked up his hat and started for the door, but Sara caught his arm and led him back to the chair. “Of course Tayla didn’t kill her and the motive is ridiculous.”

“Yes,” Kate said. “House sales are registered.”

“Just get a few witnesses and a truckload of papers and her motive is gone,” Jack said.

“But...” the sheriff began.

Chet sat down across from him. “They’re right except for...”

“For what?” Sara asked.

“It looks like Tayla did kill her,” he said. “She knows too much about the murder scene to be innocent.”

That deflated them and they sat down.

“How do you know so much?” Jack asked.

“C

alled someone,” Chet said, but didn’t explain further.

“Murdered over a lawsuit?” Sara said.

“I don’t believe it,” Kate said.

Chet looked at them. “What other possible motive could she have?”

Sara said, “I think you better look at the chicken.”

“Are you changing the subject?” Sheriff Flynn asked. “What do you know that I don’t?”

Sara had opened her mouth to give a lie when the patio door opened and in the evening light stood Zelly. She had on one of Kate’s best dresses, a red sleeveless one suited for elegant dinner parties. She’d draped herself in what had to be most of Kate’s jewelry. Half a dozen necklaces were piled on top of each other. Bracelets went up to both elbows. She was a garish-looking wraith.

“Are there any alligators out here?” she asked.

The sheriff didn’t miss a beat. “Only Jack and he does bite.”

The look of fear on her thin face seemed to hit something in them. Murder, confessions, it was all too much.

Spontaneously, they burst into laughter. It was a great relief to all of them.