A Willing Murder (Medlar Mystery 1)

The sheriff turned his chair a bit, as though he was dismissing Sara. “I have to think of the whole town—not just a couple of women no one remembers.”

“You—” Sara’s voice was angry, but Kate dug her fingers into her arm.

“I’m new here,” she said. “Could you please explain to me what’s going on?” She batted her lashes at him.

Frowning, he seemed to debate whether or not to say more. “I know I’m being seen as the bad guy in all this, but I’m trying to protect young Jack.” He ignored the snort of derision that Sara gave. “Roy and I are the same age, and when we were in school, he was the kind of jerk who thought it was funny to shut little kids in lockers. A real bully. Contrary to what some people think—” he cut his eyes at Sara “—I have a reason for being so hard on Jack. I don’t want him to become like his father.”

He narrowed his eyes at Kate, emphasizing what he wanted to say. “Right now the gossip around this town is strong. Roy Wyatt had a big mouth and several people remember him bragging that he had ‘set those Morris women straight.’ Everyone—including me—thought he meant he’d made them leave town. Too many people knew about Verna, so nobody complained when she took her daughter and ran off in the middle of the night.”

The sheriff leaned forward. “They’re not saying that anymore. Now they’re asking what else Roy could have meant. And maybe it’s not a coincidence that Roy’s son bought the property where the bodies were found. I’m being stopped on the street and asked why I haven’t brought Jack in for questioning. And...” He paused. “They’re asking what really happened that caused Evan to be killed. They’re saying that maybe Jack was drunk and it was actually him doing the driving.”

The sheriff turned his chair around. “The longer it takes to lay those bodies to rest, the stronger the gossip will be. I don’t know how many copies of those videos are out there, but heaven help Jack if one of them goes viral. It would change his life. That’s why I want to get those bones in the ground ASAP.”

What the sheriff said was making Kate feel queasy. She swallowed. “But a memorial service?” she asked. “Something simple? Maybe it will help.”

He took time to consider. “It might be good if you put that on. Give people something else to think about. And it’ll keep Jack busy. I don’t want that temper of his getting him thrown in my jail.”

He looked at his watch. “I have to go. Work with the secretary to set up a funeral. And keep me informed of everything.” He leaned back in his chair, his face saying that was the end. No more questions; no more answers; they were to leave.

EIGHT

Kate and Sara didn’t speak as they walked to the car. What the sheriff had said was hanging over them.

“Mind if we stop at the café and get something to drink?” Sara asked.

“That would be nice.”

Sara gave directions of where to park and they walked a couple of blocks to a little restaurant. There were outdoor tables under shade umbrellas. They took one and ordered iced tea.

Kate broke the silence. “The town must be really different from when you grew up here.”

“This used to be a grocery store. Cal and I rode our bikes over here.” Sara was moving her straw up and down in her drink.

“Cal. Jack’s grandfather and the love of your—”

Sara looked up. “I feel really bad about all that’s happened. It wasn’t what I’d planned. I thought you and I would be going sightseeing. We’d get on one of those big air boats and search out alligators. Or drive north to see what Disney is doing. There’s a butterfly farm nearby. But...” She looked back at her tea. “I didn’t mean for you to be plunged into all the sordid little bits of this town.”

Kate took her time in replying. “There’s something I really want to know about my parents.” When Sara looked about for the waiter, Kate lowered her voice. “I know you don’t want to tell me about my father, but—Don’t look so shocked. Every time I mention him, you look like you want to run away and hide. Right now I want an honest—and I mean truthful even if it’s bad—answer to one question.” She waited for Sara’s terse nod of agreement. “I want to know if my mother loved my father as much as she says she did. Or is it an illusion she made up?”

Sara’s relief made her smile broadly. “Your mother was madly in love with my brother. If Randal had told her to walk off a cliff, she wouldn’t have hesitated. She adored him. It was close to worship.”

“And my father?”

Sara took a deep breath. “Randal was always a bit of a, uh, scoundrel. But he loved your mother as much as I ever saw him love anyone. Except for you! You were so much like him and he was so very proud of you. He used to brag on you until it was embarrassing. But then, you did everything earlier than the other kids, so you deserved it. I agreed with him.”

Sara leaned back in her chair. “You look so much like him that it startles me. You even move your hands like him.”

“Do I?” Kate said. “Do you have any photos?”

“A few. They’re in one of the boxes in the garage. We can dig them out.”

“I’d like that.” Kate finished her tea. “Maybe we should go back now and see what mess Jack has made of everything.”

“I think you and I should talk about all this now.” Sara motioned for refills. “I hate to admit it, but there’s a lot to what Flynn said. Maybe we should just put on a quiet, respectful funeral for the two women and leave it at that. No digging into the past, no trying to find out who, what and why about them.”

“You think that leaving it alone will clear Jack’s name?”

“I don’t know. I thought that with all the influx of so many new people that the old disputes would be forgotten.” She gave Kate a hard look. “Digging into the past is going to bring up some ugly secrets.”