Chapter 9 #2
This she directed to Bent. Vera told herself he’d only done this because Geneva Fanning had put up such a fuss. He’d said as much. And Vera had mentioned being worried about how it would look that Luna hadn’t called for EMS before calling her. His decision made total sense.
Still, at this precise moment with Collins looking all secretive, Vera didn’t like it one little bit.
“And?” Bent prompted.
“I can’t say conclusively of course,” Collins admitted, “but based on your photographs and what I found in my examination, she may have hit the spindle and then the wall during her fall down the stairs. Her injuries appear consistent with that scenario.”
Vera’s breath stalled deep in her lungs. This was stacking up toward something she did not want to hear.
“Beyond the head trauma and cervical fractures,” Collins went on, “there was a fairly deep abrasion—a scratch—on her right forearm that moved from the elbow toward the wrist as if she’d been trying to pull away from someone’s grasp, or perhaps someone was holding on to her arm when she fell.
There was a tibial fracture to the left leg.
The type of fracture consistent with perhaps hitting something stationary that stops your momentum.
I can say without doubt that hitting the wall was likely the cause of the head trauma.
The awkward landing certainly created the cervical fractures. ”
“What you’re concluding,” Vera spoke up, needing to confirm what the ME appeared to be taking the long way around to say, “is that in light of the injuries she sustained, this was no typical trip and fall.”
Collins nodded. “I’m quite confident this was no accidental fall.
Not unless the woman was running toward the stairs and”—she shrugged—“leaped down them for reasons we can’t fathom.
Bottom line, the momentum required is consistent with a hard shove.
The scratch on her right arm almost certainly confirms she was not alone when she fell. ”
And there it was. The worst possible news outside a straight-up confession from Luna.
But that simply could not be.
“What’s your estimation regarding time of death?” Bent showed no reaction to this news, which Vera greatly appreciated. The fewer folks who recognized this was unsettling, the better.
The truth was, the fewer folks in a small town who knew anything even remotely unpleasant about you, the better. No one could use against you what they didn’t know. Then again, some just made stuff up.
“Between ten and elevenish. Most likely closer to ten unless the house was set to a serious chill.” With that, Collins stood. “Well, I won’t take up any more of your time. I felt sure you wanted to hear this in person and not by phone.”
Bent was on his feet next. “You’re right.” He thrust out his hand. “Thank you, Dr. Collins. I appreciate your quick work. I know you have your hands full at the moment.”
And she did. Vera stared at their clasped hands. The woman hadn’t let go of his hand yet.
Vera blinked the ridiculous thought away and shot to her feet. She produced a smile that felt as stiff as she imagined it looked. “Thanks, Jenny.”
Collins flashed her a smile before turning back to the sheriff. “I’m assuming this information stays between the three of us until we have additional facts.”
Vera should’ve been grateful the new ME appeared to want to be a team player, but trust never came that easy for her.
“I find that’s the best course of action in most situations,” Bent confirmed.
“Mum’s the word then.”
Bent saw her to the door. When he’d closed it, he leaned against it and eyed Vera. “We have a problem.”
“A big problem.” Vera walked toward him, worry expanding inside her so fast that the air trapped in her lungs, and it was just going to stay stuck deep in her chest along with the scream she wanted to expel.
When she stopped in front of him, he reached for her hand, cradled it in both of his. Warmth spread instantly through her, allowing her to breathe again.
“We both know,” he offered quietly, “Luna would never do something like this without one hell of a good reason.”
“No reason will be enough for her husband or for the woman’s family.” Vera knew exactly how that would go.
Bent nodded. “You need to talk to her, Vee. Make sure she was at the hardware store until right before she called you.”
The fact that they hadn’t checked Luna for any indications of an altercation loomed like a dark cloud in the back of Vera’s head.
If she’d scratched Jackie, there could have been genetic material under her nails.
Just another detail that would come back to haunt them if this turned into a murder investigation.
Vera resisted the urge to shake her head. This just couldn’t be right.
“I’ll confirm the timeline.” What else could she do?
“I’ll keep Fanning calm until we have everything we can find to support what we both know.”
Vera wasn’t sure there would ever be enough ways to properly show her appreciation to this man.
Like a light bulb turning on, Vera abruptly understood the one thing she could do. Determination flowed through her, steadying her frazzled nerves. She could find the person who actually pushed Jackie down those stairs because it absolutely could not have been Luna.