Chapter 36
Fayetteville Hardware
Vera parked and hurried to catch her sister before she reached the entrance to the hardware store.
“Are you certain you want to do this now?” Vera needed her to be certain. She really did. She wanted to be certain as well. But the truth was she felt utterly terrified after making her own purchase and finding the time stamp correct. Her heart pounded, and ice slipped through her veins.
“Vee.” Luna’s expression was more confident than Vera had seen it in days.
“I know you’re worried about this, but I’m not.
I know about what time I came over here and about what time I left.
It’s true that pregnancy brain is a real thing and that I am more forgetful these days, but there has to be an explanation. ”
Vera blinked back the damn emotion that burned in her eyes. “You’re right. I’m sorry for doubting you.” She inhaled a deep breath. “Let’s do this.”
With that she walked side by side with her little sister to the entrance and prayed with every step that since it was past five o’clock, Clarence Potter would have gone home already. Because deep down Vera was so not ready to do this.
The bell over the door jangled, drawing the attention of the two customers perusing the nuts-and-bolts aisle. The customer service counter was in the center of the main floor area, so she and Luna headed in that direction.
“Welcome to Fayetteville Hardware.” The guy behind the counter wearing a yellow vest looked from Vera to Luna. “Hey, Lu, how are you doing?”
Now that Vera thought about it, the man looked to be about Luna’s age. Her sister spent far longer than necessary telling him about the baby and the nursery and how excited she and Jerome were, and then the big gut punch came.
“I sure was sorry to hear about Jerome’s mama.”
Luna’s smile faded, of course, and she nodded. “It’s just awful. Really awful.”
Vera needed this over. She couldn’t take the tension any longer. “Is Mr. Potter in?”
“He said a minute ago he was leaving, let me check.” Yellow Vest Guy rushed over past a couple of tool aisles and disappeared through a door marked “Office.”
“You okay?”
Vera blinked. Realized her sister was asking the question she should have been asking. “Sure. You okay?”
Luna nodded. “I will be in a minute, hopefully.”
Hopefully.
The door opened once more, and Yellow Vest Guy hustled out with Mr. Potter on his heels.
Vera groaned inwardly. Oh well, at least now they would know.
Mr. Potter joined them in front of the counter. “How can I help you ladies?” When his gaze settled on Luna, his pleasant expression slipped. “We’re all so very sorry to hear about Jackie and Leonard. We hope you and Jerome are holding up all right.”
“This has been a difficult time. We’re taking it day by day.”
Luna was like a little angel. So sweet and so perfect. She would never ever, ever push her wicked mother-in-law down the stairs. Never. Flashbacks of Vera and Eve dragging their stepmother’s dead body down the stairs at the farm made her stomach twist up into a pretzel.
Good thing Luna was nothing like them.
Potter looked to Vera then. “Is there something I can do for you today?”
“Mr. Potter,” Luna spoke up, “I was here on Tuesday morning to pick up that paint, remember?”
He nodded. “I sure do. I was shorthanded that day. Some folks”—he shot a look at Yellow Vest Guy—“were laid up with after Labor Day hangovers.”
If this moment had not been so grave, Vera would have laughed out loud, or maybe she just needed to break her own tension.
“I’m worried about the receipt,” Luna explained. “It says that I paid for the paint at nine forty-five, but that can’t be right because I didn’t get home until after eleven. Unless I got lost and don’t remember it.” She laughed, the sound showing her nervousness now.
“Good gracious.” Potter shook his head. “I’m so sorry, Luna.
That other cash register refused to maintain the proper time.
And it was new. Every time I had it adjusted, it lost anywhere from an hour to two within the next twenty-four hours.
It just wouldn’t keep the correct time. They brought me a new one yesterday morning. ”
Vera wilted with relief. Thank God.
“Would you like me to make you a new handwritten receipt?” He glanced at the receipt. “So your receipt should have read ten forty-five or later. I am so sorry for the confusion.”
“That’s not necessary,” Luna said. “I was just worried that I’d lost my mind.”
Potter patted her on the shoulder. “You’re fine. It was the register. Anyone who doubts that need only ask me.”
“Why don’t you go ahead and make that new receipt for us?” Vera sent a smile at Luna, hoping she would go along. “It’s important for the baby book. You know every little event has to be documented these days, if not in a baby book then on social media.”
Vera had no idea where that ridiculous explanation came from, but it worked. Potter was only too happy to write a note regarding the old register’s inability to keep time.
It wasn’t until they were outside that Vera could breathe again.
“See.” Luna beamed a smile at her. “I told you.”
“You sure did.” Vera hugged her hard. She had never felt so relieved in her life.
Even her knees felt weak. Thank God! Now they could all relax.
“You hang on to that letter. Put that old receipt with it. Now.” Vera gave her a firm look.
“Go home and relax. Focus on yourself and your husband. I will take care of the other. You weren’t even in the house when Jackie died. This was not your fault.”
Luna hugged her tight, or as tight as she dared with that enormous baby bump in the way. “Love you, Vee.”
“Love you too.”
Once Luna had driven away, Vera loaded herself into her SUV. She was so ready for this day to be over.
Her phone vibrated on the console. Bent’s handsome face flashed on the screen. “Hey. Your meeting over already?” If so, that was a record.
“It’s ongoing, but I thought you’d want to know. I got those cell phone records for Luna and the others. Luna’s phone was at her house all morning like she said because she forgot it when she went to the hardware store.”
Vera held her breath.
“Geneva Fanning’s was pinging off the same cell tower as Luna’s from 9:50 until 10:55. At 11:20 it pinged off the same tower as Leonard Andrews’s phone. Leonard’s was at home all morning. Jerome’s was pinging off the tower near his workplace.”
“Oh. My. God.” Vera’s mouth gaped. “So Geneva was at Luna’s at the time of Jackie’s death, and she rushed to Leonard’s house after that. It had to be Geneva, Bent.”
“We can place her at the scene, for sure,” Bent reminded her, “but we can’t prove she pushed her sister down those stairs.”
They needed evidence . . . or a confession.
“You’re right,” Vera admitted reluctantly. “Thanks for the news. See you later.”
Vera made a quick call to Luna to fill her in, then tossed her phone onto the passenger seat. Damn it! Then she smiled. Maybe dear old Geneva needed a little prompt. But first there was one thing Vera had to do.
Fanning Residence
Lincoln Avenue, 6:40 p.m.
Vera parked on the street in front of Geneva Fanning’s historic home. It wasn’t one of the grand ones like on Mulberry, but it was a lovely home nestled among numerous others on one of Fayetteville’s nicest streets.
At the front door Vera pressed the antique buzzer, but it really wasn’t necessary because Geneva had been watching her ever since she emerged from her SUV. But rather than come to the door, her husband, Trenton, opened it.
“Ms. Boyett.” Trenton studied her cautiously, as if she were there to pinch the family’s valuables. “What a surprise.”
A surprise for certain. Her sister was being considered for legal action by the man’s wife. Typically anyone involved or related to the potential defendant stayed clear of the plaintiff.
But there was nothing typical about the way Vera did things.
“I hope I’m not interrupting your dinner.” Vera smiled pleasantly.
“No.” He shook his head, seemingly confused by her statement. “We haven’t . . . No, we were just catching the news.”
“Great.” Vera stepped forward, and he instinctively stepped back, which put her over the threshold. “I felt it was really important that I speak with you and Mrs. Fanning personally before this situation develops further.”
He backed up another step, and Vera closed the door. Geneva appeared from the room on the left, where she’d obviously been eavesdropping.
“What do you want?”
The woman’s demand echoed down the elegant entry hall.
Vera ignored it and continued her conversation with Mr. Trenton.
“I thought you might want to know that the medical examiner has confirmed time of death for poor Jackie, and Luna has documentation that she was not at home during that time frame, just as she stated previously. Mr. Potter at the hardware store waited on her personally and has signed a statement as to the time she departed the store.”
“That’s a lie. She was right there in that new house her husband built her.” Geneva glared at Vera like a wild animal and stabbed a finger in her direction. “She pushed my sister down those stairs. Jackie told me how Luna had been badgering and threatening her that morning.”
“Whatever your sister told you,” Vera said so calmly that it shocked even her, “she lied. In case Jackie didn’t tell you, she pushed Luna down the stairs, and it was a flat-out miracle she caught herself, saving not only her life but that of her and Jerome’s baby.
Jackie tried to kill my sister, and I will prove it if it’s the last thing I do. ”
Okay, so she hadn’t meant to say that last part.