Page 18 of The Last Girl

Bent straightened away from his truck. “Then I need to find that hotel.”

“Won’t be difficult as long as they were staying in town and not in Huntsville.” Fayetteville didn’t have that many options.

“I was thinking,” he said as he scrubbed a hand over his jaw, “if Alicia wanted to end her marriage and walk away with more than a tidy settlement, she might try offing her old man. But who was she running from? I mean, why run after murdering three people—unless someone was after you?”

“I’d go with Seth Parson.” Vera laughed a dry sound. “Except he’s dead too. Since we have no idea who the other female victim was, it’s hard to conclude anything about her—beyond the fact that she was deceased at the time as well.”

“There’s one thing we can be sure about.”

Vera searched his face for a clue. “What’s that?”

“Someone wanted at least one of the four dead and made it a point to ensure no one was left to tell the tale.”

“No question about that.” Vera glanced up at the windows of Erwin’s apartment that overlooked the street. “How sad to have everything and still not be able to trust others or to even protect yourself.”

“Yeah. Money can’t always buy the thing that matters the most.” Bent touched her arm. “I should look into where Parson was staying. You can join in the fun.”

Her SUV was at his office. She might as well.

The sudden clang of the ringtone she’d chosen for her cell made her jump. “God, I need to change that ringtone.” She dug around in her bag until she found the source of the annoying noise. She frowned at her sister Eve’s name and face flashing on the screen. She almost groaned at the possibility that Luna may actually have gone into labor after all the stress she’d been through today. Or the possibility that Jerome’s father had died.

Jesus, this day needed to get better. At least a little bit.

“Hey, Eve, what’s up?”

“You need to get over here,” she said, her voice a near whisper.

Vera frowned. “What’s going on?”

“That woman—Geneva, Jackie’s sister—is here, and she’s ranting about how she knows Luna had something to do with Jackie’s fall down the stairs. She’s acting crazy.”

Damn. “I’ll be right there.”

“Maybe you should bring Bent with you. This is bad, Vee. Really bad.”

“Just take care of Luna. I’ll be right there.”

Vera looked to Bent. “We have to go to Luna’s first. Geneva whatever-her-name-is has shown up at her house, making accusations that Luna was involved in Jackie’s fall.” Vera didn’t even want to consider how this day could get any worse.

He reached for the passenger door to open it for her. “Let’s go.”

“Thanks.” She appreciated him coming. They needed all the backup they could get. This was evidently going to get ugly.

8

Andrews Farm

Boonshill Road, 5:50 p.m.

Bent parked beside Eve’s little sedan. Vera stared at the sporty SUV Geneva Fanning drove. Vera remembered it from Sunday. Judging by the scene playing out on the front porch, she was extra thankful Bent had come along. Eve and Geneva, arms waving, appeared to be in a shouting match.

Vera exited the truck before Bent could reach her door and headed for the steps, Bent right behind her.

“What seems to be the problem, ladies?” Bent asked as they reached the porch.

“She”—Eve stabbed a finger at the older woman—“showed up here and got Luna all upset. I’ve asked her to leave, but she refuses.”

Eve wasn’t into anger. She was generally the calm one who tried her level best to stay out of family drama. The fact that she was visibly pissed off said loads about Geneva’s behavior.