Page 128 of Deeper Than the Dead

“I need you to listen to me, Vee. I’m going to interview the assistant tomorrow. I’ve already set it up. Then I’ll talk to the judge. Do not—and I mean do not—call him or go see him. I need to do this by the book. Got it?”

Vera knew all about the book, damn it. She wanted to race over to his house right now and confront him. But Bent was right. This had to be strictly by the book.

“I will not contact him in any manner.” She grinned. “You know what this means,” she said, hoping he saw the bigger picture. “Preston doesn’t want me digging into what happened to those two women. He has to be protecting his father.”

His mother as well, but Vera couldn’t say that part without explaining how she knew the woman was involved in any capacity.

“I think you are definitely onto something,” Bent agreed. “All you have to do now is be patient and let me do my job.”

“I can do that,” she promised, though her record to date was not so good.

“I feel like,” he said slowly, “I should come over and babysit you.”

“No,” she argued. “I’m fine. Really. Just bored. I intend to go through all those photo albums again to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Do not worry about me.” With all that had happened, she wanted to revel in those good times from the past. To soak up the memories.

“I need you to stay home, Vee. Just take a break.”

“Fine. Fine. I’ll be here taking a break.” Geez.

“I’m coming over at noon—right after my meeting,” he warned. “Bringing lunch. Mexican or Chinese.”

“Chinese.”

“I’ll see you then.”

“Don’t forget the chopsticks.” Vera ended the call and slid the phone back into her hip pocket.

She went to the library and surveyed the shelves of albums. No one had been better at documenting the family history than Evelyn Boyett. Her mother had taken loads of photos at a time when it wasn’t nearly as convenient as it was now.

The album Luna had borrowed lay on the table. Vera sat down and opened it. The first photos were from her thirteenth birthday. She smiled. This was before ... before the cancer. Before all the pain and tragedy.

She slowly flipped through the pages. The memories tugging at her heartstrings. Their family really had been so happy.

A big Fourth of July bash showed the Fraleys, the Higdons, and the Boyetts together at the Higdon home. Considering the number of people mingling in the backyard, there must have been at least a hundred people in attendance. As Preston said, his mother had been a party animal in her day. Probably still was.

As Vera studied the photos, she noticed a lot of kids around her and the judge’s age were at the party. Seniors mostly. Vera was sure he had liked showing off. They had a pool and a massive pavilion for just this sort of gathering. This would have been the last big family bash before he went off to Harvard. Some of the kids Vera recognized, but they were all older than her by a couple of years.

She started to turn to the next page but hesitated. She leaned forward and peered at one photo in particular ... there was a girl standing at the edge of the shot. Long blonde hair. Long tanned legs.

Vera’s heart stumbled.

Latesha Johnson.

She turned the page, studied the other dozen or so from that day, but a single photo was the only one that included Latesha. Vera turned back to that photo.

This was evidence the Higdons had known the first victim to end up in that cave.

Apparently the sugar daddy in question was dear old Dr. Higdon. Vera snapped a pic of the photo, then another, zooming in close on the face.

She sent Bent the photos in a text message and suggested he compare them to the photo Russ had given her. No sooner than the text was delivered, her cell vibrated, almost making her drop it in surprise. How had he responded that quickly? She took a breath and opened the text.

We need to talk.

Not Bent. She didn’t recognize the number.

Who is this? She typed the words and hit Send.

Preston. Need to talk to you. Can you come to my house?

---