Page 137 of Deeper Than the Dead

“I appreciate your confidence, Agent Cusack, and I will consider the offer.”

“We look forward to hearing from you, Ms. Boyett.”

Vera ended the call and blew out a breath. “Wow.” She stretched her neck and back. Just a couple of weeks ago, she had been unemployed, and now she had two offers on the table. One from the TBI and now one from the FBI.

Life was strange sometimes. She touched her forehead. The stitches were gone, and the headaches were pretty much history. She’d gotten an “all good” from the doctor at her checkup yesterday. Technically she could go to work anytime.

Things were settling down. On Saturday Luna finally got the memorial service she wanted for her mother. Eve and Suri had decided to make their more-than-friendship relationship official, and Eve was moving in with her.

Luna’s wedding was next month, so she would be moving out soon as well.

Vera was not looking forward to rambling around in this big old house alone. She glanced around her mother’s kitchen. Maybe she would get used to the quiet.

The security system had been installed, so no worries about intruders without warning.

She still hadn’t fully processed the idea that Florence Higdon was a murderer. Or that Beatrice Fraley had betrayed Vera’s family so thoughtlessly. The behavior of Charles and Preston Higdon was no surprise at all. Selfish men. Still, the whole thing felt surreal.

The memory of Sheree lying on that bathroom floor with Eve soaking wet and Luna screaming at the top of her lungs echoed in Vera’s head. Followed immediately by images of Vera and Eve dragging her lifeless body down the stairs.

Desperate people did desperate things.

In the end, it all came down to certain realities. Both Charles and Preston Higdon had resigned their positions. Both had also agreed to plea deals that included testifying against Florence. Father and son would do a little time in a cushy minimum-security prison for their participation in the kidnapping of Vera and Brooks. Florence, on the other hand, was facing hard time. Her trial was still months away.

Beatrice was not charged with any crime related to the murders of Latesha and Trina, since she agreed to testify against the Higdons. For her part in the kidnapping, her further testimony had garnered her probation with house arrest. This allowed her to continue taking care of her husband. In Vera’s opinion, it was fair. Beatrice made a mistake—a costly one—but she was also a victim. Both Preston and Florence had used her for years. The Brooks plea deal was still in negotiations. Vera couldn’t help worrying a little about what he might have to say in the end.

A knock on the front door drew her from the troubling musings. She slid off the stool and wandered toward the sound. She checked out the window next to the door. Bent. A smile spread across her face.

She opened the door. “You’re early.”

He hitched a thumb toward his truck. “I could leave and come back later.”

“Stop.” She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him inside. She surveyed the yard and drive before closing the door. It was nice to be able to look outside and not see police cruisers or reporters. The Boyett family had pretty much fallen out of the headlines the past few days.

“You’re not going to believe what happened this afternoon,” he said as she ushered him to the kitchen.

“I could say the same thing.” He would be stunned when she told him about the final offer from the Bureau’s Knoxville office for the position in Tullahoma.

“You go first,” he suggested as they entered the kitchen. “Mine’s a little complicated, and you might want to brace yourself.”

She wilted. “Oh God, that doesn’t sound good.” She scooted onto the stool she’d abandoned and made a worried face.

“Oddly enough it’s good.” He straddled a stool and lowered onto it. “So shoot with your news.”

“All right.” She cleared her throat for emphasis. “The FBI made a second offer for a higher grade.” She grinned. “I guess they really want me.”

“That’s great.” He smiled, but he didn’t sound all that excited.

“Your turn,” she nudged, not wanting to go into how she intended to respond, which would be his next question. Or why he didn’t appear pleased for her.

“Pete Brooks got his plea deal,” Bent announced.

No matter that she had every reason to believe his statements wouldn’t affect her family, she still held her breath.

“He had Sheree’s wedding ring. He said Rimmey had it on him when Brooks last ... encountered him.”

Vera felt gobsmacked. She’d had no reason to notice or check for Sheree’s wedding ring ... that day. She and Eve had been too focused on getting her out of the house. How had Rimmey gotten her wedding ring? Vera knew for a fact he hadn’t killed her.

“Something wrong?”

---