Page 16 of Deeper Than the Dead

“I’ll certainly do my best,” Vera promised with a glance toward the hall. Still no sign of Eve.

“What do you make of all this?” Florence exclaimed with palpable dismay, finally settling in a chair. “I mean, how could this happen right under our noses and no one figure it out?”

Now Vera felt sorry for Beatrice. Since her husband had been the sheriff at the time of Sheree’s disappearance, the jab hit home. Her crestfallen expression said as much.

“We know Sheriff Fraley did everything possible to learn what happened to Sheree,” Vera said. “He was the finest sheriff this county ever had.”

The former teacher’s face showed her appreciation. “He was and still is a good man.”

“Well of course,” Florence agreed. “No blame lies with Walt. He did all he could.”

Somehow the woman’s tone transformed the validation into an insult, but Beatrice let it pass.

“Were you girls able to relay this awful news to your father in a way he could understand?” Florence asked, shifting gears again. The woman hopped around from subject to subject like a rabbit on crack.

“We told him, but I’m not sure he understood what we were saying.”

“It’s such a sad situation when we lose someone to that terrible disease,” Beatrice put in.

“It really is,” Vera agreed.

“I’ve always wondered,” Florence began, “if he knew more than he was telling.” Her eyebrows reared up her forehead. “Not to say he was guilty of any wrongdoing, but it’s so strange that he had no idea about what happened to her. She was his wife after all.”

Vera tightened her jaw to prevent the sort of response that would only result in gossip fodder.

“Walt always thought that Garth Rimmey character had something to do with her leaving,” Beatrice offered. “That man was a pure devil.” She turned her full attention to Vera. “We were concerned for your father after he and Sheree married. Walt worried that Rimmey might try and hurt Vernon or one of you girls to get back at him for marrying his longtime girlfriend.”

“Then he ended up dead too,” Florence said in a suspicious tone. “Just a few days after Sheree disappeared. Someone beat him to death with a baseball bat. Seemed to me that would have been relevant to her disappearance somehow.”

“Walt looked into any sort of connection,” Beatrice countered. “He found none.”

You tell her.

As for Garth Rimmey, Vera hadn’t known him, not really. She’d heard the rumors about him, and she’d seen him around. He’d certainly looked mean enough, but that was the extent of her knowledge of the man. Still, the idea that Rimmey had been so close to Sheree ... that he may have been looking for her after she disappeared unsettled Vera more than a little.

Had he come to their house looking for Sheree? Had he been watching them?

He was dead ... probably didn’t matter.

Unless he’d voiced whatever suspicions he had to a friend. Had he known about the cave?

Vera forced the new worry away.

“I was thinking,” Florence went on, “with all your training, Vera, I’m sure you have ideas on what you believe happened.”

“I was a kid,” Vera countered. “A teenager. I had no clue. I assumed she left.” She turned her hands up. “Looking back, based on her reputation, anyone would have thought as much.”

“That’s right,” Florence continued with a slow nod. “You were in high school.” A big smile spread across her face. “You and my Preston were in school together. You know he’s a judge now. He’s been nominated for a position on the Tennessee Supreme Court. We’re all so proud of him.”

“Congratulations,” Vera said, forcing a big smile.

Preston was three or four years older than her, and back in high school, he’d been a bully. Not the type who beat up other kids. His preferred weapons were insulting words and a sharp sense of superiority. Then again, who was surprised, considering his parents had written the book on self-importance.

Florence hummed a note of disappointment. “I would have thought you’d formed some sort of impression.”

Obviously the woman couldn’t bear not having the skinny on everything, including Vera’s thoughts. The truth about what really happened to Sheree was a mystery, and it was killing her. It wasn’t doing a lot for Vera’s mental health either.

Vera’s smile lapsed. She couldn’t keep that face on a second longer. “I’m afraid I haven’t had much time to consider alternative scenarios regarding this shocking discovery. I arrived home only a few hours ago.”

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