Page 90 of Deeper Than the Dead

Who could her parents have been helping? And why the hell hadn’t Beatrice warned her about how she and Florence Higdon had felt when Sheree disappeared?

Vera found her courage and took the fastest, most reliable route for part of what she needed. She put through another call to Eric.

“Vera,” he said in greeting. “I was just about to call you about God.”

She laughed. “I just found out he’s Norton Gates.”

“Your locals work fast.”

She smiled. “They had a head start. Look”—she moved around the table and gathered their dinner remains as she talked—“I know I said I needed just one more favor, but I actually need another.”

He laughed. “Any time, any place, lady. I am always available.”

A flutter in her chest made her just a little sad. He was such a nice guy. Maybe she’d made a mistake not going to that next level with him. Bent immediately appeared in her head, and she dismissed his image, as well as the entire notion.

“I need everything you can find on our Norton Gates and also on a Teresa Russ, both of Huntsville, Alabama. And, Eric, I need it yesterday.”

“You got it.”

Vera needed answers ... it was the only way to protect her family.

30

Friday, July 26

Boyett Farm

Good Hollow Road, Fayetteville, 5:50 a.m.

A sound hummed in Vera’s head. She told herself to open her eyes, but her body wasn’t cooperating. She needed to sleep ... to stay in this warm place ...

The buzzing sounded again.

Her eyes fluttered open.

The vibration against wood had her gaze moving toward the bedside table. The screen of her cell phone was lit up.

Someone was calling.

Pushing further out of sleep’s hold, she reached toward the nuisance. She hadn’t slept well last night—all week for that matter. She was fairly certain it had no longer been last night when she finally drifted off. More like some point this morning.

Phone in hand, she studied the screen. Bent’s name and face stared back at her.

She accepted the call and pressed the phone to her ear. “Hey.” What time was it?

Several cold hard facts battered their way into her consciousness at once. Human remains. The cave. Lies. Secrets.

Her career was over.

She flopped onto her back, snatched the hair out of her eyes.

What the hell now?

“I’m sorry to have to wake you,” Bent said.

“No.” She cleared her throat. “I was awake. Just lying here.” What a lie. Her own voice gave away that one. “What’s going on?”

“I’m at the cemetery.” A breath hissed across the connection. “Your mama, Vee. A court order prevented me from stopping the exhumation.”

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