Page 50 of Deathtoll
Murph watched her. Bing said she hadn’t mentioned a visit at the funeral, but maybe just not to Bing. Maybe she’d been too upset to say much. She seemed pretty upset still.
Murph shifted to rise, but Bill Garvey stopped him with “Coffee is ready.”
The pastor’s wife swiped a quick hand under her eyes. “How about some Hungarian walnut cake? I’m trying out a new recipe from one of the ladies in the choir.”
Bing looked at Murph, the wordspureed squash baby foodtelegraphing from his eyes. Murph telegraphed backyou’re welcome, and settled back in his seat.
“Thank you. That would be very nice.” Truth was, neither of them said no to cake if they could help it.
Bill brought over their coffee mugs, while Amanda stood and supplied them with plates and forks, then transported the cake from the counter to the table. They were a well-oiled team.
The pastor went back for napkins. “May I ask why you wanted to know if Amanda visited Betty that morning?”
The captain wrapped his hands around his mug. “I’m investigating the incident as a suspicious death. And I’m going to need you to keep that between us for now.”
Bill dropped heavily into his chair and reached for his wife’s hand on the table. “Do you think someone might have harmed that poor woman?”
“It’s possible. I’m trying to figure it out one way or the other.”
“Why on earth…?” Then a quick pause, and Bill’s eyes snapped wide. “Oh. Her will has the church as her beneficiary. That’s why you’re here.” He shook his head. “It’s understandable. But we loved her. She was remarkable. The kind of woman who truly walked God’s path.”
Amanda wiped her eyes again. “I’m happy to provide an alibi.”
She listed the names of half a dozen people who were at the church with her that morning. The captain didn’t take notes. He knew all of them, Murph thought. He would remember.
“We have security cameras on the outside of the church,” the pastor offered when his wife finished. “I can send you the footage. Ask someone at the office to send you the footage,” he corrected. “I can work the microphone in the pulpit, but other than that, I’m not great with technology.”
“No video necessary, but thank you,” the captain told the man before adding in an apologetic tone, “I had to ask. I’m sure you understand.”
“One hundred percent.” The words were said without hesitation. The man looked right at them, his expression open. Nothing about him or his wife made Murph’s instincts prickle.
“Anything else you need, anything we can do, we’re always here,” Amanda added. “Please, do have some cake. You haven’t touched it.”
So, they ate. And Murph was glad they did. Turned out hereallyliked Hungarian walnut cake. Especially with coffee.
“Have you talked to the nephew?” the pastor asked, tucking away his own slice at a good pace.
Captain Bing paused with the fork halfway to his mouth. “I thought Betty didn’t have family.”
“Son of a second cousin, apparently,” Amanda said. “I don’t think that’s a nephew. Second cousin once removed? I can never remember the exact term. We were served legal papers last night. He’s contesting the will.”
Another person with motive.
Murph exchanged a glance with Bing as he finished his cake. “Should we stop cleaning out the house?”
Bill Garvey waved off the suggestion. “Our lawyers talked this morning. The young man agreed that the executor of the will, Linda, can go ahead. The house can be sold, but then the money is to be placed into escrow until the bank decides who is entitled to the funds.”
The captain pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “I’d like to have his name and contact information, if you have it handy.”
“Right here. He lives in Philadelphia.” The pastor reached over to the pile of papers next to the fridge on the counter, then handed them a dozen pages of legalese.
The captain snapped a photo of the first page where the surprise heir’s name and address were listed, then thanked the pastor.
Bill dropped the papers back onto the pile. “I hope to meet the young man and tell him about Betty, how great she was.”
Murph didn’t sense any fakeness in the Garvey’s easygoing demeanor. “You don’t seem upset about the possibility of losing the money.”
The man smiled. “Who’s to say he doesn’t need it more than we do? There’s Betty’s will, and then there’s God’s will.”
