A Justified Murder (Medlar Mystery #2)(19)

“As well as anyone could know someone like Randal Medlar. He was a difficult—Oof!”

Sara had elbowed him in the ribs.

“Randal wasn’t someone who confided in people,” the sheriff said. “Tended to keep his business to himself.” Daryl seemed to be uncomfortable with that line of questioning and looked up at Jack. “You planning to stand up through this whole thing?”

With his jaw clenched, Jack sat back down.

Sara, who had minutes before seemed like besties with the sheriff, turned cold eyes to him. “Tell us what you know.”

Daryl hesitated, as though he might refuse, but then he looked at their faces and took a deep drink of his iced tea. “No one in town really knew Janet Beeson. A lot of people could identify her, tell a story or two about a nice thing she did, but that’s about all. So far, no one has been able to find out where she came from or who the Mr. to her Mrs. is—or was.”

Kate looked at Jack and Sara. She wanted to say that they hadn’t realized they didn’t know those things. But she just nodded.

“It’s being treated as a possible serial killing,” Daryl said.

Involuntarily, Kate drew in her breath.

When everyone looked at her, she mumbled. “Sorry. Go on.”

“We don’t want the details to become public knowledge. People might get so scared that they close their houses with hurricane shutters,” the sheriff said. “We don’t want a panic.”

“Especially since the idea of a serial killer is absurd,” Jack said.

The sheriff leaned back against the pillows and smiled. “That’s just what I said, but no one listened to me. They’ve found a couple of murders in California that sort of fit what was done to Janet and they’re checking into them.”

They just looked at him.

“No comments?” he asked.

“How do you reply to absolute stupidity?” Jack asked.

Sheriff Flynn squinted at Jack. “How about coming up with some evidence that shows they’re wrong? What do you have?”

Kate looked at Jack and Sara and saw that they weren’t going to speak. “We’ve heard the same as you. Mrs. Beeson was a very nice woman who helped a lot of people. No one has a bad word to say about her. She even saved a girl’s life.”

“Britney Mason.” The sheriff was nodding. “Her parents were really grateful to Janet. They sent her lots of flowers as thanks.”

“And what else?” Sara asked.

The sheriff looked confused. “What else should they have done?”

“I don’t know,” Sara said. “A parade. Pay off her mortgage. If she’d saved my child...” She didn’t finish.

“I never thought of that,” the sheriff said.

“As usual, no one seems to have thought of actually repaying Mrs. Beeson,” Sara said. “She came in second in a contest and the winner gloated. Janet gave kindness in return. Her hair was dyed green and Janet was nice about it. She cleared up a doctor’s billing and he sent a potted plant. And Eric—” She closed her mouth.

“And those girls were monsters to her, but she saved a life,” Kate said.

“From what we’ve seen,” Sara said, “Janet had reason to hold grudges against several people, but not the other way around. And we’ve heard no motives strong enough for murder.”

“Who is it that you’re planning to arrest?” Jack shot out.

There was a quick look of surprise on the sheriff’s face, then he went back to showing nothing. “They found something but I don’t think it means anything.”

When he said nothing more, Sara said, “What was found?”

“I can’t tell you. I want to, but I can’t risk—” He stopped talking.

“Her connection to Sylvia Alden?” Sara asked.

The sheriff’s eyes lit up. “Exactly! In the last twenty-four hours I’ve heard her name a thousand times. I think she has something to do with this, but no one will listen to me. How do you think they’re connected?”

“That’s a question we should ask you,” Jack said.

“I got so sick of hearing her name that I called Sylvia’s family.” He reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out a piece of paper, and put it on the coffee table. “I knew her. She was a lovely woman, so tall and slim and gracious to everyone. She and Tom used to put on the best parties. The food... I always ate far too much.” For a moment he stared into the distance in memory. “Then Tom died and Sylvia withdrew into herself.”

Sheriff Flynn shrugged. “When Janet came to town, they started hanging out together, and that was the end of all Sylvia’s outside social life.”

“You think they were lovers?” Kate asked.

The sheriff gave a snort. “You young kids. It’s never friendship—it’s always sex. No, I don’t think they were.” He paused. “Evie said—” He looked at Kate. “She’s my wife. High school sweethearts.”

“With a penchant for the back seat of an old Jeep,” Kate said.

He looked at Sara. “She’s Randal’s daughter, all right. Doesn’t miss a thing. Anyway, years ago, Evie said that there was something unusual between those two. I asked if she meant a friendship bond. Evie said that whatever it was, it was very, very strong.”