A Justified Murder (Medlar Mystery #2)(70)

He looked at the three of them, staring in wide-eyed shock. “So Tayla killed the woman to keep her quiet. But her conscience got the better of her and she confessed.”

Sara was the first to smile, then Kate. Jack grinned wide.

“What the hell is wrong with you people?” the sheriff said. “I tell you of a murder confession and you’re happy?”

They got up and Jack waltzed Sara around in a circle, then Kate. The big punching bag was nearby and Sara did a dozen or so punches—but not hard enough to injure her writing hand.

Sheriff Flynn was leaning back in his chair and gawking at them.

Chet came through the door. He too was smiling. “Looks like you heard.” He spun Sara around.

Sheriff Flynn picked up his hat and started for the door, but Sara caught his arm and led him back to the chair. “Of course Tayla didn’t kill her and the motive is ridiculous.”

“Yes,” Kate said. “House sales are registered.”

“Just get a few witnesses and a truckload of papers and her motive is gone,” Jack said.

“But...” the sheriff began.

Chet sat down across from him. “They’re right except for...”

“For what?” Sara asked.

“It looks like Tayla did kill her,” he said. “She knows too much about the murder scene to be innocent.”

That deflated them and they sat down.

“How do you know so much?” Jack asked.

“Called someone,” Chet said, but didn’t explain further.

“Murdered over a lawsuit?” Sara said.

“I don’t believe it,” Kate said.

Chet looked at them. “What other possible motive could she have?”

Sara said, “I think you better look at the chicken.”

“Are you changing the subject?” Sheriff Flynn asked. “What do you know that I don’t?”

Sara had opened her mouth to give a lie when the patio door opened and in the evening light stood Zelly. She had on one of Kate’s best dresses, a red sleeveless one suited for elegant dinner parties. She’d draped herself in what had to be most of Kate’s jewelry. Half a dozen necklaces were piled on top of each other. Bracelets went up to both elbows. She was a garish-looking wraith.

“Are there any alligators out here?” she asked.

The sheriff didn’t miss a beat. “Only Jack and he does bite.”

The look of fear on her thin face seemed to hit something in them. Murder, confessions, it was all too much.

Spontaneously, they burst into laughter. It was a great relief to all of them.

Zelly seemed to be pleased that she had been the cause of the laughter and she stepped outside. Jack felt so good that he handed her a cold beer.

“If that’s made with coconuts, I don’t want it,” she said.

Her statement made them laugh harder. Jack turned the chicken over and filled the grill with vegetables.

When the sheriff asked who Zelly was, Sara said she was the daughter of a friend and didn’t elaborate.



Sixteen


AS WAS HER HABIT, Sara woke early the next morning. She was glad to be alone in her bed. Her one night with Chet had been wonderful, but it wasn’t something she wanted forever. She’d had a lifetime of people pitying her because she was alone—meaning unmarried. But the truth was that she’d met only one man who she’d ever wanted to share closet space with: Cal Wyatt.

She was glad for her thick carpet as she went past the closed door of her study because Zelly was in there. Last night, by silent mutual agreement, they’d not talked more about the murder. They’d not mentioned Tayla at all. Zelly was a stranger and therefore not to be trusted with their secrets.

At nine, Sheriff Flynn went home looking better than when he’d arrived. Laughter had healed some of his misery.

Sara quickly dressed and put on makeup. She truly believed that the use of cosmetics was a sign of respect for other people. She was considerate of what they had to look at.

The study door was still closed when she went past it. It was dark outside and she loved the feeling of being the only person awake.

She’d been intrigued by the forensics people finding a tin marked Sylvia’s Tea. Had it been there when they’d seen the house? Was it in one of her photos but they’d not seen it?

She put the pictures on the big TV in the family room and started going through them. There was a spice rack in the kitchen and it did have some small boxes of herbal tea. One of them was metal and it was turned so the label didn’t show. No one had thought to turn it around.

She was annoyed with herself for missing something so blatant. Why hadn’t her curiosity been piqued by an unlabeled tin?

She sat on the couch and watched the other photos go by. Had she missed things in them too?

When the photo Jack had taken of the man came on the screen, she paused.

“That’s Lisa’s friend.”

Sara turned to see Zelly standing behind her. She had on the sweatsuit Kate had lent her. Zelly said that she wanted the pink negligee she’d seen in Kate’s drawers, but she was told no.

“I take pictures too.” Zelly sat down by Sara. “I have selfies from everywhere.”

Sara had to stamp down her urge to walk away from the woman. She didn’t like her and Virgos have a hard time dealing with people they can’t stand. “You know him? And Sylvia’s daughter, Lisa?”