A Justified Murder (Medlar Mystery #2)(82)

“Are Mike and Max really going to move to Lachlan?”

“They don’t have girlfriends, do they? We asked but they wouldn’t answer.”

“The coach said he’d give his right—” Madison looked at Sara. “He’d really like for the boys to be on our school’s football team.”

“No one knows the answer to any of that,” Jack said. “Go back in there and in forty-five minutes I’ll drive you home. And I’m going to talk to your parents. Again.”

“That isn’t fair,” Ashley said. “We gave you information. We helped you.”

“Yeah?” Jack asked. “What exactly did you tell us that we didn’t already know?”

“That...” Madison was unable to give an answer to his question.

“I think Jack is right,” Britney said.

“You always think Jack is right,” Ashley said. “Did you tell him about the brides magazines you bought?”

“And how you write Mrs. Jackson Wyatt everywhere?”

“And—”

“Out!” Jack shouted and the girls left the room. He firmly shut the door behind them. “I feel sick.”



Eighteen


HEATHER HELPED THEM get rid of the kids. “Did you find out what you wanted to?”

Kate said, “We have no idea what you mean. If you’re referring to the Beeson murder, that case is closed.”

“Yes, of course,” Heather said. “If I know nothing, I can’t tell anything.”

“Mom!” Jack said.

“Don’t worry, my dear son. I’m sure you’re just helping your cousins by shelling out two months’ salary. By the way, if you don’t keep those boys occupied, they’ll get into trouble.”

“I think I can handle a couple of kids,” Jack said.

“That’s what everyone thought about you.” Laughing, Heather left the house.

The boys had gone to Jack’s room so the three were alone.

“You didn’t leave your spare truck keys in your room, did you?” Sara asked.

“Locked them in Kate’s jewelry drawer and I put the key back where she hid it.”

“You did what?”

“How about the door into the garage?” Sara asked.

“Bolted from the outside and I put the alarm on. They open a door and we’ll hear it.”

Kate was still glaring at Jack. “How did you find the key to my jewelry drawer? And when did you search for it?”

“When I needed a hiding place for the truck keys.” He yawned. “Anyone else ready for bed?” He smiled at Kate invitingly.

Her eyes flashed anger. “I’m staying with Max.”

“Then can I have your bed?” he shot back.

“Much as I enjoy hearing the foreplay of you two,” Sara said, “I’m done in. Good night.” She went to her bedroom and closed the door.

For a moment Jack and Kate stared at each other. Arguing wasn’t as much fun without an appreciative audience.

In just a few days they had become used to each other’s routines. Twenty minutes later they were in their separate beds and asleep.

Kate was the last one to get up the next morning. She put on black trousers and a lovely Elaine Cross top, and she was careful with her makeup.

“You’re going to work today?” Jack asked when he saw her.

“As long as Tayla is in jail, I don’t think they want me there.”

“Then why...?” Enlightenment hit him. “For the boys? You’re all dressed up to impress a couple of kids?”

“Ah. The jealousy of Jack Wyatt. Legendary. It—”

Sara spoke up. Loudly. “Do you think Janet had anything to do with those nasty text messages sent to the girls?”

“Just to one of them, wasn’t it?” Kate got out cereal and a bowl.

“Easier to hack that way,” Jack mumbled. He was still looking at Kate.

She took the stool next to him. “I don’t know anything about hacking but I see it done on TV. I’m sure there’s a way.”

“How doesn’t matter.” Sara put a full plate of eggs, bacon, and toast before Jack. “What’s important is if she did it.”

“I don’t see it,” Kate said. “That was a really, deeply nasty thing to do. To try to get someone to kill themselves? Because of a kid mimicking you?”

“Kyle said she took away his children because they painted WITCH on her garage,” Jack said.

“And how could she do that?” Sara asked. “Was she there in the courtroom? Did she bribe the judge? It all seems too farfetched to be real.”

“Besides,” Kate said, “everyone liked her. You heard the praise about her. She had a good effect on people’s lives.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Sara said. “Good or bad means nothing.”

Jack and Kate looked at her.

“We’ve all met rotten people. In my long life I’ve met—” She waved her hand. “You aren’t allowed to kill them, no matter what they do to you. They can beat you, steal all you have, whatever. People can do horrible things to you but you can’t kill them. You can’t even get them back by doing what they did to you. If they steal from you, that doesn’t give you the right to steal from them.”