Page 124 of Deeper Than the Dead

With effort and lots of groaning, she dressed and made her way downstairs.

“Morning,” Vera said as she joined Eve in the kitchen. The smell of freshly brewed coffee had lured her here.

Seated at the table, Eve cradled her mug in both hands. “Morning. How’re you feeling?”

“Not great, but I’m aware it could be worse,” Vera admitted as she poured a cup of badly needed coffee. “My head hurts, and I’m sore from the seat belt and airbag, but otherwise I’m okay.”

Eve considered her for a moment. “Do you really think it was the judge?”

Vera had told her about the visit to Preston’s home and the calls and visits to the others.

“Of course I can’t be positive,” Vera admitted as she slid onto a stool. “But the aftershave is difficult to get past.”

Eve made a face. “He always thought he had to have the best of everything. His mama spoiled him rotten.”

“She did.” Vera hated passing judgment on a man she hadn’t seen in more than two decades, but it was difficult not to. “Let’s look at this from the perspective of what we know.”

“We know,” Eve picked up from there, “that Florence and Beatrice were aware of the two women in the cave. For sure they helped with putting the first one there, and I’d be willing to bet any and everything that they did with the second one as well.”

“With all that’s happening now,” Vera offered, “Florence may have asked Preston for help in protecting her secret. This is assuming she has no idea you saw them that first time.”

“Only Mama knew,” Eve insisted. “She never told anyone. I never told anyone.”

Vera had to call her on that one. “What about when you and Suri put Gates in there. She didn’t ask about the others?”

Eve stared into her coffee mug. “I told her I couldn’t talk about them.” She lifted her gaze to Vera’s then. “I swear. That’s exactly what I said, and she didn’t ask questions. Suri isn’t like that. She takes me at my word, as I do her.”

Vera focused on her coffee for a few minutes. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe her sister or that what she was suggesting wasn’t possible. It was simply unlikely that Suri would never tell. That said, she was willing to let it go for now.

“I couldn’t sleep last night.” Eve lifted her gaze to Vera’s. “I kept thinking what could have happened to you, and it makes me sick.”

“Hey.” Vera set her mug aside and took her sister’s hand. “I’m okay. Really.”

“But if I hadn’t told you the secret I shared with Mama, this might not have happened. I feel like it’s my fault.”

Vera took Eve’s mug from her other hand and set it on the table, then she put her arms around her sister and hugged her. “This is not your fault. Nothing you did or said had anything to do with yesterday. I’m glad you told me.”

Surprisingly, Eve hugged her back, but then quickly drew away. “I know we don’t see each other often enough, and we don’t even call enough, but I couldn’t do this life thing without you. Just knowing you’re wherever you are makes me okay.”

“Come on now.” Vera smiled. “We’re okay. Don’t worry about me. I’m not as easy to put down as you think.”

Eve let go a big breath. “Just be careful. Keep Bent close.”

“That might not be smart,” Vera confessed.

A big grin spread across Eve’s face. “I knew it. You are still hooked on him.”

“Stop,” Vera argued. “We can be friends, I think. That’s all this is, but I need to be careful with him.”

“Got it.” Eve gulped down more coffee. “Gotta go. Mr. Hamilton is waiting for me.”

Vera frowned. “Coach Hamilton from high school?”

Eve nodded. “Heart attack while mowing the lawn. His wife warned him that mowing the lawn in the heat at eighty wasn’t smart, but he didn’t listen.”

“He was eighty?” Damn. The notion made Vera feel old.

“Time flies,” Eve said. “See you later.” She waggled her fingers and disappeared.

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