Page 22 of Exposure of Murder

Jane was sitting at the kitchen table, holding a white mug in her hands. She still wore his jacket, which dwarfed her small frame.

He pulled out a chair opposite her and sighed. “I’m sorry this happened.”

“Me too,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I don’t understand what’s going on. Does this have something to do with the barn or the note?”

Ethan blew out his breath and shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

“Do you know who the man is?” Jane asked. She shivered and took a sip from the cup. “I’m sorry. Would you like a cup of coffee, tea, or…?”

“I’m good,” Ethan replied and pulled out a small notebook. “The man in the pond is … was David Thornton.”

Jane furrowed her brow. “David Thornton? I don’t think…” Her hand flew to her mouth in shock. “Oh, my God. He’s the man who was bidding against me for the farm.”

“Did you ever meet him?”

“Twice…” She tapped her fingers on the table. “No, three times. I met him one time when I was coming out of the diner and he was walking in. The other time, we passed each other on the sidewalk. He stopped to warn me that I’d be sorry for buying the farm. And he came here a few weeks ago, threatening me again.”

“What did you do?”

She sighed. “Nothing.” Then she closed and opened her eyes. “How does one respond to something like that?”

“Did anyone else hear Thornton threaten you?”

Jane thought for a moment and shook her head. “Great, now it is my word against a dead man.”

“What did he say to you exactly?”

She had just finished feeding the chickens when David’s car rumbled into her drive. He slammed the car door shut and got out.

“Ms. Goodwin,” he said, his voice tight. “I’m asking you to reconsider. Sell the farm to me.”

Jane shook her head firmly. “Mr. Thornton, I’m happy here. I’m sorry, but I’m not selling.”

“You’re going to be sorry you ever bought this property.” Thornton exhaled slowly, his eyes hardening. “You need to be very careful. Farms can be dangerous places. Things can go wrong in the blink of an eye, you know.”

“He said I would be sorry I ever bought the farm. He mentioned accidents have a way of happening.”

“And you didn’t think to report that to the sheriff’s department?” God, this was like pulling teeth. He had a murder on his hands and a woman who didn’t take threats personally.

She shrugged. “I figured he was upset and let it go. I had other things on my mind than the ravings of an angry man.”

There was no way to prove that Thornton threatened her. But Ethan mentally placed Jane at the top of his suspect list. Although why would she dredge the pond if she knew the body was in it? Maybe she thought the fish and wild animals would destroy the body. But then again, if she killed him, why was she so shocked to see the body? Damn. What a mess. At this point, it didn’t matter.

Until he proved otherwise, Jane had motive, means and opportunity, and he couldn’t dismiss her.

“Have you ever seen him around the property other than when he threatened you?”

“No.”

“How about Clarence or Bucky?”

Jane frowned. “You would have to ask them.”

Ethan leaned back and crossed his arms. Jane didn’t seem to know much, and yet the very man she outbid was dead in her pond.

“I will,” he muttered. “You’ve had quite a time since moving here. Your husband’s death, the barn incidents, the note, and now this. Seems like trouble follows you.”

Jane opened her mouth to respond but then closed it. She glared at him. “Are you suggesting I had something to do with the note and Thornton’s death?”

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