Page 24 of Murder on the Boardwalk

“What did Brent say?”

“He still thinks the remains belong to a male. He should know. He’s seen more dead bodies than we have. But I think, overall, the whole Vera thing threw him. He needs a full night to sleep on it, maybe digest what’s happened. After all, our Vera hung around with his grandmother.”

“You know what’s weird?”

“Aside from the fact that an eighty-year-old woman, loved by everyone, kept a dead guy in a blanket box? No. What?”

“It’s apparent that our Vera didn’t have any guilt over what she’d done to John Doe or maybe Helen Driscoll. It wasn’t John Doe she talked about to Marley Lennox but Gidget. Why? Why didn’t she unburden herself about what was in the blanket box or hope chest? You know, it could’ve been a hope chest. That guy in there could’ve been the love of her life or something. Talking about a murder she committed would’ve made sense. Instead, she talks to a therapist about a murdered teenager she supposedly didn’t even know. It’s beyond weird.”

“Wait till Marley hears that little tidbit. That certainly makes it sound like our Vera had a connection to Gidget.”

“Maybe we should stop calling herour Vera,” Brogan suggested. “The body in the cedar chest is a diversion. We started this morning concentrating on Gidget. In a matter of twelve hours, the focus turned upside down. We shouldn’t get caught up with Vera’s real identity and that of her victim.”

“But we shouldn’t rule out that they’re both connected. We need to keep an open mind.”

“It could be a coincidence.”

He raised his head and squinted at her. “You’re joking.”

“Think about it. Marley directed us to Vera. We had nothing before she showed up and dropped the name on us. We go roaming around town, asking about Vera, and discover she’s not who she said she was. It could be a fluke.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Aren’t you going to ask me about Jade’s big secret?”

“Nope. None of my business. I figure she’s entitled to keep whatever it is from Birk to herself. Or between you women. But in my experience, the truth will eventually come out with heavy fallout on both sides.”

“In other words, it could doom the relationship. What if it’s not that big of a deal?”

“It might be to Birk.”

“Point taken. Why don’t we sleep out here tonight? I’m too tired to move.”

“One of us would need to get up and get a blanket. It’s getting chilly.”

“I’d flip you for it, but I left my handbag on the counter. No coins in my pockets, either.”

Lucien’s cell phone buzzed with another call. “I’m afraid to answer it. What if it’s about another body?”

“Don’t joke about that. Who could it be? We’ve talked to just about everyone in town today.”

Reluctant, he swiped to answer the call. “Hello. Really? Sure. But can it wait until—? Okay. Give us twenty minutes. See you then.”

“Where are you going in twenty minutes?”

“Oh, no, you don’t. Wherever I go, you go.”

“I don’t remember that part of our vows. I didn’t sign up for running around late at night to meet up with strangers, especially when I’m exhausted.”

“That was Wally. He says he needs to talk. There’s something he didn’t tell us earlier that he wants to get off his chest.”

Brogan’s shoulders drooped. “I won’t say I told you so.”

“There’s a first.”

She bumped his shoulder. “Can’t it wait until morning?”

“Apparently not. He’ll be here in twenty minutes.”

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