“Hatred is a powerful motivator, and from everything you’ve told me, it sure sounds as if Myra hated Zeke.” Wally headed to the soda machine and put in a five-dollar bill. He pressed the buttons for a can of caffeine-free Diet Coke and a can of root beer. “And she wanted Billie back under her control and everything the same as it was before.”
“But change is inevitable.”
“Except from a vending machine.” Wally frowned, his hand hovering next to the slot, waiting for his two bucks to come out. Sighing, he gave up and joined Skye at the table.
“What if Billie wasn’t the one who bought the life insurance policy?” Skye took a sip of soda. “What if it was her mother?”
“Normally, I’d interview the women separately, but I think in this case, I’ll make an exception.” Wally narrowed his eyes. “But I do think it would be best if you sat between them. Concentrate on Billie. I have a feeling Myra won’t fall for your good-cop routine.”
“It’s not a routine.” Skye smacked Wally’s biceps. “I am the good cop.”
Wally got up from his chair, reached into the cupboard over the sink, and took down the old-fashioned tape recorder. Six months ago, the city attorney had decreed that the police had to make an audio record of all official interviews. And since the interrogation/coffee room wasn’t set up with any kind of modern equipment, and there was no money in the budget to correct that issue, the police had to make do with what they had lying around.
While they waited for Billie and Myra to arrive, Wally called the company that had insured Zeke to find out the details of the policy’s purchase. After he hung up, he and Skye discussed strategy. The trickiest part was reading the women their rights without tipping them off that they were suspects.
They finally agreed to have the officer on duty take care of Mirandizing them before bringing them back to Wally and Skye. Wally called Anthony in from patrolling and briefed him on the situation. He instructed him to assure Billie and Myra that it was just standard operating procedure before anyone talked to the police.
A few seconds after getting everything in place, Skye spotted Billie and Myra walking toward the front entrance and she and Wally hurried back through the door to the rear of the station. Before it closed, Anthony gave them a thumbs-up.
Several minutes ticked by and Skye was beginning to fear that Anthony was having trouble with the women when the young officer showed Billie and Myra into the interrogation room. As soon as Billie took a seat, Skye eased into the chair next to her.
Myra headed toward the seat on the other side of her daughter, but Wally pulled out the chair by Skye and said, “Here you go, Mrs. Gulch.”
When she grudgingly complied, Wally took a seat facing the three women over the table.
Turning on the tape recorder, Wally announced the date and time and instructed, “Please state your full names and current addresses.” After they complied, Wally said, “We have a few questions regarding Zeke’s murder. In order to make you both more comfortable, we are allowing you to remain together during this conversation.”
“Are we suspects?” Myra glared. “Maybe we should have a lawyer.”
“Because the next of kin usually has a unique perspective, it is customary to talk to them about the victim,” Wally said smoothly. “But you’re free to call an attorney.”
“Mother, we want to do everything we can to help the police find Zeke’s killer.” Billie shot her mom a firm look, then asked, “What do you want to know?”
“I understand that your husband didn’t have any local family members other than yourself,” Wally said.
“That’s correct.” Billie wiped a tear from her eye with the tissue Skye handed her. “Zeke was raised in an orphanage. He was left on the doorstep and never knew the identity of his parents.”
“He was a mutt,” Myra hissed. “Just like that dog of his. No papers.”
Wally sent Skye a quick glance, then turned back to Billie and asked, “How would you describe Zeke’s relationship with his friends and coworkers?”
“Cordial.” Billie twisted the Kleenex. “He was a very private man and kind of shy.”
“Not too shy to take up with you,” Myra groused.
“Mrs. Gulch, you don’t seem too fond of your son-in-law.” Wally’s tone was mild, but Billie stiffened. He raised a brow. “Did your mother and husband get along, Mrs. Lyons?”
Billie’s cheeks reddened and she stuttered, “As well as could be expected.”
“But that wasn’t too well, right?” Skye turned in her chair so she was facing Billie and had her back to Myra. “I understand that your mother objected to your marriage.”
“Uh…” Billie tried to look around Skye at her mom. “It was only because she loves me so much. My father deserted us when I was born and Mother was afraid that Zeke would do the same to me.”
“And he did,” Myra needled. “He’s gone. Leaving you with a pile of rubbish for a house and a hulking hound to feed.”
“It’s not his fault he was killed!” Billie cried.
“If he hadn’t chosen that damn dog over you, he’d still be alive.” Myra moved her chair so she could see her daughter.
“How can you be so cruel, Mother?” Billie sobbed.
Skye patted the distraught woman’s arm as she wept. Then after a few seconds of silence, Wally said, “Tell me what happened right before the tornado.”
“We were sitting in the living room listening to music when John, our across-the-street neighbor, knocked on the door and said that there was a tornado warning. We hadn’t heard the siren.” Billie sniffled. “He wanted us to take shelter in his basement, but because of his son’s allergy, Leo would have to stay at home. Zeke sent me with John but said he couldn’t leave Leo alone.”
“And that was the last time you saw him alive?” Skye asked softly.
Billie nodded.
“Do you have a basement, Mrs. Gulch?” Wally asked abruptly, staring at the older woman.
“No.” Myra scowled. “And I wasn’t leaving my house open to looters. I took cover in my bathtub.”
“That was so dangerous, Mother.” Billie put her hand on her chest. “That old cattle prod of Grandpa Gulch’s wouldn’t help you if someone had a gun.”
Skye and Wally exchanged meaningful looks and Wally said, “Mrs. Gulch, please remove your sweater.”
Despite the heat and humidity outside, the older woman wore a light cardigan.
“I will not,” Myra snapped.
“Is that because you don’t want us to see the bite marks on your arm?” Wally asked.
“How did you know about those?” Billie’s gaze darted from Wally to her mother. “She got those from a stray when she came to find me at John’s house.”
“No.” Wally crossed his arms. “Leo bit her when she was using that cattle prod of hers on your husband.”
“No,” Billie gasped. “Mother, tell them you didn’t do that to Zeke.”
“Of course I didn’t,” Myra bellowed. “Don’t be more stupid than usual.”
“The bite marks are why she tried so hard to convince you to put Leo down.” Wally took Billie’s hand. “Once he was euthanized, he’d be cremated and we wouldn’t be able to match the teeth marks forensically.”
“Mother?” Billie’s voice wavered and she jerked her fingers from Wally’s. “That’s not true, is it?”
“After all that I’ve done for you, you don’t trust me?” Myra’s lips thinned.
Billie shook her head. “No. I do.” She looked at Skye and said, “You can’t believe my own mother would harm the man I loved.”
“It’s not what I believe.” Skye patted her back. “It’s all about the evidence.” She pretended to think, then said, “I know. If the cattle prod you mentioned doesn’t match the marks on Mr. Lyons’s chest, and if Leo’s teeth don’t match her wound, we can prove
it isn’t your mom.”
“The cattle prod is back at the apartment and Leo is at Dr. Quillen’s clinic.” Billie nodded. “I can go get the prod and you can have Mother’s arm checked.”
“Are you crazy?” Myra roared. “The cops don’t care if I’m really guilty. They just want to close out their case. If you hand over that cattle prod, they’ll just fake the evidence. And no one is touching my arm.”
“Well”—Billie wavered, her gaze flickering back and forth from Skye to Myra—“maybe Mom’s right and I shouldn’t.”
“We can get a search warrant,” Wally said. “And it will include your arm, Mrs. Gulch.”
“You can’t let them do this to me,” Myra shrieked. “I’ve always protected you.”
“That’s not quite true,” Skye said softly. “Are you aware that your mother took out a half-a-million-dollar life insurance policy on your husband two months ago?”
“No.” Billie’s voice quavered. “How is that possible? I thought you could only buy life insurance on yourself.”
“Actually,” Wally said, “it can be purchased on your spouse, your child, your business partner, or your parents. We figure that your mother filled out the forms, claiming to be you, when she bought the one on Mr. Lyons.” He stared at Myra. “And that misrepresentation means the contract is considered void from the date of issue.”
“How do you know Mother is the one who bought it?” Billie asked.
“Did you purchase it?” Skye asked.
“No.” Billie’s voice was so soft, Skye barely heard her denial.
“That’s what we figured.” Wally put his hands palms down on the table. “We know it was your mother because she’s the one paying the premiums. That gives her motivation, the fact she was alone after the tornado gives her opportunity, and her knowledge of Zeke’s heart condition and the cattle prod gives her means.”
Myra glowered for several seconds, then said, “It’s not what it looks like.”
“Oh?” Skye glanced at Wally. Where had they heard that before?
“I didn’t mean to kill him.” Myra straightened. “I went over to check to see if he was okay, and when he came at me in the dark, I thought he was a looter.”
“Why didn’t you get help once you saw it was Mr. Lyons? Why did you shock him over and over again?” Wally asked. “And why did you lie about your dog bite?”
“I was afraid Billie would never forgive me.” Myra looked sad. “She’s all I have in the world.”
“Why did you take out the life insurance policy?” Skye asked.
“Billie needed to be protected if anything happened to Zeke,” Myra said quickly and then crossed her arms. “He wasn’t a young man.”
“Did you know there were witnesses to you zapping your son-in-law?” Wally asked conversationally.
“No.” Myra wrinkled her brow, then must have decided to tough it out. “If that were true, I’d be arrested, not sitting here.”
“Yep. Those looters you were so afraid of told me all about how you just kept zapping him.” Wally leaned back. “Even when Leo was biting you, you kept shocking Zeke.”
“I…” Myra gulped, a look of panic on her face. “A jury will believe me over some criminal.”
“Maybe.” Skye shrugged. “But we also have the evidence. Mr. Lyons was zapped more than once. And then there’s the half-million-dollar insurance policy.”
“Uh. I…” Myra wrinkled here brow, then smiled triumphantly. “I’m just a frail old woman. I wouldn’t be able to overpower a grown man.”
“You could with a long-handled cattle prod.” Wally’s voice was knife-edged. “Especially if he wasn’t expecting you to attack him.”
“That doesn’t prove anything!” Myra screamed. “You’re twisting everything. Billie, tell them!”
“How could you do it, Mother?” Billie asked. “I loved him.” She got up and walked to the door. “I’ll never forgive you. Never.”
“You just couldn’t bear the thought of your daughter being married.” Skye’s tone was sympathetic. “You loved her and wanted her with you.”
“I…I…” Myra scrubbed her eyes with her fists. “Maybe I do need a lawyer.”
“Only if you want to escalate the proceedings.” Wally hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “But you do have a right to counsel,” he said carefully. “However, then you won’t be able to tell us your side of the story.”
Skye added, “And Billie will hate you. You won’t be able to tell her about the mitigating circumstances of the situation.”
Wally was quiet, allowing Myra to think about what had been said, then asked, “Do you want to call your attorney?”
“No. I guess not.” Myra sighed, obviously realizing she was running out of options.
“Well, you can anytime,” Skye added. She didn’t want the judge to throw out her confession because Myra’s rights hadn’t been upheld.
“Okay.” Myra slumped. “That man was taking my daughter away from me. He’d promised they’d live next door, but I found out he was planning to retire in a few years and wanted to move somewhere warm.”
“That must have made you really angry,” Skye murmured encouragingly.
“It did.” Myra jerked up her chin. “When I confronted him, he said I could go with them. But I’ve lived here my whole life. I didn’t want to move.”
“So you started planning his death,” Wally said.
“And that’s when you bought the life insurance?” Skye guessed.
“Yes,” Myra admitted. “But I wasn’t sure how to get rid of him.”
Wally pounced. “But the tornado gave you the perfect opportunity.”
“And now you’ve lost Billie,” Skye said, staring into Myra’s eyes. “You killed a man for nothing.”
Myra collapsed against the back of the chair. It was clear she had given up. She buried her face in her hands. “Tell Billie I’m sorry,” Myra sobbed. “I just wanted us to be together like we used to be.”
Skye and Wally exchanged a look. In front of them was a perfect illustration of what not to do as a parent. While Wally wrapped up the questioning and had Myra write out her confession, Skye rubbed her belly and prayed she and Wally would get things right with their children.
Four hours later, the search warrants had been executed, the evidence secured, and Myra’s case had been turned over to the city attorney.
It was nearly seven o’clock when Skye and Wally finally were able to leave the PD and head home. Skye was not only exhausted, but starving as well. And Wally looked ready to collapse. The stress of the past several days had finally caught up with them.
As they walked up the steps of the motor coach, Wally said, “I thought Myra Gulch would be a tougher nut to crack.”
“Once she realized that she’d lost her daughter, she just didn’t care anymore.” Skye’s smile was grim.
“And we did have the cattle prod, bite marks, and insurance policy,” Wally added. “With all that against her, she really had no choice.”
“I’m so sick of people saying they have no choice.” Skye blew out a long breath. “Myra’s choice should have been to be a good mother, rather than a selfish one.”
“It’s a shame her daughter and son-in-law ended up paying the price.” Wally kissed Skye’s temple. “Which is why we will put our kids first.”
“Too bad we can’t protect them from all the witches in this world.” Skye rested her hand on her stomach. “I guess we just have to make sure they know that there’s no place like home.”
Epilogue
“And oh, Aunt Em! I’m so glad to be at home again!”
—Dorothy
Six weeks later
Skye stood in the open doorway of the motor coach that she and Wally now called home and tugged a pink sweatshirt over her head. It was the largest size available, but it still fit
snugly over her baby belly, and as her fingers traced the black lettering stretched across the fabric, she mouthed the printed words: WE’RE SCUMBLE RIVER STRONG.
With the sudden drop in temperature, she was glad her father-in-law had opted for the hoodies versus the T-shirts when he bought a gross of the shirts to support the relief-effort fund-raiser. Carson had then randomly handed out most of them to the kids who’d attended the first school assembly.
It had been a tough autumn for the Scumble Riverites, but everyone had pulled together and the town was beginning to rebuild. Hundreds of volunteers had been bussed in to tackle clearing the twelve zones decimated by the tornadoes. Nine hundred structures had sustained significant damage.
Dante had declared a civil emergency, allowing the town government to seek resources and spend the money needed for the cleanup. Evidently, whatever he had been plotting had been put on hold, and Skye hoped that the person taking Zeke Lyons’s spot on the council would be a stronger advocate for all the citizens, rather than just Dante’s cronies.
The schools hadn’t been as badly damaged as the board had at first feared, and with a bit shuffling, they’d been able to resume classes after only a ten-day delay. Both winter and spring breaks had to be shortened, but they wouldn’t have to extend the year into the summer months.
Skye had been thrilled at how easily the school psych intern had adjusted. She and Piper had worked together as if they’d been a team forever. The first week school had been back in session, they’d held more counseling groups than either of them had ever led in the past.
The tornado-devastated students and staff had continued to need sessions for quite a while, but the demand had tapered off by last Friday, when Skye officially went on maternity leave. Although it had been a relief to have the past week to prepare for the babies, she couldn’t resist calling every day for an update. Nevertheless, she was confident that, between the special-ed co-op psychologist and Piper, the kids, parents, and faculty would be well served.
Resting a hip against the doorframe, Skye blinked back tears as the construction crew finished hauling away the last debris of what had been her first home with Wally. Even the foundation had had to be removed, and the only thing left was a huge hole in the ground.
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