“Can you recall the exact words Perry used when he told you about the fight?” Skye asked.
The Underwoods looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Think back now. What was his manner like? Excited? Scared?”
Mrs. Underwood spoke for the first time. “At first, I thought he seemed happy.”
“So, could it have been that the three boys included him in their group and the play was a little rough?” Skye held her breath.
Mrs. Underwood started to nod, but her husband shot her a censorious look and she turned it into a cough.
Skye directed her next remark to the woman. “I’m wondering if maybe the speech pathologist, Mrs. Whitney, might be able to help you understand what Perry is saying a little better.”
Mr. Underwood’s face closed. “We don’t need an outsider interpreting for us. We understand Perry good enough.”
“But—” Skye was cut off as the Underwoods rose to their feet.
“I told you it was a conspiracy,” Mr. Underwood hissed into his wife’s ear. “They’ve got the whole incident buried deeper than the real identity of Kennedy’s assassin.”
When the door closed behind them, Skye let out a big sigh. “That felt like an episode of the
Nodding, Mrs. Greer leaned back in her chair. “This is a good example of why you should have all your ducks in a row before meeting with parents. They’re so sure of themselves they can almost convince you that you’re mistaken.”
“You were great. I think handling the parents is the hardest part of the job. It’s so difficult for them to admit that their children could ever be in the wrong.”
“We make a good team. I take them down with facts, and you give them something to go home and think about.”
Reflecting upon the meeting, Skye asked, “Are Mr. and Mrs. Underwood in the military?”
“No. They’re a part of that survivalist group that bought some of that land from the mining company and moved in all the trailers and mobile homes.”
“Oh, the ones up against the back forty of my grandmother’s land.” Skye narrowed her eyes. “She had a lot of trouble with those people—trespassing and hunting near the house. Maybe I should go visit the Underwoods. I’m concerned that they have such a bad opinion of the school.”
Skye was almost safely to her car when her cousins struck. Ginger and Gillian surrounded her and started haranguing her before she could speak.
Ginger was first. “We’re tired of you causing trouble in the family.”
“You always have to be the center of attention, but you’ve gone too far this time.” Gillian poked Skye in the chest with her index finger.
“What are you two talking about?” Skye edged closer to the Buick.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Each twin took an arm and forced Skye to walk with them.
Although Skye had several pounds on each of them, combined they were a force to be reckoned with. Skye’s thoughts were mixed. She didn’t want to create a scene in the school parking lot. All she needed was for it to get around that she was punching it out with her cousins. But this was getting a little scary.
“Where are you taking me?” They didn’t answer. “Look, this isn’t funny.”
When the trio reached Ginger’s van, they shoved Skye into the open back door and Gillian climbed in beside her. After Gillian slammed the sliding panel shut, Ginger walked around to the other side, climbed into the driver’s seat, and started the motor.
Skye tried again. “What’s going on? This is just silly.”
Ginger put the TranSport in gear and squealed out of the parking lot.
“I’m sure we can work this out like civilized human beings.” Skye was losing her initial feeling of annoyance and beginning to get alarmed.
“Relax,” Gillian said. “We just want to talk to you, alone and uninterrupted.”
They drove out of Scumble River, passed Skye’s parents’ place, and seemed to be headed for their grandmother’s farm when Ginger slowed and pulled into a driveway obscured with weeds. It was the old Leofanti homestead that had been destroyed by the tornado.
The twins climbed out of the van and Skye followed, after checking the ignition to see if Ginger had left the keys. She hadn’t.
“Now what?” Skye asked.
“We want to know what’s going on with Grandma,” Gillian said, settling on a concrete block. The foundation and chimney of the old farmhouse were the only reminders that there had ever been a building in that spot.
“The last I heard, Simon ordered an autopsy,” Skye answered. “That takes a few days. After they determine a cause of death they’ll release the body. Then we’ll have the wake and funeral as usual.”
“Grandma died of old age. She was eighty, for heaven’s sake. You’re just making it harder on all of us by refusing to admit that, and making us go through all this mumbo jumbo with the police,” Ginger said.
“You would have never gotten your own way on this if you weren’t dating the coroner. Which, by the way, is pretty pathetic in itself.” Gillian stood and crossed her arms.
“Whether you two like it or not, Grandma was murdered. I’m sorry if it isn’t convenient for you.” Skye turned on Gillian. “And it would be a real good idea to leave my relationship with Simon out of this, or I might be forced to examine your marriage a little closer.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gillian screeched and started toward Skye.
“Let’s just say I’ve heard things about Irvin that make me think he’s a real prince—only spelled differently.” Skye refused to back down.
Gillian raised her hand and swung at Skye, who grabbed her by the wrist and twisted it to the right. Gillian howled in pain.
“Try not to forget that I’ve had training in takedowns for uncontrollable kids.” Skye stepped back.
Ginger joined her twin. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. Skye, this whole murder investigation not only gets everyone in town talking about us, but it also holds up getting the estate divided.”
“Yeah,” Gillian added, “just because you already have the Leofanti emerald ring doesn’t mean the rest of us wouldn’t like our share. I still think it’s a bunch of crap that the ring goes to the oldest female. We’re only ten months younger than you and we have children to pass it down to.” Gillian’s face was red and her lank blond hair hung in clumps.
“Interesting. Do you both agree that the emerald shouldn’t go to the oldest female?” Skye looked between the twins, then focused on Ginger. “Or does Gillian just think that because her daughter is a few months younger than your daughter?”
Ginger gave her twin a speculative look, but before she could speak Gillian said, “Never mind. Leave Kristin and Iris out of this. The real money is in the land itself. And now because of your interfering, getting everything settled will take forever.”
“So? What’s the rush? The grandchildren won’t get anything anyway. Mom says everything’s in a trust.” Skye looked puzzled.
“Well, maybe your folks don’t need the money, but ours do.” Ginger walked over and leaned on the van.
“Shut up!” Gillian yelled. “Are you stupid? Don’t tell her anything.”
Ginger scowled. “Then we’re back to square one. Why are you so sure Grandma was murdered?”
“I can’t tell you that,” Skye said. “Chief Boyd has asked me not to discuss it.”
“Fine, then on your long walk home you just think about where your loyalties should lie.” Gillian hopped into the front seat of the TranSport.
Ginger climbed into the driver’s seat. Skye hurried to the side panel and was just in time to hear the lock click into place. The vehicle pulled out in a cloud of dust, leaving Skye with her hand still reaching for the handle.
Sighing, she glanced at her canvas sandals. They were already stained from the morning’s excursion through the wilds of Grandma’s backyard and their two-inch wedge heels were not made for hiking.
Skye peered inside her purse for anything that might be helpful, but since she was carrying only a small shoulder bag there was nothing useful. Her gaze swept the fields. Not a soul in sight. She was going to have to
