“Can I use your phone? My cell was in the house when the fire started. I don’t know if it survived.”
As Eve went to get a handset from inside the house, Flora inhaled the aromatic steam from her drink. She couldn’t set off for Stillwater in case the maniac who had tried to force her into a ditch was waiting for her to leave Eve’s place.
Let’s see. How has my day been so far? Well, I need a police escort and it’s not yet noon.
Eve returned to the porch and handed Flora the phone before returning to the house. Flora called Laurie’s cell phone and the police chief answered immediately. “Flora? I’ve been trying to reach you all morning. Where are you?”
Startled at the abrupt question, Flora gave a flustered response. “I’m with a friend.”
“I’m going to need you to be more specific.” There was a hint of exasperation in Laurie’s voice.
“Her name is Eve Sloane. The place is called Hawk Farm. It’s on the Elmville road, just past the turn for Eternal Springs.”
“Stay put. I’m on my way.”
Flora started to ask for more information, but she was talking to dead air. What now? A chill swept over her and she gave a little moan. Not her boys. Or Leon...
Eve came out onto the porch, her quick glance assessing the situation. “You’ve had bad news.”
“The police are on their way, but I don’t know why.”
“I know it’s hard, but don’t assume the worst.” Eve came to sit next to her. “While we’re waiting, you can tell me about my new job. What will my hours be? How many people will I be working with? Anything you think I need to know.”
Grateful for the common-sense response, Flora started talking about the Ryerson Center. She told Eve about the staff: the three doctors, the nurse, the physiotherapist, the dietitian, and the two lab workers. Eve listened and asked a few questions and, before long, Laurie’s car pulled into the drive.
At least one of Flora’s fears was put to rest when she saw Leon in the passenger seat. Her first impulse was to hurl herself into his arms. Fighting it with difficulty, she walked toward him as he exited the vehicle.
“What’s going on?”
He stepped in close, catching hold of her upper arms. “The twins are okay. The police have found Jennifer Webster’s body.”
Her hand fluttered to her throat in a helpless gesture. “Oh, dear Lord, no. Where was she?”
Leon looked over his shoulder at Laurie. The police chief gave a single, grim nod, signaling that he was free to speak. “Flora, there’s no easy way to say this. Jennifer’s body was in your shed.”
Chapter 10
Eve tactfully went into the house, so Laurie could speak freely. They pulled three porch chairs close and huddled together. Leon, who had already heard the details, focused on Flora. Although her face was white as a sheet and her grip on his hand was painful, she was holding up well.
Laurie flipped open her notebook. “The fire crew made the discovery. It’s routine in arson cases to make a thorough search of the property.”
“How did she die?” Flora’s voice was tight, as though the effort of talking was straining her vocal cords.
“She was stabbed. The medical examiner will give us more information, but it looked to me like she was killed in the same way as Joy Valeski and Lilith Bronson.”
Flora’s eyelids fluttered briefly, and she swayed toward Leon. He caught her, holding her tight with an arm around her shoulders. She leaned against him for a moment or two before opening her eyes.
“Was she killed in my shed?”
“I can’t give you a definite answer to that question, Flora.” Although the words were businesslike, Laurie’s expression was sympathetic. “But initial forensic findings suggest she was killed elsewhere. You’re both doctors. You know moving a body isn’t easy. There are indications that Jennifer was dragged into the shed postmortem.”
Flora shook herself like someone surfacing from a bad dream. “No, wait. The padlock on that shed was huge.” She held up her clenched fist. “Almost as big as this. The guy who sold me the house couldn’t find the key, but I didn’t mind. I was glad the shed was secure. Although I didn’t let the boys play in the yard on their own, the wooden panels on the shed looked rotten and I didn’t want them getting inside.”
“Can you remember the last time you noticed the padlock was in place?” Laurie leaned forward slightly, her keen investigative senses clearly on high alert.
“I know for sure it was there yesterday morning.” Flora started to speak slowly, speeding up as she gained in confidence. “I was standing at the kitchen window while the twins were eating breakfast and I was mentally planning how I was going to remodel the yard. I remember thinking how ugly the shed was.”
“And you’re sure this was yesterday?”
“I’m positive.” Flora nodded firmly. “Because my pleasant daydream was interrupted by a call from your secretary asking me to come to a meeting.”
Leon shook his head. Had that meeting in Laurie’s office really only taken place on the previous day?
Laurie tapped her pen against her notepad. “That means we have a clear timeline. Whoever did this knew about the padlock. He came prepared to cut it off so he could move the body into the shed. I find it hard to believe that happened in daylight.”
“Whoa.” Leon held up a hand. He liked and respected Laurie, but sometimes that no-nonsense approach of hers was like a bulldozer rolling over a nutshell. “Let’s back up a little, Detective. Are you saying that during the night, while Flora and I were in the house with the twins, someone was on the property moving a
