“No and no. Where did you get that, anyway?”
I licked my lips. “I went to visit Barbie Robinson the other day.”
“What? Why?”
“I’ve been looking into Gene’s death.” It sounded ridiculous to say that aloud.
“Who do you think you are? Agatha Christie?The Rockford Files? Mabel fromOnly Murders in the Building? You stole a photo.”
I wanted to laugh, because we’d always teased Dad about his love forThe Rockford Files. But I didn’t, knowing even a grin would send Vera into yet more of a snit. “Jack’s helping me. And no, I didn’t steal it. I took a photo of a photo. Big difference.”
She threw her hands in the air. “Oh, well, that’s okay then. If some rando who just came to town five minutes ago is helping, then snooping around and conducting your own murder investigation is totally cool. Oh my goodness. Is that what you two have been doing together these past couple of days? You lied about going on a date and instead you’re playing detective together? Was that kiss even real?”
That was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? “You were the one who wanted me to hook up with Jack.”
“Unreal. I can’t believe you’ve come home to do this. To do this to me. To sabotage my new relationship. Maggie, you know this is the first guy I’ve dated in a while.” She was full-on whining now.
I resisted the urge to groan and shake her by the shoulders. “Vera, there’s a lot you don’t know about Tyler. A lot that Jack and I have found out over the last few days.”
She snorted and began to walk away.
“No, you need to listen to me, Vera. I’m worried about you. I’m worried that Tyler is involved with some really sketchy stuff and maybe really is wrapped up in Gene’s murder. Give me five minutes. If you don’t want to listen after five minutes, I’ll shut up.”
Her nostrils flared and she flounced over to the floral-print loveseat, which was now flanked by a cool old lamp with a tulip shade and an intricately carved occasional table. She flung herself on a cushion, then tapped on her smartwatch and crossed her arms. “Five minutes.”
Instead of sitting next to her, I paced as I talked. I disclosed everything, from what I’d overheard at Barbie’s house to what Dave had told us, to the details about the election and the possible sham candidate.
Vera’s hard gaze faltered, and she stared at my shoes. When I was done, I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I know you want it to work between the two of you. But you have to admit, there’s a lot of smoke swirling around Tyler.”
She swallowed once. Then twice. Then she blinked rapidly and I noticed a tear fall. I rushed to her side and sat next to her, putting my arm around her.
“Oh honey. I’m sorry.”
She wiped the tear away. “I didn’t tell you something. But now it kind of makes sense. Or maybe not.”
“What happened?”
She gulped in a breath. “I was with Tyler the day Gene died.”
“You were? When?” My heart surged to my throat.
“After we had lunch, I met him at the park. I did go there, like I said. We walked for a little bit, and then I left my car there and went with him, back to his house.”
“And that’s when your gun was stolen. While you were at his house.” I pressed the heels of my hands to my temples.
“Yes.”
“Did you tell Alex Holt this?”
She nodded.
“You told him and you didn’t tell me?” I was incredulous.
“I guess we both were lying to each other.”
Her expression was probably as miserable as mine. “I don’t know what it all means.”
She shook her head. “I don’t either.”
