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“We have a few questions,” Sam said, his tone even.
Beryl ushered them into her living room, a space that radiated a false sense of warmth and comfort. Jo took in every detail—the perfectly placed cushions, the photographs smiling from the walls, the faint scent of lavender in the air. It all felt like a façade.
“So, Beryl, we need to talk about April Summers,” Sam started, his voice steady.
Beryl’s smile faltered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. “April? I didn’t know her, so I don’t know what questions I could answer.”
Jo observed Beryl’s performance, a growing sense of disdain bubbling within her. She knew Beryl was lying, but Sam was playing along, giving Beryl enough rope.
“Are you sure about that, Beryl? Maybe you didn’t recognize her at first? Her face was covered, and you were understandably upset,” Sam prodded gently.
Jo felt a flicker of annoyance. Sam was going too easy on her. Beryl, however, appeared to sense something was amiss. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“What are you getting at, Sam?” Beryl’s tone had a sharp edge.
Jo cut in before Sam could respond. “We know you’re lying, Beryl. You were seen arguing with April.”
Beryl’s expression tightened. “Who told you that?”
“Our source is confidential,” Jo stated firmly. “But they saw you, Beryl. Arguing with April, just days before she was found dead.”
The room grew tense, the air thick with unspoken accusations and defensiveness. Beryl’s façade of innocence began to crumble under the weight of their scrutiny.
“Fine,” Beryl sighed, her composure breaking. “I knew her. We had… disagreements.”
Sam leaned forward. “Disagreements about what, Beryl?”
Beryl’s face twisted with disdain. “April was a snake, extorting money from me.”
Sam leaned in, his voice even. “We heard she had a penchant for extortion.”
“Worse,” Beryl spat out. “She threatened to tell the conservation committee that part of the land for the project was protected. Said she’d throw a wrench in the works.”
Jo’s eyes narrowed. “Is it protected land?”
Beryl shook her head vehemently. “No, but that’s how despicable April was. She’d fabricate documents, make it look official, file a complaint. Get a judge to halt the construction… unless I paid her off. They’d eventually find out she was wrong, but in the meantime I’d lose a lot of money.”
Jo absorbed this, her mind racing. “Is that why you killed her?”
Beryl recoiled as if struck. “I didn’t kill anyone! I paid her to stop her lies.”
Sam’s gaze remained fixed on Beryl. “You understand how this looks, though? Your motive?”
“I understand,” Beryl said, her voice a mixture of anger and fear. “That’s why I said I didn’t know her.”
Jo’s mind raced. Extortion. It was a motive, but was it the truth? Beryl’s history of manipulation clouded the waters.
“Why didn’t you tell us this before?” Jo demanded, her tone accusatory.
Beryl looked away, her hands clasping and unclasping in her lap. “I was scared.”
Sam interjected, “And where were you the night of the murder, Beryl?”
Beryl turned to Sam, a wounded look in her eye. “Seriously? You think I had something to do with her death?”
“Your footprints were at the scene. You had an argument with her. You lied to us. You even discovered the body.” Sam spread his hands. “I’m going to need more than your word.”
Beryl sat straighter. “If you must know, I was out with someone all night.”
