Part 19 (1/2)
”I know. After George's death the church was my comfort. Perhaps I tried too strenuously to comfort others.” A smile played on her lips. ”It all takes time.”
”And Tracy.” Mim mentioned Miranda's high-school boyfriend, who had returned to her life but was currently in Hawaii selling his home.
”I feel alive again. And you will, too. We need to think of something to do to honor Larry, something he would have loved.”
”I thought I'd establish a scholars.h.i.+p at the University of Virginia Medical School in his name-for family practice.”
”Jim?”
”He'll like the idea. Jim's not mean-spirited.”
”I know that.” Miranda smiled. ”Do you think you could ever talk to him about those years?”
Mim shook her head no. ”Why? You know, Miranda, I believe there are some things best left unsaid in a marriage. And I think every woman knows that.”
”Mim, I think every man knows that, too.”
”I always think they know less than we do, most of them anyway.”
”Don't fool yourself.” Miranda got up and threw another log on the fire. ”More cocoa?”
”No.”
”Do you think you can sleep? The spare bedroom is toasty.”
”I think I can.” Mim threw off the afghan and stood up. ”I take you for granted, Miranda. I think I've taken many people for granted. You're a good friend to me. Better than I am to you.”
”I don't think like that, Mim. There's only love. You do for the people you love.”
”Well.” This was hard for Mim. ”I love you.”
”I love you, too.”
The old friends embraced. Miranda led Mim to the spare bedroom.
”Miranda, whoever killed Larry had no conscience. That's the real danger.”
27.
While most of the residents of Crozet spent the night in shock and tears, Sheriff Shaw worked like a demon, as did Cynthia Cooper.
Once Larry's body was loaded on the ambulance, Shaw and Cooper sped on their way to Sam Mahanes.
They knocked on the door.
Sally opened it. ”Sheriff Shaw, Coop, come on in.”
They could hear the boys upstairs in the bathroom, splas.h.i.+ng and shouting.
”Sorry to disturb you, Sally, but it's important.”
”I know that.” She smiled genuinely, revealing broad, even teeth. ”He's in his shop.”
”We'll just go on down.” Rick had his hand on the doork.n.o.b.
”Fine.” She turned back, heading up the stairs, since the water noise was taking on a tidal wave quality.
”Sam,” Rick called to him.
The tall director, bent over a workbench, his hands gripping a tiny soldering iron, finished the small seam, then turned off the implement. ”Rick, had to finish this or it'd be ruined.”
Rick and Cynthia admired the thin wooden box with inlaid gold and silver.
”Beautiful.” Coop admired his work.
”Thank you. Keeps me sane.”
Rick scoped the shop. Sam had the best woodworking equipment, soldering equipment, even a small, very expensive lapidary saw. ”Back door?”
”Sometimes I slip in to escape the boys. I love 'em but I need to get away. Dennis is at the age where he wants to pick up everything. I lock the doors. I think when they're a little older I'll let them work with me.”
”Good idea.” Rick smiled. As there was no place to sit down, he suggested going upstairs.
Once settled in the library Rick got to the point. ”Sam, Larry Johnson was shot twice and killed at Twisted Creek Stables.”
”What?”
”As soon as we finished examining the body and the scene of the murder I drove to you. I wanted to talk to you before the reporters get to you.”
”Thank you,” Sam said.
”And I wanted to reach you before your phone started ringing off the hook.” Rick noticed how pale Sam's face was, so pale from the shock that his cheeks looked like chalk. ”Level with me, Sam. Do you know what's going on at your hospital? Any idea?”
”I don't. Nothing makes sense to me and-this may not be related to Crozet Hospital.”
”No, but I have to take into consideration that Larry's murder might be connected to events there.”
Cynthia discreetly flipped open her notepad.
”Yes-of course.” Sam swallowed hard.
”We've considered black-market traffic in organs.”
”Good G.o.d, Rick, you can't be serious.”
”I have to think of anything worth killing for and money surely seems to be number one on the list.”