Page 62 of June's First Murder
June hesitated, then nodded. “Come on. You can drive, and I’ll call him.”
They hurried out to Sara Lee’s car in the driveway. As they slid into the seats, June told her where to go. “I’ll go in and get things started. You’ll wait outside for Sheriff Gordon, and I’ll let you know when you can come in.”
"Are you sure you'll be safe?" The worry in Sara Lee's voice was palpable.
June looked at her granddaughter and smiled. "With whom I'm going to see?" She paused, then said with absolute certainty, "Absolutely. I'll be perfectly fine."
Sara Lee nodded slowly, understanding something in June's tone. "Okay."
June made her call to the sheriff, leaving him no time to argue or attempt to deter her from her mission. “Just meet Sara Lee there, and don’t do anything rash.” She hung up, cutting off his sputtering.
As Sara Lee drove through the familiar streets of Meadowlark Creek, late afternoon sunlight painting everything in shades of gold, June’s mind worked through what she would say. How would she approach this? She thought about Raymond's arrogance and his need to feel special, to have things others didn't. And about how many people had been caught up in his taunts and traps.
They pulled up in front of the small cottage, its tiny, but neat, yard and cheerful yellow door welcoming. Fora moment, June sat in the car, glad for Sara Lee’s quiet understanding, and gathered her thoughts, preparing herself.
Then she got out, walked up the path, and knocked on the door. It was time for the truth to come out. All of it. No matter how frightening.
27
JUNE
Asingle light glowed in the front window, casting warmth onto the small porch. June knocked on the door and waited.
It took just a moment for Diane to answer. When the door opened, the assistant librarian stood there in casual clothes. Worn jeans and an oversized cardigan, her hair down around her shoulders instead of pulled back in its usual neat ponytail. She looked younger this way, more vulnerable. And completely surprised by her visitor.
"Ms. June?" Diane's eyes widened, confusion flickering across her pale face. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, dear. I just wanted to talk to you some more." June kept her voice gentle, unthreatening. She watched Diane's expression carefully.
The two women’s gaze held for a long moment. Then, Diane's face fell with something heavy… resignation, perhaps. Or the terrible weight of secrets finally coming to light. She stepped back wordlessly, and June stepped into the tiny living room.
The cottage was a duplex, and once inside, June could see it was little more than a one-bedroom apartment. But Diane had made it a home. Everything was neat, clean, and simple in a way that spoke of limited resources carefully managed. The kitchen occupied one corner, separated from the living area by a small breakfast bar with two stools tucked underneath. A table for two sat close by, its surface clear except for a single book and a coffee mug.
The living room held a diminutive fireplace that appeared more decorative than functional, a small two-seater sofa covered in a faded floral pattern, and a single armchair that looked like it had come from a thrift store. An older model television sat on a small bookshelf that also held perhaps twenty books, mostly romance novels and a few non-fiction books.
It was the home of a lovely woman who had taken what she had and made the most of it on the small salary of a library assistant. Someone who'd worked hard to create something stable and peaceful. June appreciated it all.
Diane waved June toward the sofa, then perched on the edge of the armchair, her hands clenched together in her lap. She lifted her head and held June's gaze, waiting. Her face was pale but composed, as if she'd been expecting this moment and had steeled herself for it.
June settled onto the sofa, taking her time, not rushing. She smiled softly and began. "I felt that there was more to your story."
"More?" Diane's voice was barely above a whisper.
"At the vet clinic. When you went to pick up Lucy." June watched the emotions flicker through Diane's eyes… surprise, fear, understanding, then something that looked almost like relief. One after the other, rapid as heartbeats. Then finally, Diane nodded.
The words came out in a rush, tumbling over each other like they'd been held back too long. "I never meant for anything to happen. You have to believe that. It was just one thing after another, and I didn't know what to do.”
“You were in a situation that made you fear?”
“Yes… but not like you’re thinking. I never gave anything to Raymond.” She bent forward, and her eyes filled with tears that spilled over onto her cheeks. "I've been so scared and confused."
“My dear, I have no pre-conceived idea of what may have happened. But I’m here because I want you to be safe when you finally tell us what occurred.”
Diane’s gaze widened as she looked around. “Us?”
June leaned forward, her voice still gentle. "I took the liberty to ask Sara Lee and the sheriff to come by.”
For a moment, Diane looked panicked. Her breath caught, and her hands gripped each other so tightly her knuckles went white. June reached out and covered Diane’s trembling hands with her own warm ones. "I'll be right here. I'll just talk to you, and he can listen."
