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Sam took the seat next to her and watched. “Verdict?”
She didn’t have to ask what he meant. “I don’t know… Seems farfetched to think Jeremy would have killed anyone. Especially over a job he was likely to get anyhow. He’s so…by the book. You know?”
Sam lifted a shoulder. “People have killed for less. He had motive, opportunity—and he was married back then. His wife could have driven one of the cars. There’s also the fact that as vice principal, and later principal, Jeremy would have been in a position to ensure the vacant lot remained untouched for as long as possible. You said there were a few people who fought against the initial proposal of building the peace gardens on that land. Was Jeremy one of them?”
“Come to think if it, yes. And he was quite vocal about it. He wanted the money to go toward the roofing fund rather than something he considered so…impractical. But to kill Mr. Williams?” Goosebumps trailed down her arms, and she shuddered.
Up until that moment, she hadn’t fully appreciated what she was trying to do. Not really. And now she was pondering the possibility someone she’d known since she was fourteen, someone who’d later hired her and worked with her for eleven years, could actually have murdered Mr. Williams—stabbed him in the heart and buried his body. And then, years later, nearly killed her trying to destroy evidence of his crime.
And even if it wasn’t Jeremy, it could very well be one of the other people on her list—all of whom were, in one way or another, her friends and coworkers.
It scared the living daylights out of her.
Sam must have realized her sudden fear because, in a move that seemed out of character, he stroked his hand over her arm. It felt warm and strong, just like it had the other day. And so nice.
“You sure you’re all right?” he asked gently.
She nodded and took a steadying breath. “And what about that arsenic? My God, before he was stabbed, someone may have been trying to poison him. Slipping arsenic in his food.”
Sam nodded slowly. “It seems incredible. Of course, it’s possible he could have accidentally exposed himself somehow. You’d be surprised how much arsenic is all around us, in the water we drink, the food, the air. Besides, why slowly poison someone only to stab him to death in the end?”
“Unless…”
He met her gaze. “Unless there were two different killers.”
The lump reappeared in her throat. No. This was too much. Could there have been two people who wanted Jackson Williams dead?
But why?
Was there something about him she was missing? Something big? And ugly…?
She grabbed the mouse and clicked the back button on the computer to scan the icons of all the interviews she’d conducted to date. “I’m close to being finished—at least interviewing people. The next person on the list may not take my request very well. I was hoping, maybe, since you two are so close and all, she might do it as a favor to you.”
Sam dropped his hand, and she resisted the urge to ask him to return it. She glanced up at him. He looked uneasy. “Who did you have in mind?”
“Um. Meredith Sanders?”
His face relaxed. “Why Meredith?”
“She hated Mr. Williams, so I’m not expecting anything useful for the video. But she may know something about his death. Meredith is really good at ferreting out everyone’s dirty little secrets and hearing every whispered rumor here at St. Andrew’s…then and now.”
He leveled a skeptical gaze at Allie. “And why do you think she’d do it for me? Especially since she’ll be gunning to ax this project next week.”
He had to be kidding. Was he really going to make her say it? “Well, I just figured since the two of you are dating again that—”
“Whoa.” He held up his hands, palms out. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. Meredith and I went for coffee. Well, coffee that got a little waylaid. But nothing more. We’re not dating.” He paused. “And what’s this bit about dating again? Meredith and I never dated. We may have been at the same parties occasionally in high school, but no more.”
Now it was her turn to look doubtful. “Uh-huh. Rumor had you two doing a lot more than attending a few parties together. If you get my drift.”
His lips parted. “You think I slept with Meredith?” He looked appalled.
“Who didn’t? It was all over school how you two hooked up at this party and—” She halted. He was looking even more horrified. She tried to think back to the source of that rumor. She didn’t have to think too hard. “Meredith told me so.”
“Believe me, Allie. I was no saint back then.” His lips twitched, as if he was remembering something, and she tried not to sigh in exasperation.
“Big shocker.”
He continued like he hadn’t heard her. “But I do know who I did and did not sleep with. I unequivocally did not sleep with Meredith Sanders.”
