“I’ve asked around about people.”
“Right,” Sara said. “Looking for stories. But what about Tayla?”
“No kids. Probably her husband’s fault. He wasn’t a likable man.” He looked hard at Sara. “But you know that very well, don’t you?”
Sara glared at him.
Everett leaned back on the couch. “Did you know that Tayla’s sister lived in Atlanta at the time of the kidnapping
?”
“She’s Charlene’s mother?” Kate asked even though she knew the answer.
“Yeah, but the kid was here in Lachlan. She lived with her grandmother while her parents lived in China.”
“Japan,” Sara said.
“Oh right. Japan.”
Chet said, “So you think Tayla Kirkwood was the White Lily Kidnapper?”
“I think it’s possible,” Everett said. “Sometimes women want a baby so much that they’ll do anything to get one. Maybe Tayla was there in Atlanta and saw an unguarded baby and took it.”
“How did she hide from us?” Chet asked. “The police were there in minutes.”
Everett was silent.
“He hasn’t made that part up yet.” Sara’s voice held less pride than it had.
“So,” Jack said, “this morning Tayla confessed to murdering Janet Beeson.”
“I guess Janet found out,” Everett said. “That’s why she had the bootie. Maybe Tayla kept it as a souvenir and Janet found it.”
“And Tayla killed Janet?” Sara said.
“Poisoned her?” Kate said.
“Stabbed her?” Jack said.
“Then shot her brains out.” Chet sounded disbelieving.
“I don’t know,” Everett said. “The deputy called me and asked if I knew what was going on.”
“The deputy called you?” Chet asked.
“Yeah. Dave. He’s been a great source of—” Everett gave a cough. “I mean, yes, he called me.”
“Where did Tayla turn herself in?” Chet asked.
Everett shrugged. “I guess not to Flynn.”
“He wouldn’t have believed that she did it,” Sara said. “Tayla’s not violent. She let Walter push her around before she married him. He liked her because she’s a workhorse.”
“And she was from the right side of town,” Everett said. “Whereas you and Cal—”
Jack stood up. “Do you have anything more to tell us? Other than that you got drunk and blabbed a made-up story that caused a woman to confess to murder?”
Again Everett’s eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t mean to cause anyone any problems. I just wanted to bring a kidnapper to justice.”