The woman looked up and gave May a cautious smile. "Afternoon. Can I help you?"
"I'm Deputy Moore, and I'm investigating the murder of Jenna Brand."
The woman stood up from her weeding.
"This is just so tragic. I believe she was murdered while out walking?"
"Yes, that's correct," May said, thinking back again to the troubling scene in the corn field.
"I can't believe it. I thought we were a small, safe community here. I heard there was another woman killed two days ago and now I sure don't feel safe anymore. How did something like this happen? Have you caught the killer yet?" she asked hopefully.
If only, May thought.
"We're trying to piece together what happened, and I'm looking for some background on Jenna."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know her that well. I just moved here a few months ago when I retired, you see, and we haven't really spent much time together. We greeted each other often, though, and we'd talk about our gardens."
"Is that so?" May said.
"She was very interesting to speak to. She knew a lot about companion planting, and which plants were best in which areas."
"So she was educated that way? Did she work in that industry, do you know?"
"I don't think she worked. I think she received some sort of damages payout and was busy studying."
"What did she study?"
"She said she was studying environmental science. An online degree, I think. She seemed like a woman with a good conscience and a good heart. I am very sad she's gone. I don't feel safe walking out anymore," the neighbor said sadly. "It's unimaginable. Why did their lives have to be taken so tragically? I'm not sure I want to be staying here anymore. Which is a shame since I just moved here to be closer to family." She sighed.
"I understand," May said.
"Are we all in danger, Deputy?"
"It's better to be careful at this time," May had to agree. She felt a sense of frustration that as a police deputy, she couldn't offer a better answer or more comfort at this stage. Turning the conversation back to Jenna, she continued.
"You said she received damages. Do you know how that came about, by any chance?"
"No, I'm afraid I don't. I wanted to ask because I was curious, but then I wondered if she would see it as me being interfering and nosy."
"When did you last see her?"
"Earlier this week. She was going out walking, and she stopped to say hello."
"Did you notice anything unusual about her? Did she seem angry, upset, or different at all?"
The neighbor shook her head. "She seemed the same as always, which is why this was such a shock. I must say, I always thought of her as quite a lonely person. Sometimes, I wished I knew more people in town well, so that I could try to set her up with some friends, or even a potential boyfriend. But I was hesitant since I didn’t know her background."
"That's very kind of you," May said.
"I wish there was more I could tell you," the neighbor said, sounding apologetic.
May couldn't think of anything else to ask. She felt sad and regretful that this poor neighbor was now so fearful and traumatized.
"I hope we can get answers soon," she said, as much to reassure herself as the other woman. Then she turned and walked back to the car, hoping that Owen would have had a productive time with his interview.
Just a minute later, Owen hurried back to the car. May turned to him anxiously, hoping that his visit to the neighborhad yielded information that would add to hers, and hopefully take them further in what they knew.
"The neighbor on Jenna's right was an interesting guy," he said. "He told me that she moved here two years ago, after her husband was killed in an airplane crash. He was quite a well-known businessman in the area. She sold the house and downscaled."