Читать книгу A Manor of Murder - June Shaw - Страница 10

Chapter 4

I drove Eve home and tried, with little success, to keep from looking at houses near hers where things had occurred that caused much of our stress. What was happening now was most important, I told myself, parking behind her garage door that she opened with her remote. We walked through the garage she kept as immaculate as her Lexus and lovely home and into the kitchen while the garage door rolled down quietly behind us.

Eve punched quick numbers into the alarm beside her door and spun toward me, hands flying up at her sides. “Sunny, what’s going to happen once he finds out we had an argument with Edward and then he fired us from the job?”

I tightened my jaw. “I know. That’ll look suspicious on our parts.”

Her torso swayed back. “We’re sunk.”

That sentiment struck me, too, but only for an instant. “Oh, come on, sis. We didn’t really do anything.”

She kept eye contact with me for long moments. “Right, but there’s the sin of omission.”

Again, we weren’t guilty, I reminded myself. I didn’t need to tell her, but determined the painful experiences we would need to go through. A ring from her front doorbell drew our attention. On edge, I went with her to the door, where she looked through the peephole. Her entire demeanor changed. A smile brightened Eve’s face, bringing one to me, too. She unchained, unlocked, and opened the door.

“You’re here,” Eve said and stepped forward, arms up and then around the neck of her caller.

Dave Price looked at me over her shoulder while a jealous tinge ran through me. He shared the hug with her, but let her go before she moved her arms away from him. Then he moved forward and hugged me. I hugged back, enjoying the feel of his broad shoulders and the comfort of being close to him. We stepped apart.

“I heard what happed and wanted to see if I could help.”

“Come in,” I said, and we all moved from the foyer into the den. As usual, my emotions started battling each other when considering him. Although we hadn’t told Eve that he and I were a couple, planning to be a more committed one, he learned of a murder we were involved in and showed up at my sister’s house, not mine.

“Have a seat,” Eve said, and he settled himself in a cushioned chair. She and I took the marshmallow-soft sofa, she taking the side nearest him. “I’m not sure what you could do, or even anything we can do about what happened. Sunny and I haven’t discussed it much yet. But it sure is nice for you to come and offer.” She did something I hadn’t seen her do in a while—my sister batted her eyes at him. She was leaning toward him so far she could have fallen off the sofa, and I was sure she would want to land on his lap. And she’d want me to leave. I would not.

“I knew you two would be together right now,” he said. “Sunny, I went by your house and when I didn’t see either of your vehicles, I figured you’d both be here.”

I allowed a small smile on my lips. He had gone to my place first.

Eve’s phone rang from her purse she had left in the kitchen. “Excuse me,” she said and went to get it.

Dave spoke to me, voice lowered. “I hope you’ve gotten over your silly anger about what I said about your mother’s engagement.”

I really hadn’t thought of it. Possibly I thought of couples being engaged after a future bride announced their exciting news and showing off her ring. I stared at Dave, realizing my mother had announced her news to us—or Edward had, and maybe that was a reason we’d been so shocked. And hurt? Did she have a ring? New brides didn’t always have one for engagements, but we didn’t even let our mother have time to show it if she had one on her finger.

“Sunny?” Dave’s stare made me realize I had been in my own world, thoughts back at the manor.

“I’m sorry. No, I’m not mad anymore.”

“That was Mom.” Eve’s quick return into the room surprised me. “She said arrangements have been made. The funeral’s tomorrow.”

Giving us a moment to let this sink in, Dave glanced from one to the other of us. “Will you be there?”

Eve and I made eye contact. We held it in place, neither of us changing expression, neither saying a thing.

“Of course,” I said, and she nodded.

“I didn’t know him, and I have a major job to take care of, so I won’t go. But if I can do anything to help you or your mother, please let me know.” He spoke to both of us and then stood.

Eve gave him a hug, holding on an extra-long moment. “You are so sweet.”

I rose from the sofa and gave him a brief squeeze around the neck. “Thank you so much. Right now I’m not sure of anything you can do, but we’ll let Mom know you offered.”

We saw him out the front door, and then Eve gave me the little information Mom had told her about services. Neither one of us looked forward to being there.

* * * *

The funeral parlor’s musty smell smacked the air right outside the timeworn building’s door when it opened. Another parlor had been built in town, and most people now chose to use that one. I’d had run-ins with the mortician there and was relieved that we didn’t need to go to that funeral home this time.

Few cars were parked near. A bus bearing the name Sugar Ledge Retirement Home on its sides sat behind the hearse. Nobody was on the porch of the wooden building that short brick footings had bravely held up over the years. Bumpy coats of white paint had been added, assuring that nothing had been sanded down first. The black trim of the porch railing and shutters lent an air of distinction to the place, reminiscent of some of the plantation homes that remained nestled in this region.

I had phoned Mom and spoken to her briefly, asking if she wanted us to pick her up and bring her here. She’d responded with a hint of disbelief in her tone, letting me know that instead of riding with her daughters, she would be there with the man she intended to marry. Her comment and attitude made us decide not to challenge her on that situation right now. She had a friend to bury.

We didn’t know how long or how much she had known the deceased, but figured if he had been planning some sort of ceremony for her, she had been closer to him than we had. Just thinking about that made me hesitate before going inside.

Eve looked back at me when I momentarily hung behind. She wore a navy knit dress that showed off her svelte figure just like most of her clothes. She would need to be wearing chunky clothing for anyone to not notice how trim and tall she was. As usual, she wore more makeup than I did, although it wasn’t excessive. Her bolder lipstick and matching blush brought out her clear blue eyes and shoulder-length wavy red hair.

I’d chosen lower pumps, black slacks with a black jacket over a white shirt, and a touch of pale lipstick and mascara. I nodded for her to go ahead and stepped inside after her.

The odor of spent funeral flowers and old smoke clung to the air and wallpaper, and swallowed the antiquated carpet. Voices were loud. A quick scan of people inside explained why. Most of them came from the manor, and others I recognized as residing in the local nursing home that housed people who were in worse shape than those at the manor. Large gray and tan hearing aids filled people’s ears, and many others here needed them. Those who worked at the nursing home and the manor were accustomed to speaking loud to make certain the person they spoke to could hear them. My own hearing, I’d noticed more lately, seemed not as precise as it once had been. Maybe I would soon be sporting similar devices.

People were curious and turned to see who was coming inside and stopping to sign the memorial book. Mom’s boyfriend, or whatever he was to her, would probably be getting this book since he was Edward’s closest relative.

The place wasn’t crowded, but people’s wheelchairs and walkers took up a lot of space. Almost everyone in there stared at us, most not giving away any feelings or judgments. The few who did eyed Eve a long time. A handful of women frowned, possibly thinking she was too made up or maybe attractive. A handful of men, even the elderly, ran their gazes up and down her figure, their lips curving into small smiles. As I walked behind her, I nodded at many mourners, although I didn’t hear or notice anyone crying or even looking too sad.

Women whose sense of smell had lessened had poured favorite perfumes on their bodies. My sinuses clogged as we walked farther through the small rooms where people sat. Gazes ran over and away from me. I wasn’t showy enough to garner much attention, which was fine with me. Strange, though, I did not notice people giving us double takes. Obviously, almost everyone here either knew us or had previously seen my identical twin and me together.

One person I wasn’t thrilled to see stood against a far wall near the hall. His eyes pinned us. I hadn’t expected to find Detective Wilet here. He hadn’t mentioned that he’d known the deceased. Maybe he was trying to uncover a murderer in this place. Some mysteries I had read and some movies said killers often returned around their victims. Was that what he was doing here? Looking for one?

A surprising number of floral offerings hung on stands against one wall in the viewing room. Normally when a funeral took place this soon after a death without a notice in our local paper’s obituary, few people attended services and much fewer sent flowers. That so many offerings were here spoke volumes about the dead man, and I was sorry things happened so fast that we hadn’t thought to send some ourselves. A tasteful small arrangement of white lilies with other white sprigs topped the part of the casket hiding the lower half of his body.

Our mother sat beside the casket. My shoulders pulled tight when I saw her. She was holding the hand of an elderly man she had told my sister and me that whether we liked it or not, she was going to marry.

I watched Eve’s back stiffen in front of me when she came face to face with our mother and her beau, their hands clasped together, but now wasn’t the time for confrontation. Mom gave us a reprieve from immediately needing to watch how we spoke to her and her man by using her free hand to wave us toward the casket first. Her kind eyes and soft smile told us she was pleased to see us here.

We kneeled side by side at the casket. Eve squeezed my hand when we looked down at the man inside. Edward’s face appeared a little more swollen than usual, or possibly I hadn’t noticed that closely before, or maybe it was the way they had set his face, leaning his chin down lower than normal. He looked at peace, so much calmer than the last times we’d seen him. I mentally apologized to him for the ruckus we had caused in the retirement home.

My peripheral vision let me see someone coming behind us, so I made a sign of the cross and stood; Eve joined me to face the bereaved.

We leaned to kiss Mom, who pushed her lips forward. She greeted us as normal instead of having us kiss her cheek or only give her a brief hug. How nice to feel her love again.

“Thank you both for coming,” she said.

“Of course.” We spoke at the same time. And then turned to the man beside her.

Alexander McCormick, normally called Mac, kept his eyes level at us. His silver hair stood out with his navy suit. The walking cane he used stood beside his chair. We had met him a couple of times at the manor. Being this close, I noticed the wrinkles that had deepened in his face. Possibly grief at losing his nephew put them there.

“I am so sorry for your loss,” I said and took the hand he offered, his grip much stronger than I had expected from someone his age. I let go, and Eve nudged beside me and repeated the sentiment. We turned to step away, but he didn’t let go of Eve’s hand.

“You two found him, didn’t you?”

“We did,” she said, and my breath caught. Would he blame us for the death?

“Thank you.” He turned his head to speak to both of us.

Glad to do it, came to mind, but I kept my mouth shut, thankfully realizing that was a normal response when anyone thanked me. In this instance, it wouldn’t be true. I was not glad we had discovered Edward dead.

“Did you find out anything else since you spoke with Detective Wilet?” he asked.

Did we? I wondered but could think of nothing to say. I shook my head and saw Eve doing the same.

Mom looked behind us, and I was pleased to find a man waiting there to speak to Edward’s uncle.

“If you think of anything else, please let him or me know,” our mother’s beau said and then glanced toward the door. “Oh, my daughter’s here, but I don’t see her now. I was going to introduce you.”

Eve and I mumbled words and moved away to allow the man behind us to speak to the deceased’s next of kin. And this next of kin had a daughter we hadn’t known about—one of the many things about him we lacked knowledge of. I led the way out of the viewing room toward the rear hall, hoping we might find an unfamiliar woman who could be his child there or in the kitchen or restroom. I only wanted to look her over, not talk to her.

Only a handful of men stood in the rear hallway. Most of them were local lawyers like Edward had been. One was the city judge. All of them wore nice suits and ties and told us hello or nodded. One woman was visible ahead, but she was the wife of the couple who owned this place. She headed into the kitchen carrying packets of artificial sweeteners and coffee stirrers. Beyond her stood a man I had seen before, but maybe only once, a dark beard, hard stare. And then I remembered where.

“Come on,” I told Eve as she was turning to enter the kitchen. She followed my lead as I rushed back to the entry of the viewing room, where Detective Wilet stood with his back against the wall to watch everyone.

I tapped his arm to get his attention. When he looked, I motioned for him to follow. He went with us into the hall.

“The man who was in Edward’s house arguing with him is back there. Carl. He’s standing alone behind the judge.” I spoke in a low tone and nodded toward where Judge Callahan stood.

“I hadn’t realized that’s who he was,” Eve told me. “If I had heard his voice, I would have known right away.”

The detective gave us a level expression, his gaze sliding toward one and then the other of us. As always, I couldn’t make out whether he believed me or not, but then he stepped toward the rear section of the hall where I had suggested he go.

Some in the clump of attorneys back there looked at him coming and started talking to him. Surely he’d only speak with them briefly and then move on toward the man I told him about. Maybe the detective had already found out who the fellow Carl was and interrogated him, but it didn’t seem likely. Now he certainly would. I didn’t expect him to give Carl the third degree in this place, but he could gather other information from him and do further questioning at a more appropriate place—unless the man made incriminating statements or actions now.

“I’ll ask those of you who would like to, to please come up and say your final good-byes to the deceased,” a loud male voice announced from the viewing room.

Eve and I stepped to the doorway to see. The person who had spoken was surely the man now standing between our mother and the casket in his gray suit, his expression a blend of bland and concern practiced over years of selling coffins and then doing what he was doing right now. Waiting for people who might cry or those who were friends of someone in the family, like many of the people from the manor and the attorneys. Some were merely curious or had nothing else to do at this time, so funerals and wakes helped fill the void in their days. Others found funerals an excuse to miss a few hours of work.

Elders with walkers and wheelchairs pressed into the viewing room. Some came from small side rooms and others pushed against us from behind, pressing us farther into the room with the body. The room also held Mom and the mortician I’d once had a run-in with moving near her. I didn’t know he also worked here. He might spew angry words at me or at least throw angry glares if I approached. Mom had reacted toward us like our loving mother again. This wasn’t a time to add any stress to our relationship.

“Let’s get out of here,” I told Eve.

“Yes. We don’t need to be up there again.” She squeezed through the crush of people who had pressed in behind us, and I followed close behind.

Reaching the hall, I tried to make our way to the rear, but people jammed together, blocking the way. Some who must have been in sitting rooms across the hall and others who’d probably been talking outside created an almost solid wall. Maybe some had come because in our small town, it was rare to see a dead body exposed that would not have a funeral service to accompany it, normally one in a Catholic church. Instead, this person’s casket would be closed soon after everyone paid their final respects and left. Then he would be brought to the crematorium, where his body would return to ashes and his casket would return to the funeral home. It was being rented, Mom had told me, something Eve and I and surely most people in town had never heard of.

What would they do with a used casket? Eve and I had asked each other, but I hadn’t asked Mom. Her time speaking to me when she’d called to tell us about the service had been brief. Loving, but brief. When she’d mentioned this casket rental that her alleged fiancé had ordered for his nephew, we couldn’t believe it. But she was talking to us again, and kindly once more, so neither Eve nor I was going to question her about anything that might interfere with our renewed happy relationship with her.

Probably like we’d expected, the man she told us she would marry had little money to pay for a proper funeral and casket for his nephew. A rental would certainly be cheaper.

“I won’t look at another casket holding a body in the same way,” I said to Eve, as I’d said before, but this time we had walked out the front door and stepped away from everyone.

“I know. I might start checking them to see if I spot any signs of previous use now that we’ve learned about that practice.” She spoke while we stepped across the porch and down the steps. “I didn’t see Detective Wilet in the hall again, did you?”

“No, it was too crowded. I didn’t see that other guy Carl, either. Maybe Detective Wilet took him out the backdoor. Let’s go back there and see.”

“Good idea.”

I smiled as we walked around the pathway that ran alongside the building and to the rear. So many of my early teachers and classmates had made me feel dumb because I was slower than most in my classes. Testing revealed my dyslexia, and then tests were modified for my condition. I had gotten over some of the pain from being behind then, but still, whenever Eve or anyone else made me feel like I was bright, it felt exceptional.

My smile, though, felt out of place when we reached the rear of the building where some people were exiting. One elderly woman being pushed in her wheelchair down the ramp by a man about her age gave me a prune face, making my smile wipe away. She’d possibly heard us arguing with the deceased at the manor. Another in a wheelchair came out the door and behind her came the administrator and other staff members from the manor. Either they all had known Edward or more probably, had come to support his uncle, who lived there. Possibly they also wanted to show concern to our mother because of her relationship with Edward’s uncle.

Mainly elders and those who worked with them came out the back door. They hobbled and rolled and otherwise got into cars and the manor’s van. Detective Wilet and the man who might have killed Edward were not around.

Not wanting to wait for every person to come out the funeral home, especially Mom and her male friend, I nudged my head toward the front where I had parked. Eve and I waited until I was driving away before we spoke.

“Did you see anyone who could have been that man’s daughter?” Eve asked me.

“I have no idea.”

“Maybe she’d be about our age.”

“Or older. Younger? Who knows that or what she looks like?”

“I didn’t notice any female who resembled him.” She stopped talking while I considered the same thing. I had searched faces I wasn’t familiar with from town.

“Sunny!” Her yelling my name made me hit the brakes. “She might become our sister.”

Returning my foot to the accelerator, I glanced in the rearview mirror, grateful to find no car or truck right behind me when I’d stopped so suddenly. Eve’s words filtered into my mind when I recalled with clarity the sister we had lost, the one we’d adored who had been killed beside me. A tear escaped my eye.

And then I considered another female, one we had not seen or met. “We’ll need to make certain that doesn’t happen. No one could replace Crystal.”

Eve nodded, her gaze distant. “I’m really sorry Edward died. He could be a nice man, and even when he wasn’t, he was a person with a right to live.”

“I know. We didn’t know him that well but saw his darker side when he yelled at us that he would get them to rush and get married faster than they had planned. Why would he want to do that?”

“His uncle must have been in agreement with him. Possibly he’s a lot like Edward.” She sucked in a breath. “Maybe all of this commotion with Edward’s death will give Mom time to pause and reconsider.”

I gave my head a hard nod. “We need to make certain that happens.”