A Field Guide to Homicide by Lynn Cahoon

Author:Lynn Cahoon [Cahoon, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2019-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Cat stood staring at the woman in stunned silence. She glanced over at Shirley, whose face was as impassive as stone. Finally, she decided to go with her gut. “Wait, you knew Chance was alive? When did you find out?”

Sherry picked a cookie out of the box, then offered one to Cat and Shirley. Both women took a cookie, but let their hands drop down to their sides. Sherry went back to her desk and pulled out her chair. She nodded to the two folding chairs set up for parents by the side of the desk. “Grab a seat. It’s going to take a while to explain. But really, you have to leave as soon as the next set of parents arrives.”

Cat and Shirley followed her directions and sat. When Sherry didn’t say anything else, Cat repeated her question. “So you knew that Chance was alive? The whole time?”

“Oh, no.” Sherry shook her head and sat the cookie on a napkin she’d taken out of her desk. “I mourned him when they told me he was dead. I buried him; then I went on with my life. I met my husband while I was going to school. After graduation, we got married and I got pregnant. So we moved back here from California so I could be closer to my family. Nate doesn’t have family.”

Cat bit at the cookie, reminding herself that Sherry needed to tell the story her way.

Shirley must have felt the same way because she just nodded as Sherry hesitated.

“Anyway, it was about five years ago. I was in the grocery store late one night. Nate volunteered to put Tricia down for me so I could go shopping. I turned the corner and ran my cart into his. When he looked up, I knew.” Sherry bit her lip. “He was older, of course, and had that awful beard, but I knew. He saw I recognized him and, well, I saw the tears in his eyes.”

Sherry wiped at her own cheeks. “I finished my shopping and checked out, and he was there in the parking lot, waiting for me. He offered to buy me a coffee and then he told me everything.”

The hair on the back of Cat’s neck rose. “What did he tell you?”

“He said he’d been tired of the army. So when an opportunity arrived, he faked his death and moved home. Of course, if anyone knew, he’d go to prison, so I couldn’t tell anyone.” Sherry sipped her coffee. “Like I would have told anyone. He asked about my life, told me he was happy for me, and then we left. I tried to pay for the coffee, but he said he could afford a cup of coffee for an old friend.”

“You’re sure he said he faked his own death?” I pressed the point. “That was the only reason he left Germany?”

“That’s what he told me.” Sherry sighed. “Of course, I felt like he was holding something back. I thought it was about us. You know, since I was married and had a family and all.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.