Bitter Reckoning by Heather Graham

Author:Heather Graham [Graham, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2018-11-23T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Danni wasn’t sure what the man could add to what they knew, but Quinn invited him into their room.

Colleen had been good to them. Their room was very much like the suite she had taken for herself.

There was a whirlpool tub with a charming tapestry-like curtain that could be drawn to separate the tub from the rest of the room.

They had a balcony that looked over the outdoor pool. There was a sitting area with a loveseat and a chair, and it was there Joshua Grayson spoke, telling him how he and Zoey had a love of history—something that had brought them together online before they’d met in person—and they’d heard of the historic cemetery and had longed to explore it.

“We didn’t see the scarecrows—the bodies—when we first got there. Some of the oldest in-ground graves and some amazing funerary art are there, right beyond the arched gates. We were truly enjoying the history—and,” he added dryly, “finding four stones and a tomb with the name ‘Yvette’ on it, before we were in far enough to see the scarecrows and then…we didn’t think that they were anything at first. Just scarecrows—apparently, there’s an old superstition, going way back to Europe, that three scarecrows will keep demon spirits away. Or something like that. I’ve heard the legend with a few variations, but…it didn’t seem so strange to see scarecrows. Then,” he paused, inhaling and exhaling, “and then, we realized they weren’t just straw, they were human beings dressed up in straw, and…we freaked. Zoey thought to call 911—while we were running out. The police asked us to stay—I told them I was terrified to do so, but I guess a dispatcher called Detective Ellsworth right away, and he was there within a few minutes. He thought we were crazy at first—or pulling a sick joke. There was already news out about bodies having been found in New Orleans the morning before. He asked us to go back into the cemetery with him. It was…horrible.”

“Did you see anyone else while you were there?” Quinn asked him.

“I didn’t, and I don’t know if it was because she was afraid or not, but Zoey said she was certain someone had been watching us from one of the mausoleums or crypts or whatever you call the little family mausoleums.”

“But you saw no one?” Danni asked softly.

He shook his head. “No one.”

“What about a car?” Quinn asked. “And just what time was it when you were there?”

“My car was the only one I saw. We parked right outside of the gates.”

“And the time?” Danni persisted.

“Right after an early breakfast; we, uh, both woke early. Had breakfast in bed. We’d planned on taking part in the trivia contest yesterday around lunchtime, so we wanted to get there. I’m thinking we got to the cemetery right about eight-thirty.”

“Did you see or hear anything else at all?” Quinn asked hopefully.

Joshua shook his head. “But I wanted to make sure to talk to you. I wanted you to know it was Zoey and me who were there first.

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