Catastrophe in a Cloister by Fiona Grace

Author:Fiona Grace [Grace, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fiona Grace
Published: 2021-04-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Lacey!” a voice called across the lawn.

Lacey swirled on the spot to see her mom and Naomi charging toward her. It was dark now, and Lacey had been standing in the grounds of the Lodge for hours while the police worked.

Poor Lucia was still attempting to guard the patio doors, and she looked flustered that Shirley and Naomi had simply barged right past her.

“Stop!” the cops at the perimeter of the blue cordon shouted. “This is a crime scene!”

Lacey hurried up to them. “They’re my family.”

“What’s going on?” Shirley cried.

“There’s a dead man,” Lacey said. “Murdered.”

Naomi gasped. “And you found him?”

Lacey nodded.

“Oh no,” Shirley said, before adding, leadingly, “I guess that means we’ll have to cancel dinner.”

“What?” Lacey said. Was that really her mom’s first concern? Was she really going to use this as an excuse to cancel their reunion dinner?

“I’m just saying, we can’t exactly have dinner now!” Shirley replied. “I don’t know about you two, but knowing a man was killed a few feet away from my hotel window makes me feel somewhat queasy.”

It was a good point. Lacey felt too sick to eat—it would probably take a long time to get her appetite back after seeing Greg’s dead body—and the wedding might not even be able to go ahead. If all anyone was actually going to do was yell at each other, then Lacey might be better off avoiding the dinner altogether.

“You’re right,” Lacey said, relenting. “I’ll call Dad to cancel. Just as soon as I’m allowed to leave.”

Naomi looked down at the police tape separating them with consternation. “Why are they keeping you in there?”

“I was the first to find the body,” she said. “And I touched it. They have to make sure the scene matches up with my statement before I can go.”

“Are you a suspect?” Naomi asked, eyes widening, whispering the last word.

Lacey shook her head. “For once, no,” she said.

Shirley looked perturbed. “What do you mean for once?”

“Long story,” Lacey said, her gaze darting over to Superintendent Turner, who was busy placing a crime scene marker next to a piece of evidence in the grass. She turned back to her worried-looking mom and sister. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll be okay.”

Naomi tightened her arms around her stomach. “How can you be so sure? There’s a murderer on the loose.”

Lacey squeezed her arm. “There are two really good detectives on the case.”

Naomi nodded and glanced behind her at the Lodge, her gaze going up to the top windows where many patrons were gazing out in shock. “Luckily Frankie’s asleep right now. But what happens when he wakes up and sees all the police activity? The crime scene tape? The forensic tent? Then what? I don’t want him finding out about this.”

Lacey felt terrible for her. “Come back with me tonight,” she said, looking from her sister to her mom. “All of you.”

Naomi looked surprised. “Are you sure? It’s two nights before your wedding.”

“I thought you said you didn’t want us ‘crowding your style,’” Shirley added, using air quotes.

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