DEAD FLAT: 2: Outside the Bubble (A Bennett Sisters Mystery Book 11) by Lise McClendon

Author:Lise McClendon [McClendon, Lise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thalia Press
Published: 2020-01-18T00:00:00+00:00

7

They left early the next morning, taking a basket of breakfast breads and a thermos of coffee packed by Claudine. The drive was a long one again, from the far northwest of France to nearly Switzerland. Pascal mapped it out, taking the toll highway through the center of France until Bourges. He fended off suggestions to stop and see the cathedral and Roman wall and other sites there. He was done with that. This wasn’t a sightseeing trip. He’d been accommodating his sister’s whims but that was over. She seemed unreasonably put out by this, as if he was at her beck and call, acting as her chauffeur and tour guide. But he had done everything for her the last few days. She wanted to go home and so they were taking her home. And still she was unhappy. Perhaps that was her default mode. She shrank into herself and sulked the rest of the trip.

In the backseat, Merle remarked on things along the road, a funny name of a village, an elegant horse, a majestic old bridge. Those were seen after Bourges when they veered off the toll road to the two-lane, winding their way east. They ate a quick lunch in some village tavern and were glad it was good country fare, rich and delicious.

Suzette slept again. Merle offered to drive, halfway through the afternoon. Pascal caught her eye in the rearview mirror.

“Thank you, blackbird. I am fine.”

They reached the village of Jujurieux as the sun dipped lower over the Alps, cutting the scene with long stripes of gold. The air was crystal clear today. It was not quite six and the silhouette of the jagged peaks against the sunset was dramatic. The forests around them were dark and green. Merle drew a breath in wonder. “How beautiful it is here, Suzette.”

“Now you see why I don’t want to leave. I love my little town. There is no place like it in France.”

“Not that you are biased,” Pascal said, trying for humor. It was not well-received.

Her house was shuttered and secure, the lock on the gate keeping out intruders. Suzette unlocked it, then opened the driveway gate. Pascal parked his BMW by the steps. Merle got out and stretched her arms above her head.

“What a sweet place, Suzette,” she said. Pascal looked at her. Why was she being so complimentary? Merle caught his eye. Ah, she was just trying to keep things on a pleasant keel. He gave her a smile and opened the trunk to get the bags.

Pascal’s idea was to drop off his sister, help her open the house, and check for intruders. Pick up the dead spiders and bring in the mail. If there were no signs of mischief, they would leave. He wasn’t staying in that guest room again. A resentment toward his sister and her demands wouldn’t leave him. He wanted to be alone with Merle so they could repair their relationship, if at all possible. That relationship was much more important to him.

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