Dead Silence by Robin Caroll

Author:Robin Caroll [Caroll, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781643525938
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2020-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The cemetery service was shorter than the church service, and in Elise’s opinion, much more personal. Despite the police escort, several news vans were parked along the drive with cameramen using zoom lenses to record the family at the gravesite. Elise wanted to scream at them and shove the cameras away, but knew she couldn’t. The best she could do was shield Sawyer from the prying eyes of the cameras and press.

The pastor led the graveside group in the twenty-third Psalm, Lilliana’s supposed favorite. Elise didn’t know if it really was, or if it was the most common. Either way, at least the service would be over soon, even though she and Sawyer would have to go to Noland’s for visiting with everyone. While she supposed it was meant to bring comfort to the family, and to some it might, it had felt like more of a burden to Elise when Judson had died. Thank goodness Lilliana had hosted the visitation at her house, so Elise could retreat to her own home when it all got too much for her to handle.

Elise made a mental note to watch Mary Ellen and Noland carefully and send them to their rooms if they looked like they needed personal space. It was the least Elise could do.

She glanced over her shoulder, past all those seated, past those standing under the canopy, to the very back where Agent Rodriguez and the two new agents stood. No sign of Agent Wright. Maybe she’d been taken off the case. That would be the one bright note on today.

As the pastor began to pray and everyone bowed their heads, Elise took the opportunity to glance around as unobtrusively as she could, registering each face to memory, especially those she didn’t recognize. She wrinkled her nose at the sight of some of the politicians she could only guess were there to be seen. A couple of people she recognized from church. Some she knew to be neighbors of Lilliana and Noland. There were a few who looked familiar, but Elise couldn’t place them at the moment. There were a couple who looked like they really didn’t belong.

In the back a man and a woman held hands, but were looking around. Their odd demeanor caught Elise’s attention. Who were they? An older woman leaning against a younger woman looked out of place as well.

As Elise continued to glance around, she found many people who didn’t look as if they should be at Lilliana’s funeral, but did she really know her mother-in-law? Maybe these were constituents she’d helped. Or maybe people Lilliana had helped get legislature passed. Perhaps Lilliana had many more acquaintances or friends than Elise had realized.

“Amen.” Everyone repeated the pastor’s closing word, then lifted their heads.

“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. We commence this soul to You, Abba God.”

Everyone stood. Mary Ellen and Noland seemed to be leaning on one another for support.

The honor guard lifted their rifles and fired their three volleys into the air.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The echoes of the shots shook Elise’s chest.

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