Stranger Than Murder: A Kate Ryan Mystery (Kate Ryan Mysteries Book 12) by Kate Sweeney

Author:Kate Sweeney [Sweeney, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Intaglio Publications
Published: 2018-04-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

“You’re not kidding?” Allison looked from me to Maggie, then to Hannah.

“We’re not kidding,” Maggie said while feeding Emma.

That morning was oatmeal, bananas, and toast with strawberry jam. I looked over at Emma; she had the same. We loved breakfast.

“Are you sure?” Allison looked bewildered.

“Yes, we’re sure,” I said, eating my toast.

“I was not expecting this.” Allison shook her head as if to shake out the cobwebs. “So what happens now?”

“Our hands are tied until we find out what happened to Jenny. Until then, you have legal custody of Emma,” I said.

“But that part of the will…what’s it called?” Allison asked.

“Codicil.” Trudy spoke for the first time.

“Right. If I can’t fulfill what Jenny asked, the lawyer and I can find a suitable family for her.” Allison looked hopeful for the first time. “Can’t we do that, even if we don’t know what happened to Jenny?”

I looked at Maggie, who looked just as confused as I felt. Hannah seemed to be lost in thought, which scared me a little.

“I say we call that lawyer in Chicago and make an appointment,” Hannah said. “We can find out what we can do next. Legally, you have Emma if something happens to Jenny. I know we’d like to find out exactly what’s happened to her. Maybe something can be done before that. We’ll go from there. And I have offered my lawyer, as well. He’s a good man and very well known in Chicago.”

“But this is a big commitment,” Allison said. “I mean, if it comes to that. It’s for life.”

I choked on my toast. “It’s not a prison sentence. Maggie and I actually want this. We’re not going to the gallows.”

For some reason, Allison started laughing. And for the first time since I’d met her, I realized I never heard her laugh out loud. She had always been controlled, even when she laughed. She did that annoying “oh, how funny” laugh, which meant absolutely nothing. But now, it was a deep belly laugh.

This was not good. I sat back, looking at Maggie, who frowned deeply while she watched Allison. Funny, she had the same look when I was about to have a panic attack. Hannah raised her eyebrows and looked as though she might join Allison. Trudy, who sat in the corner, had a good reaction. She quietly pulled the butter knives out of her reach. But Emma? She was the best of us all. She laughed and laughed along with Allison, banging her spoon on her tray. Laughter was laughter to her, even if it was maniacal. What did she know? She was a kid. I almost joined her.

Now, I must say, in my travels as a PI, I’d seen many people in different stages of emotional, shall we say, distress. And I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating. It had been my experience when someone laughs so hard at seemingly nothing—especially one of my jokes—crying was sure to follow.

And thar she blows.

Suddenly, Allison’s laughter turned into sobbing—uncontrollable sobbing. Poor Emma stopped laughing and just curiously watched Allison.

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