Fire Dancer by Susan Slater

Author:Susan Slater
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: amateur sleuth, native american fiction, indian pueblo, crime fiction murder, billionaire murder, new mexico setting, american indian mysteries
Publisher: Columbine Publishing Group, LLC

Julie couldn’t finish the note for her tears. The enormity of the loss washed over her and, clutching note and jewelry box, she slipped to the floor, no longer holding back the wracking sobs.

Finally, she blew her nose, walked to the bathroom, splashed her face with cold water and grimaced when she saw her reflection. She took the time to capture her hair in a scrunchy, put on eyebrows and lip gloss, then, a touch of mascara. There—somewhat more human but no amount of makeup could erase the pain. But she had work to do.

She slipped clothing protectors over the coyote jacket and remaining outfits, carried them to the car, carefully arranging each so as not to wrinkle the garment beneath. Thirty minutes later, the BMW was piled high and ready to go.

She’d contacted the principals—all but her mother. That call would not be easy—for lots of reasons. One being Bev’s duplicity in trying to throw her daughter at her former fiancé. But it wouldn’t do to put off the call. She pocketed the car keys and walked back to the kitchen. The dregs from the coffeemaker just might give her the jolt of energy she’d need. There was exactly a half cup of very dark liquid left—perfect! A dollop of half-and-half and she was braced. She headed out to the driveway. She started the car then reached for her cell. She couldn’t put off the call any longer.

“Mom, do you have a minute? I have the saddest news.” Julie quickly reiterated what she knew—the illness, possible suicide, leaving a legacy. Had her mother known Connie was ill? Terminally so? And did she know that Connie had a son? That stopped her mother completely.

“You have to be mistaken. I’d say you were wrong about leukemia, too, but you have the doctor’s word. I just know she would have eventually told me. But a son? That’s absolutely unthinkable. She wanted nothing more in life than to have her own child. Then to have one and give it away? No. That didn’t happen. We never lied to one another.”

Julie heard the sound of her mother blowing her nose. She needed to remind herself how difficult this would be for her mother.

“It wasn’t as if she lied, Mother. Maybe she needed to hide her pregnancy and maybe there just wasn’t time to tell you about her illness. She knew how upset you’d be. Maybe she wanted to spare you. Let the end be shock enough.”

“Doesn’t sound like her. And what is this about her wearing a wedding dress?”

Julie repeated the instructions Connie had left but again mentioned that she’d been found in the dress. “Uncle Skip died fairly recently. Do you think it was some kind of tribute to him? A final celebration of their long relationship?”

Her mother’s harsh laugh startled her. “A tribute to togetherness? Skip and Connie? Oh my, you have no idea how distant the two of them were. There was a loathing of Skip that threatened to erupt every time they spent more than five minutes alone.

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