Reversal of Fortune (A Claire Rollins Mystery Book 2) by J A Whiting

Author:J A Whiting [Whiting, J A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J A Whiting
Published: 2017-03-23T18:00:00+00:00

16

Claire leaned close to Nicole and whispered, “I don’t see Dr. Dodd.”

“I’ve been looking for him, too. I don’t think he’s here.”

Scanning the huge crowd gathered at the gravesite, Claire searched for the husband of the woman being buried. She and Nicole stood on a slight incline at the periphery of the mourners so that they could pay their respects, but also take in the faces of the nearly one hundred people who had come to lay Grace Dodd to rest.

Vanessa stood stoically next to her younger sister occasionally lifting a tissue to her eyes. Maddy was a mess, clutching Vanessa’s arm and crying into her shoulder. Claire could barely look at her … the girl’s misery and grief broke her heart.

As they rode in the cab to the cemetery, Nicole and Claire, having heard that a murderer often showed up at a funeral, decided that they would keep their eyes on the people that gathered for the service. Who knew why a killer would make such an appearance, maybe to get some sick, twisted pleasure from seeing the sadness and loss he’d created.

Claire spotted the neighbor, Lorraine Hale, who had rushed across the street the night she heard Maddy’s screams. Edie Brookhaven, the housekeeper, stood alone off to the side, her face tight and drawn. Ian Fuller watched the service from a distance standing under a tall oak tree next to another man. He spotted Claire and Nicole and gave them a nod.

A woman sang a beautiful a cappella hymn and her sweet voice pulled so strongly at Claire’s heartstrings that she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. Noticing her friend reach up to brush at her eyes, Nicole took Claire’s arm and moved her away from the gathering to a walkway that ran through the cemetery. “You okay?”

Claire gave a nod, but didn’t say anything.

When they came to a bench, Nicole suggested they sit.

Taking in a deep breath, Claire leaned back against the seat. “Emotions bubbled up … my mom’s service …Teddy’s funeral. I wasn’t expecting those feelings to hit me so hard.”

“It’s understandable. Little things can bring back memories.” Nicole looked out over the quiet, peaceful graveyard. “Sometimes when I bake, the scent of the chocolate or the cinnamon makes me think of baking with my grandmother and then I get all teary-eyed.”

“We’re softies I guess.” One corner of Claire’s mouth turned up in a wistful smile.

Nicole asked questions about Claire’s mother and Claire talked about the woman for several minutes sharing details of their lives in near poverty and how hard her mom had worked to keep a roof over their heads, and how they baked and sewed and took walks together.

“Can I ask you something without you getting angry with me?” Nicole looked sideways at her friend.

Claire chuckled. “Wow, that’s a leading question. I can’t make any promises about not getting angry, but I will make a guess that I’ll end up forgiving whatever question you’re about to ask me so go ahead.

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