Seven Deadly Sins by Erica Spindler

Author:Erica Spindler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA Books
Published: 2003-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 32

Avery stood at her front door for a long time after Buddy left. She felt numb, disconnected. She gazed out at nothing, the things Buddy had said playing over in her head.

Would anything Gwen said to her have made her suspicious if she hadn’t been in the throes of grief? Sal’s death would have been a terrible tragedy, one of those freak occurrences that made one ask, “Why?” Dolly Farmer another victim of the breakdown of the family, Pete Trimble a drunk-driving statistic.

What did she believe? She rubbed her throbbing temples. How could she be so easily swayed? One moment believing the people of Cypress Springs were involved in a conspiracy of discrimination and murder, the next sucked in by an emotionally unstable woman with a questionable agenda. She had always been so firm in her beliefs, so self-confident. She had been able to access the facts, make a decision and move on.

Avery dropped her hands. Is this how a breakdown began? One small confusion at a time? A bout of tears, mounting indecision, a feeling of drowning that passed only to return without a moment’s notice?

Becoming aware that the air-conditioning was being wasted, she closed the door, turned and wandered back to the kitchen. Her gaze landed on Buddy’s nearly empty water glass.

What did she want to believe?

In the people she loved and trusted. In those who loved her.

And that her father hadn’t taken his own life.

Therein lay the source of her conflict.

The phone rang. She turned toward it but made no move to pick it up. The caller let it ring nine times before hanging up. A moment later it rang again. Someone needed her. To speak to her.

Her father had needed to speak to her.

She hadn’t taken his call.

She leaped for the phone, snatching the receiver off the base. “Hello?”

“Avery? It’s Gwen.”

Not now. Not her. She fought the urge to slam down the phone.

“I just got your message,” the woman continued. “I drove to New Orleans to see my mother.” She paused. “Avery? Are you there?”

“Yes, I’m here.”

“I’d like to get together as soon as possible. When can you—”

“I’m sorry, Gwen, I can’t talk about this just now.”

“Are you all right?”

If she could call falling apart at the seams all right. “Yes, fine. I just…this isn’t a good time.”

“Are you alone?”

Avery heard the concern in the other woman’s voice. She could imagine what she was thinking. “Yes.”

“You sound strange.”

“I think I made a mistake.”

“A mistake? I don’t understand.”

“I can’t do this. I feel for you, Gwen, I do. I understand loss, I’m swimming in it myself. But I can’t be party to your far-fetched notions. Not anymore.”

“Far-fetched? But—”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

“I’m all alone, Avery. I need your help.” The other woman’s voice rose. “Please help me find my brother’s killer.”

Avery squeezed her eyes shut. Against the desperation in the other woman’s voice. The pain.

Trust the people you love. The people who love you.

“I wish I could, Gwen. My heart breaks for you, but—”

“Please. I don’t have anyone else.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.