Staged to Death (A Caprice De Luca Mystery Book 1) by Karen Rose Smith

Author:Karen Rose Smith [Smith, Karen Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2013-12-01T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Caprice felt jittery late Wednesday morning with Grant standing to one side of her at the cemetery and Nikki on the other. Since her sister never made her nervous, it must have been her proximity to Grant.

Or else the antsy feeling originated in the circumstances—Ted Winslow’s memorial service at the funeral home and now the burial here at Peaceful Path Cemetery. There were two security guards from PA Pharm stationed at the cars to prevent reporters from intruding. How hard this had to be for Roz. But throughout the morning she’d been nothing but gracious to anyone who’d approached her.

Most of the people who’d come to the cemetery were now offering Roz final condolences under the canopy. She and Nikki and Grant had stepped aside. But Grant was watching Roz closely since Detective Jones and his partner were still part of the crowd.

Nikki laid her hand on Caprice’s arm. “I’m going to go too. I have to set up this afternoon for an engagement party.”

“Very different from this,” Grant muttered. “How can she act like a grieving widow with Winslow’s associates?”

Caprice automatically bristled. “What do you mean act?” In a much lower voice, she insisted, “Roz loved Ted in spite of his infidelity. This day is tearing her up inside. Maybe you need to search deep down for your compassionate side for the next hour or so. Then you can be as cynical as you want.”

After Nikki murmured, “Caprice, go easy,” and Grant cut a glance at her, then remained silent, Caprice couldn’t believe she had let her words fly out like that. On the other hand, hadn’t her mother advised her not to treat Grant with kid gloves?

More reasonably, Caprice asked, “What would you have Roz do? She said a private good-bye, then had a closed casket for the service. She kept the service short and sweet with the readings and then the minister listing Ted’s accomplishments before he said a prayer. The other prayers that he said here, Ted will probably need in the hereafter.”

“Maybe she shouldn’t have had a funeral at all,” Grant muttered.

Maybe Grant’s problem wasn’t with Roz at all, but with being at a funeral. Had today brought back raw memories?

“Ted Winslow was a prominent man in Kismet. She really had no choice.”

Grant tossed her a skeptical look.

“Okay, she had a choice. But I think she needed to do this for—”

“Don’t you dare say closure,” Grant directed her. “Burying someone does not bring closure.”

Now they were talking about Grant, and they both knew it.

Nikki broke the tension by pointing to Detective Jones and his colleague, who were standing by a tall sycamore, watching Roz say good-bye to men in custom-made suits. “So why are they still hanging around?”

“Maybe they know something we don’t. I heard through the grapevine that everyone who signed the guest list for the Winslows’ open house is being interviewed.”

Suddenly, there was movement near the lineup of cars that stretched along the well-tended burial plots.

“Uh oh,” Nikki said. “Isn’t that—”

Uh oh, indeed! Caprice practically groaned.

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