Anonymously Yours Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Of course, I’m sure!” I shouted. “I was in that house this morning. And I know what I saw.”
    Justin put his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay,” he said. “I believe you.”
    He slid the chair away from the table and stood up. Running his hands through his thick hair, he paced the room. When he came to a stop beside my chair, he leaned over and put his arms around my neck. His chin rested on my head. “Let’s say you did see something.”
    “But I did!”
    “Let me finish,” he added quickly. He took the chair next to me and placed his hands on mine. “Let’s say you did see the lady in the house just like you claim. Isn’t it possible someone was just playing a joke on you?”
    A joke? I sat up straighter.
    “Yeah,” he said. “A practical joke.”
    I considered the possibility. “It would explain why the police didn’t find anything,” I admitted.
    “It would explain everything, Denise,” he said. “Mrs. Black has been dead for ten years. There’s no way the woman you saw in that house could have been Mr. Black’s dead wife. Now that would definitely be something worth investigating.”
    I flashed a smile, then broke into laughter. Removing my hands from Justin’s grasp, I covered my face in my hands and wiped away tears of relief. When I could finally focus again, Justin’s eyebrows were squinted in confusion.
    “What’s so funny?” he asked.
    I reached for the bottle of soda on the table, poured some into my glass, and took a sip. “It’s just that you’re probably right,” I said, biting into a chip. “It had to be someone playing a joke. That’s the only logical explanation. Dead bodies don’t just get up and walk away, do they?”
    Justin relaxed and reached for my hand again. “Of course it was a joke, Denise. There is no other possibility.” He reached across the table and slid his lunch closer, then bit into his sandwich. “Now why don’t we both finish our lunch and then go to the diner for that dessert I promised you. We can take the long way through Benton Street and see if anyone has anything to say.”
    “I’d like that,” I said. “If I do see any more dead bodies this time, at least I won’t be the only one.” I meant it as a joke, but the statement left a bad taste in my mouth.
    Half an hour later we walked hand in hand along the sidewalk and around the corner to Benton Street. The sun had warmed the day to a scorching eighty-five degrees. The playful laughter of children emanated from back yards. It was a stark contrast to the dark, ominously quiet atmosphere when I walked this way earlier this morning.
    My pace slowed as we reached Justin’s parents’ house. “I’m sure your parents were up this morning when I walked by. I saw a light on in the kitchen window. Did they mention anything to you?”
    “My parents had left for work when I awoke to the sirens. I haven’t had a chance to talk to them yet, but I will when they get home tonight. Maybe they’ll have some information on Michael Black.”
    I hoped he would follow through. I just hoped that, unlike our own neighborhood, their acquaintance with Michael Black wasn’t just casual. It seemed most people these days were more concerned about their jobs and lives than getting to know their neighbors well.
    As we continued down the street, Justin squeezed my hand and pointed with his other hand. “Looks like Mr. Black is back from his trip,” he said. “There’s a car in the driveway now. Do you want to try and return the wallet while we’re here?”
    “No, thank you!” I said. “There’s no way I’m setting foot in that house again. Besides, that car was here this morning. There was also a car in the back, which is why I was so sure someone was home.”
    He led the way into the driveway and leaned against the car. “Okay, let’s go over what happened this morning.” He crossed his arms. “You knocked on the door, and no one answered. So you just went in?”
    I wasn’t sure I