Killing the Secret Read Online Free PDF Page A

Ronald interrupted the verbal sparring.
    “The pants are a little short,” Delia said, “but the best I could find on short notice.”
    “How sweet!” Venom oozed from Stan’s voice.
    Lexie quickly spouted out her directions. “Clay, you answer the phone while we’re gone so Delia can go to the funeral. Tye, you’ll stand by the front door and I’ll stay posted by the back door. Detective Johnson can sit in the pew behind Ronald.”
    Johnson added his orders to Lexie’s. “As soon as the funeral is over, I’ll bring the prisoner back here to change clothes and we’ll leave. There won’t be any graveyard visit or family dinner for this murderer.”
    Lexie nodded. She wanted to argue the point, but at least Johnson was allowing Ronald to go without the cuffs, which was just short of a miracle.
     

Chapter Eleven
    Jamie flung her pinstriped jacket over the back of the recliner and rolled up her shirtsleeves. She propped herself against the throw pillows on Abbey’s flowered sofa with her shoeless feet planted on the edge of the table. “Don’t you think Terri looked a little pale and stiff?”
    Loretta shook her head in exasperation. “Well, shit! What do you expect from a dead person?”
    “Not a hell of a lot, but you’d think that someone could’ve commenced the funeral before the body corroded.”
    Beth clutched a throw pillow as she spoke. “Delia told me that Terri’s death is being investigated.” Everything Beth wore was black, which was in distinct contrast to her light skin and prematurely white hair. “The police think that Ronald couldn’t bear to see her suffer.”
    “You’re a regular volume of information,” Jamie said.
    “Why does Beth know this stuff, Jamie, and you don’t? Perhaps you and Tye need to have a little pillow talk on your sleepovers,” Loretta teased.
    Listening to the conversation from her kitchen, Abbey was glad to have lunch prep as an excuse. Gary took their kids to his parents so the friends could have time alone to deal with Terri’s death.
    Abbey doubted that Jamie—the basketball coach, Beth—the porcelain doll, Loretta—the social climber, and herself—the farm mom, would ever have been friends if their championship basketball team hadn’t linked them forever. She told her husband that she didn’t know if she could handle spending over two hours with the boss, the bitch, and the meek. Gary agreed to come home at 2 p.m. to cue the women to leave.
    Nothing motivated Loretta to move faster than a toddler wanting to sit on her lap, or a little hand reaching toward her perfectly styled blonde hair. Nicky had run Loretta off in the past and Abbey’s little wild boy could do it again if his services were needed.
    Abbey was surprised Loretta showed up after the funeral. She had hesitated when invited.
    “At your farm?” Her tone was acid. “I guess I’ll come if you’ll keep those animals away from me.”
    “I’m sure we can find a fenced-in area for you,” Gary inserted.
    “Didn’t you say you redecorated? I’d love to see what you’ve done with your little house?” Loretta added, after a piercing look at Gary.
    Abbey stabbed the tomato and began slicing it viciously at the memory.
    Beth joined Abbey in the kitchen. “How can I help?”
    “Just tell them lunch is ready.”
    Jamie admired the bay window as soon as she walked into the kitchen. “I love the new window. Did Gary put it in?”
    “Yes. The man can build anything.”
    “It’s sweet with the white ruffled curtain.” Loretta pushed the panels apart. “But you’re not getting enough light. You should have picked blinds. They’re so stylish now.”
    “I think it looks perfect,” Beth said.
    “No offense, dear, but style has never been your thing,” Loretta scowled.
    Abbey hoped to get Loretta out of bitch mode by changing the subject. “I’ve been thinking we should do something to honor Terri.”
    Between bites, Jamie managed one word, “What?”
    “Not sure, but it