Keating. Detree’s name tag revealed that she’d been promoted to sergeant since Johnson’s murder had been resolved. Sabrina hoped this was a sign that the newer, enlightened faction within the Virgin Island Police Department was making progress against the publicly denounced corrupt band of cronies that had ruined the reputation of the department.
“We own this villa, Officer. If there’s an emergency on the premises, we are entitled to know what it is, in order to act accordingly,” Gavin told Detree as he stepped around her, his father following right behind with Heather on his heels. Heather stepped up to Detree as the others were being guided back to the house by a uniformed officer.
“Officer, that’s my mother,” she said, pointing her finger over at Kate Keating. “I need to be there for her.” She walked past Detree and over to Sean and Kate.
Kate had her arms around her son, who was sobbing like an inconsolable child. Heather walked over to them both and swept them into a huge hug.
“How can she be dead? She’s supposed to get married in a couple of hours. I can’t believe she would do this. How did it ever come to this?” Kate said, now joining Sean in sobbing, leaving Heather to comfort them both.
In the distance, guests who should have been arriving to join the brunch and island tour before the wedding were being turned away from the gatehouse. Guests who had already arrived had been ushered inside the villa, leaving Sabrina, Henry, and the immediate Keating family asthe only people left at the beach, other than the rescue workers.
Jack and Gavin Keating approached Kate and her children. Somehow Sabrina suspected the circle of mourning wasn’t wide enough to fit Gavin Keating. She wasn’t sure about Jack.
“What’s going on?” Gavin practically shouted over the crying.
“Elena is dead. It looks like suicide,” Heather said.
“Oh no,” Jack said, moving nearer to Kate, placing an arm on her shoulder.
“That’s ridiculous. That can’t be,” Gavin said, sounding more insolent than incredulous.
Sean broke the circle and lurched toward Gavin with his fists ready for a fight. “What’s ridiculous, you asshole? You know what’s ridiculous? That you, more than anyone in the family, pressured Elena to sign that goddamn prenup, even though she made better decisions in the company in the six months she worked there than you did in the past six years. You’re the reason she’s dead. And me, because I didn’t tell you to lay off.”
“Are you saying she’s really dead? That she killed herself?”
“What about dead don’t you get, Gavin? Can’t you even pretend to be a little sensitive at a time like this?” Heather said, raising her voice over her mother’s sobs.
“Folks, I’m sorry about what’s happened here, but I’m afraid you’re all going to have to simmer down,” a very deepvoice bellowed. It came from a uniformed officer whose nameplate identified him as Detective Vernon Hodge.
“Fine. I’m out of here,” Gavin said, turning to leave.
“Not so fast, sir. No one will be leaving for a while. We have a sudden and suspicious death of a young, seemingly healthy woman. The fact that she is wearing a bridal gown makes it all the more questionable. My men will be gathering information from each of you, so just follow Sergeant Detree back to the house and follow her instructions.”
Sabrina watched Lucy Detree’s jaw tighten at the sound of “my men.”
Chapter Seven
Sabrina, Henry, and the Keating family were ushered by Sergeant Detree through the now-empty great room to a table that had been set up with four others under canopies around the pool. Sabrina had agonized over the details of how the tables should be placed and set so that everything would be perfect for the wedding at sunset. She’d had two practice sessions with the Ten Villa staff, who’d done a fine job setting up for the wedding banquet while Sabrina had been pulling the bride’s body
David Stuckler Sanjay Basu
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