Reapers, Inc. - Brigit's Cross Read Online Free PDF

could.
Brigit had watched helplessly as one of the policemen noticed the
cell phone in Maggie’s fist. Gently, he took it from her and handed
it to his partner as he tried to coax Maggie from where she had
crumpled to the floor to the sofa. His partner, noticing that there
was a call still active, quickly began instructing the person on
the other end to please come at once. When the call was ended,
Brigit watched him place the phone on the table where they normally
tossed their keys and assist his partner in helping the hysterical
woman from the floor over to the sofa. It was only when Mama Dee
arrived that the policemen took their leave after giving her some
final instructions regarding identifying Brigit’s body.
    Brigit never felt so helpless in her life as
she watched her partner falling apart and their dearest friend
trying to comfort her while grieving as well. Finally, Brigit
turned away again and returned to the window. The sobbing of the
two women who had loved her most pierced her brain. The sound
branded itself in her ears as she looked out at the darkness that
had completely shrouded the street below.
    He was still there. He had moved from leaning
against the wall to leaning against the post of the street light
that blazed brightly against the darkness of the night. Their gazes
locked again and Brigit wondered momentarily why he was stalking
her. As they stared each other down, she searched her memory
thoroughly for any hint of a John Blackwick in it.
    After what seemed like hours, she finally
came to the conclusion that they had never crossed paths before. By
the time she found this conclusion, Maggie had fallen asleep and
Mama Dee could be heard shuffling around in the kitchen. An
occasional sniffle indicated her tears were still falling as she
washed that morning’s breakfast dishes the girls had left in the
sink.
    Brigit finally ceded her position at the
window and stood over Maggie as she slept on the sofa. Mama Dee had
covered her with the plaid throw they kept over the back of the
sofa. They had spent many a cool evening snuggled beneath it as
they watched T.V. It wasn’t a heavy blanket, but it was warm enough
to create a sense of coziness when shared with the one she
loved.
    Brigit reached out to smooth back a curl from
Maggie’s brow. She was startled to find that it would not move. Her
fingers passed through it, sending a shiver down Maggie’s features.
Brigit felt her lip begin to quiver as she raised her hand to look
at it again. She still appeared solid. She had felt the warmth of
Maggie’s skin as she had brushed her forehead. Yet, it confused her
that she was unable to feel anything else. As she turned away from
her sleeping partner, she could feel her heart beginning to ache
with the thought she would never again be able to touch Maggie with
the familiarity that she had known before this evening’s event.

    The funeral was on a Wednesday. Despite the
crisp chill that was in the air, the sun was shining and the sky
was clear. It seemed such a contrast to the feeling that seemed to
prevail in the energy surrounding the services and the subsequent
funeral procession through the cemetery to the site where Brigit’s
body was to be interred.
    Brigit stood beside Maggie, unable to cease
her irritated stare at the row of faces on the other side of the
dark brown casket that held her body. Maggie should have been the
one sitting there – not the one standing through her grief; but
then, if Maggie had remained in charge, none of this scene would
have been happening in the first place, Brigit mused. The party
would have already started.
    She had come to accept the fact that she was
indeed dead during the course of the last week, but none of this
was part of her final wishes. She had-had the conversation a few
times with Maggie regarding the disposal of her remains should
anything happen. They had made the agreement to cremation. Their
final instructions were to combine their ashes and then throw