The Icing on the Corpse Read Online Free PDF Page A

possible unattended death,” she said. Her voice sounded like sandpaper on wood, gravelly with grief. The official word— death —made Stan wince. Betty had been right, even though everyone had hoped she was wrong.
    â€œDeath?” Ray repeated, too loudly. A low buzz began circulating through the crowd.
    Jake nodded, his face carefully blank. “Not confirmed.”
    Jessie looked away. Stan watched her eyes blinking furiously and realized she was trying to avoid crying.
    â€œI’m going inside,” she said.
    Jake looked like he wanted to stop her, but then caught himself and nodded. “Okay,” he said simply, and watched her disappear through the door, his sadness so palpable Stan felt it vibrating off his body.
    She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this helpless. Useless, really. Jake’s own grandmother had been gone for years, and she knew what Helga meant to him. The loss of her own grandmother still nestled in her bones, resurfacing often and without warning, and she had passed away nearly a decade ago. Knowing Jake would experience that made her ache for him.
    It was disorienting to see him so vulnerable. In such a short time he’d become her rock. It wasn’t just her, either—most of the town relied on him for one thing or another. He was one of the strongest foundations this community was built on. It could be for something as small as setting up equipment for an event on the green, or as big as rehabbing a historic building, and anything in between. Jake had grown up in Frog Ledge and made a conscious choice years ago to return there, start a business there, be with his family, and nurture the town he loved. He always had a smile and a kind word, and always knew the right thing to do.
    Today he looked nothing like that Jake. He looked lost. Adrift. Heartbroken. He paced around their little spot of sidewalk and kept glancing across the street at the crowd still gathered, waiting to hear what had happened.
    â€œI’m going to go to the hospital,” he said. “I feel like . . . she shouldn’t have to go alone. And I don’t know if Sarah or Don . . .”
    â€œDo you want me to go with you?” She hated hospitals ever since her father’s illness, but she knew Jake needed support. “Or would I be intruding?”
    Jake looked at her like she was nuts. “Intruding? I would love if you came with me.” He squeezed her hand gratefully, then held it tighter as the EMTs brought the stretcher out. They did a good job of navigating the people deftly and quickly so no one could get a good look at Helga. Jessie did not appear behind them.
    â€œLet’s go,” he said.
    Stan started to follow him, then saw Jessie come out of the building. She hesitated, then said to Jake, “Go grab the truck. I’ll be right there.”
    Jake nodded, too distracted to ask why, and headed for the street. Stan approached Jessie, who looked at her warily.
    â€œAre you okay?” Stan asked.
    â€œFine. Thank you.” Jessie started to brush by her, but Stan persisted.
    â€œI know your family was close to Helga. I’m really sorry,” she said, then turned to walk away. But Jessie stopped her.
    â€œMy brother’s going to have a hard time with this.”
    â€œI’ll help him as much as I can,” Stan said.
    Pasquale nodded. She walked briskly back to her police car, got in, and drove away.
    Stan watched her go, then hurried to join Jake, waiting in his truck behind the ambulance.

Chapter 4
    The first time Stan met Helga Oliver, the older woman had been part of a reenactment event hosted by the local War Office volunteers. Char had coaxed Stan into going, convincing her that to fully appreciate living in Frog Ledge, one had to understand how important the town’s role had been in shaping New England history. Beginning with the unassuming, two-story building that housed the Revolutionary War