The Language of Death (A Darcy Sweet Coy Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page A

shoulder and got up gracefully, with the bored look of someone who would rather be somewhere else.  She didn't seem upset at all about Chloe's death.  Not to Darcy, anyway.
    "So.   I assume you wanted to ask me something?" Veronica said just as soon as they were outside.  "That's why you wanted me to come outside with you, wasn't it?"
    Darcy had been hoping to ease into the conversation.  She hadn't expected Veronica to see through her admittedly thin excuse to get her alone.  "Well, yes, actually.  I mean, I was Chloe's best friend in college but Lorne tells me you were her best friend now.  I'm just upset about all of this.  Lorne said you found Chloe.  Is it true?  Did she really…you know?"
    "Commit suicide?" Veronica said, her expression never changing.  "Yes.  She did.  I don't pretend to understand it either, Darcy.  We knew each other pretty well, or so I thought.  I never had any hint that she was upset.  Never.  There was no way I would have believed it if I didn't see it myself."
    Darcy didn't want to hear what Veronica saw.  She had to force herself to ask the questions she needed answered.  Truth be told, she'd much rather stick her head in the sand and forget any of this.  But she couldn't.  She needed to find out the truth.  For Chloe.
    "Did she leave a note? " she asked Veronica.  "Anything to let people know why she would do this?"
    Veronica regarded Darcy, considering something.  " No.  There was no note.  In a lot of ways I guess it would have been better if there was one.  At least then Chloe's mom would have some peace.  Maybe some answers.  Now?"  She shrugged that shoulder again.  "Well.  It's just one more thing no one will ever figure out, isn't it?"
    Darcy couldn't believe she could be so cold about it.  It must have shown on her face, too.
    " Look, you didn't see it," Veronica said with a sneer.  "You weren't even there. You're supposed to be such a good friend of Chloe's?  Where were you all these years?  It's been me and Chloe, not you.  We went out together on Friday nights.  Me and Chloe."
    She looked away, her voice flat and toneless.  " I had been waiting at the Hoot Owl for her for over an hour.  She was never late.  Not that you'd know that, but it was the one day every week that we could just let loose and be ourselves.  She wouldn't miss it.  Not without telling me first.  When I called her and she didn't answer, I went over to her place.  The door was unlocked, and I went upstairs, and I found her lying in bed, just like she was asleep.  Only she wasn't asleep.  There was blood…"
    Veronica's voice trailed off and her stony expr ession finally cracked.  Her hand trembled as she covered her mouth to hide a sob, remembering what she must have seen the night she found Chloe.  A thought occurred to Darcy that Veronica might be acting so cold because she was trying to keep from breaking down.  Maybe it was just a defense mechanism.  Everyone had different ways of dealing with pain.
    Of course, Veronica might be trying to hide something else, too.
    The first person to find Chloe.   If Chloe's death hadn't been a suicide, which Darcy was strongly beginning to suspect it was not, then that made Veronica a pretty strong suspect.
    Veronica seemed to come back to herself, blinking and taking in a little gasping breath.  "Oh.  Sorry, I…I know it wasn't your fault you weren't here.  But the fact of the matter is, you don't know anything about Chloe anymore.  So don't go around trying to butt your nose in now."
    "I was her friend, too," Darcy said, a little harsher than she meant to.
    The smile Veronica gave her was cold.  "No offense, Darcy, but you used to be her friend.  The people back in that house are her friends now.  We're the ones who have to deal with what she did.  So.  If you've heard enough about how Chloe died, I'd like to get back.  Danson is probably wondering where I got off to.  It was nice to meet you," she added as