The Opposite of Dark Read Online Free PDF Page A

since she’d driven by. She could have rented the house to someone else; could have quit her job so she wouldn’t have to see Greg at work, but she’d needed to show people that a broken marriage hadn’t destroyed her.
    â€œI’ll sell it when I find something I want to buy.”
    â€œMutual funds are good.”
    Every time Rhonda went on about money, it meant she was having financial problems. No surprise there. The studio suite had been empty for three months. Only university students would put up with a hot plate and teensy shower, and most of them, including Rhonda’s other tenant, had gone home for the summer.
    â€œRhonda, if you need cash, I can help.”
    â€œI don’t want your money.”
    She never did. Dad had left Rhonda only a few personal mementoes in his will. Casey still felt guilty for benefiting from a hundred-thousand-dollar insurance policy. After paying his debts, funeral expenses, and taxes, she’d offered half of what was left to Rhonda. Rhonda’s stubborn streak, however, was unparalleled in this universe.
    â€œHow about going camping with Summer and me on the Victoria Day long weekend next month?” Rhonda said. “We could clean that grubby sleeping bag in your car.”
    Casey sat at the table. Three days without the frequent knocks on her door was too appealing to give up. “It’s still four weeks away.”
    â€œThat’s okay.” Rhonda sat beside her. “Whatever’s bothering you should have passed by then and you won’t look so sad.”
    Damn, should have done a better job of hiding it. Rhonda was a pit bull when she wanted to know something.
    Casey took a deep breath. “There’s something I have to tell you about Dad. It’s bizarre and kind of horrible.”
    â€œOut with it then.”
    â€œI saw him today,” she said with a dry feeling in her mouth, “at the morgue.”
    â€œWhat?” Rhonda didn’t blink. “What are you talking about?”
    While Casey told her about Detective Lalonde’s visit, Rhonda’s face grew pale. “I don’t believe this.” By the time Casey finished describing her trip to the morgue, Rhonda was rubbing her temples and dragging her fingernails down her face. Mention of the Marine Drive place brought her to her feet.
    â€œI take it Dad never said anything about it to you?”
    â€œHe’d talked about building us a house once.” Rhonda’s voice trembled as she wandered around the room. “I thought it was one of his pipe dreams.” She picked up two teddy bears from the collection on the shelves and hugged them tight. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Are you sure it was him?”
    â€œForensic evidence isn’t in but, yeah, I think it’s Dad.”
    Bears squished between them, as Casey embraced Rhonda, who clutched her for long, anguished seconds.
    â€œI could have identified the body.” She put the bears back and sniffled. “You should have been spared that.” She wiped her eyes with her shirttail. “Why didn’t Marcus contact us?” Her voice broke. “We were his family.”
    â€œDon’t know.” She’d been asking herself that question for hours. “We didn’t see him much those last months. Now there are three years to piece together. I want answers and Lalonde won’t share much. I’ve already phoned Dad’s old friends, but no one knows anything. Tomorrow, I’m going to Marine Drive.”
    â€œI’ll go with you.”
    Casey had hoped to see the place alone. “I’m leaving before six.”
    â€œThen we’d better get some sleep.” Rhonda’s hand shook as she opened the door. “Guess it’s my turn to arrange the burial.” She grimaced. “Can’t wait to tell the funeral people we’re doing it again because the first try didn’t last.”
    â€œThanks for offering,