Tumbled Graves Read Online Free PDF Page B

been recently upgraded and a small verandah added to the front. A modest house well maintained on a quiet street.
    Unlike his last day in Gananoque, the spring sun and clear sky gave the day a promising feel. He spotted tulips pushing up in the small garden that lined the walkway. The smell of earth and damp rotting leaves rose up to greet him as he passed by. Purple and white crocuses had pushed through and would soon be in bloom. Leanne Scott was waiting for him and opened the door at the top of the steps before he rang the bell. She’d already brewed a fresh pot of coffee and served him a cup in the living room, snugly fit with a plaid couch, coffee table, rocking chair, and recliner.
    He took a moment to study her as she settled into the rocker. She was an older, faded version of her sister, from what Gundersund had seen in Adele’s photo. Leanne’s eyes had the same blue directness, but the brown in her hair was overtaken by grey. She was a tall woman but her body had thickened in the middle, fat dimpling her arms and what he could see of her legs. She was wearing a striped v-necked T-shirt, pink Bermuda shorts, Birkenstocks over socks, pushing summer and fashion sense just a bit, Gundersund thought.
    â€œHave you spoken with Adele this week?” he asked. He took a sip of coffee and waited. It was strong and sugary, flavoured with hazelnuts and chocolate. The unexpected sweetness made him wince. He raised the back of his hand to his lips to hide his involuntary response. He preferred his coffee bitter and unadulterated.
    â€œI’m fifteen years older than my sister. We keep in touch, but not daily, or even weekly for that matter. I guess the last time I spoke with her was just after New Year’s.”
    â€œI guess not even monthly then.”
    She returned his smile. “No. I guess not even that.” She paused, “Although, we did exchange emails this week.”
    He should have been less specific with his question. “Can you share what she wrote?”
    â€œOf course. She was asking how Randy and I are doing and mentioned that she and Violet were due for a visit. I emailed her back and said next weekend would be great. She said that she was hoping for this weekend but could hold off until then. I still have the exchange if you’d like to read it.”
    â€œI’ll give you my email address and you can forward the emails. Did she use the words ‘hold off’?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDid these words strike you as odd?”
    â€œA little, since I hadn’t heard from her in so long. They made me think that she had something to tell me. Naturally, I wondered about her marriage since she didn’t mention Ivo.”
    â€œHow would you describe your sister’s marriage?”
    â€œOkay. It had been okay.” Leanne shifted, groaning softly. Sweat glistened on her forehead and cheeks. A flush travelled upward. Even her hair shone damp in the lamp light.
    Rouleau had felt a chill from the moment he entered the house. “Are you feeling alright?” he asked.
    Leanne waved a hand back and forth in front of her face. “Hot flash. Getting damned inconvenient. Randy’s sleeping in the spare bedroom, I sweat that much at night. Nobody’s ever died of them though. Where were we?”
    â€œYour sister and her marriage.”
    â€œOh yeah. Ivo seems like a nice enough man. A little bland maybe, but Adele was looking to settle down. She seemed happy with him.”
    â€œI hear some hesitation in your voice.”
    â€œAdele and I weren’t exactly close growing up, being so far apart in age, so it’s hard for me to pass judgment. I just, well, I wondered if Ivo was enough for her.”
    â€œWas she happy being a mother and living in the country?”
    â€œI guess. It’s not where I thought she’d end up by a long stretch.” Leanne laughed. “She was a wild one back in the day.”
    â€œHow