When Rain Falls Read Online Free PDF Page A

him. “Darnell Jackson, boy, you come here.” His aunt Beulah moved her ample body around the counter and squeezed him. She pulled back and checked him out. “I’ve been looking for you to come by and visit me for months now.”
    â€œBeulah, you do know I’m a busy man.” He peered down into his aunt’s round face, which looked so much like his deceased mother’s. Then he frowned. “Interesting look you got going on there.” It took a special kind of woman to wear a blond ’fro. His aunt definitely fit the mold. Always the more outgoing one compared to her more conservative sister, his mother. He rubbed his hand down his own low cut. “Maybe I’ll get you to do something with my hair.”
    Beulah smacked him slightly on his arm. “Boy, you ain’t changed none.” Her face turned serious. “Are you here to see Candace? I sure didn’t want you two to meet this way.”
    â€œHuh?” Darnell didn’t quite know what his aunt meant, but before he could find out, he was interrupted.
    â€œBeulah, is Candace here?” From behind Darnell’s shoulder, Brunson entered the salon.
    Peeking around Darnell, Beulah squealed, “Brunson, is that you?” She threw her arms around a surprised Brunson. “I’m so glad you are here. I can’t believe this. Darnell, why didn’t you tell me Brunson was your partner?”
    Brunson cleared his throat. “Beulah, it’s good to see you, too. You haven’t changed a bit, I see. So, how do you know Detective Jackson?”
    â€œI practically raised him. Well, okay, well, maybe not all that, but he is the man he is today thanks to my older sister. Bless her heart. You know you gave us—”
    â€œUh, Aunt Beulah, I don’t think Brunson needs to hear all that.” Still astounded at how his aunt had managed to hug an old fogy like Brunson, he noticed Beulah’s bright smile disappear. “I guess you two are here for more serious business. This is awful. We literally had to pick poor Candy up off the floor. How did this happen?”
    Darnell answered, “We’re still investigating, but I understand Pamela had an appointment this morning.”
    â€œCandace has been looking for her all morning. Those girls were tight. Kind of like flesh and blood sisters. Oh my, y’all be careful when you talk to her. This, Lord Jesus, this is the last thing Candy needed.”
    Following his partner toward the back of the salon, Darnell felt more apprehensive talking to this woman than to Pamela’s parents. Brunson knocked on the door.
    A soft voice answered from behind the door. “Yes, come in.”
    Though they were red-rimmed, Darnell couldn’t help but be drawn to her striking almond-shaped eyes, despite the smudged mascara. Her hair flowed easily around her face, with some falling over one side. He could tell she’d been crying for some time; her makeup appeared splotchy on the cheeks.
    He liked the natural look. What was the point in all that makeup?
    â€œBrunson.” A ghost of a smile appeared on Candace’s face as she stood. For the second time, Darnell watched as his grouchy partner received a hug. There must be something about Brunson he didn’t quite get, even though they’d been partners a little over six months.
    â€œIs it really true? Please say this is some type of mistake.” Candace’s eyes pleaded with Brunson; her voice trailed off into a whisper.
    Darnell stepped forward and stretched out his hand. “Mrs. Johnson, I’m Detective Darnell Jackson. Sorry to have to meet you under these circumstances.”
    As she turned toward him, he had a strange thought as their eyes met. Darnell would have liked meeting Candace Johnson without having to be the bearer of bad news. This woman had lost her husband and now a close friend, and she seemed to be taking it all in, or she was in shock.
    Candace reached