When Rain Falls Read Online Free PDF

out and shook his hand. Her hand was small and delicate in his. She slipped her hand out of his and sat down. Tears leaked down her cheeks.
    Seeing a box of tissues at the corner of Candace’s desk, Darnell reached for a few and passed them to her.
    â€œThank you, Detective. You know, I waited all morning for her to show up.” Candace choked up. “I called her, like, a hundred times. I knew something was wrong.”
    Darnell said, “I’m sorry. This is a difficult time. Were you aware if Ms. Coleman had plans last night?”
    â€œI know she had some event with the law firm. Some client had an opening at an art gallery. She invited me, but I really was too tired to attend.”
    That confirmed what the parents, specifically Pamela’s mother, had said earlier. If she’d asked her friend to attend and her friend turned down the invitation, did that mean Pamela attended the event alone?
    A strangled laugh escaped Candace’s throat. “We’d just met for lunch yesterday. The lunch was really about her checking up on me.” Candace looked over at Brunson, then back at Darnell. “Pamela ... thought I needed to stop grieving.”
    Brunson barked, “What? It’s barely been two years.” His shoulders drooped. “Man, I’m sorry.”
    Silence consumed the room. Darnell assumed the uniformed man in the photo sitting on the shelf behind Candace was the deceased detective, Frank Johnson. Frank’s wife and his former partner appeared to cling to their own memories for a long minute.
    Darnell didn’t want to break the silence, but he still needed to get an idea of Pamela’s frame of mind. “You mentioned Pamela asked you to attend the art gallery event. Would there have been someone she took as a date last night?”
    Candace remained quiet.
    Darnell gently prodded her. “Anything you can think of is important.”
    â€œHow did she die?”
    Not expecting the question, Darnell looked at Brunson. Was this a good idea? “Well, it’s early in the investigation, but we did find her at home. Do you know if anyone Ms. Coleman knew would have access to her home?”
    â€œYes, her parents. I have a key. Never really had to use it. She normally likes to visit our home.” Candace put her hand to her mouth and shook her head. “There is someone else.”
    Brunson spoke up. “Candace, are you referring to a relationship?”
    â€œYes.” She blew out a breath. “We just talked about it yesterday. She told me it was over, but I didn’t believe her. Things just went on and on. No closure.”
    â€œDo you feel he would have harmed her?” Darnell asked, with his pen posed over his notebook. Give me a name to work with here.
    A hint of anger flashed in her eyes. “I believe he would have done anything to keep the relationship a secret. He had more to lose.”

Chapter Seven
    Candace’s hands trembled as she turned the car into North Valley High School’s parking lot. Maybe she should have taken Beulah’s and Tangie’s suggestion to let someone drive her home. The modularly designed high school loomed ahead. Normally, it was only a ten-minute drive from the salon to the school, but the time seemed to stretch as Candace struggled to hold her composure and her tears. She pulled into the parking space outside the school office and turned the car engine off.
    Her body felt numb. Would her legs even hold her up when she climbed out of the SUV? She sat, staring out the windshield at nothing in particular.
    After the detectives left, she realized that she needed to be the one to tell her children the devastating news. Both Rachel and Daniel, especially her daughter, adored Pamela. In pursuit of her career, her friend had forfeited, with some reservations, marriage and a family. Not that Pamela didn’t have an opportunity. The woman was engaged to be married twice. In the midst of wedding