Yellow Rose Mysteries 02 - A Wedding to Die For Read Online Free PDF Page B

assumptions. But since the last thing I wanted Jeff to think was that I was selfish and immature, I stifled the urge to rebel.
    “I saw blood on the corner of the fireplace hearth, here.” I circled the spot. “I think he hit those bricks when he went down after getting smashed from behind with the vase. He was probably facedown and Megan simply rolled him over onto her lap.”
    “Thank you for your astute observations, Ms. Rose.” She took the paper and slipped it to the back of the pad behind the unfinished pages.
    “So there was more than one wound?” Jeff asked, looking at Fielder, not me.
    I answered anyway. “He had a nasty mess at the back of his head. I saw a paramedic take a big shard out of his hair when they were moving him onto the backboard to do CPR.”
    “You really saw quite a bit.” She nodded her approval. “Jeff said you’d be a tremendous witness.”
    Smug bitch. If I ever needed an artificial heart I’d be sure and call her up. “Thanks so much,” I replied, pasting on my best fake smile.
    “And who else entered the room aside from the professionals?” she asked.
    “My sister . . . Travis . . . and Graham Beadford came in with the paramedics. Holt McNabb—he was the best man—”
    “I know who he is.”
    And please make sure I know you know . “Anyway, he was around,” I said. “The cousins—you’ve met them, right? Courtney and Roxanne? They wanted in to see their uncle, but their father kept them out.”
    “And Mrs. Beadford never entered?”
    “No. She’d passed out,” I said impatiently. “But I’m sure you know that, too.”
    Jeff squeezed my shoulder in a reassuring gesture before placing his elbows on his knees and leaning toward Fielder. I might have liked this tiny bit of support an hour ago, but not now. It was obvious he was uncomfortable showing affection toward me in front of her.
    “What else about the room?” Fielder asked. “Anything strike you as out of the ordinary?”
    I closed my eyes, picturing the scene. “Glass on the floor. Big chunks. And tiny pieces crunching underfoot. Wood floor with several Oriental rugs. Plenty of gifts on display—china, silver, candleholders, picture frames—and lots of unopened gifts, too.”
    “Anything else?”
    I held up a palm in her direction, my eyes still closed. “Two tapestry wing chairs with a table between them over by the bookshelves on the right side of the room. And glasses on the little table. Three, maybe four?” I opened my eyes and gave Fielder a questioning look, wondering if this jibed with what she knew.
    She just said, “Is that all?”
    “A beer bottle, maybe? Or two? One on the gift table and—”
    “You sure?”
    Was I? “Maybe not. A lot went down in a few short minutes.”
    “Now about this wedding book,” she said. “That could prove helpful since we believe some guests left the reception prior to the discovery of the body. Where did you put it?”
    “Mrs. Beadford took it from me when I came in.”
    Fielder pursed her glossed lips. “We haven’t found it.”
    Did she think I stashed the stupid thing somewhere to make her life more difficult? My neck muscles knotted up again. “So ask her where she put it,” I said, hoping I sounded civil.
    “Can’t ask her. She’s under sedation at the hospital.” Fielder sighed. “Okay, describe this book. Exactly what are we looking for?”
    As I told her, I couldn’t help but think about the woman in the brown hat. “There was at least one guest at the church who didn’t sign it. And who knows how many people only attended the reception and had to sign it at the house. If Mrs. Beadford didn’t get their names, there’s no way of knowing who all came and went.”
    “We have hundreds of pictures, Ms. Rose, and more to come, so we’ll eventually know who was here. If I showed you some photos, would you remember who signed the book and who didn’t?”
    Jeff, who had been chewing his gum and making sure he kept his hands off me,