2 Lady Luck Runs Out by Shannon Esposito Read Free Book Online Page B

table again. Did this child not understand subtlety?       
    She glanced at me sharply and the candle in the middle of our table flared up.
    "Whoa!" Will sat back as the flame—and my sister—settled back down.
    "Bit windy tonight." I forced a smile. Mallory wouldn't look at me.
    Will glanced at the plants, which were only slightly swaying. "Well, this is Florida. Alligators in pools, snakes in garages... lots of wildlife to contend with."
    I sighed and resigned myself to the fact I was going to need more information to make him suspicious enough to investigate Rose's death as murder.
     
     

 
    CHAPTER NINE
     
    Sunday morning, our cab pulled up to the Memorial Chapel. Mallory coaxed Lucky gently back into the cat carrier and blew a stray strand of hair from her eye. Lucky meowed in protest. She was much happier on Mallory's lap.
    "This is for your own safety," Mallory whispered into the carrier. Then to me, "You owe me for this one, Sis."
    "I don't know why you're making such a big deal out of coming with me." I shot her a look as I dug some cash out of my straw bag and handed it to the driver. "Thank you."
    She grumbled something about hating funerals as she slid out of the cab without the carrier. I grabbed Lucky, wrestled the carrier out of the seat and met her at the front doors. "There's not even a dead body. She's already been cremated. It's just a ceremony."
    A guy in a gray silk suit opened the door for us and smiled politely. "Welcome."
    "Hi, we're here for the Rose Faraday memorial," I said, squashing the irritation I had with Mallory.
    "Certainly, just follow the hallway out..." he stopped and bent over to stare into the cage.
    "Is that a cat?"
    "Yes," I said, shifting Lucky to the other hand.
    "Well." He straightened up slowly, glancing behind him. "It's very unorthodox to bring a cat to a funeral service. I don't think I can allow it."
    I could tell he wasn't sure what to do with me. By his tight frown, I knew I was going to have to do some persuading. "Oh, it's okay." I put on my brightest smile. "This is... I mean, was ... Rose Faraday's cat, Lady Luck. Rose contacted me and asked me to please bring her today to give the poor thing closure. She's been very upset. The cat, not Rose, obviously. Not eating, crying all the time. She won't even walk on the floor." I lowered the carrier, hoping he wouldn't see Lucky's robust figure.
    "Miss Faraday... contacted you?" His face contorted in confusion. "I don't understand."
    "Mmhm. Came to me in a dream last night. You know she was a psychic, right?" I moved in closer to him so I could whisper. "Psychics can do that when they pass, you know. Get a message to someone."
    "I see." He glanced at Mallory and I had to give her credit. She nodded solemnly, though I could tell from her pinked cheeks she was about to bust.
    "Well, I suppose since the ceremony is outdoors." He was still staring at me suspiciously. "Just make sure the cat stays in the cage. We don't want any accidents in the Cremation Garden."
    "Of course." I nodded. "Thank you for your understanding. And the Cremation Garden would be?"
    "Follow the hallway through the double doors then follow the stone path, stay to the right at the fork."
    "Thank you." We hurried down the hall, through the assault of elevator music and an overactive Glade plug in.
    Mallory snorted as we hit the stone path. "Ha, I can't believe you lied to the man like that, Sis. I'm so proud of you."
    I switched Lucky's carrier to the other arm. For a ball of fur, he was heavy. "Yeah, well. It was for a good cause." I should have taken off my sweater. The October sun had already melted the slight chill from the morning air.
    "Cause you're trying to pawn Lucky off on some poor unsuspecting relative?"
    I smiled back at her. "Exactly."
    The path led us around the edge of a more traditional cemetery with its gray stones and statues, toward a lake where folding chairs sat under a temporary polyester canopy, waiting for occupants. We