A Catered Birthday Party by Isis Crawford Read Free Book Online Page A

said as she paused to button the blond, full-length shearling coat she had on. “You should have called. We could have ridden together.”
    So you could have pumped us for information , Libby thought uncharitably as she apologized for their oversight.
    Bernie pulled the heel of her boot out of the semifrozen ground before replying. She kept forgetting that stilettos were not a good shoe to wear in this weather. “Well, since we were there when it happened,” she explained, leaving the “it happened” conveniently vague, “we thought we should be there at the end.”
    Bree didn’t look convinced. “How did you find out? This is a private affair. There’s going to be a memorial service for everyone in a couple of months.”
    “Really,” Bernie said. “How odd.”
    She didn’t mention that she and Libby had gotten all the details from Marvin last night. His dad may not have been handling the funeral, but that didn’t stop him from knowing everything.
    “Not really,” Bree replied. “It’s the way it’s done these days. Especially when the mourners are prostrate with grief. At least that’s what Richard tells me.”
    Had Bree actually rolled her eyes when she’d uttered that sentence? Bernie wasn’t sure. She’d have to ask her sister later.
    Bree turned to Libby. “Who knew?”
    “Not me for sure,” her sister replied.
    “Speaking of which,” Bree said, “does Richard know?”
    “That we’re coming?” asked Bernie.
    “No, Rudolph, that’s rude,” Bree said to her dog as he stopped to pee on a grave marker before turning her attention back to Bernie. “What else would I be talking about?”
    Libby put a gloved hand to her mouth and feigned wide-eyed innocence. “Oh dear. Do you think he’ll mind?”
    Bree swallowed. Libby knew Bree wanted to say something on the order of Tell me you’re kidding me . But she didn’t. Instead she cast her gimlet eyes on her and said, “You girls aren’t thinking of investigating, are you? After all, you did promise Annabel that you would.”
    “Oh no,” Libby said. “Perish the thought. We just said that so we could call the ambulance.”
    “What’s to investigate?” Bernie added. “Annabel’s death was declared an accident.”
    “Yes, it was,” Bree agreed. She paused for a moment while she considered her conversational options. Libby could see that she was having trouble finding a way to say what she wanted to. Finally, she came out with, “I know Annabel could be a bit overbearing from time to time, a bit hysterical, but I always admired her spirit.” She paused again and fiddled with the brown leather buttons on her coat. “She was a go-getter and I can relate to that.” She looked down at the ground for a moment before fixing her gaze on Bernie and Libby. “I understand that investigations can be…reopened…from time to time if sufficient reasons are found.”
    “So we’ve been told,” Bernie said.
    “Good reasons,” Bree reiterated.
    “Very good ones,” Bernie repeated.
    Bree nodded. “Of course one has to tread carefully where the superrich are concerned.”
    “Especially when they’re one’s bread and butter,” Bernie said.
    “There is that,” Bree said.
    Bernie nodded. “Makes sense to me.”
    Bree bent down and picked up Rudolph. “I thought you would understand,” she replied. “What does your dad say?”
    Bernie scratched Rudolph under his chin. He snorted in pleasure. “He says that mistakes have been known to happen. They’re not anyone’s fault. It’s just the way things occur.”
    The three women exchanged looks.
    “Good,” Bree said briskly. “Let’s join everyone, shall we? I believe the service is about to start.”
     
    Bernie could tell from the scowl on Richard Colbert’s face that he was not pleased to see them. Not pleased to see them was probably an understatement. And really, why should he be? she reflected. Essentially, they were crashing the funeral.
    But before he could say anything,