An Unmarked Grave by Kent Conwell Read Free Book Online Page B

at the front of the room. Justin Chester
had been cremated.
    After the brief service, Tricia Chester, wearing a black
hat and dress, stopped me outside the funeral home. "Thank
you for coming, Tony. Justin would have wanted you to be
here. He thought the world of you"
    Ears burning, I nodded and mumbled, "It's a shame. He
had a lot of life ahead of him"
    She blinked back the tears welling in her eyes. "The family and friends are gathering at the house" She laid a hand
on my arm. "I'd like for you to come if you don't mind"
    Death is a natural part of life. At the moment of our birth, we begin dying. I've never had any trouble facing the
specter of death. Sure, there were times that death hurt more
than others, but it is the final act for each of us on this earth.

    On the other hand, I was always uncomfortable at a gathering after a funeral, although it was a common practice.
Except for family, I always begged off.
    Tricia must have seen the reticence in my face, for she
lowered her voice and whispered urgently, "I must talk to
you, Tony. I don't believe Justin's death was an accident"
    That was enough said.
    The crowd in the dayroom at the mansion was twice the
size of the one at the funeral. The mood was subdued, but
from the soft laughter and furtive smiles, I had the feeling
that Justin Chester was the last thing on their minds.
    Like a lord overseeing his realm, Frank Chester, with his
wife on his arm, made his way around the room, greeting
all with a somber look and a brief handshake.
    When he reached me, he nodded and took my hand. He
introduced me to his wife, Judith. Now, I've had the look of
disdain fixed on me more times than I can count by Beatrice
Morrison, my on-again, off-again significant other's aunt,
who is the queen of the condescending eye.
    Let me tell you, Judith Chester could match Beatrice
condescending eye for condescending eye.
    I nodded to her. "Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Chester."
    A pained smile cracked her perfectly painted lips.
    Frank spoke up, his voice resonating with patronizing gratitude. "Thank you for all you did for us, Mr. Boudreaux. At
least we had the opportunity to spend some time with our
brother"

    And the lordly couple moved on.
    Across the room, Tricia caught my eye and cut hers to
the large veranda beyond the glass doors.
    Pausing at the buffet, I skipped the cocktails and placed a
couple of tiny sandwiches on a delicate china plate and went
out to the veranda, halting at the three-foot brick wall around
its perimeter. Beyond lay the gray waters of Lake Travis far
below. I shivered as the December wind cut through my
jacket.
    Moments later, Tricia came to stand by my side. "Thank
you for coming, Tony" She gestured to the lake, as if pointing out some of the sights. "I didn't know who else to call,
but I think someone deliberately killed Justin, or had him
killed."
    I resisted the impulse to look at her. Instead, I played her
game. "Just what happened?"
    "Car wreck. The sheriff at Elysian Hills said the justice of
the peace declared Justin was drunk when he lost control of
his pickup. He ran into a tree, and the pickup rolled down the
side of a hill into a creek"
    A tiny frown knit my brow. Gus Perry was the sheriff, I
remembered. He had denied knowing Justin, the very man
on whom he had run a criminal check at the request of the
elementary school principal, Georgiana Irvin, some months
earlier. I nibbled at the sandwich and grimaced. Just my luck,
pimento cheese. I hated pimento cheese. You'd think rich
folks would at least have a slice of ham in there. Of course,
maybe that's one reason they have so much money. "I didn't
think Justin drank anymore"
    For several seconds, Tricia remained silent. Then, in a soft, strained voice, she replied, "He doesn't-I mean, didn't. But
that isn't all. Before he went back to that little town, uh-"

    "Elysian Hills."
    "Yes, Elysian Hills. We probated Father's will"
    Now I couldn't resist looking around