Blood Rubies by Jane K. Cleland Read Free Book Online Page B

shook out his pant legs before joining him. The two men walked toward Timothy.
    Timothy got them positioned ten feet from the water. “You know what to do, right? You’re going to walk along the beach talking about the wedding, then Chuck, you’ll stop to congratulate Jason. Do it earnestly. Shake his hand. Tell him what a great gal Heather is. Make it look natural and spontaneous. Then continue walking down the beach, talking.” The cameras rolled into place, and one of the crew told Timothy they were ready. “Ready?”
    â€œReady,” Chuck said, looking embarrassed.
    â€œSure,” Jason said, looking bored.
    â€œKeep your energy up, both of you! This is an exciting moment. Men’s friendship.”
    â€œGot it,” Jason said, smiling a little.
    â€œGood, good. Let’s do it!” He gave a thumbs-up to each cameraman, received one in return, then looked back at Jason and Chuck. “Rolling! Action!”
    â€œThe weather’s perfect for a wedding,” Chuck said. “You must be living right to get an early spring this far north.”
    â€œAlways, my friend. Always.”
    Chuck stopped, and when Jason turned to face him, he held out his hand.
    â€œHeather’s a great girl, Jason,” Chuck said.
    The two men shook.
    â€œReally, pal. Big-time congrats.” Chuck grasped Jason’s elbow with his left hand, a touching tribute.
    â€œThanks, Chuck. I’m lucky as hell, and I know it.”
    The two men resumed their stroll, chatting about mutual friends who were coming to the wedding. I stood and watched, rapt, for several minutes, then headed back to work.
    *   *   *
    I arrived at Ana’s cottage at the same time as she did, five minutes before our scheduled five-thirty appointment. The clouds had thickened, and the temperature had dropped. I pulled up behind her in the driveway and got out. An east wind, the coldest kind, swirled up stray leaves and blew my hair every which way.
    I called hello.
    She smiled. “You’re right on time.” She stepped out of her car holding a big bouquet of yellow and white tulips, the cellophane wrap rustling in the breeze.
    â€œBeautiful flowers.”
    â€œI love tulips,” she said. Her eyes went to a white SUV with Massachusetts plates parked off to the side. “That must be my dad’s car, although … Never mind. Let’s go inside before we freeze to death.”
    â€œCan you believe the change? It was just all sunny and warm—now this.”
    We walked along the side path. “You know what they say about New Hampshire,” Ana said. “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.”
    â€œI’ve always wondered about that,” I said. “Lots of places say the same thing.”
    â€œFunny, isn’t it? We all think our world is unique.” We climbed the porch steps and entered the living room. “Dad?” She raised her voice. “Dad? Where are you?” She turned to me and made a “beats me” face. “He’ll turn up, I’m sure. Let me get some lights on. You know the cloud cover is thick when it’s this dark in here. Looks like rain’s a-comin’.” She flipped a wall switch, and an overhead crystal chandelier lit up. “Come on in and—” She stopped short. “Oh, my God!” She dropped the tulips and pressed her fingers against her lips.
    Startled, I followed her gaze. Jason lay on the hearth, his eyes open, staring at the ceiling. His head rested in a puddle of shiny dark red liquid. Spiderweb-shaped rivulets ran along and between the stones and into the cracks and crevices of the old oak-plank floor. Bits of glass and colored metal were strewn on him, over the stones, in the liquid mess, and across the floor.
    I hurried toward him. “Call nine-one-one.”
    â€œThat’s blood,” Ana whispered.
    I dropped to my knees and slid my hands