Death Angel by Martha Powers Read Free Book Online Page B

handrail of the
pew, absorbing the vibrations of sound through her palms. Father Blaney left
the altar and approached the coffin. A whimper slipped through her control and
she reached out in panic for Richard, plucking at the sleeve of his suit. His
head was bowed and his whole body shook. She enclosed his fingers in her own,
clinging to him, as they followed the casket up the aisle.
    The doors of the church opened and Kate
flinched. Police, reporters, and a group of onlookers waited on the sidewalk.
Cameramen jostled for position on the stairs, one lens no more than two feet
away. Kate instinctively brought her hand up to shield her face. Richard pulled
her against his side, shouldering his way through the crowd to where the coffin
was being placed inside the hearse.
    One. Two. Kate focused on the cars drawn
up at the curb. Nineteen. Twenty. And others in the parking lot, marked with
the purple funeral stickers to indicate they would be going to the cemetery.
Kate remembered how for months after her cousin Connie’s funeral, a residue of
glue had stuck to the windshield, catching at the rubber edge of the wipers
whenever it rained.
    The back door of the hearse closed with
a leaden sound, and Richard led her to the funeral home limousine. The crowd of
reporters surged forward, pressing against the sides of the car, and she shrank
against Richard, closing her eyes to block out the avid curiosity on the faces
outside the windows.
    She shed no tears during the ceremony at
the graveside, received no comfort from the traditional words. None of it had
any relationship to Jenny of the twinkly eyes. Jenny, of the dirt-streaked face
and straggly black pigtails. Jenny, of the restless feet and lithe body.
    After the service, Kate and Richard were
led to a police car for the drive home. Once more the street was blocked off
and Kate was grateful for the protection. The clamor of the press and the
gawkers had been terrifying.
    Leidecker’s patrol car was parked in
front of the house. By the time they pulled into the driveway Carl was already
opening the door beside Kate. He held out his hand, but she didn’t move.
    “Is there any news?” she asked.
    Leidecker squatted on his heels so that
his face was level with hers. His expression was full of compassion and she
sensed his apology for this intrusion. “Nothing conclusive, Kate. It’s going to
take time.”
    She looked at him, waiting for him to
continue.
    In answer to her unspoken question, Carl
said, “There are a few things I need to clear up.”
    Richard leaned across Kate. “It’s been a
very long day. Couldn’t this wait until tomorrow?”
    “No.” Carl’s glance moved from Kate to
Richard. His expression hardened. “Although it’s not strictly necessary, in my
opinion, Richard, you should consider having a lawyer present.”
     

 
    Four

 
    I t took a moment for the import of Carl’s
words to register with Kate. “What . . . what’s going on?” Her head
swiveled between the two men in her confusion. “Richard?”
    After a moment of absolute stillness, he
blinked, eyes now shuttered as he turned his head away from her, one hand gripping
the door handle of the car with whitened fingers. The silence was
claustrophobic. In rising panic, she clutched Richard’s arm. His rigid body
relaxed at her touch.
    “Let’s go into the house, Kate,” he
said, opening his door.
    He got out, leaving her alone and
disoriented. At her side, Carl once more extended his hand. Frightened by the
police chief’s attitude, she waved him away and struggled out of the car.
    Her legs threatened to buckle under her.
She locked her knees until Richard was beside her and then took his arm,
leaning against him for support. Her emotions were so close to the surface that
she barely controlled the urge to run away.  
    Richard unlocked the front door and she
entered, all too conscious of Leidecker’s footsteps behind her. She led the way
to the family room at the back of the