The Graves of the Guilty (Hope Street Church Mysteries Book 3) by Ellery Adams Read Free Book Online Page B

Has his mama heard about what happened to him yet? Was he married? Does he have children waiting for him to come home?” Ashley’s voice cracked on the word “home.”
    “I’ve been thinking the same things,” Cooper admitted and pushed her unfinished sandwich away. “I feel like I’ve been moving through fog today. I can’t get the image of him out of my mind.” She gazed around the fast food eatery. None of the other diners could displace the image of the sallow, waxen face and the tape-covered mouth of a lot attendant named Miguel.
    When Ashley spoke again, she sounded calmer. “Thanks for coming over last night, Coop. I couldn’t have handled it without you. Did you get home okay?”
    “Edward had my truck ready to go, as promised.”
    “Ah, the mysterious Edward. The dark knight to the rescue,” Ashley attempted levity. “And what does Nathan have to say about his competition?”
    Cooper stuffed the remains of her lunch in the trash and tried to ignore the guilt stirring in her stomach. “I haven’t told him yet. All I could manage last night was changing into my pajamas and brushing my teeth. I’ll call him later.”
    There was something judgmental about the way Ashley murmured, “Hmm.”
    “What are you not saying, Ashley?” Cooper demanded as she hurried out to the Make It Work! shredder truck, which took up four parking spots and released a noxious cloud of black smoke when the ignition was fired up.
    “Nothing.” Ashley’s reply was nearly drowned out by the growl of the truck engine. “It just sounds like you might have forgotten that today’s Grammy’s birthday and we’re all having supper at Mama and Daddy’s house. Including Nathan. You invited him weeks ago. I remember because I thought it was so sweet that he insisted on getting Grammy a present.”
    Slapping the steering wheel, Cooper moaned. “Her gift! I have to go, Ashley. If I’m going to make it to the camera store by five, I’d better get my work finished.”
    “Just don’t mention our . . . unpleasant experience in front of Grammy. Mama doesn’t want anything to spoil her special evening.”
    “I doubt we can keep this from Grammy,” Cooper said. “She’s mighty sharp and it won’t be easy to act like nothing’s happened.”
     “I know.” Ashley sighed. “On the other hand, Grammy’s a woman. All women are distracted by pretty things, and I’m bringing her some jaw-dropping, eye-popping, let’s-not-talk-about-babies-or-dead-men-named-Miguel pretty things.”
    Cooper disagreed with her materialistic sister about their chances of fooling their observant grandmother but chose to remain quiet. She spent the rest of the workday emptying document bins at a furious pace and arrived at the camera store ten minutes before closing.
    The clerk, a friendly retiree named Janice, immediately recognized Cooper. Reaching below the counter, she proudly showed off the results of their joint planning. Once Janice was convinced that Cooper was completely delighted with the present, she wrapped it in tissue paper and then slid it into a gift bag decorated with birthday balloons. “Come back sometime and tell me how the surprise went over.”
    “I’ll do that,” Cooper promised and thanked Janice once more on the way out.
    Gift in hand, Cooper relaxed for the first time that day. At the next red light, she slid her cell phone’s earpiece onto her right ear and called Nathan. She wanted to tell him about last night so he had time to compose himself before appearing at her parents’ house for dinner. But that was only half the reason she decided not to tell him face-to-face. She didn’t trust herself not to blush when she mentioned the role Edward Crosby had played.
    Nathan, who worked as a Web designer from his home office, answered on the first ring. Cooper hurriedly told her boyfriend what had happened and then apologized for not phoning earlier.
    “I’m sure you’re still in a state of shock. And exhausted, too,”