The Lake House Secret, A Romantic Suspense Novel (A Jenessa Jones Mystery) by Debra Burroughs Read Free Book Online

call?”
    Jenessa followed the woman’s instructions and knocked on Mr. McCaffrey’s door. She hadn’t been to this place in quite a few years, but she remembered attending an open house launch party when the two men first went into business together and moved into these offices.
    “Come in,” she heard a deep male voice say. She opened the door and Mr. McCaffrey shot out of his chair, stepping toward her with his hand extended.
    Dressed in a well-tailored suit, Ian McCaffrey was a bit older than her father, his hair mostly gray, but he appeared to be in good health and he had a strong grip.
    “So good to see you again, Jenessa. I wish it was under better circumstances.” His voice was warm and sounded sincere. “Here, have a seat.” He nodded toward the two club chairs sitting opposite his desk before returning to his seat.
    They sat and exchanged pleasantries and small talk for a few minutes before diving into the real reason she was there.
    “I’ve searched Dad’s home office for his burial instructions, but I haven’t been able to find any. Would you know anything about that?”
    “We have his Will here and there might be something in the file with it.” He pushed the intercom button on his desk phone. “Kathleen, can you bring me the file for David Jones’s estate plan?”
    “Right away,” the female voice answered over the speaker.
    “Do you have any idea when the funeral might be?” he asked.
    “Not yet. We’d like to find out what his wishes were before we give the coroner directions on where to release the body. That’s why I’m here.”
    “By we I’m assuming you mean you and your sister?”
    “Yes, and Aunt Renee.”
    “Ah, yes.” His eyes lit up and a mischievous smile curled on his lips. “Renee Giraldy.”
    Jenessa wasn’t sure what he meant by that. Had he had some kind of personal connection with her in the past? It wouldn’t surprise her if he had.
    “My guess is that the funeral will be Friday or Saturday,” she said. “I’ll let you know.”
    “How long are you staying in town?”
    “Actually, I’m moving back. I got a job at the Hidden Valley Herald, and I’ll be staying at my folks’ house for a while.”
    His assistant knocked lightly, then entered with a folder that she handed to her boss.
    “Thank you, Kathleen.”
    She walked out and quietly closed the door behind her.
    He opened the folder on his massive cherry desk and stuck his glasses on. “Let’s see.” He flipped through a few pages and pulled out a document. “It says here he wants to be buried beside his wife. Apparently, he had already purchased the plot when he buried your mother.”
    Under the big elm tree.
    He handed her the sheet of paper and she scanned over it. Everything was detailed from the coffin model to the church where her dad wanted the funeral service held, listing the pastor he had chosen to preside and the music he wished to be played. That had been her father, disciplined and orderly, carefully orchestrating his perfect, neat little life—including what would happen at the end of it.
    “So considerate of him to think of everything,” she said, her voice sounding a bit sarcastic. She hadn’t meant for it to betray her underlying feelings.
    Mr. McCaffrey frowned quizzically. “I know he didn’t want you girls to be burdened with it,” he said. “Oh, and by the way, his car is still in the parking lot.”
    “I thought it might be. As soon as I get the keys from the coroner’s office, I’ll come by and pick it up.” She folded the paper and tucked it in her purse. “Is there anything else I should know?”
    “Like what?”
    “His finances. How can I find out if he’s current on the house payments and car payments? You know, that sort of thing.”
    “Both the house and car are paid for, so no worries there. He was very disciplined—he hated owing anyone anything.”
    ~*~
    Once Jenessa left the law offices, she drove over to her aunt’s house to share what she’d