The Resurrection of Josephine by Melinda Barron Read Free Book Online Page A

Dev came running back with a book in his hand.
    "A diary?” Martin nodded hopefully, but faded when Dev shook his head.
    "It's an old phone book, with addresses and numbers listed. And one of those numbers is for Sandra Tilbet. The address lists her on Royal Street."
    "What are the odds that she'd still live there?” Rumer came up behind Dev, glancing at the address book. “It's been fifty years."
    "Well, New Orleans is a small town at heart, and lots of people stay in the same house their whole life,” Martin said. “I say we go there tomorrow and check it out."
    After a discussion, it was decided that Rumer and Martin would go, since Noah was on for the early shift. Martin could tell Fletch and Dev wanted to take part, but they didn't want to overwhelm the lady either. That is, if they found her. In the end, his old friends offered to do more research on Josephine and see what they could come up with.
    When Dev, Fletch, and Quinn departed, Rumer turned to Martin. “Are you all right?"
    "Drained, is all,” he said. “Sometimes it really takes it out of me, and this was one of those times."
    "We could stay here,” Rumer replied. “There's a big bed upstairs. We don't have to have sex, just relax and sleep together."
    Martin nodded. Normally he pushed everyone away after a session, preferring to recharge his batteries on his own. Tonight, however, he felt the need for companionship from the two people standing in front of him.
    "Let's go.” Rumer held out her hand, and Martin took it.
    He followed her upstairs, with Noah staying behind to turn off lights and secure the house. Rumer led Martin to a room with a huge king-sized bed, and several posters featuring different scenes from New Orleans on the walls.
    "This was my room, growing up,” Rumer said softly. “Grandmother let me keep my posters here, and I stayed whenever I felt like it."
    "She seemed happy,” Martin offered, his voice low. “I know it's hard to be without her, but she wasn't sad, except about leaving unfinished business."
    "I'll finish it for her,” Rumer said, her eyes blazing with emotion. “Josephine LeClaire will regret the day she ever laid eyes on my grandmother."
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Chapter Eight
    "You would not believe how much she's looking forward to this.” Martin and Rumer followed the tall, dark-headed woman through the several rooms. “Ever since you called, she's been a bundle of energy, which is a good thing."
    The woman stopped and turned toward them. “Mother's not long for this world, and it does my heart good to see her happy about something. The cancer has eaten at her until she's so frail, sometimes it's hard for her to get out of bed."
    "We'll keep it short and try not to upset her” Martin said.
    "No, don't do that. She'd be upset if you babied her. This has been a wonderful development, and I know she's anxious to talk about Josephine. She's told me all about it and wants to help banish her for good. Their failure with Josephine has always weighed heavily on her mind."
    Martin and Rumer exchanged glances as Tori Tilbet-Smyer walked out the backdoor of the house in the garden district. When the two had gone to Sandra Tilbet's house that morning, they'd been informed she'd gone to live with her daughter six months previously. The helpful neighbor had given them a phone number, and Tori had gushed for them to “come right over."
    "Mama, they're here.” Tori sat down and patted her mother's hand, not in a condescending fashion, Martin noted, but with true affection. He smiled at the gesture, then held out a chair for Rumer.
    "I made coffee,” Tori said, indicating the tray, which held stoneware mugs and a huge coffee urn. “Or I can make tea, if you prefer."
    "Coffee, please, for both of us.” Martin swallowed another smile. It was as if they'd known each other forever. It had felt that way last night, too, when they'd gathered on the large bed, all of them naked, but none of them groping for each other.