Three Sisters by James D. Doss Read Free Book Online Page B

again would the energetic canines romp exuberantly on the lawn, chase a Frisbee thrown by Beatrice, or—for that matter—pursue an unseen creature into the forest on Spencer Mountain. Though she had been fond of her pets, Bea accepted the loss as one of those unfortunate events that are bound to happen from time to time, and comforted herself with the observation that having dogs around the house was not all wine and roses. Animals could be such a bother. No sentimentalists, these Spencer women. Like Daddy, they were made of tough stuff. But was it the right stuff?

    A few days after the meeting in the DA’s office, the sisters marched into the Sugar Bowl Restaurant, nodded curtly at a middle-aged waitress whose feet ached from too many years on concrete floors; knotty varicose veins traced circuitous backcountry road maps on her parchment-pale legs. In hope of a generous tip, Mandy smiled through the pain and led the wealthy women to a booth that was partially concealed behind a walnut-paneled partition.
    They waved away the proffered menus.
    “Sun tea,” said Beatrice with a flippant cheerfulness. “Lightly iced, with a slice of lemon.”
    Cassandra ordered a carafe of New Mexico Piñon coffee. “Freshly ground beans, if you please.”
    The weary waitress yes-ma’amed her customers, turned her back, allowed the smile to fall away.
    Beatrice and Cassandra exchanged a few bright comments about the new spring outfits at Felicia’s Fashions on Main Street. When Mandy had delivered the beverages and departed, Beatrice looked past her sister. “Well, guess who has surfaced.”
    Behind her, Cassandra heard footsteps on the tile floor. “Is it him ?”
    The older sister smiled. “Good morning, Andy.”
    Andrew Turner approached the booth, gazed at the attractive women. “Morning, Bea. Cassie.” The melancholy expression added just the right touch of gravitas to his boyish features. “I came in for some coffee.”
    “You may share mine.” Cassandra patted the seat beside her hip. “Please sit with us.”
    “Well…I wouldn’t want to disturb you.” Uncertainty clouded his brow. “Are you sure?”
    “Of course.” Beatrice was tempted to wink at her sister, who’d had a crush on Turner since he’d hit town two years ago and bought the ailing Granite Creek Electronics and Computers.
    “Very well, then.” Turner slid into the booth. Beside Beatrice.
    Cassandra’s mouth went thin. Hard.
    Oblivious to the tension, Turner released a mere spark of the dynamite smile—that dazzling flash of charm that had disarmed so many of their tender gender. “How are you two getting along? Under the grim circumstances, I mean.”
    Beatrice put on a brave face. “We are managing.” She arched an elegant eyebrow. “And yourself?”
    “The days are barely tolerable.” A manly set of the jaw, a shrug. “It’s at night when I…” His voice cracked, choked to a stop.
    Bea reached around his shoulders, gave him a hug. Also a little peck on the cheek.
    The best Cassandra could do was reach across the table and pat his hand. Hardly an effective follow-up to a kiss, the affectionate gesture went unnoticed. The dark-haired beauty felt cheated by her sister. If only the psychic could have foreseen the treachery that was just around the corner….
    Having lost interest in coffee, Turner waved away the approaching waitress, said to the sisters, “There’s something I must talk to you ladies about.”
    The sisters waited.
    He tap-tapped a finger on the table as if transmitting Morse code, decided on a preamble: “As you can well imagine, this has been a terribly traumatic time for me. I find it difficult to concentrate on practical matters, which nevertheless must be attended to.”
    The golden-haired sister took his hand in hers. This affectionate gesture was definitely noticed. Andrew returned Bea’s little squeeze.
    The star of Cassandra Sees displayed a brittle smile. Unseen, under the table, the psychic bent a spoon into