Read Online Castle Cay by Lee Hanson - Free Book Online

Castle Cay. Marc, who was alone with her
when it happened, was devastated. It was John Drum, Julie recalled,
who coordinated efforts with Milton Solomon to have Miriam’s body
taken back to Boston, not Marc.
    Deep in denial, Marc had refused to attend
the funeral. Julie had understood. She knew that Marc had long felt
rejected by both his father and his brother. For him, losing Miriam
was like losing his entire family. He had stayed, instead, on
Castle Cay. For three weeks, Marc painted through his grief. And
when he left there, it was forever.
    Julie took another sip of her coffee,
thinking back to 1994.
    In the months that followed Miriam’s death,
Marc had returned to school in Brookline, more passionate about his
art than ever. For Julie, however, the time had dragged
by…interminable, unbearable. She could see little reason to
continue on…with anything.
    During a break in their schedules, Marc had
come to Gainesville to visit her. Julie had been withdrawn, quiet.
In truth, there was only one thing she longed to say to
him… Goodbye.
    Marc had guessed what she was thinking:
     
    “ Suicide is selfish, Julie! Would Dan have
ever done something like that? Would he have left you like
that?”
    “ No…but he’s gone.”
    “ Well, I’m not!” said Marc, tears filling
his eyes. “It would break my heart, Julie. Promise me, right now,
that you won’t ever do that!”
    She couldn’t bear the frightened look on his
face. She hugged him tightly to her. “It’s all right, Marc. I
won’t. I promise.”
    “ Solemn promise?”
    “ Solemn Promise.”
     
    Julie stood and put a tip on the table,
leaving her unfinished coffee and paper behind. She was ready for
Marc’s wake now.
    * * * * *

Chapter 22
    S kirting limo drivers and furtive
smokers, Julie climbed the stairs of the stately Woodland Memorial
Funeral Home. She found Marc’s room, the main salon. It was filled
to capacity with roses and mourners.
    Pete and Joan were already there. They were
standing with a small group, talking quietly. Julie signed the
guest book, and nodded to them, indicating that she was going to
see Marc. On her way to the casket through the center of the room,
she noticed the Solomons were seated on the left, near the front.
She would go there, afterward.
    It wasn’t as horrifying as Julie had feared.
The lifeless body didn’t look like Marc. In truth, it wasn’t him. Marc was in God’s hands now. Julie closed her eyes and knelt
beside the coffin. Tears welled, but quickly dissipated, as intense
anger trumped grief. At that moment, Julie made her last and most
solemn promise to her friend.
    I know you didn’t do this, Marc. I won’t let
them say you did, my dear friend. Someone else did this…and I’m
going to find them. I’m going to make them pay.
    Julie rose, and walked over to the family.
Marc’s brother, Avram, rose to greet her. He was darkly handsome
and taller than she’d remembered.
    “Avram, I’m so sorry about Marc.”
    “Julie. Thank you for coming all the way from
Florida,” he said, holding her hand in both of his. “That was nice
of you. It would have meant a lot to Marc.”
    Nice of me? Surely he knows how close we
were? And he’s holding my hand in both of his, a politician’s
grip.
    “I can’t believe it,” she said, “I was just
down to see them. Marc mentioned that he’d been talking with you
recently?”
    “Yes…just some business matters…on the
phone”.
    He hesitated and added the bit about the
phone; the corners of his mouth are drawn down, too, a negative
expression.
    “He looked well to me, Avram. How was he when
you talked to him?”
    “He seemed fine, Julie.” He brushed some hair
off his brow. “I guess that’s why this whole thing has been such a
terrible blow.”
    He touched his forehead. He’s looking in my
eyes, but not blinking. His face doesn’t match his words. For
whatever reason, he’s lying.
    “Yes. An awful shock,” she said.
    It was obvious to Julie that Avram