Read Online Dark Water by Sharon Sala - Free Book Online Page B

almost upon them before they realized they were no longer alone.
    At first Sarah didn’t recognize the woman, but then the woman smiled.
    â€œMiss Blake?”
    Moira Blake’s smile widened as she enveloped Sarah in a hug.
    â€œI wasn’t sure if you’d remember me,” Moira said. Her smile softened. “It’s wonderful to see you again, all grown-up.”
    Sarah was a little taken aback by the woman’s friendly welcome. She barely remembered her as someone who’d worked in her father’s bank.
    â€œI was a little girl when you last saw me. I’m surprised you knew who I was.”
    Moira felt Sarah’s reticence and realized she’d made a mistake in being so familiar. She shifted the flowers she was carrying to the crook of her arm and pulled the hood of her coat up over her hair.
    â€œNasty day, isn’t it?” When Sarah didn’t respond, she added, “Marmet is a small place, dear, and you’re the only new face in town. Besides, I asked Sheriff Gallagher. He told me you were staying with Tony. When I saw him, I deduced who you might be. Makes me a good detective, right?”
    Sarah looked from Tony to Moira. “You two seem to be on pretty good terms.”
    Tony shrugged. “I used to mow her yard, too,” he said. “Besides, our homes are only a couple of miles apart.”
    â€œI’m very sorry about your father,” Moira said.
    Sarah gauged Moira’s sincerity by the straightforward look in her eyes and decided she was telling the truth.
    â€œYes, well…thank you,” Sarah said. “We’re looking for my mother’s grave.”
    â€œI was just on my way there. Follow me. I’ll show you where it is.”
    â€œYou go to my mother’s grave?”
    Moira shrugged. “Yes.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause I liked her.”
    Again Sarah caught herself judging Moira Blake’s sincerity, but Moira’s gaze never wavered. Finally she nodded.
    â€œThank you. I’d appreciate it.”
    Within minutes, Sarah found herself standing at the head of her mother’s grave.
    Anna Catherine Whitman. Born October 28, 1944. Died September 3, 1979.
    Sarah stared at the words, waiting for a flood of emotion that never came.
    â€œShe was only thirty-four when she died. I don’t think I remembered that,” Sarah muttered, more to herself than to the others.
    Tony leaned down. “I’ll wait for you at the car,” he said, and walked away.
    Moira Blake stared at the expression on Sarah’s face and followed Tony, pausing briefly to replace the clump of dead flowers on the single grave with the ones she’d been carrying.
    Sarah stared at the bright red poinsettias against the brown earth, lifted her face to the sky and closed her eyes, feeling the drizzle fall soft against her skin. At that moment, she realized it had been raining the day of her mother’s funeral, as well. She shuddered and looked down. Moisture was collecting rapidly on the petals of the flowers in her hands. She laid them down beside the poinsettias, then stepped back.
    â€œI needed you, Mother. You shouldn’t have left me.” The lettering on the tombstone began to blur as Sarah drew a deep breath. “I’m not like you. I don’t quit. I don’t ever quit.”
    Then she lifted her head and walked away.

Five
    â€œW here did Moira Blake go?” Sarah asked as she slid into the seat.
    Tony could tell that the last thing Sarah cared about was the whereabouts of Moira Blake. However, he was willing to adhere to the change of subject to allow her time to regain her composure.
    â€œShe went home, but she did invite us to dinner one night this week. I told her we’d let her know.”
    Sarah leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes without commenting on the invitation.
    She looked so vulnerable and so lost. He wanted to hold her but knew she would not welcome the