Read Online Fran Rizer - Callie Parrish 06 - A Corpse Under the Christmas Tree by Fran Rizer - Free Book Online

to my book, but I don’t believe curiosity will kill me, so I phoned my brother John at Daddy’s house.
    “Little Sister, glad it’s you. I was about to ring you,” he said when Daddy called him to the telephone. John didn’t know about my telephone no longer ringing—it sings “I Feel Good” in James Brown’s voice.
    “I called to ask about your friend Jeff Morgan.”
    “What about him?”
    “Was he ever in the military?”
    “Are you kidding? Jeff’s father died in the Army and left him at the mercy of his mom. Jeff had all kinds of emotional turmoil about that—grief, sorrow, and anger at his dad. He wasn’t interested in the military at all. Wouldn’t even do ROTC in high school. Why?”
    “Miss Lettie wants him buried in a soldier’s uniform.”
    “She seemed a little ditzy when we went over there last night. I wondered if maybe her doctor had put her on a tranquilizer, but then, she was strange even back when we were kids. That’s why we always hung out at my house instead of his.”
    “What were you going to call me about?” I had my answer, so I changed the subject.
    “Miriam insists I go with her and the kids, and Pa’s making something to take over to Miss Lettie’s tonight. Instead of lunch, let’s meet at Rizzie’s for an early dinner. That way everyone can go. What time will you be off?”
    “About five today. I can be there by five-thirty.”
    “Fine. We’ll see you there.”
    I was back into my book when the phone rang again.
    “Middleton’s Mortuary. Callie Parrish speaking. How may I help you?”
    “Is the casket spray there yet?” I recognized Miss Lettie’s voice.
    “Yes, ma’am, and it’s beautiful.”
    “Oh,” her tone was disappointed. “Ellen is going to bring me over there to see my baby again, and I’m going to bring you the flag they gave me when we buried Jeffrey Senior. I thought about having it draped over the casket, but I’ll just leave it with you to present to me tomorrow. I called the Veterans Administration and they said they can’t send out any soldiers or a new flag unless I can prove Jeffrey Junior served in the armed forces.”
    When she ended the call, I went to Otis’s office. “Miss Lettie called,” I said. “She wants a flag presented tomorrow at Mr. Morgan’s service, but he was never in the military. She’s bringing us the one she got at her husband’s funeral.”
    “Never done that before, but Odell and I will present it to her. I don’t see anything wrong with that since the flag belongs to her anyway. So long as what they want isn’t against the law or decency, you know we always aim to please the bereaved.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Otis looked thoughtful. “Callie, I’ve been thinking about renaming our slumber rooms.”
    Dalmation! What now? I don’t think any widow is going to want her big, strapping truck driver husband lying in the Rose Room. Or maybe paint the rooms colors and call them names like at the White House. Mr. Jones is in the Blue Room and Mr. Smith is in the Green Room. Actually, that might not be too bad.
    “A lot of funeral homes call their slumber rooms ‘state rooms.’ That sounds good—like royalty or the Pope lying in state. I think families might like that,” Otis explained.
    “Sounds good.” That’s my answer to any suggestion made by either of my bosses unless I think it’s really terrible. After all, they sign my paychecks.
    “Peace in the Valley” announced an arrival. I met Miss Lettie and Ellen in the hall. Ellen handed me a flag folded in the traditional triangular shape. Miss Lettie stopped by the display case exhibiting Print Memories and Remembrance jewelry. Print Memories are gold and silver items with the deceased loved one’s fingerprints. We’ve sold a few of those, but not a lot. Remembrances are gold and silver chains and bracelets with translucent colored plastic pendants containing a tiny speck of ashes. Of course, lockets to hold cremains have been available for years. I