Read Online Grave Endings by Rochelle Krich - Free Book Online Page B

Cherokee and had crossed Hollywood when I heard someone calling my name. I turned and waited for Trina to catch up.
    â€œYou didn’t have to buy the corset,” she said.
    She hadn’t put on a jacket, but she didn’t seem to notice the cold that was nipping at my cheeks. Her face was flushed, and she was breathless—from exertion or urgency, I couldn’t tell.
    â€œI wasted your time and upset you,” I told her. “I’m sorry on both counts.”
    â€œWell, you should be.” She pushed a thick strand of blond hair behind an ear decorated with multiple studs. “You can return it. We don’t work on commission.”
    â€œI really like it. It
is
sexy and elegant. I bought a teddy, too.” I smiled, but Trina was all seriousness.
    â€œYou mentioned Doreen. Did you talk to her?”
    â€œNo. That’s one of the things I want to talk to you about. Can I buy you a cup of coffee?”
    She glanced behind her. “I have to get back to work.”
    â€œHow about after work? Five-thirty? Six?”
    Trina ran her chain across her lip. I sensed that she wanted to say yes, that she hadn’t run after me to talk about corsets.
    â€œDid you mean what you said, that you wanted to help prove Randy didn’t kill that woman six years ago?”
    â€œI want to find out the truth,” I said, though Trina’s truth and mine might not end up being the same. “The woman who was killed—”
    A truck backfired. I was startled, but Trina jumped at the loud noise and jerked her head around. When she turned back, the color had drained from her face, making the rose blusher look like clown’s paint.
    Her hand went to the chain around her neck. “I have to go.”
    â€œTrina—”
    â€œI don’t want to talk about Randy, okay?” she said with some of her earlier belligerence. “I just didn’t want you to be stuck with something you don’t want.”
    I barely heard her. I had sucked in my breath and was staring at the locket Trina had pulled out, a locket with an image of Rachel’s Tomb.
    â€œThat’s an unusual locket.” Buses were belching fumes, cars were honking. My words were pounding in my ears.
    â€œRandy gave it to me. It’s supposed to be good luck.”
    â€œIs there a red thread inside?”
    Trina’s eyes widened with surprise, which quickly changed to alarm. “Yeah. Why?” The
why
was defensive.
    â€œA friend of mine has a locket just like yours, with the red thread.”
    â€œRandy didn’t steal it, if that’s what you’re getting at.” She glared at me and clamped her hand around the locket before dropping it out of view.
    â€œI’m not saying that at all. I’d really like to talk, Trina. You have my card. Please call me.”
    â€œDon’t hold your breath. Well, you might have to, if you want to get into that corset.”
    She gave a nervous little laugh and practically ran down the block on those killer heels. I watched her for a few seconds before climbing back up the hill to my car. Bird droppings had decorated my windshield and someone had left a series of red-lipstick kisses on the driver’s window and side-view mirror.
    Hooray for Hollywood.

nine
    THE LOCKET THREW ME.
    If Randy had given his kid sister a locket identical to Aggie’s, including the red thread inside, it couldn’t be coincidence that he’d been in possession of Aggie’s. And it wasn’t likely that someone had planted it on him.
    So Connors and Porter were probably right—Creeley had killed Aggie.
    But why had he given his sister a locket like Aggie’s?
    Trina might have answers, but she wasn’t talking. Maybe I’d fare better with her father.
    I’d taken along the Google information, including Creeley senior’s phone number, which Gloria Lamont had matched to the one she had.
    I should probably phone first, I thought.