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Authors: Sharon Pape
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Clarissa’s face brightened. “You’re not going to believe this, but after Brian is…well…settled, I was going to look for a private investigator. And you know what they say—there’s no such thing as a coincidence.”
“I’ve always subscribed to that theory myself,” Helene said. “And you won’t find a better investigator anywhere. In fact, you may have read last summer about how Rory solved two murder cases the police hadn’t—”
“Aunt Helene,” Rory interrupted sweetly, “let’s not bore Clarissa with my résumé.”
“That’s okay,” Clarissa said. “I really think you’re meant to be the one. Do you mind if we talk business for a few minutes?”
Although Rory didn’t think it was the right time or place for a business meeting, she supposed it was up to Clarissa to decide on the proper etiquette for her son’s wake.
Helene promptly excused herself to give them some privacy, and a moment later, Rory found herself seated beside Clarissa in the first pew, feet from where Brian lay in repose.
“As a rule I refrain from talking about my son,” Clarissa began stiffly, “so this is going to be a bit difficult for me.”
“Take your time,” Rory said, “and please be assured that anything you tell me will be kept in the strictest confidence.”
She nodded and produced a lopsided, little smile as if she had half a mind to continue and another to cut and run. Rory watched the inner struggle play out on the woman’s face.
“Okay,” Clarissa said finally, “here goes. My son could be both utterly charming and absolutely despicable. As a result, he had a fair number of enemies, which is why he moved around a lot and used aliases.”
Apparently, Clarissa didn’t believe in not speaking ill of the dead. Rory thought she might have at least waited until her son wasn’t in the same room.
“I’ve been expecting this day for the last twenty years,” Clarissa went on. “I knew Brian would die in a violent way, though I didn’t anticipate it happening quite like this.”
“Are you saying you believe Brian was murdered?” Rory asked, hoping her voice didn’t betray how ridiculous she found the question.
“Yes, I think it’s a distinct possibility.”
“But you do know that he was killed in a flash flood, right?”
“I do.”
“And that the police investigation and coroner’s report all confirmed that it was an accident caused by a horrific mistake on the part of someone at the weather bureau?”
“Yes.” A bored expression had settled over Clarissa’s features as if she were waiting for the inevitable questions to run their course.
“The odds of someone succeeding at murder by flash flood must be astronomical,” Rory pointed out.
“Which is why the killer didn’t plan any of it.”
“An opportunistic murder?” she asked. “Someone wanted Brian dead and was willing to wait until the perfect scenario might present itself?”
Clarissa nodded.
“People bent on revenge aren’t generally known for that kind of patience,” Rory pointed out. “And even if you’re right, how did someone manage to drown Brian while not also succumbing to the flood? Brian was probably the strongest, most able-bodied person in the canyon that day.”
“Believe me, I’ve considered every one of your questions and others you haven’t thought of yet. And no, I haven’t completely lost my mind.”
“I didn’t mean to imply—”
“I know, dear, but let’s just assume for the time being that he was murdered.”
The old saying that the customer was always right popped into Rory’s head. “Okay,” she said, although she thought it was a waste of time.
“Even though Brian may have deserved what he got,” Clarissa said, “I can’t live out the rest of my days without knowing what actually happened.”
“That’s certainly your right,” Rory said thinking she wouldn’t have much of a business if people didn’t feel the need for closure.
“This may sound
Clarissa’s face brightened. “You’re not going to believe this, but after Brian is…well…settled, I was going to look for a private investigator. And you know what they say—there’s no such thing as a coincidence.”
“I’ve always subscribed to that theory myself,” Helene said. “And you won’t find a better investigator anywhere. In fact, you may have read last summer about how Rory solved two murder cases the police hadn’t—”
“Aunt Helene,” Rory interrupted sweetly, “let’s not bore Clarissa with my résumé.”
“That’s okay,” Clarissa said. “I really think you’re meant to be the one. Do you mind if we talk business for a few minutes?”
Although Rory didn’t think it was the right time or place for a business meeting, she supposed it was up to Clarissa to decide on the proper etiquette for her son’s wake.
Helene promptly excused herself to give them some privacy, and a moment later, Rory found herself seated beside Clarissa in the first pew, feet from where Brian lay in repose.
“As a rule I refrain from talking about my son,” Clarissa began stiffly, “so this is going to be a bit difficult for me.”
“Take your time,” Rory said, “and please be assured that anything you tell me will be kept in the strictest confidence.”
She nodded and produced a lopsided, little smile as if she had half a mind to continue and another to cut and run. Rory watched the inner struggle play out on the woman’s face.
“Okay,” Clarissa said finally, “here goes. My son could be both utterly charming and absolutely despicable. As a result, he had a fair number of enemies, which is why he moved around a lot and used aliases.”
Apparently, Clarissa didn’t believe in not speaking ill of the dead. Rory thought she might have at least waited until her son wasn’t in the same room.
“I’ve been expecting this day for the last twenty years,” Clarissa went on. “I knew Brian would die in a violent way, though I didn’t anticipate it happening quite like this.”
“Are you saying you believe Brian was murdered?” Rory asked, hoping her voice didn’t betray how ridiculous she found the question.
“Yes, I think it’s a distinct possibility.”
“But you do know that he was killed in a flash flood, right?”
“I do.”
“And that the police investigation and coroner’s report all confirmed that it was an accident caused by a horrific mistake on the part of someone at the weather bureau?”
“Yes.” A bored expression had settled over Clarissa’s features as if she were waiting for the inevitable questions to run their course.
“The odds of someone succeeding at murder by flash flood must be astronomical,” Rory pointed out.
“Which is why the killer didn’t plan any of it.”
“An opportunistic murder?” she asked. “Someone wanted Brian dead and was willing to wait until the perfect scenario might present itself?”
Clarissa nodded.
“People bent on revenge aren’t generally known for that kind of patience,” Rory pointed out. “And even if you’re right, how did someone manage to drown Brian while not also succumbing to the flood? Brian was probably the strongest, most able-bodied person in the canyon that day.”
“Believe me, I’ve considered every one of your questions and others you haven’t thought of yet. And no, I haven’t completely lost my mind.”
“I didn’t mean to imply—”
“I know, dear, but let’s just assume for the time being that he was murdered.”
The old saying that the customer was always right popped into Rory’s head. “Okay,” she said, although she thought it was a waste of time.
“Even though Brian may have deserved what he got,” Clarissa said, “I can’t live out the rest of my days without knowing what actually happened.”
“That’s certainly your right,” Rory said thinking she wouldn’t have much of a business if people didn’t feel the need for closure.
“This may sound
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