Read Online South River Incident by Ann Mullen - Free Book Online Page A

buried his beloved dog?
    Once inside Cole’s house, I
settled into the recliner by the fireplace as they talked. Memories of each
room and the intense lovemaking we had shared came flooding back. Suddenly, I
felt empty inside. A deep sadness came over me. I knew things would never be
the same. Once again I had let myself love a man more than he loved me. The
pain was almost unbearable. I could feel the tears build up inside of me, but I
made myself stifle them. I would not let Cole see me cry. I would not pour out
my heart to a man who no longer wanted my love. Maybe he didn’t say that in so
many words, but that’s how it felt.
    Cole offered Billy a beer.
I waved him off when he offered me one.
    “No thanks,” I said. “All
we’ve had this morning is coffee. I don’t think we need to be drinking until we
get some food in our stomachs.” I looked over at Billy.
    “No problem,” Cole said.
“Why don’t I fix us all a sandwich?”
    “Sounds good to me,” Billy
responded.
    A few minutes later, Cole
brought sandwiches and beer on a tray, and placed them on the coffee table.
Billy started to dig in as I continued to sit rigid in my chair, hoping for
some sign from Cole that all was well. But all was not well. Finally, I grabbed
a sandwich and started eating, pretending that everything was okay. I refused
to let Cole see that my heart was broken.
    I felt like I was on the
outside looking in. Cole and Billy discussed as much about the severed hand and
the dead body as each one would allow of themselves. When they reached the
subject of my watch and how it turned up with the dead woman, sparks began to
fly.
    “All we want to know is
whether or not the watch was found near or on the body.  Is that so hard to
answer?”
    “I can’t tell you that,”
Cole said. “I don’t know.”
    Billy went off. He jumped
up from his chair. “You’re lying! You know everything the sheriff knows so stop
lying to us! What kind of friend are you? Cole, you and I’ve been friends for a
long time. We grew up together. But this is the end. You have a woman here who
loves you and would probably give up everything for you, but instead of being there
for her, you turn your back on her. And now you’ve turned your back on me. All
of this for a job! I’m ashamed of you. You’re a coward! And you are no friend
of mine anymore!”
    “Come on, Billy,” Cole
said. “I swear that I don’t know anything about that watch. I can promise you
this, whatever I find out, you will be the first to know. I am your friend.
Please don’t let this get in the way.”
    Billy looked at me with
anger so intense, I almost broke out in a sweat.
    Did I miss something? Cole
had not lived up to my expectations, but I would get over it. Billy, on the
other hand, was livid. I had never seen him this mad. He was on the edge.
    “What just happened back
there?” I asked as Billy and I walked through the snow to get to his truck. He
had me by the arm in a death grip ever since he had pulled me out of Cole’s
house. I was almost afraid to speak.
    “He’s a worm, Jesse. Don’t
you see that? He’s supposed to be in love with you but the minute things get
rough, he bails out. He doesn’t deserve you. Not only that, but he doesn’t
deserve my friendship. I’d write off this one if I were you. I know I am.”
    I hated to admit it, but I
could see where Billy was coming from. He did have a point. I know that Cole
was caught in the middle, but isn’t that the test of true love? When things get
bad, don’t you always choose the one you love over adversity? Isn’t friendship
important, too? I could see that Cole’s actions hurt Billy. They had been
friends ever since they were kids. They trusted each other. Now that friendship
had been put to the test, and unfortunately, I think Cole had failed. Did Billy
just say that Cole didn’t deserve me? I must be hearing things. 
    We left Cole standing in
the doorway of his house. I didn’t know what was going on in