Read Online Stake & Eggs by Laura Childs - Free Book Online

crack
     a filling.
    “There’s really nothing to see,” Suzanne said, trying to sound practical. In fact,
     that was pretty much the honest truth. Ben Busacker’s body was no longer lying out
     back, nor was his smashed snowmobile there. Sheriff Doogie, Sam Hazelet, and Deputy
     Driscoll had seen to that almost immediately. Everything had been hauled away for
     preservation as well as investigation.
    Toni suddenly crept in beside them. “There’s crime-scene tape,” she piped up helpfully,
     looking directly at Claudia. “And the stakes are still there. So, you could see that.”
    Claudia made a pathetic little mewling sound. She put a gloved hand to her mouth and
     looked like she was about to collapse.
    “Too much information,” Suzanne whispered to Toni.
    Claudia waved a hand. “No, I want to see it…I really do.”
    “You really don’t have to,” said Suzanne.
    But Claudia was adamant. “I want to see where my husband drew his final breath,” she
     said firmly. “I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t do this.” She gazed at Suzanne
     and then at Toni. “I need closure.”
    “Got it,” said Toni.
    Suzanne gave a helpless shrug. A here-goes-nothing shrug. Then she motioned with her
     hand. “Come this way.”
    Claudia followed Suzanne into the kitchen, waited a few minutes while Suzanne slipped
     into her boots and parka, then followed her out the back door.
    The winter sun was lasering down, forcing the two women to shield their eyes from
     the strong glare that danced off icy snowdrifts and crystallized trees.
    “So bright,” murmured Claudia.
    You should have seen it yesterday
, thought Suzanne.
Big difference. Night and day. Ha-ha
, she thought as that notion capered madly in her brain.
    Together, they slogged across the drifted parking lot and disappeared into the woods.
     The snow was knee-high, so it was tough going, and branches slapped at their faces.
     Every once in a while, Claudia would utter a surprised little “Ooh.”
    Finally, they arrived at a small clearing where the snow was tromped down and yellow
     crime-scene tape fluttered desolately in the wind.
    Claudia stared in stoic silence while Suzanne looked on in sympathy. The new widow
     took in the yellow tape and then the wooden posts, probably imaging the wire that
     had been stretched between them. Then, just as Suzanne figured would happen, Claudia’s
     lower lip began to quiver and her eyes welled with tears.
    Suzanne leaned over and touched Claudia’s arm, rubbing it gently, offering whatever
     solace she could as theyboth breathed in the brittle, cold air. “I’m so sorry,” she repeated.
    “I wasn’t thrilled about moving to Kindred,” Claudia said, in a kind of hoarse croak.
     “But it was a huge opportunity for Ben.” She dug in her purse for a Kleenex and dabbed
     at her eyes. “A wife’s role is to support her husband, isn’t it?”
    Suzanne wanted to say,
Not necessarily
, but didn’t. Claudia didn’t need a women’s-lib pep talk right now.
    “Anyway,” Claudia continued, “I left my old home and my friends and moved here.” She
     heaved a sigh that was almost a shudder. “Now what am I going to do?”
    Suzanne put her arms around Claudia and pulled her close. “For one thing, you’re going
     to stay here for now,” said Suzanne. “And I promise that your new friends will rally
     around you. In fact, I’ll make sure of it.”
    “Thank you,” Claudia said in a whisper. “You’re very kind.” A few more tears spilled
     down her cheeks, and then Claudia’s body began to shake with sobs.
    Suzanne’s gaze traveled from Claudia to the crime scene, then back to the stricken
     widow. All she could think was:
What a brave woman
.
    A T three-thirty, just as they were clearing away the last vestiges of their tea service,
     Sheriff Doogie dropped by. He swung his bulk onto a creaky stool and slumped over
     the counter. “Coffee. Black,” he said.
    “We’re going to try something new today,”