Read Online To the Grave by Carlene Thompson - Free Book Online Page B

without help.” She waited a few seconds and then asked, “Have you talked to Eric Montgomery?”
    James nodded. “He arrived on the scene before I did, even though it was his day off. I don’t mind saying I’m relieved he’s in charge of all this, although he’s already started questioning me about my whereabouts last weekend.”
    â€œThat’s normal. The spouse is always the prime suspect.”
    â€œI’m not the spouse.”
    â€œYou were last weekend. Anyway, you were at the conference in Pittsburgh. A lot of people saw you.”
    â€œMaybe not a lot. I got there Thursday afternoon and was already coming down with the flu. I skipped a few seminars on Friday and Saturday and the big dinner on Saturday night. Besides, right now they’re only estimating that Renée was murdered a week ago. It could have been six days ago, on Sunday, when I’d gotten back home and gone straight to bed. Alone. Not even Catherine can vouch for me.”
    Patrice shook her head. “So, even dead, that damned Renée’s still causing trouble for you. But at least Catherine is all right and your parents are away on a cruise. Are you going to let them know what’s happened?”
    James shook his head. “Do you think I’m going to interrupt their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary trip to Italy with this gruesome piece of news?”
    â€œYour mother will be furious if you don’t.”
    â€œShe’ll get over it. She always does.”
    Patrice squinted down at her slim dress watch. “Well, you seem to be okay, James, although you do need to go home.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed James lightly on the cheek. “I’m sorry about all of this. Will you be taking off work next week?”
    â€œNo. I’ll be in the office Monday morning, bright and early.”
    â€œMonday! Give yourself at least a couple of days to recover.”
    â€œRecover by sitting around my town house watching television? No. The best thing I can do for myself is to work.”
    â€œYou’re a remarkable man.”
    â€œYeah, I’m feeling remarkable tonight.”
    â€œGo home.”
    â€œOkay.”
    Patrice turned her car around and started back the way she’d come, waving briefly at James as she passed him. James lingered for a couple of minutes, then went to his silver Lincoln, scooted behind the wheel, started the car, and slowly backed up a few feet. Then he stopped, planning to flip on the headlights and take one last look at the hideous old cottage crouching like a small monster in the dark.
    Suddenly a pillar of bright yellow fire shot skyward at the back of the cottage. Within seconds, a second fireball lit the night. The pillars spread into a wall of flame stretching along the entire back of the cottage, dropping blazing debris onto the roof, spitting sizzling pieces of wood flying across the black night sky, and turning the small building into a raging pyre.

 
    CHAPTER FOUR
    1
    Catherine bolted up on the couch, screaming. Immediately Lindsay began barking frantically. Within seconds, Marissa was gripping Catherine’s arms.
    â€œMy God, Catherine, what’s wrong?”
    Catherine took hold of Marissa, shuddering, as Marissa clung to her. Catherine drew her even closer and buried her head in the long hair at her sister’s neck.
    â€œWhen I came back from the kitchen, you’d dozed off,” Marissa said. “You’ve been asleep about twenty minutes. You just had a nightmare, that’s all.”
    Catherine pulled away from Marissa and shook her head. “No! Something has happened to James! I have to call him!”
    â€œOkay. Take a breath.” Marissa picked up the handset of the phone on the coffee table and looked at Catherine’s trembling fingers. “Want me to dial the number?”
    â€œYes. His home phone.” Catherine rattled off James’s landline-phone number. He’d turned