Nowthatwas not hard information for Saga to swallow. “He did literally try to pick me up right before the ceremony.”
This clearly stumped Avery. “Why the dickens would he do that?”
Saga’s attention snapped back to the other woman. It wasn’t as if she had delusions that Avery found her even remotely attractive, but that the other woman would be confused howanyonewould find her attractive, stung. “Wow.”
Quick to recognize that she had given offense, Avery frowned. “Wait, I am sorry, I fear I’ve misunderstood something.”
Pick up. Physically lift. Avery thought Saga had meant the man triedto lift her up. “Oh! Yes, um. Picking up. It means to hit on—not striking someone, it…flirt? Does that word…translate? Flirt?”
Avery’s eyes alit with dawning realization. “I see, it’s anidiom.He was attempting to court you, or at least play at the idea of courtship, becauseobviously, you are a beautiful woman.”
Saga was thoroughly unconvinced of this thickly laid-on opinion. “Uh-huh.”
Avery glanced around briefly, confirming Elis and Bowen were still gone. “What didyousay?”
Saga made a face. “I’m not hooking up with someone at a funeral. It’s…icky.” It wasn’t the most eloquent of words, but it was the best she had.
“Does seem distasteful,” Avery concurred. “His mother died, we’re in a church.…”
“I know there’s a psychological link between some people’s grief and their libido, but…at the actual funeral? Who does that?”
“More people than either of us realized apparently,” said Avery under her breath.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing,” Avery dismissed. “But Elis Goff may warrant a closer look. As well as our missing paramour. What didyoufind out?”
“Elis has a bit of a grudge against Eira’s doctor. He also may be on the brink of liver failure from drinking, based on the conversation I overheard.”
Avery raised her eyebrows.
“I may be new at this but I am fully capable of being subtle.” Saga affected a smirk and gestured to herself with a small flourish. “Even with this hair.”
They shared a smile.
“I also learned Eira’s heart condition was linked to her lymphedema and because she died from an apparent heart attack, they didn’t think an inquest was necessary. So it’s possible that body is missing a heart and no one knows.”
Avery maneuvered out from their row of chairs as more of the mourners began to file out. “Only one way to find out.”
Saga caught her arm and spoke in a hurried whisper. “You can’t justopen the casket and do your bay leaf woo-woo on Eira’s bodyhere. There’s like fifty people around, and in a few minutes, they’re going to take the casket out to the hearse, and then to the crematorium where any evidence, including straw hearts, will be reduced to ash.”
Avery squinted at her, a little bewildered, a little amused. “Bay leaf woo-woo?”
“You know what I mean,” she hissed. “Maybe if we find outwherethe body is being cremated…” Her eyes fell upon the funeral director. “I have an idea…” She crossed the chapel floor to the woman. “Hi,” she greeted, wringing her hands a little nervously. “I’m sorry to bother you, but…” She took a small step closer and dropped her voice. “We just lost my grandmother a few days ago…”
“Oh,” the woman’s face softened in sympathy. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Saga nodded her head, trying to not linger on the thought. “I’m not really sure how any of this works, but this was such a lovely service. Could I ask which funeral home you’re with?”
“Of course,” she said. “That’s why we’re here. My name is Olivia Heilman, I’m with Harney and Jones.” She opened her binder and produced a small black card. “Here, my work number, our address…”
Saga took it gratefully. So far so good. “Thank you.” She examined the casket briefly, weighing how to ask her next inquiry. “I don’t know if this is an awkward question, but do you do cremation in-house? Or is that a partnership with a third party?”
“Not an awkward question at all,” Olivia assured with a practiced warmth. “We provide that service on-site at our facility.”
Saga nodded. “And is there a viewing room?”
“Yes, we can accommodate up to about fifteen people for a viewing if needed.”
