AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Malia nodded. “Me too. I guess I have been hanging out at the college a little too much this week, but I’ve learneda few things.”
Drew stepped into their circle. “Now what would the four of you be talking about in thisquiet corner?”
“How hard it is to get a date nowadays,” Rarity quickly answered, smiling up at him.
“Do I need to tell Archer to up his game?” Drew said.
Jonathon stepped around his son. “I’m sure Rarity was just summarizing the discussion, not commenting on her own relationship. So good to see you all.”
“Can you give my dad a ride back to Sedona after this? I need to make a few stops while I’min Flagstaff.”
Rarity turned to Shirley. “Irode with her.”
“As long as you don’t mind getting lunch with a bunch of women.” Shirley gave Jonathon a quick hug. “Or should I say as long as Edith doesn’t mind you getting lunch with a bunch of women.”
“Edith won’t mind a bit. Besides, how do I get the gossip she wants if I just hang out at Drew’s house. My son is a little tight-lipped.” Jonathon nodded a greeting to Holly and Malia.
“Only around an open investigation,” Drew responded. Then he nodded to the chapel doors, where everyone seemed to be gathering. “I think it’stime to start.”
Rarity walked with the group to the ushers, who were handing out the memorial flyers. She glanced at the picture of Janey with what must have been Whiskey on the front. The big dog grinned at the camera almost as widely as Janey. She looked happy. The picture almost brokeRarity’s heart.
As they sat, Rarity scanned the room. Caleb was there, sitting near the back. And, surprisingly, her new customer, Josh, who had said he was in town for business was in the front, in the second row. Or at least she thought it was him. She wished Archer was here to double-check her memory. Looking around, she didn’t recognize anyone else. A woman in all black sat at the front, staring straight ahead. When she turned, Rarity swallowed a gasp. She had to be Trish Ford. She was Janey’s double. Could they be twins? She leaned over to Drew, who had sat next to her. “Is Janey’ssister a twin?”
He followed the direction of her gaze. “Wow. She looks like it. I only met Janey the one time, but even comparing her with the photo here, I would lay money on it.”
Rarity sank back into the pew, lost in thoughts. Maybe whoever killed Janey had just gotten the wrong Ford sister. Drew met her gaze and nodded. He was thinkingthe same thing.
After the service, Rarity went up to Trish Ford and introduced herself. “I was Janey’s boss in Sedona. Atthe bookstore.”
“I didn’t know she had started a job. With our trusts, we really don’t need to work. I assumed Janey would be a perpetual student for the rest of her life. I didn’t like the college scene, so I left as soon as I got my bachelor’s.” Trish glanced around the room at the younger crowd who’d attended. “College just isn’t real life, you know?”
“Yes, I felt the same way. I couldn’t wait to be done and get a real job. Janey never mentioned where you worked.”
“I’m surprised Janey mentioned me at all. We didn’t really get along. I decided to do charity work rather than toil for a dollar I didn’t need. She said I just liked to go to parties.” She glanced over to where the casket still sat. “I wish she’d gone to more parties in her life. Now, she can’t.”
“I think she liked her life,” Rarity said, but then a man stepped in between them.
“Trish, it’s time to go to the cemetery. You’ll ride with me in the front car.” The man put a hand on Trish’s elbow, and Rarity saw a look of pain flash on the woman’s face.
“Are you all right?” Rarity took a step forward, but Trish shook her head.
Trish looked over at the man, and disgust flashed on her face. But she hid it well, and a mask went back on before Rarity could make sense of the emotions she was watching.
“I’m sorry, I need to leave. Thank you for coming.” Trish nodded at Rarity, then fell in step with the man, shruggingoff his grasp.
Drew stood next to Rarity as they watched the two walk away. “So that’s the sister. Did you ask if they were twins?”
Rarity shook her head. “No, but I found out something interesting. Janey had a trust. Trish is living and giving to charity from it, so it must be substantial.”
“It looks like my investigator didn’t go deep enough into Janey’s family history. Anyway, Dad and the others are waiting for you outside by the cars. I guess Malia’s starving.” Drew walked with Rarity to the main entrance. “I’ve decided to go to the cemetery. Maybe I can talk with Trish there.”
“Do you know who the man was who came to get her? I got the feeling she didn’t like him much.” Rarity turned her head to see if they were still in the chapel, but they’d gone out through a side door.
“Him I know. Allen Holbart. He’s a local Flagstaff attorney. High-end. All of his clients have money. I think we need to look more closely at the Ford family and see where this trust came from. I’m learning there’s a lot more going on here than we thought before.”
As they reached the chapel doors, Rarity grabbed Drew’s arm. “Do you think Marcus did this?”
“His past doesn’t make it look good.” Drew’s face hardened. “But I haven’t issued any charges yet.”
