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Carter found me at Francine’s for lunch. He rushed through the entrance fifteen minutes late.
“Sorry I’m tardy,” he said. “Crazy morning.” He held a few pages of paper in his hand.
“That’s okay,” I replied. “I ordered for you. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” he said, slapping the pages on the table. “I have good news.”
I could take what he’d just said in one of two ways, I thought. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to hear.
“You were wrong,” he said.
Now I was sure; it was not what I wanted to hear.
“The toxicology report showed that the medications in her system were within normal limits, and the tox screen came back negative,” he continued. He paused and smiled—it was a self-gratifying smile.
I leafed through the report. Carter was right. There was nothing contained in it that provided any indication that anything was out of place—nothing to indicate foul play whatsoever.
“Emma died of a heart attack—natural causes,” Carter said. “Pure and simple.”
“That is good news,” I said, halfheartedly.
“Your tone does not reflect it,” Carter replied.
“I’m sorry, I was just convinced that... never mind. It really is good news,” I insisted.
“We can rule out murder,” Carter said. “For once, we have a drama that has no room to unfold.”
Carter and I turned our conversation elsewhere. Emma’s funeral was coming up on Saturday at the Baptist church. Although Emma had not been to church for many years, she attended regularly when her husband and Glory were alive.
“I’m a little surprised,” I told Carter. “Victor doesn’t strike me as the church-going type.”
“It surprised me, too. Victor said that Emma was thinking about going back to church,” Carter said. “He thought that’s what she would have wanted.”
“I wonder how many people will show?”
“My guess is, the whole town,” Carter said. “He rented a giant tent and is having tables set up behind the church. He’s catering the wake—bringing in quite the spread, I hear. I don’t know many who will turn away free food on a Sunday afternoon.”
“Touching,” I responded, tongue-in-cheek.
Carter nodded, “You know, despite their rough exterior, I think Victor and Bessie truly loved Emma. Bessie told me that because their sister was such a recluse, the town of Sinful deserved to know what a wonderful woman lived amongst them. They want to honor her memory and send her out in style.”
“It sounds like it,” I replied.
“Oh, before I forget,” Carter said, “Victor handed me two books that belong to the library. He found them in Emma’s house. I have them in my car. I thought I could just pass them on to you when we’re done, if you don’t mind.”
“Yes, of course,” I said. “I forgot they were there.”
Carter’s phone buzzed. He was receiving a text.
“Excuse me,” he said, already reading.
“Hi there,” Ida Belle said, approaching our table. Gertie was with her. “Is this a lover’s lunch or...”
“Actually, your timing is perfect,” Carter said, slipping his phone into his pocket. “I have to get back on duty.”
“But I just ordered you lunch,” I protested.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Duty calls. Maybe Ida Belle or Gertie will eat it.”
“Glad to help,” Ida Belle said.
“Always willing to pitch in,” Gertie added.
“I’ll run out and get those books and bring them in for you to return,” Carter said. “Sorry about lunch.”
“Thanks Carter,” I said. I wanted to stand, hug him and kiss him, but Carter was skittish about public displays of affection, so I thought better of it.
I updated Gertie and Ida Belle on the toxicology report.
“Well, I’m glad we didn’t have to risk a breaking and entering charge at Mark Baker’s office after all,” Gertie said. “You are convinced now, I take it?”
I nodded and sighed, “Well... I guess I am.”
“You don’t sound too convinced,” Gertie noted.
“It’s just . . . I was so certain that . . . Never mind. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You were just being you, Fortune,” Ida Belle said. “That’s one of the things we love about you.”