TSB, T7D and TL are now available as actual factual dead-tree-format paperback books at Lulu.com. Links can be found on the Story Index page, as linked in the menu. They’re pretty expensive and that’s just the printing cost; I don’t even make a buck. But if you like turning pages, you now have the chance.
The crowd gathered around Allison’s grave was not large; the Taylors had discouraged their acquaintances from attending the funeral, wishing to give their daughter her last goodbye in a close circle of family and friends. Some had been unable to stay away; Marina Santos had appeared in uncharacteristic black to express her condolences to the family and sneak a look at Tom White, who looked uncomfortable in his preacher garb, the only black clothes he had.
The speech over her grave had just finished and left everyone very quiet and moved. Many cried as the coffin was being lowered into the earth, but not all. Most notably Nick, the husband, did not cry.
Stumbling slightly, Sasha clambered up the steep, grassy path and ducked under the railing with its bright orange warning sign. Ignoring it, she walked up to the rocky edge over the water-filled quarry. There was a small cross put up on the side, overgrown by now but still spelling clearly: “Benjamin Fenrick 1984-2000″
Tom had told her the boy’s story, about his trip to Fairtown with Linda and Nick and about Rick, the little boy’s brother. He had been surprisingly and gratifyingly honest, and while Sasha was still unsure how the story made her feel about Ally, she herself felt satisfied to finally have gotten answers. Her secret meetings with Rick explained the hidden jewelry and the stealing; Ally could not exactly have asked Nick to finance her visits to Rick.
Richard didn’t bother to go back inside. Jensen would just ask questions and he would not be able to work anyway. The things he had found out would keep his thoughts busy and he might just mess up some paperwork. Better not run the risk. Call in sick.
Ally was married. It hurt more than knowing what led to his brother’s death. Maybe it was in part his wounded pride that he wasn’t the man she preferred, but mostly her decision not to let him in, not to tell him anything, was what grated.
Thomas recoiled from Nick’s open hostility as the other man pushed him aside to open the door. He followed his old friend inside with a bad feeling in his gut, but was surprised to see Sasha sitting on the back of the couch, staring at them.
“You went to Fairtown to solve Ally’s murder,” she said, accusingly.
Nick walked past her, wordlessly and picked a jug of milk out of the fridge.
As the car pulled up in Dominic’s driveway, he finally broke their silence. “Why wouldn’t she tell me? Why would she hide this from me?”
Tom, sitting in the driver’s seat, shrugged. “I think she was afraid. Afraid that we would reject her if we knew. Everybody thought it was an accident, or suicide. Maybe she was afraid everyone would blame her.”
“She blamed herself,” Linda said, quietly. She got out of the back seat to follow them up to the house. “She never wanted to hurt anybody.”
“Do you think we should ask him if he would like to speak?”
Sash heard her mother’s voice and turned onto her stomach so she could hear the return of her parents better. Once they’d left the hall, she got up and followed them downstairs.
“Oh, Robert, I don’t think so. It must be terrible for him… I couldn’t speak, and I don’t want Tom to feel like we put him on the spot just because he’s a preacher.”
“Why wouldn’t she tell me?” Belinda burst out.
“You believe him?” Nick asked darkly.
Belinda shrunk back and shrugged. “I don’t know, it’s just… if she wasn’t cheating on you, why wouldn’t she tell me?”
Jasmina knocked on the door frame close to noon, her head sticking into the office.
“Ricky?” she asked.
Jensen snickered at the diminutive.
Linda’s hair was damp and hung limply around eyes that hid from Dominic behind thick eyeglasses. She smelled like soap when he went past her, but she stepped back out of his way. Was she ashamed?
Tom had knocked on his door and chased him out of bed. Dominic had still been drowsy and disoriented, but now he got the feeling he knew what Tom was up to. He would accuse him of unfaithfulness, of dishonoring his dead wife… And he would be right.
But then, Tom told Linda they would go to Fairtown and suddenly, Dominic was no longer so sure he would have to defend himself.