CHAPTER 8

 

 

“Rose?”

“Rose?”

Through the fog of pain and sadness, Rose heard the voice the third time. She looked up at the blank screen in front of her and noticed the time. Had she just stared out the window for the past hour?

“I’m sorry, yes?” She looked up to find her supervisor standing over her desk.

“Rose dear, I heard what happened to your neighbor. I’m so sorry for your loss. Were you close?” Marcia was a ruthless lawyer and known as a shark in the legal world. Kind words and soft eyes looked foreign on her.

Rose nodded. “Yes, we were.”

“Is it true that you found her?”

The memory of Emmaline’s lifeless body and glassy eyes flashed back hard and painful. Rose managed to nod as she pulled Kleenex from her drawer.

“Why don’t you take a few days off? You’ve always pulled more than your weight at the firm, someone else can pull yours for a while.”

Rose looked at Marcia. “It’s really not necessary I’ll be fine.”

“Rose, you’re not fine. You’re shaken, you’re sad and you’re worried. Go home, go out or do whatever you need to do to work through this. When you’re done you come back as the Rose we know and need.” Marcia’s eyes narrowed sternly as she placed her hands on her hips.

Rose wanted to thank her, grab her bag and leave, but she couldn’t. She had a mortgage to pay. “Thank you Marcia but I can’t afford to.”

“Of course you can. I’m not kicking you out Rose, I need you. Take a couple of weeks paid leave. I insist.”

A weight lifted off Rose’s shoulders. She knew she wouldn’t be of much use in the office, never mind the mistakes she could make that could cost millions. She switched off her screen, grabbed her bag and moved around the desk.

She would never have imagined giving the ruthless Marcia a hug, but right now she needed to. She placed her arms around Marcia who stood stiff as a board. “Thank you. And I promise I’ll be better when I get back.”

“Good because I need you come kick some asses again.” Marcia smiled relieved as Rose let her go.

“Goodbye Marcia.”

“Bye Rose. Take care.”

As the elevator doors closed behind Rose she pressed the button for the ground floor. By the time it reached the ground floor Rose knew exactly what she was going to do. She was going to make sure the Hamptons Police Department find Emmaline’s killer.

 

The overhead fluorescent lighting shone harshly in the police station. Almost as if it was there to shine a light on all the crime and injustices in the world. The smell of nervous sweat and stale coffee hung in the air, like a specially designed fragrance for all police stations. Rose instinctively pulled her handbag against her body as she approached the desk in the foyer.

“Hi, I hope you can help me. I’m here about the murder on Saturday?”

A middle aged woman sat behind the desk and glared at Rose over her glasses. Her hair was in desperate need of coloring, the previous color had grown out about two inches. Her irritated gaze settled on Rose’s neat dove grey suit and lilac blouse.

“Lady, what murder?” She asked with a raspy voice.

“Saturday Morning in South Hampton. Emmaline Richards?”

She started chewing on gum, which had obviously been stashed in her cheek and nodded as she started paging through papers on her desk. “Oh yes, old lady strangled. Neighbor found her.”

Rose swallowed at the casual tone of her voice. “Yes. I’d like to find out what progress is being made on the case.”

Taking off her glasses she glared at Rose. “It’s Monday.”

“I know.” Rose said frowning.

“It’s been two days; the Detective on the case will get to it.”

“Who is the detective on the case?” Rose asked feeling as if she was trying to pull a bear’s tooth.

“Detective Vanguard. Would you like to leave your name so he can contact you? That is if you have any information worth his while?”

“I’m Rose Adler, the neighbor that found her. I’m sure you have all my information as I had to give a statement.”

Chewing her gum the woman leafed over a few pages. “Ah yes. We’ve got it. If he needs anything he’ll be in touch.”

“I’d like to help. Emmaline was a good friend.”

“Honey, the most help you’re going to be to him is to go home and let him do his job.” Putting her glasses back on she answered the phone that had started to ring beside her.

Rose nodded, knowing when she was dismissed. She walked out of the police station feeling as if she had made absolutely no progress, and the police weren’t even interested in making progress. The first few days after a crime were the most important when it came to following up on leads and questioning unwitting neighbors.

 

As she pulled up outside her house she noticed two cars in the driveway at Emmaline’s. Her daughters had arrived, Rose thought stepping out of her car. She had met Priss and Jane the year before when they had come for a visit. Both Emmaline’s daughters lived in the city and only came out to see Emmaline over holidays.

She was still struggling with Emmaline’s death and being rebuffed at the police station, but she took a deep breath and went to pay her respects. For a moment she wished Cole was with her. Even though she had made a fool of herself Saturday night, she had appreciated that he had stayed with her. They had spent the rest of the night watching movies and talking.

Rose was surprised to find out they had quite a bit in common. Like their favorite meal of the day was breakfast. Or their love for crime series and hot chocolate Sundays. She had eventually fell asleep on the couch, leaning against Cole. Over a breakfast of pancakes and bacon they had both ignored the attraction that loomed over them ever since their kiss the night before, but Cole was right, not like this.

He had left late morning to return to the city. He had a flight to Miami this morning to attend a meeting. As Rose lifted her hand to knock on Emmaline’s door she couldn’t help but wonder of Cole was missing her like she was already missing him.

The door opened and revealed a devastated Priss. The younger of the two sisters, Priss was the outgoing one. She always bubbled over with happiness and chatter. Today nothing bubbled in Priss except for sadness. “Rose.” Priss said as she pulled Rose inside. “Thank you for being such a wonderful friend to her.”

Rose wanted to be strong for Emmaline’s daughters but she couldn’t fight back the tears that had started to fall. “I’m so sorry.” Rose said as she noticed Jane coming out of the kitchen.

Pulling away from Priss she walked to Jane who had been married only a few months before. “I’m sorry for your loss Jane.”

Jane nodded, clear eyes pursing her lips. Rose understood instantly, she was being strong for Priss.

Rose pulled her into a hug anyway. As her arms encircled Jane she could feel the sobs Jane had swallowed, racking her body.

“You guys let me know if you need anything.” Rose said letting go of Jane.

Rose could see Emmaline’s sharp chin in Priss and her beautiful eyes in Jane. She had never realized how much today would hurt.

Both Priss and Jane spoke at once. “What happened?” “Were you here?”

Rose sighed heavily and sat down in the wingback chair she had moved into place only weeks before. “I was at home all day. I came over late afternoon to bring her passion fruit cheesecake. I came in through the back door and called for her but she didn’t answer. That’s when I moved into the living room and found her.”

Priss excused herself but both Rose and Jane could hear the sobs coming from the bedroom she had run to.

“Is it true?”Jane asked.

“What?” Rose said, still aching for Priss who had just lost her mother.

Jane stepped closer to Rose and lowered her voice. “The Detective didn’t tell us much, just that foul play was suspected and they’re looking into it. What happened Rose, you found her. I need to know!”

“She was strangled Jane. At least that’s what I thought when I found her. I’ve just been to the police station; they’re following leads and doing all they can to find your mother’s murderer.” Rose was sure she would be forgiven for the white lies. She couldn’t exactly tell Jane that the police hadn’t even started on an investigation yet.

Jane took both of Rose’s hands in her own and smiled sadly. “Thanks. We’re having the funeral on Friday. I know today is only Monday but mom always said she didn’t want to be stuffed in a fridge for too long.” Both women smiled at each other through the tears. That was exactly what Emmaline would’ve said.

“Friday’s fine. Let me know if you need me to do anything. I’ve taken a few days off.”

When Jane nodded Rose stood up and made her way to the door. She knew that both Priss and Jane were mourning and they didn’t need Rose to witness their pain or tears.

She walked back to her own house wanting to phone Cole. Needing to hear his voice, to lean on the strength and support he had offered her on Saturday. He was the only one that understood what she had been through. As she closed the door behind her she realized she didn’t even have his number.