Flowers for Her Grave - By Judy Clemons Page 0,102

the last thing Casey needed was to have them or Krystal freaking out in the lobby. Informing the family was the cops’ job, anyway. She’d let Binns and Gomez have that privilege. She turned away, but Krystal grabbed her wrist.

“You’ll keep my secret?”

“No one will hear it from me. And Krystal…no one’s going to hear it from Brandon, either. You’re safe from him.”

“Safe?”

Casey was glad to see surprise in Krystal’s eyes. Even though Casey was certain Maria had killed him, she was relieved to have confirmation that Krystal was innocent.

“Brandon’s…dead.”

“What? How?”

“Look up the news from last night, about the single man in Birmingham, Florida, who was stabbed to death. But for now, just know your secret is safe.”

Krystal’s eyes filled, whether with relief or sadness, Casey wasn’t sure. “Thank you. Thank you, Daisy.”

Casey slid her arm from Krystal’s grasp and walked toward the stairs.

“Those are three miserable people right there,” Death said. “Glad I don’t have to hang out with them.”

“Right. I’m so much more uplifting and cheerful.”

Casey trudged up the service stairs toward her room, thinking of all of the people at the pool, and in the bar. All of the people in this community who were connecting, interacting with each other, even if it was like high school, all over again. She wanted only to get inside her apartment, turn out all the lights, and climb under her covers.

And call her brother.

Oh, Ricky. Why does this have to be so hard?

She went into her apartment, stripped off her clothes, and crawled into bed. And couldn’t sleep.

“What’s the problem?” Death sat propped up against the headboard on the opposite side of the bed.

“It just feels so wrong. Richie and Andrea were trying to help. Trying to make sure Maria and her children were safe. How did it turn out so badly? What made Maria turn on them?”

“Life isn’t all tied up neatly, I’m afraid.” Death sounded tired. “It’s a mystery to me why the Big Kahuna chose to let people run free in the first place. It would have been so much simpler to just tell them what to do. No war. No starvation. No oppression.”

“No cars being built badly so they explode on impact.”

Death sighed heavily. “My job would be very different, I suppose. Every death would be expected. Old age. Surrounded by loved ones, in the home. Plenty of time to make amends, show love, clean out the attic. All nice and neat.” Death paused. “But then, the world would be overrun with people. Kind of like the whole thing about prey and predator in the wild. When the predator population decreases, the prey increases, and they end up starving to death, or being forced out of their territory because there are too many critters.”

“So people are like wild animals?”

“Well, yes, in a lot of ways. But you have a few things most animals don’t.”

“And what are those?”

“Opposable thumbs. Literacy. Compassion.”

“Compassion.” Casey sat up and rolled out of bed.

“What did I say?”

“I told Krystal that Brandon is no longer a threat, but I haven’t let others know.”

“They’ll find out soon enough.”

“But I have the ability to tell them now.”

“Okay, okay. If it means we’ll get some sleep later.”

Casey pulled her clothes back on and went out to the vent to grab Brandon’s files. “Let’s make some deliveries.”

“Binns is going to be mad if you don’t give her those folders.”

“Let her.”

Together she and Death were able to find most of the women listed on the files. Only a few of them were home, and while Casey wasn’t exactly received with warmth—they were embarrassed at being conned, after all—she could see the relief in their eyes. She gave each of them Detective Binns’ contact information, telling them that while she wasn’t sure they could get a return of any of their money, they could give it a shot. This approach was better than giving Binns the information. The women could make their own choice this way. The ones who weren’t home would return to a file shoved under their door, with a note saying they were free. Casey hoped this would be enough to ease their minds.

“Only one left.” Casey held up Sissy’s file. “I’d kind of like to give her this in person.”

“She was out at the pool being courted by Marcus, remember?”

“Hmm. I hate to interrupt if he’s getting somewhere.”

“But it might make her a little more receptive to know her problems with Brandon are a thing of the past. At least financially. Maybe not heart-wise. But