Page 38 of Deeper Than the Dead

Eve scoffed. “Of course not. That was just a phase when I was a kid.” She shook her head. “This is my job, Vee. I like giving it my best. Believe it or not, being attentive and considerate makes my job easier. Makes all this”—she waved her hands around to indicate the room at large—“easier.”

Vera believed her. The clients who passed through this funeral home were lucky to have Eve. “I’m sure the family is grateful for all you do.”

“Let me know what you find out from Bent,” Eve said almost absently as she readied to set Mrs. Kaufman’s eyes.

Vera winced as she lined first one and then the other eyelid with glue. Sometimes, Eve had told her, the eyes didn’t want to stay shut. One method to facilitate closure of stubborn lids was the glue she’d just used. If that didn’t work or didn’t provide the look she was going for, she used eye caps.

Vera blinked at the thought, hated when anything touched her eyes. “Sure, I’ll let you know what he says. Talk to you later.” Vera hesitated. “Be careful. If someone does know something and what happened to you today is an indication of that, he or she may try something again.”

Eve nodded. “I’m working hard not to think about it at the moment, but you’re right.”

“Just stay watchful,” Vera suggested.

“Promise.” Eve used her forefingers to push the woman’s nose more to the center.

Vera hesitated again. Thought of all the times her sister had made her promises. Sometimes her follow-through left something to be desired. Vera could only hope this wouldn’t be one of those times. She made her way to the door, discarded her gloves and apron into the hamper there. Once she stepped outside the room, she didn’t allow the door to close completely so she could covertly watch her sister for a moment.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Eve to tell her the truth. It was just that she might be trying to protect Vera from worrying. As the oldest, Vera had always been the worrier.

“Now,” Eve said, peering down at Mrs. Kaufman, “where were we? A little birdie told me your older son was thinking of retiring. He’s the one who found a wife online, isn’t he?”

Vera’s hopes that everything was as it should be deflated a little as she eased the door shut and walked away.

All these years she had, deep down, known that something was a little different with Eve. Well, that wasn’t fair. What Vera had just witnessed could be chalked up to eccentricity. Whatever the case, she just hoped it hadn’t amplified or evolved over time.

Vera needed Eve to be okay.

She loved her sister, and she would do anything to protect her.

14

1:00 p.m.

Vera stood on the sidewalk outside the funeral home.

Thankfully the parking lot was empty. Since the board showed two viewings scheduled for this evening, the lot wouldn’t be empty for long. God, she hated funeral homes. How could Eve work with the dead after what they’d been through?

And talk to them, for God’s sake. How in the world could that be normal?

But then Vera supposed the same could be said about her own work.

Vera thought of going back home, but the idea held no appeal whatsoever. What she wanted was to have a look inside that cave or, more importantly, at what they had found in that cave.

Her cell vibrated, and she dug it from her shoulder bag.

Bent.

Seeing his name on the screen of her cell phone still rattled her. She’d added him as a contact last night. Obviously this situation wasn’t going to resolve anytime soon. The two of them would be in contact for a while. Better to recognize his number when he called.

The fact that he was calling so soon had her wondering if there was more news already. Or had she been on his mind? Vera rolled her eyes. She was likely the last person on his mind, ever.

Bracing herself, she accepted the call. “Hey. You have news?”

“I think we need to talk. Just the two of us.”

Oh hell. “All right. You want to come to the house?” She preferred to maintain the home field advantage.

“With the reporters watching your house, I was thinking maybe you could come to mine. I’ll pick up lunch on the way.”

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