Free 1 Bless Her Dead Little Heart by Miranda James

the mental image. She could see Marla Stephens make a frantic grab for the banister when she first started to slip. Her hands encounter the Vaseline and slide right off, and the momentum of that desperate reach further unbalance her. So down she went, with nothing to break her fall except cold, unyielding marble.
    “Miss An’gel,” Kanesha said, her concern obvious, “how well do you know these people?”
    “Not well at all,” An’gel said, her throat suddenly dry. She coughed. “Dickce and I have known Rosabelle since our college days. We were sorority sisters at Athena College. I never met any of her family, however, until today, when they all just showed up here. Rosabelle first, then the rest of them followed right behind her.”
    “Did you invite them here?”
    An’gel shook her head. “No, Rosabelle came to us because she has a problem she wanted us to help her with. Her family turned up soon after because they’re worried about her.”
    Kanesha frowned. “Can you tell me the nature of her problem?”
    “I think you should ask Rosabelle about that yourself.” An’gel nodded in the direction of the sofa. “Let me introduce you, and then Dickce and I will make a discreet withdrawal so you can talk to her alone.”
    An’gel turned and approached the couch. “Rosabelle, this is Chief Deputy Kanesha Berry from the sheriff’s department. She will be in charge of the investigation, and she needs to talk to you.” She turned to Kanesha. “This is Rosabelle Sultan, our old sorority sister.”
    “Ma’am.” Kanesha inclined her head. “I know this is a distressing time for you and your family, but I’m afraid there are questions I need to ask you.”
    Rosabelle stared at the deputy, and for a moment An’gel feared her old friend was going to be rude. She recalled that, when they were younger, Rosabelle’s attitudes about race hadn’t been all that enlightened. She could only hope that in the intervening years Rosabelle had become more tolerant.
    “Of course, Deputy,” Rosabelle finally said. “I have much to tell you, and I can assure you that you’ll have my complete cooperation.”
    “Then Dickce and I will leave you for now,” An’gel said, greatly relieved. “If you need us, we’ll be in the kitchen.”
    Dickce didn’t say anything until she and An’gel reached the hall. “Do you think I should take the food I was bringing to the library right now?”
    An’gel nodded. “While you do that, I’ll get started on a pot of coffee. I’m sure everyone could use a hot drink.” She glanced across the hall toward the library. The door stood open, and she could see a deputy she didn’t recognize standing in profile inside the room.
    Dickce picked up the tray and headed for the library. An’gel watched for a moment before turning down the hall toward the kitchen.
    Diesel greeted her with reproachful warbles when she stepped inside. She scratched his head, and the warbles turned into purrs.
    “He’s been talking like that for five minutes, I swear,” Clementine said as she wiped her hands on a dishcloth. “What’s all the noise I keep hearing out there? I’ve been too busy to come take a look-see. Besides, I thought I’d best keep the cat in here out of the way.”
    Diesel rubbed himself against An’gel’s legs while she gave the housekeeper a quick rundown of the events of the past hour. Clementine’s eyes widened, and she started shaking her head as if in disbelief. When An’gel concluded her summary, Clementine closed her eyes for a moment. An’gel could see her lips moving and figured Clementine was praying.
    An’gel closed her own eyes and did the same, mentally sending a plea heavenward for patience, understanding, and protection. Beside her Diesel had stilled, and when she opened her eyes and glanced at him, he had his head down, too. She couldn’t decide whether the cat was also praying, imitating her behavior, or simply examining his front paws.
    Then An’gel noticed