Free Crown Jewel by Fern Michaels

Good luck.”
    Ricky watched his sister-in-law walk away. At least she hadn’t screamed and yelled at him. Maybe she was taking tranquilizers, and that was why she was so calm. If she’d hated her husband, what was she doing there? Spitting on his grave? He hated seeing the way her shoulders slumped and the beaten look on her face.
    He sat down in the same spot where Roxy had been kneeling and hugged his knees to his chest. He should have brought flowers. Roxy hadn’t brought any either. He’d always brought flowers before. He must not have been thinking clearly, or else he had been distracted by his sons’ visit. The graves looked bare without flowers. His mother had dearly loved daisies. Maybe Ellie could make arrangements with a local florist to deliver flowers for all three graves on a weekly basis.
    There was so much he wanted to say, but the words were stuck in his throat. He hadn’t thought it was going to be so hard to say good-bye. Who was going to come here when he moved to Antigua? No one, that’s who. The graves would be maintained, but no one would come by and sit and say a prayer or a few words. No one would come seeking comfort or solace. The thought saddened him.
    Ricky looked around the vast cemetery.
    The forgotten.
    He shaded his eyes in the late-afternoon sunshine. As far as the eye could see, there wasn’t another human being in sight. Maybe people didn’t go to cemeteries late in the day. The living had to get on with the normal routines of their lives.
    He’d come to say good-bye, but he couldn’t get the words past his lips. Good-byes were too final. He stood up and dusted off the seat of his pants. “I’ll be back.”
    Ricky was surprised to see Roxy waiting for him by her car. At least he thought she was waiting for him. He walked toward her. “Is there a problem with your car, Roxy?”
    â€œNo. I guess I just wanted one of those last, spit-in-your-eye good-byes. I figure I earned it.”
    Ricky remained silent because he didn’t know what to say. Suddenly, a wave of compassion washed over him when he saw the tears in her eyes and her slumped shoulders. Just for one second, she reminded him of his mother when she was tired and weary at the end of the day.
    He found his tongue, and said, “I’d like to go through my brother’s personal effects if you don’t mind. I’m leaving in the morning so it would have to be either now or later this evening.”
    Roxy squared her shoulders as she stared up into Ricky’s eyes. “Obviously you have me mixed up with someone who cares about your wants and desires.” Her voice was so cold, Ricky flinched. “Permission denied.” Before he could digest his sister-in-law’s biting retort, she was in the car driving away.
    Ricky felt like a tired old dog when he climbed into his own car for the drive home.

5
    The heat and humidity slapped at them as they exited the plane. Ricky immediately yanked at his shirt and tie, then rolled up his sleeves. Ted Lymen watched out of the corner of his eye as Ricky’s gaze swept the crowds of people meeting the plane or seeing friends and family off. Where was the red carpet he knew Ricky was expecting?
    They waited, their shirts wet with sweat, for forty-five minutes. “Okay, let’s take a cab,” Ricky said, annoyed.
    Ted gathered up his gear and followed Ricky to the nearest waiting taxi. If he was pissed, he knew Ricky was doubly pissed. The ride to the resort was made in total silence.
    Ricky seethed in silence, refusing even to look out the window at the landscape. His employees at the resort had just failed his first test. Standard procedure was that each guest be picked up at the airport in the resort’s Lincoln Continental. No guests, to his knowledge, ever had to provide their own transportation to the resort. Especially, the new owner.
    His rage was white-hot when he hopped out of the taxi