Free Killer Swell by Jeff Shelby Page A

least fourteen responses to that statement, most of them obnoxious and funny. But maybe the most startling thing about Carter could be his sense of civility.
    He nodded. “Good to see you, Em.”
    She returned the nod, and an awkward pause engulfed the three of us like a bubble.
    â€œI’m sorry, Emily,” I said finally. “I really am.”
    â€œThank you,” she said, shading her eyes from the sun. “It’s…I don’t know.”
    She looked around the courtyard for a moment, watching her parents shake more hands. She kept snapping the fingers of her left hand softly, trying to burn the nervous uncomfortable energy that comes from losing someone close to you.
    She turned back to me. “Dad hired you, I hear.”
    â€œHe did. After your mother hired me.”
    She laughed and shook her head. “That is a partnership I never would’ve bet on.”
    I watched her father, forcing a smile as he hugged an older woman. “Me either.”
    â€œWas Mom a complete bitch to you?”
    â€œNot complete. Partial, maybe.”
    She groaned. “I doubt that.”
    â€œWhich one’s Randall?” Carter asked, scanning the crowd.
    Emily spotted Kate’s husband first. “Over there. Tall, handsome.” She paused and the finger snapping came to a halt. “Huge bastard.”
    I recognized Randall speaking with two other men.
    â€œHe’s not so tall,” Carter observed.
    â€œBastard?” I asked, surprised by Emily’s comment. “You don’t like your brother-in-law?”
    Her stare was still locked on Randall. “Have you met him?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œWhat did you think?”
    I glanced at Carter, but he was looking at Randall, too. “Seemed alright.”
    Emily turned to me, the soft brown eyes now hard as slate. “He’s a prick, Noah.”
    Her face flushed, her anger gathering itself. “Phony two-faced prick. He didn’t love Kate.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    She turned back in Randall’s direction. “He was cheating on her. From day one.”
    I looked across the courtyard at Randall. I hadn’t pegged him for infidelity when we’d met. I thought there was something off about him, but I didn’t get the sense that he didn’t love Kate.
    â€œHow do you know?” I asked.
    Emily turned back to me, the anger changing to sadness, tears in her eyes. “Kate and I were sisters, Noah. We talked. I know, okay?” She brought her hands to her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about this now. I’ll see you later.”
    She walked away quickly and disappeared into the church. Her reaction made me wonder if old Randall had suckered me into thinking he was a good guy when he wasn’t.
    â€œYou think?” Carter asked, his gaze still on Randall.
    â€œI don’t know.”
    Randall glanced in our direction, raised his eyebrows in recognition, said something to the men he was standing with, and headed our way.
    â€œBut maybe I’ll ask,” I said.
    Carter adjusted his sunglasses. “Oh, goodie.”
    Randall strode toward us, his eyes visibly red. “Noah, hello.”
    We shook hands. “Randall, this is my friend Carter Hamm. He was a friend of Kate’s also.”
    They shook hands.
    â€œI’m sorry about your wife,” Carter said.
    â€œThank you,” Randall said, his voice tight. “Thank you both for coming.”
    Carter and I nodded, that awkward bubble again forming around us. The sun felt hot on my neck, and I was sweating in my suit.
    â€œHave you learned anything?” Randall asked quietly, his eyes darting from group to group.
    â€œNot really,” I lied. “This has all happened pretty quickly.”
    Randall nodded and smoothed his tie down his chest. “Sure. Please tell me if I can do anything to help.”
    Carter glanced at me, and I knew he was waiting for me to say something. I