Free The Graves of the Guilty (Hope Street Church Mysteries Book 3) by Ellery Adams Page B

the living room sofa. Cooper felt like rushing to her friend’s side and embracing her, for Trish truly looked sick. Her face was puffy and pale, her eyes dull and tired, and her legs were drawn up under her and covered by a throw blanket. Cooper was used to seeing Trish with makeup and jewelry. She was used to her in skirt suits and heels, but Trish was wearing a gray sweatshirt and a faded Richmond Braves baseball cap.
    “Should we have lunch and then review this week’s lesson?” Savannah asked. “Are you hungry, Trish?”
    “Not really,” she said weakly. “It’s hard to eat with such a dry mouth, but feel free to bring your food in here. Make yourselves comfortable. I’m through with decorum.” She gestured at the sweatshirt. “I’ve never allowed anyone to eat in this room before, but suddenly rules like that seem dumb.”
    “I’m serving comfort food today. Bologna and cheese on sesame-seed rolls with a side of Fritos.” Quinton set a paper plate on Trish’s lap. “And here’s a big glass of water to help wash it all down.”
    Jake led Savannah to one of the wing chairs and offered to fix a sandwich for her. Bryant sat next to Trish and put a hand on her shoulder. “How are you feeling?”
    “Like total crap,” she said truthfully. “And I know I look awful.” She picked up her Directing Our Passion workbook. “I didn’t finish the homework, either. The question about Corinthians twelve—the one about spiritual gifts—I couldn’t answer that one at all. I don’t know if I have any.”
    Nathan wiped Frito dust onto a napkin. “Of course you do. Look how many mission families you’ve found homes for. With all the support your company gives to the church for its East End housing project, your spiritual gift has been to put roofs over people’s heads. That’s no small feat.”
    “And you convinced me to do the plumbing for a bunch of those houses,” Jake added. “Now that’s talent—to get a plumber to work on a Saturday during football season.”
    Trish closed her workbook. “I know we should focus on our study, but I can’t concentrate until we get this out of the way.” She slowly removed her baseball cap.
    Cooper stared at the patches of pink skin peeking through the limp hair on Trish’s head. “It’s awful, isn’t it? I look like a soccer ball.” Her voice trembled and Bryant took her hand in his.
    “You’re going to be the most gorgeous bald woman in all of Richmond,” he whispered.
    Bryant then got up, fetched his electric clippers from the kitchen, and returned with a dining room chair. Nathan and Jake spread out two large Hefty bags in the center of the floor and placed the chair on top of them.
    Quinton got a towel from the downstairs bathroom and motioned at the chair. “Your seat awaits you, milady. Bryant’s Beauty Boutique is open for business.”
    Nodding, Trish moved to the chair. Quinton covered her shoulders with the towel and then kissed her on the cheek. He closed the towel at her neck using a plastic snack bag clip and then backed up, giving Bryant space to work. Not for the first time, Cooper thought about what a caring and wonderful husband Quinton would make.
    “I’m scared!” Trish cried.
    Cooper longed to remove her friend’s fear. “Do you want me to read something aloud?”
    “That would be nice. How about a little Samson and Delilah? That seems appropriate.” Trish’s attempted laugh came out sounding like a strangled sob.
    Opening her Bible to Judges, Cooper kept her voice soft and level as she recited Samson’s victories over the Philistines. “‘See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.’”
    “Damn those shekels of silver!” Jake called over the sound of the buzzer.
    Cooper glanced up and was momentarily distracted by the locks of Trish’s red hair raining to the