Page 85 of Little Buried Secrets

Isaac opened his mouth to speak, and his mother looked at him, saying, “Please. This is not the time.”

He nodded, and I rose from my seat and walked toward Sebastian. Bending down, I tapped Sean on the shoulder and said, “How’s he doing?”

Sean nodded. “He’ll be all right.”

Sebastian glanced up at Rae, repeating the words, “I’m sorry,” over and over again.

“No need to apologize,” she said. “What you said meant a lot to me, and it would have meant a lot to Margot.”

CHAPTER 34

“Well, ho-lee crap,” Simone said. “Never expected anyone to pass out. Woke me right up.”

We were sitting beside each other at The Untamed Shrew, our local watering hole. Simone was sipping on a Cosmopolitan, and I was staring at my glass of rosé, reliving the highlights of the funeral service.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about what Sebastian said before he fainted,” I said. “He’s one of the most introverted people I’ve ever met. It took a lot for him to get up in front of everyone and say what he did. I can’t stop replaying it in my mind.”

She turned toward me. “What are you thinking?”

“When Sebastian got to the part of his speech where he said he was angry and wanted to kill the person who murdered Margot, he looked right at me. It was almost like he was trying to tell me something.”

“Maybe it was a warning.”

“What do you mean?”

“A warning like—you better find Margot’s killer before he does.”

It was possible.

If he came to the wake, I’d ask him about it.

“What did Kaia say when you talked to her?” I asked.

Simone moved a hand to her hip. “Before I talk about the conversation I had with her, is there anything else you need me to do for you today?”

“No, why?”

She waved a hand in the air, summoning the bartender. He walked over, smiled at her, and she said, “I’ll have another Cosmopolitan, please.”

He nodded and walked away.

“Can I ask you something?” I said.

“Let me guess. You want to know why I drink after I attend a funeral.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, yes.”

She polished off her Cosmopolitan and said, “I lost my older sister when I was twelve years old. She had brain cancer. All these years later, I still think about the day she died whenever I’m at a funeral. I wish I didn’t keep reliving it, but I do.”

“I had no idea. I’m sorry. Does my brother know?”

“He does. He offered to pick me up.”

“I could drive you home.”

“He’s already on the way. Do you want to know something? My sister is the reason I became a detective. She wanted to be a police officer when she grew up. I became one as a way to honor her life.”

“You are honoring her life,” I said.

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