Page 32 of Raging Inferno

She closed it and took a seat. “If I’d known you were still in the area, Presley, I’d have called you long ago to get lunch and catch up.”

“I’m not. I returned for Margy Binder’s funeral and now Nancy Baker’s.”

“I heard about Margy.” She tsked. “Terrible news—wait.” Her head jerked up. “Did you say Nancy Baker?”

“Yes, she and her husband passed away yesterday.”

Tamera’s face crumpled. “No, not Nancy.”

“I’m afraid so.”

Tamera buried her face in her hands and cried.

Presley hated to intrude on her moment of grief, but they still needed to visit the coroner. “You were close with them?”

Tamera dropped her hands. “I hadn’t spoken with either of them in years.”

What had happened to make the Cheerios drift so far apart? They were best friends once. Presley couldn’t understand why the women hadn’t kept in touch if they still cared about each other. It made little sense. Was it losing Gwen?

“When was the last time you spoke with Margy or Nancy?”

Instead of using the lotus container, Tamera reached into a drawer and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. She tapped one into her hand and stuck it in her mouth. Using a small yellow lighter, she flicked it to bring up a flame and touched it to the tip. That reminded Presley of how Nancy and Margy died. And Gwen.

Tamera inhaled a breath, pulling the nicotine deep into her lungs before letting it out. Smoke curled from her mouth and nostrils. Presley tried not to recoil from the stench.

“Years. Graduation, maybe?”

“What happened?”

Tamera didn’t answer. She looked lost in memories.

“Tamera? Why haven’t you spoken to the other Cheerios?”

She hitched a shoulder. “You get older, grow apart.”

It was the same thing Jessie had said. Presley would have an easier time believing it if the women didn’t all live within thirty miles of each other.

“Tamera, what happened between you all?”

For a moment, there was a flash of sadness in Tamera’s eyes. Most people might not notice, but Presley was trained to look for the small tells.

“Honestly, I don’t remember. It was so long ago.” She took another drag of the cigarette. “We existed in a bubble in high school, you know? It wasn’t real life. It was make-believe when you were young, starry-eyed, and thought anything was possible. The world was at your fingertips. Those friendships don’t last. Life hits you smack in the face.” She slammed her hand on the desk for emphasis, making Presley jump. “You grow up fast. That’s what Gwen’s death did to us, but instead of slapping us in the face, it knocked us out.”

Presley was well aware of that fact. She’d grown up from her cousin’s death too. It had robbed her of her childhood. She’d lost the most important person in her life after her parents. She shook off the dark memories.

“You didn’t come across any of the other women over the years?”

“No—well, I take that back. I ran into Charmaine at the Walmart Supercenter in Hermantown a few years ago. I almost didn’t recognize her. She’s changed dramatically. She was with her husband, and let me tell you, he was awful. Charmaine was very unpleasant and tried to preach to me. I guess she’s gone full-on church lady. I had to walk away.”

“What about Jessie?”

Tamera shook her head, but Presley had a feeling she was lying. The question was, why?

“Are your fire alarms in working order?” Dominic wanted to know.

The question seemed to surprise Tamera. “I guess so. I haven’t heard an annoying beep indicating the battery is low.”

“Do you mind if I take a look at them?”

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