Lie Down in Green Pastures (7 page)

Cindy printed the article and then searched for more information.She found a couple of other articles about the death including the obituary. None of them gave more information than accidental overdose. The obituary came with a photo of a smiling woman in her late forties.

Max Diamond's words came back to Cindy.
I won't let anything get in my way.

She stared hard at the picture of the woman. "Did you get in his way?" she whispered.

Cindy was miserable in the morning. Worse, she had no one she could talk to about it. As she prepared to go to the funeral service for Dr. Tanner she dressed slowly. She was exhausted, having finally forced herself to go to bed around three. It was more than just the exhaustion that was bothering her, though.

Cindy hated funerals. The first funeral she had ever attended was for her sister and since then she had done her best to avoid them, only attending two that she couldn't get out of. Both times she had nearly collapsed, the memories from the first one overwhelming her.

She didn't want to go to Dr. Tanner's funeral. Indeed, there was no reason for her to go. They hadn't been friends or known each other. They had been acquaintances who shared nothing more than a casual nod when passing each other. There were no people there who would need her shoulder. Most people there probably wouldn't know or notice her.

But something deep inside her wouldn't let her stay home.She couldn't forget what she had overheard Max Diamond say in the pub. In her gut she didn't think that Dr. Tanner's death had been an accident.

Even if that's true, what do I possibly expect to find?
she wondered.

She was wearing a black skirt and a plain white blouse. The only all-black thing she owned was a little black dress she was saving for just the right occasion.
Such a fairy tale. Like I'll ever have a reason to wear it or anyone to wear it for.

She was tired. She hadn't slept well the last couple of nights and she knew her mind had been fretting over the death, unable to let it go. She had begun to wonder if she needed it to be a murder to help make sense of it. Otherwise, someone having a heart attack while driving and crashing into another car was just one more horror of the world that she couldn't protect herself from.

No one is safe ever, not anywhere.

She didn't like feeling that way. Ironically since her two brushes with killers in the last year the thought had slowly started to control her less. Murder was understandable even if abominable. Senseless accidents, random incidents, and fate weren't.

She went to her jewelry box and selected a simple gold cross necklace.
God understands those things even if I don't,
she thought, trying to comfort herself. At last she was finished getting ready.

Moment of truth. Are you going or not?

She grabbed her purse and headed out the front door, trying to ignore the shaking of her hands as she locked it behind her. It was a short drive to the cemetery. By the looks of things a couple of funerals were scheduled for the day. She followed the small signs to the parking area for the Tanner funeral.

They were having a graveside service and she followed several others across the grass to where chairs had been arranged near a casket. She hung back, not wanting to take a chair as they were already filling up fast. That way she could leave quickly and quietly if she needed.

Just looking at the mourners was enough to make her chest tighten and she found a nearby tree she could brace herself against for support.
You're okay,
she told herself over and over again. She took several deep breaths, trying to remind herself why she was there.

She tried to see the faces of the people as they passed by, but not their expressions. Grief, sorrow, confusion, anger, she didn't need to see the emotions to know that they were there.

Joseph and Geanie walked past and Geanie gave her a little wave, which Cindy returned. Dave and his wife showed up close after them.

As the funeral began Cindy looked around. Most were sitting or clustered around those who were. There were a few, like herself, who chose to be scattered farther away.

Finally her gaze fell on Paul and a chill raced up her spine.Something told her that the detective wouldn't be there if they still believed Dr. Tanner's death was an accident.

She began to ease her way slowly over to him, the heels of her black pumps sinking into the earth with each step. She noticed that, like she had been, he was surveying everyone and everything around them. With a grimace Paul dipped his head toward her to acknowledge that he saw her.

When she reached his side she stood quietly, waiting for the service to conclude. Once it did, though, she intended to find out what exactly was going on. It was a relief to stand there with him because it let her focus on her purpose and not on the sounds of crying that reached her ears or the words of the pastor memorializing the deceased.

When the service was finally over she turned to Paul. "It was murder, wasn't it?" she asked, careful to keep her voice low.

"We don't know anything of the sort," Paul said, his voice frosty. "I'm here to pay my respects. And, if you must know, I'm here to talk with Joseph about a different matter."

"A related matter?" she guessed.

"No," he said, but the flicker of his eyes gave him away.

"So, something is going on," she said triumphantly.

"Miss Preston, leave well enough alone, for your own safety and my sanity."

"But I can help," she protested.

"No, you can't. Look, if you're really that bored and need something to occupy your time, might I suggest a hobby. Or a boyfriend."

"I'm not bored," she said, allowing her anger to show."I helped out a lot the last two times something like this happened."

"What you did was nearly get yourself killed. What you're doing now is interfering with a police investigation."

She took a step back. Before she could think of any way to respond, Joseph and Geanie walked up.

"Hey," Geanie said, giving her a quick hug.

"Hi, Cindy. Detective, everything okay?" Joseph asked.

"I have a few questions I'd like to ask you."

"Sure."

"Can we step over here a ways?"

Paul and Joseph moved away from the gravesite and the exiting mourners and Cindy and Geanie followed. When they stopped walking Paul glared at Cindy. Joseph, following his gaze, said, "We can speak freely in front of them."

"You're on the board for Green Pastures, correct?"

"Yes."

"And land developer Max Diamond is trying to buy the camp, correct?"

"Yes."

"Have you had any contact with a man named Randall Kelly?"

Cindy felt her pulse begin to quicken. She had read in the papers that Randall Kelly was the environmentalist who had been killed.

"No, but his name sounds familiar."

Paul pulled a picture out of his shirt. "You haven't seen or talked to this man for the last few weeks?"

"No."

"Has anyone mentioned an environmental activist to you in connection with Green Pastures?"

"No, sorry," Joseph said. "Why?"

"We believe that he was murdered last week. We're trying to figure out why and by whom. Is it possible that Dr. Tanner could have had any contact with him?"

"I don't think—" Joseph broke offin mid-stream, a thoughtful look crossing his face.

"What is it?" Paul pushed.

"Wednesday night Mel mentioned that he was going to be meeting with somebody who might be able to throw some more light on the whole situation."

"Did he say who?"

"No."

"Did he say what time or where he was going to meet this person? Was the meeting for that night or the next morning?"

Joseph shook his head. "I don't know. I wish I could be more help."

"That's okay. Please call me if you remember anything else," Paul urged.

"I will."

Paul turned and headed for the parking lot, leaving the three of them alone.

"What's going on?" Joseph asked.

"I'm not sure," Cindy said, "but I'd bet it has something to do with Green Pastures and Max Diamond. I overheard him Friday night talking about the sale and I believe he means for it to happen, regardless of who has to get hurt."

"Or killed?" Geanie asked.

Cindy nodded.

"That's ridiculous," Joseph said. "Max Diamond is a very wealthy man. If he loses this battle, he'll just move on to the next one without breaking a sweat."

"I'm not so sure about that," Cindy said.

"I am," Joseph countered.

"I'm sure the police will figure it out," Geanie said quickly.

"I hope so. I did want to ask your opinion on something else, Cindy," Joseph said.

"What?"

"Tomorrow night we're having another board meeting.Among other things we need to find a replacement board member. I was thinking of throwing Jeremiah's name out for consideration. Do you think he'd do it?"

"Why are you asking me?

"The two of you seem pretty close, so I wanted to try and gauge his reaction by talking to you first."

"We're not exactly close," she said. "I really don't know, but you can try. He'd make a wonderful addition to the board, I'm sure."

"That's what I think. Well, I'll see what can be done. Are you going over to Dr. Tanner's house?"

"No, I was just here for the funeral."

"Okay. Take care, Cindy, and don't worry. The police have everything under control." Joseph and Geanie turned to go.

How he of all people could say that was beyond her. If it weren't for her, he himself could have been killed or falsely imprisoned based on everything that had happened with his purebred dogs, the murderer, and the homeless charity back in November.

She stayed until the last mourner had left. Frustration was building within her. It felt like every two seconds someone was either telling her that she was crazy or that she was in the way.

She glanced back toward the casket and pain nearly overwhelmed her. It was about more than just her sister this time, though. Dr. Tanner had been a good and decent man and someone had killed him. She was sure of it.

"No one believes me now, but I'll prove it," she vowed.

Funerals are hard on everyone,
Jeremiah reflected as he stared upon the faces of the mourners. They were there to grieve the loss of a young woman who had passed away after a long illness.

He read some words from one of the Psalms and then gave a brief eulogy for the woman. Then the older family members passed around a small knife, which they used to cut their clothes on the right side, representing the hole the deceased had left in their lives. It was an outward sign of mourning.Some of the younger family members chose to wear a black ribbon instead of rending their clothes. "Dayan Ha'emet, Blessed is the Judge of Truth," Jeremiah said as they performed the ritual.

At the conclusion of his words the coffin was lowered into the ground and many came forward to take their turn shoveling some dirt upon it. This act was the ultimate act of love and kindness, for the deceased could not do it herself, nor ask others to do it, nor thank them for their labor on her behalf. It also offered closure to those grieving.

When that was finished the mourners then recited the Kaddish prayer. "Praised be the name of G-d. He created the world according to his will. Life has a plan and a purpose. We hope for the coming of G-d's kingdom on earth, when things as they are, will be changed to things as they ought to be."

Those in attendance who were not immediate family then formed two lines facing each other, which the mourners passed through on their way to the cars.

"May you be comforted among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem," Jeremiah said as they passed by. Others also offered condolences.

When it was over, the crowd dispersed. Some would be going to her home to sit quietly with her family and discuss her life and to provide a simple meal, probably hard-boiled eggs and bagels. He had been to a couple of non-Jewish funerals and had been surprised at the amount of food and people that showed up at the house of the bereaved after the funeral.It had seemed too festive to him.