Illusions of Death by Lauren Linwood Page B

circles under his eyes, but he was impeccably dressed, down to the navy silk handkerchief jutting from his pocket.
    She went to greet him. “Hello, Mr. Snow. Thank you for coming.”
    He kissed her cheek. “Hello, Karlyn. I’m sorry about Broderick’s passing.”
    Karlyn wondered at his words. Meetings between the two were legendary—and loud—as Graydon tried to give editing advice to his famous client. Broderick refused most of it, claiming Graydon messed with true genius.
    The elderly editor brightened. “Your father does have one last novel slated for fall. It’s his most accessible work ever.”
    “Meaning people will actually understand what it’s about?”
    “Don’t be disrespectful,” Martha warned her.
    Graydon waved away the words. “It’s dense as ever, but the biting sarcasm is more discernible. It will outsell anything he’s done.”
    He smiled at her. “You’re having a wonderful career. I hear one of your Matt Collins books is going to be made into a movie. Who’s writing the screenplay?”
    Karlyn shivered. “I’m supposed to. I haven’t touched it since I’ve been in Walton Springs. I need to get back to New York and—”
    “You can’t leave me!”
    Her mother’s words startled her. Martha Campbell never gave her daughter the time of day, much less longed for her company.
    “Move in with me, dear. At least for a few weeks. With your marriage ending, you’re at odds and ends. The house has plenty of room. You could use your father’s office to work.”
    Sit in his chair while she crafted her first screenplay? It seemed almost sacrilegious.
    That only made her want to do it.
    It would be easier to meet with Chris if she remained in Georgia. Plus, she wouldn’t have to waste time finding a place to live back in Manhattan. She could finish the screenplay. Wrap up her novel. Figure out what she wanted to do with her life.
    “If you want me to.”
    “You may stay as long as you choose, Karlyn. We’ll get to know each other again.”
    “You’ve never known me,” she whispered under her breath as Martha offered Graydon a cup of coffee before they left for the service.
    It was worse than Karlyn imagined. She should have hired security. Who knew a funeral in a small town would be turned into a zoo? She’d thought a few reporters from New York might attend. Broderick was well known, but it wasn’t as if a former president or Oscar winner had died.
    When they turned the corner, she spied photographers lined outside the church, snapping away at everyone who entered St. Michael’s Episcopalian. Fortunately, their driver bypassed the crowd and drove them to a rear entrance. A mousy associate pastor led them in a side door and to their seats in the packed sanctuary. At her urging, he promised to notify Chief Risedale of the situation immediately.
    The service began. The head clergyman opened with what a warm, caring man Broderick Campbell had been. Karlyn tuned out his words. Her father was cold, aloof, and had perfected the art of being a bastard.
    Instead, her focus turned to Logan Warner.
    Ever since her father died and she’d been encompassed in his arms for a brief moment of comfort, she couldn’t rid herself of the handsome detective’s image. It seemed shallow to have the type of thoughts that flitted through her mind concerning the lawman, but she couldn’t help it. He oozed sex appeal. Images of having mind-blowing sex with him wouldn’t go away. She felt herself flushing with guilt.
    The funeral service ended. She took her mother’s arm. Graydon Snow captured the other side. Together they guided Martha down the aisle and out into the cool, overcast March day. Immediately, flashbulbs went off, blinding Karlyn.
    And then the questions came, fast and furious.
    “Karlyn, why did Mario leave you?”
    “Karlyn, are you having an affair? Is that what’s behind the divorce?”
    “Did your father ghostwrite your novels?”
    “Who will play Matt Collins in the