The Heirloom Murders by Kathleen Ernst Page B

Simon is planning a memorial for Tuesday. If we have Bonnie’s body by then, we’ll bury her. If not, we’ll have a private burial when we can.” She leaned against the counter and folded her arms. “Thanks for stopping by, Sonia.”
    Chloe waited until she heard the front door close before scraping the remnants of her meal into the garbage. “I don’t mean to be rude,” she said, “but this food is inedible.”
    Dellyn began flipping through the stack of envelopes she’d retrieved from the mail slot. “Yeah. She’s a horrible cook.”
    “Tell me if I’m being too nosy, but … well, you didn’t seem happy to see a friendly neighbor.”
    “I wasn’t.” Dellyn began tossing envelopes aside. “Condolence card, bill.”
    OK, Chloe thought. Dellyn doesn’t want to talk about Sonia Padopolous.
    “Two condolence cards. Bill.” Suddenly Dellyn went very still.
    “What is it?”
    Dellyn slowly turned an envelope toward Chloe. It was addressed to Dellyn Burke in blue ink. And in the upper left corner, written with the same pen: B. Sabatola.
    Chloe stared. “Oh my God.”
    “It’s from Bonnie. Do you think I should open it?”
    “Well … yeah, I do. Maybe it will explain why she felt she needed to kill herself.”
    Dellyn unfolded the paper, read it, and handed it to Chloe. The note was frustratingly terse. Dellyn, I’m so sorry. I just can’t face it anymore. Love always, Bonnie.
    “Is this your sister’s handwriting?” Chloe asked.
    “Yes.” Dellyn’s eyes welled with tears. “But she didn’t explain anything! How could she send me a note like this, but not tell me why ? ”
    Chloe put an arm around her friend’s shoulders. “I imagine she was doing the very best she could, and that she was completely out of emotional energy. Depression does that to a person.”
    “I’m trying not to be angry at her. But I can’t help it.”
    “You’re entitled to your feelings. Just remember that even in the end, she was thinking about you. She wanted to apologize to you .”
    “I guess.” Dellyn snuffled. “Yeah. I suppose it’s something.” She drew a deep, shuddering breath. “I better call Simon, and let him know this came. Maybe he got one too.”
    “The cops’ll want to know about it, too.”
    Dellyn blinked at her. “The cops? Why?”
    Chloe growled silently at Roelke. “I think they just like to know all the details on cases like this. So their files are complete.”
    “That’s the least of my concerns. I need to call Simon.”
    Chloe sat back at the table as Dellyn punched in the numbers on the wall phone. “Simon? It’s—yeah, it’s me.” She told him about the letter. “Did you get one too? … Yeah, I’ll wait.” She put a hand over the receiver and said, “He hasn’t gotten his mail yet.” Dellyn stared blindly out the window for a few moments, and then turned her attention back to the phone. “No? … Sure, I’ll bring it right over. See you in a bit.”
    “He wants to see it?” Chloe asked.
    “Yeah. He hasn’t gotten, or found, any message from Bonnie.” Dellyn ran a hand over her hair, looking around the kitchen. “I need my car keys. They’re around here somewhere …”
    “They’re right here.” Chloe retrieved the key ring from behind the napkin holder. “Are you OK to drive? I could take you, and just wait in the car.”
    “Thanks, but I’m OK.” Dellyn shaped her mouth into a smile. “And thanks for the help this afternoon, too. I really appreciate it.”
    “I’ll tell you what,” Chloe said. “How about if I stay here, and keep working until you get back? I’ve got nothing better to do.”
    “Really?”
    “Really,” Chloe said. “As pathetic as that sounds.”
    “Be my guest, then. If you need to leave before I get home, just pull the door closed behind you.”
    Chloe waited until she heard Dellyn’s car back from the driveway before reaching for the phone and punching in Roelke’s home number. No answer. She tried the station’s