When Rain Falls by Tyora M. Moody Page B

do this. Not now. Her children were in the limo. She shook her head at her aunt, mouthing the word no . Candace entered the limo and held her hands to her mouth, trying to catch her breath. It was no use. The bottled sob in her throat didn’t want to be held back anymore. So she wouldn’t choke, Candace let the howl escape from her throat. What did she do to deserve this fate? Why did God continue to release his wrath on her?

Chapter Twelve
    The windshield wipers swished the large droplets away as they fell, allowing Darnell to observe Candace and her children climb into the limousine. An older woman appeared from around the back of the vehicle. Whoever she was, Candace appeared distraught as she shared words with the woman. Darnell could see her shaking her head. It was almost like she was in terror.
    Darnell turned to his partner. “Did you see that? I wonder what that’s about.”
    Brunson stared at him. It wouldn’t be the first time Darnell sensed the old man’s desire to put him six feet under.
    â€œWhat’s got your knickers in a knot now, Jackson?” Brunson asked.
    â€œThat woman. It was almost like Candace was scared of her or something.” He didn’t know much about Candace other than what he’d seen up close the past few days. She seemed a bit impulsive, crashing into Mitch Harris’s office the other day. Did she think she was going to rip a confession out of the man? Although it would have been nice.
    â€œI don’t know what you saw, but the woman’s grieving. If your friend has just been killed, you have a right to look terrified.”
    Darnell raised his eyebrow. “How close were they? She couldn’t tell us for sure if Pamela was seeing anyone. Even if she fooled around with Mitch Harris, we don’t have enough motive for him to kill her.”
    Brunson shrugged his shoulders. “Look, we’re probably going to end up looking at every Tom, John, and Juan who Coleman defended. She had quite a few unscrupulous characters on her client list. People paid her the big bucks to keep them out of jail. Remember that. This ain’t going to be a cut-and-dried case.”
    â€œNot if folks are holding out information.”
    Brunson lifted one bushy eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    Darnell sighed. “Look, I get the impression that Candace could be difficult. She’s already butting her head into places that should be left up to the police.”
    â€œI guess she has a right to.” Brunson turned his attention to looking through the windshield.
    â€œA right?” Darnell shook his head. “Man, no one has the right to go off on some half-cocked thoughts and accuse someone of murder with no proof.”
    Brunson ignored Darnell.
    Was his partner holding back something? Darnell knew how much Brunson cared about his former partner and his family. So, maybe his partner would be willing to turn a blind eye, but he wasn’t. Not that he was trying to jump to conclusions, but he smelled something else brewing in Candace Johnson.
    Desperation.
    If he’d gone in there to arrest Mitch Harris, Candace would’ve remained right there, exuberant, no doubt. Of course, when a person lost a loved one, reactions included anger and a deep desire for justice.
    At the funeral he’d watched Candace as she observed people. Either she’d learned a lot from her husband or she really wanted to nail somebody. They had the same objectives. He had a murder to solve, but he couldn’t afford any mistakes.
    Especially after today.
    Pamela Coleman had officially been placed to rest. He wouldn’t be experiencing rest for a while.
    Up ahead, Judge Coleman and Mitch Harris escorted Desiree to the limo. That must be Yvonne Harris, Darnell guessed, walking close behind, holding a large umbrella. All three concentrated on keeping the grief-stricken Desiree upright. Worn out, Pamela’s mother paused in front