Heinous Read Free Page B

introduction. I’ve already heard all about this lady from Sylvia.”
    Jess offered her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Senator.”
    He gave her hand a firm shake. “The pleasure is mine, Jess. Dan is a very lucky man to have you on his team.”
    “I remind him of that every day,” Jess assured him.
    Senator Baron’s hearty laughter made her smile. Maybe her old friend Buddy Corlew was wrong. She might have grown up on the other side of the tracks from these wealthy people, but she belonged here, Jess decided, as surely as anyone else in attendance.
    Dan’s parents appeared and the conversation shifted to fundraising projects.
    “This could go on all night.” Katherine Burnett patted Jess’s arm. “You look very nice, dear. How are you feeling?”
    Wow, a compliment that didn’t involve being compared to a hunting dog. Hopefully, Dan’s mother had decided to accept her. “Thank you. I’m feeling well.”
    “Have you and Dan had time to look for a new home?”
    They really did need to get around to finding one. “Not yet, but house hunting is definitely on our agenda.”
    “I keep an eye on all the best properties.” Katherine gave a knowing nod. “I’d love to help.”
    Jess almost changed the subject. The words were on the tip of her tongue, then she reminded herself that this woman, despite all the times she had treated Jess badly, would be her child’s grandmother. She was Dan’s mother. Why fight the inevitable? “Any suggestions you have would be appreciated. Finding time in our schedules lately has been impossible.”
    For about twenty-five years, Katherine Burnett had not considered Jess good enough for her son, and still the relief that shone in her eyes at hearing a positive response touched Jess.
    “I’ll speak to my realtor tomorrow and send you and Dan a list of properties,” Katherine promised.
    “Thank you, Katherine. That sounds like a good starting place.”
    “Harris!” Sylvia Baron sidled up and took Jess by the arm. “Forgive me,” she announced unrepentantly to the small group, “but I need to steal Harris away for a moment.”
    With a chorus of assurances echoing behind them, Sylvia ushered Jess in the direction of the mansion’s grand rear entrance.
    “We have to talk, Harris.”
    “You have my undivided attention.” Jess plucked an hors d’oeuvre from a passing platter. The bacon wrapped date with a touch of Parmesan was scrumptious.
    Sylvia greeted more guests and introduced Jess each time before ushering her into a study where a large desk flanked by comfortable wingbacks sat in front of floor to ceiling bookshelves.
    Once the door was closed, Sylvia collapsed against it. “Thank God. This annual event grows bigger each year.”
    “Your father has many friends.” Jess sipped her sparkling water, wishing she had grabbed two of those bacon wrapped thingies.
    “Along with a few enemies.” The ME quirked an eyebrow. “Daddy taught me long ago to keep my friends close and my enemies closer.”
    “He’s a smart man.”
    Sylvia frowned, looked Jess up and down. “Weren’t you wearing
that
at the homicide scene this morning?”
    Jess decided not to mention that she felt inordinately lucky that it even still fit. “There was no time to change. Besides, I’ve been too busy for any shopping.”
    “Too busy to shop?” Sylvia pressed a hand to her chest. “Be still my heart.” She pushed away from the door and headed to the liquor cabinet. “I wasn’t going to tell you about this find until tomorrow morning.”
    “What find?” When Sylvia left the chapel, she’d insisted she couldn’t start the autopsy on the reverend before tomorrow. Understandable. Jess’s cases weren’t the only ones that needed the attention of the coroner’s office. After leaving the chapel this morning, Jess and Hayes had checked in at the scene in Scottsboro while Harper, Lori, and Cook worked on tracking down the family and friends of the reverend. Not an easy task with