The Language of Death (A Darcy Sweet Coy Mystery) Read Free Page B

figured.  He stood up now and shuffled over to Betsy.
    "I told you to take it easy, Betsy," he said, reaching out to take Betsy's hands.  "You've been going nonstop.  You'll wear yourself out."
    Betsy smiled at him and turned her face for him to kiss her cheek.  "Kevin, I told you.  I need to keep busy.  It's better than…"
    Everyone in the room managed to look away, knowing what Betsy was leaving unsaid.  It was better to keep busy than think about how her daughter had died.
    "Well.  Just don't overdo it."  Kevin Marrin squeezed his wife's hand and then turned to Darcy.  "You must be the famous Darcy Sweet.  It means so much to us that you came.  Thank you, so much."
    He had to stop for a moment, choked up himself.  Darcy could feel the emotion in the room as a tangible thing.  A heavy blanket that weighed down on everyone.  Two women sat on the couch to Darcy's left, both about Darcy's age, dressed up in black.  One wore black slacks, a black top, and black shoes with straps that crisscrossed the tops of her feet.  She had several gold rings on her fingers and gold dangly earrings.  Dark hair in a pixie cut framed a thin face with a pinched mouth.  She looked at Darcy with narrowed eyes.
    The other woman was blonde and had round glasses in dark frames, her brown eyes wide and round like an owl's.  She was very thin, and her black dress clung tightly across her chest and hips.  Her smile was friendly though, and she even managed a little wave.
    Betsy leaned against her husband and waved a hand at each of the women in turn.  "Darcy, this is Veronica Theissen, one of Chloe's friends," she introduced the one with the flashy gold jewelry.  She nodded slowly to Darcy, and Darcy realized she had seen Veronica's type before.  She might be dressed in black like she was in mourning, but it was really to keep the attention on her.
    "And Sami Wilmer."   The second woman blinked at Darcy from behind her glasses.  She smiled again, a little shyly.
    On the other couch, two men sat side by side, both of them as different as could be.  The one was in blue jeans and a blue button down dress shirt, his black hair trimmed and swept to the side, his face gorgeous with a strong jaw and expressive eyebrows over crystal green eyes.  He had an arm over the back of the sofa, totally at ease here in a room where everyone was grieving.  The other was in a black suit with a deep blue tie.  His face was wide and Darcy supposed he was handsome in a cute sort of way.  His blonde hair was a little unkempt and his dark blue eyes were the color of the ocean.  And he looked…
    "Hi Darcy," he said , standing up.  "It's been a long time."
    Familiar.   He looked familiar.  Darcy stretched her memory.  Yes.  She sort of remembered him.  From college.  Oh, for Pete's sake!
    "Lorne?"   Of course it was him.  Lorne Sommers.  They had been friends back in college, hung out a few times together with Chloe.  More than a few times, as she recalled now.  She hadn't thought of him in years.  He'd been more Chloe's friend, but there had been a few nights out when Darcy and Chloe had both eyed him as potential boyfriend material.  It had never happened, though, and looking at him now she had to wonder why she'd never followed through.
    Or maybe, she thought, she was just remembering her time at college with Chloe in a rosy light now that she was gone.  Either way, it didn't matter.  They were here now.
    "How have you been?" Lorne asked her , stepping over to hug her quickly.
    "I'm good," she said, feeling awkward.  "Wow.  It has been a while, hasn't it?"
    "Since college.  Chloe and I…we, uh, kept in touch.  I live nearby.  I'm guessing you and she kept in contact too?"
    "Yes," Darcy said.  "I just wish I'd been able to see her more often.  I live hours away from here."
    The man on the couch cleared his throat, then stood up as well.  "Lorne, bro, you going to introduce me?"
    Darcy immediately didn't like this man.