Chapters (49)
Gabrielle’s dead. Now Bethany’s dead. Both look like suicides—with solid evidence pointing towards suicides. But Gabrielle was missing for five days before her death on the sixth and in that time she stayed—or was kept—somewhere, shampooing her hair with pearl-based shampoo.
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Bethany’s autopsy revealed nothing other than trauma as cause of death. Dr. Maddox took plenty of tissue samples for drug analysis. They’d all have to wait for Zoe to complete the tests before they knew what substances Bethany had in her system, because from the video footage, it was obvious that she was either drunk or on something.
On Monday morning, Gavin looked like he was trying hard to keep a straight face when Val told him her thoughts about the yellow room and the shampoo. “I saw the room. And it was the only inviting space in that entire condo,” he said.
I guess color really is subjective, she thought, preferring not to say much more on the matter. Jack would have taken a lead like this and run with it. Jack. Val thought about him all the time. She wished he’d call. Val ached to make things right between them again.
“As far as the shampoo goes, Val, do you think she’d put cheap shampoo in her guest bathroom?”
Val had no answer again.
Gavin patted her on the shoulder. “Well, come on now. Gabrielle, Adam and the Morgan twins are being exhumed in about an hour.”
Forest Lawn cemetery is where most of the elite of Buffalo’s golden age are buried. Even the thirteenth president, Millard Fillmore, is interred there. Lakes, streams, rolling hills, ornate and expansive family monuments are what make Forest Lawn a tourist destination. Trolly cars and walking tours take people around, guides pointing out the prominent and famous graves. This is where the Morgans came to spend eternity. They even had their own private mausoleum.
Val knew they all got lucky that the family wasn’t buried in the ground. They’d have had to wait for the spring thaw to get them out if that was the case. Right now, she, Gavin and Warren, along with two cemetery officials, stood inside the stone and marble structure. Outside, two bronze angels stood watch at the stained-glass door. Val couldn’t help but notice that they looked judgmental, rather than watchful. Maybe this is how it was planned, well over 100 years ago. Bare your sins at heaven’s gate. Only the repentant can pass. Val looked around. Hell, if these graves could talk.