In Case of Death (The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic Book 3) Read Online Free

statement however, it left me momentarily confused.
    “We both said that earlier,” May responded with a smile, “It’s already set up over here.”
    Indeed, there was an expensive looking insulated carafe sitting on a small table, along with china cups and saucers ringing a polished silver tray.
    As I followed them back to the chairs, I thought back to my history with Raven. We had been in love in College; at least I had thought so. Eventually however, she had realized that my earning potential was not what it could be, and opted to dump me in favor of another man…an accountant.
    He had been just the first of many husbands in Raven’s life, each one allowing her to trade up to the next level of income and importance. Her last husband had taken her to the top of the heap.
    Calvin Forester was the richest man in our little county, and not so bad on the national level either. I had heard that he had died on an overseas trip while I was in South America.
    “So what is it I can help you with ladies,” I asked as May poured me a cup of black coffee.
    Handing the cup to me, she grew serious. “Had you heard that Tom died in the spring Gabe?”
    I was shocked. Thomas Lassiter, May’s husband, was a great guy. Eight or nine years older than us, he was nevertheless a very healthy man the last time I had seen him.
    “May, I’m sorry, I had no idea,” I stated with concern.
    “Don’t worry about it Gabe. Neither Tom nor I have any family left around here anymore, except my parents. I didn’t bother listing his death notice down here…I just really wasn’t thinking straight at the time.”
    I felt so bad for May.
    “I can understand that,” I said while flashing back to my state of mind after Betty’s death.
    “That’s why we called you,” Raven said as she picked up her coffee cup.
    “What do you mean?” I asked, greatly confused at her statement.
    “What she means Gabe,” May said while putting down her coffee, “Is that both Calvin and Tom were killed overseas, Tom six months ago in Egypt, Calvin over a year ago in Mexico.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that,” I said with regret, “But I’m probably not your best choice if you want to investigate an old murder overseas…especially in two different countries. It would be much better to hire people local to the area of the murders.”
    Raven and May glanced at each other. “We don’t think it’s that simple Gabriel,” Raven said, “In fact, we think you are the perfect person for the job.”
    “I’m still confused,” I said, forgetting my coffee for the moment. “How do you think I can help on two different murders on two different continents?”
    “Because,” May said, looking at me through bright and determined eyes, “We think the murders…are linked.”
     
     
     
    Chapter 7
    September 15, 1999
     
    I was shocked at their revelation. I had to take a moment to even figure out what question to ask next.
    “What makes you think these cases are linked?” I finally asked them, having thought of nothing better to ask.
    “To tell you the truth,” May started, “It was Raven.”
    “She reached out to me about a month after Tom died,” May continued, “expressing her regrets and inviting me over for coffee the next time I came to town.”
    “I had come across Tom’s obituary on the internet,” Raven chimed in, “And I thought…well, I thought maybe it would do us both some good to meet.”
    Raven and May had never been close, either in school or afterwards. Their only real connection had been through me, and that was only for a couple of years in college. May had always been down to earth, and Raven had always been upward reaching. Seeing them both together now was as alien to me as a spaceship sitting on my lawn.
    “So we got together the next time I came down to see my parents,” May continued.
    “And we found out that we really liked each other,” Raven added with a huge smile.
    Now they were finishing each other’s