Tree of Life and Death Read Online Free Page A

black hair was long and thick, pulled back in a complicated braid that fell down to her waist. One ear had a whole row of piercings, each hole featuring a different sewing notion: scissors, thread, and even a tiny rotary cutter.
    "I'm so glad to meet you finally," I said, finally recovering from my surprise. "I've heard so much about you."
    "Likewise," Sunny said, and I had to wonder if the woman had similarly doubted Stefan's stories about me, since they had to have sounded far-fetched, given my recent experience with a homicide investigation.
    "I need to go back to my shop for a few minutes," Sunny continued, "but I wanted to make sure to meet you first, in case you have to leave before I get back. Maybe you could come over for dinner with Stefan and me sometime?"
    "I'd like that. Just let me know when. Stefan's got my contact information."
    "Gotta run," Sunny said. "We're out of batting, and I've got some scraps at the shop that would be perfect for a little project like these ornaments. I should have thought to bring them this morning, but this way I can check on my staff while I'm there."
    "Stefan told me you were looking for the right location for your quilt shop," I said. "I didn't realize it was open yet."
    "Since the beginning of November. There wasn't any suitable space available here on Main Street, so I settled for a spot near the pier, in the old cannery. The local quilters know where it is, and it's not hard for the tourists to find, even if it's not quite as visible as it would be here in the center of town." Sunny gave Stefan a quick kiss on the check. "I've really got to go. Nice meeting you, Keely."
    Sunny took off at top walking speed, almost colliding with Alan at the exit. He hugged his boxed-up quilt to his chest, took a step back, and made an exaggerated half bow to encourage Sunny to precede him through the doorway. He said something, and Sunny responded, but they were too far away for me to hear the exchange. Something about Alan's behavior had upset her though, judging from the stiff way she brushed past him.
    Alan followed her, and a moment later, the Cove Chronicles 'arts reporter, Matt Viera, came in through the double doors and paused to take in the crowd. He was a little taller than the statuesque Gil, but not as massive as the denim-shirted quilter who'd confronted Alan Miller earlier. Matt wore his usual style of cargo pants that had more than the standard number of pockets. I knew from past experience that he could indeed manage to find a use for each and every one of those pockets. His sport shirt was an ochre that clashed with every conceivable shade of human skin and probably every inhuman skin too. Only Matt could wear it without looking deathly ill.
    Elizabeth Ashby stopped him to chat for a moment. She headed out, and Matt remained in the doorway, apparently searching the room for something. A moment later, before he'd found whatever he was looking for, the quilt teacher approached the doorway. Matt said something to her, and for a moment I thought she was going to ignore him. She gave the exit a brief but longing look before smiling and letting Matt escort her over to the refreshment table. It seemed that no woman could ever resist his charm. I'd even been susceptible before I'd learned that he couldn't be trusted to follow through on his promises.
    I forced my attention back to Stefan. "Sunny seems very…efficient."
    "She is." Stefan was still staring dreamily in the direction where Sunny had last been visible. "I don't deserve her, but if she has any flaw at all, it's that she doesn't realize how hopeless I am."
    I'd heard him rhapsodize about Sunny before, much like he did when talking about folk art. If he got started talking about her, he'd never stop, and I needed to get something to eat before I passed out. To distract him, I said, "Have you seen Gil? I need to give her some quilt-registry forms."
    "I think she had some stuff to do in her office. I was going to spend this