Treacherous Secrets novel Chapter 31

The director came back into the room. "I told everyone that there had been a request to add something to the casket, which isn't unusual, and that was the cause for the delay. I don't think anyone saw the two of you still in here.I'll show you a back way out, and no one will know who was in here."

"Great, thank you," Janice said.

"I've had a few other murder victims come through here, and a few other times when the police needed to take another look at the body before we took it to the grave site. I always try to do what I can to help. Hopefully, any evidence you find will help you catch whomever did this," the director said.

"That is very good of you," Harold said. "I speak for all homicide investigators when I say your assistance is very much appreciated."

Janice took the pen and leaned over the casket. She carefully slid the pen into the band, pulled it out, and slipped it into the bag. She slipped the bag into her purse and handed the pen back to the Harold. "Okay, let's get out of here and head to the grave site." She turned to the director. "How quickly can you get us a copy of the video?"

"I'll get a copy made for you as soon as I finish with the next funeral and get it right over to your office. It should be no later than eight or nine tomorrow morning."

"Fantastic, now where's that back exit?" Harold said.

The director closed the casket and led Harold and Janice to the back door that led out to the hearse. The director went out ahead of them and started talking to the driver, leading him away from the car. Janice and Harold slipped out and made their way to the parking lot. Most of the people who were going to the burial site were already in their cars, waiting for the procession to start. They got into Harold's SUV and made their way to the end of the line.

Within minutes, the director was at the front of the building helping the hearse driver get out into traffic. There were uniform police on motorcycles waiting to lead the procession to the graveyard in Brentwood.

"Do you think the ring is what caused the indentations on Kenton Jenkins' temple?"

"Maybe," she said. She took the ring out of her purse and looked at the markings. "Humph, interesting."

"What's interesting?"

"This design looks strikingly similar to one of the rings Carol Butler had."

"Really?" he said in a surprised tone.

"Yep, the pinky ring in her jewelry box." Janice looked over the ring again. "I think it's the same design and I bet you it's a man's pinky ring."

Harold looked over at it, "Could be."

"It's a beautiful day for a funeral," the assistant funeral director said as he walked past them.It was a beautiful day Harold admitted, but he was more interested in Damon Butler. He nudged Janice when he noticed that Damon was fidgeting and kept checking his Blackberry every few minutes. "He seems nervous," Harold whispered.

"Yes, he does," Janice agreed. She looked around at the other people at the grave. Everyone else seemed duly sad, as they should be at a funeral. But, Damon Butler hadn't shed a tear and was acting like he had a more important appointment to be at than his best friend's funeral.

"Do you think he's lost weight?" Harold asked.

Janice studied Damon Butler. He did look a little smaller than he had been before. Not gaunt, but his face did look slimmer and his suit looked like it was a size or two too big. She watched him fidgeting again. "You think he might be doing meth or crack?"

"Maybe," Harold said. "Both would make him very twitchy and either could have turned him murderous with rage if he became angry enough."

"We hadn't thought about a drug angle," she said thoughtfully. "Both crack and meth would make you more uninhibited too. When are we supposed to get the tox tests back?"

"Should have the preliminary reports the first of the week," Harold said.