Echo Of Danger. Marta Perry

you’re the logical person to make the arrangements for Dixie. After all, you were her best friend. And she died in your house.”

      Deidre realized she was rubbing her forehead again. She’d give it until she’d finished this phone call. If the man was still there, she’d call the police and tell them someone was watching the house.

      “I suppose you want me to clear out her apartment, too.” There was a certain amount of sarcasm in her tone, and she pulled herself up short. No matter how they’d gotten along, Lillian had lost her only child.

      “Sure, that would be great,” Lillian said quickly. “I don’t want the stuff. You can sell it and just send me the money.”

      “What about the funeral costs?” Deidre moved close to the window again, but this time she just pulled the edge of the curtain back an inch or two so she could see out.

      The car was still there, and it seemed to her that the man was leaning forward, peering intently at her house. She dropped the curtain back into place, her hand closing into a fist. If Frank were here, he’d laugh at her for being afraid of the dark. This was the time of day she missed him the most. The house felt empty without him.

      “Funeral costs?” Lillian contrived to sound as if she’d never heard the phrase. “I thought you’d want to take care of that. Seeing as how you were such good friends and all.”

      Deidre found she was clenching her teeth so tightly that her head throbbed. Somehow she didn’t think anything she said was going to force Lillian to take on this responsibility, but Deidre would be darned if she was going to pay all the costs, as well.

      “I’ll deal with everything,” she said, suddenly eager to escape the call, “once I receive written authorization from you allowing me power of attorney. And any money in Dixie’s account or realized from selling her personal belongings will go toward the funeral expenses.”