Brenda Novak - The Perfect Murder

“Did she help him come by the body he burned?” Ava asked.

“No, she claims he was going to steal a body from a cemetery. But he was afraid that would make it too obvious.”

“So he killed a homeless man,” Jane inserted.

“How do you know?” Luke asked.

“He confessed,” Sebastian said. “He’s hoping to avoid the death penalty, so he’s doing everything he can to cooperate.”

David joined them. “Hey, someone’s asking for you,” he told Jane.

“Who?”

David motioned toward the door.

When Jane turned, her eyes widened, and Sebastian felt his own surprise. It was Wendy. She stood just inside the entrance, dressed for the party.

“Why do you think she’s here?” Jane asked Sebastian.

He’d dropped his arm when she turned but squeezed her hand. “I invited her. I called and apologized for upsetting her when we had dinner. Then I said it was time to let bygones be bygones and get on with the business of living and asked her if she was up to the challenge.”

“And she said…”

“She hung up on me.” He grinned. “But judging by her attire, I’d say she’s changed her mind.”

He could tell Jane was nervous. She crossed over to her sister-in-law, looking hesitant, unsure, but that seemed to melt away when Wendy gave her a hug.

Sebastian wanted to approach but didn’t. They needed time to work everything out. He watched them step into a corner. He knew from their expressions that they were in earnest conversation and smiled to himself. This was a turning point. He was sure of it the minute tears began to streak down their faces and they embraced a second time.

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Sebastian took a deep breath. What he’d been through, what Jane and many others had been through, wasn’t easy. But with forgiveness and hope and the sheer determination to persevere, there could be a rebirth.

Smiling again, he went to get a drink.

Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children-three girls and two boys. She juggles her writing career with her children's softball and soccer games, field trips, carpool runs and homework sessions. Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Many of her novels have won or placed in contests such as the National Reader's Choice, the Bookseller's Best, the Write Touch, the Award of Excellence and the Beacon Award for Published Authors.