Sweetness and Light (A Sweet Cove Mystery Book 5) by J.A. Whiting Page A

you’d better get your eyes examined.”  She held Angie’s gaze for several seconds before turning on her heel and storming away.
    A chill ran down Angie’s spine and it wasn’t because she was wearing a cold, wet swimsuit.

Chapter 12
    A security guard held up his hand to have Ellie come to a stop in front of a barrier that blocked the entrance to the driveway.  She leaned out of the van window.  “We’re here to attend the memorial.  We’re also catering the desserts for the event.”
    A flock of reporters and photographers stood together across the street from the entrance to the home. Several police officers were present to control the media and to help direct traffic.
    The security guard peered into the van.  His eyebrows went up when he saw the two cats perched next to Mr. Finch in the vehicle’s second row seats.  “You’re bringing cats to a memorial service?”  He looked skeptically at Ellie.
    She cleared her throat.  “In fact, these are therapy animals.”  Ellie narrowed her eyes.  “You have heard of therapy animals and the great good they offer to grieving people?”
    “Do you have an invitation?”  The guard wasn’t going to be drawn into conversation.
    In the front passenger seat, Angie rustled through her purse and withdrew the card they’d received from Bethany Winston.  She passed it to Ellie, who handed it to the guard.  “My sisters are in the station wagon behind us.  They are included in this invitation.”
    After staring at the engraved card and turning it over several times, the security guard handed it back to Ellie with a shrug.  “Okay.”  He waved at the two young men who were manning the barrier and they swung the gate-like structure open to admit the van and the station wagon.
    Ellie pressed on the gas pedal.  “What an annoying man.”
    “He’s just keeping out the uninvited.”  Angie watched the landscape rush by as they made their way down the long driveway passing fields, mature trees, and stone walls.  As their vehicle approached the house, an attendant indicated where they should park and Jenna pulled her car up beside Ellie’s van.  Everyone piled out of the vehicles.  Euclid jumped from the backseat and sauntered a few feet towards the front entrance of the massive contemporary mansion.
    “Wait for us.”  Jenna warned the orange cat.       There were so many cars pulling in for the reception and people approaching the house that Jenna worried something might happen to Euclid and she wanted him to stay close.  Euclid sat down next to Circe and they waited for the others.
    Before they’d left the Victorian, Euclid had been completely indignant when Angie tried to stuff him into a cat carrier and he put up such a fuss that they abandoned the idea.  “No one is going to believe that you’re a normal cat if you don’t show up in a carrier.”
    Euclid glared at Angie and licked his ruffled fur before raising his orange plume of a tail high in the air and strolling out of the house and into the van.
    “At least he’s agreed to go to the memorial.”  Mr. Finch had attempted to assure Angie that things would go smoothly once they arrived at the remembrance.  Angie just shook her head.
    The four sisters removed trays and boxes of desserts and candy from the rear of Jenna’s station wagon.  Staff from the Winston’s rental house hurried out to carry the treats inside.  When everything had been delivered, the sisters, Mr. Finch, and the two cats walked along the stone sidewalk to the front entrance of the cream-colored architectural beauty.
    “I’ve never seen this place.”  Courtney’s eyes were like saucers.  “You can just see a bit of the roof when you stand on Robin’s Point.”
    “I knew it was some huge place.”  Ellie glanced around at the perfect landscaping.  “But I never expected it was like this.”
    Decks jutted out from the side of the building overlooking the ocean and expansive lawns edged with flower