Secret Undertaking

by Mark de Castrique

  “I guess you could call this fact-finding. I’d like to make preliminary arrangements for my husband and me.”

  I eyed her more closely. She looked healthy. Perhaps her husband was gravely ill and she wanted to make suitable plans for both of them.

  “Why don’t you describe what you and your husband think you would like? Then I’ll know what suggestions might be appropriate.”

  She nodded. “Is our conversation privileged?”

  “Privileged?”

  “Like with a lawyer or a priest.”

  In my years in the funeral business, no one had ever asked me that question. My father had told me he had met a few terminally ill husbands who wanted to keep their conditions from their wives as long as possible, but Dad told them he’d never lie if asked directly.

  “There’s not legal protection,” I said, “but we do adhere to a strict level of confidentiality. If for some reason I had to appear in court under oath, I would have to reveal the substance of our conversation.”

  She pursed her lips, not happy with my answer.

  “That will be the same for any licensed funeral director,” I added. “But we don’t gossip. As long as you’re not requesting anything illegal.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Illegal? Like what?”

  “Well, like a burial on land not approved for cemetery use. One man loved to hike and wanted to be interred at an overlook in Pisgah Forest. Sprinkling ashes is one thing but a grave and headstone is something else.”

  “Nothing like that,” Janet Sinclair said. “But we will be going back north to a cemetery outside of Paterson, New Jersey.”

  “If you’ll give me the name of a local funeral home you’d like to use, we’ll be happy to coordinate.”

  “No.”

  Her emphatic tone surprised me.

  “Well, we can step out of the picture and you can deal directly with the Paterson funeral home for transportation.”

  “No, just you. I can give you the name of the cemetery so that you can contact them directly.”

  I sat quietly for a moment, trying to figure out why she’d avoid a local funeral home in New Jersey. And why she wanted this conversation to be privileged.

  She sensed my reluctance. “My husband, Robert, wants us to be buried with his parents, but there’s a family rift. We own our plots outright so there’s no legal issue.” She gave a humorless laugh. “His siblings never visit the graves, so they may never even know we’re there.”

  “Okay. I understand.” I told her that, but I’d never known a family feud to be so vehement that it extended beyond death.

  “Wonderful, Mr. Clayton. It will be a comfort to my husband.”

  “How’s his health?” I asked. “Was your visit today prompted by a medical condition?”

  “No.” She hesitated, weighing a decision whether to say more. “I was reviewing our life insurance and that just got me thinking. If you would go ahead and give me an estimate, I’d appreciate it. I’ll give you the address of the cemetery, but please don’t contact them yet. Put in what you think will cover everything. For both of us.”

  “But I don’t know what they’ll charge for opening a grave.”

  She tapped her foot nervously on the carpet. “Then make a general inquiry. Tell them you have clients thinking about burials there, but that you’re going to be handling everything. When the time comes, either my husband or I will give you full instructions.” She paused as her voice choked. “Or if both of us were to die in a car or plane crash, our attorney will send the information.”

  “All right.”

  She relaxed. “And then would half up front be sufficient?”

  I smiled. “That’s not necessary. We don’t encourage prepayment plans. I recommend you set the money aside in your own account. Let’s hope it will be there a long time.”

  Her eyes teared. “I wouldn’t count on it, Mr. Clayton.”

  Chapter Two

  The Paterson cemetery bore the bucolic name of Forest Glen. My knowledge of New Jersey conjured up “Turnpike Glen” as probably being more appropriate. I found the number online and called. The phone rang and rang. I was surprised that no answering machine picked up, especially if the office staff was at lunch. After what must have been twenty rings, I lowered the receiver toward the cradle. A voice sounded just in time for me to snatch the phone to my ear.

  “Hello? Hello?” a woman repeated.

  “Yes. This is Barry Clayton with Clayton and Clayton Funeral Directors in Gainesboro, North Carolina.”

  “Give me your number. I’ll call you back this afternoon. Things are crazy at the moment.”

  Having no other choice, I did as she asked. Business in New Jersey must be good. Cemeteries weren’t known for crazy times.

  I drew up an estimate of our charges including transportation, an overnight in the city, and embalming. Cremation would have eliminated all these costs but Mrs. Sinclair had said neither she nor her husband wanted that option. I would have expected that response to come from our local mountain people who weren’t big on turning their loved ones into ashes, but, as Northerners, the Sinclairs could have preferred the growing trend for cremation.

  When I’d estimated a cost for every item except for Forest Glen’s charges, I closed the computer file and turned my attention to my first problem of the morning—Archie.

  Although his plan for raising funds for the Boys and Girls Clubs was admirable, Archie had a talent for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. His exploits were well known to Tommy Lee, and I felt confident the sheriff would nip this jail-bail escapade in the bud. I dialed his direct line.

  “Sheriff Wadkins’ office.”

  I recognized the voice of Marge Colbert, Tommy Lee’s administrative assistant.

  “It’s Barry. Is the High Sheriff of Laurel County in?”

  “Early lunch. I expect him back in about twenty minutes. Can I give him a message?”

  A message describing Archie’s idea wasn’t one I wanted floating around the department.

  “Twenty minutes, you say? I’ll come in if his calendar is clear.”

  “It’s a slow day in paradise,” Marge said. “But I thought you were off-duty this week?”

  “It’s a slow day here at the gateway to paradise. See you in a few. You know you can’t get along without me.”

  Marge laughed and hung up.

  I grabbed a quick lunch with Mom and Uncle Wayne at the kitchen table. My favorite. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I’d probably had ten thousand so far.

  “So, did you get Mrs. Sinclair straightened out?” Uncle Wayne asked.

  “More or less. They want to be buried back in New Jersey, but they want us to handle everything up to the cemetery there.”

  My uncle set down his glass of milk and cocked his head. “No local funeral home?”

  “No. Maybe she thinks we’ll be cheaper even with traveling to New Jersey.”

  “Could be. God only knows how much them big city funeral homes charge. A thousand dollars for saying, ‘Sorry for your loss.’”

  I laughed. “Maybe. I’ve got a call into the cemetery. So, if someone phones with a New Jersey accent, get the charge for opening and closing a grave.”

  “The husband must be sick,” Uncle Wayne said. “The wife’s too young to be finishing up naturally.”

  “They may just want to have their affairs in order,” Mom said.

  “Of course she could be one of them trophy wives,” Uncle Wayne said. “And the old man’s friends are dropping like flies. He probably doesn’t even know she was here.”

  “Maybe he just doesn’t want to talk about it,” I countered.

  Uncle Wayne took a deep drink of milk that left a white mustache. He licked it clean and then clicked his tongue. “Well, we all have to talk about it someday, don’t we? Sooner or late
r, everybody in Gainesboro comes through our doors.”

  I swallowed the last of my sandwich, chasing away thoughts of the day I’d have to face the death of my uncle or mom.

  The temperature for this second week in July threatened to top eighty-five with high humidity—a heat wave for our mountain town. I decided my earlier walk to meet Archie was enough outdoor exercise so I drove my jeep to the Sheriff’s Department behind the Laurel County Courthouse.

  When I entered the bullpen of cubicles, I heard the click of keyboards, but didn’t bother to see which of my fellow deputies were in. I went straight to Tommy Lee’s office and knocked on the jamb of his open door.

  He wheeled around from his computer screen and gave me a wide grin, a grin that wasn’t impaired by the scar running from underneath the black patch on his left eye and across his cheek to his jawline. The disfigurement was a permanent display of his courage in Vietnam when he’d led his platoon through a firefight despite a shrapnel wound that took the eye and part of his face.

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  I slid into the chair opposite him. “Nice to see you too.”

  “So…what? Things too quiet at the funeral home?”

  “With Uncle Wayne living there now?”

  Tommy Lee laughed. “I get it. Feel free to hide here all you want, but I don’t have the money to pay you for more than your part-time hours.”

  “I’m not here to go on-duty. I’m here to discuss a problem. Archie’s got a proposal.”

  Tommy Lee let out a long groan and shook his head. “What is it this time?”

  I told him Archie’s idea, expecting the groans to continue. To my dismay, I could see Tommy Lee giving the fundraising gimmick serious consideration.

  “I’m just telling you because I promised Archie I would,” I said in desperation. “I didn’t think you’d want to turn the jail into a circus.”

  “Both my kids grew up in the Boys and Girls Clubs. I coached the softball teams.”

  Tommy Lee’s son and daughter were now grown, but the nostalgia in his voice was unmistakable.

  The sheriff rubbed his chin. “And I’ve got some additional funding for our Junior Deputy program in the elementary schools this fall. The parade could be a good kickoff. Maybe we partner with the Jaycees on the float.”

  The annual Apple Festival Parade was held every Labor Day weekend, right when school was getting underway. Had I crossed into an alternate universe where Tommy Lee thought Archie had a good idea? The prospect was unnerving.

  “What about me arresting him?”

  Tommy Lee gave a hearty laugh. “Hasn’t that always been your dream?” He leaned back in his chair. “There is one thing that bothers me.”

  “What’s that?”

  “That the department doesn’t have representation on the float.” His grin turned wicked. “You know, an officer.”

  “The sheriff would be good.”

  “Oh, I always drive my patrol car as the lead vehicle. It’s tradition. But, you, as the arresting deputy. Well, it’s perfect. Archie in the mock jail cell, you standing outside holding a big key. We’ll be the most memorable float in the parade.”

  “What about Archie coming here while the money’s being raised?”

  Tommy Lee shrugged. “We usually have a vacant cell. You don’t have to stay with him. And there’s the ten thousand-dollar bail. Archie might be here a while.”

  “He might,” I agreed, and told myself I’d be doing it for the kids.

  “So, tell Archie I approve on the condition that the Jaycees also include the Sheriff’s Department in the float’s signage.”

  “I can’t believe you’re making me do this.”

  He threw up his hands. “Hey, I’m not making you do anything. I’ll be happy to tell the Boys and Girls Clubs you refused to help.”

  I shook my head. “Then how would you like me to wave? Like the Queen or the Pope?”

  “Your choice. Now, I’m not such a hard ass, am I?”

  “No. Just an ass.”

  Tommy Lee laughed and shooed me out of his office.

  When I returned to the funeral home, Uncle Wayne met me in the hall.

  “That lady called from the New Jersey cemetery.”

  “Could you understand her?”

  “She spoke pretty good for a Yankee, but I don’t know if she understood me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I said we were asking for the cost to open and close a grave for the Sinclairs.”

  I realized with concern I’d neglected to tell Uncle Wayne that Mrs. Sinclair had asked not to be identified. That we simply wanted a quote.

  “What did she say?”

  “That her computer files showed no Sinclair plots. I thought maybe the name was pronounced differently in New Jersey. So, I tried Signcloor, Sinclayire, and every other way I could say those letters.”

  “That’s strange. Mrs. Sinclair was very specific that it was her husband’s family plot. Must be some computer glitch. Did you get a general price?”

  My uncle folded his arms and leaned against the wall, self-satisfaction visible on his face. “Yep. Put the figures in the estimate myself.”

  “Thank you. But that wasn’t necessary.”

  Uncle Wayne smiled like he used the computer every day. I’d have to check the form to make sure he didn’t blow out any other data.

  “And the lady asked me to give you her apologies for being so short with you when you called. They had a big graveside service going on and somebody fell out of a tree.”

  “A tree?”

  “That’s what she said. Guess they do things different in New Jersey.”

  I thanked my uncle again for getting the information, reviewed the estimate pleased to see he hadn’t sabotaged any of the calculation formulas, printed the itemized figures, and dropped them in the mail to Mrs. Sinclair. I debated whether to inform her of the cemetery’s mix-up with her husband’s family, but to do so would have revealed my uncle had specified the name. Since there was no immediate need for a grave opening, I let the matter go. We could deal with it if and when the time came.

  That night my wife, Susan, and I sat on the back deck of our cabin, enjoying a bottle of Chablis and sharing the stories of our day. Susan, a general surgeon with the O’Malley Clinic, had kept her last name, Miller. She’d performed appendectomy and gall bladder operations that morning, strictly routine and, in my mind, not as deserving of sympathetic comment as my Archie predicament. She was on-call so I’d stepped up to drink most of the wine. I’d just finished telling her about Uncle Wayne and Mrs. Sinclair when her cell phone rang.

  “Ten o’clock. This can’t be good.” She answered it as she stood and walked back inside.

  Five minutes later, she emerged in a change of clothes and with her chestnut hair gathered in a bun ready for her scrubs.

  “Patient in the ER with a broken leg. Save my wine. I hope to be back by midnight.” She eyed the bottle that was two-thirds empty. “And save some for yourself if you want to join me in a nightcap.” She bent over and kissed me.

  “Good luck. I’d say ‘break a leg’ but that would be in bad taste.”

  She laughed. “Taste never stopped you before.”

  I nursed my wine and listened to the crickets.

  I awoke to our yellow lab Democrat barking a greeting. Then I heard the refrigerator door open and shut. Susan stepped onto the deck, Democrat at her heels and her unfinished wine in her hand.

  “That was interesting.” She slid into the chair beside me.

  “Interesting case?”

  “The man fell off his stepladder painting his ceiling. A simple, not a compound, fracture. So I was overkill. But, from the swelling and discoloration, it was obvious he’d delayed coming to the hospital for several hours. One of those macho-types w
ho probably thought a shot of bourbon and an hour’s rest would do the trick.”

  “Sounds like me. A real man’s man.”

  “A man’s man is a valet, and you whine about a hangnail.”

  “Well, they are annoying. So, was his tough-guy attitude what made the case interesting?”

  “No. His name. Robert Sinclair.”

  I sat up straighter. “Really? Small world.”

  “Small town,” Susan said. “With small-town coincidences.”

  Tommy Lee’s voice rang in my head. “Never trust a coincidence.”

  Chapter Three

  The summer season proved to be a boon to the Gainesboro economy. Low gas prices and high temperatures sent tourists into the mountains by the thousands. Summer residents complained the influx meant heavier traffic and fewer parking places, an ironic lament because the permanent locals had been saying the same thing about those same summer residents for years.

  I was busy on both fronts—the funeral home and my deputy duties. The return of the snowbirds from Florida shifted our senior demographics upward and spiked funerals to at least one a week. An increase in population also meant an increase in traffic accidents and petty crime that stretched Tommy Lee’s department to where my hours bordered on full-time responsibilities. My partner, Fletcher Shaw, had indeed returned from the Bahamas with a fiancée and was caught up in wedding plans. Still, being busy made the weeks fly by for both of us, and soon we were facing the reality of the Labor Day Apple Festival.

  During the week leading up to the parade, decorations were hung from streetlamps. At the north and south ends of town, banners proclaiming “The 75th Annual Apple Festival” were strung over Main Street. The shops offered festival specials, and every sort of apple product, from cider to pies to dried carvings of animals, were for sale.

  With all the hubbub, Archie grew more fixated on his pending role. He called me at least once a day with concerns ranging from whether he needed a PA system on the float to whether the Sheriff’s Department had any chains left from the chain gang days. I could hardly wait to lock him in a cell.