SURVIVAL INSTINCT

CHAPTER: 15

The funeral receptions are usually depressing, because they have a somber atmosphere, but it won't make much sense, as the atmosphere at Diana's funeral was cheerful. It was more like a party than a funeral. There was happy music playing in the background, and people were eating and laughing and discussing business. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Diana's son Jordan locked himself in the den to play video games, while her daughter Deanne went off to her room with a girlfriend. Sarah barely got a chance to meet her, and offer condolences. She was feeling very sorry for the girl's loss. 

Diana's husband Tom Walter was smiling when he met her. "Thank You, Sarah." He took her hand and looked deeply into her eyes. "I know you and Brenda did not always get on well..." Sarah was sure that Brenda must have told him that, because she certainly had not, "...and I really appreciate your low profile over this whole business. There are a lot of people who would have taken the opportunity to further their own career with all the publicity, but you did not, and I am grateful."

"You are welcome," Sarah said. "I have always believed that it is wrong to take advantage of someone else's misfortune for my own benefit."

Tom smiled. "You are a nice girl, Sarah," He nodded, and squeezed her hand, and moved on. Sarah turned and found herself face to face with the girlfriend or neighbor of Tom. She was standing a little too close for comfort and watched Sarah a little too narrowly. "Hello. I am Leanne Brigg." She offered her hand.

Sarah too introduced herself, "Hi! I am Sarah Miller." She had a surprisingly strong grip for someone so dainty. "I worked with Diana." Sarah moved back a fraction when she let go of her hand.

"I live across the street." Leanne waved in what Sarah guessed was the direction of her house. "I have known Tom and Diana for years."

"I am sorry for your loss," Sarah said since the situation seemed to call for it. She opened her hands apologetically.

"Diana and I were never close. I used to baby-sit occasionally when the kids were younger. My husband and I were not blessed with any of our own, and she was always so busy, bless her heart, making those poor, dear children sit in the car while she met her clients; and then, after my husband's death, Tom would come over occasionally to give me a hand. With dripping taps and thinks like that, you know. Things which are hard for a woman to manage by herself." She smiled. Sarah too smiled back. 

Though Sarah too had difficulty with those leaking taps, she would never stoop so low to use that as an excuse for seducing someone else's husband. 

"I have been thinking about selling, ....but I am not sure," Leanne added pensively. Oh God, Sarah thought; is she moving in already with Tom?    

Sarah nodded sympathetically. "It is a big decision."

 Leanne nodded fervently. "Oh, yes! But with Diana gone, Tom is going to need someone to manage things. Maybe he will finally be able to make some strides in his career, as he will no more have to play second fiddle to Diana!"

Her voice seemed to be quite remarkably poisonous when she said Diana's name, especially considering that their conversation took place at Diana's funeral. Sarah smiled politely and refrained, with an effort, from showing her reaction.

"If you would like to talk to someone about selling," Sarah said instead, "I would be happy to tell you everything I know. Just give me a call."

Sarah handed her business card to Leanne. She smiled sweetly and tucked it into a pocket of her party attire. Sarah excused herself and disappeared from there toward the buffet, feeling as she had just escaped saving her life. Sarah now had second thoughts. It was quite possible that it might have been Leanne who had followed Diana to 102 South Massachusetts Avenue on that fateful Saturday morning to slit her throat. At least Tom had shed a tear during his speech, but    Leanne Brigg gave an impression that she could have killed Diana and then danced on the remains without feeling even a bit of remorse, whatsoever.                                                                                                                                                    ***********

It was just before eight, and Sarah was curled up in a corner of the second-hand suede sofa and divided her attention between the TV and a romantic online novel 'Cherry' by the author SALEHA_M. While she had been extremely enjoying the book and wondering would the female lead Cherry accept Stuart, or reject him again the second time, she was also keeping an eye on the news for footage from Diana's memorial service. Channel 7 had for reasons known only to them decided to include a five-second video of  Ryan Johnson and Sarah herself in their coverage, and at that moment even a five-second segment seemed to be a very long thing than it seems. They both looked very secretive, stealthy in the parking lot with their backs to the TV cameras, and Ryan stood a lot closer to Sarah than she had noticed at the time.

Sarah started flipping between different channels, trying to determine whether anyone else was airing the same segment. Sarah simultaneously kept her fingers crossed, hoping and praying to God that her mother was not watching Channel 7 when the doorbell rang. It startled Sarah.

Sarah had been staying in a rented apartment. It was gated and considered to be very safe, but she made sure she peeked through the spy hole before she answered. What she saw outside made her take an involuntary step backward. "Tony?"

Tony Stevenson smiled at the door, over a big, pink bunch of roses. She guessed red would have been too impertinent. "Good evening, Sarah."

"What are you doing here?" she said.

"Taking you to dinner, I hope. You had said that anytime I was in Kansas, we would go out for dinner. Hope you remember?" Tony said.

"I did not expect you today!" Sarah protested.

Tony shrugged. "I told you I was not busy. Come on Sarah, let me in."

"I am not dressed," Sarah stated. If it had been Ryan outside, he would have definitely made some suggestive remark, but Tony played it straight.

"I will wait here, then. But don't take too long. I have made reservations at Garozzo's Ristorante at eight-thirty.

Garozzo's Ristorante was one of the nicest restaurants in Kansas City. It was the kind of place where CEOs of multinational companies dined. It was one of the finest restaurants serving Italian cuisine. Sarah had not been there for several years. She could not afford it anymore, and the last time had been while Jack and Sarah were still married. She, therefore, did not have fond memories of the place. But then again the food was good, while the stuff in the fridge was extremely depressing, and if Tony wanted to impress her by taking her to Garozzo's, who was she to oppose? 

It took Sarah a few minutes to get dressed, around ten to fifteen minutes, but compared to other girls, she was pretty good. Tony was very complimentary when she finally emerged from the bedroom. "You look beautiful. And you did it so quickly, too!"

Sarah smiled. The dress was Sarah's equivalent of Melanie's hot pink number, though not as bright, tight, or short, but with thin straps and enough of a plunge to show off what cleavage she had. She could not hope to match Melanie in that respect, but then really who would want to?