Harvest of Memories by Jaclyn Roche

Harvest of Memories © 2018 by Jaclyn Roche
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Morgan sank her fingers into the moist soil and wiggled them underneath the Harvest of Memories Bearded Irises. “I think I’ve found it.” She pulled up the rotting flesh of an index finger. “And it stinks Alek.”
“Don’t be such a girl, Morg.” Aleksandra handed her the pruning shears and frowned. “We’ll have to chop it off and put it in the solution. It won’t unlock the safe in this condition.”
“How do we know it’s Edward’s and not Roger’s? This is gross; I don’t want to do it twice.” Morgan’s stomach roiled.
“Let’s see. Roger had that dark hairy patch near his thumb, right?”
“Yes, but wouldn’t that have decomposed by now? We buried Roger second; he would be closer to the house and Edward would be over there.”
“Maybe? I don’t know… But I do know the boys were good for something. The Irises are gorgeous.” Alek shook her head and snapped on a latex glove. “Let’s see what they’re wearing. We only need up to the wrists, right?”
“Or we could chop off both?” Morgan could only hope.
“What if the wrong fingerprint triggers some alarm? We don’t need that.”
“Yeah, and what were you hiding in there, Edward?” Morgan snapped at the decaying finger.
A sob escaped Alek’s mouth, “I can’t forget Roger choking you.”
Morgan turned, wanting to reach out to comfort Alek, but dirt and decay stayed her hand. “We saved each other and survived. That’s what matters.”
“At least people believe our husbands ran away together.” Alek’s sulky pink pout turned up in a proud grin.
“Most importantly the police believe us.” Morgan gasped. “How did we forget about that?” She pulled the arm up showing the Rolex watch attached to the wrist.
“Well, I guess we know who is where now… hello, Edward.” Alek leaned over snatching up the shears. “Hold him steady.” The blades snapped through the jellifying finger, and Alek’s face puckered dropping it into the liquid filled mason jar.
Morgan removed the watch and handed it over, “Put it with the rings until we can sell it.”
“Great idea. Now let’s go find out what secrets Edward has.” They reburied the putrid arm and moved through the hedges to Alek’s house.
Working in unison to lift the fingerprint their eyes met, and waves of emotion passed between the two. Tears dotted their eyes as they finished.
Morgan lifted the floorboards as Alek scanned the faux fingerprint. The lock clicked, and Alek’s hand shook opening to reveal stacks of letters bound together. Letting go of their baited breath, they exchanged a baffled expression.
“Oh dear.” Morgan untied the ribbon.
 “Oh my.” Alek opened a letter and grimaced.
 “Whisky?” Morgan passed the letter to Alek and poured liberally.
Alek reached for her glass and drank deeply.
“So, we weren’t crazy then.” Morgan sipped some more. “We were right all along.”
“Yep.” Alek glowered.
“Why gaslight us?”
Alek frowned, “Embarrassment? Control? Power?”
“Divorce would have been less work.” Morgan placed her hand within Alek’s and held tight. “Let’s not dwell on the unsavory past. I want today, and tomorrow, and every other day with you.”

Jaclyn loves to write stories with a bite. Her Dark Fantasy Romances are packed with paranormal delights. You can find her at her desk weaving together remarkable tales; inspired to pen novels that bewitch her reader's hearts and souls. She hopes that they are ones you will think about long after you read--The End.

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