Madam Delacriox's Diary

By Susan F Roberts

Detective Henri Bernard is called out for a welfare check. He finds his first love Colette Delacriox dead and in her hands a diary she had intended to give her granddaughter about love. Henri takes the diary home and begins reading it, hoping to find out if she loved him. His wife, Jeanne, also finds the diary in his den and begins reading it. Colette changes both their lives with her stories of lovers and love's trials.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan F Roberts
• Release date: Oct 3, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301147670

Susan F Roberts

I grew up on the Rocky Mountain Front of Montana in an environment that was as ecologically drastic as the culture I found myself in. Mountains meeting prairie, Native American culture meeting white European. My father was a dyed-in-the wool cowboy and my mother a sweet young thing who didn't have a clue about which end of a horse to get on. I was conceived in the Great Bear Wilderness area the summer my mother was eighteen. She always said I was a Native spirit looking for a home.

Book preview

Madam Delacriox's Diary

By Susan Faye Roberts

Published by S.F. Roberts at Smashwords. com

Copyright 2013 S.F. Roberts

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter One

A thin patter of rain pelted the dark sheet of night driven by a gusting wind that banged an unsecured window shutter into the weathered side of the cottage. The lights were on inside, every pane brilliant with a glow that reached beyond them touching the edges of Madame’s flower beds tucked along the outside edge of the building. The nether light striking the angular stalks of dead flowers bent in full seed over a wetted earth. The late fall wind had scatter them and a periphery of color would sprout in early spring, but not as usual, under the vigilant gaze of Madame, for Madame was dead.

Detective Henri Bernard stood in the bedroom of Colette Delacriox at the end of the bed and beside him the young Officer Petit. She is beautiful even in death, the younger man said removing his hat and dropping his eyes to the floor.

Detective Bernard glancing sideways at Petit, stated in a dry voice, Your reference to her beauty would have irritated her.

But she’s dead, Petit said putting his hat back on.

That she is, Detective Bernard sighed walking around the bed to look down at the deceased woman. She lay inclined across a spray of thick pillows, a burgundy shawl of soft material entangled about her still shoulders. Her head inclined to the side the patterned fabric of the pillow case framing her in profile. Her hair falling in chaotic black curls laced with silver threads against the paltry skin of high cheek bones. She looked as if she’d taken a moment to doze, her chin tucked against the slope of her left shoulder as it curved toward an arm embedded in the delicate lace of a nightgown.

Most beautiful women are trouble," Officer Petit blurted out.

Detective Bernard wrinkled his nose and shook his head, Not Madame, she was a woman who was loved by many.

At that moment the two men turned to the sound of someone entering the room. Coroner Jacque Dupre came beside Detective Bernard and looked down at the dead woman.

A soft hum rolled between his lips under his breath, Died in her sleep. Good way to go in my estimation. I’m hoping I’ll be that lucky when the time comes. You know her age? he asked looking up at Detective Bernard.

Same as mine, sixty-five.

You knew her?

We were school mates. She was my first love.

Sorry, Coroner Dupre said frowning.

Not necessary. Age has a way of smoothing things over. Detective Bernard said in a flat tone.

Dupre turned his attention to the bedside table picking up a half empty wine glass and swiping it under his nose. The woman knew good wine.

And handsome rogues.

Do I detect a bit of sarcasm? Dupre said cocking an eyebrow.

Never, and yes she liked red wine.

Will keep you healthy if not taken in excess, Dupre said setting down the glass.

Well Madame loved excess, Detective Bernard stated.

Really, Dupre said looking surprised, I see no bottle near by. Looks to me like a night cap never finished. Dupre reached out taking the dead woman’s wrist into his hand. Still a bit warm, he said alarmed. How did this get called in?

Welfare check, Detective Bernard said. Petit and I were the only ones in the office at the time. Her daughter, Violette Mercado, called the station stating her mother was suppose to reach her this evening to make arrangements for a meeting in Paris. Madame didn‘t call at the appointed time and her daughter became concerned.

It will be funeral arrangements now, Dupre said. I will call for the body to be picked up then I’ll write my report out as natural causes.

What remained of the evening became the regiment of dealing with the dead. The funeral home arrived removing the body of Colette Delacriox, a soft