Read Body Movers 4 - 4 Bodies and a Funeral for Free Online

smile was bright, Mitch’s seemed a little
    forced. “Say ‘cheese,’” she encouraged, but he stil looked
    stiff when she took the photo. It appeared that mother
    and son had some fences to mend.
    Carlotta handed the camera back to him just as an excited
    murmur swept through the crowd.
    “There she is,” Mitch said.
    Carlotta turned as the tall, slender brunette walked in
    wearing a white Olympic athletic suit trimmed in red and
    blue. She smiled shyly as the Atlanta crowd cheered for
    their hometown girl. Carlotta couldn’t help noticing that
    the woman didn’t seem to enjoy being in the spotlight. Eva
    waved with one hand, fingering the gold medal around her
    neck with the other hand. Her boyfriend, fel ow Olympian
    Ben Newsome, walked a few steps behind Eva, dressed in
    a dark blue Olympic athletic suit, also waving to the crowd.
    If Carlotta’s memory served, he had medaled in a couple
    of track and field events as well.
    A short nervous man hovered next to Eva, probably a
    publicist, Carlotta guessed. A beefy-looking fel ow in a
    sport coat trailed behind, his head constantly moving,
    scanning the crowd. His gaze stopped on Mitchel Moody
    for a few seconds, sizing him up. Mitchel did stand out in
    a crowd, Carlotta conceded. Especially since he was taking
    lots of photos of Eva and waving, trying to catch her
    attention. At the hovering presence of the bodyguard,
    Carlotta wondered briefly if the Internet rumors about Eva
    receiving death threats were correct.
    From the rear of the store, Jack and Maria came forward
    to speak with the bodyguard. After conferring, the three of
    them split up, circling the crowd, which had grown to
    overflow the aisles and available floor space. The
    detectives didn’t seem concerned, only attentive, so
    Carlotta tried to relax. As bodies shifted, she was
    separated from June and Mitchel , but Carlotta managed
    to wave before she was swept up in the mob.
    Hundreds of people had gathered to see Eva McCoy in
    person. Although Eva seemed a little stiff and preoccupied
    when she gave her talk, the crowd was rapt. She was
    appealing and soft-spoken—Carlotta couldn’t imagine why
    anyone would want the woman dead unless they were a
    nut job.
    Stil , heaven knew there were plenty of those afoot.
    Eva held up her wrist to display her famous gold “lucky
    charm” bracelet that she said had given her the strength
    not just to finish the marathon, but to fight back and finish
    first. Then she spoke fondly of the children’s charity that
    would receive a portion of the proceeds of the Lucky
    Charm Bracelet sales. Afterward, she entertained
    questions from the members of the press in attendance.
    An attractive, plump redhead stood. “Rainie Stephens,
    Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Eva, you’re the most
    decorated women’s marathoner of this decade. Are you
    planning to compete in the World Championships
    Marathon in Helsinki in a few weeks? It’s the only major
    marathon you haven’t won.”
    Eva smiled. “Thank you. And, yes, I am. That’s one race I
    want to win before I retire.”
    “Is it true that Body League sportswear is going to pay you
    a mil ion dol ars if you win the World Championships?”
    Eva looked uncomfortable. “That’s what I’ve heard.”
    The crowd laughed.
    “And what advice would you give to someone who’s facing
    a difficult task?”
    “Just keep finding ways not to quit,” Eva said with a smile.
    “And don’t try to do it alone. While I was running, I looked
    at my bracelet and thought of the people who gave me the
    charms. I drew on their strength.”
    Don’t try to do it alone. The words tugged on Carlotta’s
    heart. After her parents had left, she’d felt so abandoned
    and overwhelmed with raising her little brother that some
    days she had been an automaton—numb but moving
    forward. Everyone she’d counted on had left her high and
    dry. And yet, somehow she’d found an inner strength that
    she hadn’t known she possessed. Now that