An excerpt from The Cruellest Month by Louise Penny
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Middle Aged (35-54)Accents
North American (General) North American (US Midwest- Chicago, Great Lakes)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
An excerpt from The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny. Clara lean back and reached for her mug in front of her. With the remains of breakfast crumbs, the plate looks so forlorn she popped a couple of slices of bread into the teepee toaster and closed the doors. She and Myrna had stayed with Agent Lacoste at the old Hadley house while she did whatever she needed to dio. Not nearly fast enough in their opinion. Most of the time, Claire had stood just inside the room and stared at the little bird curled on its side, legs up to its chest. Not unlike Madeline, those smaller and with feathers. Well, maybe not so much like Madeleine. Still, there was a similarity. They were both dead. But while Clara felt terrible about Madeleine, she carried no guilt. Unlike this little creature, she knew she'd helped kill it. They'd all known there was a bird. In fact, that was why they had decided to use this particular room in hopes of maybe saving it. Had she even tried no. Instead, she'd been terrified the bird would attack out of the shadows. Far from trying to save the bird, Claire had hated it wanted it to die or at least go away or failing that attack someone else. And now it was here, dead a baby. A tiny, frightened Robin, which probably fell down the chimney from its nest and only wanted to find its mother in its way home. Finally, Agent Lacoste had been ready. The three women had held hands and stared at the salt circle, and each sent silent thoughts out to Madeline. While Agent Lacoste had seen on Lee the grotesque shell, Clara and Murder remembered her alive. It was liberating. Seeing Madeleine smiling and laughing, glowing listening and taking everything in with those interested eyes, The Living Madeleine became more riel, as it should be.