“That is not my son.”

Valerie stumbled backward against the wooden chairs.

“The terrible accident deformed his features.”

“That is a complete lie,” Martha said firmly.

Martha reached boldly into the open casket and pulled up the dead man’s suit sleeve.

Christopher had carried a prominent circular burn scar on his right forearm ever since a backyard cooking accident at age nine, but this man’s arm was completely smooth.

Martha turned around and confronted Valerie directly.