Path Of The Wicked Part 16

During the next three stops, Erik conducted his deliveries with polite efficiency and Cooper realized that even though he had stuck with the same route for over a year, he wasn't exactly on intimate terms with the clients.

I don't think he's the one, she thought. The murderer has to get to know these folks well enough to learn about their valuables. Erik isn't big on small talk.

Cooper was a bit surprised by the route Erik chose in order to reach their final stop. Though she wasn't overly familiar with Richmond's East Side, her sense of direction was keen enough to recognize that Erik had doubled back, practically pa.s.sing right by their second stop, in order to pull into the gravel driveway of a light blue ranch.

The house looked very well-kept in comparison to most of the other clients' residences. The lawn was meticulously trimmed and free of weeds, the bushes lining the front path were neatly pruned, and it looked as though someone had recently replaced the mounted mailbox and polished the bra.s.s knocker and kick plate on the front door until they shone.

Tucking the remaining food box under his arm, Erik asked Cooper to carry the cooler. He then removed the bouquet from his back seat and cradled the flowers carefully in his free hand. Whistling as he walked up the front path, Erik gave a proprietary glance around the yard. He knocked jauntily three times on the front door and then let himself in without waiting for an invitation.

"Is that our knight in s.h.i.+ning armor?" a woman's voice called from within.

Erik was smiling widely. "Yes, milady. 'Tis me!"

"We're on the sun porch, watching the rain fall," a second female voice said.

Beckoning Cooper to follow, Erik set the food down in the kitchen and then, hiding the flowers behind his back, hustled through the living room to the narrow sun porch where the two women, who were clearly sisters, awaited him.

Though both females were slight of figure and had thick, bobbed white hair, there was an obvious age difference between the two. They produced identical smiles when Erik entered the room and there was no way to miss the brightness illuminating his features.

"Cooper, this is Velma Crick." Erik gestured at the older sister, who was probably in her early eighties. "And this is Violet," he spoke the other woman's name with tender affection. Cooper noted that Violet was at least a decade younger than Velma.

"Ooooh! Someone's brought a surprise!" Velma cooed.

Erik produced the carnations with a flourish and handed them to Violet. "To the most beautiful flower in Richmond."

Violet giggled and thanked Erik effusively. After offering the volunteers tea, which they accepted, Violet, Velma, and Erik settled in for a good, long chat.

Watching Erik intently as he complimented the sisters on their tea, the china cups, and the shade of their sweater sets, Cooper felt like an intruder. After several moments of ordinary conversation, Velma insinuated that the sink in their bathroom seemed to be leaking from the faucet base and Erik leapt up to examine the problem.

"I'd better show you," Violet said with a mischievous smile and she and Erik sneaked from the room like l.u.s.tful teenagers.

"That man is right smitten!" Velma cackled. "Our house has never been in such good shape."

That explained Erik's bizarre route. He saved this house for last in order to spend the most time here. There was no doubt he was on intimate terms with both occupants, but Cooper believed that he had absolutely no intention of hurting these women. Erik was obviously in love with Violet and didn't pretend to conceal his interest in her.

"How long has he felt this way?" Cooper asked.

"Ever since he stepped foot inside this house over a year ago. Our middle sister, Vera, still lived here then, but she's had to go into a home. We couldn't take care of her anymore." Velma's face creased in sorrow as she gestured at a collection of framed photographs cl.u.s.tered on a nearby table. "Doesn't even know us most days. It's a right shame." She leaned forward and stared at Cooper's face. "You've got some interestin' eyes, missy. Like you're part husky and part jaguar. Lovely."

"Thank you." Cooper moved to the table and examined the photographs. Mostly black and white, the photos depicted three lovely young woman in a variety of hometown settings. The sisters posed in cheerleader outfits in what was likely their high school gym, showed off ice-cream sundaes at an old-fas.h.i.+oned soda fountain, and posed gracefully at skating rinks, bowling alleys, and from the leather seat of a Mustang convertible. Cooper's favorite shot was of the sisters dressed in their holiday finest, planting kisses on the cheeks of a delighted Santa Claus. None of the photographs showed the sisters in their old age-it was as if their youth together was all that mattered. At least, until Erik appeared on the scene.

The sound of muted laughter came echoing down the hall from Violet's bathroom. "They're so sweet," Cooper whispered to Velma.

"I told her to go on and marry the man, but she won't leave me." Velma clucked her tongue. "He's even bought her a ring. Showed it to me once. It's a single amethyst. Not very fancy, but lovely. It'd suit my sister just right and so would he."

"Couldn't he . . ." Cooper hesitated to interfere.

"Erik move in with us?" Velma completed Cooper's thought. "I've suggested that, too, trust me, missy. We all get along like a gaggle of geese and I'm too old to be envyin' Violet's happiness, so why not?" She pointed down the hall. "He's already doin' most of the ch.o.r.es 'round here and he could use a woman to keep his clothes tidy and his belly full. We pay for our Door-2-Door meals," Velma added proudly. "But if we had a man to run to the store for us, Violet would start cookin' again and her food is miles better that what y'all bring. No offense intended."

"None taken." Cooper gave Velma a quick bow. "What's your sister's objection to his moving in?"

Velma stirred her tepid tea. "She's afraid it's not proper. That she'd be breakin' her weddin' vows, but her man's been under the ground for two years and he never treated her like he should have, anyhow, so I don't know why she's letting him hold her back. Now Erik, he's a good man."

At that moment, Erik and Violet reentered the room. Violet declared that the sink was fixed and that once again, she and her sister were in his debt.

"I'd do anything to make sure your days were filled with ease," Erik whispered to Violet. They exchanged flirtatious grins, and then Erik bent over and kissed her hand. After giving Velma a chaste peck on her wrinkled cheek, he and Cooper bid the ladies farewell.

"Velma approves of your marrying her sister," Cooper stated simply as they headed back to Door-2-Door. "She says there's plenty of room for you in their house."

Taken aback, Erik blinked at her in surprise. Then he frowned. "Velma's not the problem. It's Violet I've got to convince. I know she loves me, but she feels guilty about marrying again. She said she made a vow and has never broken a promise in her life."

Cooper mulled this hurdle over. "Is Violet a religious woman?"

"Well, she goes to church every Sunday and she and Velma read the Bible to each other every night. Why?"

"I think Savannah might be able to give you some advice on how to show Violet that she's not doing anything wrong by remarrying," Cooper thought out loud. "She leads our Bible study and always seems to know the answers to life's most difficult puzzles."

Beaming, Erik parked his truck, turned off the ignition, and grabbed Cooper by the hand. "I'm not getting any younger, so if you can offer me some hope, I'd be really grateful. Can we ask her right away?"

Hurrying inside, Cooper found Savannah in conversation with Leo. She had just finished eliciting directions to his apartment as the truculent young man muttered that she'd be wasting his valuable free time. Unperturbed by his hostility, Savannah smiled at him and said that she was looking forward to their visit and promised to arrive with a homemade maple-apple cream pie as well as other surprises.

Once Leo had stalked off, Cooper propelled Erik into the seat next to Savannah's and explained the older man's dilemma.

"I believe G.o.d approves of widows remarrying," Savannah stated carefully. "If you love one another, you should celebrate that love through the bond of marriage."

"But what about Violet's former marriage vows? Would she be betraying them?" Erik wrung his hands together.

"Romans chapter seven, verse three states that if a woman's husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage and is not an adulteress, even if she marries another man." Savannah touched Erik on the arm. "Perhaps you can share that pa.s.sage with your Violet. If she still has doubts, I'd be available to talk with her. I also run a couples discussion group at Hope Street Church on Wednesday nights, should you two care to join."

Erik leapt from his seat. "Thank you! Romans seven, verse three. Romans seven, verse three. Got it!" He smiled like a schoolboy. "I'm heading back to her house right now! I'm going to read her that verse and then hand her the ring. I bought her a violet gem, because I can't see the color purple without thinking of her. I'd give anything to slip that ring on her finger this very day!" And off he raced, his truck wheels screeching as he tore from the parking lot.

"I don't think he's our killer," Cooper spoke into Savannah's ear.

"It certainly seems like he's focused on something other than money," Savannah agreed quietly. "I rode along with Brenda today. The woman is devoted to these clients and to her son. I doubt she'd risk having him placed in foster care while she was sent to jail for murder." She sighed. "The brutal death of Darik's father seems to have made her repulsed by violence, not attracted to it." Savannah placed her cane on the floor and stood up. "I hope our friends have discovered a deep, dark secret about one of their partners because you and I certainly haven't."

Thinking of Erik's hope-filled face, Cooper smiled. "You know, it was kind of nice to be in on a romantic adventure instead. I hope Violet says 'yes.' "

After leading Savannah out to the Mr. Faucet van, Cooper cornered Nathan in the walk-in fridge and invited him to join her for lunch followed by an afternoon reading through Frank Crosby's Civil War diary. Nathan had stayed behind to help Campbell in the kitchen, but the biker had been too preoccupied with work to exchange more than a few polite sentences.

"A chance to check out the treasure we stole? Of course I'm in," Nathan whispered as Quinton and Bryant walked past. "But I'm not looking forward to making a confession during Bible study tomorrow about our activities Friday night."

"At least I have faith that our friends will forgive us," Cooper frowned. "I'm not so certain the cops will be as merciful."

Cooper entered the cla.s.sroom where the Sunrise Bible study met and inhaled an enticing aroma. Quinton had baked pecan cinnamon coffee cake m.u.f.fins and had kept them warm using the oven in the teacher's lounge while Nathan had provided a healthy side dish of a bowl of sliced red Anjou pears mixed with golden raisins and Trish had supplied them with fresh-ground Kona coffee.

"This was an exciting week for Joseph," Savannah said as she waited for her friends to sit at their desks and turn to the appropriate workbook page. "In our reading, Joseph has been promoted to one of the highest available positions in the Pharaoh's court. Joseph's pretty much the right-hand man and because his predictions about the seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine were spot-on, Egypt will be able to survive the lean times."

"But the rest of the world wasn't as prepared," Bryant added.

"Too true." Trish pointed at a verse in Genesis forty-two. "Joseph's brothers were forced to travel to Egypt in hopes of buying grain. When they got there, they didn't even recognize the brother they had sold into slavery. What a role reversal!" She reviewed a segment of Scripture and then shook her head. "Can you even imagine how conflicted Joseph must have felt when he saw them again?"

"Especially when his brothers call themselves honest men in verse eleven. What a joke!" Jake spluttered. " 'Bout as honest as a bunch of p.a.w.nbrokers!"

"Let's address one of the key questions from our homework," Savannah suggested after casting a bemused smile in Jake's direction. "How do you feel about Joseph's treatment of his brothers when they came to seek help for their folks back home?"

"He messed with them," Nathan answered. "He put the silver they had used as payment for the grain back in their saddle bags and then demanded they return to Egypt with their youngest brother, Benjamin. All the brothers knew Jacob would go insane when he heard that an overseer of Egypt wanted to see his youngest son, but they were terrified of being accused of stealing the silver so they had no choice."

Quinton frowned. "I was torn. On one hand, I thought it was fair for Joseph to cause his brothers some anguish. On the other hand, I wanted him to just reveal himself and have a big-time reunion banquet right off. Personally, I don't think he was able to get a grip on his conflicting feelings. I think he felt angry and hurt that they didn't know him, but relieved and happy that they were alive and well and there was hope for them to become a family again."

"Cooper, anything to add before we move on to the next point?" Savannah inquired mildly.

Starting guiltily, Cooper found that she had been so focused on the contents of Frank Crosby's Civil War diary that she hadn't been following their discourse.

"Page 181," Nathan whispered.

Glancing quickly at her workbook, Cooper said, "I loved the end of chapter forty-three. I could just picture the scene where Joseph hears that his father is still alive. That news must have made his heart swell." She flipped the thin pages of her Bible, enjoying the rustling murmur as she found the section in Genesis she wanted to discuss. "Joseph meets his brother Benjamin in verse twenty-nine, and verse thirty says, 'Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.' " Cooper looked at her friends. "My eyes didn't stay dry, either. You can just sense how overwhelmed with love and longing Joseph was. It drove me crazy that I had to wait 'til Genesis forty-five for Joseph to finally tell his brothers who he was!"

Trish dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, leaving blotches of mascara on her upper cheeks. "And then they hug each other and cry. These grown men-all of whom have made so many mistakes! It just goes to show us that there's always time to make amends." She sniffed. "And when Jacob and Joseph are reunited, it was so beautiful. It made me think of you, Jake, and I prayed that one day you'd see your daddy again and you could forgive him and weep together."

Now it was Jake's turn to become misty-eyed. Unable to speak, he hoa.r.s.ely whispered "Thank you" to Trish and then got up from his desk under the pretense of refilling his coffee cup.

"From deception, fear, and doubt, Joseph and his family are brought to a place of reconciliation and renewal through G.o.d's will," Savannah declared quietly. "I was very moved by our lesson this week as well. Does anyone want to share their answer to the life-reflection question on page 183?"

"Before we go on," Cooper cleared her throat. "I need to tell you about something, um, deceitful I've done. Nathan was with me, too, but only to make sure I didn't get hurt. The decision to search Frank's house for clues and ignore your advice was all mine." As she absently picked the crumb topping off her m.u.f.fin, Cooper described how she and Nathan had gained access through the back door, retrieved the diary from inside the rocking chair, and were made aware that the killer had followed them. Lastly, she repeated the words that had been written on the side of her truck.

"Seek and die!" Trish shrieked. "That's a pretty serious threat!"

"Why didn't you tell us before we showed up at Door-2-Door yesterday?" Bryant demanded. "We could have asked everyone what they were up to Friday night!"

Jake's mouth formed a crooked smile. "Yeah, sure. I could have just turned to Penny and said, 'Hey, lady. Were you out in the rain last night, writing threats on my friend's truck?' " He waved off the notion. "Give Cooper a break. She did something she felt she had to do. Didn't we all just read some lessons from Scripture about makin' mistakes?"

Quinton studied Cooper and Nathan, his eyes lit with interest. "Did you read the diary?"

"I did, and now we know why Mr. Crosby had such an aversion to the color yellow." She paused to look over at Nathan. "Lucky for us, we decided to bring the diary to the Tuckahoe Library to read and one of the reference librarians recognized this." She pulled the rectangle of yellow fabric from her purse.

"It's shaped like a flag," Bryant said.

"You're a clever guy." Nathan was impressed. "It's a hospital flag from the Civil War. It was flown outside the hospital tents to clearly identify them. And Frank's relative, Lieutenant Aaron Crosby, spent some time in a Union field hospital."

Jake nearly choked on his coffee. "He was a Yankee?"

"No, but he was shot in the back by one during a retreat," Nathan explained. "So he took the coat and sword from a dead Union soldier lying nearby and, because they thought he was one of them, he was taken to their hospital. Aaron wrote that his own army was on the run and his only chance of survival was to pretend to be a Yank."

"That seems a bit dishonorable," Quinton said.

Trish's violet eyes narrowed. "The man just wanted to live. Maybe he had a family he wanted to see again-a future he dreamed about."

"He did," Cooper opened the diary and read Aaron's words: April 18 Sunrise. I dreamed of returning to our farm. Annie must be awake by now. The cows will need milking. I hope the boy is helping her with the ch.o.r.es. I wonder if he's taller than me now. I'm tired. Will write more tomorrow.

April 19 The doctors are beginning to wonder about my muteness. I will have to leave here soon. My wound is healing well and it is a luxury to rest in a soft bed again, so it will be difficult to leave. My feet are still clotted with blood and I've lost four nails from my right foot. That is no surprise considering the shape of my boots. Most of our men were barefoot in our last skirmish and we haven't had enough food to fill our bellies for months.

The South cannot win this war. She is like David fighting Goliath, but with no stone to throw. All I want is to return home, to look upon the faces of my dear ones and to watch my cornstalks grow.

I have forgotten what it is we have been fighting for . . .

"The poor man," Savannah said. "I'm glad to know Lieutenant Aaron must have reunited with his family or there wouldn't have been a Frank Crosby. I wonder how he ended up with the hospital flag."

"He stole it," Nathan informed her. "The hospital tent was in a state of chaos as a large group of wounded soldiers was brought inside. Aaron used the confusion to his advantage by leaving his bed. He grabbed a pair of discarded boots but had no socks, so he ripped down the hospital flag to wrap around his right foot, which was in pretty bad shape." Gesturing at the flag, he added, "Must have been washed since then."

"So Frank was ashamed of his relative for retreating and then deserting?" Bryant wondered aloud.

Cooper nodded. "That and more. Apparently, the field hospital fell under cannon fire and everyone inside died."

"Because the yellow flag had been taken?" Trish's violet eyes were wide with horror.

"There's no way of knowing," Nathan answered. "But Frank was obviously greatly ashamed of being related to this man and wanted to keep all ties to Aaron Crosby a secret."

"That part of our mystery is now solved," Savannah spoke with quiet authority. "It's time to turn the diary over to the police, and Cooper, you must tell them about the message written on your truck."

"I will. I'm going to call them right after church. But first, I'd like to ask for your forgiveness." Cooper looked at her friends in appeal. "Something inside me just wouldn't rest until I understood Frank better. Thoughts of him have been kind of haunting me since I learned of his death. I'm sorry."

"Of course we forgive you!" Trish announced. "And who knows? Maybe the killer will stop now that they realize it's not just the authorities out there looking for them. Maybe what you did will save lives."

The sound of music drifted into the open door of the cla.s.sroom. The praise song Come and Wors.h.i.+p was a signal to individual cla.s.ses to wrap up their discussion and make way to the auditorium for wors.h.i.+p service.

"The police are likely to interview the regular Sat.u.r.day Door-2-Door volunteers about their movements Friday night," Quinton said as he began tidying up. "I guess we no longer have a role to play."

Bryant looked disappointed. "So there's no need to snoop into the volunteer's lives any more?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Savannah argued. "I have no doubt that G.o.d, through Trish, placed us in the path of those volunteers. If He hadn't, then Leo wouldn't be joining us for wors.h.i.+p this morning. We should always take an interest in those around us."

"Leo's coming here?" The alarm in Trish's voice made Jake grin.

"You can relax that grip on your purse," he teased. "That boy's all bark and no bite. Tell 'em the story, Savannah. Quick, before we have to go."

"First of all, Leo was arrested for disorderly conduct." She couldn't hold back the smile that appeared on her face. "Turns out, our friend had a bit too much to drink one warm spring evening and found himself with a full bladder. He went in search of the closest tree-"

"But found the leg of a horse instead!" Jake hollered. "The horse belonged to a mounted cop and let's just say that our man Leo didn't have very good aim that night! Both horse and rider were sprayed by somethin' warm and smelly and wet."

"Oh, dear." Trish giggled behind her hand.

"Leo works for a moving company and lives in the same apartment building as his mama. We met her and she's a fine, upstanding woman," Savannah continued. "I also brought our new friend a copy of T.D. Jakes's Speaks to Men on CD. Leo must have been influenced by the book because he called me at seven this morning to ask if there was a bus stop close to Hope Street."

"Savannah was perfect," Jake said with enthusiasm. "She just listened to Leo talk and then told him that everyone makes mistakes and that we can learn from them and be changed by them. His mama is going to be in seventh heaven when she finds out that he's goin' to church today."

"Then we'd better get a move on." Savannah stood. "We'll pray for you, Cooper. I hope that you don't get in too much trouble for poking around in Frank's house."

"Maybe The Colonel and I can be cellmates," Cooper joked, but her heart was filled with trepidation as she followed her friends down the hallway and into the large chapel, where a sea of joy-filled faces was lifted toward the glow of two enormous projection screens.