Murder in the Second Pew by K P Gresham

Author:K P Gresham [Gresham, K P]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780996700269
Published: 2017-10-11T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

The Anointing

The next morning, Matt and the church council president stood at the front of the pavilion, surveying the newly-delivered chairs set up for Sunday morning’s 10:30 church service. “Norm, I’ve got to hand it to you.”

The stocky mayor shrugged. “I already had the boys in line to bring over the chairs from Paradise Funeral Home for the July Fourth festivities. We just moved it up a day is all.”

Late yesterday afternoon it had been decided that Grace’s Sunday services would be held at the newly refurbished pavilion. The irony was lost on no one that the pavilion completion was due in part to the man whose death precluded them from worshipping at the church.

Matt and Norm had little choice, however. The Texas Rangers had swooped down on Grace Lutheran like a swarm of well-organized bees. This morning, the ushers had to use Tupperware containers for offering plates. Since no hymnals could be taken from the sanctuary, the service’s music had been changed to patriotic songs that everyone knew by memory. Matt hadn’t even been able to get his handwritten sermon notes or Bible from his desk. The Rangers were intent on getting every scrap of evidence they could, and no one would be allowed an exception.

It was just as well. The sermon Matt had planned was about the raising of Lazarus. People didn’t need to be reminded of the recent deaths in Wilks, and they sure didn’t need to be picturing Owen Seegler’s corpse lying in a cold morgue every time he mentioned Lazarus’ dead body.

Many had showed up early for the service, but Matt soon realized folks were there more for the news that could be gleaned from the church council members’ eyewitness reports.

Of course, there was Elsbeth. She was in her element holding court. For once, she wasn’t bound to silence about a case because of James W.’s duty.

“Horrible, just horrible,” Elsbeth was saying to a crowd of listeners. “Blood all over the place. And brains. And, Lord, I don’t know what else. And he was killed in the very pew that James W. and I sit in every Sunday.”

Matt had forgotten that last part. Yes indeed, the second pew was where Elsbeth and James W. always sat.

“I’ll tell you, I knew that nothing good would happen at this church while Pastor Hayden is here. Who is he, anyway? Have we met his mother? His father? How much trouble has come to this town since he’s been here? I don’t know why Owen Seegler was killed. But I know a lot of folk have died since that preacher came to town!”

Pearl Masterson hurried up to Matt, oblivious to Elsbeth’s impassioned speech. “Pastor, we’ve got a problem.”

“Pearl! What a nice surprise. I didn’t think you’d be here with your sister being sick and all.”

She stood up straighter. “I’m not going to miss church.” Her tone was indignant.

Matt suppressed his smile. “Of course not. What’s the problem?”

“Our traditions, as well as ourselves, have a right to be protected from outsiders!” Elsbeth’s voice echoed off the new roof.

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