State of Qualms (Virgil Jones Mystery Thriller Series Book 17) by Thomas Scott

Author:Thomas Scott [Scott, Thomas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: High Road
Published: 2023-03-13T16:00:00+00:00

After Virgil’s dad, Mason Jones, was killed, Sandy, Murton, and Delroy brought his bloodied shirt and a young willow tree out to his house. They put the shirt in a hole they’d dug next to the pond and planted the tree over it. A small tornado later destroyed the tree so Virgil cut what was left of its trunk into a small cross as a memorial to his father.

When Virgil got down to the pond, he saw a bottle of Red Stripe beer and a bottle opener sitting atop the cross.

“Howdy, Virg,” Mason said.

Howdy? Virgil thought.

“It’s an informal type of greeting.”

“What, you can read my mind, now?” Virgil said.

“No, but I can read your face. How’s it going, Son?” Mason moved toward the cross, shirtless as always, the scars of the gunshot wound in his chest still visible and pink and fresh.

Virgil picked up one of the chairs and turned it toward the cross, then sat down and leaned forward, his forearms resting on his thighs. “Everything’s going fine, Dad.”

“Are we lying to each other, now?”

“Who says I’m lying?” When Mason didn’t answer, Virgil tipped his chin at the cross and said, “What’s with the beer? Have you taken up drinking in the afterlife?”

Mason laughed, and it made Virgil’s heart ache. “No, can’t say that I have. Consumption isn’t part of the gig over here.”

“Then where’d the beer come from?”

“Huma brought it out a few minutes ago. She’s pretty special, that one.” Mason picked up the beer and the opener. He cracked the cap, then handed the bottle to Virgil.

Virgil leaned forward, took the beer, and said, “Thanks.” Then he heard the back screen door open, and when he looked toward the house, he saw Huma putting a bag of garbage into the bin. She closed the lid, then looked down toward the pond and waved at him. Virgil waved back.

So did Mason.

“How did Huma know I’d come down here? And more importantly, how did she know that you’d be here?”

Mason leaned against the side of the cross and said, “I don’t know. Maybe you should ask her.”

“I’m asking you, Dad.”

“She has a very keen sense of intuition. There’s no doubt about that.”

“Does she ever talk to you?” Virgil said.

“Yes, she does. All the time, as a matter of fact.”

“What does she say?”

“She mostly asks me…and your grandpa Jack, by the way, to watch over you.”

Virgil thought, Huh. “And do you ever talk to her?”

“It’d be rude not to answer someone, don’t you think?” Mason said.

Virgil took a swig of beer. “I guess so. But what I’m really wondering is if she can hear you.”

“She hears in her own way, Virg. Everyone does.” Mason ran his hand over the top of the cross. “Did you know that trees resonate at the same frequency as humans? I’ve always found that fascinating. Anyway, I see that your misdirection skills are coming along nicely.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Virgil said.

“It means I asked you how you’re doing, and you gave me the easy answer…one that doesn’t seem to be the entire story.

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