Another Dead Republican (37 page)

§ § §

In the next few days we finished with the damn boxes. The upshot of Veronica’s finances, after we finally had all the boxes emptied, the contents organized, categorized, filed, and explained to her was that Veronica and the kids would be okay. They had no savings, as Edgar had squandered everything on stupid investments, schemes, deals, and legal problems. But the income from the investments in his name would still come in. Veronica planned to sell the house and move out of state. She thought she might get a teaching job since her kids were all in school.

§ § §

On our last morning I was a few steps from walking into Veronica’s kitchen when I heard Scott talking to David. The thirteen-year-old was saying, “I miss my dad.” I stopped in the hall and listened.

“It’s tough to lose a parent at any age,” Scott said, “but especially hard at thirteen.”

“Was he a rotten guy like everybody is saying?”

Scott said, “The important thing to remember is that he loved you as best he could. That’s all any of us can do.”

A few moments of silence followed. I heard spoons clink against bowls.

David said, “I hate my grandmother.”

Scott sighed. “She did something pretty awful.”

“Is my mom going to be okay?”

“We’re all going to help her and you and your brother and your sister as much as we can. We’ll all be here for you. Your mom is a smart, tough woman, and she loves you very much.”

“I’m glad you guys were here.”

“You let me know if you need something. I’ll be here to help.”

§ § §

Before we left, I talked to Frank Bowers. He said, “Thank you for your help. Zachary will be avenged.”

I said, “Doesn’t look like you needed it. You had the extra votes you needed. Where’d you get the twelve thousand votes?”

“If Mayor Dailey in Chicago can learn, so can we.”

I wasn’t so sure I had much sympathy for him at this point. Learning to cheat was a good thing? If the bad guys lose and you cheated to win, haven’t you become less? Then again, I knew reality and how ugly it could be, and there was nothing I could do about any of these people at all. Nor did I want to have much to do with any of them.

§ § §

Patricia got to keep the little dog. Gerald gave me one of his stuffed Eeyores to take with. David gave Scott his favorite skateboard.

§ § §

At home in bed a week later, Scott and I discussed the chaos. I thanked him over and over for helping me, Veronica, and the family.

I said, “I just don’t get why all of this was so important to them.”

He said, “No sane mind is able to penetrate the cobwebby maze those people had so steadily constructed.”

“You put up with that grim, Grum gloom. You are wonderful.”

“A saint, no doubt. Do you get more English teacher points for all that alliteration?”

“Accumulated ghastly, grim, Grum gloom. And no I can’t say it fast three times. I’m having trouble getting it out once.”

“For which I am grateful.”

I said, “I do wonder about that whole prayer shit.”

“What?”

“Did Mrs. Grum pray before she shot her son, while she was shooting him, or after she was done? Or all three.”

“My guess is none, but there aren’t enough prayers on the planet to make up for what she did.”

I lay in his arms long after he’d fallen asleep that night wondering at the vicissitudes of the universe. I had no answer. I just had the man I loved. I hoped I could always give him the love he wanted and needed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Zubro is the author of twenty-three mystery novels and five short stories. His book
A Simple Suburban Murder
won the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Men’s mystery. He also wrote a thriller,
Foolproof
, with two other mystery writers, Jeanne Dams and Barb D’Amato. He taught eighth graders English and reading for thirty-four years. He was president of the teachers’ union in his district from 1985 until 2006. He retired from teaching in 2006 and now spends his time reading, writing, napping, and eating chocolate. His newest book
Another Dead Republican
, is his thirteenth in the Tom and Scott series. One of the keys in Zubro’s mysteries is you do not want to be a person who is racist, sexist, homophobic, or a school administrator. If you are any of those, it is likely you are the corpse, or, at the least, it can be fairly well guaranteed that bad things will happen to you by the end. And if in Zubro’s books you happen to be a Republican and/or against workers’ rights, it would be far better if you did not make a habit of broadcasting this. If you did, you’re quite likely to be a suspect, or worse.

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