He sure was good-looking. Marty sipped from Mamas glass.
Still is, I added, and left it at that.
Mama turned the toaster on the counter so she could check her lipstick in the reflection. Maddie, I dont know what possessed you to get this silver finish on all your appliances. Youre forever wiping off prints, she said.
Maddie bit her tongue, and moved on to the toaster after scouring chicken grease and a ring of Mamas sweet tea off the counter.
Hearing Mama say prints reminded me of fingerprints which reminded me of jail, which reminded me of the man whod sent Mama there.
I cant believe I forgot to tell yall something. I slapped my injured forehead, which stung like crazy. I did some research on the computer about Martinez.
Three sets of eyes turned toward me, as intent as my animals at feeding time.
Remember when Emma Jean said something bad happened to him in Miami, Mama? He was a hotshot detective. A real star. Then his wife was murdered.
Marty gasped.
It was during what they call a home invasion robbery. The bad guys push their way in, right through the front door, and then kill anyone in the house who might be a witness.
Mamas eyes widened and her hand covered her mouth.
How did it happen, Mace? Only someone who knew Maddie like a sister would hear the quiver in her voice.
Well, thats the thing. Once I read the article, I understood why Martinez was so ready to believe Mama could be a killer.
That doesnt make sense, Marty said.
It will. I folded my hands on the table. Patricia Martinez had also been a police officer, until she quit to start a family. Like any good cop, she was suspicious and careful.
But not this time, Maddie said.
Not this time. I shook my head. The police found out later shed opened the door because a sweet-looking old woman was on the stoop, crying and appearing confused. When Patricia started out to see if she could help, the old ladys accomplices pushed her back through the open door. They shot her right there. Martinez found his wifes body when he got home from work. She was seven months pregnant.
Marty gasped again.
They ultimately caught the robbers, because another homeowner theyd shot survived to describe them. I shifted in the chair to ease the pain in my knee. He told the newspaper the old woman looked so harmless, he never suspected a thing. Want to know why?
All three heads nodded.
She reminded him of the sweet old lady who used to teach at his Sunday school.
Mama had one hand on her head and the other holding on to the dashboard of Pams old VW convertible. The wind was blowing the yellow pansies flat on her Sunday hat.
Actually, it was Wednesday evening. But we were on our way to church, which explains the fancy headwear. After what Mama had been through, I figured the least I could do was accompany her to mid-week services at Abundant Hope and Charity Chapel, like shes always asking me to.
I was driving my nieces car. Maddie had owned it a hundred years ago in high school, and shed kept good maintenance on the engine. Of course. But the top had rusted into the down position. Maddie didnt see any reason to waste the money to fix a car that Pam only drove when she came home from college two or three times a year. If it rained, Maddie always said, Pam could put on a slicker.
How you doin over there, Mama? I yelled into the warm night air.
She nodded she was okay, but that might just have been the pansies trembling on her hat.
Just hold on, were almost there. I stepped on the gas.
I learned to drive over rough terrain in orange groves and across fields rooted up by wild hogs. To me, a smooth, paved road seems like an open invitation to exceed the speed limit.
Within minutes, we were whipping into a parking space. The church, a converted convenience store, is unfortunately situated right next to a rib joint called the Pork Pit. Whenever I attend church, the scent from the Pit makes me think more about getting barbecue than getting saved. I turned off the key, and the old engine shuddered to a stop.
Here we are. Safe and sound.
Remind me to take a tranquilizer the next time I have to ride with you, Mace. Mama unclenched her hand from the dash and turned the rear view mirror in her direction. You were driving so fast, gnats were hitting me like buckshot. I think I still have bug parts embedded in my face. She bared her teeth, checking for black dots.
You look fine, Mama. If I told her shed actually lost a clump or two of pansies to the wind, shed insist on going home to get another hat.
Well, you do, too, Mace. But you could look so much better than fine. I dont know why you put on all those dark colors when I asked you to wear that beautiful pink pantsuit your Aunt Irene gave you. The woman can be a pill, but you cant fault her taste in clothes.
I told you I wasnt gonna wear the pink, Mama. That suit makes me look like an Easter egg on stilts. Martys the one that likes pastels, not me.
But the pink looks so pretty with your dark coloring, Mace. You dont even try to look nice.
Evening, Rosalee. I was saved by a middle-aged woman in a blue-flowered skirt and a sleeveless sweater. She dipped her head at Mama as she passed in front of the VW.
Hey, Delilah. Cmon over here and say hello to my middle girl, Mace. Honey, this is Delilah Dixon. Shes Pastor Bob Dixons wife.
Delilah walked to Mamas side of the car and extended her hand over the absent top. I took it, grateful for the interruption in Mamas long-running critique of my fashion sense.
Well, Delilah said in a sugary tone, we havent seen you here before, have we, Mace?
No, Maam, Im a sinner. Thats what I felt like saying, but didnt. Im not able to make it to church as much as Id like.
Mace is one of those Christmas and Easter Christians, Delilah. You know, the ones who crowd the pews on the holidays? They think the Lord will forget He hasnt seen them the rest of the year.
Well, Im here tonight and Im looking forward to the service, I said, heading off a tangent on my church-going habits. What will your husband be preaching on, Ms. Dixon?
Oh, I never know until the moment Bob starts his sermon. Delilahs drawl-free accent sounded Midwestern. I like to enjoy hearing it for the first time, along with the congregation.
I thought I noticed the tiniest smirk on Mamas mouth.
Well, I better get along inside. Delilah started for the church door, then turned at the halfway point. Were sure happy to see you tonight, Rosalee, she said in a voice that carried clear to the Pork Pit. I wasnt sure youd have the nerve to show up, considering.
Mamas back stiffened in the car seat. Why wouldnt I show up, Delilah? The only thing to consider is I had the bad luck to discover some poor souls body in my trunk.
Delilah traced a finger along the spine of the Bible she carried. Well, we did hear youd been hauled into the Himmarshee Jail. Her voice was loud enough to wake the crows roosting across the street in a magnolia tree. All of us were worried youd never get out.
Heads turned as other congregation members filed past.
As you can see, Im out. I wasnt charged with a thing, Mama said sharply. It was a misunderstanding, is all. By the way, Delilah, you might want to reread the Gospel of Matthew in that Good Book youre carrying. He writes all about the evil nature of false accusations.
Id planned to jump to Mamas defense, but she seemed to be doing fine on her own. Sputtering, Delilah flounced into church, her skirt a floral swirl around her sturdy legs.
I know its not very Christian of me, but I sure dont like that woman, Mama whispered to me. And did you see her in a sleeveless sweater? Shes built like a truck driver. With those big arms of hers, a three-quarter length sleeve would be much more flattering.
I aimed a sanctimonious look to the passenger seat. Doesnt Proverbs address gossiping, Mama? If I recall, the Bible says guard your mouth and tongue to keep yourself from calamity.
I couldnt resist the jab. But I was secretly glad Mama was focused on Delilahs fashion
faux pas
instead of mine.
Youre absolutely right, Mace. She looked contrite. It isnt nice to gossip. But I almost busted out laughing when she said how the congregation enjoys her husbands sermons. The only thing that keeps most of them awake is the promise of the Pork Pit when its over.
I patted her on the arm. Dont worry, Mama. The people who really know you would never believe you had anything to do with the murder. The Dixons are fairly new, arent they?
Just since this year. She formed an O with her lips in the mirror, and painted them with her favorite shade, Apricot Ice. Bob Dixon replaced Pastor Gooden, who everybody loved. And that wife of his doesnt help his case. Theres something a little off about the two of them, Mace. Shaking her head, she tossed the lipstick back in her purse. At least half-a-dozen members have quit since they arrived.
Making our way inside, we were forced to step around a card table stacked high with homemade DVDs. The covers showed a dark-suited man, looking reflective in a beam of light from a stained glass window.
Walking the Path with Pastor Bob
, the title said. I turned it over. Fifteen bucks, according to a bright red price sticker on the back. I returned it to the pile.
Mamas minister must have found a fancier church than Abundant Hope to stage his DVD photo. This one just had the store window, and not a pane of stained glass in sight.
Several people waved and smiled. But a few stared with cold eyes as we found two seats halfway down a row of folding chairs. Mama fiddled with a stack of church books under her seat, looking for a hymnal. Fortunately, she didnt seem to notice the nasty looks before the music minister hit the first chord on a portable organ.
A young man in the front row lifted a video camera to his eye. The red
Record
button lit. The choir burst into
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
. As Mama warbled along, I counted the fake lilies in pots lining a raised wooden altar. Id gotten to twenty-two, and started in on studying the Ten Commandments on three big panels against the wall, when a commotion broke out behind us.
I told you, I WILL NOT sit down. It was a woman, and she sounded on the verge of hysterics. I have something to say, and Im going up there to say it.
There was some quiet murmuring and shushing from behind us.
People should know.
They should know!
She let loose a wail, which sounded familiar.
I turned around to see Emma Jean Valentine being corralled toward the exit by a short man in a dark suit. Pastor Bob? Emma Jeans green skirt was two inches too short. A kitty-cat pin shone on the lapel of her neon blue jacket.
Delilah Dixon stepped in, trying to help steer her out the door.
Take your hands off of me!
Emma Jeans eyes were wild. She raised her hand, and along with it a threatening-looking tire iron.
Mama clutched my elbow. Oh, my stars and garters! Emma Jean is fixin to murder Delilah and her husband, the preacher.
Emma Jean backed up, knocking over the card table display. The DVDs clattered to the floor. As the guy with the camera moved in for a closer shot, Pastor Bob swiped his hand across his throat, yelling Cut! Cut!
Now every head in the church was turned to the rear. Even the choir had quit singing to stare. Delilah and the reverend backed off a few steps. Emma Jean lowered the tire iron a fraction. She raised her other hand to her head to straighten a straw hat decorated with green-and-white daisies.
Most of you know me. Her voice rang out in the pin-drop silent room. I suffered a terrible loss this week when Jim Albert was murdered. And now Ive discovered something that hurts almost as bad as losing him. Ive been looking into a few things. Jim was cheating on me. And the woman he betrayed me with is a member here, supposedly a good Christian.
Shocked gasps rippled through the seats. A loud clap sounded on the floor by the choir. I turned in time to see a pretty blonde soprano stoop to retrieve the hymn book she dropped.
I just wanted yall to think on something, sitting here in this church: People arent always what they seem. Theres a woman here who tried to take away someone I loved. Shes here among you, pretending to be pious and holy. But really shes just a common whore.
Mothers covered their kids ears. The Reverend Dixon put out a hand to silence Emma Jean. She shook her tire iron at him, and his hand dropped like hed touched a hot stove.
God gave Moses the commandments. Emma Jeans voice rose like a preachers. All of you know the one about coveting thy neighbors wife. Well, someone here coveted the man who was going to be my husband.