Page 5 of Death in the New Year

“We’re so glad to hear that,” he nodded. “Reverend Sizemore, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Gaspar Robicheaux.”

“Actually, we did meet many years ago,” he smiled. “You all needed some help offering shelter to a large group of children. The church was able to house eleven of them until their families were found.”

“That’s right,” nodded Nine. “Sorry. Nine Dougall. I remember now, Reverend. Sorry about that.”

“Same,” said Gaspar.

“I’ll agree with Barry, though. You all look exactly the same,” he laughed. “I’m going to assume, knowing Mama Irene and her unique personality and tenacity, that you didn’t make a deal with the devil.”

“No, sir,” smiled Miller. “We’re sorry to hear of your secretary. Can you tell us anything about her?”

“I told Barry we should let the police handle this, but he was insistent that you all would have the time to help as well. It’s not that I don’t think you’re capable. I just worry that too many cooks in the kitchen and all that might cause more harm than good.”

“They’re the best, Reverend. It just broke my heart seeing Ms. Imelda’s daughter all tore up by her death.” He turned to stare at the men in the room. “It was an awful scene. She was right there at the front door, lying in a pool of her own blood. Police said she was stabbed six times, a few in the hands and feet and then the rest in her torso. The poor daughter actually walked in the door and slipped in her mother’s own blood.”

“Was there a weapon found?” asked Ian.

“No, sir. They said the coroner thought it was just a simple kitchen knife. Nothing fancy.”

“What was she like earlier when she was at the church?” asked Nine. The Reverend stared at them. “I mean, did she appear upset by something? Was she distracted at all?”

“Oh. Oh, no. Imelda was a wonderful woman and had been working as my secretary for almost eight years. She was a retired daycare provider and was wonderful with the children in the church. She and Shirley, the choir director, had been arguing earlier about duties, but nothing serious.”

“What duties?” asked Trak. Barry and the Reverend jumped, then chuckled, shaking their heads at the man.

“My word! You are a quiet one,” smirked the Reverend. “As I said, it was nothing serious. Shirley was just asking Imelda to help put out the choir books, and Imelda was pulling the ‘it’s not my job card.’ I spoke to them and then they were fine after that. I think they were both tired, that’s all.”

“It’s been hard on the staff since they lost Matilda a few weeks ago,” said Barry. The Reverend stared at Barry for a moment, then nodded.

“Who is Matilda?” asked Ghost.

“She was another secretary at the church. I think she’d been with us almost three, maybe four years, maybe longer. She only worked part-time in the office. The rest of the time she worked with some of our children in the after-school daycare program. She was a lovely young woman, and I thought we were all like family.”

“We are Reverend,” said Barry, patting his back. “Matilda just left one day and never came back. She didn’t call, didn’t text, e-mail, write, nothing. She was just gone. It wasn’t like her at all. She was quiet but very dedicated to the church.”

“Isn’t that strange, considering how long she was with you?” asked Nine.

“I suppose so,” said the Reverend. “Honestly, no offense to Barry, but it doesn’t surprise me at all some of the things these young people do. Do you know that on Christmas Day during services, I actually had to tell a mother to ask her son to put away his hand-held game? In the middle of services!”

“Kids are a bit different nowadays, aren’t they?” smirked Miller.

“They are,” he nodded, “and I suppose I am too. It used to be when a man of the cloth or someone prominent in the community came into the home or business, people would stop and pay their respects. They would greet them, give them their attention and respect as it was due to them. These days, the kids just don’t pay attention any longer. They’re getting into more trouble, and honestly, sometimes I feel as though the parents are almost letting them get into trouble. It’s the strangest thing ever to watch the new dynamic.

“Of course, this coming from the man who doesn’t watch much television, who has never seen an episode of the TeleTubbies, and only listens to choir music. The world is changing, and I need to change with it.” Gaspar smiled at the clergyman, nodding back.

“Well, for now, let’s see what else we can do to help this family achieve some peace.”

CHAPTER FOUR

When Reverend Sizemore left the offices of Gray Wolf, Barry stayed behind to speak with the men and visit his grandmother. His cousin, Carsen, was on the property as well, but she was usually busy writing some paper on a lost piece of Aztec or Mayan art or something else he didn’t understand.

“Barry, we’re damn glad you’re doing so well,” said Antoine, hugging the young man again.

“Me too,” he grinned. “For a while there, even I wasn’t sure I’d make it. In fact, I almost didn’t want to make it. I was lucky that Reverend Sizemore took an interest in me and pointed me to all the right resources. He’s a good man.”

“He seems like he is,” nodded Antoine. “Do you have any other insight for us on this? Were Shirley and Imelda really okay?”

“Oh, I think they were fine. Those two bickered about everything, but they were good friends. Shirley passed out when she heard. They took her to the emergency room for a cut and bump on her head when she fell.”

---