Page 142 of Roses Are Dead
John had arrived and held a pile of papers in the air.
“These have his signature on them, and the notary who witnessed it. You can’t stop this.”
“He’s injured. He needs strength to recover.”
“From trying to burn someone alive? Let him die!”
Whoa, John was doing a damn good job at playing badass. I cleared my throat. “Hey, John. How’s Beth?”
His frown spoke volumes. “She’ll be a hundred percent better if these two stop being hypocrites.”
Wolf’s raised eyebrows mirrored my own. We both slid our stares to the man and woman opposite us. In a subtle, for me, gesture of solidarity, I put my hand on John’s shoulder, showing them he had our support.
“You’re the ones to blame for this.” Carl’s father shook his finger at me.
I stepped forward and pulled open my coat. “See the stains there, that crusty stuff?” I waited until they saw it. “That’s blood. I don’t mind wearing it next to my skin because I know whose it is, and who made her bleed. Now, if you want to blame anyone? I’d look at your fucked up son who did this, and maybe take a good long look at your weird religion for putting psychopathic ideas into his head. That’s the real reason we’re all here tonight.”
My hands shook. “He tried to burn my woman at the stake. That shit is illegal. Now I could tell you a dozen other things your so-called prodigal son did in the last month. Some of it would curl your hair. But honestly? You’re not going to listen… not to me. But if you want to stick up for him, I suggest you talk to the Sheriff’s department processing the scene. It’s on your church’s property. And that property has a security fence he had the transponder for. Why is that?”
Their faces paled.
I laughed at them. “You’re going to have so much explaining to do. And let’s just say you mention anything about your appreciation for your son trying to burn a witch at the stake? I’ll personally make sure your church finds out about his other proclivities.”
I was bluffing my ass off. Because Carl’s proclivities would also implicate us. But since I was also the man who would deal out the swath of death that would ensue if anyone talked, maybe it wasn’t a bluff at all. Maybe I was ready to do whatever it took to make sure Carl Windgren’s good name was buried in ashes.
Carl’s father looked to his wife for help. But her face was pale and scared. Whatever he deciphered from it wasn’t good because he asked, “Where did this happen?”
John butted in, “The hill where Amma Dornberger and Deacon May died.”
The collective sucked-in breath whispered secrets.
John’s gaze narrowed. “I have a feeling the deacon’s death wasn’t an accident like Carl claimed it was, was it?”
Carl’s father stiffened. “That was years ago.”
“There’s no statute of limitations on murder,” Wolf rightly observed. “And party to murder? Bear, you wouldn’t happen to know how long that span is?”
“I don’t think there is one. Nor does it matter if it is before the fact, or after. Which means covering up a murder is still prosecutable. And Pennsylvania still has the death penalty.” Jackson would know the particulars on all that. Fucker.
“The deacon’s death was an accident,” his mother spoke bluntly.
“If you don’t want that theory tested, don’t fight the transplant.” John slapped the papers down onto the table. “These are copies. The hospital has another set. When Carl dies, you are more than welcome to collect his body. After my wife gets what is legally hers.”
He stood up and left them to their sorrow.
Wolf and I followed to make sure he was protected. I wouldn’t put it past those nut jobs to stick a knife in his back and blame it on the Holy Spirit or some shit. He stopped in the common area where it branched off to Rose’s room and talked to the nurse behind the counter. He joined us, still flushed and clenching his hands like he wanted to tear someone’s head off.
In a scary moment of realization, I realized John wasn’t the goodie-two-shoes I’d pegged him as. “You ever think about riding motorcycles?”
He smiled, but it was grim. “Beth would kill me if I did.”
That was a damn shame. “When she gets better, I’m going to have Rose talk her into a ride. She’ll change her mind.”
Wolf slapped my chest as he walked past to join Tits outside Rose’s door. “You keep recruiting, I’m going to have to offer you the president’s spot.”
Maybe it was time I accepted the VP offer? As rotten as I’d be at the job, Wolf and the club wanted my help. And if I had to drown my sorrows over Rose, I’d need it to keep me busy.
Speaking of, I asked John, “Are they going to let you see Rose while you’re here?”
