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Kodiak raised his brow.
“Never mind.”
He leaned inward. “I’m here to make arrangements for the service.”
“It will have to be Monday.”
“Fine.” He sat back.
Folding his hands on his desk, Jeremy smirked. “Your wife isn’t welcome.”
Fuck off, preacher boy.
“Then there won’t be a service here at all.”
“We all know what she did to Miss Catherine, God rest her soul. I cannot permit it.”
“I think you’ve been drinking way too much Kool-Aid, kid.” Kodiak stood up to leave. “You can just let the flock know Pastor was buried privately by his children. I’ll leave the key under the doormat.”
“Wait,” he called out just as Kodiak reached the door.
He didn’t bother turning around.
“The blood of our Lord pays for all sin, including the sin of murder, does it not? Very well, your wife may accompany you.”
He was closing the back of the Tahoe when Linnea came out of the house with Charlotte. Everything they were keeping was packed inside it, and it wasn’t much. Personal papers, his high school letterman jacket, a painting his sister wanted, and all the photos, of course. Save the furniture, they burned everything else.
Just as you requested, old man.
They’d be leaving to go home directly from the cemetery. He didn’t want to have to come back here again. “You sure that’s everything, Linnea?”
“I did another walk-through on my way downstairs,” she said, getting the baby into her car seat. “I’m sure.”
Toffee-blonde hair pulled back at the crown, she wore a simple black dress. Kodiak watched her clicking the latch into place. “Why are your hands shaking? Are you okay?”
“I’m a little anxious, I guess.” Looking past him, Linnea gazed at the church across the street. “It’s been a long time, you know?”
“Just hold onto me.” He kissed the top of her head. “I got you.”
His arm around her shoulders, they went up the twelve steps and stepped inside. The smell of beeswax and Murphy’s oil soap immediately assaulted his nose. In front of the altar, Jarrid lay in repose, wearing the navy blue suit his daughter had chosen for him.
Glancing down at his sister, she nodded. They proceeded down the center aisle to their father. No one else was here yet, and he was grateful to have this moment without the church folk gawking at them.
That didn’t take long.
Coming out of the vestry in full clerical garb, Jeremy approached them. “Pastor looks at peace, doesn’t he? I kept vigil over him all night.”
Tipping his chin in response, Kodiak tightened his hold on Linnea. She remained silent.
“My mother and the ladies have arranged a luncheon in the church hall following the graveside service.”
“That’s very thoughtful of them, but Linnea and I will be leaving right from there. It’s a long drive, and we have to get back home.” He looked to his sister, kissing her brow for good measure. “Please give Ada and the ladies our thanks, though.”
“I really must insist. They’ve gone to so much trouble. They’re looking forward to catching up with your wife and meeting your precious baby girl. You don’t have to stay long. What’s another hour?” Jeremy turned toward Linnea, leering at her, when she didn’t exist to him before. That disturbing smile popped up on his face. “Say you’ll come.”
A sense of foreboding tingled at the back of his neck.
“Be wary of him.”
