Crying with the Saints

As Audra pulled up to the church she felt dwarfed by its height. She parked, wondering if she should say a pre-church prayer preparing God to see her inside of His house. She reasoned that either He already knew she was coming, or He would be more than happy to see her when she got inside. Magic pulled into the parking space next to her and they both exchanged I didn't expect to see you here expressions.

Audra spotted Ethan's truck as it entered the parking lot and she smiled. She gathered her belongings, including her specter shield and gun, and placed them in her purse. She retouched her lipstick and exited her car the same time Magic did. Magic's wardrobe of the day was an appropriately modest flower-print dress with matching hat. She would not have believed two nights previously this woman had led a naked dance show at The Scoop, if she hadn't seen it for herself.

Magic waited with her out of courtesy as Ethan parked and got out of his truck. Audra liked the low-key slacks, loafers, and polo t-shirt combination. It went well with the simple sundress and sandals she'd chosen from her purchases on her shopping trip with Yolanda.

As Ethan joined them, Magic politely allowed the couple to walk just ahead of her.

"Okay sinners, game faces on. It's time to cry with the saints," Magic sighed.

Audra looked at Ethan, with their morning's activity fresh in her mind, and felt a blush spread across her entire body.

"I said game faces, Agent Wheeler. Game faces," Magic repeated, exasperated.

An usher handed each of them a program as they entered the church with its traditional basilica layout, stained glass windows, and pulpit. The choir was in a jazzed up rendition of His Eye is on the Sparrow with specter Marcus Knox accompanying them on his saxophone. Ethan stopped to dip his fingers in the holy water, as did Magic.

Audra waited politely, not certain what the ritual was about. Magic took the lead and they followed her to the second row of benches on the right side of the church. Audra glanced to the left once she took a seat and was surprised to find the Shelleys taking up the front row. Every one of them from the dinner party, including Margret Shelley, who Audra was certain had to be drugged up. Her head bobbed ever so slightly. Audra and Ethan exchanged concerned glances.

No matter the personal differences, Audra realized that Margret was a young woman in need of serious help that included getting her away from the Shelleys until she was strong enough to take care of herself. Audra felt disgusted as she wondered how much money it took the Shelleys to pay the hospital not to treat her.

She shook the thoughts off and turned to the front as the choir finished and the preacher stepped to the pulpit. Audra was surprised to find that the preacher was black. She did a quick sweep of the nearly full congregation and noted that there was an interesting mixture of the entire town, including the dark clerk from Fashions Today, and Delluca, the manager of the run down HUD apartment building in front of The Scoop.

She turned to her church program and opened it to a picture of the preacher with the name Reverend Stockard underneath. The picture was a nice one of him standing in the church doorway. He had a milk chocolate complexion with a head that was completely bald. It was hard to gauge how old he was, but Audra figured him to be in his mid to late fifties.

"It has been nearly a week since we lost one of the living to tragic circumstances. Gwyn Miller was a rising star and, though we are glad to have her angelic spirit here with us again, we are saddened by the loss of such a precious life," the preacher opened his sermon and had Audra's undivided attention.

"So many things about this life make it so precious. Even with the promise of eternal paradise at the end, it is this life with its ever so much more preciously fleeting time that is more important. Because what you do here determines who and what you meet on the other side. It is in this life that we have the power to even create life."

Audra could hardly believe when an hour passed by and the preacher conceded the pulpit to allow the choir to sing again. At the time of prayer Ethan stood to his feet and, though she was scared of what it meant, she stood next to him.

She was surprised as she listened to the preacher's prayers for forgiveness and peace and the warm comfort that entered her. For the first time in a long time, she cleared her mind and felt thankful for all of the good things. When it came time to leave, Audra stood in the receiving line with Ethan and Magic to shake the preacher's hand.

"Agent Wheeler," Reverend Stockard greeted.

"Excellent sermon," she praised as he shook her hand. She was given pause for a moment as she felt a strange warm energy emanate from his touch. She looked at him curiously and his smile widened.

"Only the called can feel that," he said and quickly turned to the next parishioner.

Audra shook off the odd feeling that fell over her and took Ethan by the hand.

"Well, it's my day off," Magic announced. "Feel free to swing by to see me at work next week.

Magic left them, seeming to almost run away from the church that had been so open and loving to all who had entered, even Audra.

"What would you like to do for the rest of the day?" Ethan asked her.

"One thing I have never done is fish," Audra said as she took his hand. "Why don't I follow you out to the country and you can show me how it's done in your lake?"

"That sounds like a very good plan to me," Ethan said and gave her a kiss as he left her at her car.

Audra dialed Yolanda from her cellphone to tell her where she would be during the day just in case she was needed.

"We're flipping through these photos and reading over these letters," Yolanda said. "We'll leave your share for when you get back. Enjoy your Sunday."

Audra felt a little guilty leaving them to do that without her, but as soon as she pulled beside Ethan in his driveway, she let the feeling pass. She followed him inside of the house and waited in his living room until he changed into shorts and a t-shirt with sandals. Then they made their way through the kitchen to the back door.

"I only have one fishing line," he told her as he picked up his fishing pole and tackle box. He spritzed himself with repellant and then gave her a once over. "I should warn you that I haven't actually caught a fish myself. So, we may need to make plans to go back into town to actually eat."

"No problem," Audra smiled. "I have my entire meal from the Shelleys' dinner."

"What?" Ethan asked as he opened the door and led the way towards the lake.

"Yeah, after Gwyn showed up and forced Dr. Shelley's revelations the guests were asked to leave with the dinner that was never served."

"Wow," Ethan commented blandly.

"Gwyn was pretty radical," Audra said. "Yolanda made the comment that she just may be a specter with a motive."

Ethan looked at Audra curiously.

"Did she harm anyone?"

"No, but if Sheriff Miller hadn't taken her away…"

"She was probably just trying to force the issue in a dramatic way," Ethan said softly.

"Why would you say that?" Audra paused and watched the strange expression across his face. "Did you all plan that?"

"Maybe." He shrugged.

"Jesus, Ethan. Why?" Audra shook the question away as they walked across Ethan's backyard to the dock on the lake. "You know Charles Stuart was there and Margret made some insinuation that his daughter wasn't swiped off the road by Eli, that it could have been the Councilman."

"Whoa," Ethan said as they made it to the dock.

He took off his t-shirt revealing a wife beater underneath and lay it on the dock indicating Audra should sit on it.

"You don't have a blanket?" she asked.

"Not at the ready," he confessed. "Do you want to go back inside and see if you can fish one out of the guest closet?"

"Sure," Audra said. "And I'll grab some sodas from the fridge as well."

"Perfect."

Audra went back inside and found her way to the guest room. She was surprised to see that the things Ethan had bought for her were still on the dresser, as was his note to her on the mirror. She felt uneasy at the thought of Margret reading that note. It dawned on her that the aspirin Margret had taken had been the bottle Ethan bought for her hangover. She went into the closet and pulled down a plush blanket for them to sit on.

She stopped by the bathroom and looked for evidence of Margret's incident. It smelled faintly of cleaner. Audra surmised that Ethan had cleaned anything up when he'd come home to change for church. She hurried back to the kitchen and grabbed two sodas before going back outside.

Ethan laid the blanket on the dock and took a seat, pulling Audra onto the blanket in front of him, his legs extending past her hips as she sat down.

"The accident with Amanda Stuart was several years before I arrived here," Ethan said. "But, I'll be happy to open the case again and see if I can get to the truth of what happened."

"Sheriff Miller might think you're stepping on his toes," Audra said.

"Maybe," Ethan said and pulled the line of the fishing pole in front of her. "Okay, I'll hook the worm and cast off. You hold the pole and reel her in."

"Sure," Audra said. "I'm worried about Margret."

"Me too."

"Sometimes doing the right thing is hard. But, I know you care for her, so do what you think is necessary to get her help."

Ethan kissed the top of her head. They fell into a comfortable silence and Audra was happy to drop discussions of the Shelleys, specters, and death as they tried unsuccessfully to catch the lake trout.

After an hour without a single bite, Audra stretched.

"I think it's lunch time," she announced as her stomach growled.

They stood and Ethan gathered his t-shirt, fishing pole, and tackle box. Audra gathered up the blanket and empty soda cans.

Ethan followed Audra back to the B&B and they rested in her room as they shared the cold leftover quail with wild rice and spinach for lunch. They followed that with a healthy heaping slice of lemon meringue pie.

"Wow," Ethan said. "Even cold and a day old that was delicious."

"Wasn't it?" Audra agreed. They both stretched out on the bed after eating and fell asleep in each other's arms.