The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) (17 page)

             
“
You mean about the fact
that
you keep saying it
’
s not fair of you to not move on with your life after three years?
”
 
Sam asked. 
“
Or, one of my favorites, how it
’
s your fault I
’
m dead?
  Last time I checked
,
S
weetie, you didn
’
t set the bomb that blew up the apartment and you were over a block away from the apartment when it blew.  Or wait, this one is definitely my favorite; every time you get close to Jessica you back off, because you
’
re afraid of losing someone in a relationship and blame it on your lack of,
”
Sam used air quotes,
“’
g
ame
’
?
”
 

             
John spun in the seat, shocked. 
“
Are you trying to say that I have commitment issues because of what happened to you!?!
”

             
“
You
’
re subconscious is the on
e saying that, not me, remember?
  What I would say
is that
you
a
re scared.  What I
’
m also saying is someone is having issues if the first time you see your dead wife is three years after she died.  Although, I have to admit you did a fine job wallowing in self-pity those three years.  You should have gotten some kind of award for that.
”

“
You think I
’
m using you as a way to stay away from Jessica!?!
”
 
John exclaimed.

“
I think it
’
s time to admit you
’
re alone in this car arguing with yourself.  That
’
s the kind of thing that will get you a trip to the little room with the suit that lets you hug yourself.
”
 
Sam looked John right into his eyes. 
“
It
’
s time to live
,
John.
”

             
Tears welled in John
’
s eyes. 
“
I miss you
,
Sam.
”
 
John
’
s voice cracked.

             
“
Well if you don
’
t pay attention to the road, you
’
re going to see me a lot sooner than you expected,
”
said Sam.

             
John whipped around to watch the road.  When he turned back to Sam, she was gone.  John flipped the dial around on the radio trying out different current music stations.  After about five minutes of no luck, he settled on an oldies station.  John found a band singing one of his favorites. 

             
“
Ok, time to move on with my life, but crazy subconscious or no, I
’
m still listening to my music,
”
John said out loud.  He swore he heard Sam say,
“
I wouldn
’
t expect anything less.
”

As John pulled into the little sleepy town where Archibald Industries was located, he was reminded of his hometown around this time on Sunday mornings.  Some stores were open, but there were very few people out.  John pulled into the parking lot of Archibald Industries.  Down the street he saw a huge house with no cars to be seen, and no signs of life.  There was a for sale sign in the yard that appeared to have been there for many years.  The house was very out of place.  It was much too large compared to the other houses and shops.  John was sure that was where the owner of Archibald Industries used to live.

             
John was certain he had found the epicenter of this case.  Somewhere in this little town was the cause of what led to the quadruple homicide he was investigating.  John looked around and noticed someone walking around the grounds of the big house.  John jumped into his car and drove over to try and talk to the man.

             
As John pulled up the drive, the man walked over to him.

             
“
You interested in buying the place?
”
 
He asked.

             
“
No
,
s
ir, I am working with the FBI on a case, and wondered if you could answer a few questions,
”
said John.  The man looked around to see if anyone was watching.  The caretaker looked very distrusting of John.

             
“
Look, I only have one real question
.  T
he man who owned this house, was there a particular church that he attended?
”
 
John asked.  The man brightened right up, and then started to look a little nervous.

             
“
Yes
,
s
ir, he did.  Um, would you mind not telling anyone there you saw me today?  I needed to get a few things done . . .
”
John interrupted him.

             
“
You have nothing to fear; in fact I don
’
t even know your name.  NO!!  Don
’
t tell me!
”
 
John had to stop the
caretaker before he blurted it out. 
“
All I want to know is where is the church and what is its name
?
”
 

             
“
That
’
s easy.  H
e attended Double Forks Southern Missionary Baptist Church,
”
the caretaker replied.  John nodded.  The caretaker gave him the directions and John thanked him.  John drove over to the church, found an empty parking spot, parked his car and looked around.  The lot was full, and the large bell on top of the steeple had just finished ringing.  John stood and was surprised how much it reminded him of home.  As he stood there
,
he listened to the music that came out of the church.  The congregation had begun singing a familiar hymn, in fact it had been his mother
’
s favorite when he was growing up.

             
John hesitated.  He hadn
’
t been to church in three years.  As he stood there trying to muster the strength to walk into the doors, he could hear his mother.  It was the day of Sam
’
s funeral and the last time they had talked.

             
“
Not only should you go to church,
”
John remembered her saying,
“
but it would do you some good.  God didn
’
t fail you
,
John.  What happened, it happened for a reason.  God didn
’
t make that person blow up your apartment.  You don
’
t blame God for an evil man doing evil things.  Did God stop whoever from blowing it up?  No.  But there
’
s a reason it all happened
,
John, and you need to accept that before you can move forward.  Sam would want you to move forward
,
J
ohn.  You need to believe that.
”

             
John had to agree with her.  Man
,
in one day he had seen his late wife, and remembered the last discussion he had with his mother.  He didn
’
t know how much more of these trips down memory lane he could take.  John smiled and opened the door to the church.  He heard the lyrics as he walked through the door. 
“
I once was lost, but now I
’
m found, was blind, but now I see.
”

Pastor of Double Forks Southern Missionary Baptist Church

Chapter 40

             
Brother Jim noticed the man walk in dressed in only what he could call a FBI suit.  As the congregation was singing, Jim realized the moment he had been waiting for had finally come.  For over twenty-five years Brother Jim kept waiting for someone to question him.  He knew this day had been coming, but for some reason instead of fear, he felt relief. 

             
The past few weeks he had been jumping every time the phone rang, or a strange car drove through town.  Ever since Brother Jim had read about the death of Captain Jason Sparks and then the quadruple murders, he knew it was a matter of time before someone came to ask him some questions.

             
Brother Jim had been with the church for over forty years.  He knew some preachers left and went to serve at another church but he had never felt the Lord lead him anywhere else.  In fact, ever since Beth and David George disappeared, he knew he wouldn
’
t be leaving this church until this day came. 

             
The service continued as normal.  Brother Jim watched the FBI agent.  To Brother Jim
’
s surprise, the agent sang the songs, and honestly seem
ed to feel
as
at
home
as
someone could be while visiting a church.

             
When Brother Jim stood up to preach, he laughed to himself the irony of the days message, God
’
s forgiveness.  Brother Jim knew in his heart he did nothing wrong, but he still had regret.  He had regret that he hadn
’
t done more. 
He had no proof what happened that day; just what he suspected.  Brother Jim smiled, and stepped to the podium.

             
“
Brothers and Sisters, let me welcome you to the Lord
’
s house,
”
he paused waiting for the scattering of Amens. 
“
I have an announcement to make before I begin.  Tonight
,
there will be no service.  Tonight
,
I would like you to check on those in this town that are less fortunate than others, perhaps have a group meal.  Tonight
,
we need to take care of those who need our help.  We need to take care of those who don
’
t have the ability to do for themselves what needs to be done.  Now if you will open your Bible. . .
”
 
Brother Jim began to preach.  After the message was over, he went to the back of the church as always and shook hands with each person that walked out until the only person left was the FBI agent.  Brother Jim smiled; he was ready to lift the burden he had been carrying all of these years off of his shoulders. 

Double Forks Southern Missionary Baptist Church

             
Chapter 41

As John sat in the service and listened to the preacher
,
he thought about how everyone had been addressing each other. 
At m
ost places
,
it was Reverend so and so, or Pastor so and so, but not here, and not at John
’
s home church.  Where he grew up
,
it was Brother so and so, and Sister so and so.  He saw this church was exactly the same as the one he grew up in.  As the preacher spoke
,
John wondered if this was a wild goose chase that would lead to a dead end.  Whatever happened in this town
,
happened over twenty-five years
ago.
  He knew it was possible this was the same preacher, but it was also very possible it wasn
’
t. 

As the service ended, John tried to stay in the back of the crowd to make sure he was the last one to go through the door.  It was very hard.  Many of the members had come up to him and were shaking his hand and inviting him for a meal that afternoon or evening.  John politely declined them all explaining he would probably be heading toward his parents
’
home
.  John wondered what had brought out that answer.  He looked around the church and he knew.  This place so reminded him of home.  Maybe if he could get everything cleared up today, John would go visit his parents.