Boggs put her arm around Toni. “I know, babe. I know.”
Toni cringed at the image in her mind. The thought of someone being literally stoned to death was almost beyond comprehension. She’d heard of some horrific things in her life, both as an attorney and as a psychotherapist, but this act of violence hit her hard. It was brutal and senseless, indicating to her a mind that had fallen off the edge of sanity. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly in an attempt to let go of that negative energy. Boggs squeezed her shoulder and kissed the top of her head. She felt a little better just being this close to Boggs.
Mr. Rupert ambled into the room a moment later and hopped up on the couch, plopping down on her lap. He never seemed to notice that his twenty-plus pounds made him a little too big to be a lap cat. Little Tuffy bounded into the room after his brother and joined them on the couch. After Mr. Rupert glared at him, Little Tuffy apparently took the hint that Toni’s lap was not available and instead draped himself over Boggs’s free arm.
“We’re safe here,” Boggs whispered after the boys had settled in. She pulled Toni even closer and the four of them waited in silence for Vicky to come back downstairs.
Chapter 2
The man pulled up in front of his home and turned off the ignition. Even though he was working for God and felt honored to do His work, he desperately wished that he could share the excitement of his mission with others. To rejoice and praise the Lord in public would be wonderful. But it was not yet time. He was getting close, though. He was way past those first clumsy attempts. He frowned at that memory and bowed his head, feeling both sadness and embarrassment. He’d only killed two of the first three people on his list and that was shameful. A task unfinished. He’d gone back weeks later to kill that first prostitute after he’d realized what he needed to do, so at least that was done. The second killing had happened so quickly that he didn’t have time for a proper sermon. So even though the man was dead, it was a failure in his mind. But it was the third one that upset him the most. He’d been interrupted and he knew that she was still out there somewhere. It wasn’t the fact that she could identify him that caused him to lose sleep, because he knew that soon everyone would know him. It was the simple fact that he’d failed in his mission. She was on his list. He was determined to find her again and finish the job. He wasn’t sure if God was disappointed in him for those first three people, but he prayed that He would forgive him for his imperfection. They’d been practice runs in order to perfect his technique. And God had given him another tool to complete his mission better, so he felt a little better about that.
But he had to admit to himself that the killing last night had been exemplary and he was confident that he’d finally hit his stride. His sermon had been flawless and the stone he’d picked out was exactly the right size and shape. He was proud, but not too proud, for that would be a sin. Pride goeth before destruction. God had been trying to warn the United States for years, but now that God had spoken directly to him and instructed him on what to do, the good people of America would realize their mistakes and the country would be cleansed. He pushed aside the feeling of failure from his earlier mistakes, begged God for forgiveness and vowed to complete his mission. Nothing would stop him.
He pulled a gym bag from the front seat and cradled it to his chest. Inside were the tools of his trade. He’d left it in his car after last night’s mission, but he needed to replenish his supply, so he was bringing it inside. He grabbed his real gym bag from the backseat. The thought of yesterday’s sermon made him smile and his step was quick and light as he climbed the steps to his front door. He paused briefly before unlocking the front door, remembering, as he always did, that he missed his wife. He twisted the ring on his finger. She had died almost a year ago of cancer. It had taken her quickly, and for that, he was grateful. Of course, her getting cancer in the first place was entirely her fault. He shook his head in disgust. His wife had been loving and compassionate to all, and that had been her downfall. She’d taken in a friend of their neighbor’s after her parents had thrown her out for being gay. At first he thought his wife was going to try to redeem the girl by showing her the error of her ways, but that hadn’t been the case. She’d had some misplaced idea of unconditional love and they’d argued bitterly that night. The next day the girl was gone. In less than a week the girl was killed in a drive-by shooting, and rightfully so. God punished deviants.
When his wife was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within a month of their argument, he knew now that it was the consequence of her behavior. She died only six weeks later. As he’d sat next to her hospital bed holding her lifeless hand, he’d questioned everything in his life. Tears had streamed down his face and he’d screamed silently in his head. It was the middle of the night and the room was dark and sterile. So many things had gone wrong in his life and as his anger grew that night, he cursed God. He must have dozed off at some point because the next thing he remembered was a voice talking directly to him in that dark hospital room. It took him only a few moments to realize it was God. At that moment everything became crystal clear and he knew his true calling. He now had a mission and a reason to live. He smiled now, remembering that wonderful feeling of God speaking to him in his wife’s hospital room, and he opened his front door.
“Why are you late?” his elderly mother asked as he came in the front door. She was sitting in her faded green recliner in the living room, watching television. He was her only child and she seemed stressed and somewhat confused when she didn’t know where he’d been. She’d had him very late in life and was now dependent upon him.
He held up one of his gym bags. “I went to the gym, Mother.”
“That’s right, it’s Thursday. You always go on Tuesdays and Thursdays.” She smiled at him. “There’s leftover stew on the stove. You must be hungry.”
“Thank you.” He kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll just put my things away and I’ll be back down.” He went upstairs and carefully stowed both gym bags in the back of the closet in his study. There was barely enough room to make a path through this room. He had removed all of the furniture in the guest bedroom and was storing it in here while he renovated. He wanted to make that room into a sanctuary, but he was having trouble deciding on the type of furniture he should buy. It had to be just perfect. Twice he’d purchased chairs, only to return them later. The room needed to demonstrate his reverence and love for the Lord, but it couldn’t be too showy or extravagant. It was a difficult balance and he was determined to get it right. He thought he’d finally found the perfect paint color earlier in the week and after a quick dinner, he’d tackle that job.
He changed into a pair of old pants for painting and a T-shirt. After saying a prayer of gratitude, he slipped on a pair of old tennis shoes and headed back downstairs to sample some of his mother’s wonderful stew. He needed his strength.
Chapter 3
Toni arrived at work a little before eight in the morning. She had a full day ahead and wanted to make sure she was settled in before heading to her first court appearance of the day. She pulled out a small mirror from her desk drawer and stared at the reflection of her royal blue eyes. She tilted the mirror and checked her hair. It was cut short but the natural waves helped give it body. When she wanted to be a little crazy, or a little sexy, she’d just put some gel on it and spike it a bit. Today it was brushed back, giving it a soft but professional look. Satisfied that she looked presentable, she put the mirror away and grabbed a file. On Friday mornings she handled part of the routine docket, including arraignments and detention hearings. Nothing that required a lot of preparation time, she just wanted to make sure that she’d reviewed everything. She hated being caught unaware. As she closed the last file in her pile for the morning, the phone buzzed.
“Good morning, Ms. Barston. There’s a Dr. Henson on line three for you.”
“Thank you.” Chloe was the receptionist and no matter how many times Toni asked, she insisted on calling everyone either Mr. or Ms. o
r by his or her title. Toni punched line three.
“Good morning, Claire. How are you?”
“I’m doing great, thanks. I just wondered if there’s anything I can bring tomorrow night. I know you said that you and Boggs were handling everything for Vicky’s birthday, but I feel bad. Can’t I do something?”
“I think we’ve got everything covered,” Toni said. “Let me think…”
“What about wine? Could I bring some wine at least?”
“That would be wonderful,” Toni said. “In fact, now that you mention it, I think we’re a little low. Bring whatever kind you and Vicky like, okay?”
“Perfect.” Claire sounded relieved to be able to contribute. “And would it be okay if I dropped off her gifts in the morning? I know it’s an imposition, but I don’t want her to have a clue.”
“It’s no imposition at all,” Toni said. “We’re going to the grocery store tonight, so we’ll be home all day tomorrow.”
“Great. Everyone is bringing gag gifts, right? I don’t want to be the only one.”
“For Vicky? Absolutely everyone will. We’ve got ours. It’s the best part of birthdays. No worries.” Toni grinned.
“Okay, I’ve got your address here. I’ll see you in the morning, probably around ten.” Claire rang off.
Toni gathered her files and headed to court. Several of the defendants were already in the courtroom dressed in bright orange jumpsuits. The deputies flanked the bench where they sat, handcuffed and shackled together. Even though Toni knew this was a necessary precaution for the safety of those in the courtroom, she always wondered if these men felt as humiliated and defeated as they looked. She pushed that thought aside and did her job. It was nearly lunchtime when she returned to her office after first stopping at the ladies’ room and the soda machine. She piled the files on the corner of her desk, plopped down in her chair and kicked off her shoes. At least I’m not wearing heels. When Toni had begun her second career as an attorney, she wore a suit and heels every day. Now, over a year later, she rarely donned a skirt, preferring instead to wear slacks, blouse and blazer. She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair with her arms stretched over her head, trying to dispel the stress of the morning.
“Now that’s a view I could get used to,” Boggs said from the doorway.
Toni nearly tumbled backward in her chair. “Shit, Boggs. Why do you always scare the crap out of me like that?” Although the words sounded harsh, she was smiling.
“Sorry.” Boggs was grinning sheepishly. “Hey, it’s not my fault I walk quietly. Anyway, why were your eyes closed? Were you fantasizing about a wild weekend or something?” Boggs sat in the only available chair in Toni’s small office. “Tell me every last detail. What were you wearing?”
“Well,” Toni began, “I was wearing my gray sweats, the ones with the bleach spots on the legs, and my navy blue sweatshirt with a torn sleeve. And get this…” Toni gave her most seductive smile. “I had on my fuzzy white slippers and I was snuggled with Mr. Rupert on the couch watching football. Isn’t that sexy?”
Boggs shook her head. “Okay, you had me for a second there. But now that I think about it, that is kind of sexy.”
“Only you would think that. So, what’s up?”
“I have to be out this afternoon to interview a few folks and I’ll be right near Sam’s Club. Do we need anything from there? No sense in going out in that direction twice.”
“I’ve got our lists in my briefcase.” Toni rummaged through her bag and after finding the lists, she handed one to Boggs. “Oh, why don’t you pick up one of their roasted chickens for dinner tonight? I’ll stop at the grocery store on the way home and get that chore out of the way. We can have salad and chicken for dinner.”
Boggs glanced at the list. “Sounds perfect. Any ideas for dessert?”
Toni smiled and winked at her. “A few things come to mind.”
Boggs stood, grinning broadly, then kissed Toni lightly on the lips. “I must be the luckiest person on earth.” She slid the list into the pocket of her blazer and stopped in the doorway. “I’ll see you at home around six. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Be careful.” After watching Boggs walk down the hall, she opened her soda and pulled out her sandwich from her briefcase. She added a few more items to the grocery list then got back to work, reading police reports as she ate.
He was across town eating his lunch at a small diner. He didn’t like to eat where he worked, usually preferring solitude, but he decided to treat himself today. He thought about his job, shook his head and twisted the ring on his finger. Most of his coworkers were far too liberal for his taste and he preferred to keep his distance. There were even people there who flaunted themselves as gay. He was surprised that the higher-ups allowed such things, but he was sure they were just afraid of being sued if they fired them. He constantly looked for flaws in those people’s work and kept a detailed record of everything. He hoped that it was only a matter of time before management fired every one of those deviants for cause.
He took another bite of his sandwich and concentrated on the page of his opened Bible. It always gave him comfort. He read a passage, then closed his eyes, breathing in the special relationship he had with God. Another message had arrived just the night before in a dream. God appreciated his dedication to the mission and it was time for another example to be set. The message came so quickly that he knew the stoning from two nights before had been pleasing to God and he couldn’t help but smile.
Only a month after his wife had died, the messages from God had become clear to him and he’d started working diligently on his list of people to cast out. He’d chosen the first seven already and he was working on the rest of the list. It hadn’t been an easy task, but he’d been willing to research for long hours to make sure he selected the correct ones. That was important. He knew that God needed and wanted a specific order and he’d complied with that request. Once he’d selected a name and prayed on it, confirmation would come quickly. He’d feel his heart beat faster and his face would flush. There was no mistaking that feeling. He wasn’t quite sure why God had chosen this method, but he never questioned his Lord.
Chapter 4
Toni awoke Saturday morning to the smell of coffee drifting into the bedroom. Mr. Rupert was snuggled up next to her in bed, his head sharing her pillow. She stretched and yawned, causing her huge furry companion to open his eyes and meow. Boggs appeared in the doorway a moment later holding a steaming cup of coffee.
“Good morning, babe.” Boggs winked as she spoke.
“Wow. Now this is what I call service.” Toni sat up in bed and reached for the caffeine.
“What do I get in return?” Boggs held the cup close to her with an expectant grin on her face.
“My undying love. Now, hand it over.”
Smiling, Boggs gave her the mug and sat beside her on the bed. “I’ve got breakfast started for us. I figured I’d get an early start since we’ve got so much to do today.”
Toni sipped her coffee. It had a generous amount of Kahluá with a splash of half-and-half. “God, this is good. You’re hired.”
Boggs just grinned. “Throw on some sweats and come down to eat. I figured we’d clean the place and get everything ready for the party before we got ready ourselves. I don’t know about you, but I always seem to get filthy when I clean.” She kissed Toni’s cheek and got up. “Come on, Mr. Rupert. I’ve got food for you too.”
Toni watched Boggs walk away with Mr. Rupert on her heels and sighed. She was still amazed that a woman like that was with her. Boggs had an athletic body, and at forty years old, still made heads turn. It’s not that she was a supermodel or anything, she just had that look that made most lesbians turn to watch her walk by. And if they got a chance to actually talk to Boggs, they’d be a goner. She had a deep, gravelly voice that made Toni’s knees weak and beautiful green eyes that could smolder with desire. Toni took a deep breath and thanked God for her life. She threw on sweatpants, a to
rn T-shirt, red checked tennis shoes and a faded red baseball cap before making her way downstairs. She plopped down on one of the barstools at the kitchen island, sipping her coffee. Boggs had prepared bacon and pancakes and she placed a full plate in front of her. As they ate, Toni made a list of things to do. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. Claire called me yesterday. She’s stopping by this morning around ten to drop off Vicky’s gifts.”
“I guess that means I need to wrap ours,” Boggs said after a bite of bacon. “Add that to the list, okay?”
Toni and Boggs had finished eating breakfast and had been cleaning the house for about two hours when the doorbell rang. Toni glanced at the monitor in the kitchen from the sophisticated security system and saw Claire standing on the front porch holding a garbage bag. She went to open the front door.
“Hi, Claire.” Toni ushered her inside the foyer. “Let me take that for you.”
“Wow.” Claire stood motionless, still holding the bag in her hand. “This place is amazing.”
“Thank you. We adore it. Would you like a tour? Do you have time?”
“Oh, absolutely. As long as I’m not interrupting you two. I didn’t mean to be a pain. I just planned on dropping this off.” She handed the bag to Toni, who set it around the corner on the floor.
“Don’t be silly, it’s no trouble at all. I still can’t believe this place is ours. Come on, I’ll give you the nickel tour.”
Off the foyer was a small bathroom and next to it were stairs that led up to the second floor. The kitchen was off to the left. It was top-of-the-line and featured stainless steel appliances, including a double oven, gas range top, dishwasher, microwave, side-by-side refrigerator, wine cooler and sink. The floor was tiled with gray slate. The walls, painted a deep red, contrasted with the white cabinets. Some of the upper cabinets had glass insets with backlights. There was a huge center island with a matching sparkling black granite countertop. A wrought-iron pot rack hung above the island on one side with three pendant lights hanging on the other side. Five counter-height stools sat on one side of the island.
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