Broken is the Grave

by Candle Sutton

  What was the man going to do to him?

  The man tossed a small duffel bag at Rafe’s feet.

  He hadn’t even noticed the bag earlier. The black canvas had blended into the night.

  “Take two hundred out of your cut of this.”

  Two? “But you said it was only short one.”

  “Interest. Consider yourself lucky that’s all I’m taking.” The man assessed him coolly. “It better all be there when I get it back. The next time, I exact the difference in blood. You hear me?”

  Rafe swallowed, his saliva turning to sand. “Yeah.”

  “I’ll see you in two days. Do not fail me.”

  The man disappeared into the night.

  Rafe picked up the bag, clutching it in his tremor-riddled fingers.

  That’d been close. Too close. He had to make sure it didn’t happen again or he might not survive.

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  Zeke stared out the windows of the upper deck’s cabin. Fog settled over the bay the same way that sin hindered his prayers and impacted his thoughts.

  Footsteps sounded on the stairs. He turned as Elly appeared at the top, a glass of orange juice in her hands.

  She crossed the cabin and sat across the table from him.

  “How do you do it? How do you find the will to keep going every day?” Not that she was an expert, either. She’d fallen only about a week earlier than he had. Yet he could see a veiled version of her former spark slowly returning.

  “It’s hard.” She sipped her juice. “But it gets better. I just remind myself of the truths God has given us and really rest in those promises.”

  “I’m trying.”

  “It’ll get easier. Just keep doing the work God has given you to do and you’ll feel His presence as He works through you.” She set the glass on the table and focused her gray-blue eyes on him. “Maybe I’m wrong, but it feels like you’ve disconnected from life. You’re not at the mission as much as you used to be. You’re holed up here instead.”

  “I’m helping Bethany.” The excuse sounded feeble even to his own ears.

  Maybe he had disconnected. In fact, the last few times he’d been at the mission, he’d felt like he was going through the motions.

  He hadn’t even checked on Reuben as often as he’d intended.

  “Bethany needs our help. But don’t forget that God has called you to help more people than just Bethany and her kids.” She downed the last of her juice and stood. “The best way to get over self-pity is to get out there and serve. You commune with God when you do His work.”

  She was right.

  Although that knowledge didn’t make actions come any easier. “I’m scared I’ll sin more. Out there. With all the evil and the temptations. This boat is a haven.”

  “Sin can find you here, too.” She ran her fingers through the condensation left on the outside of the glass. “Never forget that inaction can be a sin. James 4:17 makes that clear.”

  If you know what is right to do and do not do it, you sin.

  The verse popped into his mind. Had he been inactively sinning?

  Possibly.

  “Speaking of which, I need to get to the youth center. Zander wants to take me out for dinner tonight, so I’ll be later coming home.”

  He nodded mechanically, his mind whirring with thoughts of passive sin.

  “Thanks, El.”

  She paused at the top of the stairs. “Just remember that you’re not in this alone. I’m right there with you. More importantly, so is your Savior.”

  Right again.

  It was so clear. He needed to spend less time in his own head and more in the Savior’s arms.

  And he needed to head down to the mission, today, to minister to Reuben. He may be imperfect, but God was in the business of using imperfect people to do His will.

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  Zander knocked on the door again.

  Still no sound from within the apartment. Either Rafe wasn’t home or he didn’t want to see him.

  It was early and Rafe was not a morning person, so he should be here.

  Pulling the key from his pocket, Zander stared at it for a second. Did he really want to do this?

  Rafe had given him the key last year in case anything ever happened, cracking jokes about looking for socks on the doorknob before coming in, but this was no laughing matter.

  He needed to check, needed to know if Rafe was inside.

  The key scraped as he inserted it into the lock and twisted.

  It wouldn’t budge.

  What the…?

  He pulled the key out and looked at it. Yeah, it was the key Rafe had given him. So why wasn’t it working?

  “Help you?”

  A gruff voice startled him. The key clattered noisily to the scarred wood flooring beneath his feet.

  Zander scooped it up as he turned toward the source of the voice. A sixty-something man with a scruffy beard and short hair sticking off his head in all directions stood a few feet away, hands stuffed into the pockets of his ripped and dirty blue jeans.

  “Uh, yeah. I’m looking for Rafe. You know him?”

  The man snorted. “Yeah, I know him. Deadbeat.”

  That was kinda harsh.

  Zander frowned. Sure, Rafe could be a little flaky at times, but he always came through in the end. “Why do you say that?”

  “Loser skipped out on his rent. Again.” The man nodded at the key in Zander’s hand. “Key ain’t gonna work. I changed the locks yesterday.”

  Rafe had missed his rent payment. And not for the first time. “So, he missed this month’s rent…”

  “And last month. Gave me partial for July but missed June.” The man shook his head. “I warned him in August that if he missed another payment, I was kickin’ his sorry self out.”

  “Did he take his stuff?” Zander looked back at the closed door as if it would yield some answers.

  The man crossed his arms and eyed Zander. “Who’re you, anyway?”

  “I’m sorry.” Zander pulled his badge. “Zander Salinas, SFPD. Rafe’s like a brother to me.”

  “Yeah, well your brother left a mess inside. Didn’t take nothin’, as far as I can tell.” The man sighed. “I was gonna start tossin’ it all in the dumpster today.”

  Rafe’s things, thrown out like common trash. “Could you hold off a day? I’d like to come back tonight and clear it out.”

  “Can’t do it. You ain’t on the lease and don’t got no warrant, so I can’t let you in.”

  It was the answer he’d expected, but it was still frustrating. “You’re just going to throw it all away anyway. Let me save you some trouble. I’m sure you’ve got better things to do.”

  “Law’s the law.”

  “But I have a key.” That no longer worked. “Obviously Rafe granted me access to his place.”

  “That’s not my business.” The man shrugged. “‘Course, if I accidentally forgot to lock the door and you happened to go in while it was unlocked, nothin’ I can do ‘bout that.”

  That would work. “Will you wait until tomorrow to clear it out?”

  “There’re some holes in the wall I need to patch. Likely take most of the day, I figure. Probably won’t have time to deal with that mess today.”

  Sweet.

  “But I gots to get it done tomorrow. Losin’ money with it sittin’ empty.”

  “I understand.” He had tonight and tonight only to clean out Rafe’s place. It’d take more than just him to clear it out.

  Not exactly how he’d hoped to spend the evening with Elly, but he was confident both she and her brothers would pitch in to help.

  “And I always check the empty apartments at nine p.m. to make sure no one’s squattin’ in ‘em.”

  “That’s a good idea.” So, he only had tonight and needed to be done by nine. Well, unless Rafe had turned into a hoarder in the last month, he didn’t have a lot of possessions. Shouldn’t take that long, especially with help.

  “How long has it
been since you last saw Rafe?”

  “Two weeks. At least.”

  Two weeks. Right around the time Rafe had gotten shot and been healed.

  Coincidence? Unlikely.

  He knew firsthand the mental and emotional toll that kind of thing could make. What he didn’t know was why Rafe hadn’t reached out to him. They could’ve gotten through it together, just like they always had.

  Zander thanked the man and left, his head full and his heart heavy.

  Rafe must’ve lost his job at the car lot to be in such serious money troubles.

  Or maybe his drug use had turned into a full-fledged addiction that was bleeding his finances dry. That was what Zeke had said in a roundabout way.

  Now to see if he couldn’t line up some help to clear out Rafe’s place tonight.

  Elly and her brothers would help him. He was sure of it.

  What he was going to do with Rafe’s things, he wasn’t as sure of. He’d have to store them at his place probably. Madre didn’t have room and Rafe’s family had moved to San Jose a few years back.

  Maybe his landlord would let him put some stuff in the basement. Or the attic. Surely there were places in his building that weren’t being used.

  As he pulled his Mustang into traffic, he found himself scanning the sidewalks, hoping to see Rafe’s familiar face.

  He had to find him. Soon. Before Rafe got mixed up in things that were way over his head.

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  “Brother.” Zeke took the chair across from Reuben, his eyes canvassing Reuben’s face.

  His color looked good and a gleam lit his dark eyes, which crinkled in a genuine smile. “Zeke, my man. Where you been?”

  Some friend. He’d not been here when Reuben needed him most. “I’m sorry for not coming more often. There’s been a lot going on, but that’s no excuse.”

  Reuben clapped a large hand on his shoulder, wincing slightly at the movement. “You don’t owe me nothin’. ‘Sides, Mark and Miss Aimee been takin’ good care of me.”

  “I’m glad.” He looked Reuben in the eyes. “See, it’s not so bad letting people help you out, is it?”

  Having a roof over his head agreed with Reuben. In spite of his injuries, he looked happier than Zeke had seen him before.

  “Yeah. Miss Aimee offered to help me find a job. Said there’re always people lookin’ for guys who can weld.”

  “You’re a welder?” Why had he never given much thought to the skills Reuben might have possessed?

  “Used to be. Probably a little rusty by now…” A smile broke across Reuben’s face. “Ha! Rusty! Get it?”

  Zeke laughed with him. It was so good to hear Reuben laugh.

  Maybe getting stabbed was the best thing that could’ve happened to him. And maybe God used Zeke’s absence these past few days to forge an unlikely friendship between Aimee and Reuben, one that would help Reuben reclaim his life.

  He wanted to probe the past a little, but would Reuben freeze up if he did?

  Father?

  No words, but he recognized the little nudge in his spirit.

  “If you have a skill like that, how’d you end up here?”

  All mirth vanished. The invisible weight returned and drooped Reuben’s shoulders. “I was married. You know that?”

  Zeke simply shook his head, waiting for Reuben to continue.

  “Marianne was a fine woman. Had a fire in her. But then she got sick.” Reuben looked down at his big hands. “We had nothin’ saved. Insurance covered some, but not enough. I missed a lotta time at work takin’ care of her and they canned me. By the time she died two months later…”

  A tear traced a trail down his cheek.

  “…I was behind on the rent. Owed thousands to them doctors. Couldn’t even afford a good funeral. ‘Fore I knew it, I was on the streets. Least the creditors couldn’t find me here.”

  “I’m sorry, brother. That’s a heavy burden. The Lord can take it from you if you’ll let Him.”

  Reuben swiped at his eyes. “Miss Aimee said pretty much the same thing.”

  Don’t push.

  The words resonated in his spirit.

  Reuben was thinking about the Lord, but applying any kind of pressure wouldn’t help the situation.

  “How long ago was all this?”

  “Been three years and…” Reuben counted off on his fingers. “Seven months since Marianne… She died February ninth. Two thirty-eight in the afternoon.”

  The fact that the time was so deeply ingrained in the man’s mind spoke of the ongoing struggle with grief. What must it be like to love another human so deeply?

  Bethany’s face popped into his mind, yet he knew it wasn’t the same.

  Yes, he cared for her. And if something happened to her, he’d mourn, but it wasn’t the piercing grief he saw in front of him.

  Although if the last few days were any indicator, it might be moving that way. He was growing to care more about Bethany, and her kids, with each passing day.

  He refocused on Reuben. “You have people around you who’d like to help. Including me. All you have to do is ask.”

  Reuben rubbed the back of his neck. “Been so long since I worked, I’m not sure I could do it. Stickin’ to a schedule and all.”

  “You might be surprised how much you like having a schedule once again.” He was so close to saying yes.

  Please, Father. Guide him to this.

  “I’d like some help. Marianne would want me to be doin’ somethin’ productive.”

  “Tell Aimee. Things are so different where I’m from that I don’t know how to help you get a job here.” As much as he wanted to help Reuben, he didn’t possess the knowledge to be much help. But there was one thing he could do, something that had greater power than Reuben could even know. “God has a plan for you, my friend. Let’s pray.”

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  He’d found them!

  Tobias lowered the binoculars and stared at the boat. Nice looking vessel.

  Maybe he oughta buy one. Yeah. It could be his reward once all this was over. Once he retrieved the two million James had stolen from them, he could take his portion and buy a yacht even grander than the one in front of him.

  Maybe he’d even call it Summer’s Fool, a little rub at the man who had created so much trouble.

  He pushed the thoughts aside. For now, he needed to focus on the bigger problem. Getting to the woman and extracting the information he needed.

  Bringing the binoculars back up, he roved over the three little heads before resting on the curly blonde hair of the woman.

  She was the key. All he had to do was get to her.

  He followed the walkway leading to the boat, which ended at a large razor wire topped gate.

  Not going to be easy to get past that one. He could cut his way through the gate…

  A security camera, pointed at the gate, snagged his attention.

  Nope. No cutting through the gate. Not with other eyes watching. The last thing he needed was video graphic evidence that he’d been close to her. That could sink him when her body was found.

  The only other option he could see was approaching by water.

  He let the idea settle. He could rent a little dinghy and dock next to the yacht.

  But if she fought him, she might capsize the small boat and drown before giving him what he needed. He could always knock her out first, but getting an unconscious body onto and off of a boat that size didn’t sound easy.

  He growled out a sigh.

  Looked like he’d have to get to her once she left the boat.

  He hated waiting.

  Well, she couldn’t stay there forever. As soon as she set foot on land, she’d be his.

  Sixteen

  “Mommy, can we go swimming?” Pete turned pleading eyes on Bethany.

  “Swimmin’!” Becca echoed.

  Bethany’s gaze drifted to the dark waters surrounding the boat. No way was she letting her kids in there.

  Sure, she knew how
to swim. JJ did, too. She’d been able to afford lessons when he was younger, but the other kids hadn’t had any formalized training. And the ocean was so dark, so vast, so unpredictable.

  No. There was no way her kids were getting in that water. Not unless Zeke, Elly, and Josiah were here to help.

  “I don’t think so.” The crushed look on Pete’s little face broke her heart but she wouldn’t cave. “The water’s really cold.”

  At least that was true enough. The north Pacific never got very warm, and it was September.

  “Maybe we can go to a pool soon.”

  She wasn’t sure when. Or how, since pools cost money, but the suggestion brightened her kids’ faces. Even JJ, who was pretending not to listen, smiled.

  “For now, what if we make some cookies or something?”

  Becca and Pete nodded enthusiastically and bounded down the stairs. JJ rolled his eyes, but followed his siblings.

  The kids needed to get off this boat for a while. Run around and burn off energy.

  Yet she was hesitant to leave. With that big security gate, she felt safe here.

  On the other side of the gate was a threat with a shadowy face. A man – or men, since he might have partners – who tried to abduct children in broad daylight with mothers standing right there.

  Maybe when Zeke came back. Surely with two of them, they could keep her kids safe. It’d worked out okay yesterday, after all.

  Besides, she felt safe with Zeke.

  The kids were bored here. Understandably. They’d been able to bring very few toys with them. There was no place for them to run. She couldn’t even put on a movie because Zeke and his siblings didn’t have a TV.

  Hide and seek only amused them for so long, especially since they’d already exhausted the hiding places on this boat.

  Maybe it’d be okay if she took them out on her own. There was a little grassy area in front of the marina. It wasn’t a lot of room, but the kids could at least run around, maybe play a little Frisbee.

  Even as the thought came to her, her mind rebelled.

  What if that man was outside? What if he tried to grab JJ? Or Pete or Becca?

  There wouldn’t be a trusted adult to help watch out for her kids this time. If someone tried to grab one of the kids, she’d either have to leave the other two unprotected or try to get her kid back while simultaneously protecting the other two.