Free Lie Down in Green Pastures by Debbie Viguié Page B

to move on. The realization frustrated him and he balled his hands into fists.
    He stared at the detective and wondered how many seconds of silence and peace it would buy him if he reached across his desk and snapped the man's neck. Calm down, he warned himself.
    "Rabbi, are you okay?" Mark asked.
    Jeremiah just stared at him.
    "Rabbi? You don't look so good."
    Jeremiah shook himself hard. "Reliving the accident is stressful," he lied.
    "Gotcha. Well, I think we're done, so I'll go and let you destress," Mark said, standing up.
    You don't even want to know how I de-stress, Jeremiah thought as he forced himself to smile at the other man. It felt more like he was baring his teeth, but he forced himself to meet the other man's eyes.
    Mark took a step backward. It was involuntary, Jeremiah could tell. There was no quickening thought in Mark's eyes, just a slight dilation that betrayed fear so subtle that he wasn't even aware of the emotion.
    "See you later," Mark said, heading out the door a touch faster than he might otherwise have.
    Jeremiah gripped the edge of his desk. He was losing control and that wasn't a good thing. He needed to clear his head before he did or said something he couldn't take back. He strained his ears and could hear Marie on the telephone in the outer office. Perfect. He wasn't in the mood to explain himself.He scribbled a simple note on a piece of paper. Going to appointments, out for the rest of the day.
    He grabbed his coat on his way out of his office. He dropped the note on Marie's desk, waved, and left before she could hang up the phone. He made it to the parking lot without running into anyone and drove quickly home.
    Once there he changed clothes and then clipped a leash on Captain's collar. "Feel like a run in the park, boy?"
    The dog barked joyously. He had learned what the word park meant and he looked forward to the exercise as much as Jeremiah did. Ten minutes later they were in the park and Jeremiah felt the rush of release as he uncoiled his muscles and raced along the path. Captain ran beside him.
    He had spent most of his life alone, but over the last four months he had found himself getting used to the dog's presence.He had never had a pet before but he understood why people valued them so highly. Still, Captain was more than a pet. He was a comrade.
    "Whatever happens, boy, it's you and me," he told the dog.
    Captain barked and butted Jeremiah's hand with his nose even as they ran. The dog had come to him upon the death of his previous master. A man Jeremiah had recognized from his past, a man who had been murdered before Jeremiah could talk to him. And the murder was still unsolved.
    Maybe that's what's wrong with me, has me so unsettled, Jeremiah thought. It was a simple explanation, too simple, he feared.
    He was also getting enmeshed in the community, too much so for his taste. The invitation from Joseph to be on the board was a sign of that.
    But isn't that what you've been trying to accomplish? Isn't that the whole point of a new life, one free from too much scrutiny?
    He began to run faster, but the headache that was forming couldn't be outrun. Neither could his problems. He was going to have to make some decisions about the course of his life soon before they were made for him.

    It was close to quitting time when the office door opened and Brenda walked in. Cindy looked at the girl in surprise and then gave her a big smile. "Hi, Brenda, remember me?"
    Brenda smiled shyly. "Of course, Miss Preston."
    Cindy cringed at the title and how old it made her feel, but kept her smile firmly in place. "Is there something I can do for you?"
    The girl held an envelope in her hands, gripping it with white knuckles. "Is Pastor David here?"
    "I think he's left for the day. Can I help?"
    Brenda walked forward and handed the envelope to Cindy."I wrote a thank you letter for my camp sponsor."
    "Oh, wonderful. I know who it is so I'll make sure he gets it."
    "Thank you," Brenda said,