Free Deadly Charm by Claudia Mair Burney Page A

taught me, looked straight ahead, and said absolutely nothing.
    I made it to the door, but I had to wait a long time before Rocky cracked it open and let me ease inside.
    He slammed and locked the door behind me. I’d never seen Rocky so stressed. In the two years he’d been a pastor, he’d lost members when people went to other churches or moved away. He’d even had an unfortunate church split. Rocky had married church members but never buried anyone. Poor Zeekie would be Rocky’s first funeral. Lord, have mercy .
    I couldn’t bear the sadness shadowing Rocky’s handsome face. I’ve teased him about his eyes, bright and affecting as a toddler’s. Now his silent tears flowed freely. I took him in my arms and held on to him. My own sadness, which I had tried to hold in check, spilled out of me anyway.
    â€œWhat happened, Rock?”
    â€œHe drowned in the bathtub.”
    â€œBut how?”
    â€œSister Lou said the kids were giving him a bath.”
    â€œWhere are they?”
    Rocky walked me into the dining room, wiping his eyes. The Rock House had the support of some of Ann Arbor’s wealthier citizens. Some had donated lovely, classic furniture. The dining table could seat ten, but was empty of people except for Sister Lou, her arms on the shoulders of an inconsolable teenage girl. Sister Lou paid me no mind, but the girl looked up at me, regarded me briefly with a tearful gaze, and put her head back down.
    She, too, looked like her father, but far too old to be his young wife’s child. A boy, maybe twelve years old, clung to her. Another Thunder kid.
    I left the children to their grief, effectively delaying having to deal with Chantilly Lou. I took Rocky’s hand and guided him back to the foyer.
    â€œHow old are they?”
    â€œFifteen and twelve.”
    â€œDid they leave Zeekie alone?”
    â€œThey said just for a few minutes.”
    â€œWhy’d they leave him?”
    â€œZeke—not his dad, the little guy, not the baby Zeekie, either—had to use the bathroom, and so Zekia stepped out. He closed the shower curtain, used the bathroom, and left. He thought Zekia would go right back in behind him, so he went back into the living room to play his PSP. That’s when little Zeekie was alone.”
    â€œSo, Zeke is the twelve year old—his name is Zeke, too, right?”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œAnd the girl’s name is Zekia?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAre there any more Zekes?”
    â€œAll of his kids are named Zeke, babe.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œAll of them are Zekes. All the guys are named Ezekiel, and the girls are some variation on Zeke: Zekia, Zekiah.”
    â€œDon’t tell me anymore. That’s way too George Foreman.” I sighed. “So, twelve-year-old Zeke closed the shower curtain, used the bathroom, and left him?”
    â€œRight.”
    I shook my head. “That can’t be right.”
    â€œThat’s what the kids told me. Maybe you can talk to them when they aren’t so upset.”
    â€œOr when that gargoyle isn’t hovering over them.”
    â€œBabe, that’s not very kind.”
    â€œYou’re right. I apologize to gargoyles everywhere.”
    â€œIf you’re just going to give attitude…”
    I waited to see what he’d say.
    He paused. Looked away from me, then back. “I’m sorry, Bell.”
    â€œMe, too, Rock. I’m here for you.” I swallowed hard before I let what I needed to say next come out of my mouth. “And for your godfather.”
    Rocky managed something reminiscent of a smile. He pulledme into a bear hug. “Thanks so much, babe. Will you talk to the kids when they’re ready?”
    â€œSure, Rocky.”
    â€œI trust you. You know?”
    I put my hand on his cheek. “I know. I won’t let you down.”
    He nodded. We heard a tiny feminine voice squeak out, “Um. Rocky?” Both