Free Trial by Fire by Terri Blackstock

think this killing was racially motivated. Witnesses saw several people in a car leaving the scene, and the car had a swastika and a KKK sticker on the bumper.”
    Susan’s face twisted as those words sank in. “My son was murdered because he was black?” She pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes and shook her head. “God help me! God help me!” she whispered.
    â€œI think it’s possible,” Stan said. “The church burning could have just been a way of disposing of the body, or it could have been racial. We are a mixed congregation. If the KKK was involved, I’d say it was some kind of statement against us.”
    Ray’s lips stretched tight across his teeth. “What statement could they have to make with my son?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Stan said quietly. “They’ve been pretty quiet for a number of years. Sidney Clairmont, the grand wizard, is in his seventies. Probably doesn’t have the venom he used to. Recruitment’s way down. On the other hand, this could have been his way of letting us know that their activities are starting up again.”
    Ray got up and started walking around the room. Susan’s dismal eyes followed him. “All these years,” he said, “I’ve raised my children not to think of theirselves as bein’ a different color. I told them that you could be anything you wanted to, that God had plans for everybody, no matter the race. Here I am, fire chief of Newpointe, and my son was a year away from havin’ his mar-ketin’ degree at LSU. He was gon’ be somebody. And you’re tellin’ me that because of the color of my skin, somebody come along and shot my son, burned down my church, all for some kind of sick statement he wanted to make?”
    â€œI don’t know for sure,” Stan said. “But it’s a lead.”
    Ray’s face turned marble hard as he met his wife’s eyes. “I’m gon’ go out there and find ’em, Susan. I’m gon’ find who did this and I’m gon’ kill ’em with my bare hands.”
    Nick drew in a deep breath. “Ray, I know you feel that way now, but you can’t go off half-cocked and try to do something about this. You have to let the police handle it.”
    Stan shifted in his seat. “Ray, we’re not going to let this go. I have a personal interest in it. I don’t take it lightly when friends of mine are murdered. Calvary was my church too. I’m going to find who killed Ben, and we’re going to put him behind bars and he’s going to stand trial and suffer for what he’s done. You’ve got to let us do it.”
    Ray sank back down into the chair. Susan touched the back of his head. “He’s right, Ray. I don’t want to lose both the men in my life. Let Stan do it.”
    Ray began to weep, and Nick found himself staring at a spot on the carpet, making a valiant effort not to break down himself. When Ray had pulled himself together, Nick tried what he had come for.
    â€œRay and Susan, I need to talk to you about the funeral, if that’s okay.”
    Ray drew in a deep breath and wiped his face roughly. “We didn’t know if you’d be up to it,” he said, “so we asked Susan’s Uncle Thomas to do it.”
    â€œOh, a relative?” Nick was not sure whether to be relieved or offended. Truth was, he really wasn’t up to it, but he could have mustered the strength for them. He told himself this decision wasn’t rejection of him. He didn’t have time for wounded pride. “Well, that’s understandable. I can see why you’d want him.”
    â€œI gotta tell you, Nick,” Susan choked out. “We’re mad at God. Real mad.”
    â€œI understand,” he said. “That’s normal. I think God understands that too.”
    â€œI want answers,” Susan said through her teeth. “I want to