Silent is the Grave

by Candle Sutton

  “I’m in. Just tell me what to do.”

  Pedro assessed her. “You any good?”

  A small shrug moved her shoulders. “Probably not. I’ve never played before.”

  “I’ll show you what to do. You can be on my team.”

  Zander blinked. Wow. Pedro choosing a weak player? Elly must have some charm for the kid to risk losing.

  A cluster of kids assembled and they divided into teams.

  Before he knew it, he was facing off against Elly. Or, more accurately, watching her run circles around him.

  Dang. For someone who’d never played before, she guarded the ball and dodged other players with a rhythm some pros would kill to have.

  She passed the ball to Pedro, who shot it past the goalie.

  Another point for team Pedro.

  Felipe stole the ball and drove it down the field. He stumbled.

  Time stalled as his legs shot out from under him and he slammed against the ground.

  Zander raced to his side, kneeling beside him at the same time that Elly dropped down on his other side.

  Eyes closed, Felipe didn’t move. The rising and falling of his chest was reassuring, but the stillness disturbed Zander.

  He looked up, his attention locking on Pedro. “Get Betty.”

  With a nod, Pedro ran for the building. When Zander returned his attention to Felipe, he found Elly’s hands on Felipe’s head, her fingers brushing through his hair as if searching.

  “What are you doing?”

  She stilled, then bowed her head.

  A soft sound, almost like a whisper on a breeze, floated around him but he couldn’t determine if there were actual words accompanying it.

  Was she praying?

  Yeah, he was pretty sure she was.

  Invisible fingers danced up his back.

  He’d heard people pray before. Heck, he’d grown up in the Catholic church where prayers were a regular ritual. So why did this feel different?

  “Zander?”

  He turned as Betty’s voice came from behind him. Creases lined her forehead.

  As much as he hated to add to those creases, there was no helping it. “Felipe hit the ground hard. I think we should call a doc.”

  “I don’t need no stinkin’ doctor.”

  He whipped around, jerking back as Felipe pushed to his feet. The kid’s color was good, his eyes vibrant, his movements steady.

  “That was a pretty good blow to the head.” He placed a hand on Felipe’s shoulder. “How about you sit down and take it slow.”

  Felipe shrugged away. “Taking it slow is for losers.”

  He swiped the ball and ran it down the field. A few kids fell into step with him, resuming the game as if nothing had happened.

  What the heck? The kid was unconscious seconds ago!

  Elly.

  That woman hears from the Lord…

  Betty’s words from the previous day flashed through his head.

  Could it be that she didn’t just hear from God but that God heard her, too?

  He twisted to find Elly still in the same position with her head bowed, only now her hands cradled her own head.

  Betty brushed past him and knelt next to Elly, a wrinkled hand going to her shoulder. “Are you okay, dear?”

  Elly lifted her head, her face alarmingly pale, and offered a shaky smile. “I will be.”

  What the heck had happened to her? Could Felipe have accidentally hit her when he woke up?

  That didn’t make sense. Felipe was a good kid. He wouldn’t have run off if he’d hurt her.

  “Let’s get you inside.” Betty’s words snapped him back.

  Pushing herself up, Elly slowly straightened. Her coloring was paler than the clouds blowing by above their heads and the way she swayed made him think a good gust would knock her down.

  Not on his watch.

  It was bad enough one of the kids had gotten hurt. He wasn’t about to let her pass out on him, too.

  He stepped beside her and took her arm, draping it across his shoulders as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Lean on me.”

  Progress was slow, his strides half their usual length to match her halting steps.

  “What happened?” Even if Felipe had hit her solidly, he was a small kid. It shouldn’t have taken this kind of toll.

  “It takes a lot out of me.” Her words were barely louder than the wind.

  It? “You mean praying?”

  “Sometimes.”

  Weird. He’d seen a lot of people pray before. No one had ever responded like this.

  Then again, he’d never seen anyone be out cold one second and running around the next, either. What did he know when it came to prayer, anyway?

  He eyed the stone stairs as they drew closer.

  Eight steps. Didn’t seem like much, but given that he was supporting the bulk of her weight right now, he wasn’t sure she’d make it to the top. “Can you manage the stairs?”

  “I’ll be okay.” Her voice sounded slightly stronger.

  Or maybe it was his imagination. He slid his eyes her direction. No, her color was marginally better. And determination shone in her eyes…

  Her eyes. Gray. Not purple like they had been earlier.

  It was like the life had left them.

  Okay, he was officially losing it.

  They made it to the top more quickly than he’d expected. Crossing the threshold, he led her down the hallway and into the living room, which was momentarily empty.

  Good. The quiet would be good for her.

  He eased her down on the sofa and she immediately curled her legs up and rested her head against the armrest. Her eyes slid closed.

  Now what?

  He looked behind him. No sign of Betty.

  Well, he couldn’t just leave her here alone. Should they call a doctor? He’d never seen anyone–

  “Go back to the game.”

  He jerked around to look at her.

  Eyes were still closed, but she obviously wasn’t sleeping.

  “They’re okay without me. Besides, now the teams are even again.” Stupid. Like that was what really mattered right now when she was down with… whatever. “Is it your head?”

  “Yes.”

  No further explanation. If the drawn look on her face was any indication, it might hurt too much to think. “Why do you do it?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If praying does this to you, why do it?”

  “Did you see Felipe? God healed him. It’s a miracle.”

  “So it’s better you than him, is that it?”

  “I’ll be okay. God will heal me, too.”

  After making her suffer. If God could heal Felipe like that, why not her, too?

  Her breathing evened out, her chest rising and falling in smooth rhythm. Sleep was probably the best thing for her, but what if she had a concussion?

  How? She hadn’t been hit or anything.

  None of this made any sense.

  Falling into the closest chair, he steepled his fingers and watched her.

  Had to be his imagination, but had a hint of color returned to her cheeks?

  “Zander.” Betty’s whispered voice startled him.

  Some cop he was. He hadn’t even heard her come in.

  Turning, he found her motioning him toward the hall. With one final look at Elly, he pushed up and strode from the room.

  “We should call the doctor.” The center had a few local physicians on speed dial, men and women who volunteered their time to help the youth. Surely they’d help one of the other volunteers.

  “She’ll be fine. Scared me the first time I saw it, too.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “This has happened before?”

  “A few times. The first time it was her stomach. Last time it sounded like she couldn’t breathe. But she always wakes up in about a half hour and is fine.”

  Okay. He’d officially entered into some kind of religious wormhole, hadn’t he?

  Better no
t drink the water.

  “I don’t understand.”

  Betty shook her head slowly. “Frankly, I don’t either. I asked her about it and she just said that it drains her, but there’s no denying that God answers her prayers.”

  Yeah? Then maybe she should pray for herself, too.

  Well, there was nothing he could do about it, especially since Betty seemed unwilling to call the doctor. Sure, he could call an ambulance out, but what would he tell them? That she hurt herself praying?

  Felipe’s words about the exterminator shuffled through his memory. “Did you have an exterminator out the day Jessie was killed?”

  Betty shook her head. “Nope. They come the first of the month like clockwork. No other time.”

  So that hadn’t been an exterminator, at least not one here on official business.

  Could Felipe have gotten it wrong? After all, how much attention did a kid pay to uniforms, anyway? He’d have to ask.

  “Go back outside.” Betty’s voice broke into his thoughts. “She’ll be back to normal in no time, you’ll see.”

  He shot one last look at the red hair splayed across the sofa, then headed for the back door.

  A half hour she’d said? Well, then he’d be back in thirty-one minutes and if there was no change, he’d call the doctor himself.

  And he’d bet his badge she’d be exactly as she was now.

  Five

  “So this exterminator…” Zander looked at Felipe as the kid put the soccer ball back in the game shed. “You happen to see what company he was with?”

  Felipe shrugged. “Nah. Just had a bug picture on his uniform so I knew he was an exterminator.”

  Bug picture? “You remember what kind of bug?”

  “Some kinda bee, I think. I remember it looking angry and having a stinger.”

  He’d have to check the exterminating companies and see if any had an emblem like that.

  “So who won?”

  Zander whipped around as Elly’s voice, strong and clear, came from behind him.

  She approached, her movements steady. A pink flush dusted her cheeks, the skin a healthy shade of tan. The late-day sun reflected in her purple eyes.

  Purple, not gray. So he’d been imagining things earlier. Hadn’t he?

  “We did. It was awesome.” Felipe bounced around like he had springs on his shoes. “I scored three goals!”

  The kid rarely scored one goal. Seemed getting knocked out and brought back again worked magic on his game.

  Which was almost as weird as Elly getting sick after praying.

  Man, did he need a drink.

  He grabbed the cones they used as goals and nested them together before turning to her. “You sure you should be up and moving around?”

  “Absolutely. I feel great.”

  Looked it, too. “Well, too bad you had to miss the rest of the game. You’re pretty good for a rookie.”

  “Well, I had a good instructor.” Her grin nearly stopped his heart. “It was fun.”

  Man, was he on dangerous ground here. Everything in him wanted to kiss those smiling lips. And she wasn’t even flirting. If she really turned on the charm, he was sunk.

  Women. Trouble.

  History had proven that. So why was he having difficulty believing it?

  Besides, he’d known her all of a day. What was wrong with him?

  “I’m going to head home.” She mussed Felipe’s black hair. “Great job on those goals. You’ve got some talent.” Turning back to him, she added, “Thanks for helping earlier.”

  Helping. She sure had a way of downplaying the situation. “How’re you getting home?”

  The marinas weren’t exactly close. It was getting late and she obviously had no concept of personal safety.

  “Public transportation. It’s how I get most everywhere.”

  “Hang on a few minutes and I’ll give you a lift.” Why had he offered? It was way out of his way.

  “Thank you, but you don’t need to do that. I’ve been doing things this way since I got here.”

  “Well, tonight’s one night you don’t have to.”

  “If you’re sure it wouldn’t be a bother, then I accept.”

  “No bother.”

  Why was he pushing it? Must be the police genes. Protect and serve and all that.

  Yeah, that had to be it. If she relapsed while on the bus, she’d be an easy target for any lowlife.

  Heck, she was already a pretty easy target, but at least the bad guys didn’t seem to know that.

  Besides, it’d be good to see where she lived. Prove she wasn’t a flight risk. After all, she did live on a boat that could simply sail away at any time.

  “Thank you. I’m still a little tired from earlier, so your offer is most kind.”

  His stomach gurgled. A glance at his watch showed it was almost eight thirty. Probably should’ve taken time for dinner before coming. “Maybe we can stop for takeout on the way. You hungry?”

  She shook her head. “I ate with the kids.”

  Five minutes later, she slid into the passenger seat of his Mustang, her fingers brushing the smooth leather seat. “This is nice. And I love the color. It looks like the ocean.”

  The ocean, huh? He looked through the windshield at the hood and examined the deep blue as if seeing it for the first time.

  Maybe tropical waters, but much too bright to be the bay.

  “Thanks. La–” He bit back his ex-wife’s name. Laura had hated the car, but Elly didn’t need to know that.

  What was he thinking, bringing her up? And why was he comparing her to Elly in the first place?

  He cleared his throat. “So tell me about where you’re from. I’ve never heard of it before.”

  “Most people haven’t.” She relaxed back into the seat. “We’re a tiny nation, but we love the Lord and He blesses us.”

  That really didn’t tell him much of anything. “And it’s located…?”

  “In the middle of the ocean. It’s beautiful. Lots of lush, green foliage, bright flowers, and so many birds and animals everywhere. In the center, there’s this waterfall and it’s so big you can’t even see the top.”

  How had he never heard of this place before? He’d run a search for Hephzibah but hadn’t found anything that matched this description.

  Maybe he had the name wrong. “What’s the name of your country again?”

  “Hephzibah.”

  Nope. Right name. Weird. Maybe he should have her spell it…

  “Can I ask you something?” Her question jerked him out of his thoughts.

  Well, he’d certainly been grilling her enough. “Shoot.”

  “Why don’t you pray?”

  Whoa. Pulling the big guns right out of the gate, wasn’t she? Well, he wasn’t afraid to answer that one. “I’m not convinced anyone is listening.”

  Although after what he’d seen earlier, he was beginning to rethink that stance.

  “God is very real. If you give Him a chance, you’ll see that for yourself.”

  Right. And have God zap the life out of him when he tried to pray? No thanks. “So if praying makes you sick, why do you do it?”

  “It doesn’t always. In fact, it’s rare that something like that happens.”

  She fell silent, the weight of her speculation covering him. As he braked for a red light, he glanced over to find her studying his face. “What?”

  “I haven’t met anyone here who is impacted the same way so you won’t understand this, but among my people, this isn’t unheard of. There’s a specific type of prayer that’s sacrificial. It puts us in the presence of God in a… unique way and lets us experience His power. But it has a cost. God doesn’t force us. We choose if we want to enter in.”

  “And you choose to do that? Even knowing what will happen?”

  “Yes.” The immediate reply held no trace of hesitation. “To see the power of God, to be a part of it… it’s worth it.”

  He’d have to take her word on that one, because h
e wanted nothing to do with it.

  Spotting the sign for Burgers on the Bay, he pulled over to the curb. In spite of the misleading name – the burger joint was clustered in the center of the city, miles from the bay – they made some of the best burgers in town. “This place rocks. Sure you don’t want anything?”

  She stepped out of the car, gently closing the door behind her. “I’m okay, but thanks.”

  “Don’t know what you’re missing.”

  Once inside, she took a seat at a table by the front windows.

  He scanned the room automatically. Business had slowed by this time of night, but there were still a dozen occupied tables.

  No visible threats.

  Muscles relaxing, he went up to order. A double burger, onion rings – not like he was going to be kissing anyone tonight – and a French vanilla bean milkshake. Nothing like it.

  He glanced back at Elly before turning back to the kid working the counter. “Make that two milkshakes.”

  Sure, she’d said she didn’t want anything, but who could turn down a milkshake? Especially the French vanilla bean? She seemed like a vanilla kind of woman.

  While they made his food, he took the shakes and joined her at the table.

  She cocked her head and looked at him as he slid one of the milkshakes in front of her. “What’s this?”

  “The best vanilla shake you’ll ever have. Trust me on that one.”

  “A… shake?”

  “Yeah, a milkshake. You know, ice cream, milk, a lot of vanilla…”

  No recognition showed on her face. In fact, she looked more confused than he’d ever seen her.

  How could she not know what a milkshake was? “Don’t you have these back home?”

  “I don’t think so.” She wrapped her fingers around the cardboard cup. “It’s cold.”

  If he wasn’t fighting to keep his jaw from hitting the table, he’d probably laugh. “Just take small sips or you’ll get brain freeze.”

  “Brain freeze?”

  He shook his head. What kind of place did she grow up in? “Shooting pains in your head. Not fun.”

  She watched him take a small sip before following suit. A second passed before she took a little longer drink. “This is amazing.”

  “Don’t I know it.” His number was called and he headed up to the counter to retrieve his dinner, then returned to their table.