Body Bags & Blarney

by Shaw, J. D.

  “Praise God.” Pastor Kilpatrick shouted with all the righteous fury he could muster. Rising up from the floor, the tech crewman handed the microphone back to him and disappeared away from the spotlight. “She has been healed. Brothers and sisters, you are all witness to the power of His glory.” Seamus pointed to Margie. “You are all witness to the miracle.”

  “Amen.” The crowd shouted back in unison as the choir members clapped their hands together and burst into an impromptu gospel song. Margie reached upwards, her once bent and gnarled fingers now blissfully relaxed.

  Seamus strutted up the ramp as one of his tech crew escorted Margie off to the side. The overhead lights pulsed and flashed again as he took his place at the front of the stage. “What a glorious way to open the night here. We are a beacon of holy light shining through the darkness that surrounds this town.”

  The sides of the canvas tent began to flutter as a gust of wind whistled outside. Seamus paced the stage as he continued his sermon. “When I first came to this town a few months ago, it was to help my sister recover from a terrible accident. A God-fearing Christian woman, thoughtlessly run down by a careless driver and left to die on the side of the road.”

  “Eunice wasn’t that bad off.” Kathy whispered to Vivienne. “He makes it sounds as if he personally yanked her back from the brink of death.”

  “I know.” Vivienne whispered back. “He’s got a smooth way of rewriting history.”

  “As I nursed her back to health, I realized that He had called me here for another reason.” He rubbed his hands together. “They say that God works in mysterious ways and I certainly can attest to this on many occasions.” He pointed out to the crowd again. “I was told that you sir, the one who used to work on cars before your back gave out, that you can no longer physically do the work that used to pay your bills.”

  “Me?” A gruff-looking man dressed in what looked like a mechanics work uniform slowly pulled himself up, his posture quite stooped.

  “Yes.” Seamus smiled back. “God told me about your troubles. He said that you were losing your faith and you were starting to think that God had turned his back on you.”

  “I’ve asked for help to make things right again.” The mechanic shouted. “I prayed and prayed every night as the bills piled up. I looked for a sign that things were going to change. I waited but I can only wait so long.”

  “God heard your prayers, my brother.” Seamus nodded. “There is nothing beyond His power that can’t be fixed.”

  “My house is in foreclosure.” The mechanic added. “I’m going to be homeless in less than a month and still I’m waiting for God to fix me.”

  “God helps those who help themselves.” Seamus answered.

  The mechanic shook his head and stepped into the center aisle. “I’m not lazy. I want to work and pay my bills. But I can’t do the big jobs with my back all messed up.”

  “My brother, you must trust that the Lord will provide for you. You must not have any doubts or lose your faith simply because you don’t have the patience to wait for the miracle to happen.”

  “Patience isn’t going to stop the foreclosure. Faith isn’t going to heal my back.” The mechanic turned to leave, his steps awkward as he relied heavily on a cane to assist his balance.

  “God is going to heal you tonight, right here in front of all these people.” Seamus shouted back. “That was his plan all along. To restore not only your health, but to strengthen your faith.” He rushed down the stairs from the stage, the spotlight following his every move. “Let me be the conduit to deliver his blessing.”

  The mechanic stopped and turned to face Pastor Kilpatrick. “I’m ready.”

  Seamus closed his eyes. “Lord, this member of your flock has been lost. We ask that you bestow your healing blessings and guide him back to your fold.” He reached out with his free hand and spun the man around so that he was facing his back. “Let His holy light shine down and heal the wounds, both physically and spiritually, that plague you.” He ran his hand up and down the mechanic’s back. “By the power of God, you are healed.”

  The mechanic stood still for a moment and then straightened his posture to near-perfect. He released the cane from his grip and it fell to the aisle. “It’s a miracle.”

  Seamus opened his eyes and smiled. “Praise God, he has been healed.”

  The audience erupted into claps again and several people shouted out praise in response.

  “I’m healed.” The mechanic raised his arms in the air. “Thank you, Lord.”

  “The rest is up to you.” Pastor Kilpatrick added. “God helps those who help themselves.”

  “I believe that.” The mechanic shouted back. “I’ll never doubt again.”

  The audience clapped once more as Seamus stood beside the newly-healed man “There is no limit to the power of His miracles tonight.” He motioned for one of the tech crew to escort the man back to a seat as he walked back up to the stage. “Now, as I was saying earlier, Cayuga Cove is a town on the brink. There is a war going on outside, between those of faith and those who want the darkness to conquer.”

  Vivienne kept her eye on the healed mechanic. She desperately wanted to talk to him, ask him what had just happened. She watched as the tech crew member picked up the discarded cane and walked it over to the backstage area behind the choir. He handed it to a woman who stepped out of the shadows for a moment before disappearing again. Vivienne was thankful that she had the good vision gene passed down to her from Nana Mary. If not, she might have missed noticing the familiar face of Eunice Kilpatrick.

  “I am calling upon all of you here to join with me in protecting what is good here. We must not back down or hesitate because it is in those moments that the devil sneaks in and corrupts all of the good work we are trying to do.” Seamus continued to preach to the mesmerized crowd inside the tent. “We are going to pass around an offering plate, and I ask you to open your purses and wallets to spread the word that tonight we draw the line in the sand against evil here. Tonight, with your help, we will start the process of making Cayuga Cove the center for a new spiritual awakening in this great country of ours. We will build a new church that will draw the faithful to us, like a moth to a flame.”

  Vivienne began to understand what was really happening behind the miracles inside the tent. With Eunice’s help, her brother was getting an earful of who had what problems and whatever other gossip she gleaned while working at the bank. She hadn’t recognized the two people who had been healed as residents of Cayuga Cove, which further convinced her that there was something fishy about that situation which she couldn’t prove at the moment. Seamus Kilpatrick was putting on a show, worthy of Broadway. With each new miracle performed, he was creating an army of devout followers who were willing to give their time and their money for whatever plan he had in mind for Cayuga Cove. She needed to discover what that plan was, but she certainly wasn’t going to accomplish that sitting idly in the back row. She had to take action. “I need to use the restroom.” She whispered to Joshua.

  “Are you serious?” Joshua eyed her suspiciously. “We’re in a tent outside. The restroom is the hedge out in front of the church.”

  “Fine.” Vivienne sighed. “There’s something I want to check out behind the stage area.” Vivienne confessed.

  “Wow.” Joshua gave her a little smile. “I didn’t think you’d actually tell me the truth so quickly.”

  “Well, time is of the essence.” Vivienne pressed. “I saw Eunice Kilpatrick behind the stage just a moment ago. I think she’s working with her brother and I want to find out why.”

  “I’m going with you.” Joshua insisted.

  “Who’s going where?” Kathy asked.

  “No one is going anywhere.” Vivienne answered. “I just have to check something out, quietly.”

  “I’m coming with you.” Kathy grabbed her purse. “You’re not leaving me here with all the grinning idiots.”

  “Fine.” Vivienne gave in. “Let’s slip
out the back while we can.”

  Joshua stepped into the aisle and allowed Vivienne and Kathy to exit the row. They had just turned to leave when Pastor Kilpatrick’s voice boomed from the speakers. “Have you so little faith left that you cannot stay to hear his message?”

  The spotlight swooped onto them as the assembled crowd turned in their chairs to see who he was addressing. Vivienne, Joshua, and Kathy slowly turned around as the wind picked up with another strong gust that rattled the tent supports.

  “Oh, crap.” Kathy mumbled. “Is this the part where the cult kidnaps us?”

  Vivienne felt her face burn with embarrassment. “I’m very sorry, we have a situation we need to attend to.”

  Joshua nodded. “Don’t let us interrupt.”

  Pastor Kilpatrick walked slowly down the stairs as he addressed them. “But, it is my sacred duty to interrupt those who are walking out into the darkness.”

  “We’re just fine.” Kathy spoke up. “Honest.”

  Seamus stood at the end of the aisle and reached out to them. “I cannot turn my back on those who need help the most. What is it that frightens you?” He asked.

  “We’re not frightened.” Joshua spoke up.

  Vivienne shook her head. “Actually, Pastor Kilpatrick, we are frightened.”

  Seamus’ face brightened at her response. “I knew you were because God told me to reach out to you tonight.”

  “What are you doing?” Kathy whispered urgently at Vivienne.

  “Trust me.” Vivienne winked back at her.

  “I hope you know what you’re doing.” Joshua spoke softly.

  Vivienne started walking slowly up the aisle toward Pastor Kilpatrick. “He spoke to you directly, did he?”

  “Well, it’s not like placing a long distance phone call.” He gave a little laugh which in turn caused several of the audience members to join in. “He speaks to me just like everyone else, through the heart.”

  “Oh, I have no trouble in believing in that.” Vivienne continued to walk up the aisle toward Seamus. She could feel all the eyes of everyone there riveted to her every move. “You see, I have faith too.”

  “Do you really?” He asked her. “Because I haven’t seen you in any of the churches here in town lately and that sort of makes me wonder.”

  “My grandmother, and some of you locals here tonight probably know her well, is a very wise woman. She has seen and experienced a great deal of history during her many decades living in Cayuga Cove.”

  Pastor Kilpatrick nodded in agreement. “Our elders are our greatest treasure.”

  “Yes they are.” Vivienne added. “She always told me that you didn’t need four walls and roof over your head to worship as you please.”

  “That’s true.” Pastor Kilpatrick smiled. “But, there is something to be said for creating a space where communal worship can be shared and enjoyed by all.”

  Vivienne stopped just a few steps away from him. “I agree with that too.”

  “Then what is troubling you?” He asked. “You said that you were frightened of something.”

  “There are a few things that can keep me awake at night if I think too much about them.” Vivienne replied. “Politics, is one of those things. You see, I find it scary that a select few people in the world seem to think that they know what is best for the planet. They bluster and give impassioned speeches about how patriotic it is to spend billions on weapons of warfare, yet they don’t even blink when it comes to signing off on cutting funding to educational programs like art and music that might actually add beauty and culture to the world.”

  “We are the greatest nation on Earth, blessed by God himself. There is evil out there that would like nothing better than to see us destroyed.” Seamus countered. “It is not only our patriotic duty, but our spiritual duty as well, to keep our guard up and fight back any threats from foreign governments.” His response was greeted with enthusiastic applause.

  “I find it scary how many American families are living below the poverty line, even while holding down two jobs.” Vivienne argued back. “As a small business owner, I know how expensive labor can be. Could I afford to pay my only employee a wage of fifteen dollars an hour and stay open? Doubtful. But, at the same time, I pay her a fair wage that is several dollars above the state minimum because I see it as an investment. Investing in my labor force, just makes sense. I want to give superior service to my customers, so I pay superior wages to harness the best in my employee.”

  “We could argue for hours about what is wrong with our country and the world, but that isn’t what we are really here for tonight. We are here to save the most precious resource there is. Your eternal soul.” Seamus finished. “Now, not having an insurance policy for heaven is the scariest thing of all, isn’t it?”

  Vivienne shrugged. “You’ll have to ask them. Unlike some politicians, I don’t assume to know what is best for everyone without doing research.”

  Seamus whirled around and pointed to the illuminated cross. “But there is someone who does know what is best for everyone. All you need to do is lose that fear and welcome Him into your heart.” He turned back around and pointed at Vivienne. “I can smell the doubt about letting His infinite wisdom guide your life. I can hear the panic in your voice as you try to argue circles around what is really foremost on your mind tonight.” He crept closer to her, standing nearly toe to toe. “If you unburden your soul, I can fill that void with the love and light that our awesome God provides.” Pastor Kilpatrick reached out to her. “Won’t you let me help you take that first step?”

  “By all means.” She clasped his free hand in hers and instantly felt the familiar jolt as her power to slip into another person’s memory kicked in. The tent around them began to spin and she felt light headed.

  “Let your troubles go.” Pastor Kilpatrick’s voice sounded distant and reverberated with a distinct echo.

  Vivienne took a deep breath as the room faded to black. When her vision returned, she was surprised to find herself on the shore of Cayuga Lake. The cold blue water was still on a frigid winter day. The rocky shoreline was littered with fragments of miniature ice sculptures, created when the spray of water from the waves coated the weeds and twigs that had drifted ashore.

  She could see from the surface of the water, Pastor Kilpatrick’s noble profile. He was staring out at the lake, lost in thought. From the position of the sun, still rather low on the horizon, Vivienne assumed it was perhaps around eight in the morning. It still felt strange to share a body with another individual as she jumped into his memory. Through her various attempts, she had learned tricks to work within the memory to gather information that was stored at the sub-conscious level. Little details that could help her figure out just what had really happened during the course of a crime. The more emotionally invested the individual was, the easier she could work. However, she had very little control over Seamus Kilpatrick’s memory. His mind was strong, his willpower formidable. She was going to be a passive observer this time and only hoped she would get some answers by letting the memory play out on its own.

  “Seamus.” Eunice Kilpatrick’s voice called out. “Have you talked to Father William yet?”

  “I haven’t.” He turned to face her.

  “What are you waiting for?” Eunice scowled. She was dressed in a tan winter coat that had a faux-fur collar turned up high around her head which was crowned with a knitted white hat. “I hate this miserable cold.”

  “I don’t need my sister checking up on me.” Seamus replied with a rather annoyed tone to his voice.

  “Oh, really?” She asked him back. “Where would you be without my help in this latest venture of yours?”

  “I was making a living with this for years without your help.” He snapped back.

  “Seamus.” Eunice chided him. “Eating microwaved frozen dinners in a studio apartment is hardly what I would call making a living.”

  “It’s not the life I had when I was still involved with the Catholic Chu
rch, but the good Lord has provided me with what I needed.”

  Eunice shook her head. “Hollowing out that Bible to conceal a magnet inside so that your pacemaker would be interrupted just enough to have a simulated attack? How many followers have you gained after your miraculous recovery from that?” She pointed a finger in his face. “How much financial help have I given you over the years?”

  “Financial help?” Seamus shoved his hands into the pockets of his thin jacket. “I never asked you for a penny.”

  “That’s because I never told you.” Eunice confessed.

  “What are you talking about?”

  Eunice stepped closer to him, blocking the breeze from the lake. “I’ve sent you dozens of donations over the years.”

  “I don’t recall seeing any donations from you.” He was quick to answer.

  “That’s because I used plain envelopes and never wrote a return address on them.” Eunice continued. “I just tucked in a little post it note.”

  “Keep the faith and God bless you, L.B.”

  “Little brother.” Eunice decoded for him.

  “I had no idea that’s what L.B. stood for.” He took a deep breath. “I assumed it was just some kind benefactor who was moved by my personal crusade.”

  “But, you’ve sent me thousands of dollars over the years.” Seamus reached out and took her hands in his. “How could you afford that on your salary at the bank?”

  “I did what I had to.” Eunice looked away from him. “There are so many horrible people who live here and have too much.”

  “You stole money from their accounts?” He pulled his hands away.

  “It wasn’t stealing.” Eunice looked around frantically to ensure they were still alone before answering. “I just made sure that they gave a little donation to your cause whenever they came in to do business at the bank.”

  “It’s theft.” Seamus turned away from her.

  “Let’s not point fingers.” She reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder. “You aren’t exactly performing miracles during those tent revivals before passing those collection plates around.”