The more prominent guests had applied all the pressure they could to overrule it, but Jim had specifically written it into his last requests. Michael refused to back down, even with the Vice President screaming in his face. Every man among them had been a part of the escape forty-eight years prior. They had earned their place. The final call had been his.
Michael had been slightly surprised to learn he’d been named executor. He’d been far more surprised to find that he’d been left everything. Despite knowing Jim well for years, his eyes had still popped out of his head when he’d seen the final balance sheet. Most men would have been elated.
Michael wanted to hit something.
The music ended. A young lieutenant presented Michael with the flag. The Presbyterian pastor said a few more words over the gravesite, and the crowd began to disperse. Michael stayed. The VIPs came by and offered him condolences. He made polite noises and shook their hands but he didn’t process a word they said. Eventually, they left. Michael stayed. Strangers he didn’t recognize came up to shake his hand. Eventually, they all filed out as well. Michael stayed.
The grounds security team kept the media away from him. He’d have to remember to thank them later. Finally alone, he dropped to his knees and prayed. He lost all track of time.
He heard a noise behind him and turned. Peter nodded at him. He turned back to the fresh grave for a moment. The elaborate dual headstone already carried Anna’s name on it, but Jim’s had yet to be carved. Michael realized he’d need to come up with an epitaph. Jim deserved a good one.
He rose and turned. He wasn’t really ready to face his friend, but it was time. He started a slow trudge back toward the house. Peter followed, a long, slender case slung over his back. The younger man broke the silence first.
“He picked the right man, you know.”
“What?” Michael asked his friend.
“Covington. Both for executor and heir. He picked the right man.”
“Doesn’t feel like it.”
“Good. It shouldn’t.”
Michael nodded.
“I have no idea what to do with all of this,” he admitted.
“Do something good with it,” Peter told him.
“Great. But what?”
“I don’t know. But you’ll figure it out.”
“Eh, they probably won’t let me keep it anyway.”
“You think Abby will fight it?”
“Definitely. She’s already lawyered up. She says the will wasn’t legit, and claims she has a copy of the real one. She’s got a legal dream team, both for the terrorism charges and going after the estate.”
“But Abby’s not what I meant, anyway.” Michael returned to the subject at hand. “I meant the church.”
“What are you talking about, Michael?”
“Friar Stefan invited me to seminary in Rome. I don’t think they’ll let me keep all this money.”
“You accepted?”
“Yeah, I accepted.” Michael grinned. “It’s nice to have a purpose again.”
Peter flashed him a giant grin.
“Not all priests have to take a vow of poverty, you know.”
“Fair enough, but we’ll see,” Michael responded. “The press bothering you at all?”
Peter seemed to accept the subject change “Haven’t heard a peep out of them.”
“Good. I had Beckman put a lot of work into that.”
“They made you executor of the estate that quickly?”
“No, he just agreed that it was a good idea. And he likes me. Lord knows why. He recommended using that to focus the media’s attention on the estate rather than recent events. There’s enough gossip there to keep them chattering on for months. Especially, once I disappear off to Rome with no warning.” They both laughed at that.
Michael’s eyes moved to the Sword.
“You’re going after Faith, aren’t you?”
“Somebody’s got to,” Peter acknowledged. “And I don’t see anybody else lining up. I’d ask you to come with me, but I think you’re going to be busy for a while.”
“Yeah,” Michael sighed. “Besides seminary… Abby and Khalid didn’t come up with all this on their own. Abby was never that creative, no matter what she wanted to think of herself. And Khalid? Please.”
“Are you saying they’re not responsible?”
“Of course they’re responsible. They made their choices. But they weren’t the big dogs. Someone else out there is calling the shots. I intend to find out who.”
Peter grunted agreement and mulled over the thought as they walked in silence.
“Where you headed?” Michael asked as they approached the parking deck.
“Europe. London first. Gabriel thinks he’s got a lead on the dragon. He says he’s got a friend there who can help, but he doesn’t use telephones. Anyway, we’re pretty sure that Faith is somewhere across the pond.”
“Oh yeah? What makes you think that?”
“Stefan says he’s heard it from some of his sources back in Europe.” Peter declined to give more detail. Michael decided not to press it.
“Made travel plans?”
“Not yet.”
“I’ll set aside the jet for you. That way you won’t have to check that thing and trust it to airline baggage handlers.”
“Thanks,” Peter said solemnly. “That helps.”
“When are you leaving?”
“As soon as possible.”
“They can have the jet ready in about an hour. Just let me know.”
“I will.”
“Is your apartment covered? I can make sure they don’t boot you out while you’re gone.”
“Thanks, but I already closed out the lease and had everything moved to storage. It’s paid for a year. If I’m not back by then... well, I won’t need it anymore, will I?”
“Guess not.” Michael paused for a moment and then nodded at the Sword. “You ready for everything that comes with that?”
“Not really. How about you?” Peter gestured at the grounds.
“Not even a little.” They grinned at each other.
“Take care, Peter. Find Faith and bring her home.”
“I will.” It wasn’t arrogance or even naiveté, but merely the same calm confidence that Peter brought to everything. “God go with you, Michael.” He stepped into his car.
Michael stood and watched him for a while. Eventually Beckman came out the door to stand beside him.
“Glad to see you,” he told his new employee. “We’ve got work to do.”
“Lots of work,” the security guard agreed. “It’s time for you to see the inside of Jim’s study.”
Dear reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope you loved it! Reviews like yours are the lifeblood of independent authors. Please take a moment to stop by Amazon.com and leave an honest review of this story. Even something as simple as, “I really loved it - 5 stars!” is a huge help. Even if you completely hated the story, please let us know!
Keep an eye out for the return of Peter Bishop in Vigil, coming December 2017, and the return of Michael Alexander in Spirit Cooking, coming in 2018!
-Russell
If you liked this book, you'll also love Fade by my friend Daniel Humphreys.
About Russell Newquist
Russell is a high school dropout who somehow still graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2000 with a BA in Philosophy. At one point he had to explain to a professor why he had to miss class to take the GED exam.
Naturally, he began a career as a computer programmer. Later, he went on to earn a MS in Computer Science. Somewhere along the way he earned a black belt, and then added a few stripes to it and opened his own dojo. Because he never does anything the easy way, he started publishing company Silver Empire and has written some stories and even a novel or two. People seem to like them, so he’ll probably write some more.
He lives in north Alabama with his wife Morgon, four kids and two dog
s. They share a house that still manages to have more computing devices than living beings. He attends a Roman Catholic church, continues to run his dojo, and works for a small software company.
Titles By
Russell Newquist
The Tales of Peter Bishop
Who's Afraid of the Dark?
Knight of the Changeling
Vigil (Coming Late 2017)
Anthologies
Make Death Proud To Take Us
Between The Wall And The Fire
Titles From
Silver Empire
Novels
Treasures of Dodrazeb: The Origin Key by S.D. McPhail
A Pius Man by Declan Finn
Anthologies
Make Death Proud to Take Us edited by Russell Newquist
Between the Wall and the Fire edited by Russell Newquist
Games
Ghost of the Frost Giant King
Short stories
"Who's Afraid of the Dark?" by Russell Newquist - also available in the anthology Make Death Proud to Take Us
"Down the Dragon Hole" by Morgon Newquist - also available in the anthology Make Death Proud to Take Us
"The Blacksmith and the Ice Elves" by Morgon Newquist
- also available in the anthology Make Death Proud to Take Us
"Death and Taxes and Fairies" by K. Bethany Sawyer
"Second Chances" by K. Bethany Sawyer
"Wishing Only Wounds the Heart" by Morgon Newquist
Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Epilogue
Titles By Russell Newquist
Titles From Silver Empire
War Demons: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Prodigal Son Book 1) Page 27