Die Me a River Page 6

  “Correct.” Father Burns smiled. “I’d forgotten you went through this a year or so ago. I don’t know when I’ve seen the church so packed.” He winked. “Although I suspect that record might be broken this Saturday.”

  Shooting her sister-in-law a hushing look, Skye said, “Not to rush you, Father, but we’re ready to begin the class when you are.”

  Father Burns’s dark, serious eyes studied them for a long moment before he said, “We will begin with an overview of the theology of the sacrament of baptism, then I’ll walk you through the rite itself, and finally, and most importantly, we will discuss the sacrament and how we can live it in our lives and in our children’s.”

  “Sounds like we have a lot of ground to cover,” Wally said, then whispered in Skye’s ear, “And we have two inexperienced babysitters.”

  “What is baptism?” Father Burns folded his hands on top of the file folder in his lap and looked them each in the eye. “Baptism is the physical sign of a divine action that leads to inner grace, where we both embrace and are embraced by the redemption won for us by Christ. Through baptism, we enter a life with God.

  “We are freed from original sin and all past sins, reborn as an adopted child of God, initiated into the Church, and united to other Christians. We are fortified against sin and protected from death.”

  Skye attempted to concentrate as Father Burns’s deep voice further explained sin and grace. But between her exhaustion and her uneasiness about Millicent Rose’s odd fascination with her babies, Skye missed large chunks of what he said.

  She caught something about the Holy Spirit dwelling within them all, and that the divine adoption could never be destroyed, even by sin, before her thoughts drifted off once more. When she tuned in again, Father Burns was speaking about who can and cannot be baptized, where and when baptism happens, and reiterated the reason for the sacrament. Finally, he paused for questions.

  “I think you’ve about covered it,” Wally said dryly. “You were very thorough.”

  “Thank you.” Father Burns looked around at the circle of faces. “But the real question is, do you all understand what I said?”

  None of them hesitated. In firm voices they all replied, “Yes.”

  “I’m happy to hear that.” Father Burns’s smile was gentle. “Does anyone need a break or should we move on to the actual rite?”

  “May I use your restroom?” Loretta struggled to her feet.

  “Certainly.” Father Burns gestured to the door. “It’s down the hall to your left.”

  While they waited, Skye told Vince about May’s phone call and informed him that the after-baptism get-together was now also the baby shower and that their mother was having a party tent erected in Skye and Wally’s backyard between the RV and the new house under construction.

  Vince was still teasing Skye about a big-top-themed baby shower when Loretta returned. Once she was seated, Father Burns began his explanation on how the ritual would proceed.

  “In many churches, they now do a group baptism, but we’re still small enough to do individual ceremonies.” He tipped his head at Skye. “Besides, considering your large extended family and the number of friends you and Wally have in this community, I thought it best not to tax the church’s seating capacity with another baby.”

  “Probably best,” Wally muttered, sharing a glance with Loretta. “April’s ceremony was standing room only and May’s had time to add to her list since then. Her motto is: leave no guest uninvited.”

  “May is a woman full of…love.” A corner of the priest’s lip turned up.

  “That’s one way to look at her.” Loretta’s expression was skeptical.

  “I’m so happy that God has blessed her with grandchildren.” Father Burns steepled his fingers. “I understand that she can be overwhelming, but I can say without a doubt that her actions are well intentioned.”

  Skye and Vince glanced at each other, then nodded. Their mother had a heart of gold, and after becoming parents themselves, they had a little more understanding and tolerance for her need to nurture.

  “My wife is worth whatever amount of smothering I have to take from her mom.” Wally gave Skye a loving look. “If it makes May happy to invite every last third cousin twice removed, it’s fine with me.”

  “Thank you.” Skye caught her breath at the raw emotion in his voice.

  “How about you, honey?” Vince reached out a hand to his wife.

  “Considering my mother is twice as bad, May doesn’t faze me.”

  They were wrapping things up when an idea flitted across Skye’s mind and she asked, “Father, have you baptized many babies since the tornado?”

  “If memory serves, there were two.” Father Burns rose from his chair and ushered them to the door. “The Yates and Turner infants. Why?”

  “Did you notice any attendees that seemed a little odd?” Skye asked.

  “That’s hard to say,” the priest teased gently. “What do you mean by odd?”

  “Wearing a light-blue cape with a pointy hood and tied with a big, pink bow.”

  “Why yes.” Father Burns blinked. “I believe there was a woman like that there.”

  “Did she do anything unusual?” Wally asked, shooting Skye a concerned glance.

  “No.” Father Burns tapped his chin. “She did speak to both sets of parents afterward and she may have given each baby a small gift.”

  “Why are you asking about this woman?” Loretta asked, frowning.

  Before Skye or Wally could reply, there was a loud boom and the office shook as if there’d been an earthquake. Skye grabbed Wally’s arm and locked her knees. She watched in horror as a porcelain statue of the Virgin Mother wobbled, fell over, and rolled from a shelf, shattering on the hardwood floor.

  What in the name of heaven had just happened?

  Chapter 6

  Run, Baby, Run

  Outside, a heavy car door slammed and a motor whined, but inside the rectory office, it was eerily quiet. Skye, still clinging to Wally, looked around the room, trying to understand what was going on. It felt as if she’d been standing, frozen in the moment, for hours, but it was probably more like a few minutes.

  Wally had unclipped his cell phone from his belt and was repeatedly swiping the redial icon. But the buzz of the busy signal remained a steady annoyance. He growled in frustration and punched in another number.

  While Skye’s mind had been off-line, rosary beads had somehow appeared in Father Burns’s hands and Vince had lowered Loretta back into the chair she had vacated seconds before the blast. Vince stood protectively in front of his wife, holding both her hands in his.

  Otherwise, nothing much had changed since the loud boom and the shaking. Or to be more accurate, nothing in the rectory office had changed. Who knew about the rest of the area?

  Fear clogged Skye’s throat, and before she could pull herself together enough to speak, Loretta let out a loud moan. Whimpering, she hunched her shoulders and clutched her stomach.

  Immediately, Vince dropped to his knees, demanding, “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s probably just a Braxton-Hicks contraction, but it hurts like a son of a”—Loretta ground out between clenched teeth—“bucket.”

  “Sh…sugar!” Vince swiveled his head toward Wally and yelled, “Call 911! She needs to go to the hospital.”

  Skye had noticed that Vince and Loretta had also begun to curtail their swearing after becoming parents.

  “I’ve been trying to get through to the station.” Although Wally’s voice was even, the frustrated look in his eyes gave away his true feelings. “But every fricking line is busy. Including 911.”

  “Use your handheld radio.” Vince’s voice cracked like a breaking branch. “This is an emergency.”

  “I don’t have it with me. It’s in the car.” Wally’s expression was thunderous. “One of the
promises I made my babies when they were born was to delegate more. When I’m away from the station, Quirk is in charge.”

  “Fu—”

  “Honey.” Loretta cut off her husband, throwing a quick look at the priest. “I’m fine.” She stood and then paced the room. “I’m probably just dehydrated.”

  “Let me get you some water.” Father Burns finally seemed to come out of his fog and hurried to a small refrigerator against the rear wall. Handing Loretta a bottle, he said, “Here you go, my dear.”

  They all watched Loretta drink until Wally’s cell phone rang. Skye turned to look at her husband. He swiped the screen with his thumb and pressed the device to his ear.

  Skye was standing close enough to hear her mother’s voice as May said, “There has been an explosion at Bunny Lanes. Sergeant Quirk is en route along with the fire department and paramedics.”

  May’s words struck with the force of a cleaver severing bone from sinew and Skye gasped as she gripped Wally’s bicep. The bowling alley was owned by Skye’s ex-boyfriend, Simon Reid. His mother, Bunny, managed the business and lived above it. “We’re at St. Francis, so I’m only a block and a half away from the scene.” Wally muted the phone and looked at Loretta. “Do you need an ambulance?”

  “No.” Loretta finished her water. “As I thought, it must have been a Braxton-Hicks. Baby Denison is just giving me some practice.”

  Wally nodded, unmuted the phone, and asked, “Any injuries?” As he waited for a response, he headed out, the door rattling open as he slammed through it.

  The priest crossed himself and murmured a hasty prayer, while Vince and Loretta gaped at her in shock. Unwilling to be left behind, Skye hastily said goodbye and ran after her husband. He was already unlocking the Hummer when she reached him.

  She hadn’t heard her mother’s response to Wally’s question, and when she caught up to him, she asked, “What did Mom say about anyone being hurt? Did a gas main blow up?”

  “There’s no information yet.” Wally helped her into the SUV. “Get in. We’ll use the SUV to block the road until Quirk gets set up.”

  Less than a minute later, Wally had angled the vehicle across Basin Street where it intersected Laurel Avenue. The Hummer, which had previously belonged to his father, was an H1 Alpha. The chassis was made of high-strength steel and it had a Duramax diesel engine with a five-speed Allison transmission, as well run-flat tires and a sixteen-inch ground clearance. In addition, it had been equipped with giant searchlights and a heavy-duty grille guard. Nothing short of a tank could plow through the heavily fortified vehicle.

  “Stay here,” Wally instructed as he thrust open the driver’s side door and then ran toward the bowling alley.

  Ignoring her husband’s order, Skye jumped out of the Hummer. As she followed him, she couldn’t see any damage to the building. But when she got closer, her chest tightened when she saw that the windows were shattered and there was smoke billowing out of the openings. If anyone had been inside the bowling alley during the explosion, there was a good chance that he or she was severely injured, if not dead.

  A fire engine and ambulance were already in front of the building and firefighters were setting up huge spotlights around the perimeter. Others were connecting hoses to a hydrant while their counterparts hauled them toward the building. Skye watched a ladder truck disappear behind the structure and she prayed Bunny was okay.

  When Wally and Skye reached the bowling alley’s parking lot, it was empty except for the squad car blocking the entrance. Sergeant Roy Quirk was at the back of the cruiser, pulling equipment from its trunk.

  “I’ve got Basin blocked to the east,” Wally shouted as he ran over to the squad. “Get up a barricade west of here at Creek Street.”

  “Will do.” Quirk gave a single, sharp nod. The sergeant was built like Captain America, but he didn’t have the superhero’s charm. “I told May to call in all available officers. Martinez can handle one of the barriers and Tolman can be stationed at the other end.”

  Skye gave Roy a mental thumbs-up for calling in officers to manage the crowds rather than try to do it himself. He’d been Wally’s right hand at the PD for years, but he wasn’t exactly an easygoing man. After a particularly nasty run-in with Skye, Wally had insisted Roy participate in anger-management therapy, which seemed to be helping him control his temper—most of the time. However, dealing with the public wasn’t his strength.

  “I’ll get Martinez and Tolman on that.” Wally clapped the brawny sergeant on the back and spoke into the portable radio he’d grabbed from the Hummer.

  While Wally issued orders to his officers, Skye walked to the far end of the parking lot and watched a couple of firefighters as they carefully climbed the rear staircase. On a nearby ladder truck, two additional firefighters clambered onto the roof. The building was shaped like a massive cube, with a second story over the rear half of the square. There didn’t seem to be any smoke or flames coming out of the back of the building, which gave her hope that Bunny was okay.

  In fact, with the artificial lights illuminating the scene, she could almost pretend she was watching a movie being filmed. But all too soon, the background noise of men shouting to each other crashed through her fantasy and reality returned, allowing the worry she’d been attempting to keep at bay to seep through the cracks of her emotional shields.

  Skye’s throat tightened. Bunny had worked so hard to make the bowling alley a success. She’d been estranged from her son for years, and when he’d bought the business and made her the manager, it had been the first step on the path of recovery for their relationship.

  Skye may have chosen to marry Wally instead of Simon, but she still wanted her ex-boyfriend to be happy. And having his mother back in his life in a positive way was a huge part of that happiness.

  It had been wonderful to see Bunny turn a rundown bowling alley into a vital business. She had redone it from top to bottom, tearing out decor that had been there for decades and giving the place a modern vibe. She’d expanded the alley’s services, offering party packages and special programs for the kids during school breaks.

  Recently she’d obtained one of the few available licenses for video gambling. She’d put the machines in the bar, which had been enclosed and expanded during the renovations, and the unused stage area had been converted into a lounge containing half a dozen slot machines.

  Skye prayed that Bunny was safe and the bowling alley wasn’t too badly damaged. At least there was one blessing—the lanes were closed on Mondays, so there shouldn’t have been anyone in the building.

  She glanced back at where Wally stood with Fire Chief Eaton. Utility trucks had arrived and the two men were listening to the guys from the electric and gas companies talk. When another squad car pulled into the parking lot, Wally left the fire chief’s group and walked over to the cruiser.

  Paul Tolman exited the vehicle. During the tornado and most of its immediate aftermath, Paul had been out on medical leave due to an emergency appendectomy and he still seemed a bit under the weather. His normally olive skin was pasty and his movements seemed stiff and painful.

  Although Skye worked as a psychological consultant to the police department, she didn’t know the middle-aged officer very well. He was quiet and minded his own business. He did his job but didn’t seem to have any ambition to rise in the ranks. Maybe losing his partner while he was a Chicago cop had taught him that it was safer to blend in and reach retirement age than be a dead hero. That was a lesson Skye wouldn’t mind her own husband learning.

  Paul’s wife, June, owned a local insurance agency, and even though it was a different company than the one Trixie had mentioned, June’s job had to be extremely difficult right now. Many people didn’t understand that the agent who sold them their policy had no control over how quickly claims were handled. Skye watched Paul nod and stroll off, whistling. Clearly, he was happy with his assignment to man the
barricades. Skye suspected Zelda’s reaction wouldn’t be as positive. The young woman often complained that Wally only allowed her to do the boring stuff. And she was dying to dig her teeth into meatier responsibilities.

  With everyone else occupied, Skye pulled out her cell phone. She didn’t want to leave until she knew if Bunny was okay, but she needed to check with Judy and Anthony and make sure her friends were all right with another hour or two of babysitting.

  Judy answered on the first ring and reported, “The twins have been fed and are both asleep.”

  After Judy’s reassurance that the babies were fine, Skye explained the situation, ending with “so we may be here a while.”

  “No problem,” Judy said. “Anthony was called into work, so I heard about the explosion.”

  “Sheesh!” Skye hit her forehead with her palm. “Of course Anthony would have been called in. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. We can give you a ride home if he doesn’t make it back.”

  “Zelda picked him up, so I’ve got his car. And I have tomorrow off, so don’t worry about keeping me up late.” Judy seemed to be winding up to ask something, like a batter taking a few practice swings. Finally, after a long pause, almost as if she was afraid of the answer, she asked, “How’s it look there? Any word yet on casualties or…”

  “Nothing so far. All I can see from the outside is some smoke and broken windows.” Skye moved a little farther toward the rear of the building and squinted. “I have no idea what’s really happening with the inside of the bowling alley, but the firefighters in the rear are trying to get the apartment door open. It looks as if it’s stuck. The explosion must have wedged it shut.”

  “I hope Bunny’s okay.” Judy’s voice wavered. “She’s such a hoot.”

  Skye opened her mouth to respond, but the words died on her lips when she spotted Simon marching across the parking lot in her direction. She hastily told her friend goodbye and turned to her ex.

  Where Wally was tall with a muscular chest tapering to a narrow waist, Simon was lean and elegant. As always, he was wearing an impeccably tailored suit with a crisp shirt, although Skye noticed that his silk tie was loosened and there was a scuff on the toe of his highly polished, black Italian leather shoes.