Murder Past Due by Miranda James Read Free Book Online Page A

and her son were gone now. I got up and moved to the other end of the room. Julia and Justin conversed in low voices.
    After a few minutes, while I stared out a window into the parking lot, Julia called my name. I strolled back to her and Justin.
    “Thank you for coming,” Julia said, one arm still around her son. “I think Justin’s ready to go. I really appreciate your bringing him here.”
    Mother and son both appeared worn to the bone now. The best thing I could do was to get Justin home and let him have some privacy or maybe some time with Diesel. My cat had a tonic effect on people, and Justin needed that now.
    “Glad to do it,” I said. I took her free hand and held it between both of mine for a moment. Julia smiled, and I released her hand. “If there’s anything else I can do, let me know.”
    Julia nodded. “Put some ice on that bruise if it hurts very much.” Justin gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, and I walked out of the waiting room with him a couple of steps behind.
    In the car, Justin didn’t say anything. After he buckled his seat belt, he leaned back and closed his eyes. I kept silent. If he wanted to talk, I’d listen.
    Justin stirred, opened his eyes, and looked out the window. “He apologized for hitting me.” He touched his cheek briefly and then let his hand slide back down to the seat.
    I left the car in park. “I’m glad to hear that,” I said.
    “He said he’d never hit me again. He was crying.” Justin turned to look at me. “You think he means that?”
    “I sure hope so.” Faced with alienating his son completely, perhaps Ezra was trying to change his behavior.
    “He kept telling me he was my father, that he had taken care of me for eighteen years. Like he wanted me to be grateful, I guess.”
    “In his way I think he’s trying to tell you that he loves you and considers you his son,” I said, choosing my words with care. “I don’t think he’s really looking for gratitude. He doesn’t want to lose you, but he might not be able to find the right words to tell you that.”
    Justin frowned. “He won’t listen when I try to tell him things. He just preaches at me and tells me what I ought to do, instead of trying to understand me. I’m not him.”
    “No, you aren’t. But sometimes fathers have a hard time letting their sons be their own men. I think some fathers feel their sons have to be just like them in order to justify their own choices in life. Does that make sense?”
    Justin’s eyes had grown big. “I never thought about it like that. That’s why he wants me to be a preacher too, huh?” He turned to gaze out the window again, his head against the glass.
    I had given him enough to think about. I backed the car out of the parking space and headed for home. Justin stayed silent the whole way.
    When I turned onto my street, I glanced ahead and swore under my breath. A strange car, a late model Jaguar, sat on the street in front of my house. It could only be Godfrey.

SIX
    I was tempted to drive right by. Justin needed some time to himself, I thought. But this meeting with Godfrey was inevitable. Maybe it was better to get it over with.
    As I passed the car I looked inside. Sure enough, Godfrey waved as I turned into the driveway. I clicked the garage door opener. Justin stirred as I drove inside.
    I turned off the car and clicked the opener again. The door came down behind us.
    In the dim light provided by two windows high in the wall in front of us, I examined Justin’s face. He still bore signs of strain from his time with Ezra.
    “That’s him in the car out there, isn’t it?” Justin unbuckled his seat belt.
    “If you’re not ready to talk to him, you don’t have to.”
    Justin blinked a couple of times. “No, I want to talk to him.” He paused. “But what do I call him?”
    “Only what you feel comfortable with. He’ll understand if you call him Mr. Priest. You both need to know each other better before you decide anything else.” I smiled