The Greatest Evil by William X. Kienzle Read Free Book Online Page B

perpetual motion, she showed every prospect of becoming a beautiful woman like her mother.
    Martha, at forty-five, was two years older than her sister. Martha and Louise had been close from childhood. Born in Sicily, they were brought to America as infants; thus, neither remembered their country of birth. Their parents had come to Detroit to be with relatives who had preceded them.
    The family’s first home was a modest duplex in St. Ursula parish, populated then largely by Italian families just beginning to build their lives. In time, as Sam prospered in the construction business, they would move up Gratiot to St. William’s parish.
    Fifteen years ago, Martha had met Frank Morris. At thirty, she was beyond the customary marrying age. That had something to do with her acceptance of Frank’s proposal. But basically, she loved him.
    That was not good news to her family. Frank was not Catholic, and was divorced. After one frustrated attempt to be married in the Catholic Church, they found a judge to perform the service.
    Of Martha’s family, only Louise had attended the simple civil ceremony.
    Now, after fifteen years, Martha’s relatives were beginning to thaw; at least Frank and Martha were now invited to family gatherings. They were childless. Some of the family saw that as God’s punishment.
    Martha was Vince’s godmother. That selection had been made well before her “pagan” wedding. Vincent had always been close to Martha, even though in more recent years he was troubled by her sinful state.
    “So,” Frank said, “how ya doin’, Vinnie? This place as nice as it seems? It seems new. It even smells, new.”
    “It is nice, Uncle Frank. And it’s exciting. Our faculty—well, they’re Sulpician priests. All they do is teach seminarians. That’s what they joined up for. It’s not like it was at Sacred Heart. The priests on that faculty never got a chance to do what they signed up for—being priests in a parish. These guys—the Sulps—chose to teach. And it shows. It’s challenging.
    “Which reminds me, Tony …” He turned to his brother. “How’re you doing at De LaSalle?”
    “Pretty damn good—”
    “Tony!” Louise shushed her son. “Don’t swear! We’re in the seminary.”
    “Sorry, Ma. We’re doin’ very well, Vin. We’re three and oh. We’re lookin’ at an unbeaten season. And my arm has never been better.”
    “How about your studies?”
    “Yes!” their mother seconded.
    “They’re okay … well, adequate. They’re never gonna put bread on the table. Football will.”
    “But for how many years?” Vince pointed out.
    “Enough,” Tony replied. “Enough to salt away a stash. Besides, my plan is to play pro football until my joints won’t bend anymore. And then, you know what? I’m gonna do sports broadcasts. I’ve got more vocabulary than all the guys doin’ play-by-play put together.”
    “Tony …” Vince shook his head. “Do you ever look at the statistics? Do you have any idea what the odds are? The odds that you can make it to the pros? Granted, if you get that far, you’d probably be a cinch for broadcasting. But how big a chance do you have to beat out the best of the best?”
    “That’s what I tell him all the time, Vincent,” Louise said. “Listen to your brother, Tony. He knows what he’s talking about.”
    “I’m bored!” Lucy complained loudly. She was close to whining. “Can I go outside?”
    “No,” her mother said. “Be a nice girl and sit still.”
    Lucy subsided, but looked as if she might burst into tears at any minute. She wriggled unhappily on her chair, almost in rhythm with her trembling lower lip.
    “Why not?” Frank said. “There’s nothing out here to hurt her.”
    “For cryin’ out loud,” Tony said, “let her go before she drives us all nuts.” Tony had seen his sister in action; he knew that she was not about to sit silent and/or still.
    “Oh, all right,” Louise relented. “But stay out in front where all the cars