Prayers for the Dead Read Online Free PDF

community.”
    “I want to see him.”
    “I’d be happy to escort you to make an identification.”
    “Tell me where to go.”
    “I’m sorry but I’ll have to escort you. Anything I can do to help you and your family through this terrible crisis.”
    Another beat. “I’m so stunned, I don’t… May I please talk to my brother again?”
    Decker noticed he said “may” instead of “can.” Shaken but in control. “Of course.” He handed the phone back to Michael.
    “When are you going to get here?” Michael barked into the phone.
    “I’m going down… to make sure it’s Dad,” Bram answered. “Someone has to call the others.”
    “Can you do it? Maggie’s useless and I’m… I can’t handle Paul right now.”
    “All right. I’ll do it.”
    “When are you going to get here? Mom’s asking for you.”
    “As soon as I can, Michael. Where’s Maggie?”
    “With Mom.”
    “Mike, watch Mom like a hawk. Keep her away from the medicine cabinet.”
    “Right.”
    “Also, get Maggie to take her Theo-Dur—”
    “She seems okay—”
    “As a precaution, Mike. Her attacks are usually delayed. I can’t deal with Maggie’s asthma right now. Tell Mag to lie down and rest until I can get there.”
    Michael nodded.
    “Are you there?”
    “Sorry, yes. I’ll keep watch over Mom.”
    “And Maggie, too. Take care of
both
of them. Are you getting this down, Michael?”
    “Yes, keep watch over Mom. And Maggie, too. Just get here.”
    “As soon as I can. Put Decker back on.”
    “Who?”
    “The lieutenant.”
    “Oh…” Again, Michael gave the phone to Decker.
    “Yes?”
    Bram said, “Do you know where the Church of St. Thomas is, Lieutenant?”
    “Of course.”
    “How far is it from where my father…”
    “I could meet you at St. Thomas’s if you’d like, Mr. Sparks.”
    “Thank you very much. I’d appreciate it. I need to call my other siblings. To tell them what’s going on. I’ll meet you outside the church in twenty minutes.”
    “That’s fine.”
    The phone disconnected.
    Michael said, “Is he coming over?”
    “No,” Decker said. “First he wants to identify your father. I’m picking him up in front of St. Thomas’s.”
    “God…” Michael paced furiously. “I hope he gets here quick. I don’t think I can handle the others by myself!”
    “Who are the others?” Decker asked. “Your siblings?”
    Maggie came running down the stairs. “Michael, she’s moaning. What should I do?”
    “I’m coming.” Michael bit his nail. To Decker, he said, “Excuse me a moment.” He started up the stairs with his sister. “Oh, Maggie. Take your Theo-Dur. As a precaution.”
    “I’m all right—”
    “Just do it, Mag. Don’t argue.”
    Maggie seemed angry but said nothing. As they climbed up a serpentine twist of staircase, they disappeared from view, leaving Decker down below in the faded dowager of a house. He took the opportunity to nose around, went into the family room.
    The walls held no artwork. Instead, they were plastered with family photos. The Sparkses appeared to have lots of children, although some of the adults could have been daughters or sons-in-law.
    The most striking photos were two fourteen-by-twenties framed in gilt. The sittings appeared almost identical. Obviously, they had been taken on the same occasion, and it had been a formal one. Dad had been decked out in a tux; Mom, in a blue sequined gown. The men wore dark suits, the women expensive suits or cocktail dresses.
    The first photograph held many more people — the parents, their children with spouses, lots of grandchildren, ranging from teens to infants. Too many people for Decker to sort out.
    The second photograph was more manageable. Eight people. The parents — Azor and Dolores — with four young men and two young women, among them Michael and Maggie. Probably their children because all of them bore resemblance to the parents. Though the dress had been formal, the posing had been much more casual.