Riven - Jerry B. Jenkins [211]
“How you doin’ today, man?” another said.
“Good luck today, or, you know . . .”
Brady just nodded to them.
The same happened when breakfast was delivered. No barking about standing back, no yelling at anyone. Brady had the feeling that this was what it would be like in an old-age home, staff just quietly making the rounds, delivering trays. The officers even seemed to open and shut the meal slot doors quietly, no small feat.
Not surprisingly, Brady was not hungry, and the food did not appeal. But he forced himself to eat and drink everything, knowing how difficult the task ahead would be.
Adamsville
Thomas had barely slept, while Grace was so quiet all night that he had checked three times to be sure she was breathing. She was either at peace about all this—sad as it was—or failing. He tried not to think about that.
He rose before dawn, knowing the day would be a scorcher. It had to be ninety degrees already, and the sun was just a pink hint on the horizon. Thomas had dreaded this day for so long, he didn’t know how he would get through it.
He began on his knees, then showered and shaved and dressed. Then he read his Bible and prayed again. Finally he went to tap on the den door, where Nellie was sleeping, but the door was open and the room empty. He heard her in the kitchen.
“Poached eggs and toast,” she said. “And I’ll stay till your daughter gets here.”
“Thanks, Nellie.”
“You sure you don’t want any day shift here?”
“No, Ravinia will be able to handle things. She’ll be here by eight or so. A woman from my office will be here by then too.”
Thomas had hoped to have breakfast in the bedroom with Grace, but she was still sleeping.
“I’ll keep hers warm,” Nellie said.
Thomas thanked her and headed out to the car. There, parked at the curb in front, was Dirk’s car, and he was asleep behind the wheel.
Thomas tapped lightly on the window, making Dirk jump.
“What’re you doing here?” Thomas said. “Everything all right?”
“Yeah, I just got it in my head to take the morning off and watch this thing here, if that’s okay.”
“You know Rav is coming.”
Dirk nodded. “It might be a little awkward, but this just seems like the kind of thing you do with people you care about, know what I mean?”
“She know you’re coming?”
“I told her I probably would.”
“Well, go ahead on in. Nellie will fix you something. And I’ll see you later.”
The streets were deserted until Thomas reached the road leading to the penitentiary. Police were already having to direct traffic there, with satellite trucks jockeying for position and protesters emerging from tents and huddling around campfires. Their signs read, “Shame! Travesty! Pardon Brady!”
At the guardhouse, the officer ignored Thomas’s badge and merely patted him on the shoulder. “Parking lot’s full,” he said. “Anybody not sick or on vacation is on the job today. We left a cone in front of your spot. Just set it off to the side.”
Thomas was not surprised to find Frank LeRoy already in his office. What was a surprise was that he was wearing a new suit and had his shirt buttoned all the way up, tie tight at the neck. He clearly expected to be on TV today. He merely nodded as Thomas greeted him on the way by.
Gladys startled him with a “Mornin’, Rev.” He’d never seen her in her cubicle this long before starting time. It was also the first time in seventeen years he had seen her in anything but bright colors. She wore a demure, dark suit. She stood and embraced him. That was something new too, and while any other day it would have made Thomas uncomfortable, today he appreciated it. “You’re still planning—?”
“Yes, sir, I’m about to head over there and spend the rest of the day with Grace. Your daughter too, right?”
“And son-in-law.”
She raised a brow. “Really?”
Thomas shrugged. “Go figure.”
“Surely not Summer.”
“Oh no. Vacation Bible school.”
Thomas looked at his watch. Brady was scheduled to leave his cell in fifteen minutes, and Thomas had promised to accompany him. He made it through the security envelopes in record time, old friends