Riven - Jerry B. Jenkins [98]
And as Thomas drifted off, he was running over in his mind the verses he planned to quote to the condemned:
The Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:
“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.
“Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”
Knowing he was ready as he could be for the Trenton crisis, Thomas found himself still troubled in his gut about having to confront Grace. But he simply couldn’t complicate either of their lives more with that until the execution was over.
Addison
Brady Darby, his mind full of ideas and possibilities, arrived back at the trailer with Peter’s strawberry shake. The fury was still with Brady, but now plans were attached. He would ask for Stevie Ray’s help. Was there something he could do at the garage or for the band? Did Stevie know of anyone else looking for help?
But all those dreams vanished when he realized his mother’s car was there, and he heard the shower running as he entered. Petey wouldn’t look at him. The boy’s face was red, his eyes moist. He took the shake and put it in the refrigerator, then returned to his perch before the TV.
“She do something to you?”
Peter shook his head. “She’s got the day off ’cause she’s working all night tomorrow.”
“Working, then partying, more likely,” Brady said. “Now what’s wrong?”
“Nuthin’.”
“Tell me, Petey,” Brady said, shutting off the TV.
Peter buried his face in his hands and sobbed. “A guy named Pepe was here.”
“Here? What’d he say?”
“He said you owed him money and he wanted you to know he knew where you lived and that he also knew your mom and your little brother lived here.”
Brady swore. “I’ll kill that—”
“Do you owe him money, Brady?”
“Yeah, but not much, and he’s really making way too big a deal out of it.”
“What do you owe him for?”
“Oh, uh, just some shotgun shells.”
“He was threatening us, Brady.”
“Ma was here?”
Peter nodded.
“He’s gonna regret this.”
“Just pay him, will you? He said he has to have his money this year. That means by midnight tomorrow.”
“I know what it means. I always pay my bills, but I can’t have a guy coming over here—”
The shower stopped, and his mother called out, “Who’s that? Brady?”
“Yeah!”
“Don’t you dare leave! I got to talk to you.”
Minutes later she emerged in a ratty terry cloth robe. Their loud exchange sent Peter to his room. Brady told her he had just been promoted to assistant manager at Burger Boy and would have plenty of money to pay his small debt to Pepe for the ammo. “So just stay out of my business!”
Erlene screamed that his business became her business when people came to her house and threatened her and Petey. “And if you plan on moving back in here, you’re gonna pay!”
He demanded to know why she had ratted him out to the police.
“I wasn’t ratting you out, you idiot. I was worried about you. I didn’t know where you were or if you were guilty or what. They asked if you lived here and I told them you lived at the paving company’s shack, that’s all.”
Her tone had softened, and Brady was sure it was because she liked what she had heard about his having a full-time job, an income, the ability to pay rent. That could only be good for her if they could stand living under the same roof. They were hardly ever there and awake at the same time, which suited him.
Of course, if he didn’t come up with some real cash soon, she would realize he’d told another whopper.
And there were only two ways to get out from under Pepe’s threat. Brady could pay him. Or kill him.
36
New Year’s Eve