The chronological order of my stories is now listed in WifeWatchman's biography.
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criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.
This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
Part 5 - Depths of Despair
There was virtually nothing left of the house. It had been reduced to pile of ashes, literally. No structure remained, the beams and walls had all burned completely. What had been my boyhood home was now just a pile of gray charcoal and ash.
"Your parents' bodies were incinerated." Leanne told me as I looked at the disaster. "We're running DNA tests to confirm it's them, and a sample of your blood would help with that." I just nodded, unable to speak. I barely felt it as a medic came up and took a sample of my blood.
The preacher of my parents' church came up to me. "Hello, Donny." he said. "I'm so sorry about this. Why don't you come to my house."
"I'll bring him there." said Leanne. I dimly realized that I was being escorted by Police wherever I went.
At the preacher's house, I called Melina and told her what happened. "I'm going to make arrangements and stay up here for the funeral. It'll be on Tuesday. Are you going to come up?"
"No." Melina said, and I was beyond shock at that. "I'll stay down here. Don... I'm sorry about your parents, and I'll see you when you get back."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Melina did not come, but guess who did...
She came into the preacher's house wearing a black dress, sheer black stockings, and black high heel pumps. I first saw the magnificent legs, then looked up into the face of my sister Elizabeth.
"Hello, baby brother." she said, and not in a very friendly manner.
"Hello." I said quietly.
"Have you started the arrangements?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes." I said. "The church is taking care of most of it. My dad left some money that is paying all the expenses."
"Good." she said, then turned to speak to the preacher and his wife. I heard something going on outside and looked out the window.
An entourage of three black limousines were pulling up. Security men in shades got out first, looking around warily. Then they opened the back door of the middle vehicle, and out popped the Reverend Jonas Oldeeds, his black hair perfectly in place, his extremely expensive black suit fitting perfectly.
The entourage came inside, security men taking posts near the windows. Oldeeds first hugged Elizabeth warmly, and she seemed to be pressing her body into his as she hugged him back. Then he came over to me. I minded my manners and stood up.
"Hello, Don." he said, shaking my hand like a practiced, veteran politician. "I'm so sorry about your parents."
"Thank you, Reverend." I said. Oldeeds then shook hands with the preacher and his wife, then with Leanne Wisocky, who was still here with me. I heard him say to the preacher that he, Oldeeds, wanted to say a few words at the funeral of his friend Douglass Troy, and the preacher said Oldeeds would be most welcome to do so.
Some minutes later, I went to sit on the front porch, hoping the sunshine would warm me up; I was still freezing cold. Leanne came out and sat with me.
"Any idea what caused the fire?" I asked.
"No." said Leanne. Then she looked outward as she said "But it's considered 'suspicious'. It burned very hot, and completely consumed the house, and that was before the Fire Department even got there. It had collapsed already when they pulled up."
"Arson?" I asked.
"Maybe." said Leanne.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tuesday, September 18th. The funeral was a solemn ceremony, and well attended. Most people that were my parents' ages were there, to be expected. I had an idea that many of the others, the younger ones, had come to see the Reverend Jonas Oldeeds. Indeed, I heard that at the lunch for the family before the funeral, Oldeeds was in another room letting people take selfies with him.
"Where is Ned?" I asked Elizabeth at the lunch, as my sister and I were pretty much forced to sit together.
"He didn't even come to his brother's funeral." Elizabeth said acidly. "I can understand that; he and Todd hated each other, and much more than you and I hate each other. And speaking of no-shows, where is your wife?"
"I was already up here." I said. "I visited Mom and Dad, then was staying over in Rome for the night. I got the call the next morning." It was a lie, and my sister was peering hard at me as I said it. "I called Melina, but she decided to stay in town. She has a new job, so she doesn't have any vacation days yet."
"Tough job, if they won't let her come to her In-Laws' funeral." Elizabeth said. "It's just as well; Mom and Dad did not like her. They were respectful about it on your account, but none of us liked her, except Todd. But I think he just had a crush on her, and wanted to get in her pants." I did not know if Elizabeth was saying these things to hurt me, or just imparting information without regard to my feelings.
After the funeral ceremony, we went to the cemetery, where my parents' mortal remains would be placed in the mausoleum space my father had bought for them years before. I noticed that Jonas Oldeeds's security people were very anxious, looking around alertly.
"Is something wrong?" I asked. "Reverend Oldeeds's people seem to be anxious."
"He told me that there have been some threats against him and his Ministries." Elizabeth replied. "They're just being cautious."
The preacher said the final words, Oldeeds sitting near us, security around him. Just as the service ended and we all stood up, I heard something... a
*whizz!*