Lord of the Wings (38 page)
Authors: Donna Andrews
“Meg, dear.”
I looked up to see Mother in the doorway.
“I came to pick you up for the All Saints' and All Souls' Day service at Trinity,” she said.
“I was just going to go home and nap,” I said.
“We'll run you home after the service,” she said. “I think it would be nice if you were the one to read the name of that poor young man who was killed in Dr. Smoot's museum. In addition to honoring all the saints,” she added, turning to Randall and the chief, “we also read the names of everyone who has died during the year at the serviceâif possible by someone who was close to them. I'd do it myself, but I think it would be so much more suitable if Meg did, since she was instrumental in solving his murder. And besides,” she added, turning back to me, “you have to come and see the boys in their saint costumes.”
“Saint costumes?” the chief echoed.
“It's a new idea that dear Robyn has introduced,” Mother said. “All the children come dressed as their favorite saints.”
“Oh, no,” I said. “I forgot all about the saint costumes for the boys.” Robyn probably wouldn't mind if they came as a robot and a space alien, but some of the other parents would probably look down their noses at our parenting skills.
“Don't worry,” Mother said. “Dahlia and I took care of that while Rob's costume experts were here. Would you like to see them?” She turned again to Randall and the chief with that question.
“If you have time, sure,” Randall said.
“I'd be very pleased,” the chief said.
Mother bustled out and I held my breath. I couldn't, offhand, think of any saint that would appeal to the boys nearly as much as space aliens and robots. I hoped they were wearing whatever their two grandmothers had devised with reasonably good grace.
And then, to my delight, the boys raced in, looking very excited.
“Mommy!” Josh exclaimed. “Look at my costume today!”
“This is almost as good as the space alien,” Jamie added.
The costumeless reality of November second was going to come as a great shock to both of them.
“Aren't they adorable?” Mother asked from the doorway.
Josh was dressed as St. Sebastian, in a toga festooned with so many arrows that he'd probably have to stand during the entire service. Jamie was St. George, wearing silver lamé armor and a helmet borrowed from his role as a Roman soldier in this year's Easter pageant. Around his shoulders curled a three-foot-long stuffed dragon made of red and gold metallic fabric.
“Mommy, I got a hundred and ninety-one pieces of candy,” Josh said.
“I got two hundred and thirty-three,” Jamie countered.
“And it's all locked up in the candy boxes ready to be doled out for good behavior,” Michael said from the doorway, where he was balanced on his crutches.
“Mommy, this was the best Halloween ever!” Jamie exclaimed.
“Can we do it again just like this next year?” Josh asked.
I tried not to wince at the “just like this” part. There were many things about this Halloween that I hoped we never repeated.
“I took a pulse check this morning,” Randall said. “So far the merchants are happy. And I don't know about the other churches, but First Presbyterian's going into the holiday season with our fund for relief of the poor and unfortunate fatter than it's been for years.”
“We Baptists are also well supplied for this winter's good works,” the chief said.
“Robyn is delighted with how well the food tent did,” Mother said. “The women's shelter's future is secure.”
“And Ragnar's excited about taking a bigger role in the festival next year,” Randall said. “Prepared to throw a lot of money at it. And he had a pretty good suggestionâwe could have all the family friendly stuff here in town, and push the vamp and ghoul stuff out to his place. He's got plenty of space out there.”
“All we really need is for someone to agree to organize it all,” Mother said.
“We'll see,” I said. But I couldn't help smiling as I said it.
“Hurray!” Everyone joined in the cheers, even the boys, who probably didn't really understand what they were cheering for.
“But we'll talk about that later,” I said. “After the services. And my nap, which I will be working hard to postpone until after the services are over. Let's go.”
I strolled over to the door and linked my arm in Michael'sânot easy to do with him on crutches, but I managed.
“Come on boys,” Mother said. “Let's go show off your latest costumes.”
“See you later,” I called over my shoulder as we headed out. “And Happy Halloween.”
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DONNA ANDREWS
has won the Agatha, Anthony, and Barry Awards, an RT Book Reviews Award for best first novel, and three Lefty and two Toby Bromberg Awards for funniest mystery. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Private Investigators and Security Association. Andrews lives in Reston, Virginia.
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ALSO BY
DONNA ANDREWS
The Nightingale Before Christmas
The Good, the Bad, and the Emus
Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon
Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos
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Contents
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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
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A THOMAS DUNNE BOOK FOR MINOTAUR BOOKS.
An imprint of St. Martin's Publishing Group.
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LORD OF THE WINGS.
Copyright © 2015 by Donna Andrews. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
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Cover illustration by Maggie Parr
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eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].
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The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
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ISBN 978-1-250-04958-2 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4668-5056-9 (e-book)
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eISBN 9781466850569
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First Edition: August 2015