Special Agent Otis Grant piped in. “I worked with Annie for three years, Sheriff. No one has a nose for spotting a shady character like Annie. She would never marry a man with a criminal bent.”

Tubbs shrugged his fat shoulders and sighed dismissively. He spat tobacco juice onto the ground and looked at Laskey. “This case shapes up to be a classic example of domestic violence. Only in this case it turned deadly,” he said. “I know you think Rafter is a stand-up guy, but you’ve worked law enforcement for almost as long as me, Newton. So you must know there is a dark river that runs through the heart of every man, woman, and child. Most of the time we’re able to keep the dark river inside its banks, but every so often in a moment of weakness a person will snap, and the dark river overflows its banks. And then, like now, we have a tragedy to deal with.”

Laskey fought to remain calm. Although Tubbs’s statements about a dark river were profound, it didn’t change the fact that Tubbs was a buffoon. Laskey would never figure out how the man continued to get reelected. “Do we know who all is in the house? Has the hostage taker made any demands? Do we have a SWAT team on the way?”

Tubbs nodded. “A SWAT team from Bedford is headed in this direction. We haven’t been able to contact anyone on the inside by phone. But we do have a handle on who might be inside.”

“Good, how many people total are inside the house?”

“Six that we’re certain of, but there could be more.”

Laskey nodded approvingly. “I’d like to have a list of names, Sheriff.”

“Newton, I agreed to have you help me out, not to take over the case.”

“Point taken, Sheriff, I’ll hang in the background. But if one of your detectives could fill me in with pertinent details, I would appreciate it.”

“Sure thing, Newton,” Tubbs said. He placed a meaty hand on plain-clothed man standing nearby. “Detective Casey here will tell you everything you want to know. Won’t you, Jack?”

Chapter 36

Josiah Barrett opened his eyes. Once he had figured out where in heaven the angel was taking him, Barrett closed them. Barrett now stood on a crystal floor as clear as glass, his position near the white throne, his angel escort standing next to him.

Angels filled the throne room—some possessing six wings. Eyes covered each wing on these angels, and their fluttering wings sounded like a roaring ocean in Barrett’s ears. Similar to the angels, Barrett saw four strange-looking creatures who also possessed six wings. Eyes covered each creature, front and back. Together, the angels and the four creatures worshipped the man sitting on the throne and sang these words continuously, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”

Overwhelmed by the holy scene, Barrett dropped to his knees and elbows and bowed his head.

“Josiah, don’t be frightened. Condemnation has fled you. You are welcome here,” Jesus said, holding out his hands, hands scarred with a hole in each palm.

Barrett lifted his eyes and looked at Jesus. White hairs covered his head and chin, matching his shimmering white clothes. “I don’t deserve to be here with you.”

Jesus smiled. “Of course you belong here, Josiah. I pardoned you. My death on the cross and resurrection commuted your death sentence. And now you are my brother.”

“I asked you to forgive my sins and allow me to live with you. And that was enough?”

“My grace is sufficient for you, Josiah. I search all hearts and examine the thoughts of all mankind. I determined your repentance to be pure.”

Barrett looked at the throne Jesus sat on. The throne matched Jesus’s hair and clothes. The dazzling white throne looked like it was hewn from a giant piece of polished marble. But Barrett could tell that the marble had never been quarried from the ground. Dirt could’ve never touched its unblemished surface. Out of the corner of Barrett’s eye he could see another throne next to the one Jesus sat on. Intense flames engulfed this throne and the one sitting on it. Josiah trembled.

“Keep your focus on me, Josiah. No one can look at God’s face and live. But when you look at me you see God in the flesh.”

“I wasted the life you gave me while on earth, Lord. I’m so sorry.”

Jesus nodded. “You grieved my spirit in many ways, Josiah. But when I walked the earth I also faced temptations. I know how sly and treacherous the enemy is.”

“I was so blind to you and your love. I could only think of money and how to acquire more and more of it.”

“I once preached a sermon on this very subject when I lived on earth. One day the crowds were large and pressed in on me. I retreated to a mountainside to be with my Father. On the mountainside I spoke to my disciples. I told them, ‘Do not store up treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’”

“I didn’t store up much treasure here. I was so foolish…and selfish.”

“But your last act on earth was a noble one. You finally learned how to serve others. Well done, Josiah, my good and faithful servant.”

“I will serve you forever, Lord.”

Jesus left the white throne and knelt down by Josiah, taking him in his arms. Barrett leaned into the embrace, reveling in the tenderness that somehow existed alongside infinite power.

“Thank you for allowing me to see the angel. I wouldn’t have believed in you and your kingdom had you not,” Barrett said. “And I would be lost now.”

“You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” Jesus helped him stand up. “There is someone who longs to see you. Enjoy your reunion, Josiah.”

Barrett followed Jesus’s gaze. He saw his mother, holding out her arms to him. Her mahogany skin glowed. Barrett rushed over to her. “You look amazing, Mama. You’re young again!”

Susan Barrett laughed. “I’m not young, I’m ageless. And you don’t look so bad yourself, Josiah. You look even better than you did in your early twenties.”

Barrett realized then that he felt different. He felt…powerful. And not only strong but energetic. He patted his sides and stomach and started laughing. “I do look good. I’m not chubby anymore.”

“I never stopped praying for you, son. Even up here I kept asking Jesus to soften your heart and make it receptive to his love and forgiveness.”

“I was such an awful person down there, Mama. I’m grateful that you never stopped praying for me.”

They started walking. And before Barrett knew it they strolled along a country path that cut through a lush meadow dotted with flowers. They came to a beautiful home tucked in the trees. “This is where I live, Josiah.”

“It’s beautiful, and big.”

Susan Barrett nodded. “And your house is just down the lane from mine.”

“Oh, Mama, I barely made it into heaven. I’m not going to have a mansion like yours. I’ll sleep in the golden streets. I don’t mind. Just living here with you and Jesus is enough.”

“Nonsense, Josiah. I watched Jesus build it. He’s a master carpenter, you know. Granted, your house isn’t as large as mine. But it’s still grander than any palace on earth. Come on, I’ll take you to it.”

Chapter 37

With his hands and feet securely tied up, Jon Rafter could only use his eyes to aid his cause. His hazel eyes flitted about the parlor, resting briefly on objects he might be able to use as weapons, provided he could ever bust out from the plastic flex cuffs.