The Wrath Walker (The Wrath Series Book 1) by Matthew Newson (fun to read .txt) 📗

“That sounds like the people today, to be honest,” I said.

“That’s true, but it wasn’t the case back then, and I still remember my first night back home. I sat at the kitchen table after only being able to eat a little of the home-cooked meal she made, and she knew I was beating myself up over everything. She saw the look of hopelessness and desperation in my eyes, much like I see in yours, and she sat down and took my hand. She said this too shall pass. I asked her what she meant, and she told me that everything I was feeling and everything going on in my life at that time would be over one day. She also told me I needed to forgive myself, just like I’m telling you to do.”

“What’d you do?”

“I took it one day at a time. I had to forgive myself every day for the accident that hurt my co-workers, and I eventually moved on with my life. It was my mother’s kind words and encouragement that led me to become a pastor. I wanted to help others like she had helped me. What I have found to be the case is that time is long, and people’s memories are short, except for our own. I relived that accident everyday multiple times knowing I couldn’t change anything, and all it did was add to the guilt I already felt. I have to make peace with what happened every day, and I do that by giving it over to the Lord, because he bears my burdens. But you don’t want to talk about God, and so I will not continue any further on the topic. Hopefully one day we can talk more about him, but until that time I will leave you with two things. The saying this too shall pass, and some information that I think might help you track down Ron’s killer.”

“What would you have on that?” My sadness turned to excitement in the blink of an eye. Finally, I might have something to stop that guy, and that would be the start to things turning around in my life.

“When I was about ten, I remember my parents talking about a big story in the newspaper about the city leaders who were being investigated for corruption and a series of other crimes they had been committing for years. They talked about how they were obviously guilty due to all the evidence, and then one day all the charges were dropped.”

“Do you remember why?”

“I don’t remember why, and I don’t even remember what positions they held in the city. I was just a kid, but my parents and a lot of people in our neighborhood were really mad about it all.”

“I’m sorry, but how does this story help me figure out who this guy really is?”

“Be patient, my friend, I’m getting to that. Shortly after those people were cleared of all charges, they all were murdered, and their killer was never caught. You said Wrath killed Ron with a knife because he had killed other people with one. Well, these people were well respected leaders like Ron who had seemingly fallen from grace, and they all ended up dead, days apart from each other. Maybe you could look in the digital records at the Black Castle and find something to help you. I told you about it last time we talked.”

“I’ll go check it out right now.” I got up to leave.

“You can’t, Brandon.”

“Why not?” I snapped back. It was the first good lead I’d had.

“Closed for the day. Government building.”

“Right. I’ll check it out first thing in the morning. Thanks for talking with me, Phillip.”

“Any time, and remember, this too shall pass.”

I thanked him again and went back to my car. It had been a long day. I needed to go straight home and get some rest. Lack of sleep the previous night wore on me, so when I got back to my place, I put my gun on my bedside table and took a quick shower. The sun was still slightly visible in the evening sky when I laid down, but it didn’t stop me from falling asleep.

I slept better than I had in months, and I didn’t even wake up once during the night. However, I was awakened in the morning by a knock. I checked the time on my phone. Nine forty-five. The knocking sounded again, and I heard a muffled voice. I rolled out of bed and pulled on sweats.

Lizzie stood in the doorway and looked amazing as she always did, and my heart skipped a beat before it started pounding hard enough for her to notice. I had dreamt about her showing up at my door, and then she would fall into my arms, and everything would be right with the world again...

But the look on her face told me she wasn’t there for a social visit, and this was no dream coming true.

“Hey Lizzie, I mean Elizabeth, look yesterday when I ran into Scott, I didn’t mean to upset the guy.”

I could tell by her demeanor she was more than mad, and I needed to explain myself before she arrested me.

“Before you say anything, I wasn’t following him. I saw him as he was leaving Joey’s Kitchen, and he talked to me first. He made it very clear how he and you felt about me, so message received loud and clear. Like I said before, I won’t be bothering you or him. I’m sincere when I say I just want you to be happy.”

“Um, thank you, and Scott told me he talked to you yesterday. He told me everything you two talked about.”

“Great.” I steadied myself against the door. “Look, whatever he said, I never threatened him or told him I was going to hurt him or anything like that.”

“I’m not here because you talked to Scott, Brandon. Did you talk to Joey Abbate yesterday when you went to his restaurant?”

“Yes. Talking to