Sunday the Rabbi Stayed Home

Chapter Twenty-Nine

They drove three in the front seat. Didi between the two boys. Stu turned the wipers to high speed to take care of the rain lashing against the windshield. “I sure don’t envy that Jenkins riding a motorcycle in this kind of weather.”

“Oh, he can always duck in someplace until it lets up.” said Jacobs.

They parked in front of Hillson House, and Stu dug a flashlight out of the glove compartment and snapped on the beam.

“Hey,” said Jacobs, “the door is open.”

“Maybe Moose woke up and just walked out.” said Stu hopefully.

“Could be, but we better take a look around. Here, let me have the flash.” Bill mounted the stairs with Stu behind him. He pushed open the front door and cast the light around the room. Then he led the way down the hall to the study, where they had left Moose. He stopped at the threshold and focused the beam on the couch. What looked like a giant cocoon in silvery white plastic was resting on top of it.

Stu giggled nervously. “Geez, you sure wrapped him good. What did you put it over his head for?”

But Jacobs was already at the couch. “We didn’t leave him like that. Help me!”

The figure was completely encased in the sheet, the top flap of which had been folded over the head and tucked tightly into the folds enwrapping the body.

Jacobs yanked at the flap frantically and then, with Stu’s help, pulled the rest of the sheet from the body. The face was curiously white. Jacobs felt the forehead and cheeks. They were cold. He handed the flashlight to Stu and began to rub the hands of the figure on the couch. Then he dropped them in distaste.

“What’s the matter?” Stu whispered. “I think he’s dead.”

He thrust his hand underneath the shirt to see if he could feel a heartbeat.

“You can’t tell that way.” said Stu. “You got to hold something like a mirror up to his lips.”

“I haven’t got a mirror.” said Bill savagely. “Put the lens of the flash to his mouth.”

Stu offered the flashlight, but Bill said, “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

They started to walk out and then broke into a run. They clattered down the steps and then raced to the car. Stu pulled the car door open while Bill ran around the front to the other side.

“Where’s Moose?” asked Didi as she moved over to let Stu get behind the wheel.

“Never mind.” He turned on the ignition, but before he could shift to DRIVE a car zoomed toward them, veered over, and came to a stop immediately in front, its headlights on high beam shining in their eyes. Stu’s door was pulled open by a policeman with a gun in his hand. “Hold it.” he commanded. “Now come out, all of you.”