Geiger Nelson VII (25)

Geiger Nelson VII (25)

    Geiger arrived in town at 6:40 and parked the station wagon in the parking lot of 100 Wardrobe, the town's clothing store that rested just across the street from the First Church of 100 Oak Valley. When he had left the cabin, he'd thought that the streets would be full of cars and that he'd have a hell of a time finding somewhere to park, but, as he drove down Thomas Avenue, he found that the cars, about two dozen, were parked in the lot of 100 Oak Valley's Finest. 
    Geiger stepped out of the car, wearing his navy blue suit and red tie, and looked up and down the street, which was steadily filling with people walking into the church, all dressed in their Sunday Best. He was searching for Angela Hornsby, but couldn't see her anywhere amongst the sea of dresses and suits. For a moment he thought of a zombie movie he'd seen once, where the living dead were filling the streets and malls. He shrugged the thought away and continued to look for Angela. Ah there she was!

    Coming out of the library and locking the door behind her, Angela was wearing a beautiful green dress and green heels. Her lips were red with cosmetics and she had a fine eyeshadow on. She looked up from putting her keys in her purse and saw Geiger. The two waved and, a minute later, standing together.

    "I'm glad you made it," Angela smiled, pecking Geiger's cheeks. "You look really nice."

    "You look beautiful," Geiger grinned. He gestured down at the parking lot of the Finest. "Care to tell me why all the cars are over there?"

    "After Pastor James Negus's Sunday sermon, the Finest holds a brunch. Everyone always goes after church. It's really fun."

    "Ah," Geiger nodded with understanding. 

    "Do you want to go afterwards?" Angela asked him.

    "Sure," he nodded.

Angela looked down at her small watch and said, "Well, we'd better get in there if we want a seat."

    Geiger nodded, took Angela's arm into his, and the two walked across the street and into the church. Inside, the place was alive with friendly discussion. Geiger looked around and saw that everyone was smiling and happy. He could see Suzette Peterson from the Finest with a couple of young kids and a man, probably her family, and saw Durham Todd talking with a young woman with blond hair.

    "Come on," Angela said, leading Geiger up the aisle of pews. "I see a good seat up front."

As Geiger followed, he looked up to the altar and saw an older man standing at the far back, where purple curtains covered a doorway. The man looked incredibly pale and ill. As Geiger sat down with Angela he saw the man cough into a handkerchief. He wondered if there was some kind of bug going around.