Dead Man Running Read Online Free Page A

twenty," Elias said.
    " Oh.  You've known the c ongressman that long? "
    " Yeah, he saw my potential for politics when he caught my orphan ass palming mo ney from the collection plates."
    Eloise Wiley poked her head back into the foyer.   " Young lady, could I have your help in the kitchen? "
    Elias discretely motion ed for Jan to go with Mrs. Wiley.
    " Of course, Mrs. Wiley ," Jan replied.
    Mrs. Wiley put her arm around Jan.   " You boys have a sit down in the study.  I know you have plenty of politics to talk.  Thi s young lady and I will get the food together. "
     
    In the Wiley study the reverend stood facing a corner of the room .  Another loud growl emanate d from his body .  Elias and Chi, s eated in leather seats in front of a large desk, turn ed around to glance at Wiley.
    " Damn, I wish he would stop doing that.  Maybe we need to call Hamid .  Find out what he eats.  He sur e as hell didn't touch his Mickey Dee's," said Chi.
    " Forget about that.  He's dead, he doesn't need to eat. "
    " That's not what his stomach is saying, boss. "
    " Okay, Chi, let's focus, man. "  Chi reluctantly placed his eyes on Elias'.   " What's on the r everend's itinerary the next nine days?"
    Chi nimbly call ed up the congressman's schedule on his iPad.  " He's got the candidate prayer breakfast tomorrow morning with the m ayor.  They're expecting him to say the opening prayer. "
    " I think he just got laryngitis. "
    " Word. "
    " What else ?   What's the major stuff, not the kiss, eat and greet shit. "
    "Hmmm…t he biggies are the World Affairs Club address on Wednesday and the debate with Madame Capshaw on Thursday. "
    " Okay, everything else, we cancel.  We need to lay him low till the election. "
    " E, what about his church?  He never misses a service before an election.  What are the deacons going to say? "
    " You mean, what are they going to say when we put a dead man in the pulpit? "
    " Right.  It ' s not quite the resurrection they've been waiting on.  But still, it'd raise some eyebrows if he's not there. "
    Elias considered the problem for a moment.  " Oh, he'll be there.  I'll get to the deacons ahead of time.  I'll tell the deacons that Reverend Wiley would prefer one of them to lead the service.  I'll say he's exhausted from the campaign. "
    " They'll probably have a knife fight trying to sort out who'll say the sermon. "
    " They'll be so busy basking in their own glory they won't notice they have a dead man there.  Okay, that takes care of his schedule, can you think of anything else? "
    " Yeah, don't you think Mrs. Wiley will figure this out?  I mean, she's got to sleep with the man. "
    " The good r everend hasn't slept with her since her stuff started bagging and sagging.  He wouldn't know the way to her room if you gave him a freaking map, man.  No, we'll deposit him in his room every night and pick him up in the morning.  No sweat. "
    " She won't notice a dead man in her house for nine days? "
    " Bro, the light's been out in that attic for many a year. "
    " Oh. "
     
    In the near ly professional kitchen Jan and Mrs. Wiley st oo d around the massive center aisle .  Mrs. Wiley wield ed a huge carving knife to s lice into the roast beef.
    " I always have to cut this very thin.  My Ben loves his meat sliced thin. "
    Jan, unsettled by the woman's lack of reaction to her zombie husband, nodded dumbly.  "U h huh ," she uttered finally.
    Mrs. Wiley continued her careful slicing of the beef.  " So, tell me dear, what are you doing in my house? "
    Jan, taken aback by the question , struggled to respond.  " Well, Mrs. Wiley, I'm here to assist your husband. "
    Mrs. Wiley cut a paper thin slice with the sharp blade.  " You were to never come to my home."
    Mrs. Wiley pause d with he r knife.  She set it on the table and walk ed over to the French doors leading to the rest of the house.  She close d them.  As she turn ed to face Jan, a sinister smile crosse d her face.
    "Care to explain what a