Bishop's Road by Catherine Hogan Safer Page A

can do it again. How did you get rid of him last time Mrs. Miflin?”
    â€œPlease stop this Ruth,” says Eve. “Why don’t you get Mr. Miflin a cup of coffee and ask him to wait a little longer? Would you like that Mrs. Miflin? If we just make him feel at home untilyou get over the shock? I’m sure you’ll be feeling better in a few minutes.”
    â€œNo!” Mrs. Miflin screams. “I want him gone! He kicked me and kicked me until he killed my baby and I shot him! I want him gone!”
    â€œWell now,” says Ruth. “This is a fine kettle of fish.”
    Ginny Mustard goes to the attic and returns with the rifle. “I found this in a trunk. We can shoot him again. He killed the baby and we can kill him.” Before the others can stop her she is standing in front of Mr. Miflin. By the time they reach the sitting room she has pulled the trigger. By the time Judy turns from the window she has been looking through, before the curtain falls back into place, Mr. Miflin’s life is colouring the yellow carpet to rust.
    The blast of the old gun was deafening. Maggie is screaming. Hands to her ears and letters all over the floor. Ruth slaps her hard across the face. Tells her to be quiet for God’s sake. “What the hell have you done, Ginny Mustard? Are you completely out of your mind?”
    â€œI had to, Ruth. He hurt Mrs. Miflin and he killed her baby.”
    â€œThat’s it? You just decide to kill him? Did you even know the gun was loaded? He could have taken it from you. He could have wiped out the whole lot of us. God you are so friggin’ stupid, girl.”
    â€œI’m not stupid anymore. The doctor said I am not stupid, Ruth.”
    Eve takes the gun from Ginny Mustard’s hands and places it on the floor near Mr. Miflin’s body. Sits on the sofa and says a quiet prayer. Mrs. Miflin is calling from her room. “What was that noise?”
    â€œAs if she doesn’t know,” Ruth is laughing. “Well, this is just great. I’m going to the store for beer. Don’t either of youmove a muscle until I get back. Don’t call the cops. Don’t do any-thing. And for Christ’s sake don’t let anyone through that door.” She nudges the bloody Mr. Miflin with her foot. Nothing. “Well, he’s dead, that’s for sure. I’ll be back in a minute. Don’t budge.”
    But they do, of course. Ginny Mustard wants breakfast. Eve pulls herself together and goes to tell Mrs. Miflin what happened. Maggie shakes in her shoes for awhile but even she decides to get out of the sitting room and gathers up her letters, wanders to the kitchen to play with the kittens until Ruth comes home. Only Judy stays where she’s told. But turns again to look out the window. Across the street the aspen has lost all of her leaves. The other trees are laughing.
    When Father Delaney hears the noise he jumps. Having been through at least one war, he has never quite forgotten the sound of gunfire. Finishes his breakfast and pulls on his shoes. Runs on his old spindle legs to Mrs. Miflin’s house. Meets Ruth on her way back from the store. Frowns at her purchase. The Jezebel didn’t even have the decency to ask for a bag. The likes of her - buying beer at this hour.
    â€œWhat brings you over, Father? Checking up on your parishioners this fine day?”
    â€œI heard a noise. It sounded like a gun. Do you women have a gun in that house?”
    â€œNot that I know of. What you heard was probably the stove. The pilot light went out and it gave a bang when Ginny Mustard lit it. Blew her and the oven door right across the kitchen. I keep telling the missus it’s not safe to have something that old in the house but she’s a bit tight with the dollars. Don’t concern yourself with Ginny Mustard. It’ll take more than a minor explosion to kill that one.”
    â€œWell. I guess I should see how Mrs. Miflin is