“Arthur will do exactly as he’s told, I suppose,” I said.

Higgins stood on the gravel path with his mouth hanging open, unable to force out another word.

I turned my back on him and climbed the three concrete steps to the front doors of the sanctuary.

I gathered up the loose plastic at the top of the black trash bag, yanked the ties hard around the neck, knotted it twice and dropped it right on the top step of the church.

I walked away from the concrete church steps without looking back at Pastor Higgins.