Second Chance by Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Page B

people he hardly knew, but he was eager to find out.

    Being in charge was not at all what Judd expected. For the next few days it seemed all he did was worry what Vicki was thinking, referee arguments between Ryan and Lionel, and try to explain why he and Vicki got the “good” rooms and the other two got the leftovers. He had no say over when anybody came and went. He wasn’t their parent or their boss, as they reminded him often. He suddenly realized how tough it would be to be a parent whose kid or kids didn’t respect him or listento him or obey him. He was getting a clear view of what a problem he had been to his parents.
    Judd spent a lot of time digging through his dad’s papers, finding out what bills had to be paid and when. He also found the documents that told him where his father had his money deposited and what accounts had balances. Judd was grateful to realize that his father was a good money manager and planner, and that there was more than enough there to last anyone ten years, let alone seven, if he was careful.
    Judd gave Vicki cash to buy herself some clothes, and she proved to be very frugal. She told him that if she could really use his mother’s stuff, she wouldn’t need much more. And she kept insisting that she would get a job and pay him back. “You really don’t need to,” Judd said. “There’s plenty more money.”
    “So I’m just supposed to become a bum and let someone else pay for everything for me? I don’t think so, Judd. I mean, I appreciate it, but what kind of pride would I have if I let you do that?”
    Judd didn’t know what to say. Ryan said he would be happy to let Judd pay for everything, but Lionel shamed him into admitting that he would only feel good about himselftoo if he was earning some money to contribute to the pot.
    Bruce phoned Judd’s home during the middle of the afternoon that Friday. “Judd,” he said, “I hate to do this to you, but I’m going to need you to bail me out. I’ve got people calling right and left and I’m meeting with them, counseling them, you name it. I’ve gotten nowhere in trying to prepare for Sunday, and it looks like we’re going to be jam-packed.”
    “What do you need?” Judd asked.
    “I need you to drive Lionel in to that morgue. It’s not in a good part of town, and I know you have not dealt with Chicago authorities before, but if I tell you whom to ask for and what to say, can you handle it?”
    “Sure.”
    “And you’ll let me know as soon as you get back, so I’ll know you’re safe?”
    Judd hesitated.
    “Judd?”
    “Well . . .”
    “You don’t want to do it? I understand. I’ll get someone el—”
    “No, it’s not that. I just want to talk to you about checking in with you to let you know I’m safe and all that. I don’t want to get into that trap.”
    “I’m only asking you this time because I’masking you to do something as a favor for me—something I should be doing myself.”
    “Yeah, OK. I don’t mind.”
    Bruce gave Judd all the information and directions. Surprisingly, not only did Ryan want to go along, but so did Vicki. Judd talked them out of it. “It’s not a good part of town,” he said. “I figure there’ll be lots of cops there, and if they see a bunch of kids, they might have a lot of questions. Just let Lionel and me do this, and when we get back we’ll tell you all about it.”

    Vicki found it strange to be alone in the house with Ryan. They had not talked much, and he didn’t seem interested in starting. She tried to make small talk with him, but she didn’t get far. He had already heard her life story and what had been happening to her lately. She tried to interest him in the news, then remembered that he had been watching the news when he learned of his father’s death. She wanted to comfort him, encourage him, point him toward God, but she was at a loss. She had no idea how to reach him.
    “I promised Bruce we would all be in church Sunday morning,” she