Titus exhaled forcefully. He turned to Tabitha, pointing to the house. “Abigail is within that house. The servants are all gone with the mistress of the house; let yourself in, go to the rear bed chamber. There will be a boy with her, who will probably meet you when he hears you enter; he is very protective of her. I will return as quickly as I can.”
Tabitha nodded, even as Titus turned and strode impatiently toward his soldier. “What does Pilate want?”
The man stepped out of his way. “He would not believe the criminal called Jesus was already dead, but a man has come asking for his body, to bury it before sundown.”
Titus made no response, just took off at a run in the direction of the governor’s palace. He arrived in short order and entered.
Menelaus greeted him at the entrance and turned to lead the way to the governor. “Titus, they could not find you; I was beginning to think you had already headed for your ship.”
“It does not sail for another week,” Titus reminded him. “Why did you not just fetch one of the others to verify Jesus’s death?”
Menelaus shrugged. “You were in charge. Pilate will trust no one else. Where did you disappear to, my friend?”
Titus looked at Menelaus. He seemed the same as he had been days before. How was it the entire world had not changed as he had? How could anyone still be so obviously interested in the things of everyday life, when the Son of God had just been killed upon a cross? “Abigail was at the crucifixion, and her labor began. I took her home, then went in search of a midwife; Ester and her slaves have disappeared, and I know not where to find them.”
Menelaus looked surprised, if not overly concerned. “Curious. Well, you have done your good deed. I am heading into the city. Shall I wait for you?”
Titus worked hard to keep his disgust from his face. It was not Menelaus’s fault that he had no idea what had happened that day. He shook his head. “I must check on Abigail. She was in terrible pain, and I fear something is not right.”
“Titus.” Menelaus paused outside the door that would open to Pilate. “You cannot do anything. I certainly understand your concern for Jason’s child, but be reasonable. You cannot deliver the babe yourself, and your presence would not be welcome. Abigail despises you.”
Titus was in no mood to argue. “We have reached a truce. I will return to her once Pilate is convinced.”
Even as Titus reached for the door, Menelaus was saying, “Titus, do not. She is Jason’s widow.”
Titus glanced back at him with a brow raised in condescension. “I am not taking her to my bed, Menelaus. I am merely making sure she is not alone. Would Jason not want that? Or would he prefer I leave her to die with no one but a midwife with her?”
Menelaus looked ready to rebut, but Titus had the door open, and the governor called him in.
“Lord,” Titus said, bowing his head in greeting. “You summoned me?”
“Yes.” Pilate’s nerves were obvious. He darted a glance at another man in the room, one whose wealth was worn openly. “This man has come for the body of the one they call the King of the Jews. I knew he could not be dead yet.”
Titus had no qualms contradicting the governor. “He is dead. He died seconds before the earthquake.”
Pilate looked even more anxious at that news. “But how? It is too soon.”
Titus replied just so he could be the quicker out of there. “He was beaten badly, Lord. He could not even walk unaided to Golgotha. The blood he lost from the stakes was undoubtedly too much for him to survive long. He probably would have died even had we not crucified him.”
The explanation seemed to satisfy Pilate. He nodded, then said to the other man, “Take his body, do what you will.”
“Lord.” Another man stepped forward from the shadows where Titus had not even noticed him. He was vaguely familiar, but it was not until he spoke that Titus remembered him as the man who had spoken to Barabbas what seemed like years ago, when the murderer was released. He was the man who had pulled a terrified Abigail along and offered her to the criminal. “We remember that while this man was alive, the deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that guards be posted at this tomb, lest his disciples come and steal him away and say he has risen. That deception would be even worse than what he has already done.”
Titus rolled his eyes, partly because this man’s foolishness was so great, partly because he knew Pilate would agree.
“You have a guard. This centurion,” Pilate said with a nod toward Titus, “will select one himself. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
“Thank you, sir.” The religious leader left the room with a smug smile.
Titus, after bowing to Pilate, followed him out.
The Pharisee waited. “I want your best men. Nothing is beneath these deceivers, and they would steal the body from beneath our noses.”