Heartbreaker

Chapter 33

The nightmare was finally over. Tommy and Laurant were astounded to learn that Tiffany’s phone had been found in Brenner’s car.

Nevertheless, both brother and sister were overjoyed that the killer was now behind bars. When Noah suggested they celebrate, Tommy nixed the idea. He reminded him that two women had been murdered and said that he was going to go into the church to say a prayer for the souls of Tiffany Tyler and a young woman named Millicent.

"He sure was good at masquerading his voice when he was whispering to me in the confessional," Tommy said. "He fooled me all right," he added with a shake of his head.

"He fooled all of us," Laurant said. She felt weak with relief. She decided to join her brother in the church for a prayer.

She stood and looked directly at Nick when she asked, "So you and Noah will be leaving soon, won’t you?"

"Yes," Nick answered without a second’s hesitation.

"No reason to hang around, is there?" Noah looked at Nick as he asked the question.

"No," he answered curtly. "No reason."

Laurant turned away so he wouldn’t see how his words had hurt her. She knew she was overreacting. From the beginning, she had known he would leave when his job was finished. His life was in Boston. He had stopped everything to help his friend, but now he would, of course, need to get back home.

"Places to go, people to see…," she said.

"Right," he agreed.

Tommy was holding the door for her. "Come on, Laurant. Quit dragging your feet."

She put her napkin down on the table and hurried after her brother. Nick and Noah followed. When they reached the back of the church, Nick pulled Noah aside while Laurant and Tommy went on ahead to one of the pews and knelt down together.

There were at least a dozen workmen rushing around trying to get the church ready in time for the wedding. Five of them were dismantling the scaffolding from the center aisle while a couple of others were folding up the tarps and carrying paint cans outside. The people from the local flower shop were standing up front, holding vases of lilies, impatiently waiting for Willie and Mark to finish wet mopping the steps and marble floor in front of the altar.

Nick and Noah moved under the balcony to get out of the way when the double doors opened behind them and two strapping men rolled in a baby grand piano on a dolly.

"Where do you want this, Father?" one of the men asked Noah.

"I don’t know," Noah replied.

"Geez, Father. This thing’s heavy. Could you find out for us?"

Justin hurried down the aisle toward them. He was carrying a video camera and had a long, red extension cord looped over his shoulder. He slowed to say hello.

"Do you know where the piano’s supposed to go?" Noah asked him.

"Sure I do," he answered. "They’re putting the choir on the south side of the church in that little alcove."

He backed out of the way so the men could roll the piano around to the side aisle.

"How come they don’t just use the organ?" Noah asked.

Justin turned to answer. "They have to get those pipes cleaned first. The abbot says all the dust in the air will mess up the chords if it isn’t cleaned before it’s used again."

"What are you doing with the video camera?" Nick asked.

"I’ve been roped into filming the ceremony from the balcony " he explained. "Michelle’s father asked me. He’s already got a professional guy filming downstairs, but he wants all the angles covered I guess. I don’t mind doing it," he added, grinning. "He’s paying me a hundred dollars, and I can use the money. Besides that, he’s invited Mark and Willie and me to the reception, and we’ll get free food and beer. You coming to the wedding?" he asked Nick.

"Wouldn’t miss it," he answered.

"See you later then," Justin said as he raced on. "I just hope the church is ready. We’ve got a heck of a lot of work to get done before seven."

They moved out of the way again so Justin could open the wrought iron gate and go up the stairs to the balcony.

"Okay, what were you going to tell me?" Noah asked as he followed Nick to the back pew.

"It doesn’t feel right."

"Brenner?"

Nick nodded. "Maybe I’ll be convinced when I hear the reports. They’ve got a thumbprint, a partial anyway, and they’re working on a voice match with the confessional tape. When the results are in confirming Brenner’s the unsub, then I’ll relax. Until then…"

"You want me to stay."

"Yes. I know Pete’s going to be calling you with another assignment-"

"I’ll try to fend him off. Besides, we’re going to hear what the techs have concluded by tonight. Tomorrow at the latest."

"I really appreciate this, Noah."

"If it doesn’t feel right to you, then of course I’m staying. Do I have to keep wearing this dress?"

Nick smiled. "You probably should keep wearing it until you leave Holy Oaks. Too many people know you as a priest. Let’s leave it that way."

He looked Noah up and down and then asked, "Where are you hiding your gun? Ankle strap?" he guessed as he glanced down at Noah’s feet. The tips of his black tennis shoes were protruding from the hem of the long robe.

"Too hard to get to," Noah answered. He lifted the full sleeve covering his left arm. The holster holding the gun was strapped just below his elbow. "Thank God for Velcro."

"Nice," Nick said.

"Tell me something. Don’t you think you should tell Tom and Laurant you still have reservations?"

"What am I going to tell them? The evidence is pretty conclusive, and God only knows what else Wesson has on Brenner. Besides, Laurant and Tommy have been living under a tremendous strain, and Laurant’s been looking forward to her friend’s wedding. I want her to be able to enjoy herself tonight. You keep your eye on Tommy, and I’ll watch out for her."

"No, I’m not going to work that way. You do what you want with Laurant, but I’m telling Tom to stay sharp. I don’t want him to relax until you’re convinced."

Nick nodded. "Yeah, okay."

"Did you tell Pete how you’re feeling about this?"

"Yes."

"And?"

Nick shoved his hands in his pockets. "I’m not being objective because I’m too personally involved."

"He could be right."

"When the reports are in, I’ll stop worrying."

"Then what?"

"We go home," Nick said. "Another day, another case."

"You’re just going to walk away from her, aren’t you?" Noah sounded incredulous. "She’s the best thing that ever happened to you, but you’re too chicken to take the chance. You’re nuts. You know that?"

Nick responded to the question by turning around and walking away from his friend.