Silent Killer

Chapter Thirty-three

“You didn’t have to come in today, you know,” Lorie said. “Besides, I’m thinking we should start closing Treasures again either every Monday or Tuesday, at least during the summer.”

“I’m better off here than I would be at home,” Cathy said. “I’d be climbing the walls without something to keep me busy.”

“You’re not doing much better here. You’re as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”

Cathy forced a fragile smile. “At least here I’m not alone waiting for the phone to ring, hoping Jack will call or Seth-”

“I could strangle Jackson Perdue,” Lorie said. “How dare he lay all the blame on you. It’s not like you got pregnant all by yourself. What the hell would he have done if your positions had been reversed? You could have had an abortion or given your baby up for adoption, but you didn’t.”

“I have to believe that once he’s had a chance to think things through, he’ll understand. I just wish he’d call. When I stopped by the sheriff’s department, Mike said that Jack was out for lunch and he’d give him the message to call me ASAP.” She checked her watch for the dozenth time in the past half hour. “That was nearly an hour ago. It’s obvious that he’s avoiding me and Mike is helping him.”

“Mike’s another man I’d like to strangle.”

The over-the-door bell chimed to alert them that a customer had entered the store. Lorie groaned.

“Speaking of strangling someone…that’s Bitsy Cavanaugh,” Lorie said quietly. “She’s a regular. Always buys several things and then returns half of what she buys.”

“I’ll take care of her, if you’d like for me to.”

“That would be-”

Cathy’s phone rang, instantly immobilizing her and Lorie.

“Well, answer it,” Lorie told her.

With an unsteady hand, Cathy clasped the phone and glanced at the caller ID. “It’s Jack.”

“So talk to him. Go in the back. I’ll take care of Bitsy.”

Heading for the back storeroom, Cathy answered on the third ring. “Hello.”

“Cathy, it’s Jack.”

“Yes, I know.”

“I…uh…I’m sorry I haven’t returned any of your earlier calls. I needed a little time to think.”

“I understand.”

“Look, we need to talk, face-to-face. May I come by tonight?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I think you should know that Seth came to see me.”

Cathy’s stomach knotted painfully. “What did he say to you? What did you say to him?”

“He’s hurt and angry with you and me, but we had a good talk. He’s a smart kid. He’s got a good heart. You did a fine job with him.”

For half a second, Cathy couldn’t breathe. Jack’s compliment had taken her totally by surprise.

When she didn’t respond, Jack said, “Seth doesn’t hate you.” Pause. “And neither do I.”

She sucked in and released a quivering breath.

“Cathy?”

“I’m here.” And hanging on by a thread. She was on the verge of bursting into tears.

“We’ll find a way to work through this,” he told her. “I love you, honey, and Seth loves you. But we’ve got a mess on our hands, and I don’t know what it’ll take to clean it up.”

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes. If only I could make you and Seth understand how it was for me, why I did what I did, why I kept everything a secret.”

“One thing at a time,” Jack said. “Right now, give Seth some time and a lot of space. He needs you to talk to his grandparents, to Mark’s parents. It’s your job to tell them the truth. Seth was afraid that he’d have to do it, but I told him that it wasn’t his place to do it.”

“I’ll go over there this afternoon and talk to them, but only to tell them that both you and Seth know the truth. J.B. and Mona have always known that Seth wasn’t Mark’s biological child. They knew Mark couldn’t father a child.”

Jack grunted. “I don’t know if that’s going to help Seth or make things worse for him. He loves them, and he’s worried about how they’ll take the news.”

“You care about Seth, don’t you?”

“My God, Cathy, did you think I wouldn’t care? He’s my son. Besides that, I’d already begun to care about him simply because he was yours.”

“Oh, Jack.” Tears pooled in her eyes. She swallowed hard.

“Talk to your former in-laws and explain things. I’ll stop by tonight, and we’ll talk. We’ll figure out where we go from here.”

Several minutes after the conversation ended, Cathy stood alone in the storeroom and cried. Grateful tears. Jack still loved her. Seth still loved her. And where there was love, there was hope.

After Seth left the Harpers, he called Nana to tell her that he was okay and for her not to worry about him.

“What’s wrong?” she had asked. “Whatever it is, come home, dear, and let’s talk.”

“You need to talk to my mom first. I-I’ll come home after you talk to her.”

He’d been walking around Dunmore for the past hour, his mind a mixed jumble of thoughts and feelings. And even though his own life was one big mess, the thing that kept bothering him had nothing to do with his personal problems. He couldn’t get Felicity Harper off his mind. The crazy way she’d been acting and the horrible things she’d said about her father worried him. He wished he could shake this bad feeling-a feeling that Felicity intended to do something to her dad.

I hate him. I wish he was dead.

I could kill Daddy.

He had known Felicity for years, and the older she got the weirder she got, but until today he’d never believed she was capable of actually killing somebody. Maybe he should have figured it out sooner. If he had, he might have saved a few lives. But even now, he could hardly believe what he was thinking.

Strange as it seemed, it all made some goofy kind of sense. Felicity was a rebel. She hated her parents’ Christian lifestyle, hated being a preacher’s kid, hated anything that was even vaguely normal. She disliked her grandmother, thought her mother was a doormat, grumbled all the time about how her sister was the favorite child and had made no secret of how much she resented Missy’s presence in her home. The only person she admired was her dad. And now he had let her down in the worst way possible.

Felicity was one gigantic mass of hate and anger and resentment.

She had called her father an adulterous blasphemer who should be punished for his sins.

Maybe he was wrong. God, he hoped so. He’d always liked Felicity, despite her being a royal pain in the butt. But he could not shake the gut feeling that she might be the Fire and Brimstone Killer.

He had to tell somebody. Jack, maybe. But what if he was wrong? The last person he needed to confide in was a sheriff’s deputy. He could always confront Felicity, but if she was a killer, what would stop her from trying to kill him?

He wondered if anyone else had drawn the same conclusion he had and, like him, didn’t know what to do. Missy might have picked up on something since she’d been living with the Harpers. She and Felicity mixed like oil and water.

Seth looked around and noted that he had walked all the way back to Main Street. It was nearly two o’clock, so downtown wasn’t overrun with the lunchtime crowd. Finding a private spot underneath the storefront canopy of a closed business, he called Missy. She answered quickly, on the first ring.

“Hello, Seth.”

“Hey, I’m not bothering you, am I?”

“No, I…uh…I was hoping you’d call. I’ve been thinking about calling you.”

“Yeah, what about?”

“About Felicity,” Missy said. “I’m worried about her. She’s acting really strange.”

“Yeah, I know. Felicity is the reason I called. I think maybe she’s going to do something really stupid. We need to stop her.”

“I know. I think maybe she’s going to hurt her father. I’ve never seen her so angry. I wanted to talk to Charity about it, but she ate a quick lunch and went back to Bright Side.”

“Where’s Felicity?”

“I don’t know. She left a little while after you did.”

“Where are her parents?”

“Ruth Ann and Mrs. Long are both out looking for her,” Missy said. “Her dad called and explained what had happened with his secretary. It seems she kissed him, and he was totally shocked. They’re not having an affair. He sent her straight home after it happened, and he’s going to have to fire her.”

“Does Felicity know?”

“No. She disappeared before her mom could tell her, so Ruth Ann and her mother are trying to find her. And Reverend Harper is still at the church, waiting there in case Felicity shows up again. They’re all worried sick about her. And so am I.”

Just say it, Seth told himself. Tell Missy what you’re thinking and see how she reacts. “I know this sounds crazy, but I’ve been thinking…What if Felicity is the Fire and Brimstone Killer?”

Missy gasped. “Oh, Seth, surely not. You know what that would mean?”

“Yeah, it would mean she killed my father and yours.”

“My father deserved what he got, but yours didn’t.”

“We have to talk to somebody, tell them what we suspect.”

“Who can we trust?”

There was one person he’d been able to talk to all his life. He could talk to her about anything. He might still be angry with her, and he certainly hadn’t forgiven her, but she was the only person he could talk to who would take him seriously and at the same time would help him see where he might be completely wrong.

“My mother,” Seth said. “Can you pick me up on Main Street near the drugstore and we’ll go to Treasures together? We’ll tell my mom everything. She’ll know what to do.”

Erin wanted to die. Her life was meaningless without John Earl. She had loved him for years, had devoted herself to him and he had tossed her aside like yesterday’s garbage. He was like all the others, taking what he wanted without any thought of her feelings. He was a vile, egotistical bastard, and she hated him. She wished he could know the pain she felt. He deserved to suffer. It would serve him right if he ended up like the other preachers had. Burned at the stake. Turned into a human torch. Punished for disappointing those who loved him.

He had sent her home, and home is where she’d stayed. She couldn’t go back to the church office today and face him, not after what had happened.

How could he expect her to come to his office tomorrow and talk to him in a calm, rational manner? He intended to fire her. He might ask her to resign, but it amounted to the same thing. He was sending her packing. Oh, he’d give her a decent reference and think he’d done a good deed.

Son of a bitch! Sanctimonious asshole!

Maybe she should go see him and show him just what she thought of him. She’d tell him what he could do with his letter of reference. She’d tell him to stick it where the sun don’t shine.

Better yet, she’d set the damn thing on fire and watch his reaction before she exacted her revenge.

“I think I’ll work in the stockroom for a while since you don’t seem to need me out here,” Cathy told Lorie. “I could use a little quiet time to think about things.”

“You have a big night tonight.” Lorie said. “First a meeting with J.B. and Mona to tell them that Seth knows Mark wasn’t his father and then later, Jack’s stopping by to talk.” Lorie gave her a sympathetic look. “What did Mona say when you called her?”

“Nothing really, just that she’s concerned about Seth because he hasn’t come home. She wanted me to tell her right then and there what was going on. I told her I’d explain everything when I stop by after work.”

“Maybe you should leave now and go on over there.”

“J.B.’s not there. He’s gone to Huntsville and won’t be home until around five,” Cathy said. “I suppose Mona will call Mother and I’ll have to deal with her, too.”

“Your mother should fess up and admit she’s the one who spilled the beans to Seth.”

“Mother takes credit for anything she considers good, but she never takes the blame for anything that goes wrong.”

“Everything’s going to work out, you know. Jack and Seth will both come around. Jack’s already told you that he still loves you and-”

Cathy’s cell phone rang. She picked it up off the counter where she’d placed it by the cash register. “That’s odd. It’s John Earl’s office.” She answered on the second ring. “Hello.”

A hoarse, unrecognizable voice said, “Ms. Cantrell, this is Erin McKinley, Reverend Harper’s secretary. I apologize for my voice.” She coughed a couple of times. “Allergies. I have a mild case of laryngitis.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Cathy said.

“I’m calling for John Earl. He would appreciate it if you’d come over to his office as soon as possible. It seems he wants to talk to you about his daughter Felicity and your son, Seth.”

“What about Seth and Felicity?”

“I really don’t know, Ms. Cantrell. I’m simply relaying a message. I believe there’s some sort of problem with his daughter that involves your son.”

“And you say that John Earl wants me to come over there now?”

“Yes, ma’am. Can I tell him you’ll be here soon?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank you.”

When she hung up, Cathy turned to Lorie. “That was strange. John Earl’s secretary said that he wants to see me ASAP to talk to me about Felicity and Seth.”

“That is strange. What could be so urgent that he needs to see you right away?”

“I don’t know. She just said that there’s a problem involving Seth and Felicity. I can’t imagine what it could be. I just hope Seth hasn’t done something stupid because he’s angry with me.”

“Why don’t you go on over there and talk to John Earl now. I’m sure whatever it is, he’s already dealing with it. Felicity’s a handful, but she’s basically a good kid.” Lorie laughed. “Actually, she reminds me of myself at that age. I was always doing something I shouldn’t, always screwing up. But my folks weren’t as understanding and supportive as John Earl and Ruth Ann. If they had been…”

“I’ll try not to be long,” Cathy said. “But if for any reason I can’t make it back here to Treasures this afternoon, I’ll call you.”

“Don’t worry about it. I can hold down the fort. Just go find out what’s going on with Seth and Felicity.”

“Give me my purse, will you.” Cathy held out her hand. “It’s under the counter beside yours.”

Lorie pulled out the small leather clutch and handed it to Cathy. “And remember to cut Seth some slack. He’s going through a pretty rough patch right now. If he’s done something he shouldn’t have, point out to him that everyone makes mistakes and forgiveness works both ways.”

Cathy groaned. “All things considered, I guess I can overlook almost anything he’s done.”

Seth glanced at Missy, who clutched the steering wheel with both hands and glued her gaze to the rearview mirror as she backed her car out of the parking lot on Main Street.

“I haven’t driven anywhere since my father died,” Missy said. “I’m sort of nervous.”

“We could have walked to Treasures,” Seth told her. “Or if you want me to, I can drive. I’ve got my permit. I’ll be sixteen next month.”

“It’s okay. We’ll get there a lot quicker if we drive instead of walk, and it’s important that we talk to your mother as soon as possible. If we’re right about Felicity…”

“Maybe we’re wrong. Maybe I’ve jumped to conclusions. Just because she’s weird and was talking trash about killing her dad doesn’t mean she’s the Fire and Brimstone Killer.”

“You’re right, it doesn’t. But what if she is and we don’t tell anybody and she actually kills her father?”

“I keep going over the facts,” Seth said. “Whoever killed my dad and yours and the other clergymen had it in for men of God, right? And this person has to be all screwed up in the head. Also, the killer has to have access to a car and has to know how to drive. And don’t forget that whoever planted your locket at the last crime scene had to be someone who had access to it, which means somebody in the Harper household. Whoever did that doesn’t like you, otherwise she wouldn’t have tried to frame you. All the evidence adds up to Felicity.”

Missy shivered. Her whole body rippled with tremors. “Maybe not. What if it’s someone else in the Harper house?”

“Like who?”

“Mrs. Long, maybe. She’s a strange old woman, and it’s obvious she doesn’t like me.”

“But does she hate preachers for any reason?” Seth asked. “I’d think she might have a fondness for them since her son-in-law is a minister, and so was her husband.”

Missy slammed on the brakes so quickly that if he hadn’t been wearing a seat belt, Seth would have gone sailing through the windshield.

“What the heck?”

“Oh, Seth, it could be Mrs. Long or…No, no, I won’t believe it’s her.”

“Who? Mrs. Long?” Seth asked, but Missy shook her head. “Why did you stop in the middle of the street? If another car comes along, we could get hit from behind.”

Missy nodded, took her foot off the brake, gave the car enough gas to propel it forward and then she glanced at Seth. If I tell you a secret, will you swear to me that you won’t tell another living soul?”

“Yeah, sure. What is it?” Seth watched the play of odd emotions crossing Missy’s face. Whatever she was going to tell him must be pretty horrific.

“Swear to me. Say the words.”

“I swear I’ll never tell.”

“Ruth Ann’s father did to her what my father did to me. He raped her from the time she was a little girl until the day he died. That’s why she took me in, why she’s been trying to help me.”

“Shit! That means Mrs. Harper must have hated her father and could hate all ministers.”

“It gives her a motive,” Missy agreed. “But it also gives Mrs. Long a motive. She must hate what her husband did and probably hates herself for not being able to stop him.”

“So you think she’s stopping other ministers from doing bad things?” Seth asked. “But my dad was one of the good guys. Why would anyone kill him?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that someone in the Harper house could be the Fire and Brimstone Killer. I just don’t know who. It could be Felicity or Ruth Ann or-”

“Turn off here and hit the alley behind the street,” Seth told her. “Treasures has a parking area in back.”

Missy turned off North Main and quickly made a right into the alley. She pulled her car into an empty slot at the back of the Treasures building, and she and Seth got out and hurried to the back door. Finding the door locked, Seth banged on it with his fist. Finally, Lorie opened the door and stared at them, obviously startled by their unexpected appearance.

“What’s going on?” Lorie asked.

“I need to speak to my mother right away,” Seth said.

“She’s not here,” Lorie told him.

“Where is she?”

“She got a call from John Earl’s secretary. Something about a problem with you and Felicity, some trouble y’all had gotten into,” Lorie said. “She left a few minutes ago to go over to the Baptist church and talk to him.”

Seth’s gaze met Missy’s and he knew she was thinking what he was-that something was wrong, bad wrong.

“Somebody lied to Mom,” Seth said. “Felicity and I haven’t gotten into any trouble. There’s no reason Reverend Harper would need to talk to my mother about me. And his secretary isn’t at the church. She went home for the afternoon.”

“You two come on in.” Lorie held open the back door. “Tell me what’s going on. I can see that you’re both scared spitless.”

Seth allowed Missy to enter first, and then he followed her and waited for Lorie to close and lock the back door. Standing in the narrow hallway that separated the bathroom and the storeroom, Seth gave Lorie a condensed version of his and Missy’s theory.

“Do you think we’re wrong to be worried?” Missy asked.

“No, you’re not wrong,” Lorie said.

“What should we do?” Missy looked at her pleadingly.

“Call Jack,” Lorie said. “I have no idea what’s going on, who called Cathy and why, but I don’t like it. If you two are right about-”

“I’m going to the church now,” Seth told her. “Mom could be in trouble. You call Jack and tell him to meet me there, and I’ll call Mom’s cell phone and warn her. He looked at Missy. “Can I borrow your car?”

“I’m going with you,” Missy said.

“No, Seth, wait,” Lorie called to them as they pushed her out of the way and headed for the door.

When she parked her car in the church lot, she didn’t pay any attention to the other vehicles. People used the lot for various reasons, not all of them associated with the church. It had been years since she’d been inside the Dunmore Baptist Church, and she didn’t know her way around inside, so she entered through the unlocked front doors. Just inside the vestibule, she found a directory listing and discovered that the minister’s office was in the basement. The carpeted staircase leading down to it was well lit. Once she reached the lower level, she found a bright, cheerful hallway with pale cream walls and numerous rooms, most of them Sunday school rooms with gaily decorated doors.

When her cell phone rang, she opened her purse, reached in and removed the phone. Seeing that the caller was Seth, she answered immediately, but the phone suddenly went dead. She tried returning the call, but discovered that the reception here in the church basement was terrible. That was probably the reason her phone wouldn’t work properly. As soon as she talked to John Earl, she’d call Seth.

The door to the office marked REVEREND JOHN EARL HARPER stood wide open, enough so that Cathy was able to see inside to his secretary’s desk. But she saw no sign of Erin McKinley or anyone else for that matter.

Odd.

Maybe John Earl had sent her on an errand, or perhaps she was in the nearby restroom.

“Hello,” Cathy called as she walked into the outer office.

Silence.

“John Earl, it’s Catherine Cantrell.”

A strange noise came from inside his private office. She walked over to the partially open door and peered inside. No one sat behind the desk.

“John Earl?”

Then she heard that funny noise again. It sounded like shuffling and…and what? Moaning?

Her heartbeat accelerated.

What’s the matter with you? You’re acting as if you have something to be afraid of, and you know good and well you don’t. You’re in a church, in the minister’s private office. Where else could you be as safe as you are here?

Cathy entered the room and followed the peculiar sounds until she reached the side of the large oak desk. She saw what appeared to be a man’s feet clad in leather loafers.

Was John Earl lying on the floor? Doing push-ups? Or had he passed out?

She took several quick yet tentative steps and stopped dead still when she got a full view of the man on the floor. John Earl had been bound and gagged. Blood trickled down the side of his head, from his hairline to his chin. He stared up at her, his eyes wild with fear. He kept moaning and shaking his head.

“My God, who did this to you?” Cathy rushed over to him, knelt down beside him and yanked the gag from his mouth.

“Watch out!” John Earl yelled.

Too late. His dire warning was the last thing Cathy heard before someone conked her on the head and knocked her out cold.