Sanctuary Forever WITSEC Town Series Book 5

by Lisa Phillips

  She backed up another step. “I’m not talking about him. I have enough problems with my own father, to go and worry about Dan’s, too. He’s dead, and so is Hal. It should be done.” It should. Why wasn’t it? That’s what she wanted to know. How could two men cause so many problems from beyond the grave? Dan’s dad was probably busy burning in hell, so she didn’t have to worry much about him. Still.

  “Gemma.”

  She shook her head. “I should go mingle.”

  **

  Across town, Mei walked through the farmhouse to the living room. The place where Dan Walden’s mother had been shot and killed, or so she figured. Mei surveyed each of the other rooms—master bedroom, a sad and lifeless place. No kid bedroom, which was interesting. Hadn’t Dan had a room? Back down on the main floor she found the basement stairs off the hall and headed down there. Also no kid bedroom.

  Mei shone her flashlight around the basement. Bare frame walls and insulation, wires but not even drywall. She circled the long tables in the middle of the room, the hanging lights. Processing what that meant in the context of US drug enforcement activities, in the late seventies and into the eighties, and setting it aside.

  One wall had a square grate instead of insulation. Two feet by two feet. She wiggled the grate off and shone her light inside.

  A tunnel. The floor looked like old tracks dug into the earth, like someone had carted something in and out of the house, many times. Mei climbed in and started walking. A tall man would have to hunch over. The walls were damp and the air musty, though it got cleaner as she walked. The moment she smelled fresh air, Mei glanced up. Stars.

  This had to be the spot where Gemma fell in. Dirt and broken two-by-fours partially blocked the tunnel but she climbed over it, grunting when she sat on a splinter.

  “Is someone there?” The voice was distant, outside Dan’s house. In the yard.

  Mei held still for a couple of minutes and then started moving again. Dan Walden was seriously hiding something. His mom’s mysterious disappearance, death, whatever it was. Her contact hadn’t been able to find much of anything on his parents. Then years after the mom is suddenly gone, his dad has heart failure? Dan Walden was a walking enigma. But good for her, she liked puzzles. And a tunnel from Dan’s house that led to… where?

  Mei was going to find out.

  Chapter 7

  Dan leaned against the wall outside Gemma’s house. Night had fallen, the guests had gone home, and the happy couple were off on their honeymoon up the mountain.

  The town only had four streets, then a collection of houses that were separate, like his farm. Main Street was in the center, the bakery, the bank, the diner, and the sheriff’s office. The laundromat where he washed his clothes. Gemma lived on D Street. Dan didn’t know how she managed to coexist with so many people in such close proximity, even if she’d moved out of her mom’s house to live on her own.

  He didn’t think he’d be able to handle being in town full time. But then, none of these houses had barns for him to live in.

  It wasn’t long before she came walking down the street, shoes hanging from her fingers and her feet bare. Distant happy thoughts brightened her face as she stared up at the darkening sky. She’d had a good day, and it was a good look on her.

  “Good wedding, huh.”

  She smiled, and for a while he felt like there was only the two of them. No past, no expectations. She said, “You do a good job as pastor. What you said about that cord was nice, too. Three strands.”

  He wanted things to go back to the way they had been before he’d found that photo of his father. Could they have that? Dan didn’t know if it was possible. He also didn’t know if he wanted to settle for that when he was pretty sure they could have more than a simple friendship. The possibility was always in the back of his mind—romance, however he was supposed to go about that. Yet she didn’t know God the way he did, which put them at odds. It might work but there was every possibility it could crash and burn instead because they would never see eye-to-eye. Could he take the risk?

  Dan braced and got it over with. “Wanna take a walk? We could hit the diner and get some pie.”

  Gemma grimaced. “I’ve eaten enough for two days. And a month’s worth of cake.”

  “Then let’s just walk. I could use some air.”

  She stared at him. “Why are you here, Dan?”

  “I’m here because you’re my friend, Gemma. Nothing is going to change that. It’ll test it, maybe, but I’m pretty sure we’ve proven over and over that nothing will break this apart.” He motioned between them with a finger.

  Something flashed across her face, an emotion he didn’t recognize. It made him wonder what he didn’t know, and why she’d never told him whatever it was. Truth had always been their way. Now she was hiding something.

  “Whatever it is, you can tell me.” He paused. “It’s me.”

  Gemma blinked, and the look disappeared. “Let me get my other shoes.” She held up the heels. “Can’t walk in these.”

  She went inside, and he waited. The street was dark, quiet except for someone’s TV. Their front windows were open, so he could hear singing on the show. Sanctuary always seemed so calm after dark, but they’d gone through so much as a town, and the scars would be visible come morning.

  The town had been under siege by a rogue Navy SEAL. The previous pastor, Father Wilson, had murdered people and tried to poison the water supply. The former school teacher, too, and the deputy sheriff at the time John showed up.

  It was nice that the town had finally drifted to a peaceful time. They didn’t need any more bombs exploding in the caves that littered the mountains that was for sure. With the exception of the mayor, things were good. Who cared who took over for the man? There wasn’t much they could do to mess up everyone’s lives, given the committee that oversaw the town now had final say. It was little more than a title now. Dan didn’t even know why the mayor was so big on passing down the mantle of the job he’d monopolized for a decade.

  When she came back still in her bridesmaid’s dress and wearing sneakers, he said, “What do you think the mayor wanted with your mom?”

  “Probably asking her if she wants to be mayor.” Her voice was sardonic, but he heard the note of pain.

  Dan nudged the outside of her arm with his hand. “I’m sure he’ll ask you.”

  “Yeah, right. Doesn’t matter, though, because I’m way too busy to be mayor. I’ve got a library to run and books to write.”

  “No wonder I hardly see you.”

  She giggled. “Like you don’t have weeds to pull. Honey to harvest.”

  “I know how you like your honey.”

  “I don’t think I could put anything else in my coffee. I was raised on that stuff.”

  Dan wanted to grab her hand. Twine their fingers together, no big deal. He liked his space, and so did she, but sometimes connection was good.

  “You realize you’re being super weird, right? You’re wearing dress shoes and we’re walking through the woods.”

  Dan chuckled. “It’s harder to hide sometimes, but I really like it. Us.” The night was cloudy so he flipped on his flashlight as they entered the woods. He’d spent plenty of nights outside after his father locked the barn door. He liked this, too. Especially when she was here. “So where are we going? The lake?”

  “Sure. We were going when I fell into the hole, and we still haven’t been out there.” Gemma stumbled.

  He reached for her, found her forearm. Dan slid his hand down and found her fingers. “Don’t want you to get lost.”

  “So we’re friends again?”

  They started walking again. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

  “Uh, maybe because I kicked you out of my business and my life.”

  “Maybe we can just ignore that room full of papers and be what we’ve always been.” As if that would be enough. Papa, I have plenty. Why do I want this when everything else should be enough? Why did he want so much more than friends
hip? He’d been denying it for so long, and now it was hitting him all in a rush.

  “Forgive and move on, is that it?” When he didn’t say anything else, she said, “You’re such a Christian.”

  A smile curled his lips. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “You’re just so darn reasonable it’s infuriating.” She stepped over a log. “Forgiving. Happy. I’d rather have a bad attitude. I like my bad attitude.”

  “Really.”

  She dragged his hand with hers as she motioned with her arm. “Yes! It makes me feel better. It’s cathartic. Sometimes I want to punch something, so I go to Sam’s gym and I do. Bingo. Feelings processed.”

  Dan chuckled. “Of course. Why didn’t I think of that?”

  “I’ve told you to try it. Not my fault you thought I was joking.”

  He cleared his throat. “So you don’t need anything; you’ve got this.”

  “Maybe I do. Why is that bad?” She squeezed his hand but didn’t let go. “I know you need God. It’s great. I’ve seen what He does for you, and I know it wouldn’t have to be that…drastic with me. No one else seems to see God like you do. I think people take as much of Him as they want, or need. Is that right?”

  “I suppose. We let Him in to be Lord of our lives, but sometimes we don’t want to give up everything for His sake. Like football or a hobby or what we think our lives should be. I do think some people miss what could have been had they given all, picked up their cross, and truly followed after Him.”

  “You mean like missionaries?”

  “It can be anything. Even a stay-at-home mom or a Sunday school teacher, a prison guard or a sous chef. It only matters what it is God wants to do in you.”

  “What if what He wants to do with me only has everything to do with you?”

  Dan stopped. He tugged on her hand until she was facing him. “Why do you say that?”

  She shrugged one shoulder. “He obviously cares about you if He’ll help me make things better.”

  Dan hardly knew what to say. She saw all that, and she didn’t see how God could do that for her? He’d be seriously honored if God allowed him to be the man who made her life better. Nothing could be better than her hand in his than marriage. Intimacy. A family of their own.

  The question was whether she could handle it. Whether he could. That was if she even wanted that with him. Dan couldn’t be sure of that simple thing. Maybe she was content with their friendship. She was still determined to protect him, and he loved her for that. He knew what it might do if he found awful things among that paperwork. Would she share what she learned with him? He was trying to be okay with it if she never told him anything, but it would always be between them. It might even turn things bad.

  If he took this step, would it ruin everything they had that was good? Dan stepped closer to test the waters. Had he ever been this near to her as an adult? Thoughts raced through his head, and his temperature shot up. He was like a teenager trying to get up the gumption to kiss his first crush.

  “Gemma.” Her name came out like a whisper. Papa, she’s a gift. This would be a gift, too. If it’s from You. “Can I kiss you?”

  “Are you sure?” she whispered back.

  Dan nodded. “I’m sure.” He lowered his head, one hand still holding hers. With his other hand he touched the outside of her arm. “I’m really sure.”

  It didn’t matter what anyone thought. Okay, so it did a bit because he was their pastor. He could explain it, if he had to, tell them all exactly what had grown between him and Gemma over the last fifteen years. She was everything good in his life, and she’d been by his side through so much he’d never have survived if it hadn’t been for her hand in his, walking with him through the woods wearing his coat because it had been snowing. Sharing her sandwich with him. Coming over with Coke and cherry syrup.

  His lips touched hers, the smallest caress.

  A twig snapped. “I think someone else is out here.” The man’s voice drifted to them through the trees.

  Dan reached in his pocket and fingered the flashlight. He held Gemma close and prayed whoever it was didn’t see them.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she whispered.

  Dan tugged on her hand, and they crept between the trees, away from the voice.

  **

  Gemma could hardly breathe. He’d kissed her! Years of wondering what that would be like, and some guy interrupted them in the middle of it? There was no privacy anywhere in this town. That, or maybe God didn’t like her after all.

  Gemma stumbled on a tree root. Dan grabbed her waist to help her along, and she giggled. She couldn’t help it. This was bizarre. He was acting like he was her boyfriend, and Dan had never done that with her. Was it the wedding that had this effect on him?

  They crept through the woods. As they walked, Gemma heard him laugh, deep in his chest.

  She glanced back. “I think you’ve lost it.” But she loved his laugh. “Let’s go to the lake.”

  His smile. She couldn’t get enough of it. “We got caught making out.”

  “I’ll put out a press release. Pastor embroiled in hot scandal.” Only there was nothing funny about this.

  Dan trailed behind her. “Yeah, that might not be good. Maybe we keep a lid on what just happened, leave it between us.”

  “Fine by me.” Like she wanted everyone talking about her business anyway. Everyone already thought they had a right to his. “If this gets out everyone will think I’m corrupting you.”

  “I’d like to think I can stand up to you.”

  She wasn’t going to answer that, because he could. A lady was supposed to be tempting. Irresistible. He thought he could resist her? Fine. He didn’t need to know he’d swept her away with that kiss.

  “Why are you mad?”

  She didn’t turn back. “Who says I’m mad?” It wouldn’t work if he saw her face. He’d know she was totally lying. But whatever, when a guy just out-right went and said he could resist her, how else was she going to react? “I’m not mad.”

  “Your voice gets higher in pitch when you lie.”

  Gemma kept walking. Dress-shoes back there was a little slower in pace, considering he wasn’t hoofing it through the woods like she was. He needed to speed up if he was going to keep up with her.

  “Somewhere you need to be?”

  “I just want to get out of the trees,” she said. “I like open space better.”

  “Since when?”

  Gemma gritted her teeth. “Since right now, when I was kissing someone I care about a lot and someone saw us.”

  Dan tagged her hand and held on. “Gemma—”

  “Do we have to deconstruct it? Can’t it just be what it was, a very nice interlude?”

  “It was very nice.”

  Gemma shook her head. If he wanted to be coy, fine. The lake wasn’t too far ahead. She needed to jump in and cool off. Dan could watch, since he apparently wasn’t in the least bit hot and bothered. Apparently she didn’t affect him at all.

  “And…you’re mad again.”

  Gemma held her tongue, then decided to change the subject altogether. “I’m circling back to destroying that whole room. It’s causing too many problems. And why does that secret need to be hidden, anyway? If it’s so valuable, why not remove the possibility that it’s going to get out?”

  “Avoiding.” She heard his muttered word. Then louder, he said, “I’m not going to tell anyone Hal had a secret hidden in there. Are you?”

  Gemma shook her head. “I shouldn’t even have told you.” Her father should have left her some instructions along with his “gift.” Gemma said, “Hal gave that radio station to me on the condition that I keep it safe and make sure no one ever finds it.”

  Dan sighed. “I can help you figure this out, you know. It’ll go a lot faster.”

  “I still don’t want you in there. I’m not going to budge on that.”

  “Stalemate.”

  They drew close enough she could see the la
ke. She didn’t want to talk about the papers anymore, or even think about them. Bolton’s ranch house had been destroyed, and beneath that house was where her father had died. Gemma had been holed up with most of the town in a bunker beneath the Meeting House. There was no ranch house now, just a pretty lake that hid the death beneath the waters and a grave she hadn’t visited.

  Gemma stopped. “This is the first time I’ve been here since John told me what happened.”

  Dan stood quiet beside her for a minute. “You have to believe that if he’d been able to, he would have told you he was your father. You have to believe that.”

  “So what was he protecting? The town itself, or me?”

  “Or all of us. But my guess would be that he was protecting you.”

  “From what? That’s what I don’t get. I could leave if I wanted to, so why do I need protecting?” Gemma took a breath. “My mom came here by herself, pregnant with me. Or did she just tell me that so I wouldn’t think any of the men in town might be my father? It was a trick. Like a horrible joke played on me, and now nothing about my life makes any sense.”

  “That doesn’t change who you are.”

  “Only what I’ve always believed about myself.” She stepped back from him. “That’s why I wanted some space.”

  “Yesterday.”

  Gemma could’ve laughed. “New day, huh? So you want to go for coffee?”

  “Why does that not sound like a good thing?”

  “Let all your church-people see us together.”

  “I’m not ashamed of you. I could never be that, Gemma.” Dan shook his head. “I have to handle it right, but it’s not a lost cause.” He took both of her hands. “You’re not a lost cause.”

  “I know you say that. But they’re Bible people, they aren’t going to want me with you.” Gemma sighed. “A few are already starting to suspect. That’s why this shouldn’t go any further. Aside from the fact we aren’t ever going to agree on the papers thing, no one will think this is okay.”

  “Suddenly you need people’s approval?”