Dust and Obey

by Christy Barritt

  I halfway wanted to apologize because I knew that had to hurt. But she’d been ready to kill me. I’d been forced to take action.

  She sneered at me from the ground. “I was on to you. I knew what you were doing. I tried to warn Dr. Turner.”

  “You were following me,” I said.

  “I found that list you made. I knew I had to take it as proof. You were going to ruin Dr. Turner’s reputation.”

  “I think he did a good job doing that himself.”

  She sneered again. “He’s a miracle worker.”

  “If by miracle worker you mean serial killer, then yes.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “What I don’t understand is how you ended up locked in that shed with cuts on your arms,” I said, watching her carefully. “I’m guessing you were trying to steal something, although I can’t imagine what.”

  At that moment, someone else appeared at the top of the stairs. Steve. He held a camera in his hands. “I’ve got documentation of all of this. There’s no way Dr. Turner or Blaine will get away with this. And I was the one who locked Blaine in that shed.”

  “You’re also the one who reported her missing,” I said. “Why would you do both?”

  “I knew she was behind the thefts here on the island. When I saw her in the shed about to steal some of the copper wire that had been left in there after upgrades, I wanted her to get caught red-handed. That’s why I trapped her inside.”

  “So you were trying to put that wire in your pockets, and it ended up scratching you. But I didn’t see any wire on you when I found you.”

  “I hid the wire, but when I went back to get it later, it was gone.” Her fingers clawed the sand like a cat about to pounce.

  Steve stood behind her now, the camera still strapped around his neck. “When I realized my plan didn’t work, I went back and took the wire. It was the only satisfaction I could get out of any of this.”

  “Tell me one more thing,” I said. “Did Dr. Turner kill his own wife?”

  Surprise flashed in Blaine’s gaze. “What?”

  “That hit-and-run? They never did catch whoever was behind the wheel. But since Dr. Turner thinks adulterous women should be put to death, maybe she was his first kill.”

  In one last burst of strength, Blaine sprang at me. I jumped back before she could reach me, fearing another struggle might ensue. Before she could take it any further, Steve grabbed her and held her in place.

  Behind us, lights filled the air. “Police. Everyone, put your hands up!”

  ***

  As the police led Dr. Turner away in handcuffs, he looked back at us and smirked. “You two think you’re so clever.”

  A medic attended to my wound under the bright police lights. “Not clever,” I told him. “Just determined.”

  He stopped, despite his police escort. “Well, let this fact sink in. You two are married now.”

  I nearly snorted except the sting of getting stitches hurt too much. “No, we’re not.”

  His eyes widened as he tried to drive home his point. “Remember, I’m licensed to perform marriages. At the vow renewal you stood before God and pledged forever to each other. Have fun.”

  I looked at Riley, and my lips parted with surprise. “That’s not true, right?”

  He looked equally as perplexed. “No, of course not.”

  But we both still froze, staring at each other uncertainly.

  “I mean, legally, we’re not married,” I said as the medic put a bandage on my arm.

  “But we did kind of take a vow before God, didn’t we?”

  I loved Riley. I knew I did. But was I really married to him after that ceremony? I didn’t know what to think about that.

  Apparently, Riley didn’t either.

  “Maybe we should take some time to think about that. Talk to Pastor Randy.”

  I nodded. “Good idea.”

  Because of all the ways I’d seen myself getting married, this was not one of them.

  Before I could think about it too long, my phone rang. My phone! I’d found the magic reception spot—only it was too late.

  Chad’s number appeared on the screen.

  “Gabby, we’re going to the hospital.” His voice contained an excitement unlike any I’d ever heard from him. “Sierra’s in labor!”

  “What? Already? Is she okay?” The questions rushed from my lips unchecked.

  “She’s fine. The doctor doesn’t seem to be worried.”

  I heard Sierra yell something indiscernible in the background. The sound clearly indicated she was in pain.

  Oh my. My friend was in labor. In labor!

  “I’ve got to go,” Chad rushed. “Pray for us!”

  I turned toward Riley, hardly able to breath. Sierra was the closest thing I’d ever had to a sister. She felt like family to me, and I couldn’t be more excited for her now. “Sierra’s having her baby. We’ve got to get home!”

  ***

  Riley and I had been questioned by the police for most of the night. As much as I wanted to be with Sierra, that didn’t happen until the next morning. I barely had time to shower before we left the island.

  I couldn’t help but think about Dr. Turner’s proclamation that Riley and I really were married as we headed toward home.

  I didn’t let myself think about that one too long. No, no, no. I couldn’t let myself go there.

  Instead, I thought about Riley. I thought about the way he’d tackled Dr. Turner last night—and he’d done it with confidence and skill.

  “You were no joke last night. You’ve got some nice moves.”

  The muscle in his jaw flexed. “I never want to be defenseless again. I mean, I know it could happen—”

  “There was nothing you could have done to stop that man from shooting you, Riley. He walked in and pulled the trigger. No one would have had time to react.” I hadn’t truly realized just how much that experience had affected Riley. I’d thought I understood. But seeing the long-term effects put everything into a new perspective.

  He nodded. “I know that. But I want to do everything in my power to protect myself and the people I love in the future.”

  My face warmed. Was he talking about me? Could he still love me?

  I reached across the car and took his hand. It felt so good to feel his fingers wrapped around mine.

  “I’ve missed you, Gabby.”

  I smiled. “I’ve missed you too.”

  As soon as I said the words, my thoughts went back to what Dr. Turner had said.

  You two are married now.

  I mentally shook my head. He was wrong. We were just playing parts. There was no way we were really married in God’s sight. The idea was ludicrous.

  “You’re thinking about what Dr. Turner said, aren’t you?” Riley asked.

  “How’d you know?” We pulled into a parking space at the hospital.

  “Because I’ve been thinking about it also.”

  I shifted in my seat so I could better face him. “What do you think, Riley? Was he just trying to mess with our heads some more?”

  “Maybe. But maybe not. The more I think about it, the more I can see it both ways. We did take a vow. Even if we were officially using assumed identities.”

  “Maybe we can tell God it was a mistake.” I climbed out and started toward the entrance, but the conversation kept going.

  “But was it?”

  Riley’s question caused my heart to squeeze with emotion. Was he implying what I thought he was? That wasn’t something I could let slip by. I had to know.

  “You mean, you’re toying with the idea that it was real? And that . . .”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve wanted to marry you for a long time, Gabby. But I envisioned it happening at church with family and friends around. Not by accident.”

  My heart raced ahead of my logic. “Really?”

  “Yes, really.” He smiled and squeezed my hand. “Am I being
too honest? I’m not trying to scare you.”

  “No. I like it. Please, be honest more.”

  He rubbed my hand with his thumb. “We shouldn’t be rash here. Let’s think about this, pray about this.”

  “Thinking and praying about it won’t change the reality if we took vows before a minister—even if he turned out to be a psychopath. Either it happened or it didn’t.”

  “But there’s no marriage license.” He shook his head. “We’ll talk to Pastor Randy. We’ll get this figured out, one way or another.”

  We found Sierra’s room. When we walked in, my friend was holding a baby in her arms. My heart bounced at the sight. She was glowing. Absolutely glowing.

  “Gabby. Riley. You made it.”

  I rushed to her bedside and stared at the gorgeous newborn cuddled to her chest. “How beautiful,” I whispered.

  Something inside me twisted, and an unknown emotion stirred. Could there actually be a part of me that desired to be a mom? To have a baby of my own?

  The thought was so foreign. Despite that, my throat ached for a moment.

  “Meet Thaddeus Reef Davis. We’ll call him Reef,” Chad said. “What do you think?”

  “A little boy? Oh.” My hand flew over my heart. I would have had the same reaction if the baby had been a girl. “He’s just perfect. And I love the name. Thaddeus?”

  “I had a little brother who was stillborn. His name was Thaddeus.”

  “That’s precious, Chad.”

  “Do you want to hold him?” Sierra asked.

  “Can I?” A flutter of nervousness claimed my stomach. I wasn’t sure I’d ever held a baby this young, and I wasn’t confident in my abilities.

  “Of course, Aunt Gabby.”

  I grinned. “That has a nice ring to it.”

  While I washed my hands, Chad scooped up the baby like he’d done it a million times before. I sat in a rocker by the window, and Chad placed the little bundle in my arm. My insides melted when I saw the baby’s sweet face. “Reef. You’re going to be one loved baby.”

  Reef closed his eyes and cuddled up to me. I was toast. I knew it already. Aunt Gabby was going to spoil this baby.

  Riley appeared behind me and put his hand on my shoulder. That action was enough to draw Sierra’s eyes away from her baby for a moment.

  “I knew it!” Her eyes were wide and her voice full of emotion.

  I practiced mock cluelessness. “Knew what?”

  “That the two of you would get back together. I was just waiting for it.”

  “He just put his hand on my shoulder. It doesn’t mean necessarily that we’re back together.”

  “But you are. Aren’t you?”

  I looked up at Riley and smiled. I couldn’t deny it. My heart was bursting with joy. “Yeah, you could say that.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “What’s that mean? There’s something you’re not telling me.”

  I shrugged nonchalantly. “We may have accidentally gotten married. We’re still trying to work out those details.”

  “Oh, you’ve got some talking to do.”

  “We’ll have plenty of time for that here in the next few weeks.” I looked down at Reef and smiled again. “It seems like we all have a lot to celebrate.”

  CHAPTER 49

  “So, let me get this straight,” Pastor Randy said. “You fear you unintentionally got married?”

  Riley and I exchanged a glance. We sat on the couch in his apartment, coffee in hand, and our pastor seated across from us. We’d had a week to think about everything that had happened on Bird’s Nest Island, and neither of us had come to any firm conclusions.

  Other things had happened during the week, though. For example, the investigation into Dr. Turner’s wife had been reopened. And Farrah had texted me and let me know she and Atticus were actually going to give their marriage another chance. She said if Riley and I could risk our lives to do the right thing, the two of them could give their marriage all they had.

  “‘Fear we got married’ would be putting it strongly,” Riley said. “We just need some clarity. We know we’re not legally married. But are we married in God’s eyes?”

  Pastor Randy—who looked just like Shaggy from Scooby Doo—leaned toward us with his elbows perched on his knees. He had a look of deep thought on his face. “Well, when you marry before God generally you need an ordained minister.”

  “We had that,” I added.

  Pastor Randy nodded slowly. “You recite vows, pledging to spend the rest of your lives together.”

  “We did that too, I suppose,” Riley said.

  The unease in my gut grew. It wasn’t that the thought of marrying Riley was terrible. I just didn’t want to do it accidentally.

  “And you promise God that you’ll do whatever it takes to make it work,” Pastor Randy continued.

  “That sounds like what we did. But we weren’t sincere. We were in character . . . right?” I glanced at Riley, waiting for his confirmation.

  “But were you really in character, Gabby?” Pastor Randy asked.

  His question stunned me and actually left me speechless for a moment. “Of course. I mean, yes. We were undercover.”

  “There was no part of you that meant the words?”

  I raised my hand, silently pleading for him to stop. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Marriage was ordained by God long before our government was ever in place with its laws. For many, many years, people were married, and there was no such thing as a license.”

  “That’s true,” I conceded.

  “What’s more important? A piece of paper that makes it legal under the law or promises you made before God?”

  I guess I could see his point.

  “Ultimately, this is between the two of you and God,” the pastor continued. “God knows your hearts, and He’s the one you have to answer to.”

  I shook my head, surprised by his answer. I didn’t know what to say or think.

  Riley reached over and squeezed my hand. “It sounds like we have some soul searching and praying to do.”

  His words brought me a certain comfort. I nodded. “You’re right. God and I need to talk about this one.”

  “May I add something . . . as a friend?” Pastor Randy asked, sitting up slightly.

  “Of course,” Riley said.

  “It’s obvious the two of you love each other. You have for a long time. You were once engaged. Maybe your marriage isn’t official . . . but maybe you should make it official.”

  My mouth dropped open. “You mean . . .”

  “You think we should . . .” Riley seemed unable to continue.

  Pastor Randy smiled. “Just a thought. I think the two of you could be happy together. Really happy. I’d venture to say that there’s a part of you both that liked the idea of accidentally getting married.”

  I thought about it and shrugged sheepishly. “Maybe.”

  Riley glanced at me, his eyes warm. “I’d be lying if I denied it.”

  “It would be really easy to make this no-doubt-about-it official. Pray about it. And, until then, just to be safe, I wouldn’t date anyone else.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t want to date anyone else.”

  “Me neither.”

  Pastor Randy smiled. “Then maybe the two of you have your answer.”

  My heart warmed. Maybe we did.

  “I say we do it right, though,” Riley said. “In fact, I might even have a song for this.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “A song? Do tell.”

  He began singing “Nothing’s Going to Stop Us Now,” even holding an imaginary microphone in his hand.

  I burst into laughter. I’d trained him well.

  When the lyrics faded from his lips, he stepped toward me. “I love you, Gabby St. Claire.”

  “I love you too, Riley.”

  With that final proclamation, his lips covered mine.

  ###

  Coming Soon . . .

  If you enjoyed this book, yo
u may also enjoy these other Squeaky Clean Mysteries:

  Hazardous Duty (Book 1)

  On her way to completing a degree in forensic science, Gabby St. Claire drops out of school and starts her own crime-scene cleaning business. When a routine cleaning job uncovers a murder weapon the police overlooked, she realizes that the wrong person is in jail. But the owner of the weapon is a powerful foe . . . and willing to do anything to keep Gabby quiet. With the help of her new neighbor, Riley Thomas, a man whose life and faith fascinate her, Gabby seeks to find the killer before another murder occurs.

  Suspicious Minds (Book 2)

  In this smart and suspenseful sequel to Hazardous Duty, crime-scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire finds herself stuck doing mold remediation to pay the bills. Her first day on the job, she uncovers a surprise in the crawlspace of a dilapidated home: Elvis, dead as a doornail and still wearing his blue-suede shoes. How could she possibly keep her nose out of a case like this?

  It Came Upon a Midnight Crime (Book 2.5, a Novella)

  Someone is intent on destroying the true meaning of Christmas—at least, destroying anything that hints of it. All around crime-scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire’s hometown, anything pointing to Jesus as “the reason for the season” is being sabotaged. The crimes become more twisted as dismembered body parts are found at the vandalisms. Someone is determined to destroy Christmas . . . but Gabby is just as determined to find the Grinch and let peace on earth and goodwill prevail.

  Organized Grime (Book 3)

  Gabby St. Claire knows her best friend, Sierra, isn’t guilty of killing three people in what appears to be an eco-terrorist attack. But Sierra has disappeared, her only contact a frantic phone call to Gabby proclaiming she’s being hunted. Gabby is determined to prove her friend is innocent and to keep Sierra alive. While trying to track down the real perpetrator, Gabby notices a disturbing trend at the crime scenes she’s cleaning, one that ties random crimes together—and points to Sierra as the guilty party. Just what has her friend gotten herself involved in?

  Dirty Deeds (Book 4)

  “Promise me one thing. No snooping. Just for one week.”