by Mary Burton
“I know she’s family. I know I shouldn’t be freaked out over a simple call, but I don’t like surprises. And I’m really worried about what she wants to tell me.”
“Did you ask her what she has to tell you?”
Georgia rolled her eyes as if to say she might be rattled but she wasn’t a fool. “Yes. She refused to tell me over the phone.”
Rachel’s legal mind calculated the pros and cons. “Does Deke know?”
“No. He’d try to be cool about it but every time I see him I see Dad and I feel like I’m betraying Buddy and Mom.”
“You should tell him.”
“I know. But he will want to be there and I can’t do this with him watching.”
“Okay.”
She folded her arms, but restless energy had her dropping them by her sides. “Margaret wants me to meet at Pastor Gary’s chapel.”
The skin on the back of Rachel’s neck prickled. “Why there? That doesn’t make any sense. It’s under construction.”
Georgia shoved her hands in her pockets, removed them and then dropped them at her sides. “She said she’ll explain when I get there.”
“When?”
“A half-hour.” She shoved out a breath. “I don’t want to go alone. Come with me, please.”
The woman’s desperate plea surprised Rachel. “You don’t know me that well. Don’t you want someone that’s closer to you?”
Fear and nerves all but radiated off of Georgia. “I want a neutral party with a sharp mind. I clicked through the short list of the people who know about my adoption and Annie and your name rose to the top of the list.”
Being dragged into Morgan family business would only complicate whatever she had or more likely didn’t have with Deke. As much as it made sense to say no, she heard herself say, “Sure, I’ll come.”
A grateful smile broadened her face and she grabbed Rachel’s hands. “Thank you! I really could use backup.”
Rachel tugged her hands free and reached for her purse. “I’ll drive.”
“I’ll owe you the biggest of big favors when this is over.”
“No, you won’t. This one’s on the house.”
In Rachel’s car, they merged into traffic as Georgia drummed her fingers on her knees, not stopping until they pulled up to the church.
Georgia stared out her window at the white building. “This place gives me the creeps.”
“It’s one of the biggest churches in the area.”
“Maybe, but I don’t like it.”
“It’s okay. Relax.” Rachel got out first. Georgia lingered in the car a moment longer and then with grim set to her jaw, followed. “She said the new chapel.”
Rachel offered a smile. “It will be okay. This is just a meeting.”
Georgia chewed her bottom lip. “I hate not knowing. I like having all the answers.”
“Well, you might have more soon.”
“Yeah.”
Rachel attempted a smile. “Where is the confident woman who runs her crime scenes with an iron fist?”
Helpless laughter rumbled in her chest. “I don’t know but if you see her would you let me know?”
“Sure.”
They entered the chapel, quiet and dark.
“Hello,” Rachel said.
No answer followed.
“We are late, but I thought she’d wait.” Her voice trembled with disappointment and hope.
Rachel dug her phone from her purse. The quiet didn’t set well with her nerves. “She called you. Said she wanted to meet.”
“Yeah.”
“She’d cut you a little slack and hang around for fifteen minutes.”
“You’d think.”
Rachel tightened her grip on her phone. A thick scent of sick-sweet rust caught her attention. She stopped and so did Georgia. Rachel had smelled a similar smell the day her mother had died.
“That’s death,” Georgia said. “I know that smell.”
“This is not good.” Rachel dialed Deke’s number. “Get back, Georgia. We need to get out of here right now.”
The phone rang once and Deke picked up. “Detective Morgan.”
“Deke, this is Rachel.” Her tone didn’t invite a soft response.
“What’s the matter?”
“Georgia and I are at Pastor Gary’s chapel behind the main building. Something is wrong. It smells like death here.”
Instead of a barrage of questions about what had brought the unlikely pair to the church, Deke all but shouted in the phone. “Both of you get the hell out of there. Now. I’m on my way.”
“Right.” Rachel grabbed Georgia by the arm as she clicked the phone off. The sound of footsteps caught her attention and she turned in time to see a tall form rushing them. Rachel spotted a long metal rod swinging toward Georgia. She pushed Georgia aside in time for the blow to catch her on her tender shoulder. She screamed and fell to the floor.
A second swish of the rod struck Georgia across her thigh. She screamed and Rachel looked up to see Brenda Tilden glaring at Georgia. For a split second Rachel’s mind didn’t connect Brenda with the attack. Brenda. She was the woman with the warm smile. The woman who loved KC. However anger in Brenda’s gaze distorted that warmth into something twisted and frightening.
Before Rachel could assemble words or right herself, Brenda fumbled handcuffs from her hoodie pocket and handcuffed Rachel’s wrist and pulled. Rachel screamed.
“Move toward her.”
Pain cut through Rachel. When she hesitated, Brenda fished a .38 revolver from her pocket and pointed it at Georgia.
Staring down the barrel of the gun freed Rachel from her confusion. Whoever Brenda had been didn’t matter. What mattered was now. “Brenda, what are you doing? I don’t understand.”
Brenda shoved out a breath. “Shut up. Shut the hell up.”
Georgia winced as she sat straighter, confusion making her gaze look a little wild. “Brenda? Is KC with you?”
Brenda sneered, hate dripping from her words as she spoke. “He’s gone. He’s like the others. Loves me but doesn’t really love me. Said it was too soon to meet his boy.”
Rachel searched for her phone and found it inches out of reach. She shook off the remnants of surprise and grabbed onto logic and facts. “Brenda’s mother worked for Pastor Gary. Her aunt Beth roomed with Annie.”
Georgia shook her head. “Your mother knew Annie? What does that have to do with me?”
Brenda laughed. “I’m not stupid, you know. Everyone thinks I’m stupid but I’m not. I know who you are.”
Georgia’s gaze hardened. “Who am I?”
Brenda cocked her head as if she were speaking to a child. “You are Annie’s daughter.”
“How do you know that?” Georgia demanded.
“I figured it out, stupid,” she hissed.
“How?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” She jabbed the gun at them both. “Both of you get up. Now. Mother is waiting.”
Rachel and Georgia rose, both lumbering under the weight of their injuries. Georgia struggled to stand strong but had to lean on Rachel.
“Your mother is sick with cancer. Why would she care about us,” Rachel said.
“She’s dying. And your deaths will be my final gift to her.”
Nikki had heard the voices and when they’d drifted out of the church she sensed she had to follow. She eased out of the closet and did her best not to look at the man as she quickly rushed down the center aisle and out the door.
April 20
Sugar,
I had that dream again. You ended up dead, dead, dead.
A.
Chapter Twenty
Friday, October 21, 5 PM
Calls to KC went unanswered as Deke raced to the New Community Church’s chapel, lights on top of his car flashing. He’d called dispatch and ordered marked cars to the scene. Shit. His skin itched as it did before an op went sideways. More times than he could count the sensation had stopped him from walking into an ambush. Shit. He’d
seen Rachel early this morning and loved the way her body cuddled against his as he’d clung to reasons why they could work. And Georgia. He’d seen her yesterday.
Life could unravel slowly, or with lightning speed. His marriages had disintegrated with a painful silent slowness whereas Rick had nearly lost his life in an instant.
His grip tightened on the wheel and he pressed his foot against the accelerator. There’d been a lot of times when life had shredded around him but he would not, would not, let it happen tonight.
When he parked his car in front of the large white building that housed the New Community Church, the uniforms were seconds behind him. Out of the car, he unholstered his gun and dashed up the front steps. The front door was ajar.
Deke shoved it open and met with a deadly silence. “Rachel! Georgia!” His answer was his own echoing voice. Grim-faced he glanced at the uniforms behind him. “Search every inch of this place.”
The officers disbanded and with guns drawn moved into the sanctuary, two fanning left and two others to the right.
Deke drew in a breath. Searches in buildings could be the deadliest. Too many hiding places. Too many opportunities to ambush.
Gun drawn, he moved toward the altar, his gaze sweeping from side to side for any sign of movement. When he stepped onto the platform he spotted the blood pooling around the edges. For a moment he hesitated, fearful that he’d find Rachel or Georgia dead.
Gritting his teeth, he moved the remaining steps and saw Pastor Gary’s body. He closed his eyes and tipped his head back, allowing the relief to wash through him. He cleared his throat. “Rachel, where the hell are you?”
Rachel’s shoulder throbbed as she and Georgia walked through the woods with Brenda pointing a gun behind them. Rachel had heard the shrill of sirens as had Georgia and Brenda. Deke was coming, he was close, but would it be fast enough? She had to buy time until he found them.
“He won’t be here in time,” Brenda said. “He will find you soon, but soon it won’t matter. You’ll be dead.”
Limping now, Georgia balled her fist as if ready to turn and strike. But Rachel shot her a warning glance, begging her to stand down. Now was not the time for Georgia’s directness.
Rachel turned her head slightly back. “Brenda, why are you doing this? You didn’t know Annie.”
Brenda jabbed her gun, a silent order for Rachel to keep moving. “My mother knew her. That bitch made her life hell and robbed me of more love than I can measure.”
Rachel’s anger burrowed to the deepest and coldest part of her heart, the place it needed to stay so she could think. “Love from whom?”
“Pastor Gary. My mother. He was obsessed with Annie and all women who looked like her. He could never love my mother. She was so focused getting him to see her, she never saw me.”
“Why would Pastor Gary care about Annie?”
“Because he loved her. Adored her. Could never stop thinking about her. Every woman since Annie is a replacement.”
“Dixie and Rebecca.”
“His wife. His other whores. All Annie.”
Georgia glanced at Rachel, her eyes wide with worry. She’d discovered the identity of her birth father and she was reeling. “Where is Gary?”
“At the chapel,” Brenda said.
The scent of death. Rachel couldn’t bring herself to ask.
Georgia did. “He’s dead.”
Brenda hesitated, frowned. “No. Yes.”
The twisted path in the woods opened into a clearing. In the distance, headlights shone on Kate in her wheelchair. With a blanket wrapped over her knees, her form looked fragile.
Rachel and Georgia stopped feet from Kate who stared up at them with dark, piercing eyes. Disease may have robbed her of strength but the fire burning in her gaze told Rachel it had not softened her obsession. “Didn’t take much to get you here. Grateful for small blessings, I suppose.”
Georgia rubbed her cuffed wrist. “What is this about?”
Kate’s glare soaked in Georgia. “You don’t look like her. Maybe a little around the mouth but that’s about it. You look like,” she hesitated as if emotion clogged her throat. “You look like Gary, your father.”
Georgia raised her chin a notch. She looked brave and strong, but Rachel felt, rather than saw, a bone-deep vulnerability. “Pastor Gary.”
Kate smiled. “You’re smart like he is.”
The cuff holding Rachel and Georgia tightened, as Georgia fisted her fingers. With her free hand Rachel grabbed Georgia’s wrist as if to steady her.
Kate shifted narrowing eyes toward Rachel. “You are good at sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong.”
“It’s a talent.” The sharpness in Rachel’s tone was designed to draw fire and anger. If they were focused on her maybe Georgia could somehow escape this nightmare.
Brenda shoved Rachel hard against her tender shoulder, making her wince. “Shut up.”
Pain bulldozed through Rachel’s body forcing her to take deep breaths. She righted and glared back at Kate. Let’s see who’s running this show. “What the hell is her issue?”
Brenda raised her hand as if to strike Rachel when Kate shouted, “No!”
Brenda lowered her hand but clearly she craved any violence she could rain on Rachel.
Rachel kept her gaze on Kate. She might be physically weaker but she was the one in control here. “You had Brenda kill Dixie, Lexis, and Rebecca. Why?”
Kate moistened pale thin lips. “It’s complicated.”
“We’ve time.”
A smile quirked Kate’s lips. “Not much time. I heard the sirens as well as you. But we’ve a moment or two.”
“Why?” Rachel persisted.
Kate arranged the folds of her blanket on her lap, enjoying this moment of control. “You know why Lexis died. That was your fault.”
Rachel shoved aside the guilt. “The letters.”
“I knew she would figure out that the last letters were forgeries. I knew she’d know that Annie hadn’t written them all and that would raise questions. I couldn’t have any questions that might lead back to Pastor Gary.”
Rachel gritted her teeth. “If you knew they were a problem then why send them to me?”
“I didn’t.” Kate looked past her to Brenda. “She did. She thought they’d make Pastor Gary nervous. Brenda wanted to punish him.”
The release of the letters had been a mistake, a miscalculation. A laugh tumbled out of Rachel. “She didn’t tell you what she was doing?”
Kate shifted in her chair. “Not until after. Not until the damage had been done.”
“I did my best to clean up the damage,” Brenda insisted.
“Too little, too late,” Kate said.
Brenda shook her head. “I was thinking about you, Momma! I wanted him to come see you and make you feel special but he wouldn’t. I had to make him squirm.”
To split these two vipers’ alliance, Rachel had to stoke Brenda’s fears and dig into Kate’s weaknesses.
“Well, you helped me. Not too smart. You’ve given the police the weapon they need to prove that Jeb didn’t kill Annie. Did you know the DNA came back? Showed a woman killed Annie.”
“Shut up!” Brenda shouted.
“Thanks to Brenda, the cops have forgeries which they will eventually trace back to Kate. Dying or not, she’ll go to jail.”
A glance from Georgia revealed understanding. “My partner identified the forgeries immediately.”
“Why go after KC?” Rachel asked.
“He was nice enough and I knew if I had a contact in the police department I would know what they knew once I started doling out my lessons.” Brenda laughed. “KC is a fool. He was far too easy to pump for information.”
“How’d you meet him?” Rachel asked.
“Gary’s prison ministry. It’s also where I met Oscar McMillian and gave him your card when he needed a lawyer. One look at him and I knew he’d be hard for you to handle.”
Rachel studied Brenda’s f
ace contorted with anger.
Under her scrutiny, Brenda’s scowl deepened. “If Rachel had given all the letters to Lexis this would be over.”
“But she didn’t give them all over,” Kate said. “You never think it through, Brenda, and you always underestimate.”
Brenda’s eyes widened with hurt and then as quickly narrowed with anger for Georgia. It would take little to make her fire the gun.
“Kate, why did you write the fake letters?” Rachel asked.
“Gary came to me when he realized Annie was pregnant. Beth would have seen to that. He was in a panic. His new church would have been ruined if people learned he’d gotten a singer pregnant. I told him I’d handle it. And I went to Annie and told her I’d find her a husband if she’d stay away from Gary.”
“Is that when she agreed to marry Bill Dawson?”
“She didn’t agree right away. But I told her Gary would never marry her. Unless she wanted a bastard child she better turn her magic on Bill, who was like most men in the church. Half in love with her. I set them up on dates and within two weeks he’d proposed. They married a week later.”
“Gary married them,” Rachel said.
“The last letters made him realize how much trouble she could be. He saw past her smiles to the problems that waited for him if he stayed with her. He married Annie and Bill and was willing to walk away.”
“What happened?”
“He couldn’t stop thinking about her. He confessed to me several times that he still loved her. He married Beth but was ready to leave her and toss away the church for Annie.”
“So why kill Annie?” Rachel asked.
“I went to see Annie after the baby was born. She and Bill had had a bad fight. He’d figured out the baby was not his. She was going to go to Gary and tell him she still loved him. I begged her not to but she wouldn’t listen.” Kate looked at Georgia. “I didn’t go planning to kill her.”
Wind rustled through the trees. “When did you figure out Georgia was Annie’s child?” Rachel asked.
A satisfied smile teased Kate’s lips. “The church held a community fund-raiser last year. She came as a representative from the police force. The minute I saw her, I saw Gary. And then I saw her name tag. Morgan. Buddy Morgan, big-time cop. Didn’t take much checking to figure out that the Morgans’ adopted a daughter right about the time Annie died. Buddy Morgan. Got the press and the force to hide the fact that he took Annie’s baby. I should have seen it years ago but they kept their baby girl off the radar for a long time.” Kate shook her head. “I wanted you, Georgia. I wanted to raise you as my own. I had dreams about raising you with Gary.”
