The Priority Unit (Maine Justice Book 1)

by Davis, Susan Page

  Rick Bradley came and took Harvey away to pray with a group of men. Ruthann and Beth joined Jennifer, and they sat together in the pew.

  “I...I can’t pray,” Jennifer said.

  “It’s all right,” Ruthann said. “You don’t have to.” She and Beth prayed, and hearing them was precious for Jennifer as they asked God’s protection and peace for Nick’s children and for Lisa. She wanted to be able to speak to God herself.

  Beth’s last request struck Jennifer in a different way: “…and, Lord, please help me to find a place to live soon.”

  When she said “amen,” Jennifer lifted her head and looked at her.

  “Beth, you’re looking for a place to live? You said Sunday you were only with Rick and Ruthann temporarily, but I thought you meant you were just visiting.”

  Beth smiled. “They really don’t have space for me. I need to make other arrangements.”

  “I don’t know if you’d consider it, but I need a roommate.” Jennifer gulped. She barely knew Beth, but it seemed right. She told in whispers a little about the rental house.

  “It sounds interesting,” Beth said. “When can I see it?”

  “How about tomorrow? I’ll be home by 5:30.”

  After the men returned and the pastor stood in front to close the prayer meeting, they settled the details of Beth’s visit.

  “Isn’t that just like the Lord?” Ruthann said. “Beth prayed, and he had the answer sitting right beside her.”

  “I guess we’ll find out tomorrow,” Beth said.

  “No obligation on your part,” Jennifer said. “Just come see it and eat supper with me.”

  “Okay.” Beth smiled.

  Harvey stood in the aisle surrounded by parishioners who had seen him on the news. He was smiling and being polite, but his discomfort showed in the stiffness of his posture. Several men shook his hand and asked him questions about the case.

  A middle-aged woman came over and spoke to him before they left. “I’m Nick Dunham’s aunt, Margaret. Jackie told me today how kind you’ve been. Thank you.”

  Harvey was obviously struggling with the praise. “You’re welcome. I really didn’t do anything.”

  Margaret Dunham reached out and touched his shoulder. “Yes you did. You may not realize it, but you encouraged Jackie. The Lord used you.”

  “I’ll do everything I can for your family, ma’am.”

  “I believe Nicholas is with God now.” Margaret Dunham’s voice broke, and she fumbled for a tissue.

  Jennifer stared at her. Timidity almost held her back, but she made herself step forward. “Mrs. Dunham.”

  “Yes?”

  “I worked with Nick. I’m very sorry.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Do you...may I ask you...” Jennifer shot a glance up at Harvey, and she felt his warm hand touch her back lightly. She felt bolder and looked back to Margaret Dunham. “You said Nick believed in God?”

  Her face clouded. “Yes, I’m sure he did. He didn’t come to church much the last couple of years, but as a young man, he was very faithful. I’ve talked with him about the Lord before, and I believe he’s in heaven today.”

  Jennifer nodded. “Thank you.” She wilted back against Harvey’s side, and his arm tightened around her.

  Mrs. Dunham left the church. The crush went on for a little while, but Harvey kept Jennifer at his side. Finally the crowd dispersed, and the pastor spoke to them.

  “Harvey, I’m glad to see you both again tonight. Jackie Wyman told me you were at the house today.”

  “She did call you, then.”

  “Yes, I spent some time with the family. They want to hold a memorial service, but it will probably be next week.”

  Harvey nodded. “I don’t believe the body’s been released yet.”

  “Nick used to be a member here.” The pastor shook his head. “After he got married, he drifted away. Got caught up in other things.”

  “I knew him,” Jennifer said softly. “He was very likable.”

  “Oh, yes. A nice young man. He let his priorities slip out of line.” Pastor Rowland nodded thoughtfully. “I hope that through this tragedy, Lisa will get back on track with the Lord. She and the children need that.”

  Harvey drove in silence to Jennifer’s house and walked with her to the steps.

  “Can we sit out here for a little while?” he asked. “If we go in, I’ll have to check the Explorer again.”

  “Sure.” They sat on the steps, and she arranged her skirt around her. It was warm, and they sat without speaking for a long moment as the dusk deepened.

  Harvey swatted at a mosquito. “This afternoon I looked over the program Nick was working on before he died.”

  “What was it?”

  “Ho-hum stuff. An amortization thing for banks.”

  Jennifer frowned. “That’s an old program. He finished that ages ago. Before Christmas, at least.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Unless they had him update it for some reason.”

  “You don’t say. Jack Rainey handed me the disk himself. Said he’d looked in Nick’s files, and that was his last project.”

  Jennifer’s eyes narrowed. “Harvey, I’m starting to hate my job.”

  He was quiet for a moment, then said softly, “So quit.”

  “I couldn’t do that.”

  “Why not? They’re not paying you that much.”

  “No. I know I could get more if I moved out of state, but I don’t want to do that.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders, and she savored the security she felt when he touched her.

  “Someone as talented as you can get another job any day of the week.”

  She sighed. “I don’t think I even want to be a programmer anymore. When I got this job, I thought it was going to be so great. I used to love it, but it’s no fun now.”

  “Give them your notice tomorrow.”

  “What if I couldn’t get another job?” She hated revealing her lack of confidence. Leaning forward, she buried her face in her arms.

  “Jenny. Sweet, sweet Jenny.” He patted her shoulder.

  She sobbed. “Nick was a Christian.”

  “Sounds like it.”

  “I never knew.”

  Harvey took a deep, slow breath. “That bothers you.”

  “Sort of. I wanted to know so desperately about God. He knew, but he never said anything. I worked beside him for over a year.”

  “You think Christians should tell everyone what they believe?”

  “Well, yes, don’t you?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You’ve been telling Eddie.”

  Harvey bit his bottom lip. “I wouldn’t claim to be a Christian exactly.”

  “But even so, you’ve been telling him about it. You think it’s important, don’t you?”

  “Yes. It’s important.”

  She sighed. “I think I’ll go and see Lisa Dunham.”

  “I think that would be good.”

  “I wasn’t ready before, but now … I mean, Nick was my friend, even if we weren’t close.”

  “Call her tomorrow.”

  “I will.” She wiped her eyes, feeling a little braver.

  “Jenny, I’m serious about your job. Don’t stay at Coastal if you hate going in every day.”

  “It wasn’t so bad before the big project.”

  “That foreign project?”

  “Yes. Our part is almost finished. I’ll be interfacing mine with John and Tessa’s now. The translator was supposed to come today, but he didn’t.”

  “Translator?”

  “They’re putting the on-screen stuff into another language.” It was a common procedure with Coastal’s commercial programs. “I thought it was for the military at first, but I guess it’s not.”

  “What made you think that?” Harvey asked in frank surprise.

  “I don’t know. I guess because of all the security precautions, and maybe some of the language. But now I think it�
��s an industrial thing for a foreign conglomerate.” She smiled bitterly. “John Macomber says it will sabotage American industry.”

  Harvey drew back a little. “Does he know what he’s talking about?”

  “I doubt it. No more than I do.” A mosquito landed on her skirt, and she brushed it away. “The bosses are just being careful. They’ve had some programs pirated recently, and they’re determined not to let it happen again. But they seem to be carrying it to the point of paranoia with this program.”

  “I think you should quit. The tension is too much for you.”

  “I’ll be okay,” she insisted. She didn’t want to leave Portland now. As long as Harvey was there to encourage her, she could put up with a lot at Coastal.

  “But you ought to do something you love.”

  “Who gets paid for having fun?” she asked.

  “Well, maybe not fun exactly, but something that gives you satisfaction and doesn’t drain you.”

  “Is your job like that?”

  “Some days. Some days it’s pretty harrowing.”

  Kidnappings, murders, drug dealers. The Coastal partners’ demands seemed inconsequential when she thought of the trauma Harvey dealt with daily. “Have you got any leads on the bomber yet?”

  “Well, he was spotted at his brother’s house in Newport. The police up there are looking for him.”

  She leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling quite daring. His arm tightened just a little. “So are we going to the lighthouse Saturday? Did you talk to Eddie about it?”

  “I did, and Eddie is bringing Sarah, one of our lady cops. They’ll meet us here at 9 a.m.”

  “Good. I need a normal, ordinary day with you.”

  “What about tomorrow? Can I see you tomorrow night?” His cheek brushed softly against her hair.

  She smiled at his predictability. “Beth’s coming to look at the house.”

  “That would be great, if she moved in with you.”

  “We don’t know each other very well, but she seems so…wholesome. And she knows about God. I think she could help me.”

  “I think she’d help us, just being here,” he said. “I wouldn’t worry so much about you, and when I brought you home, I could go in the house and not feel awkward.”

  She lifted her head and looked at him. “Do you feel awkward in the house?”

  He shrugged. “Sometimes. I’m just not…well, I want to do things right.”

  “Me, too.”

  She settled back against his shoulder. They sat in silence in the growing darkness.

  “Harvey, what happens if we decide we don’t believe in God after all?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t want to think about a world with no God.”

  “If we do believe, it will change a lot of things.”

  He was quiet for a minute, then he said, “It will change everything.”

  She whispered, “Have you thought about what happens if one of us believes and the other one…”

  “No. I refuse to consider that.” His voice was hoarse. He leaned close and kissed her temple, where the hair was pulled back into her braid. “No more what-ifs.” He stood, extended a hand, and pulled her up. “Keep reading in the Bible, Jenny. We’ll find our answers soon, I think.”

  They were standing quite close together. He put both his hands on her shoulders. Jennifer’s heart pounded. She wondered if he was going to kiss her. Harvey had taken things slowly so far, even cautiously, and she suspected he was trying to show himself trustworthy. She pulled in a ragged breath, telling herself she was ready.

  He looked into her eyes for a long moment, then pulled her in against his vest. She let her hands sneak around his waist, below his shoulder holster. He held her there, tight against his chest, with his badge pressing into her cheek. I’m going to have an imprint of Portland PD on my face, she thought. He rested his chin on the top of her head for a couple of seconds, then stood back, and she felt cold.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  Chapter 19

  Beth came soon after Jennifer got home from work, and she toured the house with growing approval. While Jennifer made supper for two, Beth set the table then sat down and told her about her kindergarten class at the public school. She was teaching a Sunday School class, too, for eight-to-ten-year-old girls.

  “That’s probably the class I should be in,” Jennifer said. “I’m so ignorant about the Bible!”

  “It must be hard, when you haven’t been brought up with it,” said Beth.

  “You know, my parents are good people.” Jennifer took a small meatloaf from the microwave. “In fact, they’re wonderful people, and they don’t drink or smoke. They’ve taught us kids to be moral and considerate. But they didn’t seem to think religion was important.”

  “But you think it’s important now.”

  “I do. Harvey and I started this thing as a sort of philosophical odyssey. We both wondered if God was real, and if you could know whether he was real.”

  “It’s more than just knowing.”

  Jennifer stared at her. “That’s what I’ve been thinking lately. It’s not just an idea. If it’s true, then it’s…it’s more concrete than that.”

  “It’s a way of life. It’s knowing Jesus Christ personally.”

  Jennifer nodded.

  “So what do you think?” Beth asked.

  “I’m leaning toward believing it. There’s just so much I don’t understand. And Harvey…”

  “What?” Beth asked softly.

  “I just...well, I hope we both end up believing the same thing.” Jennifer set the pan on a trivet.

  “You can’t base your spiritual life on what another person thinks.”

  “I know. But if one of us believes and the other doesn’t, then I’m not sure we can be together.” She tried to imagine breaking up with Harvey. It was unthinkable. Her heart was bound closer to him now than it had ever been to anyone, and severing that bond would devastate her. She sat down soberly.

  “Would you ask the blessing, please, Beth?”

  As they ate, they talked about the house.

  “I’m warning you, I’ve been terrible at picking roommates in the past,” Jennifer said. “My last one got arrested for drugs. But I think you’d be easier to live with.”

  Beth laughed. “I promise, no drugs. Do you like classical music?”

  “I love it! Tell me, quick. What do you really think of this place?”

  “It’s great. Oh, it’s not the Ritz, but it’s just what I need. Are you sure you’d want to room with me, Jennifer?”

  “What’s not to like?”

  Beth sat back and looked at her. “I’m a Christian.”

  “Well, yeah. Do you not want to live with someone who doesn’t believe in God?”

  “I’ll put you on notice right now, if I’m living with you, I’ll be praying for you.”

  “That’s bad?”

  Beth smiled. “No. If you do believe, you’ll be my sister in Christ. But I’m the kind of person who can’t sit back and watch a sister make poor choices. I’d be sure to give my opinion.”

  Jennifer chuckled. “I have two sisters at home, so I know a little bit about that. But I was thinking you might help me, guide me in some spiritual things.”

  “Well, I’ve got a long way to go myself, but I’ll help you any way I can.”

  “So, how soon can you move in?”

  *****

  Harvey called after Beth had left.

  “Hey, gorgeous.” Jennifer was getting used to the upbeat greeting he could give over the phone, but not in person.

  “I’ve got a new roommate.”

  “Terrific. Sounds like you’re feeling better tonight.”

  “Much. Beth is going to her folks’ in Freeport over the weekend, and she has parent-teacher conferences Monday, but she’ll move in Tuesday after school. Rick and Ruthann will help her pack and move.”

  “Great! Need some more help?”

  “Sure. We’ll nee
d all the muscle we can get. I’ll probably make sandwiches with the Bradleys. You can join us for supper.”

  “Okay. Thanks. You’ll like having Beth there.”

  “We’ve already agreed we’re going to pray together in the morning, before we go to work. I’m really excited about her moving in.”

  *****

  John Macomber was responsible for a large portion of the special program, and Jennifer spent most of Friday working closely with him to mesh her security protocols with it. Time and again she ran into snags, and at last she went to John’s desk feeling defeated.

  “You’ll have to give me access to the entire thing, yours and Tessa’s, if we’re going to make this work. Your part by itself looks good, but I didn’t know you were using such a complicated framework. It’s more extensive than the partners let on.”

  John shook his head. “You’ll have to get their permission. I haven’t even seen what Tessa’s doing. She’s got the core program, I guess. It’s been like working in the dark, designing corridors leading to locked rooms full of…I don’t know what.”

  “I don’t see how we can deliver to the client, working like this. I’ve got to have everything. I may have to develop another whole layer to make sure everything’s covered.”

  John cocked his head to one side. “Jennifer, if you could get permission from the bosses and get this thing finished, you’d make me a happy man. I’m sick of it.”

  “You and me both.” She frowned. “All right, come with me.”

  “No way.”

  She stared at him. “You won’t back me up on this?”

  “Channing almost bit my head off yesterday when I asked to see Tessa’s work.”

  Jennifer looked toward the hallway that led to the inner sanctum, then back at John. “Okay, I’ll ask Mr. Owen. He’s usually more agreeable than the other two.”

  “If you don’t come back in ten minutes, I’ll call the cops.”

  “That’s not funny.”

  John’s level gaze unsettled her. “You’re right. It’s not.”

  Jennifer’s head whirled as she looked at him. “John, do you really think this program is something illegal? Because if you do—”

  “Shh!” He looked around quickly, then leaned toward her. “Don’t even say it. Whether it’s classified or clandestine, or whatever, I don’t know. Just get permission, and let’s be done with it.”