Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“There was a body found out by the river behind your church,” Huck drawled, standing to his full height. “So you can either come into the office with me for a more formal interview, or you can stop being a jackass.”
Kohnex gasped. “I feel dissent here,” he said. “Maybe we should all take a deep breath.”
Oh, yeah, there was definitely dissent here.
Laurel cleared her throat. “Where were you, Pastor Caine?”
He honed in on her. “You mean ‘Father,’ don’t you?”
“I absolutely do not,” she said.
He sighed. “Fine. I was with a friend all night.”
“Does your friend have a name?” Huck asked.
Zeke sighed. “I really wish to leave her out of this, if you don’t mind.”
Huck just stared at him and crossed his arms.
“Very well,” the pastor said. “Her name is Uma Carrington, and she owns the Little Tin Box, which is the antiques store right around the corner from the Center Diner.”
Laurel didn’t so much as move. “Is she older than eighteen?”
Zeke smiled again, all charm. “I believe she’s in her late twenties. You can’t believe every story your mother tells you.”
“No,” Huck said before Laurel could get in a word. “We’re not going there, and we’re not talking about anything other than this case. If you have a problem with that, I’ll put you in cuffs and take you out of here right now.”
Zeke drew in air and focused on Huck. “Aren’t you the overprotective lover?”
Towering over the man, Huck stepped closer. “You’re going to want to watch yourself, Pastor Caine. You really are.” He let his voice lower to pure threat. “Now, we would like her phone number.”
The pastor easily rattled it off, taking a discreet step away from Huck.
Huck remained in place. For now. “What do you know about the woman found frozen on your church grounds?”
“I arrived here in time to be told to stay inside the church,” Zeke said. “I didn’t even get to see who’s out there.”
“It’s probably Teri Bearing, the mayor’s wife,” Kohnex said suddenly.
Huck twisted toward him. “How did you know that?”
“I was listening at the door,” Kohnex said. “But I had a feeling she was somebody prominent in town. Even though she hadn’t been turned over and I couldn’t see her face, there was something about her. I don’t think you’d call it an aura, more like an essence.” He tapped his bottom lip and stared off into the distance. Then he looked back at Laurel. “Like you two. I knew before the pastor used that unfortunate word that you and the captain were tied together. Strong bonds there.”
Huck didn’t have time for this bullshit.
“You’ve been through chilly storms together, haven’t you?” Kohnex asked.
Laurel barely kept from rolling her eyes. It was close. Huck saw her lids twitch, but she managed to restrain herself. He liked that about her a lot.
She removed her gloves. “Pastor Caine, you were with Ms. Carrington from nine last night until when?”
“Until I got the call from Timmy,” the pastor said. “He said he found a body, and I came here right away. This is not good for me or the church. Tonight was supposed to be our first live service. I’m taking the church national. It’s going to be a megachurch, Laurel. But we can’t hold a live service when there’s a dead body out back, and now it seems it’s the mayor’s wife? What a disaster.”
“Well, gee, Pastor,” Huck drawled. “I’m real sorry to ruin your day.”
The pastor put both hands on his hips. He wore black slacks and a white button-down shirt, even though he’d been called out of somebody’s bed to get to the church. Did he always dress up?
Laurel cleared her throat. “Let’s all remember that we do not have a positive identification for the victim yet.”
Zeke focused once again on Huck. “Didn’t you have an altercation with the mayor’s wife recently?”
“How do you know that?” Laurel asked quietly.
The pastor kept his gaze on Huck this time. “I pay attention when one of my girls is dating somebody. I try to learn everything I can about them. I’ve got more Google alerts on you than you can imagine, and I quite enjoy The Killing Hour. That Rachel Raprenzi is fascinating. I think she still is enamored with you.”
“Ah, Rachel,” Kohnex said. “I watch her, too. Yes. I can see a connection between the two of you.” He gasped suddenly and grabbed his throat, turning toward Laurel. “Something’s coming for you. Oh, my. It’s a force. A force that wants just you. You’re in grave danger.”
Huck might actually have to hit this guy. “She’s an FBI agent. Stop making things up.”
“I’m not. I can see it. I can sense it from two different directions actually. And one . . .” He leaned in. “Is very close to you,” he whispered. “Do you have a sibling?”