Chapter 28
Twenty-Eight
When Kaely and Erin got back to the house, Erin sat down at the table in the kitchen while Kaely poured them both a glass of iced tea.
She’d been upset about Dale and a little worried about her house.
She’d called the alarm company and changed the code.
Then she’d texted the new code to Adrian.
On the way home, Kaely had asked if she could pray for Dale.
Listening to her pray in a way that made it clear she believed that God not only heard her but would answer had given Erin some peace about the situation.
After handing Erin her glass, Kaely sat down next to her.
After taking a sip from her own glass, Kaely put it down.
Erin had stayed with Pat as Herrington asked her the same questions Noah had gone over with her.
But except for her dead stalker, there wasn’t anyone who had ever made Pat feel uncomfortable enough to be a suspect.
Nor did she have any idea who could have committed the murders.
Pat also handed over her phone and laptop.
Hopefully, the police would find something that could help.
Pat was concerned about getting her items back, but when Erin showed her that hers had already been returned, she seemed to relax.
“You said you wanted to ask God into your life when we got home,” Kaely said. “Are you ready to do that?”
Erin nodded. She felt the need to say something, but for some reason she couldn’t. It was as if the words were stuck in her throat.
“There are some things I want you to understand before we pray,” Kaely said.
“Some people believe God is in charge of everything. That nothing happens that isn’t His will.
That’s wrong. He created a beautiful world for us, but people decided to disobey Him and let evil in.
That wasn’t what He wanted. He gave us free will, Erin.
We’re not puppets on strings. That’s why it has to be our decision to turn our lives over to Him.
To allow Him to come inside of us and change us into the person He created us to be. Do you understand that?”
Again, Erin nodded. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she didn’t care. She felt something again. Like she had earlier. There was a presence in the room. Something warm, sweet, and loving.
“I talked to you about Jesus before, but I want to make sure you understand this too. Jesus is the Son of God. He came down to the earth to live as a man among people. He felt the same things we do and was tempted the way we are, but He was sinless. Perfect. He came for one reason. To pay the price for the sin that led us away from God. All the sin that ever existed. He paid the price for any sin you ever committed and any sin you ever will commit. This is hard to imagine, but this perfect Man not only paid the price by giving His life as the only sacrifice ever needed for the world . . .” Now it was Kaely’s turn for tears.
She choked them back. “He became sin on the cross.” She turned her head away for a moment.
A deep sob forced its way from somewhere deep inside her.
Then she took a deep breath and turned her tear-filled eyes on Erin’s.
“I . . . I can’t imagine how that felt. He became the most disgusting, despicable sin you can imagine.
For us. It must have been beyond torturous.
Even His Father had to turn His face away from His Son, something Jesus had never experienced before.
That’s why He cried out, ‘My God, my God. Why have you forsaken me?’ When Jesus took His last breath, the curtain that separated men from the inner part of the temple in Jerusalem tore in two.
From top to bottom. It symbolized that there was no more separation between God and man.
Jesus paid the price so that today, you can become His child.
His own beloved daughter. Your spirit will come alive, and you’ll be one with God.
He will always see you as righteous.” She gazed deeply into Erin’s eyes. “Do you understand what I’ve said?”
“Yes,” Erin whispered. Even though it was difficult for her mind to comprehend, inside she knew what Kaely had said was true.
There was no doubt in her mind that God was real and that Jesus had done exactly what Kaely had told her.
The understanding of what Jesus had done on the cross became more real than anything else in her mind. And she wanted God with all her heart.
“All you have to do is accept what He did on the cross,” Kaely said gently. “And exchange your sin for His forgiveness. In fact, it’s called the great exchange. Do you want me to pray first and then you can repeat what I say?”
Erin shook her head. She wanted this to be from her own heart.
From her own lips. She closed her eyes. “Dear God,” she said, her voice shaking.
“I want the new life Jesus died to give me. I accept the forgiveness He purchased for me. I’ll do my best to follow You the rest of my life.
Let Your Holy Spirit live in me and through me.
And thank You for Your incredible love. I will cherish it . . . and You . . . forever.”
It was at that moment that the feeling that was all around her came inside.
She felt the most incredible love. It flowed through her.
She was suddenly different. She could tell that she was no longer the same person she’d been before.
She wasn’t alone anymore, and she never would feel that way again.
She scooted her chair closer to Kaely, put her arms around her friend, and sobbed until she couldn’t cry anymore.
Kaely held her until Erin gently pushed away. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m so happy. I’m not sure why I’m crying.”
Kaely smiled at her. “Sometimes joy drips out of our eyes.”
Erin laughed. “That is so corny.”
“I know. I was sorry as soon as I said it.”
Erin started to giggle and couldn’t seem to stop. Kaely laughed along with her. Finally, Erin leaned back in her chair and shook her head. “I feel like a wrung-out dish towel. I’m exhausted . . . and hungry.”
Kaely nodded. “I’ve got to go to the store and pick up some groceries. I forgot to take anything out of the freezer before we left. I’d planned to stop on the way home, but I forgot to do that too.”
Kaely started to say something else, but suddenly the doorbell rang. “Stay here,” she said to Erin. She got up and went to the front door.
Erin listened as the door opened. She heard a woman’s voice. After a brief wait, Kaely came back into the kitchen. She was with Shannon.
“Shannon has something to tell us,” Kaely said.
“While you two were gone,” Shannon said, “I drove past the house and noticed a man snooping around. I turned around and pulled into the driveway. I asked if I could help him. At first, he was evasive, but then he started asking questions about you, Erin. Where you were. If you were staying here. Then he actually offered to pay me for what he called your story. That’s when I realized he was a reporter who wanted to know more about this serial killer the police are looking for and the location of the place where they’re working.
I lied to him. Told him you’d been here but that you’d gone home.
” She shook her head. “I didn’t know what else to do. I hope I didn’t do the wrong thing.”
Kaely put her arm around Shannon’s shoulders. “I don’t usually advise lying, but in this case, it may have been the only thing that would have sent him on his way. Thank you, Shannon.”
Shannon looked at Erin. “If I see him again, I’ll let you know. I’m sorry you’re going through this.”
“Thanks, Shannon. I really appreciate it.”
Shannon smiled at her, said good-bye, and left.
“Wonder if it was that reporter from Richmond,” Erin said once the front door closed.
“It’s possible.” Kaely paused for a moment. “He might be back. I think it would be a good idea to put your car in the garage. Noah can park in the driveway when he gets home. If that reporter hasn’t thought to check the license plates on our cars, let’s hide yours before it occurs to him.”
“Good idea.”
Kaely opened the garage door, and Erin went outside.
She drove her car into the garage. Chester ran to the front door and watched her.
He was probably confused as to why Erin got into the car without him.
He stayed calm, though. Since spending time around Mr. Hoover, he’d settled down quite a bit.
Didn’t seem as nervous. Who knew the big Maine coon would have that kind of effect on him?
Erin’s resolve about adding another furry creature to their home was shaken a bit.
But not enough that she actually changed her mind.
Once her car was in the garage and the door was closed, they went back inside. Chester’s tail wagged when she walked into the kitchen. Then he plopped down next to her as she took a seat at the kitchen table.
Kaely had just joined her when her phone rang. Kaely picked it up and looked at the caller’s name. “Noah.” She answered the phone and said, “Hello, honey.”
Erin tried not to listen, but Kaely’s expression alarmed her.
She didn’t say much, but when she finally disconnected the call, Erin could tell something was wrong.
She didn’t want to question her since whatever Noah told her might have been personal.
However, her instincts told her it was something else.
“Everything all right?” she asked, hoping it didn’t sound like she was being nosy.
Kaely sat back down in her chair. “I don’t know. Patricia Long is missing.”