Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
After dinner that night, Ami opened her closet door and searched for the dress she wanted to wear for the class reunion. It was a semi-formal tea length red dress with a three-fourth quarter length sleeved jacket. The skirt cascaded down in layers making her look taller and there were a few sequins sprinkled over the chiffon, giving it a festive look. She’d last worn it during her campaign race for mayor. And she really loved this dress, happy to have another occasion to wear it again.
She hung the dress on the closet door and then pulled out the red shoes she wore with it. Next, she looked for her clutch purse, so she’d have it ready for Saturday as well. She was about to go get out her jewelry when someone knocked on the door.
She opened it and found Kenneally standing there.
“Whatcha doing?” he asked.
“Getting out what I’m going to wear to the class reunion on Saturday,” she explained. “I was about to try it on to make sure it still fit. I don’t think I’ve gained weight, but some dresses are funny, if your weight shifts it won’t fit right.”
“Speaking of the reunion,” he said. “I brought the one suit and I’ve been wearing it and the same tie to the funerals. Is there a men’s store in town where I can get a new one?”
“No need. I have just the thing,” she said. She went over to her bureau and pulled open the top drawer, took out an oblong box and carried it to him. “I got this during the after Christmas sale last year for a possible gift this year. It’ll be perfect with your suit.”
He opened it to find a red necktie and a matching pocket square set that were similar in color to her dress. “Thank you. I think we will look dashing on Saturday night.”
“I do too. Now all I must do is polish my welcome speech,” she said.
“I’m sure you’ll make it sparkle,” he said.
“I don’t know about that. I just want to make them feel I was a good choice of a speaker, not bore them to tears.”
“You could never bore anyone,” he said, running his finger down her cheek the way he did the night before.
Tingles shot down her spine and warmth pooled in their wake. She closed her eyes and silently inhaled. “Kenneally.”
“Yes?”
She felt his warm breath on her face and her eyes opened wide to see him mere inches away. His lips found hers and even though he started out gently she didn’t hesitate this time and returned his kiss with the same ardor. Even when the sound of the necktie box hitting the floor should have jarred them apart, they only came closer together.
“I don’t want you to leave Dixie,” she whispered.
“Oh Ami,” he murmured against her ear. “You don’t know what you are asking. I have a team waiting for me. I must go back.”
“And I have a town I have to run.” She broke away from him. “I suppose it makes no sense getting involved if you have to go back to Leesburg and I have to be here.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way,” he said. “We could find a way to make it work if we really wanted it.”
She nodded and turned away, wrapping her arms around her midriff, hugging herself. “I really want that, but long-distance relationships are hard.”
He bent and picked up the tie box. “We don’t have to decide anything right away. I’m not leaving until after the New Year anyway. I’ll let you work on your speech. Thanks again for the tie.”
After he left, she closed the door and leaned her forehead against it. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe they could have a relationship, and she shouldn’t try to put a halt on things just because he’d be leaving after the New Year.
Turning to her desk, she worked on her welcome speech until time to turn in and then she tried on her dress, thrilled that it still fit before changing into her gown and crawling into bed.
That night her dream was of Christmases she spent with her grandparents as a child, filled with pleasant memories, and she woke feeling refreshed, ready to face whatever the day might bring. Even the possibility of a long-distance relationship with Kenneally if that is what he wanted.
Four days later …
Ami dressed, put on her jewelry, fixed her hair and applied her makeup, excited to head to the high school for the reunion and give the welcome speech. After putting the finishing touches on it, she’d revised it again and it read smoother than the previous version and she was much happier with it. It was shorter and funnier and had lots of school spirit just like Tilda liked in a speech.
Tilda.
Oh, how she missed her friend, but she would make her proud this evening.
Grabbing the red wrap and her clutch purse, she headed to find Kenneally waiting for her in the living room holding what looked to be a corsage container.
“What is this?”
“A little something, I picked up earlier when I went up to get gas in Lolita,” he said.
“Is that for me?”
He nodded. “The local florist had several to choose from already prepared in the floral case because of the reunion tonight.”
“Just like prom.” Ami held out her arm and he slipped on the wristlet.
The white rosebuds and red ribbon made a wonderful addition to her ensemble, and she smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I hope you’ll save me a dance.”
“Of course,” she said.
“Shall we go?” he asked, offering her his arm.
She took it and they headed out to the truck, and she laughed in delight. He’d fastened twinkling lights around the windshield, side windows, and along the truck bed. “I see you’ve been busy.”
“Had to keep Lolita looking in the holiday spirit,” he said.
Ami laughed again, but when she glanced over at a for sale sign someone had posted in Gertrude’s yard earlier that day, her laughter faltered.
He hurried and opened the door for her to get inside and then he went to get in on the driver’s side. “Let’s not think about that,” he said. “We are going to a reunion, a party where there will be plenty of food and drink, live music and dancing.”
Ami nodded, forcing a smile on her face. She didn’t want to think about Gertrude’s death or why her home was up for sale. At least not tonight. “Even if I didn’t like the woman when she was with us, that doesn’t mean someone had to kill her and her dog.”
“I know,” he reached over to gently squeeze her hand. “And it’s okay to be sad that she’s gone.”
They rode in silence, listening to the Christmas instrumental music playing on the radio station. The sun was going down and even though the forecast called for clear skies and lows in the fifties, Ami was grateful for the heat filling the cab, keeping away the nip in the air.
Cars were lined up to pull into the school parking lot when they arrived, and it looked like a good crowd had turned out brightening Ami’s spirits. And her thoughts immediately went to how Tilda and Judson would have enjoyed being there and she was sad once more. “Damn it,” she muttered under her breath.
“Did you say something?” Kenneally asked, glancing her way.
“Just thinking about Tilda and Judson and how they’d love being here tonight,” she answered truthfully.
“I’m sure they would have,” he agreed. “Nothing wrong with remembering them. Or Becky and Connor. Prepare yourself for a display or something about the four of them when we walk in. Afterall, they were part of this graduating class and the Simmons’ were going to be honored tonight before their passing. I’m sure the reunion committee will still do something in their honor.”
“You’re right. They most definitely will,” Ami said. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe in and out slowly, a sure way to calm herself. She needed to be calm about what she was going to face.
Kenneally finally parked and they got out and went inside. Ami presented her invitation at the door and picked up their name badges. Then they went into the gym that had been decorated like a winter wonderland with Christmas trees, snow men, and tables on one side and a dance area that looked like a skating rink on the other.
“The decorating committee really went all out,” Ami said. “This gym looks wonderful.”
“They even have a hot chocolate station down at that end.” Kenneally pointed.
“Nice,” she said as she scanned the rest of the gym to see if there were any more surprises in store for the evening. “Oh look, over there is a sleigh and a photographer. Shall we go have our picture taken before a line forms?”
They walked to where the photographer was waiting for his first customer. “I didn’t notice that display of the four members who have passed that you suggested we’d see,” she said.
“I haven’t either,” he said. “Maybe I was wrong.”
“Or maybe the committee felt it was a little too much, too soon to remind them of what had happened,” Ami said.
“Maybe,” he agreed.
Reaching the sleigh, Ami smiled when the photographer looked expectantly at them. “Are you ready to take pictures?” she asked.
“I am. Just fill out your information on the form and select what kind of package you want. We have three to choose from,” he explained. “My assistant will take your payment.”
Ami picked up the clipboard off the little table and filled in her information, selected the package she wanted and offered her credit card to his assistant before Kenneally could protest.
“I could have paid for those,” he said.
“My treat. You are my guest, and we didn’t know pictures would be an option tonight,” she said.
“Okay,” the photographer said. “Now, Ami, if you will put your clutch and wrap inside the sleigh, we’ll take a few shots outside it first.”
She did as she was told, and he positioned them in front of the sleight with Kenneally standing behind her with his arms wrapped around her and her hands-on top of his, so the wristlet was showed. Then they all climbed inside the sleigh, Ami and Kenneally sitting beside one another and the photographer laid a white furry lap blanket across their legs. He climbed up on the opposite bench, so the photos he was taking looked down on them.
After taking a shot with them facing him, he had Kenneally wrap his arm around her. “Now on this one I want the two of you to look at one another.”
Ami turned so she was looking at Kenneally and fake snow began to fall on them. Ami’s mouth fell open in surprise.
“Wow.” Kenneally looked surprised too and she thought he was going to lean in and kiss her. She held her breath in anticipation, imagining him kissing her in the snow, even if it was fake.
She’d get plenty of opportunities in Leesburg with him, she bet.
“Perfect!” the photographer called. And like that the session ended, jarring her out of her imaginings. The snow stopped, he jumped down from the bench and came over, removing the wrap and the magic of the moment was gone.
Still stunned by the abruptness of the mood shift, she stiffly retrieved her clutch and wrap from the opposite side of the sleigh and allowed Kenneally to help her out of the sleigh.
“Your photographs will be mailed in two weeks to the address you provided on the form,” the assistant said.
Ami was quiet as they walked back across the gym. “Is everything okay?” Kenneally asked.
“Fine.”
But she wasn’t. She’d realized she’d imagined kissing him in Leesburg. That meant she’d have to leave Dixie and her job as mayor. Was she willing to do that? Or was she only going to be kissing him on visits? She wasn’t sure and until she knew which, she needed to figure it out and sort her feelings toward it, but tonight wasn’t the time to do it. She was here to give a welcome speech and enjoy herself.
“Ami!” Selena called, coming toward her with her arms outstretched.
“Selena?” Ami returned puzzled to see her assistant tonight. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“I came with Roger Ford. He asked me to accompany him at the last minute.”
“Ah,” Kenneally said.
Ami nudged him in the side. “That was nice of him. You have been chatting recently.”
“He’s very easy to talk to and I enjoy our conversations,” Selena said.
“Is that all?” Ami said.
“Should there be more?” Selena asked.
“Just make sure no one gets hurt,” Ami said.
“Of course,” Selena agreed as Roger joined them.
“Good evening, Mayor, Kenneally,” he said.
“Roger,” Ami said. “I didn’t realize you were part of the graduating class with Judson and Tilda.”
“I wasn’t, but I did serve as their treasurer that year because they needed one and even though I was a freshman, I was in advanced calculus and the senior class advisor was also my teacher and he recommended I fill the spot. I’ve always been a whiz with numbers.”
“Yes, you are,” Ami agreed. “It was nice that the committee included you in the reunion.”
“Of course, they would. I am serving on the finance committee for this shin dig,” he boasted. “I made them account for every penny they spent, and you see everything that was still done to produce a fine event.”
Ami got an odd feeling as she listened to him talk about keeping track of the money. What if he was the next victim? What if all his penny pinching during the planning had pissed off someone?
“The décor is amazing,” she praised. “And the sleigh for the photography booth was a great idea. Where did you ever find it?”
“That, thankfully, is all the photographers doing,” Roger said. “But the skating rink was my idea for the dance floor.”
“Nice touch,” Kenneally added. “So is the hot chocolate booth.”
“Just trying to keep it authentic,” Roger said.
“There haven’t been any threats made against any of the reunion committee members have there?” Ami asked.
His brows furrowed. “No. Why would you ask?”
“We know there is one more death supposed to happen from that note left at the last crime scene,” Ami explained. “It’s been days without anything happening that we know of I’m being awfully cautious.”
Roger nodded. “No. I can’t say if anyone received a threat because I haven’t heard about it.”
She smiled. “That is a relief. Maybe we can relax for a few days then.”
“Let’s hope,” Selena chimed in. “I for one want to have a merry Christmas.”
“Don’t we all,” Kenneally agreed.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Ami saw the principal, Kevin Holloway, waving at her trying to get her attention. “If you’ll excuse me, I believe I’m being summoned.” She took her speech out of her clutch and then handed it and her wrap to Kenneally.
“Knock ‘em dead,” he said.
“Bite your tongue,” she quipped.
He chuckled. “Sorry, poor choice of words.”
Selena and Roger laughed as well.
Making her way through the small crowd where Kevin Holloway stood, Ami said hello to a few of the people she knew and those she didn’t. “Are you ready for me, principal?” she asked.
“I am. I hope you have been enjoying yourself this evening,” he said.
“As much as one can,” she replied. “I took advantage of the photographer. Chatted with a few people. Enjoyed the décor.”
“The committee did an excellent job with that,” he agreed. “Let’s get you to the stage and I will announce you. And then you can get back to mingling and enjoying your evening.”
“I hope you’ll get to enjoy the evening as well,” she said. “This should be a fun time for you.”
A pained look crossed his features. “But it isn’t,” he said. “It’s a reminder that my sister should be celebrating along with her graduating class. Instead, she is rotting in a cold grave.”
Ami blinked at his statement and followed him to the stage. “I didn’t make the connection before. Susan Holloway was your sister. She’s the girl that we’ve been raising money for a scholarship all these years during the annual cookie crawl. I never connected the name. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” he said with a quick glance over his shoulder. “It would be easy for you not to know. You didn’t grow up in town. You left as a child.”
“But still,” she said. “You must think me insensitive not to have realized the connection.”
He stopped walking. “I was much younger than Susan. Hardly anyone in town knew who I was back then.”
“What about your parents?” Ami asked.
“They passed earlier this year,” he answered. “First my mother, then my father a few months later. They never got over Susan’s death. Never understand what made her take her life the way she did.”
“No, I don’t suppose a parent would,” Ami replied. “But they still had you.”
“They did and they were proud of my accomplishments even if I didn’t aspire to the same high standards as Susan.”
“I’m sure it didn’t matter to them as long as you did your best,” Ami said. “That is what my mother always told me.”
He nodded and started walking toward the stage again. “Everyone always says that.”
She hurried to keep up with him unsure if she had offended him or not. She meant well in what she said, but if she had upset him, she wanted to make him understand she didn’t intend to do so. However, there was no time to speak further because he was already on stage, in front of the standing microphone. “May I please have everyone’s attention?” Conversations quieted and the guests gathered around the stage.
“I’d like to thank everyone for coming out to celebrate the class reunion,” he began. “And here to welcome everyone, is our very own Mayor Ami Novak. Please give her a warm Dixie welcome.”
A round of applause followed as he stepped away and disappeared into the crowd.
“Thank you, Principal Holloway,” Ami said. “I was honored when I was asked to give this welcome address. While I did not graduate from Dixie High, I did grow up here until I was a teenager and as many of you know I returned a few years ago before getting elected. I’d like to commend the committees who have worked long hours putting on this reunion for everyone to enjoy. From decorations to food and entertainment, you are making tonight a memory that will not be forgotten for years to come.”
She paused and looked at the crowd. “And while there are four of your classmates who would have been here tonight who were recently taken from you, I hope this will not dampen the spirit of the evening. I for one know that neither Tilda nor Judson would want it that way. So, let’s enjoy the evening and remember the curfew.”
As she departed the stage the live band came on and began to play. Couples took to the skating rink area to dance. She spotted Roger and Selena going in that direction. Feeling parched, she stopped by the refreshments table and picked up a cup of punch before going to find Kenneally.
She found him in deep conversation with Harold and Tom and by their expressions she could tell it wasn’t anything good. “Evening gentlemen,” she said.
“Mayor,” Tom and Harold said.
“Nice speech,” Tom added.
“Short and sweet, the way I like them,” Harold said.
“Thanks,” she replied, then took a sip of her punch. “Is something wrong?”
“I was telling them how you were concerned when Roger told us about how he was so strict on the budget for the reunion,” Kenneally said.
“You picked up on that?” Ami asked.
“Yep, why else would you ask him about whether there had been any threats against the reunion committee,” Kenneally said. “You were really trying to find out if he had received any himself.”
“Was it that obvious?” she asked.
“To me, but not Selena, I’m sure,” he said.
Tom touched her arm. “Ami, do you think Roger could be in danger? That he might be the next victim?”
She thought for a moment and then shook her head. “I don’t know. When he was talking about how he kept a close watch on the spending, an uneasy feeling came over me. What if he rubbed someone the wrong way and they were out to get him? Just like Gertrude put herself in harm’s way without meaning to do it when she watched my house.”
“I understand,” Tom said. “I’ll have my deputies keep a watch on Roger from here on out just to be safe.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“Enough of this talk,” Harold said. “We’re here to enjoy the evening. Is anyone going to ask the mayor to dance?”
Ami blushed. “Are you asking?”
“No, just thinking there is a perfectly fine dance floor with music and your looking might fine…”
Kenneally held out his hand. “I do believe you owe me at least one dance tonight. Shall we?”
“We shall.” She gave her cup to a grinning Tom and took Kenneally’s hand. “If you both will excuse us.”
As soon as they stepped into the dancing rink, Kenneally surprised her with his moves. He twirled her, waltzed her, and did a flawless quick step that would have made Len Goodman give a resounding ten on Dancing with the Stars . She was so impressed with his moves as well as the live band. Their choice of jazzy Christmas music was perfect for dancing.
When the song ended, they walked to the hot chocolate stand and waited in line. “Where did you learn to dance like that?” she asked. “You were great.”
“My mom,” he said. “She loved ballroom dancing, and she had to have a partner, so she taught me as a kid while my dad was working nights.”
“And you remember it all? That is amazing,” Ami said.
“Like riding a bike. You never forget.”
She laughed. “It looks like we’ll be here for a while. I need to go powder my nose. I’ll be back.”
“I’ll grab you one if I get to the stand before you get back,” he said.
Ami hurried away in search of the girl’s locker room and the bathroom. But it was on the opposite side of the gym. She was stopped by several people along the way and had to talk to them before finally getting to go to her destination. Luckily, there wasn’t a line inside. Maybe others hadn’t realized they could go to the bathroom in there and were making their way into the actual school to the closest restroom. Or maybe that was where she should have gone. But the locker room door had been open. If it hadn’t been meant to be used it would have been locked.
She hurried over to the second door that led into the bathrooms and flipped on the light then went to the first stall. She was finished and had pulled up her hose when the light went out.
“Hello?” she called. “Is anyone there?”
There was no response, and she quickly put her dress into place, but the latch wouldn’t budge. She used her shoulder to lunge against it, but it remained stuck. Then she jiggled the latch, trying to yank it open, finally it gave way. “Botheration,” she muttered stepping out, afraid someone might be out there to attack her. Of course, she didn’t have her cellphone with her because she’d left her clutch with Kenneally earlier. It really would come in handy right now.
Making her way to the wall, she flipped the light switch, but there was no power. She tried again and again, but the lights remained off. Had the whole building lost power, or just the bathroom? She had a sinking feeling it was the latter. And she didn’t even want to try the door. She knew it was locked, trapping her inside. Trying it confirmed her suspicion. She banged her balled fist against it in frustration. But she didn’t bang again because she knew no one would hear her. That door led to the girl’s locker room not to the gym.
Again, she wished she had her cellphone and wondered how long it would take Kenneally to realize she hadn’t returned. Surely, he knew what she’d meant when she told him she had to powder her nose?
Kenneally turned around with two hot chocolates topped with whip cream and peppermint sprinkles expecting to find Ami waiting for him, but she was nowhere in sight. He walked back toward the table where they’d been talking to Harold and Tom before going to dance yet she was not there either.
Tom and Harold were chatting with Selena, Roger, and another couple he hadn’t met before.
When they looked at him, he asked, “Have you seen Ami? She went to powder her nose but hasn’t come back.”
“How long ago was that?” Tom asked.
“About ten minutes I’d say. I had to stand in line to get these,” Kenneally explained.
“Maybe there was a line in the ladies’ room,” Selena offered. “Did you notice in which direction she went? Did she head into the school or go to the girl’s locker room?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t pay attention, but I did see her stop to talk to some people.”
“Then that is probably the hold up,” Roger said. “She’s the mayor after all. Everyone wants to talk to her.”
“Even so,” Selena said, looking worried. “I’ll just go and see if I can locate her. If you excuse me.”
“Thank you,” Kenneally said.
“No problem,” Selena replied.
“And I’ll wander through the crowd to see if she got stopped on her way back,” Tom said.
“Why is everyone panicking?” Roger asked. “She only went to the ladies?”
“But she hasn’t returned,” Harold said.
“Women like to talk. She could be in there chatting with someone,” Roger said.
“That may be the case, but it’s better to be safe than sorry,” Harold said. “We’re talking about the mayor after all.”
“And with the current killing spree in town, I get why you’re being cautious,” the male member of the couple said.
“Thanks,” Kenneally said.
“I’m Jeff and this is my wife Louisa,” he said.
“Nice to meet you.”
“You think the killer might be here at the reunion?” Roger said.
“One can’t rule any place out,” Harold said.
Roger’s eyes widened. “Selena, wait up.” And he hurried off to catch up with her.
All desire for the beverages gone, Kenneally deposited the two hot chocolates down on the table. He spotted her clutch and realized she was probably without her cellphone because he doubted her dress had pockets. He opened the clutch and immediately spotted the phone inside.
“Damn.”
“What?” Harold asked.
“Ami doesn’t have her cell will her. If she is in trouble she can’t call for help,” he explained, snapping the clutch closed again. “I’m not waiting for Selena to return. I’m going to go look in the girl’s locker room and see if she’s there.”
“I’ll stay here in the event she shows up,” Harold said. “I’ll call you.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Kenneally said. He looked at Jeff and Louisa. “Nice meeting you both.”
They both nodded. “Same,” Jeff said.
“We wouldn’t want anything to happen to the mayor,” Louisa said.
Kenneally started to leave but stopped and motioned for Harold to step over. “Just had a thought. If you see Principal Holloway, check with him to see if he might have seen her. Perhaps he had some other duty beside the welcome speech she was to perform tonight and that is where she might be.”
“Good idea,” Harold said. “I’ll see if I can spot him in the crowd. Haven’t seen him milling around since after she gave that speech. I’ll start looking for him.”
With that, Kenneally hurried through the crowd, making his way across the gym to where he saw the Girl’s locker room sign. He pushed open the door and went inside the dimly lit area. Benches and lockers filled the area and then he saw a door to the sign that said shower restroom. He ran over and pushed against it, but it wouldn’t open. It was locked. A pad lock had been latched to keep the door from opening.
Why would anyone do that and leave the locker room open?
He reached into the inside pocket of his suit coat and pulled out his lockpick set and got to work. Within seconds, he had the lock open and was pushing the door open. As soon as he did, Ami flung herself into his arms, crying.
“Sh-h-h, you’re okay,” he soothed, holding her tight even though he was tamping down his anger for whomever had done this. “Did you see who locked you in?”
She shook her head as her sobs subsided. “I was in the stall and the door got jammed. I had trouble getting out. The power was cut in the bathroom so the lights went out and then I couldn’t get out the door because it was locked. I knew no one would hear me if I banged on the door because it was inside the locker room muffling the sounds into the gym.”
“It was padlocked,” he told her. “Maybe it was to keep guests from using this facility.”
“Do you believe that?” she asked, pulling away from him to stare into his eyes.
“Hard to say. You are the only one in here,” he said, trying to stay optimistic. “Selena went into the school to check the closest girls’ room there. We’ll see if there were guests using that facility instead.”
Ami nodded, went over to the sink and ran cold water over her hands. Turning off the water, she grabbed a paper towel, blotted them dry and used it to dry her face. Turning around, she walked back to him and asked, “Is my make-up messed up too badly?”
“Not at all.”
He walked her out, leaving the padlock off the bathroom door.
Ami felt rattled. Her heart was still pounding as they rejoined the reunion, but she was determined to act like nothing was wrong. They immediately ran into Tom who looked relieved when he saw them together.
“Where did you find her?” he asked.
“Locked in the bathroom in the girl’s locker room,” Kenneally said.
“That sounds intentional,” Tom said. “Did anyone see you go in there, Ami?”
“Not that I know of,” she answered. “I was chatting with guests as I made my way across the gym. Anyone could have been watching my progress. My guard was down.”
“And Kenneally was getting your hot chocolate,” Tom said.
“That’s right,” she said, frowning. “I’m sure it’s cold by now.”
“I’ll be happy to get us two more cups later,” he said, gently touching her cheek before running his fingers through the tendril of hair falling near her ear. “All that matters right now is that you’re safe.”
“I don’t like this,” Tom said breaking in on their tender moment. “I’ve just heard people talking that David Weeks hasn’t shown up. I can understand why he’d stay away. Losing four of his friends from high school in this killing spree.”
“No one could make him come,” Ami said. “Besides, it’s early. He could still show up. He’s a pastor. He might have had duties like a hospitalized parishioner detaining him from arriving on time. We don’t know the reason.”
Tom nodded. “You’re right. I might be jumping the gun on thinking something is up just because of what happened to you.”
The three walked together back toward their table but slowed down when they saw the look on Harold’s face.
“What is it?” Tom asked.
“I just got a call to come to David Weeks’ church out on the highway,” Harold said. “The organist had stopped by to practice music for tomorrow’s service when she found a body lying on the altar. I’m surprised you hadn’t received a call, but then your off duty tonight.”
Just then Tom’s cellphone rang, and he pulled it from his pocket. “What is it, Buck?” Tom asked.
Watching an angry red cover Tom’s face, Amy felt her earlier worry return, inching its way over her skin and threatening to turn into fear.
“I appreciate you trying to handle this on your own since I was off duty today, but not when it comes to this case,” Tom said. “Don’t do anything until I get there. Do you hear? No one touches anything.”
Tom’s face was still red when he disconnected the call. “I hate to cut the evening short, but the debt has been paid. We didn’t prevent anything with the curfew, Ami. It still happened.”
At his words, Ami felt her stomach plummet. “Where?”
“The Dixie Land Heavenly Host Interdenominational church. David Weeks’ church.”