An Unholy Mission (28 page)

“Are you sure about that? If she’s still alive, and she’s got the kids with her, which appears to be the case, she well may be holed up somewhere, cooling off and thinking things over. I’ve seen that happen before. On the other hand, if it’s one of those cases of hideous domestic abuse that no one ever suspected, she may have taken off for good. It’s not easy these days with so much of our private lives on display for all to see, but with careful planning, it can still be done.”

“You just said it, Steve … if she’s still alive. The picture gets worse every day that goes by. I have to tell you, I don’t have a very good feeling about this.”

“You’re not telling me anything I don’t know.”

Vages closed the file and slipped it back onto the top drawer of his desk. “I’m calling the husband back in. If he does know something, he’s eventually going to crack and let it slip.”

“If not, it’s back to square one. I was there for the first go-round, remember? I think he’s telling the truth. I don’t think he has any idea what happened or where she is.”

The police inspector stood up, laced his fingers together, stretched them back over his head and grunted. “I’m not so sure about that, Ginny. There are some really sick puppies out there, and they can look just like you and me. I need to stretch my legs. I’m going across the street. You want a coffee or something?”

The day was as lovely a one as May in New England could offer. There was a clear, blue sky overhead and mild, shirt-sleeve temperatures that promised to climb into the seventies. Weather-wise Yankees knew the chill of March still lurked in the shadows and prudently kept an extra sweater in the car just in case. Spring flowers were coming up in the gardens and along sidewalks in Millbridge, a little town in southeastern Massachusetts where Olympia Brown and her significant other, Frederick Watkins, were looking for The First Parish Church. He was at the wheel, and she was calling out directions she’d printed off her computer.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Olympia? I thought we agreed that if you were going to take another parish position, it would not be one fraught with dissention. You’ve seen enough unpleasantness in the last year to make anyone a little wary. ”

“Who could have predicted that a summer ministry on Martha’s Vineyard would turn nasty? That was a surprise to both of us.”

“You have a point, my darling; but why is it that wherever you go, within days of your arrival something dreadful bubbles up that needs fixing, and you get sucked into the middle of it? After the Vineyard incident you went to work as a hospital chaplain, and a religious fanatic came uncomfortably close to killing you. At least this time we already know there’s a problem, so at least you won’t be blindsided; but I have to tell you, I have my doubts about the wisdom of your taking this on.”

She put her fingertips against her lips and turned to Frederick.

“That’s just it, what is the problem? I suppose that’s what the district supervisor wants me to find out. Right now, all I know is the settled minister resigned abruptly, and these folks are in a total tizzy. I never got to know her, and that may be a good thing, because it means that I come without preconceptions.” Olympia threw out her hands. “There were some rumblings about misconduct, but what kind of misconduct and on whose part? Those are the real questions. Misconduct is a generic word that could describe anything from the pilfering of church funds to sexual abuse. Hell, I’ve seen churches fire a minister because he or she used the word God too often … or not often enough.”

“One of the many things I’ve learned from you, reverend lady, is that churches can be hotbeds of turmoil and trouble, carefully concealed under flowery hats, white gloves and pot luck suppers.”

“Whatever the problem is or may be, the higher-ups want me to go in there as kind of an interim consultant and hold the place together until some of the feathers settle, then see if I can restore some peace and harmony.”

“And while you’re there, do a little sleuthing and see if you can find out what really happened.”

Olympia rolled her eyes. “There are always two sides to everything.”

“That’s on a good day, Olympia. I don’t know whether your reputation precedes or follows you, dear girl, but you do have a nose for trouble.”

“And your point is?”

“They don’t pay you overtime for risking your life.”

She made a face that was half exasperation, half resignation, and aimed it in the direction of the man beside her.

“Frederick, it’s a four-month appointment. The church is less than a half hour from home. I’m coming back to you and the cats every night. It’s a perfect situation. I didn’t teach in a college for almost thirty years and not know how to put out fires and circumvent land mines. Besides, I’d much rather have a challenge than a sinecure. You know that.”

“Only too well, my dear. I think we’ve arrived. Is this it?”

Olympia leaned forward and squinted out the window.

“White steepled church in need of a paint job with an
All Souls Church Parking Only
sign in front and directly across the town green from another white church that looks almost exactly like it?”

“Spot on.”

Frederick rolled the canary yellow Ford pickup past the signpost and came to a sputtering stop next to the curb.

“You’re sure you don’t want me to come in with you?”

Olympia smiled and shook her head. “No, thanks, sweetheart. They said it would be a short meeting. If you go have a cup of coffee and dig into one of your crosswords, I should be through in less than an hour. I’ve got my cell phone. I’ll call when we’re finished, and you can come back and get me. I really appreciate your coming with me.” Olympia looked off to the side and toyed with the collar of her blouse. “Maybe we can go for a little walk around the town before we head back. It’s really pretty.”

“You mean do a little snooping.”

Olympia slipped down from the front seat to the sidewalk, then turned and responded through the passenger window.

“I prefer to think of it as acquainting myself with the local flora and fauna.”

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