Page 28 of Death in the New Year

“I’m standin’ in front of the church with my gun pointed at the reverend. I do believe he means to do me harm.”

“You bitch! I’ll kill you for this. You might be my last, but I’ll kill you!” He turned and ran back inside the church, and Isaih gripped her arm.

“Miss Ruby, we should leave,” he said.

“We’re not leavin’, honey. My boys are on their way. Whatever he’s gonna do, we’ll handle it.”

They both stood behind her car for cover, watching the front doors to see when he would appear. When the clock ticked by, five minutes, ten minutes, they started to become worried.

“I smell smoke,” said Isaih. “No. No, he’s set the church on fire!”

“Nothin’ can be done now, Isaih. He’s made his bed.”

When the cars pulled up with the boys in them, Sven was the first to Ruby, hugging her close, kissing her face. Then Barry.

“Grandma, I’m so sorry,” he said, crying.

“For what? For believin’ in someone who helped you? Ain’t nothin’ to be sorry for, Barry. I’m proud of you. But that one, he’s got his comin’, and it’s gonna be a doozy.”

“What did he say, Ruby?” asked Zeke.

“He admitted to killin’ the girls and Imelda. Said evil had to be wiped off the face of the earth, and that included me, from what I gathered.”

“The church is going to be a total loss,” said Wilson.

“What am I gonna do?” asked Isaih. “I didn’t have much, but all I had was in that little room up there.”

“You’re comin’ home with us,” said Ruby. “We can give you a place to stay and get you back on your feet. What about the man from Arkansas? Is he up there?”

“No, ma’am. He left yesterday. Got a bus ticket back home.” Ruby was grateful to hear that bit of news, nodding at Isaih.

Sven took Ruby and Isaih back to Belle Fleur while the men waited for the fire to be contained. They knew that the reverend lived in the little sanctuary house in the back, but when they broke down the door, it was completely empty. There was nothing inside. No furniture, no clothing, nothing.

“It was all for show,” frowned Trak. “He wanted people to believe he lived in squalor, here near the church. He has another home.”

“We have to find it before he claims more victims,” said Wilson. He looked at his old friend, Trak, and nodded. “Do what you do, brother.” Trak gave a look of understanding, then turned to Zeke.

“Zeke? Let’s go. We have game to hunt.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

He slammed the front door, and the windows rattled from the force. Opening the closet, he stared down at the dead body and realized he needed to move it quickly just in case someone found him. There was still so much to do.

Opening his phone, he dialed the number.

“I sent a check. I can’t send more.”

“I need more. I’ve been discovered, and I’ll need to change my name, get plastic surgery, all of it.”

“I can’t send more, Morley. I can’t. If Andrew finds out, he’ll know everything.”

“He won’t find out, Allison. Your husband adores you. He gives you everything you want and then some. Just send me more money.” She was quiet on the other end of the line, and he waited patiently.

“No.”

“I got you away from that abusive pimp when you were just a kid, Allison. He was doing all kinds of things to that body of yours. Did your husband ever ask about the scars? Did he ever question why that sweet pussy of yours was so well used?”

“Shut up,” she whispered into the phone.

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