Page 106 of Never Flinch

Jerome:Just getting started & I’ve already run down 8 churches of the holy rolling type that have been in trouble with the law because of protests that ended w/ arrests. Most common was trespassing, but some protests turned violent. Went back 10 years. More every year, worse since the pandemic. Found an actual “Hate Map.” True! Check email. Know U R busy but if anything stands out let me know.

Busy?Holly thinks.You don’t know the half of it, J.

She opens the email, which is titled—talk about impolitic—Nutball Churches. The attachment is a list of the eight churches, with thumbnail descriptions of what got each one in trouble. Two are in Idaho, one in Wisconsin, two in Alabama, two in Tennessee, and one in upstate New York. Before she can read the thumbnails, another text arrives, this one from Kate.

Presser in 45 mins. B there or B square.

I’m square and don’t care, Holly thinks. She checks her bag for pepper spray, rape siren, and—little does she like it—Bill’s revolver that’s nowherrevolver. All anti-nutball equipment present and accounted for.

She thinks about calling John Ackerly to see if he’s located the elusive Trig, but he would have called or texted if he’d found Trig, or even a lead to him. Besides, Izzy’s case is Izzy’s case… although this week it seems that Izzy’s priority is a charity softball game.

Still, she can’t help thinking about Trig as she checks her hair and lipstick in the bathroom mirror. The late Bill Hodges used to tell her that most cases were easy because most people who did dirt were lazy and stupid. In the few instances where the doers were a little smarter, Bill told her to stop, think, and isolate the central question in each case. Answer that and presto, case solved.

So what’s the central question with Trig? That he’s in AA? Itmustbe AA, because that 2-Tone woman told John he was a drinker, not a drugger.

Does she need a little eyeshadow? No, not for a press conference at four PM; her late mother would faint. Just a little concealer, and by the way,isTrig’s reason for attending AA the central question? Isthatthe mystery of the thing? No. The central question, Holly realizes, is much simpler, and might be the key to everything.

To her own face in the mirror, she asks it aloud: “Why does he care enough about Alan Duffrey to kill people?”

2

Chrissy is nearing Chicago, can actually see the skyline, when she makes a sudden decision to change course. She goes south on I-57, and at Gilman will turn east. Unlike Holly, Chrissy has no problem using her phone while driving. She calls Deacon Andy. He answers on the first ring and asks two questions: Is everything all right, and is Chris on a burner?

Chrissy answers yes to both, not bothering to tell Andy that today he’s using the wrong name. For Fallowes, the person he’s talking to will always be male. That’s okay with Chrissy (who would never consider using new-age pronouns like “they” or “them”), because both she and Deacon Andy share the common goal of ending Kate McKay’s reign of blood and terror.

“Chicago is out,” Chrissy says. “Too many cops, plus her damn bodyguard. That bitch is good at her job.”

“But it was the assistant who stopped that guy in Davenport,” Fallowes objects.

He’s obviously been following the news, but not closely enough. “Itwasn’tAnderson, it was Gibney. The press got it wrong, as they often do. But Buckeye City is Gibney’s hometown, and I’m guessing—hoping—that once they get there, she’ll let her guard down and relax a little. Also, the cops there are chasing some crazy guy who’s killing people. That’s got to take their focus offourtroublemaker.”

“Fine, your call as long as you keep the church out of it. What do you need from me?”

“The town is going to be crowded, because it’s not just McKay. That Black soul singer is starting her comeback tour there on Saturday. It’s a big deal. McKay is now on for Friday, got her date switched. Seven PM. The bodyguard has had them changing hotels, but that won’t work in Buckeye City, because the hotels are booked solid. I want you to find out where they’re staying and get me a room there. Can you do that?”

“I can,” Deacon Fallowes says. No waffling. Like the Gibney woman, he’s good at his job.

“Okay,” Chrissy says. “One way or the other, this ends in Buckeye City. I’ll be damned if I trail her all the way to Maine.”

She ends the call. An hour later, Andy Fallowes texts her.

KM party reserved at the Garden City Plaza in Buckeye City. Rooms 1109-1110-1111. I got you a single 2 floors down, 919. Room reserved on Hot Flash Ltd. credit card, but use your own card and make sure they delete Hot Flash info. You know why. Also delete this text.

They can’t entirely erase the digital trail leading back to Real Christ Holy, but they can at least obscure it. That matters because Chrissy may very well be caught or killed. The only pain in the ass is the need to make a stop along the way and become Christopher again. Christine has one photo ID, a Wisconsin driver’s license, but no credit card.

It’s the male half of his dual nature who has the Visa.

3

Jerome is continuing his research into radical-fundamentalist churches involved in violent protests (including some events that can only be called terrorism), when his phone rings. The area code is 818, which he recognizes as Los Angeles. Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, he answers the way Holly does.

“Hello, this is Jerome, how can I help?”

“I’m Anthony Kelly, Sista Bessie’s tour manager. I got your number from your sister. We all love Barbara.”

“Me too, at least when she’s not being a booger. What can I do for you, Mr. Kelly?”

“Call me Tones. I’m hoping you’ll work for the tour, however briefly. At your mayor’s invitation, Betty is going to sing the National Anthem Friday night at a charity softball game. Someplace called Dingo Park?”

---