Dangerous Mercy: A Novel (34 page)

Jude paced in front of the window in his office, his eyes focused on the illuminated Saint Catherine Parish Courthouse across the street.

“You’re going to wear the carpet out, Sheriff,” Kyle said.

“Where could he have taken her? I issued that APB within minutes.”

“They might’ve switched vehicles.”

“Then why haven’t we found his truck?” Jude winced at the sharp tone of his voice. “Sorry, Kyle. I don’t mean to take it out on you. I just don’t want to lose him. Not now. Not when we’re this close.”

“I understand.”

Jude stopped pacing and sat at the conference table across from Kyle. “So do you think he’s going to kill Adele?”

Kyle pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. “He’ll do anything to keep from getting caught—even that. He’s been totally focused on eliminating the source of his pain. He’s done that. He’s ready to start his life over now. He knows if he’s caught, he’ll get the death penalty—at the very least life without parole. He’s not going to let that happen. However, from what Zoe said, I think he’s actually fond of Adele. I imagine he’s caught in a will struggle about now.”

“Explain.”

“Murray’s not a sociopath. He
has
a conscience. In his mind, he did what he had to do to stop the source of his debilitating pain. He doesn’t want to kill Adele. But she’s the only bargaining chip he has. When we finally catch up with him, and he threatens to kill her unless we let him go, I believe he’ll do it.”

CHAPTER 36

Adele sat in the front seat of Murray’s truck, massaging her shoulder to no avail. Did Murray have anything for muscle aches? Did he even have water? The effect of not taking her Celebrex and her pain pill at dinnertime was worse than she imagined. Being this tense didn’t help matters. The pain in her shoulder was giving her a headache. How much worse would it get? Had Murray left her out here to die? What were the chances anyone would ever look for her here?

Lord, You know where I am. Please send help! Please protect Murray. Don’t let him get killed. He’s not ready to meet You.

She was tempted to try to feel her way back to the highway on foot. What foolishness! Even if she didn’t need the cane, how could she know what lay even a few yards beyond where she was? What if she fell in water? There were plenty of hungry alligators who would make a fine meal of her.

She dabbed the perspiration off her face with the edge of her sleeve. In this darkness, the oily insect spray on her perspiring skin made her feel as if she were covered in black ink. What she wouldn’t give for a package of wet wipes.

What awaited her here? Perhaps the dark night of the soul she had read about. Would her faith be tested? Would she be able to hang on to it—to trust the Lord—even if He didn’t seem to answer? How she hated being imprisoned by the disability of old age.

The words from the fortieth chapter of Isaiah were almost audible to her.

But those who hope in the L
ORD
will renew their strength. They will soar on
wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

She smiled. Spiritually, she wasn’t disabled. She wasn’t imprisoned. She was neither helpless nor hopeless.

Adele looked out into the night and began to sing her favorite song, the one that had sustained her anytime her troubles seemed overwhelming:

When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Hearing the sound of her own voice in this place of thick darkness was soothing, and the words Adele believed with all her heart gave her strength.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control:

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well with my soul,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Adele leaned her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. Maybe she wouldn’t make it through this, but she had all of eternity to praise the God who had snatched her from the throes of despair and gave her hope. She was not going to die defeated.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul—

She heard rustling in the bushes, and her eyes flew open. What was
that?
Her heart nearly pounded out of chest. She could shoosh away a fox or a skunk or an opossum. But what if it was a wild pig or a bear?

A second later, a hand grabbed her wrist and squeezed.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Murray’s voice was loud and gruff.

“Goodness, you scared me, hon. I thought you’d gone.”

He squeezed harder. “Why are you singing that song?”

“It comforts me. Why are you hurting me?”

Murray turned loose of her wrist. “How could you know that was Grandma Sophie’s song?”

“I didn’t. It’s always been my favorite.”

“She sang that song a lot.”

“Then Sophie was a believer?”

“If you mean a Bible thumper, yes. I’d say she was pretty well a fanatic.”

“And yet you loved her dearly.”
Some of what she told you must have sunk in.
Adele rubbed her wrist where Murray had squeezed it. “I thought you had left me out here alone.”

“I was leaning on a tree over there where you couldn’t see me. I just needed to think without you talking.”

“I see. And what are your thoughts? Are you going to kill me like you killed Flynn Gillis?”

Murray pushed away from the window, looked up at the night sky. “That jerk’s not the only one I’ve killed. You have no idea.”

In the silence that followed, Adele thought her throbbing heart must be audible.

“Are you going to tell me about it?” she finally said.

“I don’t see the point.”

“You might feel better.”

“Who said I feel bad? I don’t feel anything.”

“I doubt that.” Adele studied his shadow in the darkness and felt a spiritual battle raging. “I’m not giving up on you, Murray. I see the good in you, regardless of what you’ve done.”

“There
is
no good in me.”

“Nonsense. You have a spirit that was breathed into you by God Himself.”

“What good is it? I’m a bad person—a killer!”

“You weren’t born a killer, young man. You made choices. It’s never too late to make better ones.”

“I’m not interested in making
better c
hoices. I did exactly what I set out to do. Every one of those people had to die so things could change.”

“What people had to die?”

Murray threw his hands in the air. “You still haven’t figured it out, have you?”

“I’m not very good at riddles. Why don’t you just tell me plainly?”

“Do I really need to spell it out, Adele?
I’m
the Bathtub Killer! Me! That’s why the cops are after me. I’m not sorry I killed any of those people, so don’t start in on me with the
come to Jesus
stuff. Like I told you before, God doesn’t want me any more than I want Him.”

Adele put her hand to her mouth and heard herself whimper. How could she have been so blind?

Zoe sat at the table by the window at Zoe B’s with Vanessa, Father Sam, Tex, and Hebert. Outside,
rue Madeline
was lit up like a carnival, and tourists swarmed the street that had been closed to traffic since seven. She could faintly hear the Cajun band playing at Breaux’s. She glanced at her watch. Almost ten thirty. In half an hour, everything would close. Neon lights would go off. Street entertainers would go home. Tourists would go to bed. A sweet peace would replace the bustling commerce—until the sun came up and it all started again.

Would Adele be alive when the sun came up? Had Murray already killed her? If he hadn’t, was he hurting her? Was she afraid? Not knowing was almost unbearable. But would knowing be even worse?

Why hadn’t she listened to Pierce when he warned her that the men from Haven House shouldn’t be trusted? Why hadn’t she pushed the issue with Adele?

Zoe felt someone take her hand, and she looked up.

Hebert held her gaze with his intense gray eyes. “
Lâche pas la patate
.”

“I haven’t given up,” Zoe said. “But I’d be lying if I told you I’m not scared to death.”

“Anyting dat hurts you dis way,” Hebert said, “is a
piquant
in my heart. Let me help you be strong. You don’ know dat dis guy wants to harm Adele. Maybe he gonna let her go.”

“Maybe.” Zoe sighed. “Sometimes I hate that word.”

Vanessa put her arm around Zoe and gave her a gentle squeeze. “We have to have faith. That God’s with her. And that she’s with Him. You and I have both had experience with coming to the end of ourselves and having to trust God. No matter what happens, Adele will be all right, Zoe. She has more faith than you and me put together.”

“Adele is a charmin’ lady,” Tex said. “Let’s hope she uses a little of it on Murray.”

“He’s a cold-blooded killer,” Zoe said. “I’m not sure an old lady’s charm will touch him one iota.”

Jude sat at the conference table in his office with Kyle, Police Chief Norman, and Mayor Theroux, going over the latest developments in the bathtub killings. He heard footsteps in the hallway and looked up just as Aimee walked into his office.

“Here it is,” she said. “The lab made this priority one. Skin cells found in the sweat on Murray Hamelin’s clothes match the DNA we collected at the murder scenes—he’s our guy.”

“Excellent.” Jude glanced over at Kyle and Chief Norman.

“And a bonus”—Aimee handed the report to Jude—“the earrings
were
Jeanette Stein’s. Her husband identified them. Said they were a gift from her parents on her twenty-fifth birthday.”

“Well, congratulations, Sheriff.” The mayor leaned back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest. “At least now we know for sure.”

“I believe Hamelin’s still in the area,” Jude said. “I issued that APB within minutes. I just don’t believe he could’ve slipped out. That scumbag’s out there somewhere. We need to look under every rock until we find him.”

Chief Norman nodded. “He’s probably lying low until the dust settles. This town is crawling with law enforcement.”

“I’m not so sure.” Kyle shook her head. “I’m more inclined to think he’ll abandon his truck and leave town in another vehicle—if he hasn’t already. We’ve got his face plastered across the airways. If he’s smart, he’ll dye that red hair. But he’ll be a lot easier to spot if Adele’s with him.”

“What are the odds?” Jude said.

Kyle raised her eyebrows. “Adele’s the only leverage he’s got. I don’t see him leaving her behind. But according to Zoe, she has some health issues that require medication. I suppose she could become more of a liability as time goes on.”

“You’re saying he’d kill her?”

Kyle tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I honestly don’t know. Certainly he knows how to justify murder when he thinks it’s deserved. Whether or not her frailty is enough to justify eliminating her is anybody’s guess. We need to find them before it comes to that.”