Killer Honeymoon (12 page)

Jane couldn’t take it anymore. “Shannon.” She
walked slowly, each step a prayer. “You don’t need them. Let me help you. With
your shoulder. With a home. With anything.”

Jane locked eyes with the girl. She held her
hand out, a hairsbreadth away from Shannon’s own extended arms. “Don’t throw
yourself away for this.” Jane nodded towards the four young men backed against
the concrete building. All of them too scared to make a move for Shannon or to stop
her from taking their blame.

“I wouldn’t arrest you, darlin’, even if you
were the only one here.” Dave’s spoke with a fatherly growl of concern, gruff
but protective. “What you need is a medic to take care of that shoulder. And a
hot meal and a mamma and a daddy to look after you, child.” He patted her
extended hands. “Go with Jane, please. Get to that van back there and let those
daddies look at you. We’ll get you to the doctor before you know it. I just
gotta take care of these boys real fast.”

Jane bit her lip. It was one thing to send
Shannon to safety with a fatherly gesture. It was another to send
herself
away at the moment of discovery.

“Come along.” Flora had snuck up behind Shannon.
She put a hand on her waist. “I was a jungle nurse a long time ago. Let me make
sure you’re okay.” She winked at Jane and took Shannon back.

Jane assessed the situation. Josh had Miller on
the ground, in cuffs. Dave moved to the four young men, Rocky close at hand.

Jake watched the scene with a look of
concentration on his face as though he was deep in prayer for every person she
saw.

“When did you last see your buddy Ryder?” Dave
asked.

“What do you think, Amos?” Levi asked the boy to
his left. “Did we see Ryder the day before we left or not?”

Amos shrugged. “Stu and Jim didn’t see him at
all, since they met us out here. I sure wish I could help.”

Levi had a half smile on his face. No sign of recognition
that his “wife” had been stabbed or that his “friend” was having a mental
breakdown on the ground in front of them. “But, just wonderin’, how do you know
it was Ryder?”

“He’s been identified by someone who knows him.”

“Hmmm.” Levi looked at his fingernails. “Not
many folks knew him.”

“But you did,” Dave said. “How was the sushi?”

Amos jerked his eyes to the cop.

“First time ever eating raw fish, buddy?” Dave
asked. “Did it sit okay?”

Amos’s mouth opened, but he shut it again.

“Who dropped the gun in the trash can?”

One of the others—Stu or Jim—shook his head
vigorously.

“Ryder was going to ruin everything.” Miller’s
voice was muffled, his face pressed against the ground. “He was trying to stop
God’s work.”

“Is that so?” Josh helped Miller sit up. “They
couldn’t let that happen, could they?”

“Levi is our prophet.” Miller took a deep
breath. “And Ryder was a heretic. He just wanted everyone to trust in Jesus.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” Josh said.

“He wouldn’t accept the new revelation.”

“So you shot him?” Josh asked casually.

“Of course not. I wouldn’t. I didn’t have a
gun.” He looked sincerely disappointed.

“Stop talking, Miller.” Levi sounded irritated.

“Who did have a gun?”

“Coco did.”

“Wait—what?” Jane shook her head. He hadn’t just
said Coco, had he?

“It was Coco’s gun. She brought it, but Levi
wouldn’t let her come, no room in the car. I saw her give him the gun.”

“Can you describe it, just for fun?” Dave asked.

“It was small and gold, with a white handle. Not
any good for hunting, but still not a bad idea to have on hand. I have to give
her props for thinking of it.”

“You’re sure she gave it to Levi?”

“She gave it to Cherry, but Cherry gave it to
her cousin and laughed.”

“Ahh.” That made more sense. Coco to the last
was trying to help the girls.

“Were you with Ryder when he was shot?”

“No. I couldn’t be. They needed more money, so I
had to work. I’ve been saving. The camp needs repairs and a garden. Things that
take money, so I was still working.”

“He’s crazy. You saw him. He’s just insane and
he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Levi took a few steps towards Dave.
“I don’t have any gun.” He held his hands out, palms up. “But if you want to check,
you can.”

“That’s true, you don’t have the gun. We do. And
we have prints on it, too. Nothing that’s in our system, which could explain
why no one thought to wipe them off or wear gloves, but now that we’ve got you
all together, we can sort out that minor detail. So let’s all leave real nice
now.”

Rocky ushered the boys forward. “Listen to the
officer now. No point in arguing with a man with a real gun.”

The tallest of the young men had been silent, so
when his voice came out, high and scared, it surprised everyone. “I didn’t
shoot him. I know my prints are on the gun, but I didn’t shoot anybody. Levi
made me dump the gun. He didn’t say why. I was packing the car up that night
when he went out. He went out alone. I don’t know what he did, but my
fingerprints are on the gun and I didn’t shoot Ryder, I swear. He was my best
friend. I loved him so much.”

The other young man who had been silent put a
hand on the tall guy. “I know, man, I know. I was with you, and Amos was, too.
Ryder and Levi went out together for a walk and only Levi came back. None of us
were there. You’ve got to believe us.”

“Don’t do that to the prophet!” Miller cried
out. “Why are you betraying the prophet?” He still sat in the dirt as the
others walked past him.

Amos stopped and knelt beside him. “It’s over,
man. You’ve got to let it go. Levi didn’t have a vision from God. He just
wanted a lot of women. Don’t you understand? He just wanted to start something.
To show our father he was worthy. He never had any visions.”

Miller wrestled against his handcuffs like he
would have punched Amos in the face if he could.

“Come and get your boy, Gerald. Walk beside him
for once. Show him how a man handles his business.” Dave had no patience for
Gerald or Miller.

Miller’s father hustled to him, his lanky legs
seeming too long. “Come on.” He lifted him by the elbow. “Your mom and I can
sort this out. It was all just a camping trip, right? Or LARPing? Weren’t you
all just role-playing? An end-of-summer game?” Sweat dripped off his forehead.
“Please tell the police this was all just a game.”

Miller stumbled after his father. “Yeah.” His
voice was soft. “A game. And I didn’t mean to do that to Shannon.” He stared at
his feet.

“Buddy, don’t forget you have the right to
remain silent, okay?” Josh patted his back as he walked past. “We’ll get a doc
in to talk to him right away, okay, Ger?”

Gerald just nodded. “The kids always did like
those role-playing games you know…”

Jane would have given anything to be in the
police car with Levi, but at the same time, he had almost admirable self-control
of his own mouth, so she doubted he’d admit anything, ever.

Unfortunately for Jane and her starving
curiosity, everyone was taken to the police station to be processed, girls
included. Ken and Jeff stayed with their daughters, but Jane watched Gerald
leave Miller behind. She hoped it was to get a good lawyer, but he looked as
though he still hoped that “the kids were just playing” was a solid defense.

Josh shook her hand in the parking lot and said
he’d call later.

Dave was busy.

Rocky and Flora rode back to the beach house
with them.

“This isn’t where it ends, right?” Jane asked.

Flora smiled. “Of course not. This was a small-town
crime. A horrible one, but be patient, I bet you know everything in twenty-four
hours.”

“But how do we spend the time we’re waiting?”
Jane paced the living room.

Flora tapped the table. “You write your report.
We need it on file, of course. And you need it to process everything you’ve
seen and heard. Write it up, type it, and fax it to Miranda at the office.”

“Email it,” Rocky corrected. “Much easier.”

Flora waved the suggestion away. “Fine, so long
as you take your time and do a thorough job. This particular case was rough. A
lot going on in it.”

“What do you think is wrong with Miller?” Jane
sat at the table. “Mental illness, right?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he was just a hopeful
dreamer who can’t handle disappointment. Those boys are older than him by at
least five years.” Flora sighed. “He’s young. And stupid. But with help he can
get straight.”

“What about Levi? Do you think he really thought
he was a prophet?”

“That one is harder. I don’t know his culture,
their theology, or his personal beliefs. All we can know is what he says, not
what he means.”

“Do you think he’ll admit to murder?” Jake
passed around coffee cups. It was just after lunch, and they were all dragging.

“He is submitting to fingerprints, so he may not
need to confess.” Flora sipped her coffee. “Thanks for this, but we can go, let
you kids get on with your honeymoon, right, Rock?”

“Don’t leave yet.” Jane sipped her coffee.

“Of course.” Flora opened the notebook and began
to talk through the process Jane took in her investigation, including not
remembering to get a description of the gun over the phone.

It was a relief to have her and her words of
wisdom and experience, and by the time they left, Jane was ready to put the
case behind her for the day.

Twenty-four hours later, Jane and Jake sat in
the hard pews of the beautiful old Congregational Church in downtown Portland.
Sharing just a little bit in the grief of a life cut short. A good man. A
hardworking man. A compassionate man. Jane wondered, as she heard friend after
friend speak of the good things he had quietly done and asked no credit for, if
he had ever been a lovesick teenager with crazy dreams. And if he had ever
acted on them. And if he had lived to regret them and so turned his life around.
Ryder had had something going for him. His sister spoke of his goodness. He had
tried to keep his friends from making a terrible mistake. He had tried to get
them to have a simple faith in Christ. At least those were the things that were
said during her investigation—which so far had served as his only memorial.

But what about Miller? Or Levi? Or even Eric and
Mason with their quick tempers and ready fists? Would those boys have a chance
to outgrow these bad years? Were Levi and Miller lost forever, or could even
these big sins be regretted?

It was a dark and thoughtful place to be, this
funeral, after this week. When it was over, she went through the motions of the
receiving line, shaking hands with the widow, with the adult children of the
deceased.

They stayed for cookies and coffee. They
listened and smiled.

Jane spent all of her willpower not checking her
phone for news of the case back at the beach.

On the way to their car, Jake’s boss stopped
them. “I am so grateful you could be here. Walt spoke so highly of you every
time I saw him. He really liked you.”

Jake nodded. “I really liked him.”

“You’re a good kid, Jake, and a good fund-raiser.
You get how this stuff works. Are you sure you want to go back in the field?”
The boss didn’t look at Jane. “I could use a guy like you on my team forever,
you know. Folks who get it, who make the big sacrifices like this, don’t come
around every day.”

Jake slipped his hand into Jane’s. “I will serve
you with pride as long as we live stateside, Bill. But Jane and I are meant for
something different, and as soon as we get the call, we’re going to hit the
road.”

Bill shook his head. “I know, I know. Get back
to your honeymoon, okay? I’ve got a big list of clients for you to get to work
on as soon as you get back to town…again.” He shook Jake’s hand, patted Jane on
the shoulder somewhat awkwardly, and left.

As soon as they were in the car, Jane pulled her
phone out.

“Any news yet?”

“I’ve got a text!” She opened it up. “From
Franny. Are you even kidding? A text from Franny? That woman…”

“She’s your fairy godmother, I’m guessing. Don’t
knock a woman who brings pies and murder weapons your way. It’s a rare combo.”

Jane rolled her eyes, but chuckled.

“What’s it say?”

“Hey, kids, just saw the news. No words.”

“If she had no words, what was she texting for?”
Jake laughed.

“Something must have hit the news while we were at
the funeral.”

“I spend perfectly good money on data minutes,”
Jake said. “Google, please!”

Jane found the news right away. A headline that
turned her stomach and answered her questions. “Suicide at the Oregon Coast:
Failed Cult Leader Commits Suicide in Local Jail. Investigation into death pending.”
She turned the phone over and sighed. “Is that as good as a confession?”

“There is nothing good about that news.”

He held her hand as he drove back to the beach.

She prayed to herself for several minutes. “Is
there any point in going back to the beach?” she asked.

“Yes,” Jake said. “I owe you a real honeymoon,
and you are going to get it even if I have to take you to that haunted bed and
breakfast to get it. For the next week if we find a dead body, we call the
police and leave it to them, okay?”

“Yeah. I can handle that. Josh and Dave are
pretty competent.”

Jake laughed. “Good. And I’m not answering my
phone. Not again for the whole week.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder. Happy, sad,
disturbed, grateful, basically everything all at once.

Which only made sense since they were married
now. And everyone had told her: there is nothing easy about marriage.

***