Pretty Witches All in a Row (17 page)

Instead he found himself driving out to the west side of town in search of the First Church of the Holy Spirit.  He’d probably catch hell for it later from Troyer, but Nick had the sudden desire to see the man in his element. 

For an offshoot church, he was expecting a rinky dink operation, but the property turned out to be pretty substantial.  Besides the church itself, it held an administrative building, a community hall that could be rented out for local gatherings and even a series of classrooms where daycare was offered.  A small playground stood empty, and Nick had to wonder… what values was this guy teaching small children?  Was his message tempered down to the usual Sunday school pablum of love thy neighbor and do unto others as you would have them do unto you?  Or did he preach his narrow views even at that level? 

The interior of the church itself looked like any normal church; grand sweeping archways above with exposed wooden beams, stained glass windows in muted autumn colors, dark green carpet shot with maroon and tiny flecks of gold and enough seating for possibly two hundred parishioners to sit comfortably with some standing room in the back.  The choir was either having a slow practice day, or they were a little short on recruits.  Dressed in street clothes, they sat with backs straight in their pews, plodding through an unimaginative verse of ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’. 

A prim woman with close cropped, silver hair stood before them, waving both hands in the air to the rhythm of the song.  Not quite the elegant four part harmony he remembered from his days as an altar boy, nor was it the rousing gospel he’d come to expect from movies on TV. 

“Normally we’ve got a much bigger bass section, but we’re competing with a softball game.”  A voice at his ear startled Nick, but he recovered quickly, a smile crossing his lips as he recognized the owner of that voice. 

“You can hardly notice, they sound nice,” Nick smiled, speaking in hushed tones.  The Reverend Cahill wore dress slacks and a button up shirt complete with a tie and matching vest.  Nick had to wonder if he ever wore jeans and a torn rugby shirt or was he always
on
? 

“Thank you,” Cahill smiled engagingly, holding out his hand.  “I’m Reverend Noah Cahill, but you can call me Noah.  Welcome to our little corner of heaven.”

Nick was quick to return the handshake, a little surprised to find it firm and dry, not at all the limp fish he’d expected.  “Actually I know; I saw you on the news,” he confided with a grin.  “I’m Nick.”

“You did?”  He seemed pleased by the notion.  “Pleased to meet you Nick, always glad to meet another of God’s children.  Were you interested in joining the choir?”

“Oh God no… you wouldn’t want me in the choir, I couldn’t carry a tune if it was in a bucket,” Nick chuckled.  Not exactly true, but he had zero interest in sitting in on that particular jam session.  “No, I was intrigued by what you were saying and I wanted to find out more.”

“That’s fine, just fine, Nick.”  Cahill put his hand on Nick’s shoulder in what he expected was meant to be a comforting gesture, but admittedly creeped him out a little.  “Would you like the fifty cent tour?”

“Do you have time for something like that?”  A tour with the man himself, his luck was getting better and better.

“Of course, I always have time for my flock.”  Cahill gave his shoulder a final squeeze and propelled him back towards the church exit.  “Let’s start with the grounds.  I don’t know if you noticed, but we have a lovely reflection pond outside.” 

For the next fifteen minutes, Noah led him on the promised tour, expounding proudly on their kitchen facilities, the raised stage area in the community center and the library in the daycare center.  Nick nodded and smiled, trying to get in a few questions here and there.  He soon realized Cahill was in love with the sound of his own voice, and it was difficult to get a word in edgewise.  There was no stain of shill to his words, no questions to him about his income or net worth to indicate he was priming him for a donation request.  The man seemed genuinely pumped about being a man of God and spreading the word.  Too bad the word was tainted by hatred. 

“So, what do you say, will we see you next Sunday for service?”

“Well, maybe… I mean, your place is real nice and… I was interested in what you were saying on TV the other day…” 

Cahill nodded, a light shining behind his eyes.  “Isn’t it validating when God proves to us that he is right behind our plan?”

“Plan?”  Had he just said he had a plan to kill those women?  It couldn’t be that easy…

“Our gospel; that we practice what we preach.  That it’s important not to only talk the talk but to walk the walk.  Strike out against evil wherever we see it.”

Talk about looney tunes…  “Is that what’s happening do you think?  Someone’s striking out against evil?”

“Of that I have no doubt, my brother,” he nodded sagely. 

His creep meter was going haywire and Nick suddenly felt the need to get the hell out of there.  And possibly shower.  “You’ve definitely given me a lot to think about, Reverend.”

“Please, call me Noah.”

“You’ll be seeing me again, soon,” Nick smiled, backing away as quickly as he dared. 

Chapter Eleven

As Nick drove up to Skye’s place, the street was already clogged with cars and people wandering in to join the candlelight vigil.  He spotted Park and Brady already on the scene parked across the street, and gave them a little wave before moving on.  It took him another three blocks over to find an empty parking space, and he muttered the whole way back to the house, cursing himself for not having gotten there sooner.  Who knew it was going to be such a popular event?  Obviously not Nelson and Willis, he noted with a smirk, as he spotted them cruising around looking for a parking spot of their own.

He’d opted to leave his normal work suits at home, hoping not to stand out quite so much as an outsider, or worse, a cop.  Instead he’d worn a pair of comfortable jeans, button up shirt, and his brown leather jacket.  Not because it was overly warm, but because it covered the shoulder holster he had strapped on.

As Nick approached the yard, there were lit candles along the driveway leading to the rear of the property.  As he recalled, the back yard was fairly large, spanning the length of the property, to be shared by both residents of the little duplex.  There were more people back there than he had expected, maybe sixty or seventy.  Clustered together in little groups, they held small white tapers at the ready as they waited for the vigil to begin.  More candles were set into the garden, illuminating the border of the yard where people mingled, and there was no electric light anywhere beyond the faint glow of the street lights out front.

There was a distinct lack of black or typical clothes of mourning; in fact, they might have all been dressed for a garden party.  There were the hippy types he expected in attendance and a few Goth kids, but there were far more ‘regular’ folks.  Moms and Dads with babies in strollers, people with folding lawn chairs and coolers to sit on, and even an older couple in wheelchairs sat parked on the patio.  People greeted him with friendly but subdued smiles as befitting to the occasion, and voices were hushed in general as people waited for things to begin.

He spotted Annaliese, handing out candles with little paper collars to protect the holder from spilled candle wax.  Her hair was gathered back into a loose braid, with soft, dark tendrils framing her face.  As usual there was minimal makeup on her face.  She wore a green, long sleeved dress that was very pale up by the collar, gradually deepening to a dark hunter green at the hem.  The full skirt skimmed her willowy curves as she moved, and for a long moment all he could do was stand and watch her interact with people. 

Annaliese seemed to know everyone there, or if she didn’t, she welcomed them just as warmly.  Rose stood by her side, chatting animatedly with a skinny guy with too much hair swept across his forehead in hospital scrubs. 

“Hey, I’m not late, am I?”  Nick smiled affably, approaching the trio.

“Oh good, the cops are here.  We can all rest safe now,” Rose muttered, walking away.  “Come on Becks, let’s go find Celine.”  Becks took his cue from Rose and gave Nick a look like he was something he’d stepped in, following after her.

“Hey, I’m glad you came,” Annaliese smiled, either missing Rose’s tone or reading nothing into it. 

“Yeah?  I think you might be the only one.  Am I missing something, or do I have a big sign across my back that says cop?”  He pretended to turn around and try to read the back of his jacket.

“Oh come on, nobody’s said anything to make you feel unwelcome have they?”

“Ah… the night is still early,” his eyes darted to where Rose watched them from the sidelines. 

She smiled, holding up a slender white candle.  “Here you go, one for you too.”  Annaliese handed out one to another newcomer. 

“Thanks.  I guess I’m holding up the line here, I should let you get back to it then?”  Nick stepped to the side a little to allow another cluster of approaching people. 

“If you want to mingle, feel free, but you’re not exactly keeping me from handing these out if you want to stick around.” 

He fancied the smile she gave him was almost hopeful.  There was nothing he’d like better than to stand there and watch her bend and sway, handing out the candles, but he was working.  Or supposed to be at any rate, and he did want a chance to get a word or two in with some of the players before the vigil began. 

“I think I will mingle a bit, but I’ll be back soon,” he promised.  “I think I’ll take another shot at winning Rose over.”  Nick squared his shoulders dramatically.

“I don’t think she actively dislikes you personally, I think she resents having people poking into her business.” 

“I don’t blame her, I’d hate it myself.  But I am only trying to do my job after all, and keep you safe in the bargain.” 

“And I appreciate it,” she replied solemnly.  “Go on then, work your magic on her.” 

“I’ll see ya.  Hey, if we get separated later, don’t leave without finding me, okay?” he added before moving off. 

A slender brow was raised.  “Am I under arrest or something?”

“Or something,” Nick grinned back before moving deeper into the crowd.  Only it seemed like Rose was hell bent on avoiding him.  Whenever he zigged she zagged, and always managed to end up just as far away from him in the crowd. 

“Don’t take it personally.”  A light touch at his elbow startled Nick.  Was everybody getting the jump on him today?  Turning, he found Ellie standing behind him, an amused smile on her face.  Great, a seventy year old woman had gotten the drop on him, even better. 

“What’s that?” he asked politely. 

“Rose, she takes a while to warm up to people, that’s all,” Ellie clarified.  “Me on the other hand, I can’t afford the time,” she chuckled.  “I wonder if you wouldn’t mind escorting me back to where I left my chair?  This crowd’s gettin’ thicker ‘n pea soup.”

“Of course, Ma’am,” Nick agreed immediately, offering her the crook of his arm.  “I’d be honored.”

“Nice to see a gentleman with proper manners,” she smiled back, laying a light hand on his arm.  “It’s over yonder, by the shed.” 

Was he imagining it or was her southern accent much thicker than he remembered?  “My mama would be right proud to hear you say that.”  He patted her hand lightly, starting for the shed, but the going was slow as more and more people crowded into the back yard.  Any more and it’d turn into a fire hazard once they got all of their candles lit.  “Do you know what’s on the agenda for tonight?”

“I think it’ll be pretty low key, we won’t hold a circle or anything formal with so many people here.  There will probably be a little singing and most likely Seraphine will offer up a prayer to the Lord and Lady.  Don’t worry, Sergeant Gibson, nothing too wild and crazy,” she chuckled.

“I was kinda hoping I might get to see something interesting, more like what you ladies do at your ritual meetings.”

“There are many public rituals in the community if such a thing interests you.  Ask Annaliese about it sometime, she knows where to find that sort of information on that internet thing.”

That internet thing.  Ah, old people were adorable sometimes…  “I will be sure to ask her about it.”

“Well now, we might make a witch of you yet.”  She patted his arm again, her blue eyes twinkling.

“Does that mean I’ll get a pointy hat and a broom?” 

“If it makes you feel better dear,” Ellie smiled back. 

“Would I really be a witch though?  Isn’t a guy witch a… I don’t know, a wizard or a warlock or something?”

That seemed to tickle her funny bone, and she giggled like a schoolgirl at the notion.  “Land sakes, no!  A witch is a witch, no matter what the sex of the practitioner.  Wizards and Warlocks are for children’s books.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize that.  Then again, so are witches.” 

“True enough,” she replied equably.

“Ellie, do you mind if I ask you something… impertinent?”

“Not at all, you go on ahead.”  She urged him, the smile remaining on her face.  “Of course I make no promise to answer, depending on how impertinent it is,” she laughed delightedly.

“You seem to take everything in stride so well.  Nothing seems to faze you.  Being questioned by the police, your friends turning up dead… I don’t mean any disrespect, but doesn’t any of this bother you?”  Nick braced himself for her response, not quite knowing what to expect.

“Of course it bothers me that my sisters have fallen,” she replied, swatting him with surprising strength on the shoulder with her free hand.  “And yes, that is an impertinent thing to say.”  Her lips pressed tight together with disapproval before a long sigh was given.  “I suppose when you get to living as long as I have, you take things in stride, as you say.  People are born and die; it’s all part of the circle of life.  It’s sad of course, but… I have to trust that it’s all part of the great master plan.”

“I guess that’s a healthy attitude to have.”  It was probably a healthier way to live, but Nick wasn’t in that headspace.  All he could think of when faced with a tragedy like the murders, was moving heaven and earth to bring the killer to justice, master plan or no.