Secrets in the Shallows (Book 1: The Monastery Murders) (37 page)

“Was Mother Superior with you during the entire time?”

Pausing to think, Sister Mary Margaret furrowed her brow and replied, “I recall that Mother Superior told a few of us that she still had some paperwork to do in her office, so she had one of the other sisters be in charge of the devotions that night. She was still there in her office when I went by to check on her after we were done.”

“So, to clarify, you did not see her for about two hours in the late afternoon, and for almost an hour during your devotional time?”

“Yes, that sounds correct, Deputy.”

“Thank you, Sister Mary Margaret. I think I have what I need for now. I may need to ask you more questions later though.”

“I’ll be happy to help. But, where is Mother Superior? Isn’t she going to be here with us too? Is she coming later?”

“I can’t discuss any details yet, Sister. The main thing I can tell you is that she will not stay here tonight either. She is being taken care of; don’t worry. You may head to your room if you like. Please, remain at the inn until you hear otherwise though.”

“Thank you, sir. I understand.” Uncertain of the meaning of his response, Sister Mary Margaret smiled faintly at Deputy Williams.
I hope Mother will be all right. I don’t understand why she can’t join us here.
Standing up, the young nun nodded her head politely as she left.

Deputy Williams leaned back in his seat, staring at the crossed-off names on the list in front of him. Picking up the notepad, he moved his index finger across every name to verify that he had not missed any of the nuns. Shaking his head, he tossed it back on the conference table and reached for his cell phone. Anxiously, he dialed Sheriff Johnson’s phone number.

After several rings, a deep voice answered, “Sheriff Johnson.”

“Sheriff Johnson, this is Deputy Williams.”

“Deputy Williams, I been waiting for your call.”

“Yes, sir. I wanted to let you know that I have spoken to every sister. Everything checks out. They are all telling the same story with no significant deviation. They’re all saying that Timmy was mopping the floors after school as part of some punishment. From about 16:00 until 18:00 hours, apparently Mother was unaccounted for by anyone. At 18:00 hours, they all ate dinner, cleaned up the dishes.”

Williams continued, “After that, they had a devotion time until 20:00 hours, however Mother Superior was supposed to be in her office doing some paperwork. At about 20:00 hours, everyone was released for the evening and most went to their rooms. One of the nuns said she did see Mother Superior in her office about 20:00 hours, when the nun was on her way to her bedroom. Did you find out anymore information on Mother Superior, sir?”

“Remember, on the surveillance video that you found, it showed a nun taking that evidence from the morgue locker?”

“Yes, sir.” Williams listened closely.

“Well, today Dr. Balkan found that same missing evidence in Mother Superior’s desk drawer. It even contained the mate for the victim’s shoe that was found behind the monastery.”

The deputy let out a deep breath and asked, “Is there any way it could’ve been planted, sir? I mean, I’ve known Mother Superior since I was a boy, and I just don’t see her doing that to Timmy.”

“I know, Williams, but we can’t let our personal feelings get in the way. The evidence points directly at her, and only her. There were some long gray hairs also found tangled in the rope, and even inside Tom Green’s backpack.”

He continued, “We’ve taken DNA samples of all the sisters, and they will go through testing by tomorrow morning. If Mother’s hair matches the ones that were found, then we have all we need to get an arrest warrant signed. We are holding Mother Superior for questioning at the station in the meantime.”

Sitting at his office desk and pressing a phone to his ear, Sheriff Johnson used his free hand to pick up the photograph of Timmy’s corpse. He studied it a moment as he said, “Deputy Williams, you’ve had a long, hard day. As soon as Deputy Kent comes to relieve you, you can go. Tomorrow morning, I want you to go to the monastery and assist the forensics team. Hopefully, the power will be back on by then.”

“Of course, sir. What time do you need me to be there, Sheriff?”

“Meet them there at 08:00 hours, and report to me if they find anything noteworthy.”

Feeling confident, Deputy Williams was more than ready to take on his new task. “I will be there first thing in the morning.”

“By the way, I’ll be on my way to talk to Tom Green’s parent in Sanger about exhuming their son’s body.”

Williams perked up. “You found them? That’s great, sir.”

“I’m happy about it. I need to get Tom’s body exhumed as soon as possible, so we can see if he was murdered too.”

“All right, Sheriff. Is there anything else I need to be aware of?”

“I can’t think of anything, other than making sure that the sisters know not to leave.”

“I’ve already instructed them, sir.”

“Good! You may want to get a good night’s rest after your replacement arrives. You’re gonna’ need it.”

“Thank you, Sheriff. I’ll look out for him. Have a good night.”

“Night, Deputy. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

“Of course, Sheriff. Talk to you then.” Hanging up the phone, Deputy Williams got up and walked down the hallway toward the front desk.

Looking at him from behind the desk, Nancy Jones stood there smiling as she held a telephone to her ear. Intrigued by this petite redheaded beauty, the deputy returned a smile as he approached her. Patiently, he waited for her to finish her conversation as she typed some information in her computer. Concluding the call, she hung up the phone and looked up. When her blue-gray eyes met his blue ones, he was immediately drawn in.

“May I help you, Deputy?” the woman asked, immediately interested in the handsome, blonde man in uniform. He stood close to a foot taller than her, which made her feel almost like a child.

Deputy Williams noticed the delicate curves of her face.
Wow! She is hot. I had better not mess this up,
he thought. Her eyes almost seemed to sparkle as she looked back at him.

“Look, I don’t want you to think I am coming off too forward. Are you seeing anyone?”

“Not at the moment, Deputy,” she giggled like a school girl.

Williams smiled as he said, “I’m about to get off of work, and I haven’t eaten yet. I’d love for you to join me for dinner.”

Raising her eyebrows, she leaned a little forward. “You want to take me out?”

Smiling, he said, “Miss Jones—”

Grinning she interrupted him, “Call me, Nancy.”

“Nancy, I would love to take you out.”

Pursing her lips, she said, “I bet you have a bunch of girls waiting in the wings.”

“No, not at all,” he said nervously. “Nancy, this is a small town. There aren’t that many women available, much less as pretty as you are.”

Nancy blushed as she looked directly back at the deputy giggling.

Deputy Williams smiled dropped, “Oh, I see. You’re making fun.”

She immediately replied, “Oh, no. I would never tease a lawman, especially one as intimidating as you are. I wouldn’t want to be arrested.”
Or, do I?
she thought.

Deputy Williams looked down at his beige uniform shirt. As he lifted his head, he tried to steal a glance at her small, curvy figure. Gazing back up to her beautiful eyes, he was lost in the pools of blue-gray. He thought to himself,
She is so sexy. I hope she says yes.

“I would love to go to dinner with you.”

Williams stood completely silent for a couple of seconds without saying a word.

Staring back at him, Nancy asked, “Deputy, are you okay?”

Her soft voice broke his trance. “Oh, I’m sorry. What did you say?” he asked.

“Of course, I would love to go to dinner with you.”

Deputy Williams smiled broadly at hearing her response, unaware that Deputy Joey Kent was standing at the front entrance watching his successful invitation.

“Great! It shouldn’t be very long. I just need to wait until my relief gets here.”

Deputy Kent chuckled quietly just before clearing his throat making his presence known.

Embarrassed, Deputy Williams could feel the heat from the color flushing his cheeks. “Deputy Kent ... I’m so glad you are here. I’m starving. This is Nancy Jones; the front desk clerk for the inn.”

Nodding his head, he said, “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”

“Pleased to meet you too, Deputy.”

Turning her attention to Deputy Williams, she said, “I’ll be right back. I need to make sure I tell the manager I am clocking out for the night.”

As Nancy left the counter and went to another room, Deputy Kent faintly smiled as he whispered, “You may have been getting a little
toooo
friendly while you’re on duty.”

Deputy Williams smirked, “I didn’t do anything wrong. Just made plans for dinner after my shift. I did finish all of the nuns’ interviews before I spoke with her about it. I already reported in to Sheriff Johnson, so all you have to do is make sure to keep an eye on the inn while they’re here. I hope we can finish up at the monastery quickly so we can take them back there soon.”

Just as he finished speaking, Nancy walked through a doorway near the front desk with her coat and scarf already on. “I’m ready to go.”

Deputy Williams grabbed his coat and hat from the coat rack and smiled. “Wonderful! Let me get my coat on and we can go.”

Turning towards Deputy Kent, Nancy said, “Deputy, I assisted the nuns in getting settled in their rooms for the night while Deputy Williams was doing the interviews earlier.” Handing him a list, she continued, “I made a list of names to correspond with their room numbers, in case you need to know.”

“That’s very helpful, ma’am. I’ll see you in the morning then.”

“My pleasure, Deputy. Make yourself at home in the sitting area. There’s a television in there for you to watch and a nice fire going. You can also find some drinks and snacks in the employee break room down the hallway.” She pointed towards a doorway. “It’s the last door on the left. The restrooms are located across the hall. The night manager, Jane Whitney, will be here all night if you need anything. I get back at 8 a.m.” She smiled.

“Thank you, Miss Jones.” Turning to Deputy Williams, he raised his eyebrows and smiled, “Go and have fun. I’ve got this covered.”

With her purse dangling from her shoulder, she approached Deputy Williams as he stuck out his elbow. Inserting her hand into the opening, she took hold of his arm and smiled up at him with a coquettish glint in her eyes.

“I’ve told the sisters that they can’t leave the inn without talking with the deputy on duty. Hopefully, we’ll be taking them back tomorrow, if forensics can finish up by then. If they need anything, they are instructed to ask you.”

Deputy Kent nodded his head. “I’ll take care of everything here. Don’t keep the lady waiting.”

Deputy Williams smiled and turned to Nancy to ask her, “Are you ready?”

“Yes, Deputy. So, where are you going to take me to dinner?”

Reaching the front entrance, Deputy Williams opened the door as he replied, “So, do you like seafood? I know a quaint place down by the docks.”

Passing through the doorway, Nancy took his arm and said, “Of course. I live in Maine; don’t I, Deputy?”

The couple laughed as the door closed behind them, leaving Deputy Kent all alone in the foyer.

C
HAPTER
34

Headlights sliced through the eerie darkness as Sheriff Johnson drove down the desolate two-lane highway early the following morning. Over and over in his mind, he kept rehearsing what he would say to Tom and Helen Green. In the distance, a large animal was standing in the middle of the road. The sheriff slowed his car and pulled towards the side of the road, making a complete stop. Right in front of his car, a large moose stood in the middle of the road with her offspring.

In frustration, he exclaimed, “Oh, for the love of Pete!”

Sheriff Johnson could see heavy vapors rising from her nostrils, as the moose exhaled in the freezing temperature. He knew that shouting through the windshield would have no effect on the moose, but his irritation was growing by the second. The pair continued to stand firmly in the center of the highway, snorting as they looked back at him. The sheriff knew better than to get out of his cruiser, especially since the mother had her offspring nearby.