Dead Run

CHAPTER 20

Saturday, November 10

5:00 p.m.

Liz climbed the steps to Paradise Christian’s closed doors. She kept her gaze focused on them, afraid to look left, toward the garden. She had promised herself she wouldn’t. Seeing the crime-scene tape stretched across the garden door would bring the events of the night before rushing back.

The call of that vivid slash of yellow proved too powerful, and she glanced to her left. And as she feared, the image of Tara filled her head: her face screwed into a death howl, of the blood…everywhere, of her wide, lifeless eyes. Staring up at her in accusation.

She should have been able to prevent this. Should have done something to stop it.

Liz whimpered and jerked her gaze away. She hurried up the remaining steps and crossed to the doors. And found them locked. Confused, she tried a second door with the same results.

Of course the doors were locked. A girl had been murdered here not even twenty-four hours ago. Her killer still roamed free.

Liz searched for the bell, found it and rang. Several minutes later she saw Pastor Tim’s face at the window. A moment later the door opened.

He looked as if he had aged five years since the last time she’d seen him. That she had expected-the accusation in his eyes she hadn’t. She took a step back, wondering what she had done wrong. “Pastor Tim?” she murmured. “Have I caught you at a bad time?”

“Today has been difficult,” he responded stiffly. “How can I help you?”

Difficult. An understatement, she was certain. “I wanted to check on Tara ’s parents. Have you spoken with them?”

“Of course I have. What kind of spiritual leader would I be if I hadn’t?”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, taken aback, “I didn’t mean to offend you. Sometimes people in pain turn away from those who can help most.”

“The Mancusos are people of great faith, Ms. Ames. Their belief in their Lord and Savior will carry them through even this.”

Liz recalled the fanatical light in Tara ’s eyes when she spoke of God, heaven and hell. “Do the Mancusos have any strange beliefs?”

“Excuse me?”

“That came out wrong,” she said, cheeks burning. “I didn’t mean that. It’s just that Tara said some things about her Christian religion I found strange. I thought maybe she-”

“The child is dead now, Ms. Ames. Let her rest in peace.”

“You don’t understand.”

“You might be surprised how much I do understand.” He took a step back from the door. “I have to go now.”

“Wait!” She shot her hand out, stopping him from closing the door, stunned by Pastor Collins’s anger at her, his confrontational tone and accusatory comments. Previously, he had been warm toward her, kind and eager to help. Last night he had been conciliatory of her feelings, concerned for her safety. He had refused to leave her side until the officer that Lieutenant Lopez had assigned to walk her home had her in tow, for heaven’s sake.

What had caused his attitude to change so dramatically since then?

“Please, Pastor Tim, I wanted to offer my condolences…I thought there might be something I could do for the Mancusos.”

“There isn’t,” he said coldly. “Good day.”

“It might help them to speak with me. I’m a professional counselor and-”

“They don’t want to speak with you.”

“How can you be so certain? They may-”

“They told me so, Ms. Ames. They asked me to keep you away from them.”

She took a step backward, shocked. “They said that? I don’t understand. I can’t imagine why-”

“I can’t help you.” He sucked in a sharp breath, flushing. “A girl is dead, her parents grieving. Don’t you think you’ve helped enough?”

On that, he shut the door in her face.

Shaken, Liz turned away from the door. And found a man standing not three feet behind her, blocking her path. His face was a nightmare: a vicious scar ran diagonally across it, from his forehead to chin. It appeared that whatever had cut him had mutilated his left eye in the process.

He stared at her with his one good eye, mouth slightly agape. She took a step toward him. “Excuse me,” she said, mustering an authoritative tone.

He blinked but didn’t move. Liz glanced over her shoulder at the closed church doors, then back at the man. “Excuse me,” she said again. “I need to pass.”

Before she realized what was happening, his hand shot out and he closed his fingers tightly around her wrist.

With a cry, she took a step backward, tugging against his grasp. He tightened his hold on her, mouth working, guttural sounds spilling from his lips.

“Take your hand off her, you monster!” Heather Ferguson strode up the path behind him. “Right now!”

The man’s expression grew alarmed. He dropped Liz’s wrist, whirled, then scurried off, head down.

Liz watched him go, heart pounding. He ducked through a row of flowering hedges at the end of the walkway, and disappeared.

“Are you all right?”

Liz dragged her gaze to the other woman. “I…think so.” She rubbed her wrist. “He scared me, that’s all.”

“That character gives me the creeps. He’s always lurking about. Spying.”

“Who is he?”

“Stephen. I don’t know his last name, if he even has one.” Heather frowned. “He’s the church caretaker. As far as I know he’s lived at Paradise Christian all his life.”

Liz swallowed hard, working to shake off the effects of her encounter with the man. “What happened to his face?”

“I’m not from Key West, so I may be wrong, but I heard his father did that to him. Apparently, the same attack that disfigured his face damaged his brain. The church takes care of him.”

Liz felt ill. That such sickness and cruelty existed in the world, that it was so often directed against children, broke her heart. “He’s harmless then?”

“They say so.”

Liz frowned. “You don’t agree?”

“The former pastor here, Rachel Howard, caught him peeking in her windows. I told her she ought to send him packing. But she had too big a heart.” Heather looked away, eyes sparkling with tears. “And now she’s gone.”

Liz’s heart stopped, then started again, beating almost painfully against the wall of her chest. For a moment, she could hardly breathe. “You knew the previous pastor of Paradise Christian?”

“Sure, everyone around here did. I suppose you could have even called us friends.”

Liz’s cheeks warmed. If Rachel and Heather had been friends, wouldn’t Rachel have mentioned her sister?

She realized the other woman was looking at her oddly and Liz forced a smile. “You suppose?”

Heather lifted a shoulder. “She was extremely busy, so was I. We were never actually able to do more than have a quick chat when we ran into each other. But I liked her. A lot.”

“Have you closed up shop for the day?’

“Yes, I’m happy to say. Why, are you in sudden need of a bikini?”

“Hardly.” Liz smiled again. “You’ve come to my rescue twice now and I’d love to express my thanks by treating you to a drink or dinner.”

Heather waved the offer off. “That’s absolutely not necessary.”

“I’d like to anyway. If you have the time?”

Heather glanced at her watch then paused, as if considering the things she had to do and how much time it would all take. She returned her gaze to Liz’s and smiled. “After the day I had, a drink would be great. I know just the place.”

Five minutes later they were sitting at a small outdoor table at the Iguana Café. Liz took Heather’s suggestion and ordered a rum runner, a Key West specialty made with blackberry and banana brandy, light and dark rum, cherry juice and sweet-and-sour mix. Heather ordered the same, warning Liz that the refreshing drink packed a deceptive punch.

“This place is a favorite with the locals,” Heather murmured as their drinks arrived. “Great café con leche and Cuban sandwiches. The best, in my opinion.”

“I’ll remember that,” Liz murmured. She took a sip of the frozen concoction. Tall, fruity and delicious, Liz could see why they had become a favorite with Key Westers and tourists alike.

“I heard about last night,” Heather whispered, leaning toward her. “I heard you found…that girl.” She shuddered. “How are you?”

Liz set her glass down hard. “Truthfully? Not so great. Shook up.”

“How did you…I mean, what were you doing out so late?”

Liz told her about not being able to sleep and going for a run. “I heard a noise and went to investigate.” She looked down at her drink, then back up at Heather. “I wish I hadn’t.”

“No kidding.” Heather picked up her drink as if to take a sip, then set it back down, expression distressed. “I knew that girl.”

Liz straightened. “You did?”

“Mmm, kind of. She came into the shop sometimes. Most of the local kids do.” Her lips lifted. “A by-product of the kind of merchandise I sell.”

“Did Tara shoplift?”

“Her name was Tara?” Liz nodded and Heather continued. “No. Not that I know of, anyway. She seemed like a nice kid.”

“She was troubled,” Liz murmured before she could stop herself.

“What do you mean? Was she in your care?”

Liz brought a hand to her mouth, distressed at the slip. “Please, forget I said that. I shouldn’t have.” She changed the topic by asking the other woman about herself.

“Me?” Heather murmured with a small shake to her head. “I’m afraid there’s nothing too exciting to tell. I grew up in Miami, gave college a try but dropped out to do some modeling.” She laughed, then made a face. “It wasn’t for me. Or rather I wasn’t for it.”

“What happened?” Liz asked, honestly curious. The other woman was so beautiful, she would have thought her a natural. She told her so.

Heather laughed again. “That’s a common misconception about models. Many of them aren’t exceptionally pretty in real life-it’s the camera that makes them so. The camera loves them. It didn’t love me.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I blame my mother,” she smiled. “I inherited her bone structure, which the camera flattens. Actually, I think she was more disappointed I didn’t make it as a model than I was.”

“Are you two close?”

“Not really. I rarely see her even though she lives just up the Keys in Islamorada.” Heather took a long sip of her cocktail. “I drifted into retailing, then down here. I opened up my shop a few years back.”

Liz wanted desperately to ask her about Rachel, but didn’t know where to begin. Should she tell her who she was? That Rachel was her sister and that was why she was here on Key West? Her instincts told her Heather was an ally, but what if she was wrong? What if she told Heather the truth and alienated her?

The other woman solved the problem by bringing Rachel up herself. “I probably shouldn’t have said that about that poor man, that Stephen.” She sighed. “It’s just that, after what Rachel said about catching him peeking in her windows…”

“I heard she disappeared. The former pastor of Paradise Christian, that is.”

Heather’s expression became guarded. “What about it?”

Liz fiddled with her straw, trying not to look too anxious. “It sounded a little weird to me, that’s all. A pastor just up and running off like that. Is that what you believe happened to her?”

Heather sighed again. “I don’t know what to believe. The Rachel I knew would never have done something like that.”

“Really?” Liz leaned forward. “Why not?”

“She loved Paradise Christian. Loved Key West.” Her voice thickened slightly. “She was devoted to the congregation.” A frown formed between her eyebrows. “I was on a buying trip when she disappeared. I learned what happened when I returned. I feel really bad about that. Like maybe she needed me and I wasn’t here for her.”

A lump formed in Liz’s throat even as a surge of affection rose in her for this woman she hardly knew. Because she had known and cared for Rachel. And because she felt the same way Liz did, the same regret and guilt.

She had found a potential champion, Liz acknowledged. Someone who would back Liz up if she found any proof supporting her suspicions that Rachel had met with foul play.

“Did you talk to the police? Did you tell them the things you just told me?”

“I tried.” She dropped her hands to her lap. “But the thing is, something had been bothering Rachel. She had been upset about something and acting…strangely.”

“Upset about what?”

“I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me.”

“Was it Stephen she was frightened of?” Liz pressed.

“Frightened,” Heather repeated, looking at Liz, eyebrows drawn together. “Did I say she was frightened?”

“No, I guess you…didn’t. I just…I suppose I was just filling in the blanks.”

Heather’s frown deepened. She brought a hand to her neck, to the jeweled monogram that hung on a fine gold chain. “You know, that’s a good way to describe how she acted. But of who or what, I don’t know.”