Page 22 of The Girl and the Lies

“It should be,” he agrees. “I’ve got to go, babe. Keep me updated.”

“All right. I will. Love you.”

I end the call and lay the tablet down so I can type on it. It makes me wish I’d brought my laptop with me. Some people seem to be able to use their tablets with the same speed and ease as a computer, but I am much more comfortable with my computer while I’m doing research. I could go out into the library and use one of the public computers, but I’d rather keep the investigation out of the public eye. I don’t want anyone at the library reading over my shoulder, even if it’s unlikely they would put anything together.

Instead, I use my tablet to search for Marcus Kelsey and the Tracy Ellis Ministry. I want to know more about this man and why he was ousted from the company to which he showed so much enthusiasm and loyalty. My search brings up articles about the ministry and some of the events they hosted during the time that Marcus worked for them. Images come up of Tracy and Marcus posing together, and the articles mention the work Marcus was doing planning outreach events and coordinating with other organizations to broaden the reach of Tracy’s message.

I read through the material that I find, but there’s nothing about him leaving the company. That is, until I find a forum where people discuss their experiences at their places of work. They post anonymously so there can’t be any sort of backlash or retaliation if the company finds the post. I can’t see who made any of the comments, but it’s obvious Marcus Kelsey’s reputation wasn’t exactly glowing among those working for the company.

He’s even more of a zealot than she is sometimes.

Some of the venues he’s chosen for appearances are completely inappropriate. It’s offensive.

I never felt comfortable working for him. I always felt like I had to be on edge because I didn’t know what he was going to do next.

I quit after hearing some of the conversations that the two of them had. They are a scary pairing.

He doesn’t even pretend to be friendly. It’s like he thinks that he’s too far above other people to be nice to them. Even when he’s asking them to do something for him.

I hope he never gets into politics because of the destruction his policies would cause, but he seems like just the type to do it.

A few of the comments express relief that Marcus was finally out of the company but also curiosity about what could have happened to turn Tracy against him. None of the people posting seem to have any idea about what happened.

I can’t decide how I feel about the posts and what the assessments of this man might mean for the suspicions against him from the man I talked to earlier. I can understand the ire of a disgruntled former employee, and maybe even rage at having what was really important to him taken away, but I don’t know if it corresponds with the threats and the writing on Gideon’s wall. I need to keep trying to talk to him and find out what actually happened.

I stay at the library to do research and look through my notes for a while longer before the rumbling of my stomach reminds me that I haven’t had an actual lunch today. The fruit at Bellamy’s house feels like a long time ago, and I pack up everything to go to a restaurant I saw not too far away so I can grab something to eat before going to Ander’s house.

Rather than taking up a table, I slide onto a stool at a lunch counter and smile at the waitress dressed in an old-fashioned pink uniform. She comes over to me with a mug and a pot of coffee, pouring me a cup before even asking if I want it. I guess the majority of people who make their way into this place are on a near-constant stream of caffeine, so she doesn’t feel the need to confirm. I wouldn’t have ordered the hot coffee if she’d asked, but now that it’s sitting in front of me, I’m glad I have it.

She offers me a menu. “My name’s Lisa. Let me know when you’re ready,” she says.

“Thanks.”

Lisa smiles and walks away to tend to the others sitting at the lunch counter. They seem like regulars with the way they chat and laugh. I glance over the menu and settle on a simple BLT with a side salad. I call Lisa over to give her my order, and she eyes me curiously.

“You just here alone?” she asks. “No one coming to meet you?”

“No. I’m actually just taking a break from work,” I tell her.

“What do you do?” she asks.

“I’m an FBI agent,” I say.

She looks something close to impressed and nods as she takes the menu and brings the order to the kitchen. I scroll through my phone as I wait for my food, reading emails that have come in and laughing at pictures Bellamy has posted of Bebe trying to feed a giraffe at the zoo. It only takes a few minutes for my sandwich to come out, and when she sets it in front of me along with a glass of iced water, Lisa has the same curious expression on her face.

“Are you really in the FBI?” she asks.

I nod. “I am.”

“You’re not from around here, are you?” she asks. “I think I’d recognize you if you’d been in here before.”

“No. I’m actually from Sherwood. I’m in town doing an investigation,” I say.

Her eyes suddenly go wide. “You’re investigating that murder, aren’t you? That guy who was stabbed in his apartment. I heard on the news they brought the FBI in for it.”

“Yes. His name was Gideon Bell,” I tell her. “I’m investigating his murder and the attack on his roommate.”

She shudders. “Horrible to think about something like that happening right in your own home. I heard he was sleeping when it happened. I guess that’s better. He didn’t know what hit him. Just one second he was dreaming, and the next he was in glory. But it’s scary to think about not even being safe in your own bed.”

---