Page 195 of Buried Too Deep

He could do that now. Even more easily because now he had more money.

“I need a boat.” Surely a member of his congregation had a boat. He’d ask to be taken to a village in Mexico. He’d say that he was preaching there, helping them start a church. But not to worry, he’d be home in time for the Christmas cantata.

He nearly laughed. He was getting hysterical, and he needed to calm down.

Maybe he shouldn’t ask a congregation member. He needed someone who didn’t know him.

Or he could get on a cruise ship. Plenty of them left out of New Orleans every day. That hadn’t been the case twenty-three years ago. He’d still have to use his own passport, but he could get off at the first port and never look back.

He brought up a cruise reservation website. He didn’t care which cruise line. He didn’t care how much it cost. He’d pick whichever one left the soonest.

His heart sank. The earliest departure was tomorrow afternoon. If Cora was telling the police about Jenny, tomorrow might be too late.

Panic rose, making his head hurt even more. He needed to fly out now. If the police tracked him, he’d just have to lose them later.

He opened a new browser and found an airline website.

Better. He could fly out in two hours. He clicked on the fare and typed in his credit card number.

Declined.

What? No. Not possible. He typed the number in again.

Declined. He ground his teeth. Not a good time for the credit card to glitch on him.

He chose another card and typed it in.

Declined.

He chose his bank cash card and typed it in.

Declined.

A sense of dread rose to choke him. Hands trembling, he dialed his credit card company.

“How can I help you?” the cheerful customer service agent asked.

He cleared his throat. “My card was declined, but I’m certain I have a sizable available balance.” He gave her the number and waited, his skin becoming clammy with sweat.

“Let me check for you, sir.” She was gone for a moment, then came back sounding less cheerful. “Your credit card was canceled, sir. Mrs. Beauchamp called to say the card had been stolen. We’re sending new cards to your house by FedEx. They should arrive on Monday.”

Monday. Monday was too late. He needed his money now.

Wait. “Hold on. Did you say my wife canceled the card?”

“She did, sir.”

“Um…thank you.” He ended the call and quickly typed in his bank password. She couldn’t have canceled all their cards. The decline of their bank cash card must have been a mistake.

He stared at his computer screen.

Zero. His bank balance was zero. That was not possible.

His whole body shook now and he knew he was seconds away from being sick. He called the bank.

“How can we help you, sir?”

“I’m looking at my account online and all of my money is gone.” All of it. Every penny.

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