Page 55 of Jenna's Threatened Sanctuary

“How long have you been in Pine Valley?” She blinked to keep her heavy eyelids from sealing shut.

He tightened his jaw, keeping his gaze locked on her. “About a year now. I really hope to make Pine Valley my home for many years to come. I’m tired of constantly setting new roots.”

Details clicked into place despite the fogginess in her brain. Stella had broken up with Ryan Billings around the same time she got the new cleaning jobs—the same time she’d have met Father Bowman. She was in a secret relationship, and chanceswere she was killed by someone from the community. Someone with access to the hospital. The hospital boasted its own chapel. A chapel that all church leaders had access to, as well as coming and going to visit members of their congregation.

Could Father Bowman have killed Stella?

She needed to get away from him. To tell someone her suspicions. But fatigue pulled her down like gravity. If she could get him to leave her side, she could get to her phone. “I don’t feel so well. Can I get some water?”

“Sure. In a second.” He didn’t move, just stared at her, head tilted like a hunter studying his prey.

Her heart pounded. Something wasn’t right. She needed to call Calvin. She reached toward her purse.

Father Bowman closed a hand over hers. “What’s wrong?”

She licked her dry lips. Her mind whirled. He put something in the wine. It’s the only thing that made sense. She couldn’t let him know she was on to him but needed to get the hell out of the church.

“You look a little pale. Are you feeling all right?”

The concern in his voice was in direct opposition to the growing alarm squeezing her insides. She couldn’t think, couldn’t move. Pain pounded against her skull. She needed to keep her wits, but it was so damn hard. She blinked, trying to keep her mind focused. “I’m fine.”

Father Bowman frowned but a flash of excitement lit his eyes. “Really?”

Rat-a-tat-tat

Shifting, he grabbed his phone from his front pocket. “Sorry. Gotta check that.”

The weird ring tone from the day she and Calvin broke into Stella’s office. Her blood went cold.

Father Bowman was the one who’d rummaged around storage shelves.

Her suddenly blurry eyes locked on his, and for the first time since she’d met him, she understood what he really was.

A killer.

24

Settling into the driver’s seat, Calvin started the engine. A quick look at the dash told him it was close to lunch. He’d call Jenna and see if she wanted him to bring home food. He pressed the call button on his steering wheel and told Bluetooth to dial Jenna. The line rang in his ear until her voicemail message greeted him.

He disconnected then pressed the call button again, grateful he’d thought to put the number of the shelter into his contacts once he and Jenna had decided to stay there. “Call Safe Haven Women’s Shelter.”

Mrs. Collins answered as Calvin slid out of his parking spot and headed toward the main road. “Hello, how may I help you?”

“Hi Mrs. Collins, it’s Calvin. Do you and Jenna want me to grab something to eat on my way home?”

“Feeding us again, huh?” she said with a soft chuckle. “I’m not hungry, but thanks for offering, and Jenna’s not here.”

“Where’d she go?” he asked, frowning.

“The priest called and asked her to come by the church to go over Stella’s funeral. She left a few minutes ago. Elsie and I are watching Oliver until she gets back.”

His stomach dropped. He didn’t like the idea of Jenna being alone. He pulled into a bank parking lot and turned back toward town. “I’m going to head to the church. Planning her sister’s funeral can’t be easy, especially with everything going on right now.”

“Take your time. We’ve got Oliver.”

After thanking Mrs. Collins, he disconnected and sped to the church. He spotted Jenna’s car parked along the street. He slid into a spot in the parking lot and jogged up the cement stairs to the double doors. He yanked on the handle, but the door didn’t budge.

Weird.

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