Page 20 of Vows of Murder

Amanda reached for another roll of tulle. She positioned herself behind me so she could see the section I’d mentioned. “Do you want one of the ribbons to be larger or both the same size?” Then she dropped her voice. “I thinkyou’re right.”

“Let me take a picture of everything we’re considering, and I’ll send it to Aunt Jackie so she can match it up. If we wait a few minutes, she should text back.” I took out my phone and aimed it at Carlie. Then I asked Amanda to hold the fabric against her shirt for contrast. I changed the focus and got an even better picture of Carlie. ThenI texted Greg.

His response came quickly.Stay out of it. I’m asking Bakerstown to send a car to bring her in for questioning.

Amanda and I moved to the ribbon section. She glanced at the woman as she looked through the ribbons. “Is Greg sending someone?”

“He’s sending a car to pick her up for questioning. We’re supposed to stay out of it. But I’d like to see it go down—unless you feel uncomfortable?We can leave.”

Amanda shook her head. “I’m fine. Besides, we still need to pick a ribbon color and have everything cut. We’ll behere a while.”

We were at the cutting table when the trouble started. The men hanging around the van saw the police officers first. One man came in and tried to move all the women out of the fabric store. They glanced at their watches and argued with him. Finally, they moved to the checkout line. He took the fabric out of the youngest girl’s arms and pushed her toward the door.

“Everyone but Maryanne, get into the vans. Maryanne, if we have to leave, I’ll send someone back to get you. Wait outside when you’re done.” The man pointed to the register. “Everyone put your stuff there and get into the vans. I’m not telling you again.”

Maryanne looked over and saw Amanda and me watching. “Fred, you’re making a scene. Ladies, follow Fred out to the vans. I’ll get your fabric, don’t worry.”

Fred turned and glared at us. Then he moved toward the door. He had bigger things to deal with. The cops were at the door.

“Excuse me, ladies, can you hold still,” an older officer asked as another one stood blocking the doorway.

I glanced out the window and saw that officers from a second car were blocking the men from New Hope from entering. Right now, it was all civilized. I only hoped it would stay that way. I looked over at Amanda. “If you see a gun pulled, drop to the floor and head to the back room. I’ll be right behind you.”

The woman who had just finished cutting our fabric whispered, “The backroom door is right behind us. I’ll lead you there.”

“I’m hoping we’ll be fine. But there are a lot of angry men around.” I leaned against the counter to watch the officer.

He held up his phone and checked five women against what I suspected was Carlie’s photo. Fred was on his cell phone, talking quietly at the side of the room.

“These five are okay to leave.” The officer in charge nodded toward the man at the door. When those women had left, he turned to the next five. He struck pay dirt with the second face he checked. “Miss, would you step aside nearthe register?”

Maryanne waved her over and put her arm around the girl. I heard her murmur words of comfort. They watched as the officerwent through the rest of the women, checking something on his phone before stepping to the next one. Was there more than one missing girl?

The officer sent a second girl over to where Maryanne was standing. Then he released the rest and Fred left the store with them. I saw everyone climb into two of the three vans. Fred and one other man stood outside the lastvan, watching.

The police officers were stillwatching them.

The officer in charge walked over and nodded to Maryanne. “You cango too, ma’am.”

“Not until I finish my business here. What do you want with my sisters?” Maryanne nodded to the clerk, who started running the fabric, notions, and patterns through her register.

The officer glanced out the window to where Fred and his friend were still waiting. “These women are your sisters. By birth?”

“No, not by birth. As you probably already know, we belong to New Hope. The men outside drive us on our errands so we don’t have to bother with driving ourselves.” Maryanne handed the clerk cash to cover the bill. “You still haven’t answered my question. Why are you detaining my sisters?”

“They have been reported missing by their families.”

“We are their family. And they are of age. Have you never heard of someone choosing not to be around a toxic family environment? Why do they not have the freedom to worship the way they choose?” Maryanne took the bags of fabric, handing one to each girl. “I take it you’re escorting them to your station. Where is it located, so we can send our lawyer to save our sisters from this unlawful detainment?”

This was the most I’d heard any woman living at New Hope say. Apparently, she was part of the leadership. At leastfor the women.

“We’re on Main Street, ma’am. And your attorney is more than welcome to talk to our captain.” He frowned at the bags. “They can’t take those with them.”

“My sisters are helping me carry the fabric for our new dresses to our van. Do you expect me to carry all these heavy bags by myself? If you want, they can set them on the sidewalk and Brother Fred and Brother Keithcan load them.”

“That would be best. We don’t want these women to disappear again.” The officer looked over at me and Amanda. “Are you two with these women?”

Amanda put a hand on my arm, stopping me from responding.

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