Page 28 of Vows of Murder

I took a bite of my fish taco and almost groaned. The food here was tasty. But something in Beth’s story was bothering me. “I didn’t find any of this online. How didyou find out?”

Beth set her fork down. “I went to Oregon and interviewed the former church members. The church changed its name after the trio left, of course. But it wasn’t hard to find people who would talk to me. They just weren’t willing to talkto the police.”

“There was an article about a pastor named Matthews who died with his wife in a church fire in Oregon. Any relation to our friends?”

“Their parents, actually. The church had an electrical short and the Matthews couple lived next door. They tried to save the church records and perished. The church paid for the boys to go to college after that. Blood money, was the rumor. Apparently, the pastor had been complaining and asking for an electrician to come and fix some faulty light fixtures. The boys were at a Scouting campout for theweekend. When they came back, they were orphans.” Beth took a sip of her drink. “I’m surprised they decided to form a ministry after that. They had to be heartbroken.”

I thought about the way Roger had looked when we saw them on the beach. Not heartbroken at all. He’d lost all of his family now except his wife. Wouldn’t that have affected him atleast a little?

“Now, I’m insisting we change the conversation. I’m feeling sad for those little boys and I don’t want to cry while we’re welcoming my new daughter into the family.” Amanda passed me the empty chip basket. “Shall we get more?”

I signaled to the waitress. “Why not? My dress still fits. Which is a miracleall in itself.”

When we got into the car to head home, my tummy was full of yummy food. And my mind was filled with questions. So the people who’d come to California with the brothers were true believers. And judging by Carlie’s disappearance into the group, it looked like Kane was still attracted to a younger crowd. Had he stepped wrong again? And had it been his brother who hadended his life?

Or had Molly found out what was happening and killed him to save her daughter? There were too many questions. As we drove back to South Cove, Amanda napped in the back seat and Beth was busy watching the scenery as we drove alongside the ocean.

She glanced back to see if Amanda was still asleep, then turned to me. “Oh, I forgot about the Facebook group.”

“New Hope has a Facebook group?” I should have thought about that. But I didn’t even try to search the normal outlets. I’d gone straight to the research library and its powerfulsearch engine.

“Not New Hope, but the families of people who have joined and left their lives behind. They’re always tracking the group’s movements. I hung out there for a while and interviewed people who would talk off the record. They were all so desperate to get a light shined on the community. They thought maybe that might bring their loved one back. It rarely happens. By the time the families find out where they are, the new member has been indoctrinated. They believe the hype.”

Instead of dropping Beth off at the Castle, where she and Jim were staying, she waited at my house for Amanda to get ready for dinner. Beth and Jim were taking her out tonight. They’d asked me tocome along, but I’d excused myself. The wedding was on Saturday, and I hadn’t finished my vows.

Tomorrow night was the rehearsal and dinner. My friends had a party planned for me at South Cove Winery after dinner and I’d invited Beth and Amanda to come along. Amanda had asked to just get a ride back to the house after the dinner. She said she’d babysit Emma.

Jim had set up a bachelor party for Greg at the same time. They’d probably head to Bakerstown. Or maybe just stay at the Castle since Jim had also gotten Greg a room there for Friday night. Tonight would be the last night I’d have alone for a while. I wanted to put on pj’s and slippers and watch a sappy movie. All by myself. Well, myself and Emma.

I’d also turned down dinner with Harrold and Aunt Jackie. I knew they thought with Greg working, I’d be alone. But what they didn’t know was I kind of liked being alone. I wondered if my aunt was worried that I’d be one of those runaway brides, so she was trying to keep an eye on me.

Amanda came down dressed for dinner, and she and Beth headed out to Beth’s rental car. They’d decided to keep both Jim and Beth’s rental as well as Amanda’s while they were here in California. That way, both Jim and Beth would have access to a vehicle. When I’d asked Beth about the car situation, she’d shrugged. “I like knowing I have a car available, just in case. Being stuck is my worst nightmare.”

Pausing at the door, Amanda took my hands. “You can change your mind and come with us. We both know that Greg will be working late. Come and have a good meal. I worry about you.”

“Thank you, but I’m looking forward to some quiet time. It’s not that I don’t love having all of you around, but I’ve got some business to take care of and some vows to write. I should have asked Deek to write them for me. He’s so good with words.”

“A local writer?” Amanda asked, trying to stay chill about it. Beth had already gone out to the car and was waiting.

“One of my staff. You met him, right? The one with the neon green cornrows?” I waved at Beth. “Anyway, I didn’t ask. Now I have to be elegant and poetic.”

Amanda patted my cheek. “Just be honest. Speak from your heart. It’s never failed me.”

I watched Amanda’s shiny blue compact pull out of the driveway with Beth at the wheel and I waved. I hadn’t exactly lied to my soon-to-be mother-in-law. I did have to finish my vows. Or at least give them a good edit. But the real reason I stayed home was to research Facebook for a family group. Maybe there was at least one upset parent who looked like he or she could have killed Kane.

I also wanted to write down everything Beth had told me about the church and its history. If there was still time, I’d see what I could find out about the church fire that had killed theboys’ parents.

It was official. I was hooked on this amateursleuthing role.

Chapter 12

I was upstairs on the bed reading when Greg came home around eleven. Amanda was already home from dinner and asleep. She’d brought me a piece of apple pie from the restaurant. I’d put it in the fridge for later. Emma ran downstairs to greet him, so I didn’t worry that it was some random stranger in the house. I heard him going into the office and locking up his gun and then he must have hit the fridge and let Emma outsideone last time.

When he came up, he smiled at me. “I thought you’d be asleep.”

“With the lights on?” Ipointed upward.

He snorted and took off his uniform. “Like that hasn’t happened before. I’m going to grab a shower. Is the pie in the fridge claimed?”

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