Page 3 of Vows of Murder

“Me too,” I muttered under my breath. I needed to get home and get the Jeep so I could get to my fitting. Then, maybe later this afternoon, I could take Emma for a run. As long as nothing elseslowed me down.

As I hurried down the hill to my house, I saw a slight woman slowly walking up the hill. She had short salt-and-pepper hair and was wearing a pink T-shirt. When she saw me, her face filled with a large grin.

“Jill, I’m so glad to see you. I just got in a few minutes ago and left the rental car at the house. I thought I’d walk up and surprise Greg at work. If he’s there.” Amanda King, Greg’s mom, had finally arrived for our wedding. A week earlier than we’d expected her.

I might not make myfitting today.

Chapter 2

Amanda and I did make my fitting that day. I thought maybe she’d be tired from traveling, but we had a great drive and lunch at one of my favorite seafood restaurants while we were in Santa Barbara. I called Deek to cover my shifts for the rest of the week. I was on vacation. As much as any business owner could be on vacation. I still checked in, but things were calm.

On Friday, Amanda and I decided to drive to the New Hope compound and check out the open house. Amanda King hadn’t been my biggest fan at first. She’d sided with Jim, Greg’s brother, in the Sherry camp for the first few years of our relationship. Sherry King had been Greg’s first wife and everything I wasn’t. She was glamorous even on the days she stayed home. She loved fashion. I liked watchingProject Runway, but I didn’t shop at designer stores. Sherry had opened Vintage Duds, an upscale vintage clothing store, in South Cove with her best friend, Pat Williams. But Sherry moved away a few years ago to a condo on the beach near San Diego and married the guy who’d promised her the world. Pat still owned the store, and now that Sherry was gone, Pat and I had a friendly relationship. I’d heard rumors that Sherry wasn’t happy with this new guy, but so far, she hadn’t returnedto South Cove.

Amanda was examining a map she’d brought with her, marking off places she’d seen and those she still wanted to visit. We’d already scratched off three must-see spots from her list, including the elephant seals and the road James Dean was killed on. With the wedding hanging over my head, I thought I was doing an amazing job as a tour guide.

As we drove toward the compound on Highway One, skirting the ocean, Amanda sighed. “I can’t believe how beautiful it is here.Sherry always put me up in a hotel in Santa Barbara and we hung out there when I visited. We didn’t come into South Cove at all. Of course, Greg was usually working, like he is now.”

I couldn’t tell if the comment was a dig at me for not having her stay in a nice hotel or at Greg for working all the time. “Greg takes his job seriously. He’s in charge of the entire police station, including staffing and working with the town. And he’s getting ready for the wedding, so he can’t take time off now. The nice thing is he’s just working his normal hours, so he’s home for dinner with us. You should be here when he’s in the middle of an investigation. Sometimes I don’t seehim for days.”

“Oh dear.” Amanda looked over at me. “I sounded like I was complaining. I know Greg has to work. That boy has always been the one to take care of everyone. I’m just glad I’m here for your big day next week. Where are we going thismorning again?”

“The New Hope compound. They’re having an open house for the town today.” I explained their name and mission statement as I understood it. “I’ve heard the compoundis beautiful.”

“So they’re a religious organization?” Amanda leaned forward as we pulled up to the gates. Men in suits were meeting each car before they sent them into the compound. “Seems like a lot of securityfor a church.”

I didn’t disagree. I couldn’t be sure, but I thought I saw someone taking pictures of the license plates of each car that drove through. I pulled the Jeep up to the man with a clipboard. “We’re here for the open house?”

“Can I see your driver’s license, please?” the man asked, notlooking at me.

“Excuse me?”

“Your driver’s license. The open house is limited to residents of South Cove and their guests. It’s just a safeguard. We’ve had issues with nonbelievers trying to break in and cause problems.” Now the man looked at me. He smiled, but the emotion didn’t hit his eyes. He was cold as ice. “I’m sure you understand.”

I dug out my driver’s license and handed it to him. We weren’t getting in without me agreeing to it. One more reason I didn’t trust Matthews or his crew. He didn’t trust anyone.“Here you go.”

He looked at the name, then checked off something on his clipboard. “Thank you, Ms. Gardner. Is your significant other joining us today? Reverend Matthews would love tochat with him.”

“Detective King is working, but he said he might try to break away from his desk later to visit.” I glanced at Amanda, who was watching the exchange.

“And your guest? Can I get her name?” He smiled that same cold smile at Amanda.

“I’m Amanda King. Detective King’s mother.” She narrowed her eyes. “Do you want a birth certificate or avial of blood?”

The guard wrote her name down by mine. He handed me back my license. “That won’t be necessary. Please enjoy your tour.”

I glanced behind us as we went through the gates and saw another man checking his phone to see if the photo he’d just taken of my plates had turned out. A third man pointed the way to a parking lot. As we followed his directions, I saw another guard standing with Molly Cordon off to the side. She was pointing at the buildings and yelling something.

“Did that woman just climb the fence?” Amanda turned in her seat to watch as we drove past the argument. The guard realized people were watching, so he took Molly’s arm and walked her back to the guardhouse. I kept an eye on them in my rearview mirror as they turned the corner and disappeared from view.

“I think she did.” I pulled into a spot and turned off the engine. “That was weird.”

“You all are very detailed in your security systems out here.” Amanda got her purse off the floor and nodded to more men in suits near the walkway. “I’ve counted ten guards so far and we haven’t even been near the silver.”

I snorted as we got out of the Jeep. I locked it, glad I’d put the top back on last weekend before Amanda showed up. “Well, let’s go see what they are hidingin Fort Knox.”

“I don’t think they’re going to show us that part of the compound.” Amanda took my arm as we walked up the pathway. We passed another guard, his arms folded and an earbud in his ear. “What a beautiful day to be outside. The landscaping is so well maintained. It takes a lot of love to have grounds like this.”

The guard smirked as we walked by.

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