Page 8 of Vows of Murder

“You had it at the mission. Did you leave it in the Jeep?” I grabbed my keys and went out to check my car. No purse. When I came back, I shook my head. “Sorry, it’s not there. I know you didn’t have it at Diamond Lille’s because you said you’d left itat the house.”

“I know, I thought I’d left it here. Now I think I left it in the chapel when I sat down. I took a pill there.” Amanda poured herself a cup of coffee. “I’ll have to go home to get my pills if I don’t have them.”

“Greg, can you finish the bacon? I’ll run over to the mission and see if I can find your mom’s purse.” I grabbed Emma’s leash. “And I’ll take the girl, so she gets outthis morning.”

“Oh, Jill, I can go. I feel like such a burden.” Amanda stood and looked down at the slippers she wore. “I’ll need tochange first.”

“Just stay here and chat with your son. Emma and I will be back soon.” I grabbed my keys and wallet. Emma followed me to the door and we headed out to the mission. When we arrived, a light fog covered the parking lot. I didn’t worry about paying since the mission had a fifteen-minute grace period. I parked next to a gray car. Someone else must be on the trails, since employees parked behind the visitor center. I clipped Emma’s leash on and we headed toward the chapel building. The fog was thicker as I made my way down the trail. Emma was quiet as she walked as well. I couldn’t be sure, but I thought my dog was a little freaked out.

We went into what I thought was a doorway, but I realized we were in the graveyard. I saw a dark blob in the corner, but as I watched, it disappeared. Probably a trick of the light.

I went back outside the wall and moved to my right. I passed the first entrance, which was the priest’s quarters. The next entrance took us into the chapel. Three benches lined the wall and I saw something under one. I pulled out a purse and dug for the wallet to check to seeif this was Amanda’s. Her driver’s license was in a plastic sleeve in her wallet, giving me my proof.

As I tucked the wallet back away, a letter fell out. It was to Greg. And not in Amanda’s writing. I read the first paragraph and realized it was from Sherry, Greg’s ex-wife. She was trying to convince him to take her back. Amanda had agreed to bring the letter to him. She was still Team Sherry. I’d hoped we’d gotten past that.

Emma nudged my leg and I realized I’d brought her with me into the chapel, one of the two places in the park she wasn’t welcome. I tucked the purse under my arm and headed out to the trail. As I did, I saw a priest dressed in robes go into the graveyard. Did they still have Sunday services here? I needed to apologize for taking Emma into the chapel. I followed him, and Emma growled softly under her breath.

As we went into the graveyard, the blob I’d seen before was visible again. But now, it was closer and looked like something on the ground. The priest I’d followed into the cemetery had disappeared.

I walked over and realized a man was lying on the ground. He was face up and his eyes were fixed. Kane Matthews looked arrogant even dead. I dialed Greg as Emma and I stepped away and out of the graveyard. I could barely see Kane’s body, but he was still there. When Greg answered, I told himwhat I’d found.

“Kane Matthews is dead in the graveyard at the mission. I’ll meet you in the parking lot.” I hung up and took Emma back to the car. The gray car was gone. My Jeep was the only vehicle sitting in the fog.

Chapter 4

As soon as Greg arrived at the mission, Emma and I were on our way home.

“Don’t you want me to show you where I found the body?” I sat in the driver’s seat with the Jeep running and the heat on high. I wasstill freezing.

“I’m sure I’ll find it. I just want you out of here before the rest of the emergency vehicles get here. Besides, Mom needs her purse—well, the pills in her purse. Did you find it?” Greg looked around me and saw it on the floor at Emma’s feet. “Good. At least we don’t have to worry about that.”

“Nope, there’s no worrying there.” I thought about the letter. Sooner or later, I would blurt out my knowledge of what Sherry was trying to do. But right now, there was a murder, and he had enough on his mind without me complaining about a stupid letter from his ex. We were getting married,no matter what.

I was already on the road when I realized I hadn’t told him about seeing a priest at the mission or the gray car. That letter from Sherry had rattled me more than I’d realized. I used the Bluetooth setting to call Greg. As I expected, I got his voice mail. I left the information and added, “Don’t worry about entertaining your mom. We’ll work through her list of tourist sites to visit.”

Emma looked at me, probably hoping for a hint that she would be going along. But I knew I’d be leaving her home when we went out sightseeing.

When I arrived home, I handed Amanda her purse. “Here you go. So, what do you want to do today? Greg won’t be home until late.”

Amanda rummaged through the purse and paused before pulling out a bottle of pills. She tucked the opening closed and stood. “After I take this, I’d love to go visit the Castle. Is it open on Sundays?”

“Let me check.” I moved to the office. It wasn’t lost on me that Amanda took her purse with her as she went to the kitchen for water to take her pill. I thought that my soon-to-be mother-in-law knew that I’d seen the letter. She just didn’t want to ask me directly. I was going to have to be the bigger person here. Not one of my strongest characteristics.

I turned on the computer and looked up the Castle’s website. If we left soon, we’d be able to stop at the bookstore too. I needed caffeine and a lot of it to be able to keep up this cheery attitude all day.

When I came back out, I decided to put the problem in the safe in my head. I wouldn’t think about it until after the wedding or after Amanda had left. I didn’t know if I could get past her part of the Sherry caper, but I wasn’t giving anyone the satisfaction of getting upset over something that wasn’t an issue. Greg loved me. We were getting married. No matter what anyone else thought.

I smiled at Amanda as she stepped out of the kitchen, still clutching her purse. “It opens at eleven. I need to make a stop first, if you’re ready to go.”

She nodded. “I’m readywhen you are.”

Maybe she thought she’d gotten away with it. Whatever she thought, didn’t matter. Greg was investigating who had killed Kane Matthews. I wanted in on this investigation. The killer needed to be given a medal before Greg arrested him.

Maybe I wasn’t in thebest of moods.

We drove to the bookstore, and I parked in front. It was busy for a Sunday morning in January. Several months ago, when she’d lived above the shop, Evie had suggested that we open for a few hours on Sundays. She’d watched a lot of people pause at the doorway, checking the hours listed. Now that Deek was living above the shop in the apartment, they switched out working on Sundays. Today, Evie was behind the counter, making coffee drinks for a couple.

I pointed Amanda to the stools and the menu. “What can Eviemake for you?”

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