Page 27 of Long Road Home

Kenna needed to dispel the tension. “You’re stealing my case?”

Theo eyed her. “We know the area better than you, missy.”

“So you just cut me out?” She shot both men an aghast look. She’d figured they would offer to work with her, not in competition with her. Would she have accepted a partnership?

Theo grinned. “Them’s the breaks.”

Kenna fired back with, “Did you find your book yet?”

Forrest gasped. “You lost the book!”

Kenna glanced at her, then back at them. “How come she knows about it and I don’t? Someone needs to fill me in on a whole lot of stuff. Pronto.”

Theo smirked. “Don’t you have a case to work?”

Forrest managed a tiny smile. “I’ll let you all know if I need any of it looking into.” She turned and wandered to Betty and Charlayne, who were at the back talking to a group of women.

“Why does she know about the book?” Kenna asked.

Alonzo shrugged, but she didn’t buy his nonchalance. “She’s a smart girl.”

“Maybe too smart,” Theo added.

Kenna bit her own lips together.Don’t be nosy.It wasn’t cute, even if she had a burning inside that didn’t rest until questions had answers.

Over by the podium, and the four carpeted steps that led up to the raised stage, the preacher guy turned to look at the back door.

Kenna motioned with her head. “What’s the story with Pastor Bruce?”

“I did some digging,” Theo said. “Not sure many folks here know, but Bruce Kilborn did a stretch in state prison for manslaughter.”

“Circumstances?”

He shrugged. “I’m sure pastor would rather you ask him about it yourself. Then he can keep a finger on the pulse of who knows, and who is assuming this preacher man has been God-fearin’ his whole life.”

“People would judge him for his past?” Kenna said. Having been a Christian for only a few months, she had plenty in her history that people would frown upon.

Theo shrugged. “Christians ain’t perfect. They’re humans who do dumb things, say worse, and we’ve gotta just hope they’re at least trying to do better next time.”

Kenna was. Hopefully, that could be said of most honest followers of God.

“Excuse me?” The voice was female and far too soft. “Are you Kenna Banbury?”

She turned to see a couple in the aisle.

“We’ll see ya.” Theo clapped her on the shoulder. The look on his face said he knew this wouldn’t be good.

The couple were both older, maybe in their midfifties, and she wore a long dress. He was slender. Both had on thin wool coats, and the woman had a white cloth securing her hair back. Sturdy black shoes. No makeup and only thin gold bands indicating their commitment to each other.

She turned to face them. “Yes, that’s me. How can I help you?” Then someone moved beside her.

The preacher.

“We can talk in my office,” he suggested. “If you’d like?”

The husband nodded. He led his wife there. Kenna followed, and the preacher closed the office door behind them all. He brought in a third chair, but the husband stood behind his wife’s chair.

Bruce sat behind his desk. “This is Mr. Merrington and his wife. Their daughter Rebekah went missing six years ago.”

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