Page 56 of Deadly Secrets
Roman showed her the pictures from the parking lot footage. “Was he wearing a cross necklace?”
Again, Loretta’s gaze barely registered anything but Roman. “Most people of faith in Pastor Luke’s position do.”
You be my eyes.Brooke forced herself to glance around at those still finishing their lunches. A few curious faces stared back, but most didn’t seem to notice—or care—that she was there. One man in long sleeves and a hat abruptly got up and headed for the door. She heard metal clank on metal as he grabbed the door handle, a chunky gold ring on his finger making the noise. A second man, also dressed too warm for the spring day in long sleeves and a jacket, followed close on his heels.
Criminals? Drug addicts? Undocumented illegals? Maybe they’d simply had bad experiences with cops.
And Roman, like anyone in law enforcement, had that effect on those who stayed off the radar.
There were no security cameras, but there were bars on the windows. Behind the table was a kitchen where the volunteer staff worked at cleaning pots and pans.
“This cross has a center eye with a diamond in it. Do you recognize it?”
A young Hispanic man joined Loretta and glanced over her shoulder. “I’ve seen one like that.”
Brooke took in his ratty jeans and two-sizes-too-big shirt. “On whom?”
Roman gave her the side-eye and she made asorryface at him, even though she wasn’t.
The kid took the photo from Roman and studied it more closely. “Pastor Rogers has one like that. My brother says it freaks him out. That Pastor Rogers can see all his sins.”
Roman accepted the photo back. “Who is Pastor Rogers? Is he head of this church?”
“She.”
The voice came from behind Brooke’s left shoulder, making her jump. She turned and saw a woman in a white shirt and black pants with her hands clasped in front of her.
“And yes.” The woman pulled out a gold cross from under her shirt. The center diamond flashed under the fluorescent lighting. “I run the church. What can I do to help you?”
Roman didn’t let his smile falter as he shook the pastor’s hand and flashed her his ID. Unlike Loretta, the Pastor held out her hand to inspect the badge more clearly.
Beside him, Brooke stared intensely at the cross necklace that now dangled on the front of the woman’s shirt.
Be cool, Brooke.
Rogers handed his ID back and he put it away. “This is Dr. Heaton. She’s a consultant for the taskforce.”
“How can I help?” Rogers asked in a voice that suggested it was the last thing she wanted to do.
Roman showed her the photo. “We’re trying to locate this man, known as Pastor Luke, who came through as a volunteer a month ago.”
Rogers lifted her brows. “I never met him.”
“Any information you can share would be helpful.”
Brooke pointed at Rogers’ necklace. “Like where you got that cross.”
He hadn’t really expected her to stay silent and let him do the talking, but she wasn’t trained in interrogation and her personal interest in the case could jeopardize his knowledge-seeking mission.
Yet, he couldn’t blame her. She had the scent of the trail like he did, and her nose was part bloodhound.
Rogers rubbed the gold cross between her fingers, then slid it inside her shirt once more. “My mother gave it to me when I accepted my holy orders.”
Loretta had returned to cleanup duty. The young man spoke to a bearded man in stained overalls at one of the tables, trying to get him to finish up his soup.
Roman wanted a picture of that cross. “Was Pastor Luke wearing one like it?”
“As I said, I’m afraid I never met Pastor Luke. I was upstate at the Catalyst Conference for church leaders when he volunteered here.”
