False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [98]
“She’s no match for an angry drug dealer, Sheriff.”
“We don’t know that Cowen has even approached Vanessa. There could be another explanation for why you haven’t heard from her.”
“I can’t think of one.”
Jude couldn’t either, but he wasn’t about to strip Ethan of his last thread of hope.
Zoe crouched in the darkness with Pierce and Vanessa, aware of their shallow breathing and her own racing heart. Would Cowen notice the door in the closet? Would he open it? Would he hear their breathing? Would he smell their fear? Zoe willed away the tears that stung her eyes. Not now! All she needed was to start sniffling and give them away.
Was she ready to die and face the punishment that awaited her? Wasn’t her faith as disingenuous as her persona? Her confessions tainted with sins of omission? Wasn’t her presence at Mass merely for show—like keeping her rosary in the top drawer of the nightstand? Hadn’t she always known deep down that God wasn’t fooled by her performance, even if everyone else was?
Wouldn’t He expect her to pay for all the lies she told and all the people she deceived—and for the deaths of Pierce and Vanessa, if it came to that? Ethan said that God specializes in messes. But was this one too over the top, even for Him?
“Va-ness-a.” Cowen’s voice was singsongy and playful. “I know you’re in here. I’m following your muddy footprints. You thought you could get away from me.” His voice was again low and sinister. “No one gets away from me. No one.”
“I don’t think he’s bluffing,” Vanessa whispered. “My shoes are a mess. What do we do?”
“I’ll go stand on one side of the door,” Pierce said. “Maybe I can surprise him.”
“No, that’s the first place he’ll look.” Zoe reached out and found his arm and squeezed. “You’ll be safer back here. It’s darker.”
“I can’t just hunker down like a sitting duck,” Pierce said. “He’s liable to start shooting.”
“He’s right.”
Zoe froze. A stranger’s quiet voice had come from behind her, and she felt his breath on her neck. Her skin tingled with goose bumps, her heart nearly beating out of her chest.
Pierce turned toward the voice. “Who said that? Who are you?”
“Carter calls me the candy man.”
“How did you get in here?” Vanessa whispered.
“The same way I’m goin’ to get you out.”
Savannah put a fresh vase of flowers on the table that Hebert, Father Sam, and Tex had occupied since early that morning. The breaking news they had been anxiously awaiting still hadn’t happened. Why hadn’t the sheriff arrested Remy’s killer? The media made it sound as if an arrest were imminent.
“Why are dey dragging dis out?” Hebert said. “Gimme some rope, and I’ll end dis ting right now.”
Father Sam patted Hebert’s arm. “You don’t mean that.”
“But there are those who do,” Tex said. “They wouldn’t bat an eye at savin’ the taxpayers money by riddin’ the town of this scum.”
“Let’s hope we aren’t reduced to that.” Father Sam took a sip of coffee. “I just don’t understand why the media gets everyone’s hopes up before they confirm the information.”
“It’s all about ratings,” Savannah said. “The truth is secondary.” She sighed. “I miss Remy so much.”
“Dere won’t be anudder Remy.” Hebert reached over and slipped his hand around hers. “Dat boy was sometin’ special to all o’ us. Treated me like his papere.” Hebert’s voice quivered. “I’m trying to accept his death so dat I can be strong for Emile—poor fella is motier foux.”
“I’d be half crazy too if someone murdered my child.” Savannah sighed. “It’s hard enough just being a friend. I want Remy’s killer brought to justice—the sooner the better.”
“Have you heard from Zoe and Pierce,” Tex said, “and whether they’re goin’ to Remy’s funeral tomorrow?”
Savannah shook her head. “They must be really engrossed in whatever business they’re doing because I haven’t heard from either of them today. I’m assuming Pierce wants Benson to take his shift tomorrow, too.”
“I just can’t imagine that the Broussards would miss Remy’s funeral”—Father