After they sang a final hymn and the pastor made an announcement about signing up for the new search, Tess stood to go. It was getting dark; people at each door were passing out pink candles with white paper drip guards. “Are you going to the ceremony at the gift store?” Miss Etta asked.

“Yes. Are you?”

“I think I’d best get home to Mother. She spends enough time alone as is. I just hope everyone’s careful with those candles. The gift store isn’t so far from the library with all those books. I know I’m a worrywart and a perfectionist, but I just hope everyone’s careful.”

“Miss Etta, can I ask you a question?”

She looked surprised. “Why, of course, my dear.”

“Were you ever in Marva and George Green’s house, their living room?”

“I was indeed, delivering books there more than once when George was so ill. Why do you ask?”

“You have such a good mind for everything. Do you recall if they had a big stag head mounted on the wall there? It was over the fireplace, I think.”

Miss Etta frowned, evidently trying to remember. “You know, my dear, I’ve been in and out of so many Cold Creek houses, I can’t rightly recall. Why do you ask?”

“Just that either those books you gave me or just helping Gabe is freeing up my memories a bit.”

“I see. I’m relieved to hear it, and I shall look for more books to help you along. And you tell Sheriff McCord that I expect him promptly at ten when the library opens tomorrow morning to talk about that antique pistol.”

Ever quick and spry, the old woman was out the door before Vic made his way to Tess through the crowd.

26

“I’ll bet you never thought you’d be taking on bodyguard duties when you came here to help solve a kidnapping,” Tess said as she and Vic walked out to his car parked behind Gabe’s house. The wind was up today, and the cornfield was waving as if it was restless, waiting for the big search for Sandy this afternoon. Tess hoped they’d find the girl but not lying in a cornfield. She was proud of herself that the field didn’t frighten her that much anymore. “But,” she added as they got in the car, “I can see why Gabe doesn’t want me sitting at the front desk when Marva and her attorney get there.”

“We don’t need another rant at you, and I’d just upset her too. Man, we need a break on this case. Even though Marva and Dane should be looked at, I’m still trying to track down that housekeeper fired from the mayor’s house. Her sister said she’d be back in town today. But a side trip to the Hear Ye property is right up my alley. You can see your family, and I’d love to have a chat with Brice, aka Bright Star.”

“No, you wouldn’t. He’s weird and he can make anyone feel guilty. That’s what scares me about Lee, Gracie and the kids being there. Bright Star warps minds and lives. Anyhow, I’m glad to have you along. Gabe said he chatted with Lee and Gracie at the farmers’ market, and they seemed as committed as ever. I’d rent them the house cheap again to get them out of there, but they’d never agree.”

Vic drove his unmarked black car the few miles down the road to the cult property and parked in the small lot. As ever, a guard, another tall, muscular man, stood at the gate to the compound to stop free entry.

“Brother Lawrence is my name. How may I help you?”

Like Bright Star himself, he was soft-spoken. “I’m here to see my cousins, the Lockwoods. I recently helped Lee find the location of a well here and would like to know how the project is coming,” Tess said.

“Ah, yes, I know who you are. The well will be dug soon. But Monday means school for the children. Lee and Grace of God are at work.”

“Grace of God?” Tess asked.

“She’s risen from newcomer status to special, so to speak. If you’ll wait here, I’ll inquire. And you, sir?”

“Friend of the family. Victor Reingold.”

“Ah. I do believe everyone is occupied, so perhaps I can get you an appointment for later. Of course, many of our members will be helping with the search for the recently missing girl this afternoon, so perhaps you can catch your family later at that event.”

Vic said, “Not sure you’d know about the search, since you weren’t at the prayer service for her.”

“We had our own here for her—for all who are still lost. And we stay informed.”

When he left them standing there, Vic said, “Nice hospitality here.” He zipped up his jacket and hunched his shoulders in the wind. “Glad it’s not raining or snowing so we could wait out in that weather. And I suppose all of them speak in that strange way that says nothing but seems eerily important.”

“It’s a scary situation. I wish I could spirit my family away from here—so to speak.”

Vic walked up to the crest of the hill that overlooked the Hear Ye land. “No wonder they had the best vegetables at the market,” he said as Tess joined him. They gazed at the neatly laid-out fields, mostly harvested, and long rows of white, plastic-domed covers to protect the more tender crops from early frost.

“See how strange that one looks?” Vic asked, pointing.

“Strange how? Everything’s strange around here.”

“I think that plastic in the middle isn’t covering crops. See how it’s low to the ground, kind of clinging to it? See that it’s draped over two small, rectangular plots it outlines but completely covers?”

“Maybe there’s something newly planted, and the ground sank in a bit.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of,” he said, starting down the hill. “If Brother Lawrence comes back, keep him busy. I’m gonna have a look,” he called over his shoulder.

“Vic, you’ll attract a swarm of people from the compound!”

But he kept going. It was obvious he was limping more than usual, which reminded her of Gabe’s leg injury. She hoped things were going well at the sheriff’s office with Marva and her attorney. If only Marva would answer questions that would help solve this.

When Tess heard the gate creak, she went back up toward Brother Lawrence. “It’s a lovely view from there,” she said, hoping he’d think Vic was enjoying it. But to her dismay, the man ran up the hill, so Tess followed. Vic was peeking under the plastic covering the two sunken areas. As Brother Lawrence hurried down the hill toward Vic, she recognized the voice behind her.

“Abomination!”

Bright Star had materialized from nowhere as usual. No wonder people thought he was more spirit than flesh and blood.

“He just wondered what was growing under that since it is so different from the others,” Tess told him.

“It’s the graves of two blessed infants who have recently passed beyond, and I have county permits allowing us to bury them on our property. Long-established religious groups have their own cemeteries, and we shall too.”

Tess’s mind raced. Two infants? Or two dead girls? Surely not.

Below, Brother Lawrence was arguing with Vic, who ignored him and came limping back up the hill.

“Bright Star says it’s two infant graves,” she called to him before he reached them. “And he has permission from the county to have them buried there.”

“So I see—about the graves, since they have little stones with angels and lambs and names. All on the up-and-up, Mr. Monson?”

“I could report you for trespassing, sir, but that would have to be to Sheriff McCord, and I know you are a confederate of his.”

“That I am. So why hide the graves?”

“I ordered them covered, not hidden. It upset the grieving mothers and others of the flock to look down at them. It’s like an extra cover in the bed of the earth on a cold day or night.”

More like it upsets this man to have to admit babies could die in his supposedly perfect place, so he hides their graves, Tess thought. She wondered if they were born here or in a hospital.

“Miss Lockwood,” Monson said, turning to Tess. “Your family can certainly spend time with you alone tomorrow, at noon, if you’re available.”