Part 44 (1/2)

She had called her father an adulterous blasphemer who should be punished for his sins.

Maybe he was wrong. G.o.d, he hoped so. He'd always liked Felicity, despite her being a royal pain in the b.u.t.t. But he could not shake the gut feeling that she might be the Fire and Brimstone Killer.

He had to tell somebody. Jack, maybe. But what if he was wrong? The last person he needed to confide in was a sheriff's deputy. He could always confront Felicity, but if she was a killer, what would stop her from trying to kill him?

He wondered if anyone else had drawn the same conclusion he had and, like him, didn't know what to do. Missy might have picked up on something since she'd been living with the Harpers. She and Felicity mixed like oil and water.

Seth looked around and noted that he had walked all the way back to Main Street. It was nearly two o'clock, so downtown wasn't overrun with the lunchtime crowd. Finding a private spot underneath the storefront canopy of a closed business, he called Missy. She answered quickly, on the first ring.

”h.e.l.lo, Seth.”

”Hey, I'm not bothering you, am I?”

”No, I...uh...I was hoping you'd call. I've been thinking about calling you.”

”Yeah, what about?”

”About Felicity,” Missy said. ”I'm worried about her. She's acting really strange.”

”Yeah, I know. Felicity is the reason I called. I think maybe she's going to do something really stupid. We need to stop her.”

”I know. I think maybe she's going to hurt her father. I've never seen her so angry. I wanted to talk to Charity about it, but she ate a quick lunch and went back to Bright Side.”

”Where's Felicity?”

”I don't know. She left a little while after you did.”

”Where are her parents?”

”Ruth Ann and Mrs. Long are both out looking for her,” Missy said. ”Her dad called and explained what had happened with his secretary. It seems she kissed him, and he was totally shocked. They're not having an affair. He sent her straight home after it happened, and he's going to have to fire her.”

”Does Felicity know?”

”No. She disappeared before her mom could tell her, so Ruth Ann and her mother are trying to find her. And Reverend Harper is still at the church, waiting there in case Felicity shows up again. They're all worried sick about her. And so am I.”

Just say it, Seth told himself. Seth told himself. Tell Missy what you're thinking and see how she reacts. Tell Missy what you're thinking and see how she reacts. ”I know this sounds crazy, but I've been thinking...What if Felicity is the Fire and Brimstone Killer?” ”I know this sounds crazy, but I've been thinking...What if Felicity is the Fire and Brimstone Killer?”

Missy gasped. ”Oh, Seth, surely not. You know what that would mean?”

”Yeah, it would mean she killed my father and yours.”

”My father deserved what he got, but yours didn't.”

”We have to talk to somebody, tell them what we suspect.”

”Who can we trust?”

There was one person he'd been able to talk to all his life. He could talk to her about anything. He might still be angry with her, and he certainly hadn't forgiven her, but she was the only person he could talk to who would take him seriously and at the same time would help him see where he might be completely wrong.

”My mother,” Seth said. ”Can you pick me up on Main Street near the drugstore and we'll go to Treasures together? We'll tell my mom everything. She'll know what to do.”

Erin wanted to die. Her life was meaningless without John Earl. She had loved him for years, had devoted herself to him and he had tossed her aside like yesterday's garbage. He was like all the others, taking what he wanted without any thought of her feelings. He was a vile, egotistical b.a.s.t.a.r.d, and she hated him. She wished he could know the pain she felt. He deserved to suffer. It would serve him right if he ended up like the other preachers had. Burned at the stake. Turned into a human torch. Punished for disappointing those who loved him.

He had sent her home, and home is where she'd stayed. She couldn't go back to the church office today and face him, not after what had happened.

How could he expect her to come to his office tomorrow and talk to him in a calm, rational manner? He intended to fire her. He might ask her to resign, but it amounted to the same thing. He was sending her packing. Oh, he'd give her a decent reference and think he'd done a good deed.

Son of a b.i.t.c.h! Sanctimonious a.s.shole!

Maybe she should go see him and show him just what she thought of him. She'd tell him what he could do with his letter of reference. She'd tell him to stick it where the sun don't s.h.i.+ne.

Better yet, she'd set the d.a.m.n thing on fire and watch his reaction before she exacted her revenge.

”I think I'll work in the stockroom for a while since you don't seem to need me out here,” Cathy told Lorie. ”I could use a little quiet time to think about things.”

”You have a big night tonight.” Lorie said. ”First a meeting with J.B. and Mona to tell them that Seth knows Mark wasn't his father and then later, Jack's stopping by to talk.” Lorie gave her a sympathetic look. ”What did Mona say when you called her?”

”Nothing really, just that she's concerned about Seth because he hasn't come home. She wanted me to tell her right then and there what was going on. I told her I'd explain everything when I stop by after work.”

”Maybe you should leave now and go on over there.”

”J.B.'s not there. He's gone to Huntsville and won't be home until around five,” Cathy said. ”I suppose Mona will call Mother and I'll have to deal with her, too.”

”Your mother should fess up and admit she's the one who spilled the beans to Seth.”

”Mother takes credit for anything she considers good, but she never takes the blame for anything that goes wrong.”

”Everything's going to work out, you know. Jack and Seth will both come around. Jack's already told you that he still loves you and-”

Cathy's cell phone rang. She picked it up off the counter where she'd placed it by the cash register. ”That's odd. It's John Earl's office.” She answered on the second ring. ”h.e.l.lo.”

A hoa.r.s.e, unrecognizable voice said, ”Ms. Cantrell, this is Erin McKinley, Reverend Harper's secretary. I apologize for my voice.” She coughed a couple of times. ”Allergies. I have a mild case of laryngitis.”

”Oh, I'm so sorry,” Cathy said.

”I'm calling for John Earl. He would appreciate it if you'd come over to his office as soon as possible. It seems he wants to talk to you about his daughter Felicity and your son, Seth.”

”What about Seth and Felicity?”

”I really don't know, Ms. Cantrell. I'm simply relaying a message. I believe there's some sort of problem with his daughter that involves your son.”

”And you say that John Earl wants me to come over there now?”

”Yes, ma'am. Can I tell him you'll be here soon?”