Today, the Junior Choir began with a cheerful tune. Everyone joined in jubilant excitement. I stood but did not feel the spirit moving within me, just horror.
Alexander had left to search for Vernon Miller. The teenager had slipped away, clearly spooked.
Dear God, please don’t let it be Vernon. That would ruin the church. It would destroy the whole community.
Vernon’s mother was Julia. I never knew why she turned out the way she did.
People whispered that she might’ve been molested by Mrs. Miller’s brother. I remembered a period of time when the uncle had begun coming to church. He’d been living with the Millers for a few months. My father would gossip about the uncle during dinner, claiming that he was nothing but a criminal and sexual predator. My father argued that he shouldn’t be allowed to go to the church. At the time, I didn’t know what a sexual predator was. But I remembered that Mom thought that the uncle should be given a second chance.
Months later, that uncle didn’t come to church anymore. He was back in jail. And when I asked Mom why he was gone, she just shook her head and told me to mind my own business.
I nudged Mom as she listened to the Junior Choir’s song. “What happened to Pastor Miller’s brother-in-law? The one who went to jail long ago?”
She twisted her face in annoyance. “What kind of question is that during a time like this?”
“Come on, Mom. What happened?”
“Not now, Haven.”
So many questions came to my head. I had to get answers to all of them. This could mean saving lives.
I scanned my head of all the things I knew about Vernon.
It wasn’t much. I had been long gone from Fullbrooke by then. I played with Julia a little as kids. We hung together sometimes when we were pre-teens. Then she showed others and me the basement passageway in the church and even brought cigarettes on Sunday to smoke during service. Once we were all caught, my parents wouldn’t let me hang out with Julia anymore.
Years later, we both graduated and went down different paths. Julia had barely made it. I had walked with honors. I went to college and Mom told me one day that Pastor Miller put Julia in a rehab clinic. Time moved on. Every now and then I would get small updates. Many were fuzzy. No one enjoyed talking about the Pastor’s pain.
I had heard about Julia’s son Vernon.
When Pastor Miller and his wife took Vernon from their daughter Julia, the church had come together. Mom bragged about how much of a community Fullbrooke Baptist had been. People unofficially volunteered to parent him. Men who had their own children made sure to check on Vernon each Sunday and throughout the week. They did their best to be a father figure to the boy. Many women brought Vernon second-hand clothes.
My mother had even helped him with his math homework when his grades were low. The few times I visited, I would see him and marvel at how big he’d grown. Vernon was always helping in some way. He served as an usher. He was the youngest one passing the donation plate and guiding families to their pews.
While most teens in the church had to be forced by their parents to do duties. Vernon was always volunteering with bible school and the church’s daycare. Mom had said that he was the only teenager to assist every class. Everyone had grown to love him. Many assumed he would take on Pastor Miller’s path and embark on a career of serving God.
Jesus, what do I do? Can this be right? No. I have to be missing something. But then why did Vernon slip away?
The Junior Choir ended.
Pastor Miller came back to the front. “Now, let’s bow our heads in prayer.”
After the prayer, service would end.
I followed everyone else. The whole time he spoke, I searched for old memories and details in my head, hoping to find something that could help this case.
A new religious holiday would be coming soon. I didn’t know if it was truly Vernon doing this, if he just helped, or if it was something else entirely. But what I knew for sure was that this town could not take another kidnapping and killing of a sweet little girl. This had to stop with the Fullbrooke Six.
The congregation spoke in unison, “Amen!”
Everyone rose to leave. Some chatted with friends. Others hugged people they hadn’t seen all week.
Opening my eyes, I lifted my head. “Amen.”
Mom smirked. “You didn’t hear not one thing that the Pastor said.”
“I’m sure I agree.”
“Where’s your supervisor at? Did we scare him off?”
“No. He’s going to check on things. And why are you saying supervisor that way?”
Her smirk shifted to a huge smile. “Is he single?”
“Oh no, Mom. We’re not doing that.”
“You’re getting older. I’m getting older.”
“You are going to get your grandkids. And you’re not that old.”
“Although I look young, I am not young.”
“Oh, my goodness. I’m here on business. Remember. The investigation.”
“I like Alexander.” She gave me a wicked smirk. “He’s good-looking and loves the lord. Got a nice job where he’s helping people.”
“Mom, you barely know him.”
“At this point, Haven, I am not going to be picky. Just get me my grandbabies.”
I laughed and was about to tell her she had lost her mind when several of her friends appeared. This was the point of Sunday where my mother liked to show me off.
“Look at Haven,” one of her friends hugged me. “All professional now.”
“Yes.” Mom beamed. “Haven rushed down from Quantico to head this investigation.”
I am not heading the case.
Mom continued on, “My baby needed to return.”
Mrs. Patsy nodded. “The Lord is good. We needed Haven down here.”
“She’s going to find this person.” Mom held her Bible at her side. “It won’t be long.”
Although cringing on the inside, I didn’t dare dispute Mom in front of her friends. It would have been embarrassing. Plus, the church needed some form of hope. I just didn’t want anyone to think I was the superhero that had come to Fullbrooke to save the day.
If it’s Vernon, then the town will hate me.
When all the niceties and chatter left, Mom and I headed outside.
I took that moment to ask her again. “What happened to Pastor Miller’s brother-in-law?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
“It could deal with this case.”
“Lord, I hope not. That man is under the jail.”
“What did he do?” I asked.
“He always had a problem with messing with little girls. No one really knew for sure.”
“What do you mean they didn’t know for sure?”
“His name was Eddy Bright.” Mom waved at Deacon Williams as we passed his family and him. “When Eddy was young, he was caught with a little white girl in Colesville. He had to go to jail for that. But it didn’t seem wrong at the time. We thought the cops were being racist.”
“What do you mean?”
“He was seventeen and the girl he was dating was thirteen.”
“Oh no. That’s too young.”
“During that time, it wasn’t too odd. What he really went to jail for was messing with a white girl in the south.”
“Okay, so then he gets out.”
“And Eddy stayed with Pastor Miller.” Mom waved at a few more people and looked like she was going to head over there.
“Oh no. Finish telling me please.”
Huffing, she stopped. “Why are you asking about this?”
“Come on, Mom. This might be important.”
“When Eddy got out, he couldn’t get much of a job due to the jail time and the nature of his crime. He would come to church with alcohol on his breath. And then the sheriff down in Colesville caught him with another little white girl in his car.”
“How old?”
“Thirteen.”
My stomach twisted.<
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“Eddy had hurt that little girl. It was all over the newspapers.”
I made a note to pull up that case and the news clippings. “What about Julia? Do you think he could have done something to her?”
Mom’s face grew sad. “Julia was such a good kid. Always listened. Never got in trouble. And then that man entered the house, and Julia started acting up. Pastor thought the devil had gotten into her. Your father figured that Eddy might have touched her or the Pastor’s other girls. That’s why we started eating at the Pastor’s house on Sunday. Your father just invited us over one Sunday and we always came after that. Your father was trying to watch after them.”
“Dad didn’t trust Eddy?”
“Not one bit. I believe he threatened Eddy a few times after dinner and when the Pastor was not around.” Mom shook her head. “Once Eddy went back to jail, Julia was never the same. But we continued to go to dinner because the Pastor began to expect it. Then, Julia got hooked on drugs, started stealing from the donation plates, and even taking jewelry from her mother’s bedroom.”
“I don’t remember any of that.”
“You were just a pre-teen and getting in your own little trouble.” Mom gave me a sad smile. “A while later, Julia ran away. The whole time, your dad did his best to look after Julia while she lived on the streets. Anytime she had trouble with the law, he got her off any charges and brought her on home to the Pastor. But none of that helped. She ended up getting pregnant a few times and—”
“Wait.” I raised my eyebrows. “How many kids did Julia have?”
“Two.”
A sad cloud hovered over me. “Where is Julia now?”
“They say she’s out on the streets.” Mom didn’t look like she wanted to socialize anymore. She bypassed a few groups waving her over and headed to the door.
I followed her. “I know Julia has been on drugs the whole time. But do you know why the Pastor took Vernon from her?”
“Each time, Julia became pregnant, she stopped using. Pastor even gave her money to open up a beauty salon. She did well for a little bit. I would even get my hair done there. And then months would pass, and Julia would be hooked again. Every year, she always quit a little bit, come to church, and sit in the pew with her kids. We always prayed and hoped her battle with drugs would end, but she kept going back.”
“Why did Pastor Miller finally step in and take Vernon?”
“He wanted to take those kids many times, but I think he felt guilty and he loved Julia so much. He didn’t want to hurt her.” Mom opened the door and we walked out. “But when Julia’s daughter died, they knew they couldn’t go on anymore.”
I stopped Mom on the steps. People chattered as they walked by us. Fear entered my heart. “How did her daughter die?”
“Suffocation.”
My heart broke. “W-who did it?”
“They don’t know what happened.”
“Mom, what do you mean they don’t know what happened?”
“Pastor Miller and his wife always came on Sunday to pick up their grandbabies and take them to church. When they showed up, Vernon was asleep in his bed and the little girl was in her bedroom dead.”
“Where was Julia?”
“Out in the streets somewhere. That day, she lost her kids to neglect. Pastor Miller and his wife took custody of Vernon.”
“And what did the police say about the little girl’s death?”
Sighing, Mom guided me over to the side of the steps and kept her voice low. “Your father talked to the force and had them leave the investigation alone.”
“What do you mean? Dad would have been retired by then.”
“They let him sign off on the report and hit it.”
“A retired cop?”
“This is Fullbrooke, baby. The cops were looking at Vernon. That poor boy had been through enough. Your father didn’t think it was right for the police to try and send him to jail, especially when there was no true proof that he was the one who did it. They weren’t even sure how she suffocated.”
“Oh my God.”
“Your father thought it was the best thing—”
“How old was she?”
“Four years old.”
My Mom’s best friend Mrs. Judy came over. Because they were friends since high school and she practically helped raise me, I called her Aunt Judy. As soon as she spotted me, she gave me a huge hug.
“Hey, Aunt Judy.” I smiled, trying to push the terror off my face. But on the inside, the gloom grew.
“You’re looking good, Haven.”
“Thanks, Aunt Judy.”
“Haven?” Mom patted my back. “You’re coming over to the Pastor’s house for dinner?”
My voice scratched. “Yes. I’ll be there.”
“Are you bringing your supervisor?”
“Yes, Mom.”
Aunt Judy laughed. “Haven found herself a winner.”
I shook my head at the both of them. “You all go ahead. I’ll wait for him.”
“That’s right. Bring him on over to the Pastor’s house.” Aunt Judy snapped her fingers. “We’re all hungry.”
“Now, Judy if you don’t stop.” Mom pushed her friend along. “Out in front of this church being devilish.”
“God knows what he did when he made that man.” Aunt Judy chuckled to herself and followed my mother down the steps.
I pulled my phone out and dialed Alexander.
He answered, “Haven.”
“Church is out. Where are you? Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I’m actually leaving the church’s basement. The opening to the men’s bathroom was undone again. I went down there but didn’t see Vernon.” Metal clattered on his side of the line. “However, the back door was opened. I think he went through there and then ran out that way.”
I let out a long breath.
“Haven? Are you okay?”
“Yes. It’s just. . .I definitely think this could be Vernon.”
Curiosity filled his voice. “Why?”
I went down the steps and moved further away from the departing congregation. “His mother was most likely molested as a teen. She started using drugs. When she had Vernon and his sister, she was pretty neglectful and still using.”
“He does have a sister.”
“Well. . .had a sister.”
Curiosity hit his voice. “How did she die?”
“Mysterious suffocation.”
“Damn it.”
“And. . .” I cleared my throat. “Pastor Miller found Vernon and his sister on a Sunday morning. The police didn’t do a full investigation due to. . .my father kind of asking for a favor.”
The line clicked.
Did he hang up?
Alexander’s voice sounded behind me. “Then, everything is pointing to Vernon being our Unsub.”
Startled, I spun around. “I think so. His mother even did hair, which would explain how Vernon would know how to hot comb. He might’ve watched his mother do his sister’s hair before church on Sunday.”
“Being that his mother was neglectful, Vernon probably dressed his sister and did her hair himself.”
“Yes.” I thought about Pastor Miller and his family. The hurt that they would experience if this was true. The impact to the church and community. Things would never be the same again.
In that moment, the Drakes as well as other Fullbrooke Six parents left the church. It was odd how all of them remained together. Not talking or chatting with each other, but they moved in one group. They had even sat together. It made sense. Only they could understand their pain. I wondered if they found comfort and protection from each other.
Melody’s mother, Mrs. Luther glanced my way as she walked by. Mom had told me that after her daughter was taken, she divorced her husband and moved back in with her parents. There were rumors that her husband had lost his mind. People swore they saw him walking hand-in-hand with some young guy. Many had even thought that because he was gay, perhaps he had something to
do with the murders. But in the end, it was just homophobic propaganda based on no truth.
Alexander gently took my hand. “It’s going to be okay, Haven.”
I turned back to him. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not. You’re very sad. I understand.”
“Do you?”
“Fullbrooke Baptist Church was never ready for a serial killer, but the fact that the killer is one of their own and a child himself. . .it would shatter the average person’s reality.” Still holding my hand, he guided me away.
“This is heartbreaking. Poor Vernon never really had a chance. Neither did his mother Julia. I’m certain she was raped by her uncle, and no one understood. They labeled her as bad. Thought she was possessed by the devil. She turned to drugs. What kind of mother could she have been to Vernon?”
“Not much of one, if they found his sister dead in the apartment that Sunday morning, and him in bed all alone.”
“I wonder if he was truly asleep or pretending.”
“We’ll have to go over the case.”
“If there is much of one.” Guilt hit me. “As I said, my father intercepted. He. . .”
Alexander tightened his grip on my hand. “Your father thought he was helping Vernon. Jail for a ten-year-old with a drug addict as a mother. . .that would have guaranteed Vernon being in the system for the rest of his life.”
“And now it looks like he should have been in the system. Then, the Fullbrooke Six would be alive.” I swallowed. “What do we do now?”
“All the agents are surrounding us.”
I scanned the area but didn’t see anyone. “Where are they?”
“Hidden and out of sight, but they have an eye out for Vernon Miller.”
“What do we do?”
“Perhaps, I spooked him by being in the church. Or maybe he left for another reason. Either way, he has to show up at the Miller’s house.”
“That’s what we hope.”
“That’s all we have.” Alexander led me to the car. “We’re supposed to go to Pastor Miller’s house. Vernon must return there. If he doesn’t, then we know he has made a run for it. That being said, Stein and Richards have people on all exits out of town just in case.”
Jesus. We’re going to Pastor Miller’s house and pretending like everything is okay.
Missing Hearts Page 21