Squeezing Reggie’s shoulder, Alex fought to appear authoritative and sympathetic at the same time.
“Reggie,” he whispered, a slight crackle resonating in his words. Clearing his throat, he continued. Reaching for the gun, Alex whispered, “Reg, where’s his gun? Pastor Highland had a—“
“Alex?”
Pastor Highland’s voice was fearful, confused.
“I’ll get to you in a minute. You’re under arrest.”
Turning his attention back to Reggie, Alex let his hand drop away from the rookie’s trembling shoulder.
“Cuff him,” Alex said to Josh.
“Gladly.”
“Reggie, walk with me.” He whispered, reaching for Reggie’s gun, willing him to lower it.
“Alex, what’s this all about?”
“I said get quiet, Highland. You have the right to remain silent. I suggest you use it.”
“Alex, I think you have things misunderstood here. What exactly do you think this is?”
“Reggie, go into the other room and wait for me, please. Tara, Alyson, Shelley, y’all join him.”
“Oh great,” Tara said, “kids do all the work, now Mommy and Daddy get to have all the fun.”
“Tara!” Alex shouted, so loud the feedback from the sound equipment in the other room reverberated throughout their current location. “Nothing about this was fun! You follow orders officer. You got that!?”
Nodding, she sank her head toward the floor. Alex’s instinct was to take her under a fatherly wing and sooth her bruised ego. Now wasn’t the time. She was a police officer. Both she and Reggie would have to develop a thicker skin. By resisting his brain’s innate urge, he hoped to allow them time to grow.
“There’s paper and pen in the bedside drawer. Y’all both get your thoughts together and start writing your report. You can type it up when we get back.”
Without a word, they vanished into the adjoining room.
Highland in cuffs, Alex approached, scowling.
“All these years, it was you.” Alex said, gritting his teeth. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“Honestly, Alex,” Highland began, “I have no idea what I’m being accused of. I was meeting Tamara there and—“
“My name is—“Alex raised a hand, motioning for Alyson to stop speaking.
“In the other room,” he said. Motioning to Shelley, he added, “Take her with you.” When she stood fast, Alex glared at her. “Was there something in my tone that made that seem like a suggestion?”
“You get cranky when you’re on the job.” Alyson quipped, heading toward the door.
“Move!”
“So, tell me,” Highland whispered, sitting on the bed, his hands cuffed behind him. “How many of those gals were cops?”
“None of your concern,” Alex muttered. “Stand up. You don’t deserve to sit down. Now where’d you hide it?”
“Hide what?” Highland asked.
“The gun. Where’d you hide it? Reggie said you pulled a gun out of the drawer over there. Where is it?”
Laughing, Highland looked toward the drawer.
“You think this is funny?” Josh said, pulling him up so abruptly that his feet left bounced off the ground. As he landed, he stumbled. Only Josh holding on to his shirt prevented him from falling back on to the bed.
“Josh, let him go.”
“Alex, do you realize who this guy is?”
“Yes, and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize the case against him. Now put him down. Gently.”
As Josh gingerly sat Highland back on the bed, he backed away, rubbed a hand against his forehead, turned and grunted. As he walked away, Alex sat on the bed across from Highland. You’ve been read your rights. So I’m going to ask you some questions now.
“Son, I’ve been trying to give you some information if you’d let me talk.”
“So you wish to speak, outside the presence of an attorney? You realize anything you say is admissible in a court of law, right?”
“Are you going to charge me with being a Good Samaritan?”
“What are you talking about? You think what you did was being a Good Samaritan?”
“Again, Alex, what is it you think I was doing here?”
“I think you are the man we have been looking for all along. I think you killed those girls and I think you have finally gotten caught. You’re going away for a long time, my friend. And I hope that you truly find God while you’re living what’s left of your miserable life in a seven by seven foot cell.”
“Alex, listen to me! I was trying to help those girls!”
“Help them how? By cleansing them of their fleshly bonds so that they can repent before God? You really are—“
Alex stopped. He couldn’t speak.
Looking down, Pastor Highland said, “At your feet.”
“Pardon?”
“You said you were looking for what I pulled out of the drawer. I guess it got moved further away than I thought. It’s at your feet.”
Looking down, Alex spotted a book, lying opened on the ground. As people rushed to and fro, the pages waved. Alex could see the hint of a burgundy leather binding. Picking up the book, he noticed words written in red intermingled with words in black type.
“What is this?” Alex said, more to himself than anyone.
“Where do your eyes go?” Highland asked him.
“What?”
“On the page. What passage is the first you read when you look at it?”
Closing his eyes, Alex looked down at the page. Opening them, he read aloud, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
“John 3:16 and 17,” Highland said.
“Yes.”
“See that small pink sticky note? Flip to that page. Tell me what do you see highlighted in yellow.”
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
“John 8:36.” Highland said again. “Now, the green sticky.”
Still confused, Alex did as Highland asked. Flipping to the place marked by the tiny green sticky note, Alex read the words to himself.
“Well?” Josh asked, walking toward Alex. “What does it say?”
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death”
“Romans 8. Verses one and two. I’m not going to walk you down the entire spiritual road I planned on taking this girl—uh, these girls, but Alex, I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone. Quite the contrary. I came here tonight to try and save a young girl from the dangers of prostitution. From disease, from abuse. Yes, from murder. Alex, I know this case very well and I was trying to save this girl, as I’ve tried to save others before.”
“We know you were there, Highland.” Josh sneered. “We know. We have the files. Every single place there’s a murder, A Highland is not far behind.”
As Highland hung his head, Alex noticed a very deep blush coloring his cheeks.
“Alex, could you—could somebody take these blasted cuffs off?”
Without a word, Alex motioned for Josh to remove the cuffs, which he did without question.
Rubbing his wrists, Highland let go a relieving sigh.
“That’s better. Boy, those things do hurt. Now I know what all the criminals are complaining about.”
“Okay, spill it, Highland!” Josh growled.
Raising a hand, Alex patted him on the shoulder. “Josh, will you go check on my two rookies, please?”
“No.
Raising an eyebrow, Alex glared at him, “Then would you go check on your girlfriend? I’m certain that she is quite shaken up by all that has just transpired.”
Obviously biting his tongue, Josh walked away, making his way into the adjoining roo
m where he no doubt was half-heartedly checking on Alyson, at least until she said or did whatever it was those Warner girls did to bring their men around again.
“Okay, now, how is it you just happened to show up in every town where these girls showed up murdered?”
“Alex, here’s what I know. In the past, we have followed this guy from place to place. We’ve heard of the murders and decided we were going to go there and try to talk these women out of the life of prostitution, stripping or pornography. Remember Jesus didn’t judge the woman caught in adultery. He lovingly protected her as a father would his child. Then, he lovingly commanded her to go forth and sin no more.”
“I don’t want a sermon, Pastor. I want to know why you seem to always show up and people die.”
“Alex, that’s what I’m trying to explain. It’s always the same. I make the date with a young girl online. I tell her nothing about myself other than my name, James. And then I arrange a meet. Usually, my wife is with me, but she hasn’t felt well the past couple of days, so I did this one alone. And tonight would have been no different. In my pocket, I have a thousand dollars. Enough for a bus or plane ticket out of here to just about anywhere she would want to go. In that drawer, not only do I have my Bible, but I have another one I was prepared to give to the young girl. I showed up a week ago and rented this room. I went up that very first day and placed a Bible in that drawer. When I arranged the meet today, I came back up here and placed my Bible in the drawer so that I’d have it.”
“You’re a cop. You’re smart enough to know that, if you go in here unarmed, you could be killed by a prostitute that’s packing heat. She could rob you, cut you. Kill you. Why?”
“Why?” Highland asked. His face filled with genuine shock. “Son, I’ve been at this for a number of years now. I’ve served God in many capacities. One thing I’ve learned. Dying in the service of my Lord and Savior would be an honor. Greater love hath no man than that he would give up his life for another.”
“So, are you trying to get yourself killed here?”
Laughing to himself, Highland shook his head, “Oh dear boy, no. I just meant I’m not scared of dying in the service. Truth is, we were planning on retiring though. We wanted to settle in to a nice, quiet community and just be pastors. Be a police chaplain, each of us. Maybe start a church or something. One where everyone could be safe. One where the true heart of Christ prevailed. Where sinners could walk in and know that only he among us without sin would cast the first stone. I sent Jocelyn ahead of me after we closed on the house. I stayed back to finalize the sale of our previous home. When I heard about the first murder, I rushed out here. Not sure what an old man could have done, but I’m still a husband. I felt the urge to protect my wife.”
Shocked, Alex couldn’t find the words to respond. Sitting quiet, he absorbed the words Highland had just spoken. Rationalizing, organizing. Trying to make sense of it all. Trying to determine what was real and what was garbage. Trying – failing – to read Highland’s face, his intentions.
When Chief Steelman sat down next to him, Alex startled back to reality.
“Pastor Highland, your story sounds great and all,” Chief Steelman said, “but it sounds a tad convenient for me.”
“All I can tell you is that we had decided to stop chasing this guy. We agreed we were just getting too old. We wanted a more peaceful life and, frankly, we wanted a place to call our own.”
“You have kids?” Steelman asked.
Without answering, Highland looked down, scratched his nose, looked toward the dresser drawers which were closed.
Standing, he approached the dresser drawer.
As nervous eyes considered his every move, Highland reached for the bottom drawer. Kneeling down, Highland opened the drawer and sighed.
Following his lead, Alex got up. Walking toward the dresser, Alex stood just behind Highland’s left shoulder.
When Pastor Highland’s shoulders began to quiver, Alex bent down beside him. Placing a hand on the older man’s back, Alex remained silent. In his hands, Pastor Highland held a wrinkled photograph. Alex couldn’t see it very well, but could tell that it was obviously quite old.
Leaning forward, Alex struggled to see the five by seven photograph. When Highland looked toward him, tears had filled his eyes. Handing Alex the photograph, a low, mournful sob escaped his throat.
As Alex took the worn photo in his gentle grasp, Highland’s entire body seemed to collapse into itself. Wrapping his arms tightly around himself, Pastor Highland began to cry even louder.
Looking at the photo, Alex recognized the younger versions of Mr. and Mrs. Highland. In the studio photograph, the two smiling faces seemed to lack the slight care worn expressions that the older Highlands possessed. Next to Mr. Highland, positioned immediately in front of the younger version of his wife, sat a young girl. A brunette, whose complexion was almost identical to her young mother’s, though her eyes were unmistakably those of Pastor Highland.
“Ellie,”
When Alex didn’t respond, Highland looked up. His tear-filled eyes met Alex’s stare.
“Elizabeth Josephine Highland. We named her after—“
“Two characters from Little Women.” Alex finished.
As his quivering chest locked in whatever words he was about to speak, Highland bit his bottom lip, nodded.
Looking up, Alex saw the Chief standing over him. He passed Alex a confused look.
“I read a lot as a kid,” Alex said, “And I grew up with a female cousin that was like a sister. She shared my love of literature. So, I often read her books.”
Turning his attention back to Highland, Alex put a hand on his back, squeezed his shoulder.
“What happened?” Alex asked, his voice softer than he’d heard it in some time. Handing the picture back to Pastor Highland, Alex waited for a reply. When it seemed certain Highland was not going to be able to respond, Alex attempted to fill in the gaps as best he could.
“When?”
Wiping his eyes, Pastor Highland fought for composure. Sniffling, he reached into his back pocket, pulled out a handkerchief. Blowing his nose, once, twice, three times, Highland sighed.
“She was eight in the photo. It was the last photo we would ever take as a family. Just over a year later, doctors found what they thought was a very rare form of leukemia. They treated it as best they could, but they didn’t have nearly the advances they have now. At the time, I wasn’t a pastor, mind you. I was just me. Death came quickly for Ellie. Quicker than I expected. Quicker than my wife could handle. She suffered a nervous breakdown afterwards. It was years rebuilding her. Therapy, prayer and just new scenery. Sometimes, I wonder if that’s the reason we never can seem to be able to put down roots. Old habits die hard.”
Pastor Highland stopped, wiped a hand across his mouth.
“You don’t have to do this right now.”
Shaking his head, Pastor Highland’s quivering voice broke as he continued, “You don’t—,” He cleared his throat. “You need to hear this. I need you to understand. At first, I thought I’d lost my wife to her grief. As I began to study the Bible, I began to pray. As I began to pray, I began to see. I began to discover things that I’d never known before. Things about myself. Things about the universe. Soon, I began to see shades of the old Jocelyn. As I read to her, talked to her, loved on her, she began to come back to me. And that is when we decided the best way to really rid ourselves of grief was to help others. We volunteered at hospitals at first, but that seemed to make both of us worse. Doctors couldn’t do anything for those kids. One kid, sometime around 1974, maybe ’75, was born with Spina Bifida. We were in Joliet at the time. I don't know what happened to him, but doctors gave up on him. Should have seen the doctors face when the parents confidently declared God had a plan for their son. You know, He probably did. Whether or not the boy lived, I can’t say, but I realized something that day. God had a plan for Ellie. And He still had a plan for Jocelyn and I.
Oh, we sear
ched and searched for a better way to serve. Maybe it was selfish of me to avoid those painful circumstances. I don’t know. Maybe that is where God originally planned for us to be and we just proved too unwilling. But, when God closes one door, He opens another. That’s exactly what it was. Oh, before the age of computers it was a tad more difficult. But we managed. We’d go to the seediest places in town. Into the bowels of Hell from time to time. And we’d try to rescue girls out of the life. We used our pain to show them God had a plan for their lives and it didn’t involve selling themselves for money. One girl in Houston got it better than any other girl before. She said she owed it to us to live the life our daughter was denied. Painfully, she was the first to die, that we know of.”
“Why the disguise?” Alex asked. “Why hide your identity?”
“Good Samaritan rule we sort of decided on a long time ago. We always hid our appearance in some way. Sometimes we used fake names. Not always. Just our way of paying it forward as they say. If these girls were honored by our assistance, they could do likewise. Pay it forward. I just wish—”
Taking a deep breath, Pastor Highland did not seem to be done with his story. Not wanting to cause the man any deeper pain, Alex stayed quiet, let the words digest inside himself.
“Alex? It began in Texas. Let it end here. Please. Promise me you will get this guy. Promise me.”
“I promise you that we are going to do everything in our power to get this guy.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Highland said, his voice suddenly filled with resolution. “Promise me. Promise Ellie.”
“Promise Marisol.”
When Shelley’s voice sounded, Alex jumped back, turned and met the tear-filled eyes of not only Shelley but Tara, Josh, Reggie and Alyson.
“We’ll get the guy that did this, Pastor.” Josh declared. “You have my word on it.”
Extending his hand, Highland smiled a weak smile toward Alex.
“Help an old man off the floor?”
Standing erect, Alex’s knees crackled.
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