by Ingrid Thoft
“So I can see your shining face during the drive.”
Haley pointed at Chad behind the cover of the front seat and mouthed a question: Who is he?
“Long story. I’ll tell you later. What’s going on with you?”
Haley shrugged. “Nothing.”
“We should hang out,” Fina said, letting the non-answer slide for the moment.
“Will he be joining us?” Haley asked under her breath.
“Do you want him to?”
Haley snorted, as only pigs and teenagers can.
They pulled up to the house, and Haley moved to open the door, but Fina stopped her.
“Chad,” Fina said. “Do you mind giving us a minute?”
The bodyguard climbed out, and Fina turned to look at Haley. “You didn’t answer my question: What’s going on with you? Why are you spending so much time at Risa’s?”
“She doesn’t mind,” Haley insisted.
“You’re right, she doesn’t, but we’re both worried about you.”
“You don’t need to be.”
Fina shrugged. “Can’t help it.”
Haley studied Chad, who was leaning against the driver’s-side window, gazing into the distance. “Don’t know what to tell you.”
“I know that having your father around is bad,” Fina ventured. “It upsets me, and I have less reason to be angry with him than you do.”
Haley watched two squirrels battle for a moment before scurrying up a tree. “Apparently you can do whatever you want in this family,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Especially if you’re a boy,” Fina added. “It’s good to be a Ludlow male, but I am trying to change that. I promise you, Haley, I’m doing everything I can to make your father go away.”
They sat in silence. Fina was opening her mouth when her niece blurted out a question. “Do Gammy and Pap think I made it all up?” It came out strangled, as if the question had to fight its way into existence.
Fina shook her head. “Pap doesn’t think you made it up. He just has a funny way of showing he believes you.” She reached out and took hold of Haley’s hand. “I honestly don’t know what Gammy thinks. You may not have noticed, but we don’t get along very well.”
“Really?” Haley asked, wiping a tear from her cheek. “I never noticed.”
The front door opened, and Patty waved from the threshold. Fina waved back.
“I should go,” her niece said, reaching once again for the door.
“I love you, Haley. We’re going to figure this out.”
“Love you, too.”
She gave her niece a hug and watched the front door close behind her. Fina climbed into the front passenger seat as Chad took his place behind the wheel.
“That was my niece,” she told him.
He nodded.
“Families are so complicated, Chad.”
He nodded.
At least Dennis had sent her the strong, silent type.
EIGHTEEN
Pastor Greg had felt irritable since yesterday’s visit from Fina. One of his strengths was his ability to read people and figure out how to influence them. It wasn’t that hard to do if you were willing to make the effort. Most people just wanted attention. They wanted someone to hear what they had to say. Looking at another person, looking into their eyes and tuning out the rest of the world—if even for a few brief moments—was enough to win over most folks. Coupled with their desire for divine intervention and eternal life, Greg rarely met a person he couldn’t bring around to his way of thinking.
But that wasn’t the case with Fina Ludlow. She was headstrong and focused and not the least bit concerned with the state of her soul. She was impervious to worries about the afterlife, and she didn’t seem to care if Greg liked her. Maybe this was because she was an attractive woman or from a rich family or maybe it was just the way the good Lord had made her. Greg found it frustrating.
Tonight was Prayer Group night, when members who wanted extra enrichment broke into smaller groups and studied scripture. The groups were delineated by age and/or gender and led by a member of the leadership committee. Greg floated among the groups, providing counsel and support. It was a good way for him to have face time with the congregants without getting too involved with anyone in particular.
He was late to the gathering, having been delayed by a phone call in his office, and when he arrived in the parish hall, the groups were huddled in clusters, deep in conversation. He scanned the room, and wandered over to the forty-plus men’s group that Lucas was leading. Greg listened to the conversation, offered a few lines of scripture and some pats on the back, and moved on to the next clump of congregants.
He visited two more groups before arriving at the young adults, which included eighteen- to thirty-year-olds. Greg had created this age bracket because he felt the younger members needed particular attention and a sense of identity. Having close friends at the church established accountability among them and helped keep them on the straight and narrow.
There were ten young adults gathered in a circle tonight, seven men and three women, and Greg was surprised to see that Gabby was leading the group. He pulled up a chair, and she smiled at him. A young man named Casey, sitting on Gabby’s right, was reading a passage. Greg listened with the others and studied his wife. She was leaning toward Casey, their heads practically touching. The edges of her mouth were raised in a slight smile, and her thickly mascaraed lashes blinked slowly, like an animated doe. She was wearing jeans and a sweater that clung to her breasts.
When the reading was complete, Gabby looked at Greg.
“Pastor, could you share some of your wisdom on the subject of suffering?”
Greg took a deep breath. “‘Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.’ Romans 8:17.” Greg gazed at each member. “Sometimes you have to make hard choices, and those choices are painful, but your suffering is holy and sacred. Don’t ever think that it is without purpose.”
“This is a good time to take a break,” Gabby said.
The young people stood and drifted over to a table of refreshments. Gabby got up and stretched back, pulling the fabric of her sweater even tighter across her chest.
“Gabby,” Greg said in a warning tone, staring at her.
She stood up straight and dropped her arms to her side. “Relax, Greg. You’ve seen it before.”
He stood next to her. “I don’t think that outfit is appropriate.”
She looked down at herself as if she needed a reminder as to what she was wearing. “Why not? Prayer Group is supposed to be more casual. I thought we wanted to encourage members to come and not feel they have to dress up.”
“I’m not talking about the level of informality. I’m talking about how tight it is.”
Gabby folded her arms across her body in what looked like a show of defiance. Her mouth was set, and she fixed her gaze beyond Greg.
“Don’t be like that,” he said. “You need to model modesty. You know that.”
“Fine. Is it all right if I get a snack now?” she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.
“Not yet. Why are you leading this group? I thought Sue was in charge of the young adults.”
“She is, but she had a commitment tonight. I offered to fill in for her.”
Laughter emanated from the refreshment table, where a few of the members were engaged in animated conversation.
“Next time, I’ll fill in for her,” Greg said.
“That’s not necessary, honey. I know you’ve got better things to do with your time.”
“I can’t think of anything better than nurturing the youngest members of our congregation.” He put an arm around her, pulling her into a tight embrace.
• •
•
Chad spent fifteen minutes evaluating Fina’s apartment, which was twelve minutes more than necessary.
She was sitting at the table checking e-mail when he emerged from her bedroom.
“All clear,” he declared.
“Great.”
“I don’t see any points of entry or exit other than the front door.”
“It’s a high-rise, Chad. I could have told you that.”
He walked over to the front door. “These locks look good.”
“I had them installed after the break-in. I feel very safe here.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“You should go home. I’m not planning on going out again tonight.” That said, if she needed to go out, she wouldn’t hesitate, beyond checking that her gun was loaded.
“If your plans change, just call me. I can get here in half an hour.”
“They won’t. I’m going to do a little work and hit the hay.”
“What’s the schedule for tomorrow?” he asked.
“I have no idea.”
“What time do you want me here?”
“I have no idea.”
He frowned.
“I’m not trying to be difficult,” she said. “I honestly don’t know. Why don’t I give you a call when I get up?”
“Okay.” He looked around the room as if he was searching for something, but he wasn’t sure what.
Fina got up and walked to the front door. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks.”
“Sure. Have a good night.”
She grabbed some leftover Vietnamese food and a diet soda from the fridge. A show on law enforcement in the Yukon kept her company while she ate and gave her a dose of perspective; at least she didn’t have to worry about bears and avalanches. After a long, hot shower, Fina called it a day and snuggled up for a good night’s sleep with her gun.
• • •
Prayer Group wound down, and only a handful of congregants remained in the parish hall. Gabby was off to one side speaking with some young women when Greg spotted Lucas at the picked-over refreshments.
“Great leadership tonight, Lucas,” he told the man, patting him on the back. Lucas was selecting a cookie, but he retracted his hand into his pocket like a turtle into its shell.
“Thank you, Pastor. I’m glad you could join us.”
“Spending time with our members really is a divine gift. Is Heather here tonight?”
Lucas shook his head. “We’ve been having some challenges at home, and we thought it best she stay with the girls.”
Greg softened his features in a look of concern. “Nothing serious, I hope.”
“No, no. Nothing to worry about.”
Gabby threw back her head and laughed on the other side of the room.
Greg took a cup from a stack and filled it with coffee. “I noticed you and Gabby having what looked like a serious conversation the other day,” he said, avoiding Lucas’s gaze as he doctored the beverage.
“Really? I don’t remember.”
“Yes, on Tuesday.”
“I’m sure it was some church business.”
“Of course. I just wanted to make sure there wasn’t anything I needed to know about—church business, I mean.”
“Not that I know of, Pastor.”
“That’s good to hear. I tell you,” Greg said, gesturing toward his wife with the cup, “when she gets going, it’s hard to get her to stop yapping.”
“Heather’s the same way,” Lucas said.
“Gabby, darling,” Greg hollered playfully, “we need to get going.”
She hugged the women good-bye and came over to Greg.
“Here I am,” she said.
“We’ll see you later, Lucas,” Greg said, squeezing his shoulder.
“Good night, Pastor. Gabby.”
The Gatchells left the room, and Lucas surveyed the table. The pastor’s coffee was barely touched on the white paper tablecloth. Lucas plucked two cookies from the plate and left the rest of the mess behind.
• • •
Fina got up at six thirty the next morning and pulled on some workout clothes. Her rapid metabolism had always been a safeguard against unwanted weight gain, even with her questionable diet. But as she aged, and as she faced threats to her well-being, Fina had started to value being in good fighting form. That wasn’t just a turn of phrase for her—it was a necessity.
She climbed the stair mill for twenty minutes, then did some strength training before heading upstairs. Ceci Renard called asking if Fina could meet her for breakfast at the Taj. Breakfast at a luxury hotel was one definition of heaven on earth in Fina’s book, so they arranged to meet at 9:30 a.m. She called Chad and gave him the scoop and spent the time before his arrival reviewing Nadine Quaynor’s files.
She sorted through the fragments of an average life: old rental car agreements, reading lists, brochures from her health insurance plan, product warranties, and the like. The minutes from both the Covenant Rising leadership committee and the neighborhood association made for more interesting reading, and it didn’t take long for a central theme to emerge: Nadine Quaynor was a pain in the ass. In the leadership committee, she asked countless questions and seemed to disagree with just about every committee member at one time or another. It wasn’t that her questions weren’t valid, just that her relentless pursuit of information was tiresome. If it was this irritating on the page, Fina could only imagine what it was like in person.
The neighborhood association meeting notes had a similar tone, minus the interruptions of scripture and prayer. The agenda items fell into two broad categories: upkeep/improvements and social events. Nadine had an opinion on most matters and seemed to play devil’s advocate even if she abandoned the position before much discussion had taken place. It was as if she couldn’t help herself. Her neighbors must have found her maddening, but perhaps Ronnie McCaffrey could shed some light on that.
Chad arrived, and they drove to the Taj with Fina in the driver’s seat. They found a meter on Newbury Street, and Fina spotted Ceci as soon as they stepped into the elegant café.
“I don’t like that table,” Chad said, as they made their way to a round table in the bow window.
Fina exhaled out her nose. “No one can beat me up through glass. Shoot me, maybe, but not beat me.”
“It’s not good to be on display like that.”
“I’m fine with it. Good morning, Ceci,” she said as they reached the table.
“Good morning, Fina.” She looked at Chad expectantly.
“This is my colleague Chad, and he’s going to be sitting over there.” Fina pointed to a table across the room that gave him a good line of sight.
“You’re welcome to join us,” Ceci said to him.
“He’s good,” Fina said, giving him a gentle nudge in the direction of his table. “Order whatever you want. It’s on me.”
She and Ceci took seats on the thick brocaded chairs and perused the menu. Ceci ordered black coffee, but Fina declined, opting for OJ instead. She had the whole rest of the day to drink unwanted beverages.
“Are you training him?” Ceci asked, looking toward Chad, who had settled at the table and was scanning the room.
“No. He’s my security detail.”
“A bodyguard?”
“Essentially. It’s actually kind of silly, but there’s been a threat, and I’m trying to take it seriously.”
“Is it because of Chloe’s case?”
“I’m not sure,” Fina said. “But it’s nothing for you to worry about. Contrary to appearances, I can take care of myself.”
They placed their orders, and Fina sipped her orange juice.
“I got a call from my financial adviser,” Ceci said. “Chloe has been after him to provide paperwork for the bequest. Do you have anything that can
be used to interrupt the process?”
Fina shook her head. “I wish I did, but I don’t have anything conclusive to share at this point.”
“You have no idea who killed Nadine?”
“There are a few suspects, but nothing definitive. I can tell you that there was certainly more unrest and conflict at the church than I was initially led to believe.”
“What kind of conflict?”
Fina shook her head. “I’m still figuring that out, but it may have something to do with finances. There also seem to be some significant personality clashes.”
A plate of smoked salmon was placed in front of Ceci, and Fina’s taste buds smarted with the arrival of her challah French toast.
They took a couple of bites before Ceci spoke. “I had dinner with Chloe the other night.”
“And? How is she?”
“She’s upset about Nadine, and I thought maybe she had reconsidered the bequest since she didn’t mention it. Obviously, that’s not the case.”
“I’m sorry. I know that’s very distressing.”
Ceci smoothed the napkin in her lap. “It is. I’m so worried for her, but I also feel angry. That doesn’t seem right, does it?”
“She’s not doing what you want her to do, and you think she’s making a poor choice. No wonder you’re angry.”
“I have to fight the urge to shake her or yell at her to snap out of it. It was so much easier when she was younger and I could make her do things.”
“Nothing would please Pastor Greg more than you and Chloe falling out,” Fina said. “Keep that in mind when you feel that urge. These types of organizations strive to put a wedge between their members and the members’ support systems.”
“I suppose.” Ceci used a tiny fork to scoop capers onto a toast point, as Fina cut through her thick slice of syrup-drenched French toast. If being dainty were the goal, this would qualify as an epic fail.
“I’m confident that if there is dirt on Covenant Rising, I will find it,” she said. “I can’t promise that it will change Chloe’s mind, but it’s all we can do.”
Ceci nodded and accepted a coffee refill from the waiter.