The Priest Who Ate a Poison Petit Four

by Kee Patterbee

  Looking over at his wife, while everyone was chatting, Hym kissed her forehead. “What’s got you down, Sherlock? It’s almost over.””

  “Yeah, but not soon enough. What if they can’t find her? What if she doesn’t confess?”

  “They will. She will. Besides, we have enough to tell the Reverend that all is clear for Susan and Calvin. That was the promise, right? To find the truth and give him some relief? So technically, you’re done. One more night here, we talk to the Reverend, and then we get to move on.”” Hym glanced around the table, watching Magdalen chat with Papa Jay, and Buster with Gran. He gave a smile. “Besides, we’re with family.” He paused as Buster laughed and turned to wink at Magdalen. She returned the same. Hym chuckled. “And future family I’m guessing. We’re all good here, Ms. Miles.””

  “But this whole mess. We should be wherever you were taking me by now. Doing what you’re supposed to do on a honeymoon.”

  Hym half laughed. “You mean pigging out on food and staring into each other’s eyes while the sound of the ocean whips about? Lying in bed eating strange shaped cakes while some kind of doll watches over?”

  “Well, not so much lying in bed.” All the sudden, Hannah’s face lit up a bit. “Oh. A clue. The ocean? A cruise? Where too?”

  Hym cocked his head sideways and grinned. “Not saying another word, but this is where we are tonight. You made a promise. Tomorrow, you get to fulfill it.”

  “I made you one too.”

  “You’ll keep it. That’s my promise to you.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  Hannah leaned in for a kiss. The two did not notice the silence that fell across the table. When they pulled away and turned, all present were staring at them.

  Buster grinned and looked over to Gran. “Uh, is that offer for the RV still open.”

  “I think we have room,” the elder Starvling said with a smirk. “You’ll have to deal with old grumpus here’s snoring, but I’ve dealt with it for an eternity. You’ll be fine.”

  “My snoring?” Papa Jay sounded off. “Just last week, nosy butt here was cutting logs so loud, the sheriff from two counties over knocked on the door and told her to pipe down.””

  “Oh, hush you. He’s eating garlic again. We all might have to sleep outside.”

  Everyone laughed at the exchange as Gran pulled Papa Jay in for a makeup smooch. It lightened the mood of the room.

  “It’s alright, guys. This is not our official honeymoon.”

  “Doesn’t mean nothing’s going to happen,” Gran insisted with a knowing look.

  Papa Jay crossed his arms. “Woman, leave the girl be. It’ll happen when it happens if it happens. You looming over like an old vulture ain’t gonna help nothing. You got a dog and a cat. Should be enough things to dote after.”

  “And you. It isn’t the same though, and you know it. Although, I do feed you and you do burp a lot.”

  As the exchange started up again to everyone’s amusement, Hannah’s phone rang again. She glanced over the name and answered.

  “Hey, did you see Janus?”

  “We’re on our way there now. Are you sitting down?”

  Hannah looked up. Everyone continued to listen to the elder Starvlings’ jibes toward one another. Seeing this, she turned back to the conversation. “I am.”

  “Mary didn’t just take on the last name of Ridden. She started going by her middle name.”

  Rather than wait for the dramatic reveal, Hannah jumped right in. “Which was?”

  “Ruth. Ruth Ridden.”

  Hannah sat up straight and stiffened at the name. She said nothing this time, waiting; half hoping that what came next was what had just crossed her mind.

  “She married Gabriel Wormwood. That means---”

  “She’s Janus’ twin,” Hannah half yelled in excitement.

  “Bada boom, bada bing.”

  Everyone at the table stopped talking and turned to look at Hannah. She pointed to the phone and mouthed, “I’ll explain in a minute.”

  “There’s more. I ran across an article in a business journal about Gabriel and Ruth. It was about Wormwood International and a foundation for children that they set up. He was a quiet man not prone to interviewing, but Ruth Wormwood liked the attention it seems. A couple of things stood out. One, her true family originated in Zebulon.”

  Hannah’s eyes narrowed a slight bit as she took in a breath.

  “Two, she mentioned that her father could not handle the death of her mother and took to drinking. He couldn’t hold a job and ended up putting his children up for adoption. Thus, when she had the means, she set up the One Family Foundation. It lists as having two goals. Care to guess what they are?”

  “To keep children together as a family.”

  “And?”

  “Assuring families who take them on are suitable for the job.”

  “Dead on.”

  A knowing look crept across Hannah’s face.

  “And last, her mother was a housekeeper who died of sudden cardiac arrest.”

  Hannah let out a long breath and nodded.

  “Still want me to go see him?”

  The sleuth did not answer right off. Cate said nothing. Instead, she just waited. After a moment, Hannah came back.

  “Yeah, I think that could still be of some use. Feel him out and see if he knows where his sister is, but be careful. After what they went through as kids and the trouble he went to find her, I assume he’ll be protective.”

  “Agreed. We should be there in just a couple of minutes. I’ll call you when we're done. Let me know if anything else pops up.”

  “Will do. Love you.”

  “Love you too. Bye.”

  Hannah clicked off the phone and looked up to see curious faces.

  “What?” Gran demanded.

  “You’re not going to believe this.”

  *****

  Three hours later, Hannah lay with her head on Hym’s chest. Though the events of the case were almost behind her, she could not sleep.

  “What’s the matter, Sherlock,” Hym asked in a half awake tone.

  “Nothing. Go back to sleep.”

  “Can’t. I can hear you thinking.”

  “No, you can’t.”

  “I can and it’s loud. What’s on your mind?”

  “Cate.”

  Hym drew his arm out and stroked her hair. He took in and let out a breath. His yes crept open and he yawned. “Is something wrong with her? She’s not sick again is she?”

  “No, but she didn’t call back.”

  “Maybe she got busy and forgot. Or she and Al were going out. They have lives you know.”

  “She’s never late and she never forgets to call back.”

  “What time is it?”

  Hannah rolled over and looked at her phone. “Ten forty five.”

  “Well, you could call. It’s not that late. Even if she’s asleep, wake her. She might be grumpy but she knows you and will understand.””

  Hannah considered Hym’s solution. Though she, herself, was not one pleasant when woken in the middle of sleep, her best friend was the opposite. “Cate always wakes up on the right side of the bed,” Hannah recalled Buster saying about his adoptive cousin. She decided it was worth the effort. She dialed the number and waited. It went to voice mail. Clicking off, Hannah stared at the phone.

  “Didn’t answer?” Hym asked, his voice more awake.

  “No.” Hannah thought for a moment more. “I’m worried.””

  “Yeah, I kind of got that. Why?”

  “Just my gut. Maybe it’s off.”

  Hym sat up and slid over to the edge of the bed to sit beside his wife. He slid his arm around her and gave a concerned look. “Your gut instinct, huh? Have you tried Al’s?”

  Hannah dialed again. After it rang several times, she held it up for Hym to listen. His eyes narrowed a bit.

  “Voice mail.” Hym scratched at his chin. “Well, it is early, but you’d think one of them
would answer, if only because of that reason. What do you want to do? I could call Twilight General, and see if they’ve had any emergency admissions.”

  Hannah swallowed hard. The thought that she had sent them to see the twin of a suspected killer crossed her mind. Though he purported himself to be a religious man, she knew that this did not mean he acted as such.

  “We don’t have many options. You call them. I’ll call Chief Malloy and see if he can send one of his men over to check out the cabin.””

  Hym gave Hannah a questioning expression. “He’ll do that for you?”

  “I’ve done him a few favors, so he still owes me.”

  “Of course he does. What was I thinking?”

  Both husband and wife picked up their phones. After some quick internet searches, they found numbers and dialed. Though unhappy about the hour, Malloy, as predicted, agreed to send over a patrol car to the Janus’ rented cabin. Hym reported no admissions to the local emergency room. Hym eyed the small coffee maker in the hotel room. “I’ll make some,” he said picking up the pot. “It’s going to be a bit before they get back to you I’d imagine.”

  A half hour later, after Hannah finished off her second cup, her phone sounded. She grabbed it and put it on speaker so Hym could listen in. The voice of an older gentleman came on.

  “Hannah, its Paul. Listen, I sent a car out like you asked. Your friend Alvin Hayes was inside.”

  Hannah’s eyes widen and she gulped in air, trying to breathe. Malloy’s next words seemed an eternity in coming.

  “Someone tied him up. Gagged and blindfolded him, too. They also stunned him at some point, but otherwise, he’s okay. They took him to the hospital just to check for sure, but your other friend…”

  “Cate.”

  By this time, Hannah’s legs were growing weak. She staggered back and almost fell, but Hym managed to steady her.

  “Yes. This Janus fellow took her. Do you have any idea why he would just take her? Or where he would?”

  Hannah let out a burst of air. Her hand came to her chest as Hym helped move her to the edge of the bed.

  “Hannah?” Malloy asked. “You there?”

  “I…I am. I don’t know for sure. She’s been helping me on this case.””

  “You said this was about an investigation when you called earlier, but give me details.”

  Hannah gave a nervous, brief summation of the case to the Twilight police chief. He said nothing but listened until she finished.

  “Okay. Well, you said this Sheriff Borden already had an APB out on this woman, Ruth Wormwood. I did the same for Raymond Janus. Law enforcement across the state is looking for him and Ms. Jordan. I’d imagine from what you just told me that he’’s headed to wherever his sister is.”

  “But we don’t know where she is,” Hannah responded in a despondent tone.

  There was a silence on the line for a moment before Malloy continued. His voice was sympathetic.

  “I know, but there’s not much more we can do until we find them. Just stay put and I’ll keep you apprised.”

  “Will do. Thank you, Paul.”

  “Always, Hannah.”

  The line clicked off.

  Hym, who again sat beside his wife on the bed looked over at her but said nothing. He reached over, pulled her into his arms, and held her as tears hit his arms.

  “I don’t know what to do,” Hannah said, near sobbing. “For the first time in forever, I don’t know what to do.”

  Hym pushed her from his chest and looked straight into her eyes. “You get dressed. We go tell Buster and Magdalen, then Sindee and Jayland. We get in touch with Al and make sure he’s okay. Then we start figuring out where this jackass took our friend.””

  Hannah gave Hym a hug and agreed.

  *****

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Ten minutes later, Hym and Hannah headed down the hall to Buster and Magdalen’s room. They had checked into the same hotel, much to the consternation of Gran. Papa Jay informed his wife that “Until this resolved, ain’t nothing gonna happen no how” and “to get over it.” Rather than argue the point, Gran acquiesced.

  After rousing Buster and Magdalen, Hannah informed them of the situation. Buster, hearing that his adoptive cousin was now hostage responded with contained fury. Upon hearing the news, the large framed, handsome actor rose to his feet and clenched his fists into solid balls. In a methodical, calculated voice, he said, “If he hurts her……in any way…I will kill him.” He then stepped away to look out the window. Hannah walked over beside him and stared out into the night as well. For a while, Hym and Magdalen sat on the edge of the bed watching the two. After a while, Buster readjusted his stance. “I’m not kidding. Prison, no prison. I don’t care.”

  Hannah reached over, took hold of his hand, and squeezed. “I know you’re not. Just one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I get to help.”

  Buster agreed with a nod.

  Hannah gave one more squeeze of the hand. “Now, get dressed. We need to wake Gran and Papa Jay. Let them know. I also need to get in touch with Sheriff Borden. Then we call Al.” She glanced down at Buster’s boxer shorts. “Rocket ships?”

  “Yeah. Some days, even my lucky underwear doesn’t help.”

  Though the circumstances seemed dire, Buster’s remark made her give a half chuckle. If nothing else, Hannah thought, he always makes me laugh.

  *****

  After giving Papa Jay a call and waking them, the elder Starvling agreed to pick the four up at the hotel. A short time after doing that, the group, all gathered in the Starvling’s RV, which Papa Jay parked in front of the Medical Center. Borden soon joined the group inside. Stepping in, Hannah apologized for waking him.

  “Are you kidding me? The only real police work I get to do for the most part is track down stolen farm equipment or break up brawls after the football games.” Taking in the spacious interior of the RV, the lawman also commented that he was ““in the wrong business.”

  Inside, everyone gathered around a small center table. Buster sat petting the jet-black cat, Casper. Papa Jay held the Yorkie named Gigantor. Gran sat next to him, petting the small canine, and Hazelnut lay between Hym and Hannah on seat along the vehicle’s wall. Borden stood just to the side of all. An uneasy truce existed between the beasts as the rest listened to the phone.

  “Just a stun gun,” Al said. “Two small burn marks is all. But Cate…”

  “We’re working on that,” Hannah informed. “Trying to find out why he took her. I need you to give every detail that you can remember.”

  All could hear as Al let out a breath. Hannah could tell from his voice that he was on edge. Cate was Hannah’s best friend, and Buster’s adoptive cousin. However, it was Al that she was in love with, and he with her. Hannah recalled how she felt when a murderer took Hym hostage during a case early in their relationship. It about killed me, she noted. He’s feeling helpless. She tried to reassure the man.

  “Al, I will do everything I can for her.”

  “I know you will.” He cleared his throat.

  “Okay, listen to me. I need every detail so, as strange as this is going to sound, I need you to close your eyes and try to relax.”

  “You’re trying to hypnotize him?” Borden responded in a disbelieving voice.

  “No, just helping him recall. Trust me.”

  “Can do.”

  After a pause, Hannah began.

  “Breathe deeply through your nose. Let it out through your mouth. Three times. Then begin. Picture it in your mind. Brief, short sentences. Tell us what happened. Remember every word.”

  “Okay, we pulled up. Knocked on the door. Father Janus came to the door. We explained who we were. He asked us in.”

  “How did he act?” Hannah inquired.

  “Uhmm. Nervous, but friendly.”

  “Good. Keep going.”

  “He offered us a seat. Went to the kitchen and came back with two table chairs. I sat on
the left. Cate on the right.”

  “Where did Janus sit?”

  “Across the way from us on the couch. Cate asked him about Ruth Wormwood.”

  “Did he seem upset at the mention of her name?”

  “No, he just looked at her, and then she asked if it were his sister. He squirmed a bit and asked how she knew that. She said you asked her to look into him. I think it made him mad. His expression changed. Angry like. He demanded to know where you were. Cate said you were in Happiness, checking on Whipson. That’s when I blacked out.”

  “He zapped you.”

  “No, someone else did from behind.”

  Hym leaned back and crossed his arms. “Well, we know where Wormwood went.”

  “You didn’t hear anything else?” Hannah asked Al.

  “No, next thing I knew, I found myself tied to the chair, blindfolded. I think Cate was gone. I couldn’t hear her. Couldn’t hear anybody. I sat there for a long time.””

  “How long?”

  “Two hours, maybe. I heard a car pull up. I tried to free myself but just managed to tip myself over. Then this officer untied me, asking if I was okay.”

  Hannah wiggled her nose for a second before answering back. “Alright, now listen to me. Stay by the phone in case they call or in case she finds a way to. Chief Malloy will want to put a trace on your phone. Let him. It’s pointless to tell you to relax, so just be strong. I’’ll let you know the minute I hear something. You do the same for me.”

  “Alright.” Another pause crossed the space. “Take care of her.”

  Hannah produced a sympathetic smile. “I will.” With that, she hung up.

  Everyone sat staring at the phone. The frown on Buster’s face told Hannah of his increasing frustration and anger at the situation. Magdalen, looking to Buster, told of concern for her newfound love. Gran held hands with Papa Jay. Her concentration meant she was contemplating the case. Papa Jay’s grimace bore the same meaning as Buster’s. Hym’s visage told of concern for Cate, Magdalen, and Whipson, but in particular, for her. She wondered if what they saw in her expression revealed itself. Fear. Out and out, one hundred percent fear. Looking around the room and thinking of Cate, it came to her just how blessed of a life she led. Loving family, friends, and a wonderful new husband. She could not bear the thought of losing any one of them.