Ellen looked at Henry. “Where did you get that cross?”
“What?” asked Henry, his eyes narrowing.
“I need to know where you got that. Each victim had one. That makes the crosses a common thread.”
Henry’s eyes began to dart side to side as he moved closer to The Father.
The Father patted Henry on the arm, his eyes full of compassion, then he stepped toward Ellen. “I can tell you where they came from. I give one to every person who makes a profession to change their life. I want it to remind them that change isn’t easy, but God will help. To give them something that builds inner strength for the difficult journey ahead.”
“Everyone? Could someone have stolen one?”
The Father stood a bit taller. “That’s not likely. I keep them in a safe place in my office. Only a few people know about them They’re real silver. Besides, I trust God to keep them for His purpose.”
Brice stepped beside her. “You mentioned that you’d lost too many members already. What did that mean?”
“Just what I said. We have transients, of course. People who say one thing and do another. They mean well, but sometimes the devil has them deep in his hand. They move on. I recognize those people. The children I’m speaking of, the people that really want to change, they come back. They ask for help.
“Recently, we’ve lost four of them. That’s why I sent Henry and Glen out to Cheryl’s place.”
“What do you mean lost?” asked Brice.
“You know what I mean. Do you think that the police have the only hotline to what happens in the underbelly of this city? Of course I knew we lost Ramona and Ben.”
He bowed his head. “And we know of the two young women found at the cemetery today. Their names were Gloria and Stephanie. My staff and I had been working with them to give them tools they needed to break away from the disgusting world they called home.”
Ellen watched The Father speak and sensed his honesty and even wisdom. He knew what he was talking about. Somehow, that gave her a comfort. Knowing that Joel had spoken to this man, and that he had, at least on some level, trusted him, was a plus.
Finding out your ex, who was still your ex, had drug addiction issues that probably led to his murder had been far from her mind a couple of hours ago. It rains on everyone. But she never expected that storm.
Ellen cleared her mind. She’d think about all of that in the days and months ahead. But for now, they had leads and had to get to work.
“We’ll need all the information you have on all of the victims, Father. And we’ll want to question your staff. I hope you won’t force us to get warrants,” said Brice.
“We will not. We are on your side.” He frowned that knowledge frown again. “I’ve lost many people over the years, so this isn’t new. Yet, I can’t stop from losing a piece of my heart when it happens.”
“I understand,” said Brice softly.
She touched Brice on the arm then nodded to Bella. “You two are the detectives here. You don’t need me to do the follow up on all this information. Not yet, anyway.”
She picked up her case from the sidewalk. “Marcie’s crew will process the other murder scene inside the apartment. Right now, I need Henry to take me to where you met up with this suspect. I can’t wait any longer. The more we can learn about this guy, the better chance we have to put him away.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Big Harv.
“I think you should stay with us,” said Bella, smiling. “You’re retired, like old people do, but you might be able to help, if you remember how to do investigations, that is.”
“Old my ass. And now you want me to help you earn your damned pay check?” answered Big Harv, a twinkle in his eye.
“That’s right,” said Bella, blowing him a kiss.
“Sugar ain’t gonna help you here, Sanchez,” said Big Harv, the twinkle getting brighter.
Ellen loved to see that sparkle, even in these circumstances.
“We just want to get this guy. Now,” said Brice, a little of that cold, get to work flavor rising in his voice. “We need your help.”
“Relax, Brice. You’re right. I’ve got a couple of angles we need to explore as well.”
Brice sighed. “Sorry for the attitude, Cap. It’s not always gone. Thanks for helping.”
He turned to Ellen. “I’ll send a couple of blues with you just in case the lunatic comes back.” Then he kissed her.
She didn’t think his lips had ever been cold when he kissed her. Kisses like that, intentional or not, held meaning. For one short moment, she thought she was going to throw him on the ground and rip his clothes off. She wondered what Big Harv would think of that.
She turned back to the young man beside The Father.
“Henry?” asked Ellen.
“Yes. It’s this way.” He raised his arm to point, but never looked at her.
She stole another look at Henry’s shirt and jacket, taking in the blood on the jacket and then noticing a thin line of blood spatter running over his right shoulder. Not much, a few drops, but consistent with what she’d seen at other crime scenes.
Did he get that running into this other man? Maybe? Doubtful? She hid her frown to mask where her mind was heading.
It could be nothing. It could have happened like he said, right?
A second later, her phone began to vibrate in her pocket. Damn it. She’d forgotten to turn the ringer on after they got to the crime scene. Aaron may have been trying to call her with the results of the DNA test and she hadn’t realized it.
In an instant, her heart began to pound. He had something. She knew it.
“Aaron?”
“Ellie?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve been calling non-stop for ten minutes. I just left Brice and Bella and Big Harv messages to have you call me.”
“Why? Results from the blood test?”
“Maybe. Where are you?”
Her impatience flowered. “What difference does that make?”
“It just does.”
“I’m at part of the crime scene. Tell me why you called.”
“What? You’re processing Joel’s scene?”
“No. Not that area, Aaron. Good God, tell me why you’re calling.”
The following pregnant pause had reminded her of something that Hollywood did on its crime dramas to ramp up the tension in a revealing scene.
“Sorry. I finished the DNA processing and ran the chip through CODIS. At first, there was nothing, then it updated and we got a hit.”
“And?”
Before he could answer, three loud shots rang out in quick succession. Ellen felt Brice grab her, pulling her to the ground. But not before she saw a detective’s chest explode. Twice.