After the service, Viv and Rex made their way to the social hall. Rex nodded to the line of parishioners waiting to greet the pastor. Once it was their turn, the preacher extended his hand. He looked imposing, over six feet tall, shoulders back, his dark skin glowing with health. Black eyes assessed Rex first, then Viv. "Am I right to assume you're military?" he asked, turning back to Rex.
"Yes, sir," Rex answered. "Three tours in Afghanistan. Intel officer."
"I could see you casing the room from where I sat behind the pulpit." He nodded. Then he turned to Viv. "And how long have you two been married?"
"Oh, we're not married!" Viv held her hand out to shake his. "Just neighbors, as a matter of fact.”
"We live close. Down the way from here. At the Desert Tortoise Estates." Rex assumed his bland pose, making Viv smirk.
The admiral's eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute. Didn't I see you two at the HOA meeting just a few days ago?"
"Yes, you did," Rex said before Viv could answer. "We didn't get very far with the meeting, did we, what with the interference."
"And the body being found," Viv added.
"Between the sheets," Rex continued.
"I didn't go over to see for myself. I heard it was a man named Carmine Nelson. A friend of yours?" The concerned look on the pastor's face seemed genuine. But before he could inquire further, they were interrupted.
"Excuse me, pastor. Would you like a coffee?" A teenage girl, dressed in a bright yellow miniskirt and a top that showed her slim midriff, stood close by. Rex stepped back, allowing the teen some room to hand over the paper cup.
Must be nice having everyone at your beck and call.
He watched the admiral grimace after the first sip. "Reheated." His nostrils flared with distaste. "I need to have a word with the deacons."
Viv chimed in. "In answer to your question, I didn't know Carmine Nelson until I saw him that night…" she paused, searching for the right words, "…in bed." A flush came to her cheeks.
Rex smirked as the admiral looked away.
"We're thinking of joining a church," Rex said, coming to the rescue. He eased his hand to Viv's elbow to stop any denial that might come from her at his unexpected announcement.
The admiral looked surprised. "Is that so. Both of you are Episcopalians?"
"I am," Viv said.
"I'm a lapsed Catholic," Rex admitted.
The admiral's eyes shifted upward to look over Viv's shoulder. More people had lined up to greet him. "Maybe we can talk sometime this week," he said. "I can fill you in on our little congregation and add you to the email blasts. But for now…" He extended a hand to the woman standing behind Viv. "How are you today, Mrs. Lewis?"
Rex gestured with his head. "Want some coffee?" They walked away together.
Halfway to the reception table, Viv stopped. "Did you see his face after the first sip? No coffee for me either. Why don't we head back to my place and I'll fix you brunch."
"Absolutely. Your place. Sounds perfect." Rex beamed at her. He ushered her around a group of people talking, heading toward the parking lot. This time he took her hand without hesitation, his confidence returning.
Rex sat at the kitchen table, bending down to pet Miss Kitty. The cat purred, so he lifted her to his lap. His fingers idly stroked her fur as he watched Viv from behind. She stood on her tippy-toes to lean over the sink to open a window that faced the pool.
"Pancakes and bacon?" she asked him as soon as she turned around.
"Sounds good. I can help." He placed the cat back onto the floor to stand. "I'm not a great cook but I'm actually good at taking directions, if you give me a chance."
Once he'd fried bacon and she'd made a plate of fluffy blueberry pancakes, they sat down together. "Syrup?" She offered him the pitcher.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said. Pouring the gooey liquid over his stack of pancakes, he asked, "Did you see the pastor's shoes?"
"What a funny question. I did not," Viv admitted. "Just his black robe with the three stripes. I never thought to glance at his feet."
"You're not gonna believe this," Rex said after a bite. "But he was wearing Nikes. And not just any Nikes either, but the latest pair."
"Do you mean Nikes as in athletic shoes kind of Nikes?"
"Those are the ones. Air Jordan 5 Retro SE Craft style."
She looked at him, a curious expression on her face. "You know all about Bach's music and now it seems you are an expert on Nikes? You're a very intriguing man."
Rex preened, a sheepish smile on his lips. "Like I said—I know stuff."
She passed him the pitcher again. "Have the rest of the syrup and tell me why you think Admiral Daniels wears Nikes with his ecclesial robe."
"Now that, dear woman, is the question of the day. I can tell you it doesn't go with the rest of his persona. He's making a statement with those sneakers, you can just take my word for it."
"Oh, I do." Viv smiled. "But the question remains, why? The shoes may be a weird style choice, but I think it's more important that he admitted hearing of the victim, at least his name. Isn't that what we're investigating, his relationship with Carmine Nelson?”
"You remind me of my mother." Rex gestured with his empty fork.
She looked up in surprise. "You've never spoken of her."
"Oh, she passed ten years ago. You have the same way she did of cutting to the point. I go off the path and she'd bring me right back. Just like you did right now."
He lowered his fork. "Confidentially there was a brief moment when I thought of using my special skill set in…" he ducked his head in embarrassment, "…in ministry. I told Mom I wanted to be a priest because my catechism teacher kept saying that I had 'gifts of the spirit.'" He used air quotes.
Viv's eyebrows flew up. "I would never have guessed."
“And you know what Mom told me?” He cleared his throat to imitate a woman's voice. "You can't be a priest. They wear such terrible shoes."
Viv burst out laughing.
Running his fork over the last dribble of syrup, Rex lifted it to his mouth for a lick. He nodded toward the kitchen sink. "How about I help out with the dishes and then we can go outside, sit by the pool, consider how to continue our investigation."
Rex studied Viv’s face carefully. When she didn't reject his offer immediately, he didn't ask again. He was learning. Like Kevin, he wanted his way right now, but Viv, she was Miss Kitty. She needed a chance to make up her own mind.
"Why not?” Viv answered.
To his satisfaction, she smiled. "Come back in half an hour. I'll be in my swimsuit by then and meet you out back. You can bring Kevin if you want. We'll make a day of it."
Be still my heart.
He stacked his plate on top of hers. "I'll do the dishes first," he announced. To his own surprise, he didn't even mind.