We glared at each over the desk. An impasse. Louis had asked me to stop and then threatened repercussions if I didn’t. I said no and refused to budge.
He winked at me, the way a gunslinger would at high noon. Turned to go.
I grabbed him and threw him across the room and his head cracked the wall and his skull split open and he died and I loved it.
But…
Nope.
That didn’t happen. I wanted it to.
What I actually did was, I glared more as he left. He wasn’t the first to threaten me. Wouldn’t be the last, maybe not even this week. I suspected he had abducted a kid, however, and that gave his warning extra teeth. And if I threw him, he could involve the police and effectively end my inspection.
Not yet, Louis. I’m not finished.
The door downstairs slammed. He was gone. I dedicated sixty seconds to fuming and cursing, and then got proactive.
I dialed Jeremy Cameron as I walked to my car.
“How you doing,” I said.
“Alec Ward is still missing, so I’m trying to reach his friends to offer support and prayer. Tough conversations.”
“Louis Lindsey just left my office. Threatened to hurt people if I didn’t stop the investigation. He mentioned you by name.”
A long sigh from Jeremy. “He knows. Someone on the vestry must’ve spilled the beans. Our deacons quit returning my calls. People stop talking when I enter a room. Any sort of authority or leadership I had vanished. This…this just sucks.”
“It does. Where do you live?”
“Does that matter?” he said.
“I’m not worried about your safety. But I’m also not not worried either. He mentioned rabid devotees.”
“He has those in spades. I live in a townhouse downtown, off Williamson, near the market. It’s a busy place. I’m safe.”
“Call Nicholas and warn him too. Don’t go anywhere strange. Don’t go anywhere alone. Don’t accept unusual requests for meetings. I’m sure you’re fine. I’m sure you’re not in danger. But also, call me if you get suspicious. About anything.”
“Thank God for you, Mack.”
“Maybe. Not yet, though.” I hung up, got in my car, and drove to the Sheriff’s Office.
I knew the bailiff at the checkpoint and he waved for me to bypass security. Up the stairs, into the offices, through the deputy bullpen, and beyond the two assistant desks. One of the women tried to stop me but I went straight into the inner sanctum.
“This office,” I told Stackhouse, who was sitting beyond a double-wide desk loaded with folders and a computer monitor, “is hideous.”
She looked like a movie star on a trashy set. Her hair was up and she wore hoop earrings. Some sheriffs got their way through bullying and force of will; Stackhouse got her way because the public fell over themselves obeying her.
“It’s okay, Trish,” Stackhouse told the woman pulling on my arm. “He’s an ass and he won’t leave no matter what we do, anyway.”
Trish reluctantly released, but I thought she gave my bicep an extra squeeze.
Stackhouse's walls were decorated with pictures of her smiling with diplomats, including a previous VP and the current president.
“What’s up, babe,” she said.
“Louis has Alec Ward.”
“How do you know?”
“I don’t. And I haven’t a shred of evidence to back up the claim,” I said.
“Then…?”
“Don’t make sexy eyes at me. They won’t work.”
“These are my regular eyes. Your judgment of Father Louis is clouded because you’re angry and because of your current case,” she said, going back to her paperwork.
“He was counseling Jon Young. He was counseling Alec Ward. And he told me Alec is still alive and Alec will return if I discontinue my investigation.”
“He didn’t say that.”
“He came close.”
She looked back up. “Father Louis was counseling Alec? His parents didn’t mention it.”
“Lindsey just told me he was.”
“Alec wasn’t gay. Isn’t gay, I mean. He had a girlfriend. Has a girlfriend. Jesus. The hell is wrong with me,” she said.
“Being gay doesn’t necessitate counseling. And there are many reasons to seek counsel.”
She shrugged.
“Okay. I’ll call the parents. We’re striking out anyway.”
“And find out where Louis was the afternoon Alec vanished.”
“Babe…”
“If you don’t, I will. And it will involve hitting Louis until he tells me,” I said.
“Fine, I’ll ask the police chief to send a detective to verify. I’ll call you with the answers soon as I get them. By the way, I like it when you’re mad. It’s a good look on you.”
“Didn’t you recently go on a date with my father?”
“I did. Want the details?”
“You’re a vile harlot,” I said.
She smiled, one of those that landed her on magazine covers.
“You shouldn’t talk that way to your mother.” She stood quickly, held out her hands. “Whoa, whoa, okay, relax, babe. I was kidding, I’m sorry. Let go of my desk, these papers won’t sort themselves. Release. Please release.”
I let go of the lip of her desk. It took effort.
“Find out where Louis was. And ask about the counseling,” I said.
“You got it. I think you get taller when you’re angry.”
I turned to leave.
“Hey. Several girls in my office won’t say No if you ask them out. Trust me. Want their names?”
I left, going back through the maze of desks.
“Mackenzie?” she called. “Are you sure? Some of them have no scruples, I know for a fact!”
No one had scruples anymore.
Apparently I was the only one holding onto mine.
Barely.