Heartbreaker

  “Yes?” She straightened in the chair, tense now as she waited to hear his verdict about her.

  “You’re doing the same thing, just in a different way. You’re hiding out here in this little town. I know you don’t see it that way, but that’s what you’re doing. You’re more afraid of taking a chance than Nick is. If you don’t put yourself out there, you can’t get hurt. That’s how you view life, isn’t it? And if you keep going this way, you’re going to turn into a bitter, old, dried-up prune, and a coward to boot.”

  She knew Noah wasn’t deliberately trying to be cruel, but what he had just said devastated her. Was that how he saw her? Laurant shrank back and gripped her hands together. A coward? How could he think she would ever become a coward?

  “I don’t believe you understand—”

  “I’m not finished. There’s more. Want to hear it?”

  She braced herself. “Yes, go ahead.”

  “I saw one of your paintings.”

  Her gaze flew to his. “Where?” she asked, astonished. Why did she feel the sudden pang of fear?

  “It’s hanging in Tom’s bedroom,” he told her. “And it’s one of the most powerful paintings I’ve ever seen. You should be damned proud of it. I’m not the only person who thought it was incredible. The abbot wanted to hang it in the church. Tom told me he stole the painting from you. He also told me that you keep all your paintings wrapped up tight and hidden away in your storage closet so no one can see them. That’s one sure way to beat rejection, isn’t it? It’s safe. Like the kind of life you’re building here. Well, guess what, babe. There’s no such thing as a safe life. Bad things happen, like your brother getting cancer, and there isn’t a damned thing you can do about it. You’re sure trying though, aren’t you? Maybe thirty years from now you’ll have convinced yourself that you’re content with your perfect, safe life, but I assure you, it’s going to be lonely. And by then, the amazing talent you have will probably have dried up.”

  Laurant shuddered under the weight of the future Noah had just described. He was forcing her to open her eyes and take a hard look at herself.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Yeah, I do. You just don’t want to hear it.”

  She bowed her head as she mentally argued against his bleak prophecy. Perhaps when she’d first moved to Holy Oaks, she had been running away from life. But it wasn’t like that now. She’d fallen in love with the town and the people, and she had become involved with the community. She hadn’t just sat back and let the world revolve around her.

  Noah was right about her painting. She had always considered it too personal to share with anyone else. It was a part of her, and if others saw her work and rejected it, she felt that they would be rejecting her.

  She had been a coward. And she would lose what little talent she had if she kept on this path. If she didn’t experience life, how could she possibly translate it onto canvas?

  “I don’t throw them away,” she admitted hesitantly. “I keep the paintings.”

  Noah grinned. “So maybe you might want to think about unwrapping them one of these days and letting other people see them.”

  “Maybe,” she said. After a moment’s reflection she looked at him and smiled. “Yes, maybe I should do that.”

  Noah took his plate to the sink and rolled up his sleeves as he prepared to do the dishes. He was complaining about the fact that the abbot wouldn’t spend the money for a dishwasher while he worked.

  Laurant wasn’t paying any attention. She was still lost in thought. Noah had just given her a wake-up call. He’d opened a door for her, and she had the choice of going outside or pulling the door closed again.

  When Tommy came back into the kitchen, Noah said, “I told Laurant you took one of her paintings.”

  Tommy immediately took a defensive stance. “I stole it, and I’m not sorry. You want it back now, don’t you?”

  “Which one was it?” she asked. Suddenly, she was very hungry. She took a bite of the chicken and reached for a cold biscuit.

  “The only one I could get my hands on,” he said. “It was in front of the others in the closet. I didn’t even know what I was taking until I got it home and unwrapped it. And do you know what’s a crying shame, Laurant. It’s the only painting you’ve done that I’ve ever seen. You keep them hidden away, like you’re ashamed of them.”

  “But which one was it?”

  “The kids in the wheat field with all that light shining down on them. I love it, Laurant, and I want to keep it. You know why? Because there’s such joy and hope in it. When I look at it, I see heaven smiling on the children. It’s as though the streams of light are actually God’s fingers reaching down to touch them.”

  Emotion welled up inside her. She knew that he meant every word he’d said. Joy and hope. What a glorious compliment. “Okay, Tommy. You can keep it.”

  Her brother looked shocked. “Really?”

  “Yes,” she answered. “I’m so happy you like it.”

  Nick wasn’t about to be left out. “Damn it, I want to see it,” he said.

  “All right,” she agreed.

  Noah winked at her, and she suddenly felt like laughing. “Yes, I mean it, but I’ll warn you, it’s not one of my best efforts. I can do much better.”

  Nick’s phone rang, interrupting the conversation. Smiles vanished in a heartbeat, and the atmosphere in the kitchen became tense with anticipation. Nick answered as he walked into the pantry for privacy.

  Pete was on the line, and he had stunning news. Tiffany Tara Tyler’s phone had been found in Steve Brenner’s white van, neatly tucked under the front seat. This new evidence put a lock on the case. They had their man.

  “Did they find any prints?”

  “He wiped it down, but he was a little sloppy,” Pete said. “He missed a spot on the bottom of the phone. The tech found what looks like a partial thumbprint next to the metal charger. He thinks it’s going to be enough for a solid match. It looks like they’re about to wrap this one up, Nick.”

  Nick was shaking his head. “It doesn’t feel right,” he said. He paused and then added, “So that’s it. Case closed. Right?”

  “Just about,” Pete agreed. “There’s other evidence, of course,” he said. “But as I understand the situation, Agent Wesson didn’t share what he had collected against Brenner with you.”

  “How did you know that?”

  “I spoke briefly with Agent Farley.”

  “So Wesson has enough to convict?”

  “With the woman’s phone in his car? Yes, he has quite enough.”

  “That could have been planted.”

  “We don’t believe that’s the case,” he said. “Had you been given information as it was being collected, I think you’d be feeling more confident that Brenner’s our man. You were kept out of the investigation,” he added. “And I plan to address that problem with Agent Wesson’s supervisor first thing Monday morning. This will not happen again,” he added emphatically. “As for you, I suggest you take Father Tom fishing. Relax a little. God knows, you’ve earned it.”

  Nick rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the knots of tension. He was weary and frustrated. “I don’t know, Pete. My instincts are telling me that this is all wrong. I think maybe I’m losing it.”

  “Your objectivity?” Pete asked.

  “Yeah, I guess. I really did figure it all wrong. Tell me something. They’re running a voice match from the confessional tape and Brenner’s interrogation, aren’t they?”

  “Yes, of course they are.”

  “Brenner hasn’t confessed, has he?”

  “No, not yet.”

  Nick was filled with self-doubt. Maybe he just didn’t want to believe what was staring him in the face. From the very beginning, Wesson had put him in the position of trying to work the case blindfolded. Tiffany’s phone was found in Brenner’s van. That should have clinched it. And yet he still wasn’t convinced.

  “Why are you
fighting this?” Pete asked. “We’ve had a good result here.”

  Nick sighed. “Yes, sir, I know. I guess I do need to take some time off. You were right,” he finally admitted. “I got too personally involved.”

  “With Laurant?”

  “You saw that coming?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  “Yeah, well, I’ll deal with it. You’ll let me know what the lab results are?”

  “Yes,” Pete promised. “Give my best to Father Tom and Laurant.”

  Nick disconnected the call and stood in the pantry for a long minute staring into space. He was trying to work it out in his mind, to go with it, to believe that it was over. He told himself he was trying to make the case more complicated than it was. Some cases were easy. Like this one. Yeah, it was finished. Case closed. They had their man.

  And still the nagging doubt wouldn’t go away.

  CHAPTER 33

  The nightmare was finally over. Tommy and Laurant were astounded to learn that Tiffany’s phone had been found in Brenner’s car. Nevertheless, both brother and sister were overjoyed that the killer was now behind bars. When Noah suggested they celebrate, Tommy nixed the idea. He reminded him that two women had been murdered and said that he was going to go into the church to say a prayer for the souls of Tiffany Tyler and a young woman named Millicent.

  “He sure was good at masquerading his voice when he was whispering to me in the confessional,” Tommy said. “He fooled me all right,” he added with a shake of his head.

  “He fooled all of us,” Laurant said. She felt weak with relief. She decided to join her brother in the church for a prayer.

  She stood and looked directly at Nick when she asked, “So you and Noah will be leaving soon, won’t you?”

  “Yes,” Nick answered without a second’s hesitation.

  “No reason to hang around, is there?” Noah looked at Nick as he asked the question.

  “No,” he answered curtly. “No reason.”

  Laurant turned away so he wouldn’t see how his words had hurt her. She knew she was overreacting. From the beginning, she had known he would leave when his job was finished. His life was in Boston. He had stopped everything to help his friend, but now he would, of course, need to get back home.

  “Places to go, people to see . . . ,” she said.

  “Right,” he agreed.

  Tommy was holding the door for her. “Come on, Laurant. Quit dragging your feet.”

  She put her napkin down on the table and hurried after her brother. Nick and Noah followed. When they reached the back of the church, Nick pulled Noah aside while Laurant and Tommy went on ahead to one of the pews and knelt down together.

  There were at least a dozen workmen rushing around trying to get the church ready in time for the wedding. Five of them were dismantling the scaffolding from the center aisle while a couple of others were folding up the tarps and carrying paint cans outside. The people from the local flower shop were standing up front, holding vases of lilies, impatiently waiting for Willie and Mark to finish wet mopping the steps and marble floor in front of the altar.

  Nick and Noah moved under the balcony to get out of the way when the double doors opened behind them and two strapping men rolled in a baby grand piano on a dolly.

  “Where do you want this, Father?” one of the men asked Noah.

  “I don’t know,” Noah replied.

  “Geez, Father. This thing’s heavy. Could you find out for us?”

  Justin hurried down the aisle toward them. He was carrying a video camera and had a long, red extension cord looped over his shoulder. He slowed to say hello.

  “Do you know where the piano’s supposed to go?” Noah asked him.

  “Sure I do,” he answered. “They’re putting the choir on the south side of the church in that little alcove.”

  He backed out of the way so the men could roll the piano around to the side aisle.

  “How come they don’t just use the organ?” Noah asked.

  Justin turned to answer. “They have to get those pipes cleaned first. The abbot says all the dust in the air will mess up the chords if it isn’t cleaned before it’s used again.”

  “What are you doing with the video camera?” Nick asked.

  “I’ve been roped into filming the ceremony from the balcony,” he explained. “Michelle’s father asked me. He’s already got a professional guy filming downstairs, but he wants all the angles covered I guess. I don’t mind doing it,” he added, grinning. “He’s paying me a hundred dollars, and I can use the money. Besides that, he’s invited Mark and Willie and me to the reception, and we’ll get free food and beer. You coming to the wedding?” he asked Nick.

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” he answered.

  “See you later then,” Justin said as he raced on. “I just hope the church is ready. We’ve got a heck of a lot of work to get done before seven.”

  They moved out of the way again so Justin could open the wrought iron gate and go up the stairs to the balcony.

  “Okay, what were you going to tell me?” Noah asked as he followed Nick to the back pew.

  “It doesn’t feel right.”

  “Brenner?”

  Nick nodded. “Maybe I’ll be convinced when I hear the reports. They’ve got a thumbprint, a partial anyway, and they’re working on a voice match with the confessional tape. When the results are in confirming Brenner’s the unsub, then I’ll relax. Until then . . .”

  “You want me to stay.”

  “Yes. I know Pete’s going to be calling you with another assignment—”

  “I’ll try to fend him off. Besides, we’re going to hear what the techs have concluded by tonight. Tomorrow at the latest.”

  “I really appreciate this, Noah.”

  “If it doesn’t feel right to you, then of course I’m staying. Do I have to keep wearing this dress?”

  Nick smiled. “You probably should keep wearing it until you leave Holy Oaks. Too many people know you as a priest. Let’s leave it that way.”

  He looked Noah up and down and then asked, “Where are you hiding your gun? Ankle strap?” he guessed as he glanced down at Noah’s feet. The tips of his black tennis shoes were protruding from the hem of the long robe.

  “Too hard to get to,” Noah answered. He lifted the full sleeve covering his left arm. The holster holding the gun was strapped just below his elbow. “Thank God for Velcro.”

  “Nice,” Nick said.

  “Tell me something. Don’t you think you should tell Tom and Laurant you still have reservations?”

  “What am I going to tell them? The evidence is pretty conclusive, and God only knows what else Wesson has on Brenner. Besides, Laurant and Tommy have been living under a tremendous strain, and Laurant’s been looking forward to her friend’s wedding. I want her to be able to enjoy herself tonight. You keep your eye on Tommy, and I’ll watch out for her.”

  “No, I’m not going to work that way. You do what you want with Laurant, but I’m telling Tom to stay sharp. I don’t want him to relax until you’re convinced.”

  Nick nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

  “Did you tell Pete how you’re feeling about this?”

  “Yes.”

  “And?”

  Nick shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m not being objective because I’m too personally involved.”

  “He could be right.”

  “When the reports are in, I’ll stop worrying.”

  “Then what?”

  “We go home,” Nick said. “Another day, another case.”

  “You’re just going to walk away from her, aren’t you?” Noah sounded incredulous. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to you, but you’re too chicken to take the chance. You’re nuts. You know that?”

  Nick responded to the question by turning around and walking away from his friend.

  CHAPTER 34

  Michelle’s father returned from the abbey at a quarter of six to report that the scaffolding had been removed, and th
e red carpet had been rolled down the center aisle. The florist and her assistant were frantically working to tie the bouquets to the ends of each pew. It would be close, he told his wife, but he was sure the church would be ready when the wedding march began.

  Michelle’s mother, a vision in blue chiffon, continued to worry, but the bride took all the last-minute wrinkles in stride. She sat on the bed with her back against the headboard and watched Laurant dress while she caught her friend up on the latest gossip she’d heard.

  “They’ve got an APB or a ABP—whatever it is—out on Lonnie now. They’re going to charge him with arson and hopefully lock him away for the rest of his life. He’s gotten away with so much in the past couple of years. He deserves to rot in prison.” She paused to take a sip of lemonade. “And everyone is still in shock about Steve. Don’t pin your hair up, Laurant. Leave it down.”

  “Okay,” Laurant agreed. She picked up the peach silk dress she’d draped over the chair and slipped it on. She had her back to Michelle as she zipped the dress up and adjusted the bodice. Then she turned around, the full skirt floating about her ankles. “What do you think? Does this work or not? I could wear the blue Versace, but I thought this color would blend better with the dark pink dresses the other bridesmaids are wearing.”

  Mrs. Brockman walked into the bedroom to try once again to hurry her daughter along. She came to an abrupt stop when she saw Laurant.

  Both mother and daughter appeared to be speechless. Laurant felt self-conscious under their close scrutiny. “Say something, Michelle,” she demanded. “Do you like the dress or not?”