must call the police. Immediately. All of this, it’s gone on far too long.” She turned her head, looking at Jesus as Vicky had done, joining her hands in prayer. “Forgive us, Father,” she whispered mournfully. “Oh, please forgive us.”
Vicky was weeping quietly now, her head hung. “Come, dear,” she said to Scarlett. “Let us leave Vicky to her grief. I’ll come back and drive her home after we’ve made the call. I believe it’s best that we do not contact the sheriff.” Her face registered conflict. She knew he was part of the guild. She knew he was corrupt.
Scarlett pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “We can use my phone.”
“I’m afraid the church doesn’t have wireless service,” she said, a sad smile coming over her face. “Oh, we’re desperately out of touch, aren’t we?” She sighed. “I have the number for the state police in my office. We can call from there. You must tell the police what you know about your friend. Perhaps a DNA test . . .” She frowned. “Oh, dear, it’s going to hurt so many people.” Still, she turned and began moving toward the door. Scarlett stood, following. She appreciated that the old woman was going to do the right thing, despite that she had played a part in the town’s corruption. At the very least, she’d aided and abetted with her silence alone. Despite her words, and despite Scarlett’s hope that she was being truthful, she walked a few paces behind the old woman, as frail as a bent tree branch. She was far too feeble to do anything physically to Scarlett, but she wasn’t going to give her the element of surprise should she try.
She looked back, offering Scarlett the glimmer of a smile. “I drove out to Lilith House just a little bit ago, to offer my condolences on your friend, and see if there was anything the church could do to aid in your comfort.”
“Oh,” Scarlett frowned. “We must have just missed each other. Millie was there,” she said. “Did you see her?”
“No, just that pretty little girl of yours.” She opened the door to her office and Scarlett left it open wide. Sister Madge sat behind her desk and took out an old-fashioned phone book that appeared to be for the state of California, flipping through the pages. There was a Saran Wrap covered plate of cake bites on the edge of the desk and Sister Madge used one hand to push them toward Scarlett. “For the youth group sleepover tonight. I suppose I’ll have to cancel it now . . .” She unwrapped a corner. “Those girls do love their sweets. Have one. Something sweet to temper the sour. A comfort for the soul.” She smiled, sad and wistful. “You know better than anyone how food ministers, don’t you, dear?”
Yes, Scarlett liked to think she did. Something sweet to temper the sour. Of course, in this case, sour seemed to be an understatement. There was a lump in her throat. She didn’t really want a bite of cake, but for the sake of politeness, when the old woman went back to flipping through the phone book, looking for the state police number, Scarlett took one small cake, placing it in her mouth and chewing slowly.
It might have been good. Scarlett was so preoccupied by what she was going to say to the police, to Camden when she got hold of him, that she didn’t even register anything about the sugary treat.
Cam. Kandi. So many possibilities swirled through her mind. The state police would come back. They’d question Vicky further. Would they run a DNA test on Millie? Her thoughts felt strange. Suddenly disconnected. She massaged her temple.
“Vicky overheard Haddie telling Amelia about the horned beast she follows through the woods.”
“What?” she asked, frowning when her words came out slurred. The old nun wavered in front of her and she shook her head.
“Mm.” Sister Madge licked her finger slowly and then used it to flip another page, her gaze trained on Scarlett. “She’s seen him. She knows where he is. They’ll be after her now.”
After her? A fog descended and she felt suddenly overcome with wooziness. Haddie? After Haddie? Sister Madge replaced the phone in its cradle, leaning in and staring at her. Scarlett gripped the side of the desk, the room going blurry.
Sister Madge stood, walking around the desk slowly. Scarlett attempted to rise, but her legs buckled from under her. The nun came to stand above