Midnight Secrets - By Ella Grace Page 0,67

a small smile, Savannah took the flowers he held out for her and sniffed them appreciatively. “Thank you, but that wasn’t necessary. What happened on the call? Was it the same guys, you think?”

He shook his head. “Just two bored kids out for some kicks. Security cameras caught it all.”

“So, when’s our next stakeout?”

Though Zach was often hard to read, she saw relief in his eyes. And since she had seen through his ploy early on, she knew it wasn’t because he really needed her help.

“How about next Tuesday night?”

“Works for me. See you then.”

She went to close the door, but Zach placed his palm on the door, stopping her. “I know we need to talk … get everything out in the open.”

Yes, they did. But not right now. With her lack of sleep, if they talked today, she’d go beyond the basket-case stage into full nuclear meltdown. Still, it had to be done. “How about tomorrow night?”

He shook his head. “I’m on duty Sunday and Monday night.”

“Sounds like Tuesday would be best for that, too, then.”

He looked as though he wanted to say something else, but finally nodded his head and stepped back.

Savannah whispered, “Thanks for the flowers,” then closed the door.

Sunday morning in Midnight meant one of three things. One either went to the Baptist church on Harper’s Drive, the Methodist church on Beechum Road, or the nondenominational church over on the bypass. As her granddad used to say, “Midnight is full of sinners. Come Sunday morning, if you’re not in church, you’re going to be the subject of the gossipers, so you might as well go and cut down on their fun.”

Her grandfather had been a regular at the Baptist church, but Aunt Gibby was Methodist through and through. After her parents died, Savannah and her sisters had alternated between the two churches. Gibby had insisted that they needed the diversity of both denominations, and Daniel hadn’t argued.

Savannah closed the car door behind her aunt and followed her into the large foyer. Returning to church here felt familiar and comfortable. The minister was the same one as when she was a kid, the pianist played the same songs, and the song leader had the same nasal tone she remembered from long ago.

Gibby liked to sit on the front pew. And Savannah was treated to more than a few whispers and speculative stares as she walked beside her aunt. Even with a job that was often in the public eye, she still didn’t like to call attention to herself. This wasn’t the worst part, though. That would come after the service. Years ago, the leading members of the Methodist and Baptist churches had made the decision to unite as one congregation once a month for a Sunday social. When the non-denominational church had started up about fifteen years ago, they had wisely invited them to participate. It was a tradition that everyone seemed to enjoy. Not only did you get some of the best Southern cooking in Alabama, but you could also pick up the latest gossip you might have missed. Though the subject of the gossipers was often in attendance, their presence rarely stopped the talk. You just had to lean closer to hear the juiciest parts.

As the old familiar songs were sung, Savannah couldn’t help but remember the many times she and her sisters had sat beside her parents on a Sunday morning just like this. Sunlight on the stained-glass windows gave them an almost ethereal glow, making the worship service seem even more reverent. Feeling an odd ease within her, she turned her attention to the service, hoping for comfort and solace for what she would soon face with Zach.

She was so immersed in the uplifting sermon, it wasn’t until she stood at the end of the service to sing the closing song that she knew the identity of the person who had come in late and sat behind her. The deep baritone was unmistakable. Years ago, Zach had kept her entertained and in stitches as he parodied some of the popular rock songs on the radio. And though the song they sang now certainly wasn’t a parody, Savannah had no trouble recognizing the deep masculine voice.

Tempted to turn around, she resisted the urge. Pretending he wasn’t there was her best bet. She should have known Aunt Gibby wouldn’t cooperate. The moment the service was over and they stepped into the aisle, Gibby exclaimed, “Chief Tanner, it’s about time you graced us with a visit.

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