Eban nodded.

Ray pressed his lips together. “I am sorry to hear that. And I apologize for joining the chorus without knowing what tune we were singing.”

“You knew Adele Surrey?”

“I did. Only a little, but…” He stared down at his desk. “Terrible thing. Terrible.”

It was.

“Was she often at the church alone at night?”

Ray ran his hands over the armrests of his chair. “Yes. Peter helps here a few times a week, especially in winter. Mentioned to me a while ago that he avoids some of the group therapy sessions if he can as he is painfully aware of being a man and doesn’t want the women to be made uncomfortable by his presence.”

“Adele attended the sessions?”

Ray made a face. “I don’t know if she ‘attended’ per se. I know she was there to make sure they had everything they needed—tea, coffee, tissues. And to lock up after they were done.”

She’d more than likely overheard many of their personal stories. “Did she live alone? Do you know?”

“She did. Her husband passed a few years ago. Kids are both grown and one moved to Anchorage and the other is in Central America somewhere working with the poor. Peter said he managed to reach the daughter last night but is still trying to contact the son. Cell service in El Salvador is patchy.”

“Uh huh.” Eban made a non-committal noise to encourage the man to expand further.

“Peter is holding a small prayer vigil outside the church tonight at six. I don’t know how he will manage without Adele to be quite honest. She did everything for him. Cleaned the place. Opened and closed up. Managed the rental of the church hall and provided all the refreshments. Took his messages and replied to church emails, everything except deliver the sermon.” Ray shook his head. “The police haven’t released the scene yet. He isn’t even allowed inside to start cleaning up.”

Eban noted the subtle dig. “The police need to make sure they collect every piece of evidence they can, in order to catch Adele’s killer. They can’t rush the process and risk missing a vital clue.”

Ray nodded rapidly. “Of course, of course.”

“Maybe the pastor’s wife can assist him.” Eban was fishing for information.

Ray snorted. “She left him years ago.”

“Oh,” Eban frowned. “I spoke to a woman on the phone and assumed…”

“That would’ve been Carly. His daughter. She’s a biology student at UAF. Smart kid, but not interested in her father’s church at all. Not until he admits in public that dinosaurs are a thing.” He chuckled. “I mean, Peter keeps telling her she doesn’t have to take the creation story quite so literally, but you know how kids can be.”

Eban smiled. “I guess it was quite the dilemma for Darwin too. Any idea where Pastor Regis might have been headed? I hoped to speak with him today.”

Ray licked his lips and leaned forward. “I can call him for you if you want?”