“What did she say?”

“She was very polite but also very definitive in her refusal. I think she was a little shy and probably didn’t want to be alone with any man she didn’t know well. I daresay I don’t blame her.”

Eban’s throat closed. She’d trusted him right from the start. Had flung herself into his arms when he’d offered her a hug. He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve such a gift, but he wasn’t going to throw it away. He wasn’t going to fuck it up. Not this time. And now he’d go to the hotel to pick her up, and then head to the police station and see what, if anything, the cops had discovered this afternoon.

Eban placed his card on the table near the hot water urn. “I’ll leave you to it. It’s going to be a long night.”

The pastor nodded and started mopping with renewed vigor.

“You might want to lock the door after I leave,” Eban suggested.

The man’s dark eyes suddenly widened, and he immediately propped the mop against the wall. “How am I ever going to be able to offer up prayers while worried there’s a murderer sitting amongst the congregation?”

“Faith?” Eban offered, then felt sorry for the guy. “If it was me? I’d carry a weapon I knew how to use for my own protection until we catch this person.”

The pastor’s eyes grew wide at the suggestion.

“And be aware of your surroundings. Maybe don’t be alone at the church on your own late at night.”

The pastor immediately grabbed the bucket and strode to the kitchen to dump the dirty water down the drain. Then he grabbed his jacket and headed to the door where Eban stood.

“Adele would forgive me for being a little cautious under the circumstances and frankly I don’t have the heart to do this job alone. Would you mind walking me to my car?”

Eban didn’t remember the last time a man had asked him to do that, but he tipped his head slowly. “Of course.”

Allan Robertson was waiting outside and fell into step with them as they headed to a Volkswagen Beetle plugged in at the rear of the building.

Eban restrained from groaning. VW Beetles were the serial killer vehicle of choice.

The man unplugged the extension cord, climbed inside, started the engine with a throaty roar and nodded to him and Allan before driving away with a blast of exhaust smoke.

“See anyone suspicious in the crowd?” Eban asked as they headed back around to the front of the church where they were both parked.

“Nothing obvious. Evidence techs are waiting for us at the station to go through the footage.”

“I need to pick up something first.”

Allan stopped beside the hood of Eban’s rental. “What’s going on?”

The area was eerily quiet now the crowd had left.

“I’ll tell you at the station with everyone else.”

The man looked disappointed.

Eban paused and reconsidered. Allan had been a big help to him so far. “The FBI thinks we’re looking for a serial killer.”