“Barney saw them together,” Marge said flatly. “He didn’t think there was any hanky-panky, of course. He wouldn’t, with Dave being a minister and all. But he did say to me once that Marcia Miller must be a lot more religious than anyone realized because he saw her leaving the church so often on Tuesday afternoons.” Her face was a study in disbelief.

“Tuesday afternoons?” exclaimed Lucy. “In the church?”

Marge nodded. Horowitz pursed his lips and made a note. Lucy stifled an ever-growing urge to laugh hysterically.

“They sure fooled me,” confessed Marge. “They fooled everybody. Not an easy thing to do in a town like this.”

“They didn’t fool Sam,” said Lucy. “If he hadn’t been so smart, he’d probably still be alive.”

“The problem is that all this is hearsay and rumor. I can’t see that sculpture convincing a jury,” observed Horowitz. “In order to get a conviction these days you’ve got to have everything on videotape. Whispering in your ear isn’t a crime, Mrs. Culpepper.”

“He’s there with Barney!” remembered Marge. “I left him there at the hospital! He’s alone with Barney—I’ ve got to get back there!”

“Maybe you can get him on tape after all,” said Lucy dryly.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

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“Lucy, I’m so scared I don’t think I can stand it. I’m afraid I’ll pee in my pants,” Marge said with a moan, clutching Lucy’s hand. The two were in the backseat of a cruiser, speeding down the highway to the hospital in Portland.

“I know,” agreed Lucy. “He’s a killer. He killed Sam Miller, and he almost succeeded in killing Barney. I hope we’re in time.”

“How am I going to pretend I don’t know he’s guilty? I keep thinking about Carol—he doesn’t even know his own wife is dead.”

“Just try to forget. Make believe it’s yesterday. Dave’s just the minister of your church, trying to help you make a difficult decision.”

“I don’t think I can. My stomach’s killing me. I think I have to throw up.”

“Here, suck on this,” said Lucy, giving her a broken candy cane she found in the bottom of her purse. “You need a little sugar.” Seeing Marge so shaken and white-faced, she continued, “You’ve got to pull yourself together, Marge. This is the only way that they can make a case against Davidson. Barney won’t be safe until he’s put away.”

“I know. I guess I’ve always been a little bit afraid of him,” admitted Marge. “The minister, you know, like a teacher but with God backing him up.”