Armed and Dangerous by Jo Davis

taken?”
    â€œGood question.” Using his hands-free unit, he called Taylor’s cell phone. His partner answered on the second ring.
    â€œWhat’s up?”
    â€œThe first victim, Nikki Thompson. Was she a member at Ashwood?”
    â€œNo. Chris and I had already checked that against our missing people and she still has no obvious connection to them that we can find.”
    â€œShe does now,” Shane told him. “Just found out from Jimmy and Marla Glenn that not only did Nikki work at Lamb of God—she was
Reverend
William Wakefield’s church secretary.”
    He waited for the explosion. It wasn’t long in coming.
    â€œWhat?” his partner practically shouted. “Fuck me! How the hell did I miss this?”
    â€œHey, don’t kick yourself. We were bound to connect them sooner or later.”
    â€œWakefield is a minister? I can’t believe this.” He huffed a breath on the other end of the line. “Makes sense with the rosary being left with the victims. It’s not nearly enough to tie him to the murders, though.”
    â€œI know. Right now we’re just going to pay him and his wife a visit. See how they react.”
    â€œBe careful. Call for backup if you need us.”
    â€œWill do.”
    Ending the call, he looked at Daisy. “Let’s go rattle another apple tree.”
    â€œCan’t wait.”
    Shane parked in the lot right in front of the church’s main doors and they got out, surveying the place. The building was big and beautiful in the sunlight, with a tall steeple pointing the way to heaven. A shiver went through him.
    â€œThink they’ll be in the church?” Daisy asked. “I noticed there’s a cottage out back. Looks like it could be the reverend’s private residence.”
    â€œWe’ll try the main sanctuary first, then the cottage if necessary.”
    They strolled up the wide stone steps and made their way inside. The vestibule and the congregational seating area beyond were grand, with rich wood, stained glass windows, and soaring ceilings. Shane spotted the good reverend near the altar, perusing a sheaf of papers in his hand.
    â€œWilliam Wakefield?” Shane called. The man in question turned and got a good look at Shane.
    And promptly dropped his papers.
    It was almost funny, but Shane refrained from cracking a smile. Instead, he and Daisy moved forward to where the reverend crouched, gathering his work with shaking hands.
    â€œI—you startled me,” he said breathlessly. Giving them a weak smile, he stood and clutched the papers to his chest as though they were armor. Nervously, he glanced around and lowered his voice. “Didn’t I meet you last night? What are you doing here?”
    â€œI take it your secret isn’t out to your members?” Shane asked casually.
    William’s throat worked convulsively. “Which—I mean, of course not.”
    Shane pounced on his blunder. “You meant to ask which secret. Which one do you
think
I’m referring to, Will?”
    â€œLook, I don’t know what you two think you’re playing at, but I’m very busy,” he snapped, struggling to regain his composure. “I don’t have time—”
    â€œDid you have time for Nikki Thompson?” he drawled. The reverend goggled at him, and Shane let a few heartbeats pass before he went on. “Your secretary, who was found murdered earlier this week. Remember?”
    â€œOf course I do,” he croaked. “Nikki was invaluable to me. To
us
, I mean. We’re heartbroken that someone could have done such a terrible thing to her.”
    â€œHeartbroken, huh? Is that why you and Allie showed up last night, ready to party?”
    â€œWho are you?” The man’s gaze darted between them. “We are mourning Nikki here, whether you believe that or not. It’s really none of your business that I went to a social gathering with