R. E. Bradshaw - Rainey Nights Read Online Free PDF Page B

old white clapboard church reached high into the sky above the blue-gray slate covered roof. Against the deep green forest background, it looked like a Thomas Kincaid painting. Azalea bushes surrounded the church with so many blooms the building glowed pink just above them. Bright yellow tulips lined the walkway in well-attended beds carved out of the carefully manicured lawn. On the other side of the parking lot, out under the big Hickory trees, picnic tables were placed near a large brick barbecue pit. Deputy Knox pulled her cruiser to a stop just beyond the doors of a newer looking, flat-topped annex attached to the back of the church. Rainey and Danny followed in a black SUV.
    When they were out of the vehicles, Deputy Knox said, “That’s the education building,” pointing at the modern addition. “That’s where the secretary said the pastor was.”
    Rainey surveyed the parking lot. The only vehicle, other than the SUV and the deputy’s cruiser, was a large, four-wheel drive truck, with a snap down cover over the bed. There were no markings at all on the truck. Everything on it was painted shiny black, even the rims. The windows were as dark as legally allowed. The only color on the truck was the Virginia license plate on the back. She couldn’t see it, but there should have been a corresponding plate on the front bumper. It was an impressive ride. Danny stared at it with desire in his eyes. What red-blooded man, who grew up in the country, didn’t want a truck like that? Danny was, after all, raised a farm boy. This particular truck, however, was not a vehicle she would associate with a pastor.
    “Is that the pastor’s truck?” She asked Knox.
    “No. He lives next door, so he leaves his car there.”
    A drooling Danny said, “Well this doesn’t belong to a church secretary.”
    Knox laughed. “No, Miss Mary’s husband drops her off and picks her up. She never learned to drive. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this truck before. I’m pretty sure I would have remembered it. That’s a nice truck.”
    “Using a word like nice to describe a truck like this is a sin,” Danny quipped.
    He reluctantly left his daydream about driving the truck and followed the two women to the door of the building. Rainey let the deputy lead the way. She learned a long time ago that a familiar face helped get locals to open up to them. Besides, she was growing fond of the blond young woman walking in front of her. This would be good experience for Gillian. Rainey remembered her first year as an agent, having to fight for chances to gain field experience. It was better now for women, but young Miss Knox had a long road ahead to gain her colleagues’ respect. Rainey hoped this show of support from the visiting FBI agents would help the novice deputy on her way.
    They entered the building and made their way down the hall lined with classrooms on the left and a day care room on the right. At the end of the hallway, they came to a large meeting room that appeared to double as a gym and game area. In the middle of the room, a tall, slender man, with graying temples was setting up a Ping-Pong table. A young man with a head full of blond curls was assisting him. Both men turned as Rainey, Danny, and Deputy Knox came into the room.
    The older man spoke first. “Ah Gillian, Mary said you were coming.”
    While Rainey and Danny got out their credentials, Deputy Knox took over the introductions. “Good to see you, too, Pastor Morrell. I can see you’re busy, but could you give us a few minutes? This is Agent Bell and Agent McNally from the FBI. They would like to talk to you about Crystal.”
    “This has been so devastating to the congregation. Such a tragedy,” the pastor lamented. “I can’t imagine why anyone would hurt such a beautiful child of God.”
    Rainey extended her hand and shook the pastor’s. “Yes, it is a tragedy. Thank you for talking with us.”
    Danny shook the pastor’s hand, as well, saying, “We’re very