Desperate Rescue by Barbara Phinney Page A

swept over him.
    He needed to hear from his investigator. And soon.

     
    Sunday morning the church parking lot was full. Eli found a spot at the far corner and as he walked around to open the door for Kaylee, he nodded to an older couple parking near them. Above, the sky seemed as dark as a winter dusk. That tropical storm was due today.
    Kaylee climbed out of his car and followed his glance up at the darkening sky. “I’m glad I didn’t bring my car. With the wet weather due, it may not start.”
    “What exactly is the car doing?”
    “Not starting. It was fine a week ago, but now, it barely cranks. Sometimes all I get is a clicking noise.”
    “Your battery is dying. It sounds like you don’t have enough juice to turn over the engine.”
    “Great. I can’t afford a new battery. Good thing I live walking distance to work.”
    “Maybe it only needs to be charged. I’ll have a look at it, if you’d like?”
    She smiled a thank-you at him as they made their way into the sanctuary. The early service attracted quite a few. The people here all had nice, ordered lives. They worked during the week and fellowshipped on Sunday. He swallowed. His life was too itinerant and it wouldn’t change until he freed Phoebe.
    And what about Kaylee? There she was, trying her best to lead a normal life after all Noah had done. Her disgust for him and his cult members was more than obvious and included Phoebe. To her, Phoebe was as responsible for Trisha’s death as Noah was. She wanted to cut them all loose from her memories and start her life again. He was a living, breathing reminder to her.
    Kaylee spotted Lois with another elderly woman. Both scooted over to let her and Eli into the pew.
    Kaylee chuckled. “All the little old ladies take up these seats in the back. I think they like to watch the congregation come in.”
    “No, it’s not that,” Lois beside her stated in a tart tone. “Most of them need hearing aids and use the earphones from the sound system. You have to sit in the back for them. I don’t need one, mind you, but these ladies are my friends.”
    Kaylee winked at him before leaning close enough for her low whisper to be heard only by him. “I was expecting Lois to be a bit more pleased I was here, but she seems a bit cranky. I think she’s starting to realize she needs a hearing aid.” With a light shrug, she settled back in the pew.
    He smiled briefly, grateful for her relaxed mood. Obviously, Lois hadn’t told her about Pepe. But from the woman’s behavior, his death bothered her very much.
    The service was short, full of prayer, which allowed Eli’s thoughts to wander to Kaylee. She was a mix of contradictions. Trying to start her life over, oddly serene here in church and yet still wracked with guilt for the things she’d said and done.
    She believed God was punishing her for being swayed by Noah and beginning to believe his warped philosophies.
    How could she really believe that because she’d been forced to say blasphemous words for Noah, the Lord would never forgive her?
    Or was it in part humiliation she felt? To believe a man, only to have him kill her beloved sister?
    Eli didn’t know her well enough to guess.
    But, he realized with growing concern, he wanted to know her that well.
    The service ended and after attending the adult Sunday school, Eli and Kaylee returned to the sanctuary for the regular service.
    “I told you so,” she whispered with a snicker as they walked up the center aisle, past the back pews now filled with elderly ladies. “All the old ladies take the back seats.”
    Eli smiled and nodded back, but he felt his smile quickly drift away. All that had happened still disturbed him. He only half listened to the message and struggled through the prayers, trying to stay focused.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked as the service ended and people began to filter out.
    What could he say? That he believed his insane brother was hanging around? For the first time in years, she