came up with for the Six of Hearts, including experimenting with witchcraft.
Witchcraft. The Six of Hearts. Mary said her father had been going through Faith’s things and Laurel worried that Faith might have left a diary detailing the members of the Six of Hearts and their activities. Is that what had triggered Zeke’s visit and his prediction of doom for Laurel? Was he the one who had hung the funeral wreath? But he couldn’t have sent the pictures of Angela. Her murderer had done that, and Zeke couldn’t have made the trip to New York, found Angie, and wangled his way into her house. He wasn’t stable enough to manage the planning and stealth Angie’s murder required. Or was he?
Laurel parked and was heading toward the front door of the hospital when she passed a man. Distracted, she paid no attention until he asked, “Laurel?”
She looked at him. “Neil!”
“Twice in one day after thirteen years.”
“Yes.” Laurel went blank for a moment, then spoke in a rush. “We had an accident at the store. Well, not an accident. Zeke Howard came in ranting and raving. Mary tried to quiet him and he shoved her into some glass shelves. The police took Zeke away and an ambulance came for Mary. She was unconscious.” Until now she’d thought she was in control, but suddenly to her surprise she burst into tears. “Neil, I’m afraid Mary’s neck is broken.”
“Good God,” he breathed. He took her arm. “I’ll go back in with you.”
“You don’t have to.” She fumbled in her purse for a packet of tissues.
“If I were a real gentleman I’d offer you my handkerchief, but I don’t carry one.”
“That’s all right,” she sniffled, locating the tissues. “Really, you don’t have to stay with me. You’ve probably been here all afternoon with your father.”
“I have, but I’d just be going home to his dark, empty house. Besides, I don’t want to leave until I hear how Mary is.”
When they reached the waiting room in the emergency area, Neil steered her to a section of empty chairs, then went to the desk, telling the nurse they were waiting for news about Mary Howard’s condition. Of course it was far too early for the doctors to know anything. Neil glanced back in at her. To her embarrassment, Laurel couldn’t stop crying. He disappeared, then came back with two cups of coffee.
“I’ve had gallons of this stuff in the last week,” he said. “It’s so awful it’s guaranteed to distract you from crying.”
“Thank you.” It was black and she used milk, but she said nothing. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m usually not the weepy type.”
He sat down beside her. “You had a bad shock and you’re terrified that Mary is severely injured. I’d say that’s reason enough to cry.”
That’s not all I’m crying about, Laurel thought. I’m crying for Faith and Angie and myself. I feel guilty and scared and lost. She took a sip of coffee and grimaced. “You weren’t kidding about this stuff.”
“As my father used to say, ‘It’ll put hair on your chest.’”
“Great. That’s all I need.”
Neil grinned. “At least you still have your sense of humor.”
“Barely.”
After a moment Neil asked, “Why did Zeke Howard come to the store?”
“I don’t know. He burst in quoting a lot of Bible verses.”
“Well, that’s par for the course. I don’t think the man’s ever been able to hold a real conversation. All he ever did was quote.” Neil shook his head. “My parents were part of his congregation, you know. Well, my father was the devoted one. My mother just went along to keep down trouble. But their membership is the only reason Zeke let Faith date me. He thought I was safe because I was one of his flock.”
But you weren’t safe, Laurel thought. You got Faith pregnant.
Laurel could feel color creeping into her cheeks at the thought and asked quickly, “Where are you living now?”
“Carmel, California. I did live in Virginia, just outside of
Witchcraft. The Six of Hearts. Mary said her father had been going through Faith’s things and Laurel worried that Faith might have left a diary detailing the members of the Six of Hearts and their activities. Is that what had triggered Zeke’s visit and his prediction of doom for Laurel? Was he the one who had hung the funeral wreath? But he couldn’t have sent the pictures of Angela. Her murderer had done that, and Zeke couldn’t have made the trip to New York, found Angie, and wangled his way into her house. He wasn’t stable enough to manage the planning and stealth Angie’s murder required. Or was he?
Laurel parked and was heading toward the front door of the hospital when she passed a man. Distracted, she paid no attention until he asked, “Laurel?”
She looked at him. “Neil!”
“Twice in one day after thirteen years.”
“Yes.” Laurel went blank for a moment, then spoke in a rush. “We had an accident at the store. Well, not an accident. Zeke Howard came in ranting and raving. Mary tried to quiet him and he shoved her into some glass shelves. The police took Zeke away and an ambulance came for Mary. She was unconscious.” Until now she’d thought she was in control, but suddenly to her surprise she burst into tears. “Neil, I’m afraid Mary’s neck is broken.”
“Good God,” he breathed. He took her arm. “I’ll go back in with you.”
“You don’t have to.” She fumbled in her purse for a packet of tissues.
“If I were a real gentleman I’d offer you my handkerchief, but I don’t carry one.”
“That’s all right,” she sniffled, locating the tissues. “Really, you don’t have to stay with me. You’ve probably been here all afternoon with your father.”
“I have, but I’d just be going home to his dark, empty house. Besides, I don’t want to leave until I hear how Mary is.”
When they reached the waiting room in the emergency area, Neil steered her to a section of empty chairs, then went to the desk, telling the nurse they were waiting for news about Mary Howard’s condition. Of course it was far too early for the doctors to know anything. Neil glanced back in at her. To her embarrassment, Laurel couldn’t stop crying. He disappeared, then came back with two cups of coffee.
“I’ve had gallons of this stuff in the last week,” he said. “It’s so awful it’s guaranteed to distract you from crying.”
“Thank you.” It was black and she used milk, but she said nothing. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m usually not the weepy type.”
He sat down beside her. “You had a bad shock and you’re terrified that Mary is severely injured. I’d say that’s reason enough to cry.”
That’s not all I’m crying about, Laurel thought. I’m crying for Faith and Angie and myself. I feel guilty and scared and lost. She took a sip of coffee and grimaced. “You weren’t kidding about this stuff.”
“As my father used to say, ‘It’ll put hair on your chest.’”
“Great. That’s all I need.”
Neil grinned. “At least you still have your sense of humor.”
“Barely.”
After a moment Neil asked, “Why did Zeke Howard come to the store?”
“I don’t know. He burst in quoting a lot of Bible verses.”
“Well, that’s par for the course. I don’t think the man’s ever been able to hold a real conversation. All he ever did was quote.” Neil shook his head. “My parents were part of his congregation, you know. Well, my father was the devoted one. My mother just went along to keep down trouble. But their membership is the only reason Zeke let Faith date me. He thought I was safe because I was one of his flock.”
But you weren’t safe, Laurel thought. You got Faith pregnant.
Laurel could feel color creeping into her cheeks at the thought and asked quickly, “Where are you living now?”
“Carmel, California. I did live in Virginia, just outside of
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