Thirty and a Half Excuses
Page 66

Jonah cleared his throat. “Jesus made himself available to the tax collectors and the prostitutes. A doctor doesn’t treat healthy people. I’m here to help the downtrodden and the misguided. If some of my parishioners happen to have less than spotless records, well, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“I’m talking about one in particular. Bruce Wayne Decker. In fact, I hear you’re so taken with him that you featured him in a video in your service yesterday.”
“Well, yes…” Jonah said. “I’m fascinated by his relationship with Rose.”
“Rose Gardner?”
My heartbeat pounded in my head. I didn’t like where this was going.
“Yes,” Jonah drawled. “They have a loyalty to each other I’m still trying to understand.”
“Yeah,” Taylor said, sounding puzzled. “I’m trying to figure those two out too. Do you want to hear my theory?”
“Sure.” But Jonah didn’t sound so sure.
“Rose Gardner and Bruce Wayne Decker are part of your dirty little scheme.”
“What scheme?” Jonah asked.
I gasped as my anger rose. How dare he!
“Is that an admission that they are?”
“There’s no admission of any kind, Detective. I hired the Gardner Sisters Nursery to work for the church. Bruce Wayne is their employee.”
“So what are she and Decker doing here now?”
“They’re working on the church parsonage.” Jonah sounded ruffled.
“How convenient that they’re here the morning after a murder.”
I couldn’t believe him. How could he think of pinning this on me? And how dare he assume Bruce Wayne was involved without any evidence.
“Am I under arrest, Detective?”
Taylor paused for several seconds. “No, but don’t leave town, Mr. Pruitt.”
“That’s Reverend Pruitt.”
“We’ll see about that.”
The edges of my vision blackened, and I tensed. Now was a terrible time to get a vision.
I was in the police station, and Bruce Wayne stood in front of me pale as a ghost.
“I didn’t do it. I swear.”
I laughed, but it was an ugly sound. “Once a criminal, always a criminal, Decker. It was only a matter of time before I put you away again. Ever heard of three strikes and you’re out?”
Bruce Wayne started shaking, backing up into a police officer standing behind him. “I’ve been good. I promise. I’m gettin’ my life together.”
“Yeah, tell it to the judge.”
Jonah’s backyard came into focus along with Bruce Wayne’s panicked face.
“You’re gonna get arrested.” I said.
His mouth dropped open then he grabbed my arm and pulled me down from the bucket. “Ernie’s comin’ back here.”
I bent over, pointing to a plant as Officer Ernie rounded the back corner. “This needs some serious attention, Bruce Wayne.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Bruce Wayne nodded. “I’ve added that to the list.”
Ernie spread his feet apart, hooking his thumbs in his waistband. “Whatcha you two doin’ back here?”
I straightened. “What’s it look like we’re doin’?” I hoped I sounded belligerent, because at the moment I was freaking out.
My question stumped him for several seconds. “It looks like you’re poking around in some bushes.”
“Since I own a gardening center, does it seem suspicious that I’d be poking around in some bushes?”
His forehead wrinkled. “Well, no…”
“Can we help you with something, Officer? Or were you just planning to watch us work?”
Ernie’s face reddened, and he spread two fingers into a V, pointing them at his eyes then in our direction. “I’m on to you two.”
Bruce Wayne trembled.
I went from intimidated to ticked off. How dare they do this to him? I put my hand on my hip, lifting my chin in defiance. “You’re onto the fact that we’re the best landscaping team in southern Arkansas?”
“No, that you’re abetting a murderer.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. Especially when you take into consideration that I’ve turned in every murderer I’ve ever come across.”
Ernie’s jaw worked again.
I turned to Bruce Wayne. “I think we’re done here for now. Let’s head back to the nursery and collect what we need.”
He nodded, looking incapable of speech.
I marched past Ernie, offering him a syrupy smile as I passed. Bruce Wayne followed, slouching as though he hoped to sink into the ground and disappear. When we got to the front yard, I lowered my voice. “Get into my truck.”
“Okay.”
Detective Taylor appeared in the front door, Jonah standing behind him. Taylor watched as I drove off.
“They think Jonah murdered Miss Laura, Miss Dorothy, and the woman this morning.” I shot a glance to Bruce Wayne. “And they think you and I are part of it.” Had the autopsy results come back? What could have made them change their minds so suddenly about Miss Laura and Miss Dorothy’s deaths? I might as well tell Bruce Wayne the rest, since I’d already blurted part of it into his face. “And at some point they are going to arrest you.”
As soon as we turned the corner Bruce Wayne began to hyperventilate. “Why do they think that?”