“Dad didn’t trust Eddy?”
“Not one bit. I believe he threatened Eddy a few times after dinner and when the Pastor was not around.” Mom shook her head. “Once Eddy went back to jail, Julia was never the same. But we continued to go to dinner because the Pastor began to expect it. Then, Julia got hooked on drugs, started stealing from the donation plates, and even taking jewelry from her mother’s bedroom.”
“I don’t remember any of that.”
“You were just a pre-teen and getting in your own little trouble.” Mom gave me a sad smile. “A while later, Julia ran away. The whole time, your dad did his best to look after Julia while she lived on the streets. Anytime she had trouble with the law, he got her off any charges and brought her on home to the Pastor. But none of that helped. She ended up getting pregnant a few times and—”
“Wait.” I raised my eyebrows. “How many kids did Julia have?”
“Two.”
A sad cloud hovered over me. “Where is Julia now?”
“They say she’s out on the streets.” Mom didn’t look like she wanted to socialize anymore. She bypassed a few groups waving her over and headed to the door.
I followed her. “I know Julia has been on drugs the whole time. But do you know why the Pastor took Vernon from her?”
“Each time, Julia became pregnant, she stopped using. Pastor even gave her money to open up a beauty salon. She did well for a little bit. I would even get my hair done there. And then months would pass, and Julia would be hooked again. Every year, she always quit a little bit, come to church, and sit in the pew with her kids. We always prayed and hoped her battle with drugs would end, but she kept going back.”
“Why did Pastor Miller finally step in and take Vernon?”
“He wanted to take those kids many times, but I think he felt guilty and he loved Julia so much. He didn’t want to hurt her.” Mom opened the door and we walked out. “But when Julia’s daughter died, they knew they couldn’t go on anymore.”
I stopped Mom on the steps. People chattered as they walked by us. Fear entered my heart. “How did her daughter die?”
“Suffocation.”
My heart broke. “W-who did it?”
“They don’t know what happened.”
“Mom, what do you mean they don’t know what happened?”
“Pastor Miller and his wife always came on Sunday to pick up their grandbabies and take them to church. When they showed up, Vernon was asleep in his bed and the little girl was in her bedroom dead.”
“Where was Julia?”
“Out in the streets somewhere. That day, she lost her kids to neglect. Pastor Miller and his wife took custody of Vernon.”
“And what did the police say about the little girl’s death?”
Sighing, Mom guided me over to the side of the steps and kept her voice low. “Your father talked to the force and had them leave the investigation alone.”
“What do you mean? Dad would have been retired by then.”
“They let him sign off on the report and hit it.”
“A retired cop?”
“This is Fullbrooke, baby. The cops were looking at Vernon. That poor boy had been through enough. Your father didn’t think it was right for the police to try and send him to jail, especially when there was no true proof that he was the one who did it. They weren’t even sure how she suffocated.”
“Oh my God.”
“Your father thought it was the best thing—”
“How old was she?”
“Four years old.”
My Mom’s best friend Mrs. Judy came over. Because they were friends since high school and she practically helped raise me, I called her Aunt Judy. As soon as she spotted me, she gave me a huge hug.
“Hey, Aunt Judy.” I smiled, trying to push the terror off my face. But on the inside, the gloom grew.
“You’re looking good, Haven.”
“Thanks, Aunt Judy.”
“Haven?” Mom patted my back. “You’re coming over to the Pastor’s house for dinner?”
My voice scratched. “Yes. I’ll be there.”
“Are you bringing your supervisor?”
“Yes, Mom.”
Aunt Judy laughed. “Haven found herself a winner.”
I shook my head at the both of them. “You all go ahead. I’ll wait for him.”
“That’s right. Bring him on over to the Pastor’s house.” Aunt Judy snapped her fingers. “We’re all hungry.”
“Now, Judy if you don’t stop.” Mom pushed her friend along. “Out in front of this church being devilish.”
“God knows what he did when he made that man.” Aunt Judy chuckled to herself and followed my mother down the steps.
I pulled my phone out and dialed Alexander.
He answered, “Haven.”
“Church is out. Where are you? Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I’m actually leaving the church’s basement. The opening to the men’s bathroom was undone again. I went down there but didn’t see Vernon.” Metal clattered on his side of the line. “However, the back door was opened. I think he went through there and then ran out that way.”
I let out a long breath.
“Haven? Are you okay?”
“Yes. It’s just. . .I definitely think this could be Vernon.”
Curiosity filled his voice. “Why?”
I went down the steps and moved further away from the departing congregation. “His mother was most likely molested as a teen. She started using drugs. When she had Vernon and his sister, she was pretty neglectful and still using.”
“He does have a sister.”
“Well. . .had a sister.”
Curiosity hit his voice. “How did she die?”
“Mysterious suffocation.”
“Damn it.”
“And. . .” I cleared my throat. “Pastor Miller found Vernon and his sister on a Sunday morning. The police didn’t do a full investigation due to. . .my father kind of asking for a favor.”
The line clicked.
Did he hang up?
Alexander’s voice sounded behind me. “Then, everything is pointing to Vernon being our Unsub.”
Startled, I spun around. “I think so. His mother even did hair, which would explain how Vernon would know how to hot comb. He might’ve watched his mother do his sister’s hair before church on Sunday.”
“Being that his mother was neglectful, Vernon probably dressed his sister and did her hair himself.”
“Yes.” I thought about Pastor Miller and his family. The hurt that they would experience if this was true. The impact to the church and community. Things would never be the same again.
In that moment, the Drakes as well as other Fullbrooke Six parents left the church. It was odd how all of them remained together. Not talking or chatting with each other, but they moved in one group. They had even sat together. It made sense. Only they could understand their pain. I wondered if they found comfort and protection from each other.
Melody’s mother, Mrs. Luther glanced my way as she walked by. Mom had told me that after her daughter was taken, she divorced her husband and moved back in with her parents. There were rumors that her husband had lost his mind. People swore they saw him walking hand-in-hand with some young guy. Many had even thought that because he was gay, perhaps he had something to do with the murders. But in the end, it was just homophobic propaganda based on no truth.