Lot's Return to Sodom by Sandra Brannan

Author:Sandra Brannan [Brannan, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, General
ISBN: 9781608322275
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
Published: 2010-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

AS QUICKLY AS THE thought came to mind that Coach Vincent might have been the man responsible for preying on Charlene’s innocence, I dismissed the idea. But not entirely. Not any more than I had dismissed the idea that maybe Clint White—who was also the right age and somewhat known around town—had something to do with Michelle’s death. Jens certainly knew Mayor Ken Vincent and fellow employee Clint White, but the idea of either one of them being such a heinous predator seemed so foreign to me.

I had to remind myself that everyone was a suspect. Everyone, that is, except Jens.

I cleared my throat. “That’s exactly what I wanted to know. Why did she mean the world to you?”

He studied his coffee cup, his slight hands wrapped around the warm ceramic. “I was still coaching the junior league, twelve- and thirteen-year-olds.”

“I remember. You were talking about moving up with us to senior ball, but you decided to stay, right?”

Coach nodded. “My daughter and Michelle were in the same class, and she had come to tryouts at Brittany’s encouragement. Michelle was a little reluctant because she had never played softball before. Several had come up from little league, so we coaches had already gotten a good look at most of the girls’ playing abilities.”

I was familiar with Coach Vincent’s dedication to the sport and to excellence. He had an eye for talent.

“I remember Michelle very well because she looked so scared, nervous, yet so intent on proving, as an unknown, what she could do.” He laughed, and his eyes glazed over with far-off thoughts. “I swear the first ball she swung at was still rising when it cleared the left center field fence.”

Eating another bite of pie, he waved off the waitress from refilling his coffee. “Thanks, but I need to get going soon. I’ll take the check.”

The waitress smiled, “Okay, Chief.”

I knew I’d better hurry up or I was going to lose my opportunity.

Coach Vincent added, “I was lucky enough to be the all-star coach for both of her years in that league and Michelle was chosen every year. She played third base.”

“So that’s how you knew Michelle?”

“That, and Brittany became close friends with her,” he said, his brows knitting. “My daughter wasn’t really very skilled at the game, but she thought she was. At first, Brittany thought I was favoring Michelle over the other girls, which I suppose I was. I sensed she needed the extra attention.”

“How so?” I asked, intercepting the check from the waitress and handing her a twenty.

Coach’s light blond eyebrows buckled. He sipped his coffee before answering. “I can’t put my finger on it, really. All teenage girls are difficult. I’ve had three, Brittany being my oldest. But Michelle changed from the little girl I saw drive the ball out of the park when she was twelve. By the end of her second year, at thirteen, she was … troubled.”

“Troubled? In what way?”

“I’ve been around kids all my adult life, particularly around kids who come from challenging backgrounds, broken homes, abusive relatives.

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