Silent Night by Bill Noel

Author:Bill Noel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Enigma House Press

15

All eyes turned to Lottie, who stumbled and tripped over a table near the door. The room got quiet as she regained her balance and approached us. Burl stood and wrapped his arms around her and eased her in the chair she had vacated minutes earlier.

“What’s gone?” Burl asked, although I suspected he knew.

Lottie’s shoulders sagged, she rested her elbows on the table, and put her head between her hands. “Christmas is gone. Hope for the needy, gone. Oh, Preacher, it’s all gone.”

Amber had returned and squatted down beside Lottie. “Can I get you water?”

Lottie mumbled, “Please.”

I said, “What happened?”

Burl put his arm around Lottie who looked up with tears in her eyes. “Back door’s open. Drawer smashed. The money’s gone—it’s gone.”

Amber was quick with the water, and Lottie took a sip. I asked Amber for the check, paid, and said we should go to the church. It was cold outside, but I felt colder inside as we rushed to First Light. We entered the sanctuary, and I suggested Lottie may be more comfortable waiting on the back pew while Burl, Charles, and I continued to the office. The lockbox was on the floor, open, and empty. The back door looked like someone had used a crowbar on it. I told Charles and Burl not to touch anything and called Chief LaMond.

Five minutes later, the chief entered followed by Officer Allen Spencer, whom I’d known for several years. Cindy wore jeans, a paint-stained sweatshirt, and an old leather jacket. Spencer’s six-foot frame was decked out in a crisp Folly Beach Department of Public Safety uniform with a matching coat.

“Thanks for coming,” I said and pointed to the back room.

Cindy nodded and walked to the office door and looked around before turning to Spencer. “Start processing everything.” He nodded and left the building.

“He’ll get a print kit,” Cindy said, and sat in the pew in front of us and turned to Burl. “What happened, Preacher?”

Burl told her about the special collection, how much was in it plus the money from Cal’s, and about Lottie coming to the Dog to tell us. He said it was all he knew. Cindy turned to Lottie and in a softer voice asked what had happened. Lottie added little since all she had done was return to the sanctuary, saw the empty lockbox, and ran to the restaurant. Spencer returned and headed to the office.

Burl had his arm around Lottie and was reassuring her it wasn’t her fault, and everything would be okay. A few minutes later, the officer rejoined us and was shaking his head. “There’re some prints, probably yours Preacher, but most of them are smudged over. Looks like he wore gloves.” He looked around. “Security cameras?”

Burl shook his head.

“Lottie,” Cindy said, “I know the thief came in the back door but did you see anyone when you were coming here or after you found the box? There could have been more than one of them.”

Lottie blinked. “An older couple was walking on the sidewalk when I got here.

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