Xylose Treats and Killer Sweets (Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Book 24) by Amber Crewes

Author:Amber Crewes [Crewes, Amber]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing
Published: 2021-08-26T22:00:00+00:00

15

Meghan’s jaw was agape as she watched the police car speed off with Reverend Stone in the backseat. The crowd began to disperse, and she wandered inside the church.

Two men were whispering frantically inside of the entryway. “Did he do it?” Meghan heard them whisper as she silently walked past them and into the lobby.

The lobby was a comfortable area with tan couches, paintings of the ocean, and a coffee-maker in the corner. Meghan saw a woman sitting at the reception desk with a bleak look on her face, and she walked over to her.

“Hey,” she whispered as the woman nearly jumped out of the chair. She looked to be around Trudy’s age, with curly red hair and gold-rimmed glasses. “What’s going on?”

The woman put a hand to her heart. “You scared me,” she sighed, shaking her head and closing her eyes. “I didn’t even see you come in.”

“Sorry,” she apologized. “I’m Meghan. I’ve volunteered here before and know the reverend. What is going on? Why did they arrest him?”

The woman hung her head. “I’m Paula,” she whispered before looking back at Meghan. “I am a volunteer here, too. I run this desk a few days a week and work in the nursery with the little ones. I don’t know what happened. The police showed up and demanded he go to the station. Reverend Stone was flustered, and they ended up arresting him.”

Meghan could see Paula was nervous. Her hands were shaking, and she was biting her lip. “Did they say why?”

“I couldn’t hear what they were talking about in his office,” she explained, her face pinched. “They arrived about twenty minutes ago, and I took them back to his office. I heard shouting, and then they dragged him out. It was awful. I’ve known the reverend for years. He baptized my children, he did premarital counseling for my husband and me, and he sat with my mother as she lay dying and conducted her funeral. He is a good man. I don’t know why they took him away.”

Paula burst into tears. “Sorry,” she apologized as she wiped her eyes. “I’m not usually like this. I think I am in shock…”

Meghan nodded. “That makes sense,” she offered gently. “It isn’t every day that we see someone we respect arrested. Can I do anything for you?”

Paula sniffled. “I’m okay,” she replied. “It’s above my pay grade to speculate on what happened with the reverend, anyway,” she joked weakly. “But I know he is innocent. He is a good man, and I know he didn’t do whatever they are accusing him of.”

Meghan smiled softly. “He is a good man,” she agreed. “Paula, it was nice to meet you. Are you sure I can’t do anything for you or call anyone?”

“I’m going to pack up and go home,” Paula shared. “My husband is on his way to pick me up. Thank you, though.”

Meghan turned and left the church. As she stepped outside, she heard the ominous roar of thunder. She looked up at the clouds, which were moving quickly.

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