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one of your pastors, a Mr. Robert Pearson,” Tanya said.
“Bob?” Judith asked, narrowing her eyes. “Is this about those ridiculous accusations again? I swear some people just never give up. Look, I’ll tell you exactly what I told the young officer last month. Bob would never do something so…so…disgusting. He’s a kind, gentle man.”
“That’s not why we’re here,” I said, averting my gaze from hers for a moment before meeting it dead-on. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Pearson was murdered last night.”
The color drained from Judith’s face, her mouth parted slightly. She all but collapsed into the nearest seat, her shoulders slumped and head resting in her hands. Tanya took up the spot next to her, placing a hand on her back.
“We’re very sorry to have to break the news to you, but it would really help the investigation if we could ask you a few questions,” she said softly.
Judith sobbed and sniffled as she sat up. She nodded weakly.
“Did Mr. Pearson have any enemies?” I asked.
Tanya handed her a tissue, which Judith dabbed at her eyes. “There were people who believed he was guilty of molesting that young girl.”
“Did any of them ever make threats against him?” Tanya asked.
“A few. Most just moved on to another parish.”
“What kind of threats?” I asked.
“Mostly just notes asking him to leave. But a couple tried to assault him outside the church on his way home one night.” Judith paused, her gaze darting up to meet mine. “You don’t think one of them could have killed Bob, do you?”
I shook my head. “It’s doubtful. Did he ever receive any death threats? Phone calls?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Have you noticed anyone loitering around the area? Maybe someone who recently joined the congregation?”
“No.”
“He might have tried to blend in. Wouldn’t have done anything to draw attention to himself.”
She lowered her head again, the muscles in her face trembling. Her chest heaved as she cried once more.
“Alex,” Tanya said, giving her one last rub on the back before standing. “I think that’s enough questions. Thank you for time, Ms. Williams, and our condolences. If you think of anything at all, please give us a call.” She handed Judith a card and gave a firm squeeze of her shoulder.
The woman showed no sign that she had heard any of those words, but she did grip the phone number tight in her hand. I turned and walked briskly to the doors, taking a moment to pause as I crossed over the threshold and into the stifling air.
“What do you think?” Tanya asked.
“I reckon we got nothing.”
“But then we already knew that,” she replied.
I nodded in agreement. After a month of avoiding capture, it would be too easy if the killer started making rookie mistakes like letting people connect him to the victims. He would have been more likely to watch from a distance, waiting until his target left for home before following him.
“I wonder if he really did molest the girl,” Tanya said.
I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. The only important thing now is whether or not the killer believed it.”
Chapter Five
    The sky had darkened and bled to a deep red by the time I pulled up outside Vince’s apartment block. I killed the engine and slumped down in my seat to stare up at the sky. History was repeating itself again. Vince and I would always get back together with the promise that we would change, but in the end, it was only our breakup count that grew.
    So what was I doing back at his place?
I picked up the bag of Chinese takeout from the passenger seat and climbed out onto the sidewalk. I paused at the large blue door and pressed the bell for number twelve on the intercom.
A buzz came shortly after, accompanied by a click as the lock released. I went inside and up a flight of stairs, stopping outside Vince’s apartment.
“Last chance to turn back,” I told myself quietly. I waited again before finally steeling myself to rap my knuckles against the door. A few seconds