Page 108 of Forever Dark
Arnold looked delighted.“Does he bite?”
“Only if he senses weakness.”
The man introduced himself as Duane Haskins and waved them inside before they asked.The trailer smelled of fried onions and something sweetly rotten Connor chose not to identify.Gideon vanished into a blanket pile and came back with what looked alarmingly like a thong in his mouth.
Duane took it away without embarrassment.
“You followed the mercy revival?”Connor asked.
“Followed ain’t the word.”Duane scratched his neck.“I do my praying mostly from this trailer, but when I’m up to it, I check out Preacher Croft’s words.”
Connor took in the walls, which were covered with handwritten verses, bumper stickers, and two clocks showing different times.
“You know Croft well?”
“Well enough to know that if the law thinks he’s done something bad, you’re barking up the wrong hymnbook.”
“Humor me.Tell me what your experience with him is.”
Duane sat at the table and leaned back until Connor expected the chair to split.“Croft saved me from a bad season.”
“What kind?”
“A lady left.Transmission blew.Then raccoons got into the crawl space.Things stacked up.”
Arnold nodded solemnly.“Tough run.”
Duane pointed at him.“Exactly.You get it.”
Connor pressed on.“I’m sorry to say, but we’re investigating a triple murder with connections to the revival.The names are Brenda Colter, Lauren Gimble, and Tara Brennan.Any of them sound familiar?”
“Oh man… Tara, yeah.I knew her!A lot of folks in the community did.She did a lot of volunteering and organized a few charity yard sales around and stuff like that.”
Connor looked up from the notebook.“You knew her well?”
“Not much, really.She was my nurse when I was in the hospital to get my gall bladder removed.Saw her at two services, maybe three.Stood near the back.Sang like she didn’t want anybody hearing how much she meant it.”
That was more than they had gotten from Bernice.
“Do you remember if she talked to anyone at the revival?Or if you ever saw a man perhaps showing her unwanted attention?”
“Might’ve spoken with one of the bus ladies.Might’ve prayed with Preacher.Hard to say.”
“What about the men around the bus?”
“No idea.”
Connor watched him.“Ever hear any rumors about the revival, like someone getting violent?”
Duane’s expression shifted.“You want me to say something ugly.”
“I want the person who killed Tara and two others.”
“Then find them without stepping on God’s work.”
Arnold said, “Nobody’s stepping on anything.”
Duane lowered his voice.“You lawmen always think you understand what’s happening.Most times you’re just early to the wrong conclusion.You can’t see what’s really there.”
