Best Kept Secrets(81)
of a sidewalk evangelist, "you've disappointed the Almighty."
His eyes rounded largely, then closed to mere slits.
"I warn you, the Lord will not tolerate being mocked."
She nervously moistened her lips and glanced around, hoping
to see some avenue of escape, though she didn't know
what form it might take. "I haven't meant to offend you or
God," she said, feeling foolish for even making such a statement.
"You haven't locked the iniquitous behind bars yet."
"I haven't found any reason to. My investigation isn't
complete. And just to set the record straight, Reverend Plummet,
I didn't come here to lock anybody behind bars."
"You're being too soft on the ungodly."
"If by that you mean that I've approached this investigation
impartially, then yes, I have."
"I saw you this morning fraternizing with that son of the
devil."
His maniacal eyes were arresting, if repellent. She caught
herself staring into them. "You mean Reede?"
He made a hissing sound, as though the very name conjured
up an evil spirit that must be warded off. "Don't be taken
in by his wily devices."
"I assure you, I'm not."
He came a step closer. "The devil knows where women
are weak. He uses their soft, vulnerable bodies as channels
for his evil powers. They're tainted, and must be cleansed
by a regular outpouring of blood."
He isn't only nutty, he's sick, Alex thought in horror.
He slapped his hand upon his Bible, causing Alex to jump.
Raising his index finger into the air, he shouted, "Resist all
temptation, daughter! I command every lascivious impulse
to desert your heart and mind and body. Now," he bellowed.
He slumped, as though the exorcism had totally drained
him of energy. Alex stood transfixed by disbelief. Coming
to her senses, she glanced around uneasily, hoping that no
one had witnessed this madness and her unwitting involvement
in it.
"As far as I know, I have no lascivious impulses. Now,
I must go. I'm late." She stepped off the curb despite the
fact that the traffic light was flashing instructions not to walk.
"God is counting on you. He's impatient. If you betray
his trust--"
"Yes, well, I'll try harder. Goodbye."
He lunged off the curb and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"God bless you, daughter. God bless you and your holy
mission." Clasping her hand, he pressed a cheaply printed
pamphlet into it.
"Thank you."
Alex worked her hand free and jogged across the street,
quickly putting two lanes of traffic between her and the
preacher. She trotted up the steps and barreled through the
courthouse doors.
Glancing over her shoulder to see if Plummet had followed
her, she ran right into Reede.
He caught her against his chest. "What the hell's the matter
with you? Where have you been?"
She wanted to lean against him, feel his protective strength,
until her heart stopped racing, but didn't allow herself the
luxury. "Nowhere. I mean, I went out. To lunch. At the,
uh, the B & B. I walked."
He studied her, taking in her windblown hair and ruddy
cheeks. "What's that?" He nodded down at the pamphlet
she was clutching in her white-knuckled hand.
' 'Nothing.'' She tried to stuff it into the pocket of her coat.
Reede snatched it out of her hand. He scanned the cover,
flipped it open, and read the message heralding doomsday.
"You into this?"
"Of course not. A sidewalk preacher handed it to me. You
really should devote some attention to clearing the panhandlers
off your city's streets, Sheriff," she said haughtily.
"They're a nuisance."
She stepped around him and continued downstairs.
Twenty-two
Nora Gail sat up and retrieved the filmy garment she'd worn
into the room.
"Thanks," Reede said to her.
She gave him a reproving glance over her milky-white
shoulder. Drolly she replied, "How romantic." After shoving
her arms through the ruffled sleeves of the peignoir, she left
the bed and moved toward the door. "I've got to go check
on things, but I'll be back, and we can talk." Patting her
beehive hairdo, she left the room.
Reede watched her go. Her body was compact now, but in a
few years it would go to fat. The large breasts would sag. Her
oversized nipples would look grotesque without any muscle
tone supporting them. Her smooth, slightly convex belly
would become spongy. Her thighs and ass would dimple.
Even though they were friends, he hated her at the moment.
He hated himself more. He hated the physical necessity that