Free Dangerous Mercy: A Novel by Kathy Herman

leaning against her car, waiting for sheriff’s deputies to arrive.
    She picked up her cell phone and dialed Noah’s number. It rang several times. Come on, Noah, pick up.
    “Hey there,” he said. “How was your visit with Zoe?”
    “Are you still on the grounds?”
    “I’m out in the shed, organizin’ my tools. You sound upset.”
    “Have you seen or talked to Flynn Gillis today?”
    “Flynn? Why are you asking about him?”
    “Have you?”
    “No. He didn’t show up for breakfast. He borrowed Father Vince’s car and stayed out all night. He’s on everybody’s list right now.”
    “Not anymore. He’s dead.”
    “Flynn’s dead? How do you know that?”
    “Angel discovered him a few minutes ago and came and got me.”
    “Are you sayin’ he’s here—at Langley Manor?”
    “Yes, his body’s down in the bayou.” Vanessa sighed. “The sheriff’s on his way. Do you have any idea who might have done this?”
    “Not really. Nobody could stand the guy. But I don’t know anyone who’d want to kill him.”
    Vanessa felt her face turn hot. “Noah, I have a feeling the sheriff is going to press you pretty hard—since you didn’t like Flynn and his body was discovered out here where you work.”
    There was a long moment of dead air.
    “I’ve got nothin’ to hide. I’ll just come up there to the house and talk to the sheriff.”
    “All right. Let’s stay calm. Maybe we should call Father Vince and have him come out.”
    “I know how to tell the truth. You think havin’ a priest sittin’ next to me would make me sound more believable?”
    She winced. “I’m sorry, Noah. My mom was a cop, and I grew up around this kind of thing. You’re going to be a person of interest until they prove who murdered the guy.”
    “Do we even know it was murder?”
    “I’m making that assumption—since he seemed to irritate everyone he came in contact with. What are the odds he just dropped dead in our bayou?” Vanessa wiped her upper lip. “I hate this.”
    There was a long pause. “You worried Sheriff Prejean’s gonna look harder at me because I’m black?”
    “I didn’t say that. He’s always been a fair man.”
    “Look, if I wanted to kill Flynn—which I didn’t —why would I do it out here when I’d be the first person they’d suspect?”
    “The sheriff is going to say it might’ve been a crime of passion—something you didn’t plan. That maybe you two had an argument, and it just happened.”
    Noah exhaled into the receiver. “I’ll be right there. There’s no way the sheriff can hang this on me. I didn’t do anything.”
    Vanessa saw a squad car pull up out front. “He’s here.”
    “I’m on my way.”

     
    Adele sat in the sunroom with Zoe, listening to her recount details of the awful ending to an otherwise wonderful morning with Vanessa.
    “It helps to talk about it,” Zoe said. “It was just so shocking to see Flynn’s body lying in the muck. I told Jude’s deputies what I know, but it’s really not much. I’m sorry. I’m repeating myself.”
    “You go ahead and talk, hon. I don’t mind listening.” Adele glanced over at Grace, who had curled up on the love seat and fallen asleep.
    “It seems like I should feel something, having just seen the body of a murdered man. But I’m numb.”
    “I’m not,” Adele said. “I feel quite guilty for having judged Flynn. He made me uncomfortable. Vanessa and I talked about it yesterday, and she encouraged me to tell Murray not to bring him over anymore.”
    “Adele, you were probably nicer to him than you think. You’re always nice to everyone.”
    Adele wrapped her hands around her Waterford iced-tea glass. “I could have done better—and should have. I suppose if I’d known—”
    “Please don’t tell me you’re going to feel guilty because you didn’t want Flynn over here. You were wise to listen to your instincts. He made most people uncomfortable.”
    “I should have been kinder when he was here at the