Free Armed and Dangerous by Jo Davis Page B

you heard of her?”
    â€œI’m not sure.” Jimmy hesitated, frowning, then his expression cleared. “You know, I read about her murder in the paper, but I didn’t pay much attention to the details.”
    â€œShe worked as a church secretary at the Lamb of God. I thought you might have been acquainted somehow, or seen her around.”
    â€œI don’t think so, but . . .” The doctor trailed off, frowning.
    â€œRemember something?” Shane’s posture tensed, and his gray eyes sparked with interest.
    â€œYeah.” Jimmy’s expression grew troubled. “This is probably just a coincidence, but one of our members works at Lamb of God—William Wakefield.”
    â€œYou don’t say,” Shane drawled, looking excited now. “What does he do there?”
    â€œHe’s the reverend. Not that he ever told us as much.” Jimmy laughed softly. “I mean, what minister would want it to get out that he and the wife are part of a sex club?”
    â€œSo how did
you
find out?” Daisy asked.
    â€œBy accident. I drove by the church one day and saw Will locking up. I did a little poking around and found out. Marla and I kept it to ourselves, though.”
    Marla spoke up, appearing intrigued. “That poor woman worked for Will? I wonder why he would show up at our gathering this week as though nothing happened? Isn’t that strange?”
    â€œVery,” her husband agreed with distaste. “And pretty damned cold, if you ask me. I’m not sure why they come at all. Maybe they hope to make friends and convert us all, or maybe they’re simply hesitant to get started. If word of their desires got out, they’d be ruined in the community.”
    Daisy had a feeling their participation was much more sinister than that. A glance at Shane confirmed he was on the same wavelength. Shane held out the sheet of paper with all of the group members’ names and addresses on it, and pointed to the one they’d been curious about.
    â€œI suppose that might be why Will and Allie gave the club a PO box for their address instead of their real one?”
    Jimmy nodded. “I’d say so. Since he kept his occupation a secret, I’m not surprised he would be reluctant to list his church on Holly Street as his home address.”
    â€œTrue,” Shane said with a smile. “Jimmy and Marla, you’ve been most helpful.”
    â€œWe hope so,” the doctor replied in earnest. “I’m not sure what the hell is going on, but please let us know if there’s anything else we can do.”
    After saying their goodbyes, Daisy followed Shane back to the truck. “I think we’re onto something, Kimosabe. Are we headed where I think we are?”
    He glanced at her, his grin feral. “I’m feeling the need to say a few prayers for the lost, how about you?”
    The thrill of the hunt zipped through her veins. “Oh, yes. I’m thinking that’s a very good idea.”
    Pressing on the accelerator, Shane headed the truck toward the middle of town, in the direction of the big church on Holly Street.

5
    Shane drove as fast as possible toward the church, hyperaware of Daisy sitting so close. He was trying to keep his focus on their new lead, but it wasn’t easy. Now that he’d tasted her again and again, he only wanted more—which was the worst of possible ideas. He was going to break her heart.
    Only he was starting to suspect his would take a giant blow as well.
    Daisy cut into his morose thoughts. “So, Nikki Thompson wasn’t a swinger, just a nice girl who worked as William’s church secretary.”
    â€œMaybe not as much of a good girl as it seems on the surface.”
    â€œPossibly.”
    â€œNow the question is, if she ran afoul of William or Allie, what happened? And how does her death relate to Vanessa’s, not to mention why the others were