Free Devil's Kiss by William W. Johnstone

two and coming up with five? So there is an odor in the house. So what?
    But why the same odor?
    He had no answer.
    â€œJohn?” Sam asked. “How is the membership at your church holding up?” The Chief was a member of the Episcopal Church.
    Why—” the man hesitated, “come to think of it, it’s down. Yes, down by quite a bit.”
    Sam looked at Jane Ann. “I don’t want you to press charges, Janey. Just let this incident drop. I think it would be best. John has cautioned Jimmy not to say anything about it. Best won’t mention it. But I’ve got a hunch Best will be behind another badge by this time tomorrow.”
    â€œNot on my department, he won’t!” John said.
    â€œNo,” Sam agreed. “He’ll be working for the Sheriff’s Department.”
    â€œWalter?” John was startled. “Why would Walter hire Best after I’ve fired him?”
    Sam toyed with his empty coffee cup for a moment. “I’d like to ask you a few questions, John—if you don’t mind. You have a few minutes to spare?”
    â€œFire away, Sam. I’d like to hear what’s on your mind.”
    â€œThe sheriff is telling everyone that the FBI came in here, investigating the disappearance of Larry and Joan. Did they talk to you?”
    The Chief shook his head. “No, Sam, they did not.”
    â€œDon’t you think that strange?”
    â€œVery. But I’ve kept my mouth shut about it.”
    Why?”
    Because—well,” his face tightened for a moment. “You ask your questions, Sam, then I’ll tell you my opinions, okay?”
    â€œDeal. Now then, Bill Mathis says the FBI talked with him, at length, in his office at school. But Jane Ann knows that to be a lie. Mathis was clear across the state, at a meeting. So that makes him a liar. Why would he lie? Add this up, John: Joan was a student of Jane Ann’s, yet the FBI didn’t question her. Joan was a member of my church, but they didn’t talk to me. Larry worked part-time for Chester, yet they didn’t speak to Chester about it. Larry was a member of your church, but they didn’t question Father Haskell or you. Your addition is as good as mine, John. The FBI didn’t come in because they weren’t notified.”
    For a time, the Chief kept his eyes downcast, looking at the coffee table. He was deep in thought. Finally, he nodded his head. “Yes, you’re right, Sam—it stinks! It’s bothered me for weeks; things I just can’t seem to get hold of. And it’s not just the kids. It’s all these grave robbings, too. And nothing is being done about it. Then there is the general mood of this town. I’ve got a very bad feeling that something awful is going to happen. Call it a cop’s hunch, if you will.”
    â€œI know, John.”
    â€œThere’s something else, too,” the Chief said. “Walter told me a barefaced lie the morning the kids were reported missing. He told me he’d been to a sheriff’s meeting the night before, just got in that morning. That’s not the truth, Sam. There was no sheriff’s meeting—I checked.”
    â€œWhat made you check, John?”
    â€œBecause he volunteered the information to me, Sam—for no reason. His answers were too pat, and too quick. I never asked for any of them. It was as if he was trying to convince me of his innocence. But why should I even suspect he’d done anything wrong?”
    â€œThere’s something else,” Chester spoke. “I overheard Walter talking to one of his deputies yesterday. I was standing by my door at the store, just behind that display to the right of the front door. They were walking past, stopped, and didn’t see me. I didn’t catch all the conversation, but what I did hear froze me. Walter said, ‘Does the Coven meet tomorrow night?’ The deputy, Harris, said, ‘Yes, at full dark,