Free Fairytale of Headley Cross by Clare Revell Page A

home.”
    “She’s in the hall with the others.” Maggie led them to the meeting room, across the corridor from the office. She sat down, her stomach turning. “What’s happened? Is it my parents or Pippa?”
    Nate shook his head, pulling out his notebook. “No. We’ll be as brief as possible. I imagine you’re busy.”
    “Yes, I have fifty kids in the hall for a nativity rehearsal.”
    “When was the last time you saw Pastor Carson?”
    Maggie looked at him startled. Carson? This was about Carson? “Why?”
    “Maggie, I know you and Carson are seeing each other outside of the church.”
    She looked from one man to the other. “I’m not sure what me seeing Carson has to do with anything. Surely it isn’t a crime to date your own pastor is it?”
    “Maggie…” Dane spoke firmly. “We’re not here on church business. Whether you and Carson are dating or not, has nothing to do with anyone but the two of you. This is an official police enquiry and we need to know when the last time you saw or spoke to him was.”
    “What? Is he OK? Is he hurt?”
    “Just answer the question.” Nate’s tone changed, becoming harsher. “Or we can go down the station and do this. It’s your choice. When was the last time you saw Carson?”
    Maggie’s fingers clenched on her skirt and she pushed back into the chair, shock radiating through her. What on earth was going on here? This was coming out of the blue and so fast that she could hardly catch her breath. “Yesterday lunchtime, after church, but I already told you that.”
    “And after that? Did you go around after you left church last night?”
    “I did, but he wasn’t in. The house was in darkness. That was about eight. I went home and then walked Gypsy before turning in about eleven.” She twisted the end of her hair over her fingers. “I rang him a couple of times. He finally answered about ten thirty. There was a lot of background noise and loud music where he was, so he said he’d call me back.”
    “And did he?”
    “Yeah, a minute or so later. Just time for the kettle to boil. He sounded drunk. We talked for a bit.”
    “How long for?”
    “Five or ten minutes. I couldn’t tell precisely. He was questioning everything. His faith, his calling, said the church wanted rid of him. I told him that wasn’t going to happen.”
    “Did he say where he was?”
    “No, but like I said it was really noisy. Then there was a crash in the background and he said he had to go.”
    The two men exchanged a long look before Nate wrote down what she’d said. “And you’re sure of the time?”
    “He rang my mobile. I can show you if you like. I don’t delete my call history.”
    “That would be a great help.”
    “I’ll go and get it.” She stood and hurried to the staff room. She opened her locker. What had Carson gotten himself into if he were in trouble with the police?
    God, be with Carson. Help him fight whatever is going on. I don’t believe he could have broken any laws no matter how drunk he was last night. Maybe it’s a simple DUI, but why would they need to interview me. That’s a simple breath test and fine. Isn’t it?
    She grabbed her phone and turned it over. It was always on, just on silent while she was in class. There were three messages. One from Jan, one from Nate and one from Wesley.
    She sighed. She really should change her number like Nate suggested. Taking a deep breath, she walked down the corridor, reading her phone as she walked.
    Nate’s read: Maggie, can you ring me as soon as you get this? Its urgent. Probably no point doing that now as he’d come and found her at work.
    Jan’s message seemed to be full of gossip from the opening few words, but then she’d come to expect that.
    Scandal in the church. Pastor Carson has been arrested and charged with murder…
    Maggie stopped dead. What?
    Her heart pounded, and her stomach dropped into her shoes. She read the message slowly from the beginning again. Scandal in the church. Pastor