Chapter 30
Detective Casey
The hum of voices died out as I entered the open double doors of the church. People began to turn and I held my head higher as I forced myself to walk to the third row from the front where Anna and I had set. It had only been a handful of times and I hadn’t been back inside since the funeral, but for the life of me, I couldn’t stay away. The atmosphere reminded me of her, and I needed that more than ever.
Lucille’s lip curled back and she whispered to Mrs. Farley before sitting straighter. I ignored her, instead focusing on how Anna would want this. I sat down, nodding and throwing a grin to Janneke, who sat on the pew in front of ours. Low voices began again and I shifted in my seat as I waited.
“Good to see you here, Braden.”
“Thank you, Mr. Farley. Glad I could make it.”
His wife leaned closer to Anna’s mother, continuing whatever hushed conversation they were having. The soft sound of the organ began playing a tune and I took a deep breath. People stared. Some threw me sad looks. Regardless of being slightly uncomfortable, I couldn’t deny I was more welcomed than not. There was a peace in that. Lucille may have blamed me for Anna and my child’s death, but not everyone held the same views.
The pastor came from the side entrance next to the stage, making stops at the first few to welcome some of the families. His stare came up, stopping on me. The warm smile had me mirroring the expression.
Music began to play. The pastor spoke. Church went on as it normally did, with the exception of kind words and prayers for me and Lucille. Tears built in my eyes and some hands grasped my arms and shoulders for comfort, but all I could do was slightly turn and nod. Whether what I was doing was right or not, it helped me, and I needed that. I was lost. I was walking a cliff of bad decisions and had to stay strong. Anna had taught me that with her goodness.
More songs came, as did more scriptures and life lessons related to the bible. Although I heard them, I was more gone than there. Janneke had mentioned she had stories of Anna. Since my run-in with No One, that’s all I had been thinking about. It was the closest I could get to the woman I lost.
I glanced to the dark hair waving over the woman’s shoulders. She had to be in her mid-twenties. She was relatively attractive, but not overly so. There was an innocence about her that put me at ease. She’d help me, and I wouldn’t feel guilty for having anything to do with a woman when I was so heartbroken over another.
The pastor grew quiet, and one by one, people rose. I stood, heading for the aisle. A few families came over saying greetings and offering prayers. I thanked them, but my stare kept going back to Janneke, and she saw. She made her way over and I glanced at Lucille’s furious gaze before coming back to her.
“You said you had stories about Anna?”
“Yes.” She paused. “What happened that day? You just took off running. I got scared.”
My head lowered and I couldn’t hold in the frown. “I’m sorry. I saw someone.”
“Was it him?”
The question was low and I glanced up, nodding. “I shouldn’t even be talking to you, but I feel like we’re safe here.”
“We are,” she assured. “Why don’t we sit down? I’ll tell you the first time Anna and I met.”
Lucille stomped by and I ignored her as I headed for the closest pew and sat. Janneke waved goodbye to her mother and took a seat a good two feet away.
“I was in high school. I believe Anna was a freshman in college. She was very quiet when they first moved here. And a little apprehensive to make friends, if I remember right. I tried to talk to her a few times, but she kept to herself then.” Janneke laughed. “I guess I wore her down. It took a few months, but Anna finally came around. We started going to the coffee shop across the street after church where we’d sit for hours and just talk.”
My attention went to the door and I gripped the back of the pew as I stared. “The one across from here?”
“Yes.” Janneke smiled, but it slowly faded as I looked over at her. “I don’t think we missed a single Sunday for…years. Our conversations ranged. They went from her telling me about the classes she was taking, to later, what was going on at her work. I’d tell her about everything happening in my life. Boys, for me. Whatever current chaos was transpiring in my life. You see, I was the trouble maker. Anna was the good girl. She’d laugh at me all the time. Probably over things we shouldn’t have found funny,” Janneke said, peeking up. “Anna was great. She was my best friend for a very long time. I could always count on her being there.”
I nodded, feeling too choked up to speak. If only I had known Anna then. If we could have met long before this killer, maybe things would be different. Maybe we’d be a family, living in some suburban home and I’d come home to her and our kids.
To live in a dream was more than I could bear. I blinked the images away and pushed to stand. “Thank you for that.”
“Would you like to go?”
Janneke rose, nodding to the door.
“Go where?”
“To get coffee. To talk more about Anna. I have a lot more stories to tell.”
My mouth opened, only to shut. Even though it was innocent, it felt wrong. But…Anna. I wanted to hear. I wanted to know everything.
“Maybe one cup.”