Deadly Revenge (Pearl River #3)

Chapter 61

61

He slipped into the church from a side door. The receiving line reached all the way to the front door. A quick check of his watch confirmed there was no need to get in line—the service would start in ten minutes, and one thing funeral director Harvey Pickford prided himself on was starting a service on time.

There was room on the back pew, and he scanned the rows as he ambled toward the back of the church to see who all was there. Sheriff Stone’s granddaughter, the new chief deputy, sat two rows up with the police chief.

When he reached the last row, his mouth turned to cotton. He hadn’t noticed that Jenna Hart and that TBI agent were already seated on the pew. It would look odd if he looked for another seat. He swallowed down his fear.

“Excuse me.” After plopping down, he nodded to the deputy. “Afternoon.”

He had no idea what her response was as he concentrated on slowing his heart rate. A slight noise at the front of the receiving line drew his attention. Harrison Carter was speaking to Slater’s sister again. Carter hadn’t changed since he left town—he was the only one who counted.

In his mind he heard the explosion his bomb would make and how everyone’s attention would be pulled toward the lake. Then, with everyone looking the other way, he saw himself pointing his rifle at Carter and pulling the trigger.

Organ music swelled in the church, jerking him out of his fantasy. Except it wasn’t a fantasy because fantasies didn’t come true. And come Founders Day, Harrison Carter would be dead and the reservoir would be drained. The land would be returned to its original purpose.