While Evan was sitting with Griggs, Bernice was on the phone to Father Coyle. She wanted to wash her hands of this situation as quickly as possible. Before the end of the day, she wanted nothing to do with either the young mother or her chubby baby. She strongly suspected it wouldn’t take the preacher long to figure out where they’d taken Melissa. And she was equally sure he’d take it upon himself to track the girl down.
“You got trouble headed your way,” she told the priest.
His reply sounded mildly amused, “We strive to see grievances as opportunities, openings for miracles. What is it this time?”
“Reverend Evan Wycliff. Stuart Shackleton sent him into the clinic to check on his son yesterday.”
“A pastoral visit might do the boy some good.”
“Nossir. This guy is out of control. He do
