Josie raised a brow. “You were aware that he’d gone out?”
Vivian waved a hand in the air. “Not specifically, no, but I’m aware of his little ‘disguise.’ He uses it a lot. Sometimes he just likes to go out without being recognized or having to sign autographs or be ‘on.’ I guess to him it sounds better to say I’m the one keeping him from being in public rather than admit that a man needs a break now and then.”
Clanging sounded from the center of what used to be the game area. Vivian cocked her head in the direction of the noise. Then she waved her hand, beckoning them forward. “Come on in and see the place while we talk.”
They followed her to a set of double doors which she threw open. On the other side was a short hallway that had been padded with golden silk brocade. It led to the lower level of the church. Row upon row of cushioned maroon seats surrounded a large stage where center ice used to be. Josie and Noah looked around the cavernous space. There were three levels of seating plus the floor seats that surrounded the stage. Several men dressed similarly to Paul worked on the stage, dragging wires here and there, toying with the lighting, and testing microphones. In front of the stage was a rectangular stone wall. As they drew closer, past the lower level and onto the floor of the church, Josie saw that it was filled with water, almost like an in-ground pool. From its center rose a large, circular stone basin spilling water back into the pool.
Vivian’s eyes glowed with excitement. “It’s our baptismal font. Isn’t it gorgeous? It’s my favorite part of the new place here. Come closer.”
The smell of chlorine stung Josie’s nostrils as they approached the font.
“This place is just amazing,” Vivian went on. “Thatcher thought I was crazy—wanting to buy up and renovate a hockey arena—but he couldn’t see my vision.”
Josie said, “When I spoke with him, he said when you talk, he listens.”
Vivian circled the pool and they followed. Laughing, she said, “As if it were that easy! Thatcher has a mind of his own, and he’s very stubborn, but he did listen to me on this one. I started out in real estate, you know, before I became the wife of a televangelist.”
Josie tried to remember if she’d heard that in the many interviews she’d seen on television in the past several months, but she had never paid that much attention to them. “Real estate?” she said. “Did you know Nadine Fiore, by any chance?”
Vivian stopped walking and perched on the edge of the wall. She pressed a finger to her chin. “I don’t believe so, no.”
Josie said, “She used to be Nadine Watts.”
“Oh,” said. “Oh dear. Was she related to your press liaison? Amber?”
“Her aunt,” said Josie.
Vivian slowly shook her head. “I’m sorry, but it doesn’t ring a bell at all. Where is her office located?”
“Sullivan County,” said Josie.
Again, Vivian shook her head. “I’ve been based out of Montgomery County for most of my life, which, as I’m sure you know, is quite far from Sullivan County. I don’t recall ever meeting her. I can ask Thatcher? Maybe he knew her?”
“Mrs. Toland,” Noah interjected. “Is there any other reason that you can think of as to why your husband would visit the home of Amber Watts besides recruiting her for PR for the church?”
Vivian turned slightly and looked up. High above her, in the 200 section, Paul stood over a chair that he had pulled from the first row. He marked something on his clipboard.
Turning back to them, Vivian said, “I really don’t know, officers.”
“Detectives,” said Josie.
“Detectives,” Vivian echoed with a conciliatory smile. “But you can certainly ask him yourself tomorrow. Let me guess, when you saw him in the coffee shop, he tried to convert you? Did he ask you to come to the church? I always tell him not to push it so hard. Let people find their own way to you. They always do. He can’t help himself, though. The ministry isn’t just a thing he does, it’s who he is.”
“He was very persuasive,” Josie agreed.
Noah said, “Mrs. Toland, Amber Watts has been missing for three days. We have reason to believe that there may be foul play involved. In addition to that, her sister, Eden Watts, was found murdered around the time that she went missing.”
Vivian’s features fell. “Oh no. I’m so sorry. Here I am, prattling on about my husband and the church and you two are trying to solve an honest-to-goodness crime. I apologize. I can tell you that other than seeing Amber Watts on television, I didn’t know her or her sister—what did you say her name was?”
“Eden,” said Josie.
Vivian nodded solemnly. She folded her hands under her chin as if in prayer. “Eden,” she said softly. “I will pray for her and for Amber tonight.”
Noah said, “I’m surprised you hadn’t heard of them. Their brother Gabriel is a very loyal member of the Rectify Church.”
Vivian’s eyes widened. “Is he? How wonderful! I’ll have to ask Paul to track him down for us. He’ll need Thatcher’s counsel for sure after enduring such a tragedy.”
“You don’t know him personally?” asked Josie.
Vivian’s head tilted to the left. She frowned. “I am so sorry, but I do not. Unfortunately, our congregation is so large now that it’s impossible for me to know each member personally. I would love to be able to, but as you can see,” she waved a hand around their expansive surroundings. “The scope of what we’re doing with Rectify means that some of the personalized attention is just not there anymore. We hope to make up for that with our specialty programs and by having our youth and associate pastors take on more duties.”
“How about your husband?” asked Noah. “Is it possible he knows Gabriel Watts personally?”
“He’s never mentioned it, but I suppose it’s possible. If he doesn’t, he will. Thatcher will want to offer Mr. Watts any support he needs right now. My goodness. Imagine losing a sister right before the holidays.”
Josie held out a business card. “Please have your husband contact us as soon as possible.”
Vivian took the card and tucked it into one of her vest pockets. “I will, thank you. Now I know this isn’t why you’re here, but I do encourage both of you to come to our grand opening. We’re having a service on Christmas Eve. All are welcome. Detective Quinn, you’re well known in the community and well liked, I’m sure. If people knew you were comfortable attending Rectify Church, they might be more inclined to attend themselves.”
Josie gave her a tight smile. “We’ll see. For now, just ask your husband to call us.”
Twenty-Six