Claire opens the conversation. “I’ve never done this before, so I don’t really know where to begin.”
“Not to worry, I’ve done this a lot. I’ll start by asking questions, and we can go from there. First, what can you tell me about Thursday, the night Harkness didn’t show up at the church?”
“After we closed the church, I checked on her myself, thinking she might be ill. When she didn’t answer my text or call, Daniel and I went to her apartment. The car was there, but she was gone. Or at least, no one answered the door.”
“Maybe she just went for a walk.”
“That’s exactly what Daniel said. But why, when she had her service to do? The next day — yesterday — I checked the hospitals before I went to work, but nothing. Now I’m worried.”
“You’re right to be concerned,” I say. “I’m happy to help, but honestly, the police have the resources to do a better search. They can look at phone records and financial records, get a warrant for her apartment, see if she’s been active on line.”
Claire looks away and takes off her hat, smoothing her close-cropped hair. “Daniel thinks we should give it more time. He’s convinced she’ll turn up. That we’d be invading her privacy. But yesterday I put my foot down, which is why he agreed to have you to look into it. As a compromise.”
Some compromise.“When was the last time you saw or talked to her?”
“Me? I’m not sure. It’s been over a week, probably. But Daniel sees her on a daily basis. You could ask him.”
“He hasn’t said?”
“No.”
I pause to consider that. I’m getting a bit suspicious of Daniel, frankly. But. He’s my client and her husband, so I skip that for now.
“Does she have any family in the area?”
“Not that I know of. But she did live here as a child, so there could be. Her mother lives in Portland.”
“Would Victoria have gone to her?”
Claire scoffs. “I doubt it. I’d sooner believe she was trying to escape from her. That woman is a piece of work.”
“How so?”
“She’s super conservative and smothering. Victoria told me how she was always trying to get her to move back home, drop the church, meet a nice man and get married. I think that’s one reason Victoria and I hit it off. I left home as soon as I turned eighteen, jumped on the back of my boyfriend’s Harley and headed for Des Moines.” Her eyes take on a faraway look. “How I did love riding that motorcycle.”
“You from Iowa?”
“Yeah. Went from there to California and wound up here in Oregon.”
“So, a transplant like me. If you have her family’s contact info, I’d like to talk to them. They might be able to shed some light on her motives, or her location.”
“There’s just her mother, as far as I know. Daniel will have those details. I’ll have him email you.” She takes out her phone and thumbs a quick text.
“What about lovers? Friends?”
“I never hear her talk about anyone special. I don’t think she’s seeing anyone seriously. She does sometimes get close to a congregant, but it never lasts long, not like a relationship-relationship. I think it’s just her way of trying to help people. Actually,” Claire says slowly, “I think Daniel and I might be her closest friends. Especially after we moved out here. He used to spend quite a bit of time with her after hours, going over the books.” She looks down at her empty cup. “I’m getting a refill. You?”
I nod and give her my own mug. While she’s gone, I collect my thoughts. Claire’s already done some of the preliminary legwork, so it’s time to search for Harkness further afield. Assuming Thursday was the day she disappeared, she’s had almost two days to get in touch.
When she comes back, I ask, “Would Pastor Harkness have gone off with someone? Is she impulsive, spur-of-the-moment?”
“Nnnooo…I mean, she is open to the moment, but I can’t picture her getting into someone’s car and driving off without a word.”
That’s right; her car is still at her home. “Is there anyone you can think of that would have meant her harm? Was she frightened of anyone? What about that other preacher who was looking for her on Thursday? He seemed a little hot under the collar.” I tell her about the broadcast I listened to last night.
“I remember when that show aired. The reverend doesn’t give up. His heart is in the right place, but he just doesn’t get us. Anything outside the mainstream is a cult to him. He’s afraid Pastor Harkness is consorting with demons.”
“Did he tell you that?”
Claire snorts. “She told me. Apparently he told her that by ‘opening herself to the spirit’ she’s actually opening herself to any old entity that wants to come in.”
Okay, that sounds creepy and borderline crazy. I don’t believe in the supernatural, ghosts or zombies or demons, but is Takahashi some kind of Exorcist-style crusader? The chilly draft seems to intensify, and I take a swig of hot coffee.
“What did she think of that?”
“Pastor Harkness is all about the intention. She says if you are open to evil, then evil can come in. But if you intend to be a channel for goodness and divine energy, that’s what will happen.”
Except we all know where good intentions lead.
My inner voice seems to have a mind of its own. It’s actually beginning to worry me.
Is there a darker side to the church’s worship? Something that would justify Takahashi’s reaction? I clear my throat. “How did you get involved with the Church of the Spirit?”
She sips her own drink. “Remember how I said it was originally in Portland? I used to live there, as well. I heard
