Miss Mildred gave her a blank stare. “I gave up trying to save her soul years ago.”

“Saving Rose’s soul isn’t part of the bargain.” Neely Kate shrugged her shoulder, tossing her hair. “We’ll make do without you. We’re a pretty good team on our own. We only came to you because it makes sense to go to the best potential source of information first.” She turned around. “Come on, Rose. Let’s go talk to Miss Opal.”

“Fine,” Miss Mildred said. “I’ll do it, but only because I owe this town my expertise. And I want that trophy.”

“Certificate,” Neely Kate corrected.

I rolled my eyes. “So where do you want to meet?”

Miss Mildred gave me a sideways glance. “The one place I think my soul will be safe. Church.”

Chapter Twelve

A half hour later, I parked my truck in the parking lot of Jonah’s church. I’d texted Joe to let him know I’d survived another cryptic encounter with his sister. I slipped my phone into my coat pocket, then turned to Neely Kate. “Tell me again why we’re lettin’ her think she’s in charge?”

Neely Kate gave me an exasperated look. “I told you a half dozen times already. I think she knows things that will help us. And need I remind you that you were the one who suggested we talk to her in the first place?”

“Yeah, talk to her, not cater to her every persnickety demand. Heck, she probably doesn’t have any more information than what I already found in Dora’s journal.”

“I’m not so sure. If you were involved in criminal activity would you write it down?”

“We don’t know that Dora was involved in criminal activity. It’s just as likely she stumbled upon it and quit. Maybe she thought she’d get in trouble for not forking over important information.”

“We can’t go into this with any preconceived notions, Rose. Just because she was your birth mother doesn’t mean she couldn’t do something bad.”

I knew she was right, but I still couldn’t believe Dora had extorted anyone. In my opinion, the guilt she’d felt wasn’t proof of her active involvement in a crime. But then again, if someone told me three months ago I’d be sniffing out information for Fenton County’s crime boss, I would have asked if they’d had a recent head trauma. Desperate people did desperate things. My own situation was proof enough of that. “Fine. We’ll find out what Mildred knows and be done with her.”

Neely Kate reached for the door handle. “Maybe I should do the talking since she’d not too fond of you.”

“Fine.”

We walked inside the front doors of the church and I peeked around to look for Miss Mildred. I hadn’t seen her old Cadillac in the parking lot, but given her secret agent suggestion of meeting here, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if she’d decided to hide her car. “She’s not here yet.”

Neely Kate sat in a chair in the foyer. “I’m gonna rest here for a moment.”

She looked pale and worn out, which gave me second thoughts about this whole caper. “Maybe we should postpone talking to Miss Mildred for tomorrow. This mystery’s been sitting around for twenty-five years. One more day’s not gonna matter a hill of beans. I’m sure you could use some rest.”

“We’re already here, so we might as well see this part through.” She grimaced. “Although maybe you could just drop me off at the doctor’s office instead of taking me home to get my car. Ronnie’s coming, so he can take me home.”

“Ronnie’s coming to your doctor’s appointment?” I was shocked. He usually wanted nothing to do with anything medical. “Is everything okay?”

She shrugged. “It’s no big deal. But this way, I can go home and take a nap afterward. My granny is makin’ me take her to Bingo tonight.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I wish I was. She says no good ever came from sittin’ around and mopin’.”

“Is that what she thinks you’ve been doin’?” I asked in shock. “Because even if you were, there’d be nothin’ wrong with that.”

She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “She’s right. I wasn’t even showin’. It’s not like I had a real baby and it died.”

I gasped. “Did she say that?”

“She didn’t have to.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “But it’s true. I never got to hold them.” More tears rolled down her cheeks. “I never even got to see them.”

“I know, honey, and I’m so sorry. But that doesn’t make them any less real. They were your babies and you have every right to feel sad about it.”

The front door opened and Neely Kate sat up, wiping her tears. “Miss Mildred’s here.”

“She can wait. This is more important.”

“No.” She stood and lifted her chin. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” She got up out of her chair and passed me to meet Miss Mildred.

Miss Mildred shot a glare in my direction. “I’m surprised you haven’t burst into flames.”

I scowled. “I come here all the time to talk to Jonah. He’s a good friend of mine. Besides,” I added, “you’ve seen me in church before. I’m sure you remember our encounter in the ladies’ room.”

Miss Mildred didn’t look too happy about the reminder.