Pastor Marries Girl On Her 18th Birthday. Cop Notices Something ODD And Stopped everything
When a cop is invited to a wedding, she’s astounded when she discovers that the bride is turning 18 on the same day. The officer notices something even more disturbing and quickly stops the pastor from performing the rites because of a shocking reason. St. Mary’s Church in the heart of Richmond had an unassuming brick facade, but the inside was filled with floral scents and wedding decorations. Kaye was celebrating her 18th birthday and she was also getting married.
There was a soft murmur among the gathering, but more about curiosity than celebration. Pastor Michael’s presence commanded attention as he looked over the people in the pews. There was a sparse mix of townsfolk and distant relatives; many of them were there out of pure curiosity and not to share the joy of the event. In the pews was Laura Hart. She was a guest but also a detective. She was somebody’s plus one but immediately felt herself drawn to the bride.
The groom was an altar boy and his demeanor spoke volumes of his unwavering faith, but his future wife was hiding something. Kaye stood at the altar in a simple white dress, but she couldn’t resemble a blushing bride at all. Instead, she looked like a trapped bird; her smile was forced and her movements were hesitant. But it was the look in her eyes that most concerned Laura. It was pleading, as if she was hoping against hope for somebody to come to her rescue.
Laura knew to trust her instincts; they’d been honed by years on the force. So she paid attention to her surroundings. Kaye’s interactions with Pastor Michael seemed choreographed, but this wasn’t the kind of choreography that came from a wedding rehearsal. This was different. It seemed to Laura that every move Kaye made, each word she said, and even her facial expressions had been drilled into her like a soldier on parade. And God forbid she made a mistake; if that happened, there would be consequences.
The ceremony followed the usual liturgy. When it came to the vows, Pastor Michael Stone changed. Lauren noticed this too. Her mind was now working and processing in top gear; the pastor’s words suddenly sounded like commands. And when Kaye answered, her words were barely audible. The level of desperation with this girl was something only a person with lower-trained powers of observation could detect.
The congregation started to mingle as soon as the ceremony was over. Laura’s concern deepened. Once again, she approached Kaye to offer congratulations, but there was more to it. She wanted to get closer to the bride, to have a proper look. And that was the moment she noticed it. There was a faint bruise around Kaye’s wrist. Laura had seen this many times before, mostly when she investigated domestic troubles. Someone had grabbed Kaye by the wrist and then jerked her around. Being the cop she was, the sight of the bruise filled Laura with determination. Something was wrong here; she didn’t know what it was yet, but she was going to find out.
These thoughts rambled through her mind as she walked into the reception. Laura remained more vigilant than ever. The guests chatted, and the atmosphere was lighthearted, a stark contrast to the bride’s behavior before the altar. Laura thought Kaye navigated the room while the cop watched, like before the altar with Pastor Michael. Each interaction with a guest was painfully rehearsed. It was as if Kaye had a list of things she was allowed to say and a list of things she wasn’t. The proof was in her forced smiles and the way her eyes darted around the moment the bride stepped away for a quick breath.
Laura cornered her in a quiet corner. “Her presence thoughted Kaye.” “I hope you find happiness,” Kaye Laura said. Kaye thanked her, and again, it sounded like a rehearsed thank you. Then her eyes met the cop’s, but only for a split second. Kaye reached out to adjust a vase on the table; her sleeve pulled back, and Laura got a closer look at the bruise on her wrist. “If there’s anything you need or if you’re in any kind of trouble, you can trust me,” Laura said. Kaye gave the detective a look of fear. She pulled her sleeve down to cover the bruise and assured Laura she was fine. Then she hurriedly excused herself and disappeared into the crowd.
Laura knew she couldn’t let this go. Kaye’s bruise, the girl’s discomfort, and the really strange dynamics made this way too compelling to ignore. She stepped outside, found the spot around the corner of the church, and made a discreet phone call. This wasn’t her first rodeo; she knew exactly who to contact. Within an hour, she had initiated an official inquiry into the marriage.
The detective cited suspicion of coercion and possible duress as her reasons for the request and underlined it by emphasizing her credentials concerning these matters. This meant the legal recognition of the marriage was on hold, pending further investigation. It was a start; she had no doubt her bold move could draw backlash, but she was prepared. Her priority was Kaye’s well-being and safety. Laura was willing to face all the consequences to ensure it.
The reception continued, but Laura’s mind was already working on a strategy. And after the wedding, she wasted no time; she dove headfirst into her investigation. The marriage license listed Pastor Michael as Kaye’s guardian; he had been her legal tutor from when Kaye was 16. Laura slid down the bureaucratic rabbit hole and buckled down with public records and legal writs. Kaye’s parents had died in an automobile accident; the circumstances were suspicious but uninvestigated. Kaye was legally an orphan, and this is when Pastor Michael stepped in and assumed guardianship.
Then Laura was off to the local courthouse. She wanted to know how Pastor Michael’s guardianship came about. The file was thin; the judge approved the guardianship based on Pastor Michael’s standing in the community. All that was needed was a sworn statement by the clergyman that he would provide for Kaye. Usually, there would be follow-up reports and welfare check reports in such a file, but in this case, there were none. Given the circumstance, that this wasn’t only unusual; it was downright odd.
Next up, Laura started the interview phase of her investigation. This meant immersing herself in the community. Every person she spoke to regarded Pastor Michael as a benevolent caretaker, but Laura noticed a pattern in the stories. Whenever they spoke about Kaye, there was a similar distant pity in their eyes, but nobody could provide any details about her life before the accident or even before she moved into Pastor Michael’s home. So, nobody knew if and how she adjusted to her new life here too. Just like at the wedding, Laura noticed that much of the truth remained hidden. Red flags went up; the community’s vague and similar praises for Pastor Michael and the complete absence of any information about Kaye before her parents’ death were at the core of her tingling spidey sense.
Then it was teachers and classmates. Kaye’s performance at school took a nosedive after her parents’ death. The teachers told her she became quiet, and that Pastor Michael insisted on being the only contact for everything the school wanted to communicate. He even forbade the school to allow
