The Purloined Paintings — J.R. Mathis

Detective Helen Parr is recovering from being shot in Leslie Williams' basement and is anxious to get back to work. With the police department in the hands of Acting Chief Detective Dan Conway, Father Tom Greer is determined that his fiance follows her doctor's orders and rests. All that's needed for this to happen is for life to be quiet and peaceful.But this is Myerton, and this town nestled in the mountains of Western Maryland is far from quiet and peaceful.First comes the murder of Bethany Grable, owner of The Painted Lotus art gallery and old friend of Father Tom. Dan's convinced she was the victim of a robbery gone wrong. Father Tom, on the other hand, is not so sure.Then comes the wave of overdose deaths of young students at Myer College. Someone is selling fentanyl at prices college kids can afford. They're all art majors, and all of them happen to have had pieces displayed in Bethany's gallery.Coincidence? Or is there a connection between the ODs and Bethany Grable's murder? And if so, what is the connection?Father Tom decides to try to find out for himself who killed his old friend and why. But doing so could put the life of a young man in danger, and irreparably harm his friendship with Dan.Along the way, Father Tom learns that Helen wasn't the only person wounded in that basement . . .