Genie watched Denis Malone’s parents walk by into the building. They looked anxious. Denis’ little sister would be taller than him now – that would be embarrassing for Denis; he was very touchy about his height.
She watched Julia’s parents arrive too. They were rich.
Genie never did find out why Julia had run away from them – they looked pretty normal. Of course, they were already members of Reverend Schneider’s flock. Had they joined before or after Julia had disappeared? She’d forgotten to ask. Perhaps they didn’t even want little Julia back. Everyone in Spurlake thought her own mother was a good person and yet she had imprisoned her own daughter behind bars and screamed abuse at her for weeks on end. Genie wondered just how many other horrible secrets there were in her hometown.
Miho had already departed. Miller hadn’t wanted her to go anywhere outside of his protection but Miho couldn’t be stopped. She was desperate to see her sick mother.
Miller had made a friend of his drive her to Abbotsford and warned her to approach the hospital with extreme caution. He’d also given her a hundred bucks to get to Vancouver and an address of a safe place to stay. On no account, he’d told her, should she come back to Spurlake or call anyone there.
Rian took Genie’s hand. He was pointing to a wheelchair being lowered from the back of a Range Rover.
‘My mother.’
Genie watched a well-dressed woman getting into her wheelchair being pushed by a red-faced man who’d eaten way too many pies. She knew that face.
‘Mr Yates.’
‘Yeah.’
Genie looked at the car clock. 6.50 p.m.
‘It’s going to be full. What’s gonna happen, Ri?’
‘Reverend Schneider’ll go to jail for many years,’ Rian declared. ‘They’ll close the Fortress down and Spurlake can get back to being a normal town where the kids don’t disappear all the time.’
Genie squeezed his hand. She wasn’t so confident.
There were a lot of jobs at stake; people tended to vote with their wallets.
‘I wish I could believe that. I think Reverend Schneider will claim the kids all coming back is a miracle and he’ll be bigger than ever. Hell, it will even look like a miracle. I don’t think this is gonna work, Ri.’
‘I hope you’re wrong, Gen. I really hope you’re wrong.’
Miller walked over to his vehicle and looked in on them both. Genie smiled at him. He’d been so good to them. She didn’t want him to be disappointed if all this backfired.
‘You look sad, Genie. You should be happy. This is the night you get your revenge.’
Rian glanced at Genie and then back at Miller.
‘She’s afraid he’ll claim it’s a miracle.’
Miller hadn’t really thought about that, but he could
see that would make sense. He looked at his watch. He wondered where the press and TV crews were. He’d made the calls personally and they had seemed real keen to come. Surely they’d want to be here for this. It would be the scoop of the decade. Why weren’t the newspapers here? They’d promised. He was getting worried now.
Perhaps he should call it all off. Had the Fortress leaned on them? Maybe they thought it was hoax call? He dismissed that notion – some maybe might think that, but not all would stay away.
‘Keep the faith, kids. Focus on parents getting their kids back. They’re going to be angry once they understand. It’s hard explaining miracles to angry parents. They’ll realize that Reverend Schneider only pretended to care about the missing kids. The whole town trusted him and he lied to them all. Even if your folks never came to his church, he’s betrayed you all.
That’s what counts here. No one needs to be afraid of him any more.’
He looked at his watch again. ‘The RCMPs will be raiding the Fortress right about now. This time they know what to look for thanks to you guys. Come on. Let’s go. It’s showtime.’
Genie leaned in and kissed Rian. She was scared to death of what might happen next. She knew Rian was too.
They should be miles away and still running rather than facing all this. Being grown up about this stuff really sucked. Rian hugged her back.
‘Come on. We can do this.’
‘And then we run?’
Rian smiled but didn’t say anything.
‘Hey, there’s Renée,’ Genie shouted getting out of the car. ‘She looks so cool. What you wearing, girl?’
‘Charity glam. Same as you. Can’t believe what was left in the flood donation pile. Miu Miu, girlfriend. How could they not want this?’
Genie grinned. ‘Not many size zeros in this town, that’s why. This is the most electric-blue outfit I ever saw. People are going to see you coming all right.’
Renée laughed, really happy to be looking good again.
They hugged. Renée looking around.
‘Did my mother come?’
Genie shrugged. ‘We don’t know what she looks like.’
‘She’ll be here. She worships the Reverend. Bet she takes his side.’
‘Remember you’re with us, no matter what,’ Rian called out to her.
Renée smiled, but Genie could see the sadness in her eyes. She was the least happy to be back and the most scared to meet her mother.
A senior RCMP officer approached Miller to talk with him and Genie, Renée and Rian went into the church alone.
The reporter from The Straight slowed to a stop by the roadblock. Private security guards, not RCMP, were manning the block on the Highway 1 turn-off to Spurlake.
‘What’s going on?’ she asked a uniformed guard, checking the clock readout on her dash. She was supposed to be there for seven and it was already five minutes to.
‘Accident ahead. The police are dealing with it, they’re short-handed so we’re helping out. Might be a while until they clear it.’
The reporter couldn’t see any flashing lights or activity ahead.
‘Isn’t there another way in?’
‘Only road. Best park over there with the others. We have to keep the way clear for emergency vehicles.’
The reporter saw a CTV truck and another journalist she knew from The Province standing at the side of the road. She backed up and drove over to where they were talking. They waved in acknowledgment as she parked.
‘What’s going on?’ she asked, getting out of her vehicle.
The CTV reporter was putting on her coat; it was chilly waiting around.
‘They say there’s been a volatile chemical spill up ahead. Haven’t got verification though and there’s no signal on my cell. Yours?’
The reporter checked her phone and shook her head. ‘Uh-uh.’
‘You think this abduction thing is for real at the church?’
‘Cop who called said it was. We’re all being bottled up here. Don’t you think that’s kind of convenient, keeping all the media out?’
‘Don’t even try to walk it. These guys pulled their guns on Steven. They’re sticking to the chemical spill story, but I’m not sure I buy it. I can’t smell anything and we’ve seen no fire department trucks coming in. This small town couldn’t cope with a spill on their own.’
The reporter tended to agree and went back to her car to get her fleece. She noted that the security guards all sported Fortransco Synetics logos. Coincidence or conspiracy? Wasn’t this the company the cop was going to expose? Something wasn’t right here.
The service was in full swing. Reverend Schneider leading his flock in witnessing. It was important to witness God’s
work in this world and he called up his flock to account for themselves and their ways.
Reverend Schneider was dressed in purple flowing robes with a swatch of white cloth across his shoulders.
He looked like a medieval high-priest. He was looking triumphant. A full house meant a good night’s takings.
Genie looked around with growing nervousness.
Where were the TV cameras? Surely they should be in here, waiting for something to happen. She be
gan to fret.
They had counted on them being there. The Vancouver cops had come but they kind of had to. Where were the journalists? It was starting to go wrong.
‘And who now will say their proofs?’ Reverend Schneider began. ‘Who will speak and bear witness to the special kindness of the Lord?’
There was that moment of tension when no one wants to go first. A woman looked as though she would get up and speak but Denis Malone stepped into the aisle.
‘I’m Denis Malone. You abducted me, took me to the Fortress and made me disappear. I am your witness. You kidnapped me, Reverend Schneider.’
A woman screamed, a man stood up, clearly shaken.
‘Denis? Denis? Is it really you?’
‘You’re not a member of this congregation . . .’ Reverend Schneider began, trying to shut this down quickly,
clearly amazed to see Denis in the flesh.
Denis’ father stepped out into the aisle and ran towards his son.
Genie saw Denis’ mother faint. His sister was staring at him with absolute astonishment. So far, so good.
‘What trick is this?’ Reverend Schneider began again.
‘I can bear witness too,’ Julia called out, standing up and walking into the aisle. ‘I’m Julia Wasserman. You said you would help me learn to eat again. You took me into the Fortress and they made me disappear.’
‘Julia?’ a woman yelled. A man and woman were frantically struggling to get past people to the aisle. ‘Julia?’
Tears streaming down the woman’s face. Genie felt a lump in her throat. Saw Julia break down into sobs as her parents reached her.
Sweat was appearing on Reverend Schneider’s upper lip and his eyes nervously swivelled around the congregation.
Rian noticed some people getting up to leave, Fortress employees who sensed trouble, he guessed.
Danielle’s father was speechless, his face a mess of tears when he saw his Danielle stand, ready to say her piece. He just leaped up from his seat, grabbed her, embraced her and led her out of the church without a word.
Reverend Schneider looked distinctly uncomfortable
now. ‘This must be some kind of miracle,’ he began to mutter, trying to regain control. ‘Jeff Wasserman, you have prayed for your daughter’s safe return and now here—’
No one was listening as another person stood up.
‘I bear witness against you, Reverend Schneider,’ Renée began. ‘You stole my body, you stole my life. You’re a criminal. God knows what a real monster you are.’
Renée suddenly noticed her mother in the choir stalls, angrily glaring at her. Obviously she had chosen sides.
Outside the church, Miller and other cops were busy interviewing people who left, taking them to one side and checking their IDs. Still no TV or press people. Surely the Fortress couldn’t keep everyone away, could they? Just how much influence did they have? He should have called news organizations south of the border, in Seattle maybe.
If they didn’t come, how could he protect these kids?
Inside the church, Cary was standing up.
‘I’m Cary Harrison and I accuse you, Reverend Schneider, of abducting me.’
Cary’s mother cried out. His father just stared at Cary with bewildered astonishment.
‘I know the Fortress got you fired, Dad. I’m sorry. But I’m back now. We can make them pay.’
Cary made no attempt to move, but someone took his hand and led him towards his father. Cary turned his head and saw it was Renée.
Miller appeared at the door and Genie caught his eye.
She had spotted a large overweight man lumbering towards the door. Clearly Mr Yates wanted no part of this.
She stepped out in front of him.
‘Going somewhere, Employee of the Month?’
He looked at her, uncomprehending. Miller intervened.
‘Mr Yates, some people would like a word with you, sir.’
Mr Yates looked at Miller and beyond to the flashing blue lights of the assembled RCMP and realized he had problems. A plain-clothes man from IHIT flashed his badge at him.
‘You are Mr Jim Yates, Assistant Finance Director of Fortransco Development, commonly known as the Fortress?’
Mr Yates nodded, too surprised to lie.
‘This way, sir.’
That was when he saw Rian standing nearby. His face turned to thunder. ‘You little squirt, I might have known you were part of this.’
Rian watched him go. He felt a little happier. He could see his mother glaring at him from her wheelchair and knew that she didn’t share his sense of relief. She’d be
thinking that there was no one to look after her now.
Immediately he felt guilty about that. Suddenly he heard Genie’s voice, cutting through the hubbub. There was an audible murmur as the Reverend’s disciples all noticed her walk down the aisle.
‘Reverend Schneider, I bear witness against you. I’m Genie Magee.’
A sudden spate of whispering swept through the assembly. Genie heard one word repeated like a wave from aisle to aisle: ‘Possessed’.
Reverend Schneider was astonished to see her. He had seen her die. He began to stutter. ‘You are c-con . . .
confused . . .’
Genie felt her anger rising. ‘You smashed my dog’s head open, abducted me.’ She pointed to a woman who was trying to avoid her gaze. ‘You handed me over to this woman. Yes, you, Helen Ulrich – no need to hide your face – stripped me, shaved my head and made me disappear. We’re alive. You didn’t expect witnesses, did you? No kid is safe in this town from you people.’
She paused for breath. All around her the flock were agitated, standing, trying to leave. Denis’ parents were examining their son, trying to make sense of why he’d never grown a centimetre in nearly two whole years.
A huge woman bore down on Randall, screaming his
name. He looked scared and pleased at the same time as she crushed him in her arms.
‘Randall, Randall, Randall . . . you got so thin . . .’
Miller entered the church with two IHIT investigators and indicated Reverend Schneider.
Reverend Schneider was frantically trying to get through to someone on his phone. Genie thought for a moment that it might be the devil and he was trying to renegotiate his contract.
‘Reverend Schneider, you’re under arrest,’ Miller said.
‘You believe the rantings of a stupid, spiteful girl?’
Schneider shouted, red with anger.
Miller took his phone from him, read him his rights and put the cuffs on him.
One of the officers turned to the congregation. ‘No one leaves. We have a list of names of people we’d like to talk to.’
Genie glimpsed her mother at the back of the church, staring with intense hatred at her. There was no homecoming due her, for sure. Nothing had changed.
Someone touched Genie’s arm. Denis, his mother and sister beside him.
‘I’m going home.’ He hugged Genie. ‘None of this would have happened without you, Genie. Thanks.’
Genie hugged Denis back. ‘Thank you.’
‘For what?’ Denis looked confused.
‘For showing me the way.’
‘You’ll visit?’
Genie nodded. ‘You must make them leave town, Denis,’ she reminded him. ‘None of us can stay until we know we’re safe.’
Denis’ father put his hand out to her.
‘For he who is lost, shall be found,’ he said.
Genie watched them leave, slightly bemused, jealous of how tight that family was. She called after him. ‘Don’t forget to tell them about the mosquitos, Denis.’
‘So you’re Genie,’ a voice announced behind her.
Genie looked behind and saw Rian’s mother in her wheelchair.
She looked at Genie with sadness in her eyes.
‘Rian thinks a lot of you.’
‘He’s my hero,’ Genie replied.
‘And you’re intending to take him
away from me.’
Genie blinked at the distinct hostility in the voice.
‘I . . .’ She thought suddenly of Mr Yates. ‘You knew Mr Yates worked at the Fortress, didn’t you? You must have known what he was doing. All those children disappearing and you said nothing?’
Rian’s mother narrowed her eyes.
‘You’ll ruin his life. You Munbys are all alike. You ruin everything you touch.’
‘You could have told Rian the truth. You could have protected him,’ Genie told her.
‘He’d have been safe if it wasn’t for you,’ his mother answered bitterly.
Rian was suddenly at her side.
‘We’ve got to go. The police want to talk to us.’
His mother grabbed his arm with desperation.
‘Don’t go, Rian. Don’t let this girl ruin your life. Don’t you understand she’s—’
‘She’s what, Ma? Abused? Possessed? Evil? She’s the best thing in my whole life.’ Rian signalled Renée who pushed through the crowd to join them.
‘Is your mother here, Renée?’
Renée shook her head. ‘She ran off. Some things never change.’
‘We’re leaving. You have to come with us. They need to talk to all of us.’
‘Renée?’ Mrs Tulane enquired. ‘This is Renée?’
Renée turned and looked down at Mrs Tulane.
‘Hello, Mrs Tulane.’
Rian was pulling Genie and Renée away. He didn’t want a scene.
‘If you ever see my dad again,’ Renée was saying,
‘tell him that I’m going to look after my family. We’re sticking together.’
Rian led his two girls away and Mrs Tulane stared after them, angry and frustrated.
Outside, Genie got the satisfaction of seeing Reverend Schneider being bundled into a squad car. Women were screaming around the car, some for him, some against. It was hard to tell which.
‘Ri?’
‘Yeah?’
‘I feel nauseous.’ Genie ran to the fence and dry-heaved.
Way too much emotion. She took deep breaths. Why did she feel so nervous? Hadn’t it gone to plan? Something was definitely wrong. Where were those promised newspaper people? They needed the protection of the media. Without them being on the news, the Fortress could pick them off, one by one.
The Repossession Page 29