“Chief, someone is here to see you again,” Melva said, pushing up her wire-framed glasses.
“Again?” Cassidy glanced at her watch. It was 5:30. On a normal day, she might be heading home right now.
“It’s Kaleb Walker.”
Kaleb Walker? He was back. Interesting.
“Send him in,” she said.
A moment later, Kaleb stepped into her office again. Just as before, he wore jeans and a nice sweater. He definitely didn’t fit the dress code Cassidy had seen of others at Gilead’s Cove, and that fact still had her curious. Why did he get special privileges?
“What can I do for you, Mr. Walker?” she asked once Kaleb sat in the chair across from her.
“Chief Chambers, all I’ve been able to think about is my sister.” His jaw looked stiff, and his gaze was narrowed with what appeared to be worry. “I wanted to come and see if you had any updates on her.”
Cassidy studied Kaleb’s expression for a moment. Was he really concerned? Or what if there was more to this supposedly sincere request to find his sister?
For all Cassidy knew, Kaleb could want to find his sister so he could drag her back to Gilead’s Cove. Maybe he was trying to teach her a lesson, to show her that people didn’t just walk away from the compound without consequences.
If that was the case, then finding Lela would put her in harm’s way.
Then again, Cassidy had read those texts Lela had sent her brother. Unless Kaleb had managed to somehow manipulate the texts, Lela had sounded scared and like she was in danger.
Cassidy just needed to keep an open mind here.
Cassidy cleared her throat, trying to compose her thoughts as she formulated her response. “Yes, I’ve been able to put a little time into looking for your sister. I talked to your mom, and I was also able to ping Lela’s cell phone.”
“And?”
“As you can imagine, your mom is very worried about Lela. She’s worried about you as well.”
“She has no reason to worry about me.” His jaw stiffened even more.
“She said you’ve closed her out of your life.” Cassidy chose her words carefully, determined to get more information from him in return for helping him.
“Being part of the Cause means sacrifice. Unfortunately, families can hold us back from doing other important work. It says in Luke, ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brother and sister—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.’”
“Are you sure that’s what the verse means?” Cassidy certainly wasn’t an expert in biblical texts. She made a mental note to talk to Pastor Jack about it later.
“I’m sure.” Kaleb said the words through clenched teeth, like he didn’t appreciate being challenged.
Cassidy wasn’t going to argue doctrine with him now. No, right now, she needed more information on Gilead and his inner workings. This was her chance—if she played her cards right. “What kind of important work are you doing?”
Kaleb’s face reddened. “That’s not what I’m here to talk about. I’m here to talk about my sister. Have you been able to locate her or not?”
Cassidy bristled at his tone but resolved not to give him the upper hand. “I was getting to that.”
“I’m sorry.” His head drooped, and he squeezed his eyes shut. “I really am worried about Lela. I don’t want to talk about Gilead’s Cove. I just want to find my sister.”
Cassidy laced her hands together in front of her. “Unfortunately, Lela is linked with Gilead’s Cove. I can’t separate the two.”
He let out a breath. Paused. Ran a hand through his hair.
Finally, Kaleb’s gaze met hers again. “What do you need from me? Please, I just want to know she’s okay.”
Cassidy leaned closer toward him. “Kaleb, your sister left five months before you got these texts. Were you worried at all earlier or only since getting the messages from her?”
“You saw the texts. It sounds like she’s in trouble and needs help. I assumed she’d gone far away. When she said she was here . . .” He paused long enough to squeeze his eyes shut. “I don’t know. I panicked. I knew something was wrong. There’s no reason for her to come back here.”
“Maybe she came to convince you to leave.”
His eyes flung open, and he shook his head. “No, she would have known that’s too risky.”
“Do you have any theories, then?” Cassidy had the feeling there was something he wasn’t telling her, and that fact both bothered her and made her feel like she couldn’t trust him.
“I don’t know. I won’t know until I find her.” Kaleb’s wall seemed to erect again, in the blink of an eye.
“Did the two of you ever talk on the phone? Did Lela call you and tell you anything else of importance?”
A sheen had formed on his forehead. This conversation was making him uncomfortable, wasn’t it? Good.
“We did talk a few times,” Kaleb finally said. “Gilead doesn’t know, though.”
“Gilead, the one who’s not a control freak?” Certainly Kaleb wasn’t buying this man’s lies . . . yet maybe he was. Cassidy just couldn’t understand the control this man had on people. Then again, she’d been raised to never trust blindly.
Kaleb narrowed his eyes. “You wouldn’t understand. It’s complicated.”
“I’m sure it is. Why don’t you tell me the rest, Kaleb? The more I know, the easier it will be for me to find your sister.”
He sliced his hand through the air. “Look, all I know is that she only came back here because she was desperate.”
“She didn’t say why she was desperate?” Why was everything so vague with this man? She’d have an easier time prying a pearl from an oyster with only her fingernails.
“Lela wondered if she’d made a mistake leaving Gilead. There. Are you happy?”
Actually, Cassidy did feel a tinge of satisfaction. At least, she felt like she’d hit on part of the truth. Now, if she could only dig a little deeper. “So, the two of them were married . . .”
“In God’s eyes.”
Cassidy twisted her head. “Not legally, though?”
That was an interesting twist.
“That’s correct. We at Gilead’s Cove don’t believe we have to abide by the laws of man—only by the laws of God.”
“But what about the Bible verse about rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s? Doesn’t that imply that the government has some authority over you?”
“Maybe in biblical times, but no longer. It’s a different day and age. Anyway, Lela and Gilead were married, but, after some time, she wasn’t happy. She wanted out, and the only way to get out was to run.”
Cassidy didn’t like the sound of that. She’d worked with abused women before—and that’s exactly how this was sounding. “What does that even mean, Kaleb? Was he hurting her?”
Kaleb ran a hand over his face again. “It wasn’t like that. Not really. Gilead just has strong opinions on things, and he is a bit of a control freak.”
“Did he hurt your sister?” Cassidy asked the question point blank. She needed to know.
“Not directly. Lela just . . . she just didn’t feel like she had any freedom. Gilead dictated everything she did. All he cares about is the Cause and how Lela fit into that. She didn’t feel he cared about her.”
That fact didn’t surprise Cassidy. “Did you approve of her leaving him?”
“Not initially. I mean, I didn’t want her to do it. But when I saw how unhappy she was, I changed my mind. I helped her leave.” His face reddened, as if the decision had torn him apart inside.
“Does Gilead know that?”
His face reddened even more. “No, he doesn’t.”
Cassidy shifted and took a sip from her water bottle. “One more question. Just a few weeks ago you went through an initiation, yet it sounds like you’ve been a part of the group for much longer. Does it always take that long to join the inner circle—or whatever you call it?”
>
“The initiation process is six months. Usually.”
“What do you mean?” It sounded like Gilead was making up the rules as he went.
“I mean, on occasion, Gilead can push someone through faster.” The sheen on Kaleb’s forehead became more pronounced.
“Why would he do that?”
“For example, with my sister . . . she was pushed through in two weeks.”
“Why was that?”
“Because Gilead wanted to marry her, but he knew he couldn’t do that unless she’d gone through the correct process to join the Cause.”
A better picture was forming in Cassidy’s mind . . . and she didn’t like it. Not one bit.
Chapter Seventeen
“So Gilead and Lela got married,” Cassidy said. “They moved to Lantern Beach and launched the compound here on the island. Not long into it, Lela realized it wasn’t the idyllic cult she’d pictured it to be, so you helped your sister escape.”
Kaleb squirmed. “Yes, I wouldn’t have worded it quite that way, but for simplicity’s sake, yes.”
“Did Lela escape with any money or resources?”
“I had some cash, and I found a car for her.” Kaleb nodded toward a water cooler against the wall. “Do you mind?”
“Help yourself. How did you get an extra car for her?”
Water gurgled as it poured into a paper cup in Kaleb’s hand. “Gilead has a few cars that he keeps in an old maintenance area on the compound.”
Cassidy made a mental note of that fact. “I suppose that’s where your brother’s car, as well as the car Barnabas was driving, was kept?”
Both of the cars were involved in the last murder investigation here on the island.
“That’s correct.” He raised the water and took a long sip—long enough to empty the cup. Then he began refilling it again. “There are a few other vehicles there. Gilead sells the rest to raise money for the Cause.”
“And why are you allowed to have access to that area? For that matter, why are you allowed to have a cell phone and to wear normal clothes?” Cassidy figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. Every little bit of information would help her form a more complete picture of what was going on there at the compound.
Kaleb paused, the cup raised in his hands and fresh sweat across his face. “Is this really necessary?”
“Yes, it is.”
He let out a deep breath and sat down. Instead of drinking his water, he set it on Cassidy’s desk, his skin taking on a sickly pallor. “I’m what’s known as a scout. That means I’m able to leave the compound.”
Cassidy swallowed hard, trying not to show her excitement. “And what does a scout do?”
“My job—and the job of other scouts—is to do outreach and bring more people into the compound. We’re able to communicate with people via email and build relationships, but we like to earn a commitment with people face-to-face.”
A cleverly manipulative move on their part. Of course Gilead would want to grow the movement. The more people who were involved, the more money he had. The more power. The more domination.
“I see,” Cassidy said. “So because of this, you were able to carry car keys, and you also had some cash. You slipped that to your sister, distracted Gilead, and she got away.”
“Yes, that’s correct.” Tension stretched across Kaleb’s face, and he picked up his water again then took a long sip.
“Do you have any idea where she went?”
He finished his cup, crushed it in his hands, and tossed it into a nearby trashcan. “I told her to go far away and to not look back.”
Cassidy shifted as she absorbed his statement. “Wait—you’re making it sound like you’re afraid of Gilead, Kaleb. Were you?”
“No, it’s not that.” His words came out hurried. “It’s just that . . . I thought Gilead might go and try to track her down.”
“Did he?”
“Not that I know of.”
Cassidy thought his response seemed sincere. She wasn’t finished yet, however. “But you don’t know where she went?”
“That’s correct. I told her she couldn’t contact me. I was afraid Gilead would see my cell phone records and find her that way.”
Kaleb hadn’t admitted it directly, but he definitely sounded scared of the man. As if he knew Gilead was dangerous. As if there was more going on behind the cult’s supposedly peaceful façade than anyone wanted to let on.
“So I guess it was a surprise to you when Lela did come back,” Cassidy said, a thrill of excitement rushing through her as answers crept closer.
“That’s right. If Gilead knew . . .”
“I think what this boils down to is the fact that you do think Gilead found her. Is that it?”
His tortured gaze met hers. “He’s not a dangerous man. I just . . .”
“You don’t fully trust him,” Cassidy finished.
“Never repeat that. Please.”
Cassidy leaned closer. “If you don’t trust him, why do you even want to stay?”
“The man’s in my head. He’s got a personal line with God. I don’t want to reject that in my life. I need that hope.”
“Even if it’s not authentic hope?”
He squeezed his eyes shut. “But it is. It is authentic. All of God’s people are flawed. Why would Gilead be different? God led him to find that scroll with the ancient book of the Bible. God anointed it.”
“Or Gilead made it up.”
“No! I saw it. I saw the scroll. It’s real.”
Cassidy nodded. So Gilead had the scroll with him. He claimed to have found it while in the Middle East. Not only that, but he claimed that he’d had top experts preserve it, translate it, and that God himself had anointed Gilead for the task, much like he’d anointed Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Could Cassidy charge Gilead with smuggling antiquities out of a foreign country? It was a possibility—something she definitely wanted to keep in mind. She’d been looking for any reason she could find to arrest the man.
“I told you all this. Now, can you please tell me if you’ve found out anything about my sister?” Kaleb stared at her, waiting for a response, with almost a desperation in his gaze.
Cassidy nodded slowly and leaned back in her chair, careful to remain in control of the conversation. “I did discover that she was staying here on the island. But the house where she was staying was paid for using a stolen credit card.”
“A stolen credit card? What?”
Cassidy nodded. “Stolen from down in Fayetteville.”
He shook his head. “That just doesn’t make sense. She’s not the type to steal things.”
“The rental house was empty, Kaleb. I’m not sure where she went, but her cell phone is no longer pinging. I tried to run her financials, but she has nothing in her name. She canceled her credit cards a year ago. Closed her bank account. There’s no way of tracing her through those normal means.”
“So are you just giving up?”
“I didn’t say that. But right now, we don’t have a lot to go on. We have people out looking for her.” She reached into a file and pulled out a photo, showing it to Kaleb. “Does this bracelet look familiar to you?”
It was the one they’d found at the rental house where Lela had supposedly been staying.
Kaleb stared at the photo, his eyes burning into it, before shaking his head and handing it back. “No, I’ve never seen it.”
Cassidy explained where they’d found it and that they believed it belonged to Lela.
Kaleb shook his head rapidly. “I don’t like this.”
“I assure you that we’re doing what we can,” Cassidy told him.
“I appreciate it. I’ll check back in a couple days. Please find her, Chief. Please.”
Cassidy sat at her desk after Kaleb had left, her thoughts twisting inside her.
The man had seemed sincere. He really had. And he’d opened up and shared some things about Gilead that painted the group in a less than favorabl
e light. That seemed to be a good indication that he was being authentic.
Still, there was something about Kaleb that Cassidy didn’t quite trust, despite the fact that he’d appeared to have opened up some.
She tugged the photo of Lela from her file and looked at the picture, at the woman’s bright eyes and big smile.
Where was this woman now? What had happened when she left Lantern Beach?
Cassidy couldn’t be sure that Lela was in danger now. But the fact that Lela had apparently used a stolen credit card didn’t look good.
Cassidy put her picture down, reached into her desk drawer, and pulled out a different photo.
This time, another twenty-something woman stared back at her. This girl had long, wavy light-brown hair that stretched well below her shoulders. Her eyes held a hint of rebellion—and a hint of emptiness as well.
Her name was Moriah Roberts. Moriah’s parents had come in to the station about three weeks ago and told Cassidy that their daughter had joined Gilead’s Cove. They were worried about her.
Cassidy had managed to spot the girl in the compound. She knew Moriah was there, and that she was okay—physically, at least. But Cassidy had no way of getting the woman out. No, Moriah was there by her own free will, and she was old enough to make her own choices.
But just like so many of the other people associated with Gilead’s Cove, it seemed like Moriah was the perfect person to prey on and pull into the circle, so to speak. According to her parents, Moriah had always made poor choices concerning the men in her life. She was insecure and looking to fill voids. She had a history of drug use and perhaps undiagnosed depression. Moriah’s parents hadn’t told her that—Cassidy had surmised the latter on her own.
Cassidy’s stomach still churned when she remembered learning that Moriah’s abusive ex-husband, Vince, had been found murdered. Though the local police had the killer in custody, Vince’s death had striking similarities to a dead body they’d found here in Lantern Beach.
There were so many things to be concerned about.
A knock sounded at her door. Cassidy looked up and saw Ty there. Her heart softened at the sight of him. He always made everything better.
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