Deadly Deception (SCVC Taskforce) (14 page)

Dark wood outlined the windows, door frames, and stairs, highly glossed so every surface shined. Tall windows let in a good deal of light.

Elegant stairs led up to the next floor, and along the staircase’s wall, framed photographs of Daniel, Rachel, and the other sacred wives with their children hung in tribute. Ronni’s breath caught and she froze, staring at one in particular.
Mom
.

“Right in here.” Melanie waved them into the front sitting room. An abundance of seats awaited…a large Victorian sofa, a fainting couch in red velvet, a grouping of high-backed chairs in front of a fireplace. Over the mantel, a gilded framed photo of Adam hung, staring down at them.

His eyes were a fierce blue, his hair jet black. He definitely favored Danielle over Daniel.

Once Ronni and Thomas were seated in the front room, Melanie excused herself. Thomas sat on the fainting couch, looking completely uncomfortable. He started to say something, but Ronni silenced him with a finger to her lips. On the drive, they’d discussed the possibility Adam had the buildings and residences monitored by hidden cameras or listening devices. Paranoia was status quo with cult leader personalities.

Thomas sighed, slipped his phone out of his pocket and texted her.
Bet the place is haunted.

Adam’s gaze in the photograph almost looked real. The place was haunted alright…with the ghosts of Wrightsville.

Click, click, click
. The house’s acoustics played tricks on Ronni’s ears. Was that Melanie going down the hall or coming back?

“Here we are.” Melanie whisked into the room with a tray of homemade bread, cookies, and honey. A young girl with dark hair and solemn eyes followed with glasses of iced tea. “You must try our lavender honey with the oatmeal bread,” Melanie said. “It’s won awards at the local fairs, and we make everything here.”

Sounded more like Des Moines than San Diego. Thomas had slipped his phone out of sight and now dug into the food like a starving man. Ronni accepted a slice of bread and sipped her tea. “I expected you to be at the salon today.”

Melanie took a seat opposite her, fiddling with napkins and rearranging the cookies. “It’s a holiday weekend, so we have extra farmer’s markets to attend. Anita is holding things down at the salon.”

“Adam mentioned he was being anointed in a few days.”

“Oh, yes!” Melanie smiled so hard Ronni could see her molars. “Wednesday. I have so much to do to get ready for it. Everyone’s been pushing for Adam to take the plunge and do it. Jacob’s going to set up a live camera so the other iChurches will witness the ceremony.”

Thomas snickered. Ronni shot him a sharp glance. She’d explained the reasoning behind the anointment. Like Daniel, Adam believed he was the next messiah. His anointment to king would, in his mind and that of his followers, break the first Seal, beginning the End of Days.

Disregarding her nervous stomach, Ronni nibbled at the bread. It really was delicious with the honey, and any other time, she would have enjoyed it. “That’s…um, nice.”

Nice?
Great, Ronni
.
Could you be any lamer?

“He’s waited years for this moment. Waited for you.” Melanie’s face took on an ethereal glow. “And now you’re here. The countdown can finally begin.”

A finger of dread coursed down Ronni’s spine. “I don’t understand.”

Melanie leaned over, clasped one of Ronni’s hands, and smiled. “You will.”

With that, she ushered the young girl out, casting a knowing smile over her shoulder as the two exited the room. “Adam will be with you shortly.”

Ronni exchanged a look with Thomas. He took out his phone, texted her.
Don’t like the sound of that.

Cults thrived on encapsulating their members, shutting them off from the outside world. While Adam used the internet to connect with his flock, she believed he would make her and Thomas give up their cell phones soon.

Thomas chugged his tea, set down the glass. Typed.
Will he try to separate us?

They’d discussed the idea in the car. Ronni hadn’t been sure. But now that she’d found out Adam had been waiting for her, she was certain.
Yes. At least temporarily.

Her partner scowled. Then he turned his head as if listening to something outside the door. Sure enough, his hand cupped his ear, making the tactical hand sign for
listen
, then he moved his fingers in a talking motion.
I hear talking
.

Ronni leaned in that direction, but the sound seemed to be bouncing off the far wall and echoing upwards. Snippets of conversation teased at her ears. Where was it coming from? She set down the tea, and quietly followed the sound.
Not coming from there
…

Damn acoustics.

She turned and went the other direction, skirting a large fern on a plant stand, another chair. One silent step…two…she tiptoed her way toward a cold air return in the floor. It was covered by an iron grate.

The sound of a female voice drifted up from the bowels of the house. “…what will you do?”

Melanie.

A man replied. All Ronni heard was “…sister…so it begins.”

More from the woman. “…danger…what if…FBI. Are you sure?”

This time, the man’s voice rose, clear and commanding. “She is my sister! You will not speak of her like that”

Silence. Ronni held her breath. Something grazed her lower back and she jumped. Thomas’s lips brushed against her ear.

“Sister?” he whispered as his hand landed on her hip, drew her close. “What is he talking about?”

Dangerous waters
. Seemed her life had become one giant ocean of danger. She’d kept it a secret…but now she had to pony up. “He’s my half-brother,” she murmured. “We share the same mother.”

Color drained from Thomas’s face. But he didn’t seem angry, just…surprised. He pulled her close, whispered in her hair. “Thank God, you survived the siege.”

Once Adam had called, she’d been able to put aside the excitement of kissing Thomas to focus on the assignment. And thank goodness Adam had interrupted them.

But now? She was eavesdropping on a cult leader inside his home and all she could think about was how warm and reassuring Thomas’s arm felt wrapped around her.

What was I thinking?
The kiss had been a mistake. A big pink-elephant-in-the-room type of mistake. A relationship could never work between them, regardless of her rules or their tangled past. She wasn’t taskforce material. This assignment was special because of her ties to Adam. Beyond that? Dupé had more experienced agents to draw from. She’d have to leave town once this assignment was over.

But now, with Thomas so close, so
male
, goose bumps rose on her skin.

The lure of undercover work…it turned everything on its head. Made you take risks. Enticed you to leave safe waters.

More sounds drifted up through the grate…water running, a door opening and closing, a beeper—
alarm?
—going off.

Thomas’s breath was warm and caressing on her neck. She should have left her hair down instead of pulling it back in a ponytail. She should break free from his arms.

He took her chin in between his finger and thumb and tipped her head up. “You sure about this?” he mouthed.

Mixing family and her job was a recipe for disaster, especially since the family in question was Adam. “I’ll be…”

Movement behind Thomas caught her eye. A man in black pants and a white shirt. Dark hair, blue eyes…

“Adam?” She moved away from Thomas. How had her brother entered the room without them hearing him? “Is that you?”

He didn’t reply, only sized her up from head to toe with a faint smile on his face. His skin was pale, emphasized by the white shirt, and a slice of his jet black hair fell over his forehead into his eyes.
He’s taller than I imagined. Taller and looking older than his twenty-three years.

Adam took a step forward, stopped. The smile trembled, reminding her of a child—nervous, hesitant. “Roanna?”

Her heart pinched. He looked so much like their mother. She could still see the ghost of the little boy she’d saved twenty years ago in his eyes. Her natural instinct was to rush to him, hug him, but she wasn’t a hugger. Not anymore. “How are you?”

Lame question.

The smile faltered, then grew. He closed his eyes, murmured something she didn’t hear, and opened them again. Overcoming his hesitancy, he took two long strides to get to her and swooped her up in his arms. “Roanna!”

Beside her Thomas stiffened. She sucked in her breath at the passion in the hug. Her feet dangled uselessly, several inches off the floor.

Adam buried his face in the spot between her neck and shoulder. “I’ve missed you so much. You can’t know…”

His muffled words trailed off, the display of affection catching her off guard. Family reunions weren’t her thing—and with the exception of that first one with her dad, no one tried to stay in touch with her. Yet, Adam’s embrace warmed her heart. “I’ve missed you too.”

He set her on her feet, held her at arm’s length. “So tell me, sister. Tell me the truth.” His gaze bore into hers, fingers tightening on her arms. “Why did you leave me?”

Chapter Sixteen

The pain in his voice was a knife to Ronnie’s gut. “I’m so sorry, Adam. I didn’t know they would separate us once I brought you out.”

He nodded, short and curt. Struggled to gain his composure, his fingers loosening but not letting go. “Doesn’t matter, now, does it?”

His smile firmed and he released her arms, clutching her hands instead. “You’re here.” The cheeriness in his voice sounded forced. “Everything is going to be perfect.”

The knife in her stomach twisted. After everything he’d been through, how could she betray him? In spite of the fact he was delusional and possibly engaging in criminal activities, how could she look him in the eye and lie to him?

Shut. It. Down
.

She returned his smile. “Of course, it is. Your big sister is back and we’re going to be a family again.”

Thomas shifted beside her, cleared his throat.

Adam gave her another hug before turning to Thomas. “Welcome. Thomas, right?”

Thomas accepted Adam’s hand. “Nice digs.”

So much for Thomas sounding like an FBI analyst.

Adam’s face brightened. “The farm belonged to Melanie’s family for years. I knew it was the idyllic spot for my retreat.”

“Retreat?” Thomas said.

“Shelter from the world.” Adam cocked his chin at the window nearby. “It’s a dirty world out there. My followers need sanctuary.”

Interesting term. Did
dirty
equate to sinful? Distasteful? Corrupt? Ronni guessed all of the above.

“I would show you around, but right now, my sister and I must speak in private.” Adam motioned for Ronni to follow him. “I’m sure you understand, Thomas. Help yourself to more food and drink. Melanie’s just down the hall in the kitchen.”

Yep, definitely separating them. Ronni trailed after Adam, knowing Mel would be back any moment to keep tabs on Thomas.

He raised a hand, gave a wave that almost looked like a rude gesture. “Don’t be gone too long.”

She shot him a look, saw his jaw was clenched. She didn’t like it any more than he did, but really, what could go wrong? Adam was being genial and friendly. It was more than she’d hoped for.

He led her down the hall and into a small den. Like the rest of the first floor, it boasted tall windows, dark furniture, and a fireplace. He offered her a chair, but didn’t sit, preferring to look out one of the tall windows facing east. “Why now, Roanna?”

He didn’t beat around the bush—that was for sure. He said what he thought, and wasn’t afraid to show emotion.

Like Daniel
. “I’ve had some personal and professional setbacks. I believe I need to find a new path. I wanted to come home sooner, but…”

She let that sink in. Waited for him to comment. When he didn’t, she continued. “I joined the FBI so I could uncover the truth behind what happened at Wrightsville. My job also allowed me to keep tabs on you and the other survivors. I became complacent. An incident earlier this year woke me up, turned me around. I realized how my mind had become poisoned. I no longer just wanted to meet you. I needed to come home.”

He faced her, one brow raised. “You’ve always known the truth about Mount Royal.”

“I was nine. Things didn’t make sense.”

“Did you want revenge? On the FBI agents who were there?”

Careful
. “They killed our parents. Don’t you?”

He returned to gazing out the window. “This was your choice, then. To come here?”

“Yes.”

“The FBI didn’t send you to investigate me?”

She’d prepared for this question. “Why would they?”

“I’m Daniel’s son. I run a sanctuary they’ve labeled a cult. We’re a peaceful people running an organic farm and worshiping God, and yet they claim what I’ve done is illegal. They believe I’m a threat, just like my father.”

“You’ve given them no reason to believe you’re different than Daniel.”