Obsession (22 page)

“And buried it?”

“No. My father’s thinks he’s so clever, it would amuse him to hide it in the open where he could keep an eye on it. He’d snicker to himself about how no one else knew it was right under their noses.”

“What’s this have to do with the missing girls?”

“Aaron was supposed to build Edmondsville, bring the followers, and prepare for the arrival of the Chosen One. My father said it would take two years of isolation and lack of contacts from the external world for the community to be ‘cohesive’. Then they’d find the Mothers of the Twenty-Four and bring them into the fold. With a thousand brainwashed cult followers making certain they didn’t escape, the women would have no choice but to surrender themselves and their babies. ”

“He really
is
as bad as Jim Jones.”

“Worse.” She threw the empty bottle into her duffle. “Did you find my weapons and bring them in?”

“Yes. Why?”

“We’re going to need those and lots more. Now that he has the Mothers of the Twenty-Four, the stakes are even higher. An ex-sheriff has trained a group of followers to be my father’s bodyguards. My guess is they have orders to kill if anyone tries to escape from Edmondsville.”

“This is getting way too complicated. I’m calling Isabel.” He plucked the satellite phone out of its carrying case. “Wonder how your father’s goons would hold out against a group of former Mexican Army elite forces?”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Tio and Pepe. They may look big and dumb, but they were in the military. Taught all of Isabel’s guys. They’re disciplined, tough, good in urban or desert warfare—but not familiar with caves and cliffs. This terrain isn’t part of their training.”

Angie chewed on her lower lip and glanced out the open door. With her stiff bearing and grim expression, Sister Teresa looked like a general addressing her troops.

The short, sinewy Tarahumara stared at her with frowns creasing their dark faces. From everything she’d read and heard, they were a peaceful people who just wanted to be left alone and keep their ancient ways of life.

Nevertheless, with Sister Teresa and God on their side, this group was riled up enough to try to get the Crime Queen of Chihuahua involved. An idea began to coalesce in the back of her brain. Would Alejandro go along with it?

“When you call your boss, ask her if she’d like to have God on her side.”

Finger poised to hit the send button, Alejandro stared at Angie. “She’s the
least
religious person I know.”

“Let me rephrase the question. How would she like to have some cave dwelling allies who know the nooks and crannies better than anyone else?”

He followed her gaze out the door. “Holy shit.”

“That nun came to you because she knew you had clout. She called you a
capo
. It’s not as if she’s harboring any illusions about who you are or what you do for a living. She knows you’re one of the bosses in Isabel’s organization. Sister Teresa may be working for God’s agenda, but she’s nobody’s fool. She wanted help from the most powerful person in Chihuahua. ”

Alejandro nodded. “Queen Isabel.”

“For her, like me, the ends justified the means. Sister Teresa is willing to make a deal with the devil to get those girls back. What would you say if we asked those men to join forces with us and become our scouts? They know the terrain better than anyone else and can move around without stirring up too much interest, unlike us with our ‘expensive toys.’”

Alejandro grinned and hit the send button. “I’d say we’re about to help them serve up a nice cold dish of Tarahumara revenge.”

Chapter Sixteen

Miriam walked toward the Crèche, glanced up and down the hallway, and peeked into the cleft where she’d hidden the stupid native. Once she’d taken care of him with the Disciplinarian, she hadn’t had much time to dispose of his body. Riddled with crevices and fissures, the wall of the cave solved that problem for her. Wedged behind a huge boulder, his small body had fit nicely into the tiny space. With the change of seasons and this sudden humidity and heat wave, the man was getting ripe. She had to move him, before Father found out.

He’d never really forgiven her for beating Janice to death with a shovel. He’d been most emphatic that she was not to kill anyone ever again,
unless
Zeke’s life was at stake. Little did Father know, but the very existence of the community had been in danger, and she’d done the right thing. But, just in case he didn’t see it that way, she had to get rid of their stinking guest. Where was that dumb cow, Sister Anne, when she needed her?

As if on cue, the very person Miriam was thinking about appeared in the hallway, walking toward her.

“Mother, how are you doing?”

She pulled a sad face. “I made a bit of a mess and now I need help cleaning it up.”

The mousy woman stopped and sniffed the air. “Good Lord, what is that foul smell?”

“It’s what needs attending to.” She took Sister Anne by the arm and pointed to the opening in the wall. “In there.”

The other woman took one look and leaped back, ashen faced. “Mina’s father. You told me he left that day.”

“He left. I didn’t say how.”

Sister Anne glanced back and forth between the crevice and Miriam. “You killed him.”

“I had no choice. He attacked me.”

“If it was self-defense,” Sister Anne eyed Miriam with suspicion, “Why didn’t you tell someone? Why did you conceal his body?”

“What with Brother Aaron betraying him, Father doesn’t need to be troubled by this.”

“My husband did
not
betray Father.”

“I know you still have feelings for the man.” She patted the other woman’s arm. “But, all marriages—except Father’s—were dissolved when you joined our congregation, remember.”

The mousy woman glared at Miriam.

“Let’s put all that aside for now.” She pointed at the corpse. “We need to move him away from the Crèche. It’s not hygienic to have him around the girls.”

“What do you propose we do with him?”

“You pull him out.” She began to walk away. “I’ll go get a blanket to wrap him in.”

Sister Anne shouted, “Don’t you dare leave me alone with him.”

Miriam turned and glared at the insolent woman. “One more word out of you and I’ll tell Father you helped Aaron drug him with peyote.”

The other woman’s face drained of color. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“That’s what that Indian said to me, too, just before I killed him.”

****

Zeke paced the small room where Brother Aaron sat and glared at the man. Despite multiple beatings, lack of food, and sleep deprivation, the prisoner denied any wrongdoing.

“This is for your own good.” Zeke gripped Aaron’s shoulder and the man winced. “Save your soul. Repent now, and you can go to your execution with a clear conscience.”

Sweat trickled down the side of Aaron’s head. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Where’d you get the peyote?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course you do, Aaron.” He used his most soothing voice. “C’mon. Just between you and me.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the armed guards standing outside the door. “They can’t hear you. What if I
wanted
to get more of that stuff?”

The other man’s brow furrowed. “Then I’d say you were out of luck.”

Zeke’s patience was wearing thin. He’d treated this man like family. Trusted him with millions of dollars worth of gold. Given him everything he asked for. What did he get in return? Betrayal. He slapped Aaron so hard, the outline of his fingers burned on the man’s cheek.

“That’s for lying to me.”

Tears welled up in his eyes. “I’d
never
do anything to harm you.”

“When did you decide you wanted to be in charge?”

Wide-eyed, Aaron shook his head. “Never.”

“Was it while I was in prison?”

“I built this place for you, Father, your leadership. I serve you, only you.”

“Or was it when you saw the Mothers of the Twenty-Four?” Zeke whirled on the man. “You swore an oath of loyalty and celibacy. Did you fantasize about those young, ripe women in the prime of their sexual lives?”

Aaron shook his head so hard that sweat flew off and hit Zeke in the face. “I never thought about those girls. They belong to you, to the future of Edmondsville. Besides—”

“What?” He flexed his hands.

“My wife is the only woman I ever wanted.”

Sister Anne? That washed out, plain thing with the flat chest and skinny hips?

“You were supposed to give up all things, including marriage, when you joined with me. I’m the only man who is allowed to be married. ” A thought struck Zeke. “Was she in on it? Did she poison my food?”

“She’s done nothing wrong.”

“I bet you two have been conspiring to get rid of me. Guards,” Zeke called. “Bring Sister Anne to me.”

The big man’s face crumpled, and he sobbed. “Leave her alone. She’s innocent.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

****

The guards arrived to summon Sister Anne scant minutes after the two women had dropped the native’s body into a dry well. Covered with a slab of stone to keep people from falling in, the hole was so deep, that no matter how long they strained their ears, there was no
thunk
to indicate that the body had landed. Replacing the boulder had been torture. She and Sister Anne both had bleeding palms.

Miriam wiped her hands on her skirt, as she explained to the guards that the lid had been askew and she’d been worried someone might fall in and get hurt, so she’d asked Sister Anne to help her put it back.

The taller of the two men took Anne by the elbow. “Father wishes to see you. Now.”

Sister Anne pulled back. “What is this about?”

“Not at liberty to tell you. Come with us.”

Oh, no. This would never do.
Not after what she’d just seen.

“Don’t worry, Sister Anne.” She patted the woman’s arm. “I’ll come with you.”

Zeke stood outside the half-open door of a small room, a smile on his face. He took one of her hands into both of his. “So good of you to join us, Sister Anne.”

Miriam knew that modulated voice and two-handed grip all too well. She’d seen him soothe mourners and disarm critics with his high touch tactics that mimicked compassion and concern. He was up to something.

“Your husband would like to see you,” Zeke whispered.

Tears spilled down the simple woman’s cheeks. “Aaron asked for me?”

Zeke pushed Anne into the chamber. “Not exactly.”

Miriam had to get in there, make sure the idiot didn’t jabber about the dead man. She grabbed the handle just as Father tried to pull the door behind him. “Let me come with you.”

“I have everything under control.”

“I know her well, I can watch her every move. Tell you if she’s lying.”

“Good point, Mother. Yes, please come in.”

The door slammed behind her, and it took a few moments for Miriam’s eyes to adjust. Sister Anne knelt at the side of a man tied to a chair. Until the bloodied person spoke through his split lips, she didn’t realize it was Brother Aaron.

“She’s done nothing wrong.”

“I have reason to believe she conspired with you to feed me peyote.”

“No,” the accused shouted. “I swear I never did any such thing.”

Zeke yanked at the woman’s gray hair.

Sister Anne cried out, “Oh, Lord, protect us now,
please
. We are innocent. The ones we loved and followed to this forsaken wilderness are murderers.”

Zeke raised his hand to strike Sister Anne.

Miriam’s heart lodged in her throat The idiot was about to tell Zeke what she’d done.

He wouldn’t go easy on her this time, not with all the Mothers of the Twenty-Four waiting for him in the Crèche. She had to
do
something.

“Father.” She grabbed his hand mid-swing. “I have a lovely surprise for you.”

Rage twisted his face as he turned. If she didn’t speak fast, she’d be his next punching bag.

“One of the girls asked for you today. Said she couldn’t wait to spend time with you.”

Hand still raised, his expression faded from anger to suspicion. “Really?”

Sister Anne sobbed and clutched her husband’s legs, too busy blubbering to blab.

“Yes, it was one of the young ones, Daniella. She has the beautiful teeth.”

“Well, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” He ran his fingers through his steel gray hair and smirked. “Where is she now?”

“I had some things to take care of today, so she and Sister Rose are babysitting for the Chosen One.”

“You mean she’s already in our home?”

The old fool.
She knew just what to say to control him. Miriam nodded. “Yes, she’s very lovable, truly wants to
please
people. I think you’ll enjoy her.”

“I’m worn out from all this exertion. I think I need to rest a while.”

Sister Anne glanced up at Miriam and mouthed the words
thank you
.

Dim-witted cow. She didn’t do it to save Anne and her idiot husband. Miriam shook her head and shot a glance at Zeke’s back.

Fools. They were all nincompoops and fools.
Even Zeke. Early on she had figured out there were no hallucinogenic drugs making her husband see beasts instead of beauties. It was Jake. He had touched each of the women before they were supposed to be bedded by Zeke. The horny old man’s vision had been turned inside out. Instead of angels, Zeke saw demons straight from hell. The baby not only healed people, but protected them from harm. She wondered how strong his powers really were.
Could he stop bullets?

“Hold up, a moment Father.” She pointed to Brother Aaron and Sister Anne. “Why don’t you untie the traitor and leave his wife with him. Your food can’t be poisoned with both of them locked up.”