I forget who I am and where we are until the front door slams, two men laughing loudly.
No doubt they waited for my screams to subside before reentering the building for which I am eternally grateful and seriously embarrassed.
Still unable to move, I wait until Jack rolls off, this big grin on his face. “You are so fucking beautiful.”
“Jack? You in there? Blake’s phone is ringing.” The big Aussie pounds on the door.
I moan and pull the pillow over my head while he chuckles, pulls it away, and kisses my closed eyelids.
He yells toward the door, “A little busy in here. Can you slide it under the door?”
“Sure thing, mate. Need any help?”
“I got it covered.” Smiling and shaking his head, Jack grabs the phone and hands it to me.
No longer ringing, I check my cell’s text messages and my heart flutters. “My cousin found an ex-cult member who’s willing to talk.”
After we get dressed, Jack finds the woman’s address on Google-Maps and frowns. It’s north of the city, about a two-hour drive. We all pile into a newly rented SUV while Jack sends our GPS signal to Patten Securities. Apparently, he’s afraid we might be hijacked.
On the road, in what appears to be a perfectly normal city, I feel a bit foolish, paranoid even. “Certainly, nothing could happen in broad daylight.”
All three men look at me like I just mentioned I saw a spaceship land on top of the Empire State building.
Jack heaves a heavy sigh. “Do you know what percentage of Salt Lake City is Mormon?”
“About fifty, why?” Confused, I give them all a blank stare.
“Do you know what percentage runs the government? The police department? The city?” Jack, sitting next to me, takes my hands in his.
“No….” Suddenly, I understand. “But why would the Mormons care about some random cult?”
“Like any religion, they don’t want bad publicity. If David Young calls them and says we’re trying to slander him, they’ll do what needs to be done to shut us up.”
“That’s hard to believe.” I ponder the implications as we exit into a parking garage where another car waits. Apparently, we’re swapping. Now, in a green Ford, I fully expect to be pulled over at gunpoint.
An hour later, we park safely in front of a small, two story, red brick house. It has a front porch and is surrounded by similar looking buildings. When we knock, a blond woman in her mid-thirties answers and I recognize her almost immediately.
“I remember you. Alma, right?” I give her a hug. “I had no idea you left the cult. When?”
She releases me, and glances at the men, her cheeks in a bright blush. “Soon after you. In truth, it was you who gave me the courage. I figured if a girl of fourteen could do it, so could I. Your cousin was amazing at helping me get out. Won’t you come in?”
We sit at her kitchen table where warm corn muffins hide under a red checkered cloth.
Finishing their coffee and muffins, the two Seals slide out from under the table and give Jack a kind of knowing look.
“Thank you, ma’am. Best cornbread I had, ever.” Suds eyes Alma with more than a little interest before following Lucky out the door.
“So, you want to know about the day your sister got married.” My potential witness picks up their dishes and brings them to the sink.
When she sits, I slide my sister’s wedding picture across the table. “I’m pretty sure I saw David kill Faith in the kitchen after they said their vows.”
She eyes the picture and sighs. “Well, I guess it makes sense. Your sister didn’t want to marry David and made it real public which made him ballistic. Later, after her engagement was announced, she showed up at prayers with a black eye and bruises. Still, she insisted she’d not go through with it. When she refused to say her vows at the ceremony, David lost it. He dragged her by her hair into the kitchen. They shouted, there was this horrible smack, and silence. When he came out, he said the wedding was off.”
Alma sighs and takes a sip of coffee with tears in her eyes. “I never saw her again.”
My heart leaps with hope. “With her testimony, we should be able to open a case, get a warrant, right?”
“Maybe, but it still may not be enough.” Jack frowns, stands, then stretches.
