I had to admit, it was quite a commitment of Marcus, putting up fliers to announce to the public that this church had been abandoned.
I had to wonder what his father, and the rest of the Leaders, would do in regard to this.
The Claim and the friend started dancing together, grinding against each other. Maybe I was simply more…carnivorous of my women. I would never allow them to do this without a formidable punishment.
I lifted my chin when she turned to her friend and held out a hand, the girl, in turn, pulled out a baggie and dropped something in the palm of the precious daffodil’s hand.
And drugs? I clicked my tongue. Oh, Jacky boy, what will you do with her?
I turned away from the dance floor and slid back down the narrow hall towards the stairs at the end. They wouldn’t have been able to gut it completely, so my purpose was to find what they had forgotten before anyone realized I was even here.
The music faded into the background as I made my ascension to the floor above me. Of course, the priest here would have put his office on the top floor. Part of me wondered if he didn’t see himself as above even Garrett Master’s. Then again, perhaps he just proclaimed himself his very own god for managing to successfully have a church this far out of the way. Although, I suppose, if you were doing what they did then having a church out here just made the most sense.
I made quick work of the lock, slipping in, and shutting the door behind me without effort.
The office looked as if the priest had just left. There was even still paperwork on his desk and a tithe sitting for the taking on a stand near the bookshelf.
I skimmed over the books on my way to the desk. All the same books Garrett had in his office. Laws and rules made up by man, passed off as some holy script they could use to control the living.
I couldn’t wait to burn it all to the ground.
~ ~ ~
After a couple hours of searching, I was left with nothing but what I already knew. This church wasn’t as formidable as the one I was attending, but it did give me more puzzle pieces to work with. More knowledge to store away and add to the collection later.
I rejoined the people in the sanctuary soon after, everyone still drinking, partying, having a good time.
I remained on the outside of the room, watching carefully, memorizing those I knew from the church in Seattle, wonderingwho their victims would be tonight. Wondering which of these precious boys and girls would be drugged and shipped back to one of the other churches that existed across the US. Which ones would never see their families again, all because they wanted to have a night of fun.
Speaking of fun…where was that precious cargo Jacky boy had let out of his sight? Her friend was kissing some man on the dancefloor, but she was nowhere to be seen.
My eyes narrowed as I searched the crowd. I prided myself on being exceptionally well with faces, with remembering things most would forget, and right now, there were several people missing.
Now, I knew she was flippant, but she wasn’t dumb. Did those drugs hit her a little too hard this time around?
I clicked my tongue and headed up the stairs at the opposite end of the sanctuary. “Am I to do your job now, big brother?” I felt a smile grow at the repercussions of this. He should have kept a tighter leash.
Now, after a long night of dancing and drinking, where would the young girl go?
Door after door I passed down the church hall until the sounds of screaming and struggling met my ear, pulling me towards the restroom.
“There you are.”
But she was already on the phone with Jack.
I pulled out my own phone, checking Jack’s location. He would be storming the church in two minutes.
My eyes lifted back to the restroom. “I suppose it’s time for you to prove yourself.”
I shoved my phone away and headed back for the stairs, twirling my cane. I’d pay her a visit later, perhaps when there weren’t so many eyes.
~ ~ ~
I unlocked her apartment door and slipped in, taking in the scene quickly.
The hound was asleep on the couch, all the lights off save for one, and her bedroom door cracked.
I clicked my tongue.“Falling asleep on the job, hound? Letting just anyone in the apartment?”There was a reason I liked my cameras, but my brothers so desperately wanted to express boundaries.
