Somebody knocked on the door.
“Enter,” Isaac said.
George strode inside and walked toward the chairs facing the fireplace, his gaze down. “The first of the chosen has arrived.” He stopped behind the chairs.
“Ah, good.” Isaac leaned forward and patted Mal on the knee. “It’s going to start soon. And by the way, Malcolm?” He waited for Mal to lift an eyebrow. “We’ve been drugging Orchid periodically during meditation time, questioning her afterward, and we knew she’d talked to the police. The woman didn’t remember being drugged, and she certainly didn’t remember telling us about the cops. Then you showed up. Even so, I’d hoped you were legitimate. That you could be family. Yesterday we found the bug you planted.”
Something steel hard and hammerlike came down on Mal’s head before he could move. Lights exploded behind his eyes, and he crashed immediately into darkness. His very last thought, if it could be considered such, was of Pippa.
* * *
Isaac turned to see George looking at the bloody hammer in his hand. “Search him.”
George shook himself and set the weapon on the table before turning around and bending down. He found a gun, a knife, and a phone.
Isaac took the phone and scrolled through. No contacts, calls, pictures, or apps. Mal had apparently wiped the device before entering the home. Smart. “Is he dead?” Isaac frowned and peered down at the very still ex-cop bleeding all over his floor. He wanted some time with the betrayer before he went to hell.
George felt for a pulse. “No, but he isn’t going to move for a while.”
“Good. Take him to the basement,” Isaac ordered, moving to his desk and the battle plans hidden beneath the calendar.
George hesitated. “He’s a cop, and he must’ve taken Leroy and Eagle. We have to get out of here. They’ll know about our plans.”
Isaac lifted an eyebrow. “What are the plans?”
George faltered, his eyes remaining down. “I, um, don’t know. Just that today is a big day. An important day.”
Exactly. Nobody knew the plans. Which was why Malcolm had come back to the family. Obviously, the government feared Isaac had plans, but they had no clue what they were, and Mal was to find out more. By the time they discovered the truth, it would be too late.
Nobody, not even George, knew of the new home for the family. Isaac had been quietly sending people away for the last month, and he’d sent the remainder of his family the day before. He would meet up with them the second the cleansing was in motion.
Only those who were no longer useful to him would remain here, where no doubt the government would raid soon. Once the fire started. Those left behind knew nothing. Not one thing.
Oh, hellfire would consume sinners today. He’d known for years that Mary’s twenty-fifth birthday would be the day God called him to do his duty, and he’d been planning just as long. There had been a chance—not a good one, but a chance nonetheless—that humanity would turn to good. Would be righteous.
It hadn’t happened.
“I’ll be right back,” George said, his voice shaking. “I’ll need help carrying him.”
The cop was a big guy; that was for sure. Isaac stood and crossed over to stare down at the sinner who’d dared to infiltrate the family. Anger rushed through him, sharp in its intensity. He kicked Malcolm in the ribs. Once, and then again. The sound of one breaking calmed him. That was nice.
When he’d discovered the bug, Isaac had been so furious he’d nearly ripped the skin off April’s nubile body. It had been her job to get close to the cop, and she’d failed.
But in the end, he hadn’t been able to kill her. It had been much more satisfying to teach her a lesson she’d never forget, one she’d screamed through. A woman’s screams could be so cleansing, truly. Then he’d decided to use her for the higher purpose of today. She was fortunate he was so forgiving.
God had taught him that.
George returned with an older man named Hector who had lost his usefulness and started questioning Isaac months before. They hefted Malcolm off the floor, both groaning with the effort.
Hector cleared his throat right before leaving. “Two more of the chosen have arrived.”
“Good. Keep them in the kitchen until I call for them.” Isaac glanced at George. “It’s a good thing Leroy finished with the preparations before being foolish enough to get caught.” Of course, that was probably Malcolm’s fault, really.
George nodded, his face pale.
Isaac lost interest and sat down to review his map. The locations he’d chosen were prime for destruction. He’d been planning this for so long, it was hard to imagine today was the day. God had tested him, and he’d risen to the occasion.
He double-checked the plan from every angle for hours.
