Awareness stilled Mia in place. “Who else was out there?”
He turned back to the view. “A handsome pup with blue eyes. Very blue eyes.”
Chapter30
Mia pushed through the exit into the cool day, leaving Pete inside to complete the paperwork. A pup with blue eyes? None of this made sense. Seth hadn’t mentioned turning into a wolf that night, although he’d been the one to find his mother, along with his friend. She had to find that friend.
She maneuvered outside and smacked into a hard male body. Shaking her head, she stepped back.
“Deputy Stone.” Brother Jeremiah steadied her with both hands on her elbows. “I do apologize.”
Mia took a deep breath and peered up. “Brother Jeremiah. How odd to see you here.”
His smile flashed perfectly even teeth. “I work here.”
The wind slammed pine needles and dead leaves against her legs. She shivered. “Excuse me?”
He yanked off a long, black overcoat to tuck around her shoulders. His tan Dockers and white button-down shirt casually emphasized the coiled muscle beneath. Sandy-blond hair was swept back from a strong face, and earnest black eyes twinkled with amusement. “I’m a clinical psychologist. May I call you Mia?”
Mia had never understoodearnest. “Sure. How about I drop theBrotherand call you Jeremiah?”
He nodded. “Only the folks in my commune use the term anyway. Besides, a pretty lady like you can call me anything you want.”
“Are you a preacher?”
“No.” He rubbed his chin and pivoted to shield her from the blistering wind. “I’m just the unofficial leader of a lot of lost folks.”
Sounded like nice phrasing to describe a cult. “Does God talk to you, Jeremiah?”
He sobered. “God talks to all of us. All you have to do is listen.”
“If you say so. By the way, do you treat Eddy Johnson?” Maybe she could get some insight here.
Jeremiah shoved his hands into his pockets. “I can’t talk about patients. You know that.”
“Just tell me if he’s as crazy as he seems.”
“We shrinks don’t really like the termcrazy.” Jeremiah’s lip quirked. “But, hypothetically speaking, someone like Eddy may be saner than we think.”
Mia stilled. “What do you mean?”
Intensity swirled in Jeremiah’s eyes. “I think he has seen things we can’t explain. What do you think, Mia?”
“I think there’s a lot in life we can’t explain. What’s high on your list right now?” she asked. Was it possible Jeremiah knew about the wolves?
“Nothing concrete…yet. Though I can tell you that your boyfriend is in the thick of whatever’s happening in this town. Always has been, always will be.”
Mia’s head jerked up. “Always has been? How long have you known Seth?”
“I grew up here. Went away to college and came back with my, er, flock. To a peaceful place where we could live, grow our own food, and live by our own rules.” His gaze wandered her face. “If you don’t mind my saying so, I find you stunning. Would you like to accompany me to dinner sometime this week?”
“Thank you, but I don’t think so.” She removed the jacket to hand to him, and his hospital ID fell out of the pocket. “Sorry about that.” She ducked to snatch it off the ground and paused, reading his name beneath his smiling picture. “Dr. Bankston?” Her head jerked up so she could meet his gaze. “As in Tyler Bankston?” The kid who’d been partying with Seth the night they’d found his mother dead?
Jeremiah sighed, accepting the coat. “Yes, I was Tyler Bankston, but I am no longer. Once I was called Tyler Jeremiah Bankston, or TJ, but I’ve always been Brother Jeremiah at heart. I merely had to find my followers to realize that fact.”
Now why would the good doctor leave town, change his name, and then return? Time to do some digging on the brother. “I see. Why did you change your name?”
“I didn’t. I’m just using my middle name because it sounds more like who I am. Old-fashioned and one with the Lord.” He leaned against the brick building as if he could chat all day in the chilly wind. “Then when I started our little community, others began calling me Brother Jeremiah because I give a sermon every week. You should come. I believe you’d find what you’re looking for in our church.”
