“Yeah,” Campbell concurred, wondering to what extent, if any, the Braison Family was behind the death.
They checked out more places, spoke to a few of the followers—none of whom seemed willing to say much on or off the record—and rendezvoused with the rest of the team, before deciding there was nothing more to do there at the moment.
As they were leaving, Kenneth and his sidekick Juan walked up to them.
Kenneth regarded Campbell and said gloatingly, “I take it you found nothing of use to you, Detective, while searching for answers in Mia’s death?”
“Not yet.” Campbell jutted his chin, knowing this was precisely what the cult leader had anticipated. “Doesn’t mean we won’t stop trying.”
Kenneth responded, “As you should. Believe me, I’d like to know how Mia ended up OD’ing as much as you. The Braison Family isn’t a haven for drugs or drug use—and we wouldn’t stand for putting that poison into our bodies.”
“If you say so,” Campbell said sarcastically.
“I do.” Kenneth sighed. “It was the same when my father was at the helm of the Family andyourfather was trying to put the squeeze on an innocent man when another cult member fell prey to poison being put into her system. Wishing for something to be true doesn’t mean it is—”
Campbell glared at him, knowing Kenneth had managed to get under his skin by bringing his father into the current case. As well as reminding him about the failure to get the evidence needed to charge Wendell Braison with murder.
Maybe you won’t be so lucky when this is over, Campbell thought, and walked away from the cult leader and a hard-nosed Juan Barrientos.
Outside the compound, Georgina pouted and said, “Braison’s a real piece of work.”
“And probably a lot worse,” Campbell told her. “Whether or not that rises to the level of cold-blooded killer remains to be seen.” No matter his dislike of the man, he wouldn’t jump the gun by indicting him without the hard evidence to prove his case.Any more than my dad was willing to do when going after Kenneth’s father, even if it meant letting the case grow ice cold, Campbell told himself as they headed for his vehicle.
* * *
KENNETH WATCHED FROMbehind the gate as Detectives Sawyer and Alvarez drove off, along with other law enforcement personnel. He hated that they had invaded his territory like they owned the place. But, as expected, they had come up empty-handed. This didn’t mean they hadgone away for good. As long as Mia’s death remained unsolved, the cops figured to be a problem.
“What do you think?” Juan asked, ill at ease, as they walked back inside the compound.
Kenneth ran a hand across his mouth thoughtfully. “I think we need to tread carefully,” he answered. “With Mia dead and fingers pointed in our direction, we have to stand strong and not allow them to break up everything my father worked so hard to achieve.”
“That won’t happen,” Juan assured him. “They have nothing, and we have each other. The Braison Family is solid enough to push back anything the police can try to drum up against us.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
“Always.”
Kenneth smiled, putting a hand on his shoulder. “You’re a good soldier for the cause, Juan.”
“I try my best,” he told him.
That would have to be enough, as far as Kenneth was concerned. As was the case for every member of the Family. It was the outside influences that most concerned him. The same ones who may have been responsible for Mia losing her way.
Assuming there wasn’t one or more traitors within their midst, deliberately breaking the rules in a misguided attempt to stop the movement. And everything that it stood for.
Chapter Eight
The following day, Campbell drove down tree-lined Pughten Road and onto the luxury waterfront estate of Bella Reston, who, he had to admit, played her part admirably in her family legacy by playing up the core values of the town that bore her great-grandfather Arthur Reston’s name.
As Stuart Reston was Mia O’Dell’s last known employer—apparently before she became a member of the Braison Family—it seemed a good place for Campbell to start to get some further insight into Mia’s life before being recruited and, apparently, indoctrinated by the cult.
Beyond that, as Bella was friends with Stefanie, Campbell thought it was a good thing to win Bella’s support in his bid to become closer to Stefanie than he had to anyone in a long time.I’m sure Bella wants Stefanie to be happy in Reston Hills if I can provide some of that happiness, he told himself.
He got out of the car, parked not far from Bella’s blue metallic BMW X7 M60i SUV outside a four-car garage.At least I know she’s home, Campbell thought with a grin.
Walking up to the massive two-story brick house with loads of architectural windows, a big swimming pool in the backyard and in a wooded setting, he recalled comingthere once as a boy with his dad. Seemed like a place one could only dream of. But his dreams did not go that far at the time.
Or now, for that matter.
