Chapter 21
Den of Iniquity
Decker was drunk when Laurie found him at the inn’s polished bar.
Liquor had to be the reason for the cotton stuffed between his ears and the tilted ceiling. His clouded head was an aching reminder of why they were here; the threat of humanity hung over them all, and his drunkenness was just more evidence.
They had wasted precious time with their quarreling and it had only led to a sour taste in Decker’s mouth.
Laurie batted the half-drunk glass away, shoving it into a clinking triangle with the others. “You drank all this in an hour?” A frown bit into his face under frizzy curls. His shirt—one button off—was the only other indication his nerves ran thin after their squabble.
Decker caught him by the wrist and drew him closer. “I have a secret, Mr. Lane.”
A flush bloomed above Laurie’s collar as Decker leaned in, his mouth against his ear. “This whiskey here tastes likeshit.”
The preacher yanked away, red creeping into his cheeks. “If we get caught at the church, how do you propose we’ll explain whatwe’re doing there? No one comes to pray in the middle of the night, especially smelling like the bottom of a whiskey barrel.”
“That’s where you come in, my darling Laurie.” Decker turned back and lazily grinned, reaching for his confiscated glass to drain it. “All you have to do is flash your pretty eyes and tell them you’re sosorryfor seeking help in the middle of the night for your soaked neighbor and the father will be on his knees for you.”
Laurie’s cheeks flushed scarlet and Decker’s nasty smile grew. Their quarrel clearly hadn’t done away with Laurie’s affections.
He stood, stumbling into Laurie.
Catching him, he muttered under his breath, “I’m not fond of swearing, but you have me ready to.”
Decker grinned at his arm around his waist. “The first step of giving into desires of the flesh. Be sure to tell me when you commit to the others.”
“The only other one I would commit is murder,” Laurie whispered harshly, jerking his arm away and leaving him behind as he strode to the door, Decker’s laughter stretching between them.
The taste of humanity only lasted as long as the linger of whiskey on his breath, and by the time Decker caught Laurie in the street, he made no other mentions of whiskey or wives or wants.
After a hard look at him, Laurie seemed satisfied with what he saw. “We’ll have to hurry if we don’t want to get caught in the sun.”
“I thought we weren’t outlaws and ruffians.”
“God will forgive me for these transgressions if it means saving your people.”
Your people.As if Decker was a child of God sent down to shepherd his flock. Maybe it was true, or maybe Laurie was well-fed with delusions.
“Our people.”
Laurie stopped. “Ours?”
“Neighbors. You’re in this fight with us now,” Decker said softly.
He frowned and returned to his side like a burr latching onto wool as they turned a corner. “If we return empty-handed I will remain the same.”
Their quiet conversation didn’t disturb anyone as they stole through the maze of back alleys leading to the church. The moon arced overhead, drooping towards the west with each passing minute. They would have to be quick to make it home before sunrise threatened him.
Still foolish, preacher.
“After Cricket and Whitton, Ridgewater knows something isn’t right. They’ll find a way across the river soon, or send a posse.Ourtown is on the line.”
Laurie sunk his teeth into the edge of his lip and wrapped his arms more tightly around himself in his thick coat. “Then I hope Sister’s hunch was right.”
White steeples and engraved doors towered above them and Decker could sense the sudden tang of nervousness rolling off Laurie. Slotting the tip of his needle-thin knife into the keyhole, he cocked his head and listened for the metallicclickof the pins in the silver lock.
Extravagance like this was never intended to help the needy; it existed only to boast wealth, like a canary in a gilded cage whowould never see the mines. Hell would welcome the Father if this church enabled Whitton.
