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“You sprayed the couch?”
“Sure. But let’s move on from my germ phobia and talk about the case, okay?”
He was silent for a moment but then said, “All right. I’m extremely concerned about what we saw on the wall at your aunt’s house. It seems like a clear warning. I think you need to be careful.”
“Before we analyze that, let me get the coffee ready. My brain needs caffeine. Especially for complicated conversations. We’re supposed to be at the airport around eight thirty. We’re not gonna sleep at all, are we?”
Logan sighed. “I think that’s a safe bet.”
Alex found two cups in the small kitchen and quickly brewed the first cup of coffee. She carried it into the living room and handed it to Logan while the second cup was brewing. When that was done, she joined him again. The idea of sitting next to him on the couch felt odd, though, so she moved his coat to the coat rack by the door and sat down in the chair.
“So what do you think about what we saw in my old bedroom?” Alex asked him. She hated referring to it as hers.She’d been so unhappy in that room, and she didn’t want to claim it in any way.
“I think the Circle is angry with you. But I don’t know if they’re telling you your aunt and Nettie were attacked because of that anger or if another revelation is coming.”
Alex nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been wondering the same thing. Truthfully, I think whoever did that wants me to feel the attacks are my fault. My punishment for trying to interfere. But if they plan to get to me, they’ll have a tough time. I’m armed, I’m with you, and we’ll be leaving in a few hours. I don’t think their reach is long enough to get to me in Kansas City.”
“I don’t know, Alex. Didn’t you say the Circle is spread out all over the world—probably including Kansas City?”
“Yeah, that’s what Willow said. But really, how large could this cult be? I mean, only a handful of people met at Willow’s house when I was a kid. It seems more likely this is nothing more than a small fringe group. Not many people involved. And no indication that they’re dangerous.” She caught herself. “Until tonight, I guess. If they had anything to do with Willow and Nettie’s attacks.”
“You aren’t certain?”
She considered his question carefully. “Something seems off, Logan. Remember, they see themselves as descendants of angels. I never sensed any indication of violence or hate in Willow or in the people who came to our house. I realize I could only hear them through my walls, but their meetings were subdued. Courteous. If the Circle felt they were being threatened by demons and they had to protect themselves or The Book, I would expect them to find another way to deal with it. Not what we saw tonight.”
Alex sighed. “I can’t believe I’m even having this conversation. Angels and demons. Imaginary beings that belong to an imaginary being that lives in the sky.” She shook her head. “How can rational human beings be so delusional? I just can’t understand—” She stopped short. “I ... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to...”
Logan smiled and took a sip of his coffee. “Let me ask you a question. If you were attacked by a rabid dog, would you assume all dogs are dangerous?”
“Of course not.”
“Then explain something to me. Your aunt believed in this kind of stuff, but does that mean God can’t possibly exist? Why do you think they’re connected?”
“Look, let’s not get into a God conversation, okay? But I see your point. I guess I’m the kind of person who believes in what I can see and understand. Quantifiable data. An invisible being that blesses me if I’m good and punishes me if I mess up? I’m afraid He’d be pretty busy handing out reprimands in my case.”
“Wow. Where did you get this idea about Him?”
“Before my mother died, I went to church with a Christian school friend once. The pastor was one of those fire and brimstone types. It scared me. I never went back.”
Logan sighed. “Another rabid dog, huh? Sometime, if you want, let me tell you about the God I know, okay? No pressure. I’m not trying to convert you, but there is another side to this. One it seems you’ve never heard.”
Nettie’s words drifted into Alex’s mind. “There’s only one true God. He wants me to tell you that He saw your tears, and He’s been watching over you all this time. Before this present journey is over, you will meet Him.” A warm feeling she couldn’t explain ran though her. Could God be real? And could such a being care about her? Given those unanswered prayers on Willow’s front porch, she wanted to dismiss the idea as insane. But for some reason she couldn’t. It was as if a quiet voice inside her was saying it might be time for something different.
“Maybe. Sometime,” she said. “But for now let’s get back to what happened here.”
“I don’t suppose you remember anything about the people who met at Willow’s? Something that might make it easier to find them?”
“That’s what I want to tell you. I have something that might send us in the right direction.” She stood and retrieved the sketch. “I was trying to remember anything that might help. I guess I’d blocked out some stuff, but I recalled one of the members of the Circle who came to our house. He’s the only one I ever saw.” She handed him the paper.
Logan’s eyebrows arched. “This is pretty detailed for someone you saw so long ago. Very well drawn. You have talent.”
“Just enough to get by. Not enough to do anything with it.”
“I think you’re selling yourself short. How long ago was this?”
“Forget the number of years,” Alex said with a smile. “I’ll start feeling old. Actually, I’ve got a pretty good memory, so I can’t explain why I didn’t remember this earlier. Even though, like I’ve said, I did my best to forget all that stuff about The Book. It’s ... weird.” She had no plans to tell him about the other memory that had surfaced.
“Maybe you pushed it so far away it took this situation for it to resurface.”
Alex nodded. “You’re probably right. We need to run this through facial recognition software. If we get a name, we can run it through ViCAP and NCIC too. I realize this doesn’t sound like a pattern yet, but what if it is? What if other people have betrayed the Circle and paid a price, and this guy is involved in that somehow?”
“Right. If we can come up with anything else to assist investigators here, it might help us find Walker faster.”
Alex was surprised when her phone rang. Who could that be? “Busy morning.” She grabbed her phone from the kitchen counter. When she answered she heard Mike’s voice on the other end.
“Sorry if I woke you, but I’m here at the hospital. Nettie’s conscious and asking for you. Won’t talk to anyone else. She says it’s important.”
