AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I need to know who’s been disfellowshipped, or left of their own accord, in the past decade. Also, is Garrick around?”
Lysander bent over, picked up the pacifier Alex had dropped, and pocketed it. “Today? No. He travels a lot. Our real estate company has gone global now. Father had to buy a new plane, but Garrick’s travels are mostly in-state. He’s running the coastal properties. Why?”
“Just curious.”
“Tiberius, you were never a good liar. If you explain why you want to know, I might be—”
“What is going on?” Rand Granger’s deep baritone registered, causing a dull thump in Ty’s chest before his looming frame appeared next to Lysander, filling the remaining space with his once-intimidating physique. Rand had really aged in the past decade. His formerly straight shoulders now stooped and the lines around his eyes, mouth and neck had deepened and multiplied, but his sharp green eyes hadn’t dimmed, and they were narrowed and trained on Ty. “I asked a question.”
Lysander stepped aside with apology splayed across his face. “I’ll let the Prophet be alone with you, Agent.” Ty extended his hand, and when Lysander shook it, his eyes widened. Ty had palmed his business card and left it with his brother in case he wanted to reach out.
“Agent Granger, I’ve already told you that you can’t have access to the list. You’ve wasted your time coming here.”
“Women are dying. My friend has died. I’m not leaving this place until you speak with me.” He had no legal grounds, and Rand could easily call the police to have him escorted off the property. But Rand heaved a sigh and frowned at Lysander as he opened the door wider.
“Fine. But I’ll only speak with you,” he said.
“You will—”
Owen’s throat clearing paused his words. “I’ll be out here.” He leaned in. “This is about Cami,” he whispered. “Whatever we have to do for her.”
Ty nodded and entered the house. For as many children running around as there were, the home was immaculate. Guess that’s what dozens of wives got you. Rand’s gait was rigid and his mouth silent as they walked the length of the first floor to his office located in the back of the house, where he had an incredible view of the mountains. As a child, Ty had loved to visit his father’s office and pretend he was a mountain climber.
Rand eased into his massive office chair, and Ty caught a whiff of his pipe tobacco and a hint of lemon left behind from a good dusting. Rand stared at him and for a brief moment, Ty recognized a flash of regret and a fatherly perusal. “You had such potential. You know I had been praying and felt you would become the next Prophet, not Garrick.”
Ty reared his head back. “I never wanted that.”
“It wasn’t about what you wanted but what God wanted. I was going to throw a party and surprise you with the calling. Then Garrick discovered what you’d done to Bexley—his bride-to-be—and I knew it would be impossible then. Public scandal. I had no choice but to disfellowship you. I’ve been disappointed in you since then. I actually thought when you called you might be begging for forgiveness, which is within my power to grant.”
Rand had been angry that Ty hadn’t wanted to return into his good graces, and not giving him the list was punishment. If Ty could attempt to find common ground, soften him up, Rand might give him what he wanted. “Why did you allow Garrick to have Bexley’s hand? You knew I loved her and wanted to marry her. That’s bothered me all these years and may be why I never returned for your forgiveness. I thought you didn’t care about me like you cared about Garrick.” Ty had learned from the master that a lie would sell better if it held a kernel of truth.
Rand’s expression softened, exactly as Ty had hoped. “I always loved you, Tiberius. But I didn’t think Bexley Hemmingway was the right match for you. She was from a good family, but I thought she filled your heart with rebelliousness. Like coming to me about the little sister. I know that was her influence. She had too much influence over you, and I’d been contemplating what to do about the two of you when Garrick asked for her hand. I saw it as a sign from God you were to carry out the office of Prophet after I went to be in paradise. You need a clear head with no female influence to be a good leader.”
How did he not recognize his own insanity?
Ty’s jaw hardened, but reasoning or arguing with a lunatic wasn’t going to fix the past, mend the future or get him what he needed now. The list. “I suppose Garrick’s been reinstated now.”
He hit a few keys on his computer, and the printer whirred. “You know nothing. God has excommunicated Garrick from the prophetic office. Dalen will take my place.”
What? Ty had dozens of swirling questions. Rand wouldn’t answer him. No point asking. But he wanted to know what Garrick had done. Had his sadism escalated?
Rand swiped the two-page list from the printer. “I’ll give you this. But it’s all I’m giving you. If you change your mind, you’d be the first FBI agent in the Family.”
Oh, he’d love that. A federal agent in his pocket when allegations of child abuse came knocking. No thanks. Ty accepted the list. “Thank you for this.” He pretty much wanted to burn the rest of this place to the ground.
“Tiberius, what kind of evidence do you have that someone from this Family is murdering those innocent girls?”
“Someone embedded the Family’s logo on their tattoos.” No point hiding it from Rand. He wouldn’t go to the press with damaging information about the Family.
Rand frowned. “That only proves someone knows how to tattoo our logo. It doesn’t prove it’s someone who was once a part of the Family. You’ve considered that, haven’t you?”
No. He hadn’t. Someone wanted him to believe that this killer was also the Fire & Ice Killer. But he might not be. The logo was there leading them to the Family, but Rand was correct. What if the killer was toying with him yet again and leading him down a path he wanted Ty to take?
Puppet strings.
Maybe he wanted him to come here and face his past simply to force him to do something he’d vowed never to do again.
Who would know this about him?
