Read Online Ashes - Book 2 (New Adult Romantic Suspense) by Leslie Johnson - Free Book Online
Authors: Leslie Johnson
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again.
Captain Frank breaks in. “So you no longer believe the men involved in the drive-by were part of this, uh, cult or gang … whatever you call it?”
Ramsen lifts a shoulder. “Still don’t know. We do know that members of cults such as this are for hire; it’s one of the ways they produce income to seed their other endeavors. But it’s impossible to know for certain; these guys don’t exactly go around with a social security card in their wallet.”
I look from one agent to the next. “I told the detectives everything I know about finding those women, but I can go back over the details if you need me to.”
Grimes waves me off. “No, we’ve read the report. You did a good job. Saved a kid. Walked into a shit hole. Imagine our surprise when we got the call and learned a firefighter discovered a hidden burial ground. Then we saw your name. Miss Richards’ too.”
“Yeah,” I scoff. “Our lucky day.”
“But Gage…” Agent Grimes’ face grows serious. “That’s not why we wanted to talk to you today.”
Shit. That doesn’t sound good.
“Brent Collins, the SAR volunteer who was first on scene…”
I nod, remembering him well.
“…he’s missing. He didn’t report to his appointment with us this morning, which wasn’t unusual. You all had a late night last night, so we thought he might have overslept. But then his girlfriend called the Red Rock office, looking for him this morning. Apparently he didn’t make it home last night.”
I stare at her, trying to connect the dots that seem to keep moving. “Do you think…?”
“We don’t know what to think at this point, Gage. He could have been involved in the killing and then ran when the bodies were found…”
I’m shaking my head. “I have trouble believing that.” I remember the look of dedication in Brent’s eyes, his attention to detail. I shake my head again. “No. It couldn’t be him.”
Ramsen cut in. “We can’t rule anything out at this point. There’s another theory. We know we’re dealing with a nasty group of people who, if they are involved with these murders, won’t be pleased that their offering was disturbed.”
What the fuck? “Offering?”
Grimes presses her lips together and nods. “Yes. Offering.”
“This particular cult makes sacrifices to the Saint of Death, one of their gods.”
“One of them?” Captain Frank asks.
Ramsen nods. “Yes. According to a contact familiar with this cult, the Saint of Death must be fed in order to protect them and … “
“And … and … this cult just lives in our desert? Right here in Nevada?” I can’t keep my mouth closed. I’m stunned. This is crazy ass movie shit.
“Yes, they seek out isolated locations.”
“How have they gotten away with this? It’s inhuman. Crazy.”
“Agreed. But we can’t make an arrest if there isn’t a crime and, until now, we’ve found no crime. Only rumors.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Grimes exhales. “Because of Brent Collins being missing and even that might be nothing. He could have simply needed to get away for a while, clear his head after seeing those women.”
I shake my head.
“We don’t think so either,” she went on. “So, we wanted to share what we know and tell you to watch your back. You have not been threatened and probably won’t be. But, we owe you the heads up. This is it.”
“And if you see, hear, think anything … you let us know.”
The agents stand and I do too, both of them handing me their cards. We shake and said our goodbyes. On their way out, Grimes turns back to me. “You still carry that gun?”
I look her in the eye and nod.
“Good.”
Chapter 12 — Beth
“Who’s the good girl?”
Onyx’s long tongue licks my hand as I pat her black head and scratch behind her ears. Steph and I have brought her into HEAL to keep an eye on her. The bright pink of her cast is a stark contrast to the black of her fur and she looks very hip lying in the turquoise dog
Captain Frank breaks in. “So you no longer believe the men involved in the drive-by were part of this, uh, cult or gang … whatever you call it?”
Ramsen lifts a shoulder. “Still don’t know. We do know that members of cults such as this are for hire; it’s one of the ways they produce income to seed their other endeavors. But it’s impossible to know for certain; these guys don’t exactly go around with a social security card in their wallet.”
I look from one agent to the next. “I told the detectives everything I know about finding those women, but I can go back over the details if you need me to.”
Grimes waves me off. “No, we’ve read the report. You did a good job. Saved a kid. Walked into a shit hole. Imagine our surprise when we got the call and learned a firefighter discovered a hidden burial ground. Then we saw your name. Miss Richards’ too.”
“Yeah,” I scoff. “Our lucky day.”
“But Gage…” Agent Grimes’ face grows serious. “That’s not why we wanted to talk to you today.”
Shit. That doesn’t sound good.
“Brent Collins, the SAR volunteer who was first on scene…”
I nod, remembering him well.
“…he’s missing. He didn’t report to his appointment with us this morning, which wasn’t unusual. You all had a late night last night, so we thought he might have overslept. But then his girlfriend called the Red Rock office, looking for him this morning. Apparently he didn’t make it home last night.”
I stare at her, trying to connect the dots that seem to keep moving. “Do you think…?”
“We don’t know what to think at this point, Gage. He could have been involved in the killing and then ran when the bodies were found…”
I’m shaking my head. “I have trouble believing that.” I remember the look of dedication in Brent’s eyes, his attention to detail. I shake my head again. “No. It couldn’t be him.”
Ramsen cut in. “We can’t rule anything out at this point. There’s another theory. We know we’re dealing with a nasty group of people who, if they are involved with these murders, won’t be pleased that their offering was disturbed.”
What the fuck? “Offering?”
Grimes presses her lips together and nods. “Yes. Offering.”
“This particular cult makes sacrifices to the Saint of Death, one of their gods.”
“One of them?” Captain Frank asks.
Ramsen nods. “Yes. According to a contact familiar with this cult, the Saint of Death must be fed in order to protect them and … “
“And … and … this cult just lives in our desert? Right here in Nevada?” I can’t keep my mouth closed. I’m stunned. This is crazy ass movie shit.
“Yes, they seek out isolated locations.”
“How have they gotten away with this? It’s inhuman. Crazy.”
“Agreed. But we can’t make an arrest if there isn’t a crime and, until now, we’ve found no crime. Only rumors.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Grimes exhales. “Because of Brent Collins being missing and even that might be nothing. He could have simply needed to get away for a while, clear his head after seeing those women.”
I shake my head.
“We don’t think so either,” she went on. “So, we wanted to share what we know and tell you to watch your back. You have not been threatened and probably won’t be. But, we owe you the heads up. This is it.”
“And if you see, hear, think anything … you let us know.”
The agents stand and I do too, both of them handing me their cards. We shake and said our goodbyes. On their way out, Grimes turns back to me. “You still carry that gun?”
I look her in the eye and nod.
“Good.”
Chapter 12 — Beth
“Who’s the good girl?”
Onyx’s long tongue licks my hand as I pat her black head and scratch behind her ears. Steph and I have brought her into HEAL to keep an eye on her. The bright pink of her cast is a stark contrast to the black of her fur and she looks very hip lying in the turquoise dog
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