Read Online Just Keep Sweet (The Compound Series) by Melissa Brown - Free Book Online Page A

community?”
    Holly wiped her teary eyes with the back of her sleeve. “There’s no place for me there. I want another chance, another start, and I can’t find that within the church.”
    “And you want us to help you leave? No,” Aspen said. “Absolutely not.”
    “I don’t understand. Are the rumors not true?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “A few years ago, you helped one of your sister wives leave. You drove her off the compound.”
    Aspen’s nostrils flared. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. That was a special circumstance. Lehi beat her within an inch of her life; I had no choice.”
    “Neither do I.” Holly shrugged. “If I stay there, I’ll die, Aspen. It’s killing me. Clarence is slowly depleting my will to live.”
    Aspen rolled her eyes. “You’re just being dramatic. Once Clarence is gone, you’ll be fine, you’ll see. I’m not going to help you leave.”
    “I will,” I interrupted, ignoring Aspen’s volcanic stare. “I’ll get you out.”
    “Jonathan!”
    I turned to look Aspen in the eye. It pained me to see her anger now directed at me, but I didn’t care. There were larger issues at hand, and she wasn’t seeing the big picture. “Do you want to save Ruthie or not?”
    “Of course I do! How can you even ask that?” Her voice was incredulous, insulted.
    “Look, we need to save your girl, and I think Holly is exactly who we need to help us do that.”
    Aspen said nothing, but nodded, her eyes pressed shut. I gestured for Holly to take a seat. She wiped the last of her tears from her cheeks, sat in the chair, and released a sigh of relief.
    I returned to my desk chair and closed my laptop, tearing the end of the envelope from Clarence Black. “Now, let’s get started.”
     

Chapter 8
     

     
Dear Detective,
It has come to my attention that you are taking advantage of a poor, misguided (and possibly deranged) woman of the faith. Because I cannot determine why you would entertain her foolish delusions, I find myself questioning your integrity and professionalism. In fact, I must assume that you are aiding her for personal gain. Perhaps she is trading sexual favors for your assistance . . . perhaps you just like playing with the minds of those who cannot think clearly for themselves. Whatever the case may be, I must warn you that if you do not cease all investigation of myself and of my people and do not leave the woman in question alone, I will be forced to report you to the chief of police. Take heed of my warnings, sir, for I will do everything necessary to protect my people, even those who betray me. You, however, are fair game. So, watch your back . . . or you’ll be crushed like the insect that you are.
The one true prophet, Clarence Black
     
    I’d studied the prophet’s note more than a dozen times. Aspen was incensed when she read it, taking offense to his insinuations that she was delusional and stupid. But once I explained that he was doing whatever he could to break our bond, our camaraderie, our partnership , she understood the point of the letter. She understood his plan.
    Divide and conquer.
    “What is that mantra?” I asked her. “The one you always tell your children and the other wives.”
    “Keep sweet,” she said with a nod.
    “Yes, that’s it,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “Just keep sweet. Never let him see you sweat. We’ll win this . . . we will. You know what this letter tells me?”
    I flicked the paper before tossing it on my desk.
    “What?”
    “He’s nervous. He’s feeling vulnerable and scared. You scare him, Aspen.”
    “Impossible,” she scoffed, shaking her head.
    “No,” Holly interjected. “I agree. You have him rattled. He thinks if he can get Jonathan to abandon you, you won’t have any support and you’ll give up, you’ll give in.”
    Aspen’s nostrils flared and her cheeks grew red again. Slowly, she said behind gritted teeth, “Never. There are too many lives at stake. I can’t let