Hearths of Fire (40 page)

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N
eal pulled his
truck by the curbside a street away from Charlotte’s residence. He wanted to ensure that anyone watching the house didn’t see him return. The team agreed that the Ashes wouldn’t come themselves or allow Garreth anywhere near Mandy’s home. That left a couple of their trusted cult followers to do their bidding. Did the Ashes just want to see if Mandy was at the house or did they have plans that were more sinister in nature? There was only one way to find out.

Stick had ridden along with Neal and he took the lead, keeping an eye out for any of the members that might be lurking about. Neal pulled up the back to ensure that the townsfolk weren’t looking out their blinds or sitting on their porches. The last thing the team needed was to be hassled by the sheriff or a nosy neighbor. Regardless that the law officer knew why they were in Hearth, it wouldn’t go over well if he thought Red Starr was making the residents nervous.

“They’re already inside,” Stick alerted Neal as they sprinted across the back lawn. Trigger was already opening up the back door and allowing Diesel inside to do what the dog was trained for—bring down the intruders and wait for his commander. There must have been some evidence of a break-in or otherwise Trigger would have waited. Starr and Gunny were pulling up from the left, weapons drawn. Their hand signals indicated they would take the front door, while Neal knew that Daegan was somewhere around keeping an eye on the house through his scope. “Let’s go get our answers.”

Neal and Stick closed the distance, looking for anything or anyone that might pose a danger. Muffled screams could be heard through the door and they waited for Trigger’s signal that Diesel had the situation contained. Within thirty seconds Trigger gave the go ahead and all three men entered the premises. Diesel had both men trapped in the hallway, although one of them was heading for Mandy’s bedroom—probably in hopes of escaping through the window. Stick apprehended the trespasser in the hallway while Neal continued past with every intention of stopping the other from obtaining his escape. Trigger had already called Diesel off of them, rewarding the shepherd with praise for a job well done.

“Going somewhere?” Neal said before grabbing the man’s shoulder and easily twisting his arm behind his back. The man let out a cry of pain. “It wasn’t such a bright idea to break in here, now was it?”

“We were just making sure that the girl was safe, that’s all.” That statement came from the one still secured in the hallway. Neal nodded toward the living room and it wasn’t long before both men were seated on the couch, surrounded by the Red Starr team with the exception of Daegan. He’d have their six just in case anyone else tried to enter premises. “We aren’t here to hurt anyone.”

“This is almost too easy,” Stick muttered, stepping back so that Starr could stand in front of the two cult members. Stick and Trigger had already patted the duo down and there wasn’t a weapon of any kind on their persons. Neal looked them over, noticing that the quiet one was fidgeting with the seam of his black denim. “You sure you can trust that informant of yours?”

Of course Neal wasn’t certain of anything of the kind, but it wasn’t like they had a hell of a lot of choice anyway. He’d texted Charlotte moments before they entered her house, ensuring that she was at the store with Pam. It was in the middle of the day and her store was full of customers attending the festival. She was safe as long as she didn’t leave the premises.

“Well, it looks as if we have a lot of ground to cover,” Starr said, addressing the two men. “From where I stand we have every right to call the sheriff and turn you in for breaking and entering.”

“I told you that we were just checking on Mandy Whitefall.” Intruder One continued to be the man who spoke while the other one looked like he’d rather be anywhere but there. Intruder Two was who would break first. “They just wanted to make sure she wasn’t being kept from contacting Garreth.”

“So you are here on the orders of the Ashes?” Starr asked, tilting her head to show the men that they’d already made an admission.

“No.” Intruder One shook his head emphatically, trying to backtrack. “We came on our own. The Ashes are wonderful leaders, as will Garreth be upon his indoctrination.”

“And what does this indoctrination entail?”

“That information is for members only,” Intruder One replied, almost in arrogance. “Ashes to Dirt will lead this new world. We will do what we must to see that prophecy come true.”

“When does this indoctrination take place?” Starr holstered her weapon, knowing that the team had her well covered. She pulled the coffee table away from the men and then sat on it so that she was facing them. “I want a date and time.”

“Ashes to Dirt will lead this new world. There’s nothing you can do to stop them.”

“You’d be surprised at what I am capable of,” Starr replied, striking fear into the second member who couldn’t sit still. “I’ll ask you again and again until you answer me. Let me assure you that you will respond honestly to my questions. When does this indoctrination take place?”

“Ashes to Dirt will lead this new world.”

This run-around went on for a good ten to fifteen minutes. Starr finally signaled to the team that they should push ahead and separate the two cult members. The small smile on her face even had Intruder One pausing with his answer. When one of them started to break, whether it was physically or emotionally, the other would eventually cave as well. It was relatively easy to make that happen but it had to be worked for. Fear had to be implanted as well as doubt.

“You.” Neal pointed toward Intruder Two, who looked like he’d swallowed dirt. “What’s your name?”

“I-I don’t have a name anymore.” The man had a look about him where he could either be in his twenties or thirties…he just aged well. Either way, it didn’t matter. “We all follow Ashes to Dirt. Our names are meaningless in our quest for good.”

“Your name is meaningless here as well.” Neal closed the distance between the two of them and grabbed the more complacent man by his black jacket, pulling him into a standing position. Neal shoved him toward the kitchen. “Let’s have a private conversation.”

“H-he won’t answer your questions any more than I will.” Intruder One tried to stand, but one growl from Diesel had the man sitting back down. “Ashes to Dirt will lead this new world.”

Neal could hear the man continue to say those words to Starr as he propelled his detainee to a kitchen chair. Once he was seated Neal pulled out another seat and flipped it around, straddling the wood and resting his arms on the back. He zeroed his gaze on the younger man and stared at him for over a minute.

“I’ll call you Earl. You look like an Earl.” Earl looked as if he wanted to argue but instead continued to fidget and glanced between Neal and Stick, who’d joined them. His friend waited for the signal to use physical force if necessary, but Neal was relatively certain that wouldn’t be needed. Earl was too soft-bellied for any real interrogation skills that were usually required to obtain information. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Earl. You see, if Stick here thinks breaking your arm and having you beg will get your friend in there to talk…so be it. Or you can just tell us what we need to know.”

“A-Ashes to Dirt will lead this new world.”

“You don’t sound too sure of that, Earl.” Neal leaned slightly forward, pleased to see that Earl drew back a couple of inches. “Whatever they’re filling your mind with, you need to start thinking a little more clearly. As stated before we can get you to use your head. How that happens is going to be up to you.”

“Ashes to Dirt will lead this new w-world.”

“Stick, we don’t have time for this,” Neal said, standing and pushing the chair underneath the table in very calculated moves. “Let me know when you feel he’s ready to answer our questions.”

Neal turned to leave, seeing that Stick unfolded his arms and pushed away from the counter where he’d been standing quietly until now. He wasn’t a big man like Gunny but his brick shithouse muscular build was easily recognizable underneath his clothes. Neal hadn’t taken three steps when Earl squealed like a pig. Within ten minutes the team had all the information these two men were privy too.

*

“The last time
I saw you like this was finals of our senior year,” Neal said, walking into Charlotte’s office. She had her hair pulled back haphazardly and even had a pencil positioned behind one ear. When he’d walked into the shop he’d admit that his chest tightened at the fact that Charlotte wasn’t at the counter or anywhere in the open area of the store. Pam had smiled though and indicated that Charlotte was in her office. Seeing her personally made him rest easier. “And here I thought I would have to handcuff you to your chair to keep you here.”

“You use handcuffs?” Charlotte asked, an impish sparkle contained with her blue eyes.

“Only when needed.” Neal could play this game although he wasn’t so certain she would if he actually did utilize restraints in the bedroom. It wasn’t like he would be here long enough to find out if she enjoyed something of that nature. It was time to change the subject. “We detained two men breaking and entering into your residence. After we were done questioning them we bypassed the local authorities and brought in the state police. The officers took the two intruders into custody while we continue to implement our mission.”

“Are you sure that the Ashes aren’t aware that Mandy left town?”

“As sure as we can be.” Neal sat in one of the two chairs that were positioned in front Charlotte’s desk. “The team is doing a bit more reconnaissance before we enter the compound tonight. I wanted to touch base with you.”

“Let me guess,” Charlotte said, leaning forward by placing her elbows on the desk. “You don’t want me to go home tonight.”

“The diner is open until twenty-one hundred hours. That won’t be long enough for what we have to do. I don’t feel comfortable with you being at the house by yourself.” Neal rubbed his chin while trying to formulate the right words so that she would see reason. Already the blue in her eyes had darkened in agitation. “We need the entire team on this mission or otherwise I would have someone stay behind with you. It’s just not an option. Which means you have to compromise with me. We can’t be worrying about what’s going on outside of our operation.”

“I could stay with Pam, but I honestly don’t want to. She’ll ask incessant questions that I shouldn’t answer about you and Mandy.” Charlotte lifted her hand over the material on her desk. “Plus I’ve been researching cults most of the afternoon. The brainwashing that goes on is intense, Neal. Some of it can be really extreme. How sure are we that this guy that keeps feeding us information is on the up and up? What if it’s the Ashes planting disinformation? The majority of the cults that I’ve been studying don’t kidnap their victims. What if we’re wrong about the Ashes having taken Becky? What if—”

“That’s a lot of
what ifs
, Char.” Neal lowered his arm and stood, for some reason needing to feel her in his arms. He walked around the desk and held out his hands, pulling her up when her fingers interlaced with his. He brought the back of her hands to his lips, pressing a kiss on her knuckles. He’d actually considered withholding specific information from Charlotte so as not to worry her. Mandy was safe and there wasn’t a thing the Ashes could do to change that. “The two men who remain in custody have given us additional information that the ritual meant to take place on Halloween night has everything to do with merging the blood of who the Ashes consider the messiah and his soul mate. They would do anything to prevent word from leaking out on what this ceremonial act contains, including kidnapping a young girl who might inadvertently tell the wrong people.”

“Wait,” Charlotte said, shaking her head as if she were trying to deny what he was saying. “Merging blood? What were they going to do with Mandy? Are we talking a pinprick on the finger or something worse?”

This was why Neal hadn’t wanted to reveal the specifics, but he also knew Charlotte wouldn’t have appreciated being kept in the dark. They’d always had an honest relationship, even to the point when she came to him before their wedding to cancel their plans…he wouldn’t change that now. He didn’t have time to go through each piece of intelligence they’d gathered but he could give her the bullet points.