by Elle James
A chill slipped across her skin and her pulse sped. Dread filled her as she turned toward the wooden crates. Most of them were screwed shut. One at the far end of the room wasn’t as securely fastened. Jenna found a crowbar leaning against the wall and pried the lid off.
The crate was filled with bolts of cloth in the ginghams and calicos typical of the dresses the women were required to wear. It didn’t make sense. Why would they transport bolts of cloth in heavy wooden crates?
Unless they were hiding something underneath.
Jenna pushed the bolts aside and dug deeper, practically standing on her head to reach beneath the fabric. Her fingers touched cold hard metal. She wrapped her hand around it and dragged it from beneath the gingham. When it emerged, she gasped.
The metal belonged to the barrel of an AR 15 semi-automatic rifle, similar to the M4A1’s used by the military. Familiar with the weapons from a report she’d done on the annual gun show, Jenna shivered. These weren’t the regular weapons someone would use to hunt game.
Holy hell! Her hands shook as she dragged the mini-cam out of her pocket and pinned it to the front of her dress. Digging beneath the fabric in the box again, she pulled out two more AR 15s and laid them out on the floor. Further searching unearthed boxes of ammunition. Shoving the fabric to the side, she dug again and found a machine gun and belts of bullets. She laid out what she’d found, her insides quivering. If the rest of the crates contained the same, Sweet Salvation had amassed enough weapons and ammo for a small war.
Jenna pressed the mini-cam to her chest to initiate the recording and bent over the crate lid, hopefully getting all the guns and ammo in the video while she shined her smart phone flashlight over the lot. When she thought she had enough footage, she laid the weapons and ammo back in the crate and covered them with the bolts of cloth.
A door on the far end of the room swung open and lightning flashed in the sky, illuminating the loading ramp and the silhouettes of people standing outside.
Jenna killed her flashlight application and dove behind the stacks of crates filled with fabric and weapons, her heart pounding so hard she felt like it would explode out of her chest.
“Go,” a gruff voice demanded.
“I’m going. You don’t have push,” a young female voice responded.
Jenna’s heart sank when she recognized who it was.
Rebecca stepped into the basement and fumbled for the switch on the wall beside the door. Light flooded the room.
Jenna shrank further into the shadows behind the crates. Peering through a gap between them, she could see the two women and the man following them. Jenna had seen him in the news recently talking about all the good Sweet Salvation was doing for the community.
Huh!
“Don’t hurt my daughter. Please.” Lissa, Rebecca’s mother pleaded. “She didn’t hurt anyone.”
“She had contraband,” the man said. “Cell phones are the work of the devil and not allowed on the compound.”
“So, take it,” Lissa said, following Rebecca into the room. “You don’t have to lock us in the basement. We know it was wrong and promise not to do it again.”
“I’m not promising anything,” Rebecca said. “I want out of this compound, and Mom, you’re coming with me.”
“Neither one of you is going anywhere until Elder Snow says so.” The man stepped in behind them and closed the door, twisting a key in the lock.
Jenna hunkered over her cell phone to block the light it generated, and synced the mini-camcorder’s data to her phone. Once synchronization was complete, she drafted a text to Toby.
Trouble in paradise. See video. Trapped in basement of worship hall with contraband.
Attaching the video to the text, she hit SEND. With only two bars of reception, the video would be painfully slow transferring, but it had to go. The outside world had to know what was going on inside the walls of the Sweet Salvation community.
“What are you looking for?” Rebecca asked, her voice jerking Jenna back to her dilemma. The man who’d entered the basement with the women had crossed to the crates behind which Jenna hid.
Jenna pressed the smart phone to her belly, hoping to hide the screen light while the text message took its time sending.
The man squatted out of Jenna’s visual range. “Someone has been down here,” he straightened with the crate lid in his hands.
Jenna cringed. She’d returned the items to the box, but forgotten to replace the lid.
The man laid the lid over the crate and pressed his finger to his ear. “Elder Snow, we may have a problem.”
The man had a radio headset. For a compound set up to operate on only the basics, they were far too well-equipped with military-like hardware.
He turned toward Rebecca. “Did you enter this room without permission?”
Rebecca shook her head. “How could I? The other women barely let me out of their sights.”
“You managed to hide a cell phone on your person without them finding it.”
“But they did,” Rebecca pointed out. “We’re here now, aren’t we?”
The lock on the door twisted and the door opened. Elder Snow entered, a heavy frown marring his forehead. “What is the meaning of this? Why are these women here?”
“Miss Rebecca had a cell phone on her, and I believe they broke into this room and tampered with our supplies.”
Elder Snow’s brows dipped even further. He walked up to Lissa. “Is this your doing?”
Lissa shook her head, her eyes rounding. “My daughter doesn’t understand the evil of cell phones. She knows now. Let us leave, and you’ll have no more trouble with us again.”
Rebecca slipped an arm around her mother. “I know about the rules. But I also know that you’re hiding something.”
Elder Snow stepped up to Rebecca and slapped her hard on the cheek, knocking her to the ground. “You know nothing.”
Jenna rose halfway to her feet, ready to launch herself at the man hitting her cousin.
The one who’d escorted them into the basement cleared his throat. “They might know more than we want them to.” He turned toward the boxes where Jenna hid.
Jenna eased back to the ground.
The man touched the crate Jenna had rummaged through. “This lid was on the floor. I know I replaced it the last time we were in here. Someone was looking inside.”
“You and I are the only ones allowed in this room,” Elder Snow said.
“What’s in it?” Rebecca asked, pressing her hand to her split lip as she rose to her feet. “Guns? I heard the men shooting this morning. This is supposed to be a peaceful community, free of drugs and violence.”
Elder Snow swung his big arm, backhanding her.
Rebecca flew across the floor, sprawling across the ground.
“Don’t,” her mother cried out and flung herself over her daughter’s body.
“Shut up. Both of you,” Elder Snow shouted. “We are a peaceful community, living a simple and pure life.”
Rebecca eased her mother aside and sat up, wiping blood from her mouth. “Then why the guns?”
Elder Snow’s eyes narrowed. “We protect what’s ours from those who might try to take it away from us.” He stepped toward Rebecca, drawing his arm back as if to strike her again.
“Stop!” Jenna rose from her position. She couldn’t let this man hit the girl again. “Stop hitting her.”
The man near the crates jumped back, startled by Jenna’s sudden appearance.
Taking advantage of his temporary withdrawal, Jenna rounded the other side of the crates and threw herself in front of Elder Snow. “You have no right to hit this woman.”
Before she could duck, his hand snaked out, slapping her hard in the face. Her head snapped back and pain shot through her cheek.
“You are an intruder and have no right to tell me what to do. I could have you shot for trespassing.”
Jenna refused to touch her throbbing cheek. Instead, she flung back her shoulders and dared hi
m to hit her again. “Will you have me shot with one of the military weapons you’ve been hiding in these crates? You know some of those weapons are illegal, and yet you brought them into your so-called peaceful community among the women and children.”
Elder Snow’s cheeks turned a ruddy red. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. We’ve built a model community full of loyal citizens who would do anything for the good of Sweet Salvation.”
“Even kill people? Are you willing to sacrifice innocent children?”
His nostrils flared and he lifted his chin. “If the lord wills it.”
“You mean if you will it.” Jenna faced off with the man.
“Elder Mathis, take these women into the adjustment room,” the older man said. “Our people are waiting for us above.”
Mathis stepped forward and reached for Rebecca.
Jenna launched herself at the man, knocking him to the side. “Leave her alone!”
Lissa rose to her feet, crying and wringing her hands. “Please. Don’t hurt my daughter.”
Before Jenna could straighten, she heard Rebecca scream.
Elder Snow had her by the hair, pulling back hard, exposing her neck where he held a wickedly sharp knife to her throat. “Back off or I’ll kill her.”
Lissa crumpled to the floor sobbing. “This is not right. You can’t hurt my little girl.”
“He’s going to hurt a lot of little girls if he does what I think he’s planning,” Jenna stared at the crazy leader of the commune, knowing by the way he spoke and the remorseless look in his eyes, he meant what he’d said. He’d kill Rebecca. Jenna straightened. “Let Rebecca go. I’ll go along with you peacefully.”
Mathis grabbed her arm and yanked it up behind her back.
Pain knifed through her shoulder as he shoved her toward a door on the other side of the crates.
Behind her, Elder Snow said, “You. Go with her.”
“Please, please, don’t hurt my daughter,” Lissa wailed, her sobs following Jenna’s progression toward the dark doorway.
Mathis yanked the door open and pushed Jenna down a long hallway with doors on both sides and locks on the outside. When he reached the last door at the end, he twisted the lock, jerked the door open and shoved her in. He didn’t stop until he had her pinned to the wall, smashing her face against cool concrete blocks. He kicked her feet to a wide stance and finally released his hold on her arm.
Jenna nearly cried in relief.
Mathis ran his hands over her body, stopping when he reached the pocket at her waist where she’d tucked the cell phone after she’d sent her text.
“Elder Snow. You should see this.” Mathis held up the phone and hit the on button. The screen flashed to life, displaying the text message she’d sent and the video attachment.
Elder Snow shoved Rebecca and her mother into the room, snatched at the cell phone and muttered curses no preacher should ever say. “Join the congregation in the worship hall and lock the doors. Tell the men we’re going to code Rapture.”
Mathis’s face blanched and he stammered, “Yes, Elder Snow.”
Jenna’s blood ran cold at the look on Snow’s face. “What do you mean by code Rapture?”
The two men backed out of the room.
Elder Snow shook his head. “You have no idea what you’ve done. You will, soon enough. But by then, it will be too late for you and the good people of Sweet Salvation.” Then he closed the door and the click of the deadbolt lock echoed in the complete darkness.
“What did he mean by that?” Rebecca said. “Too late for the people of Sweet Salvation?”
“The Rapture is when God will reclaim the true believers, and they will ascend until Heaven,” Lissa’s voice sounded like a chant from rote memory or the echo of a pastor’s preaching.
“Does he intend for all the members of Sweet Salvation to die?” Jenna asked, the chill of the cool basement permeating her skin all the way to her bones. “Does he intend to kill them?”
“He will expect them to give their lives unto the Lord,” Lissa whispered.
“All of them?” Jenna asked. “What about the children?”
“God will welcome them, too,” Rebecca’s mother said, her tone eerily calm, as though she was reciting something she’d said often.
“And they will do this?”
“Yes,” Lissa said.
“Elder Snow is insane.” Determined to find a way out and warn the congregation, Jenna felt her way along the wall until concrete gave way to the cool metal door. She ran her hands over the smooth metal. There was no knob on their side.
“There’s no way out,” Jenna said.
Lissa sobbed.
Rebecca bumped into Jenna, her hands out in front of her. “Now what do we do?” she asked.
Jenna sank to the cool floor and buried her face in her hands. “We pray the cavalry arrives in time to save us.”
Chapter Ten
‡
DUSTIN’S BROTHERS DIDN’T question his request, they dove into the SUV with Toby.
“Shouldn’t we take weapons?”
“That compound is full of women and children. We have to get in and neutralize the threat before we call in the sheriff’s department or the ATF. Otherwise it’ll be another massacre like what happened at the Mount Carmel Center when David Koresh clashed with the ATF over illegal firearms and explosives.”
Toby, from his position in the back seat, leaned forward. “If the leader of this group is even half as crazy as Koresh, it could be another blood bath with innocents being hurt or killed.”
“Exactly,” Dustin said. “The video Toby forwarded from Jenna indicates they have enough arms and ammo to start a war, and they’ve trapped Jenna inside the compound. Once bullets start flying, innocent people will be hurt. We have to go in unarmed and take out their leader with minimal use of force.” Even though he wanted to kill the man for trapping Jenna in the compound.
He fought to control the panic rising inside. It was just another mission, like so many he’d been on before. Except he wouldn’t have his modified M4A1 rifle or his nine-millimeter handgun. He did have a knife and wouldn’t hesitate to use it if it meant saving Jenna’s life.
“I don’t like going in without my own weapons,” Houston said.
“You and me both,” Adam agreed. “At least I was able to score the bulletproof vests and night vision goggles. They just need to be back in the armory by morning.”
Dustin’s jaw tightened. “They will be.”
Adam shook his head. “You say that like this’ll be a slam-dunk. None of us have had the advantage of being inside the compound to know what we’ll be up against.”
“Thanks to Toby, he was able to pull a satellite photo off the Internet,” Dustin said.
“Glad I could be of help.” Toby leaned back. “I’m sorry I didn’t stop Jenna from going in the first place.”
“At least you had the good sense to tag her with a tracking device.”
Adam held the tracker. Toby had given the men a crash-course in how to use it.
A mile away from the road leading into the compound, Dustin slowed the SUV, turned off the lights and drove in blackout conditions until they were only a half-mile away. Then he pulled off the road, driving the SUV between two scrub cedars, effectively hiding the vehicle from view.
All four men climbed out into the darkness with only the city lights of Waco reflecting off the low-hanging clouds. It started misting lightly as they stood in front of the vehicle checking their gear and tightening the buckles on the bulletproof vests. Adam handed the GPS tracker to Dustin. “You’ll want this to find your girl.”
Dustin clutched the device in his hand, thankful Toby had the foresight to equip Jenna with the tag that would help them find her.
“Toby,” Dustin said. “You’re to stay here and guard the vehicle.”
“I’m going in with you,” the younger man argued. “It’s my fault Jenna’s in there to begin with.”
Dustin snorted. �
��Do you really think you could have talked her out of it?”
Toby grinned. “No.” His smile faded. “But I should have tried harder.”
“She’d have gone anyway,” Dustin said. “She has family in there.” Though she’d dumped him after only two days of being engaged, the woman loved her family and would do anything for them. Even the nutty ones.
“When we’ve been gone for one hour, you know what to do, right?” Dustin asked.
With a nod, Toby recited his job. “I’ll forward the text with the video to Adam’s friend on the SWAT team and my buddy in the sheriff’s department, following up with a telephone call to get them out there ASAP.”
“Hopefully, they won’t come in guns ‘blazin’,” Houston said.
Dustin’s fists tightened. “We’re going to sever the snake’s head and stop this uprising before it gets going.”
Toby’s eyes widened. “You’re going to cut off the elder’s head?”
Houston laughed. “No, but we’re going to take him out of the equation so the rest of his following won’t have their leader.” He handed out rolls of duct tape. “We’ll use this as our best weapon.”
“Duct tape.”
Dustin nodded. “That’s right. Immobilize them without killing them. We’re not in the Middle East with the U.S. government backing us up. We’re on American soil. Our own people won’t understand if we go in slitting the throats of what appear to be innocent, peaceful folk.”
“The idea is to do this on the down-low,” Adam said. “Take out the leader and hold him until the authorities can sort through the truth.”
“In many terrorist organizations, if you take away their leader, they fall apart,” Dustin explained.
“The people of Sweet Salvation have been peaceful for the most part,” Adam reminded them. “Let’s not hurt any more than we have to. It would be even better if we could get in and out without being discovered. I don’t want any of us up on charges of breaking and entering or false imprisonment when we catch the leader.”
