Desperately Seeking Househusband
Page 22
I sat forward eagerly and launched into it. “It’s about this cult here in HB that disbanded in the late ’90s because they were getting high and there were complaints about misappropriation of money. All in the name of religion, I guess.” Bondi wrinkled her nose. “But get this: I think the cult might be up and running again. There’s been some activity in the same building where the cult met before. It’s been abandoned for several decades, but now all of a sudden, people have been seen there again. So I did some research on the building itself and it was purchased back in 1960 for some ridiculous sum by an LLC that leads nowhere and it was never sold again, even after the cult disbanded later on. Why would they still have the building? Wouldn’t it have made more sense to sell it than leave it empty for twenty years? It makes no sense.”
Bondi looked confused. “So why does Bob want you to investigate it? Seems like something to be left to the police.”
I shrugged. “He didn’t exactly tell me to look into it, but I kind of stumbled into it on my own. Figured if I found something concrete, Bob would be interested.”
“So Bob doesn’t actually know what you’re doing?”
A flush creeped over my face. “Well, no.”
Bondi sat up and hit me with her stare. “Girl, you better be careful. I wouldn’t go telling anybody but me about that stuff until you know what you’re getting into.”
I smiled. “I know. I’ll be totally safe, I promise.”
She squeezed my knee and her whole face went soft. That look always made my stomach feel funny. “I know you want to prove yourself to the world, but you don’t have to attempt dangerous things to do that.”
I sighed, exasperated. “Look, you don’t know how I feel. I know you mean well, but it’s not easy growing up adopted and knowing your parents didn’t want you. Josh and Becky have been the best parents I could ever ask for. Believe me, I appreciate them. But I also want to be good at something. I need to be successful for me. Not to prove anything to anyone else. To prove it to myself.”
She smiled and I cringed inwardly at how much pity I saw in her expression. “I know, sweetie.”
Bondi started to roll herself off my bed and I decided to change the subject. “Do you happen to know a guy by the name of Volos?”
She froze and then looked back at me. “No. Why?”
I shrugged again. “No reason. Just came across his name and thought it was an unusual one.”
She stared at me a few seconds longer. “Okay, well, good night. Get some sleep, eh?”
Continue the story with the full novel The Cult Queen. Preorder now, read it when it releases on October 15th!