Military Men

by Shelley Munro

  “No loitering.” Brother Felix jerked his bald head in an indication to hasten. “We don’t have all day.”

  Sorrel moved closer to the desk, her quick gaze taking in the pictures on the wall, the three bottles of alcohol on a small shelf and the crystal tumblers sitting beside them.

  To her right was a bookcase. It was full of books, and her breath caught as she scanned the titles. She tripped, barely catching herself before she head butted the desk.

  Brother Rick’s lips curved into a sneer. “You’re so inept.”

  Sorrel focused on her sandals, all the while wishing she could flatten his pointy nose. She wasn’t clumsy in the normal scheme of things.

  “You wanted to see me?” She kept her voice even, proud of her steadiness when her emotions roiled like one of her potions simmering on a high heat.

  “You’ve been delivering stock to the shop every morning this week.”

  She stared at him. Was that a question?

  “Answer.” Malicious glee fired deep in Brother Felix’s blue eyes.

  “Yes.” Sorrel’s gaze shot automatically downward, but something stopped her from concentrating on her feet as she usually did. Slowly her gaze rose. Her eyes felt heavy as she forced them upward, awkward almost, yet pride filled her when she finally stared at Brother Rick’s chin.

  “Do you visit other shops while you’re in town?”

  “No. Why would I? I don’t have—”

  “Yes or no answers,” Brother Felix snapped.

  “Have you visited the shops this week?”

  “No.”

  Brother Rick steepled his hands in front of him and rested his nose on top, as if he needed to consider his next question. “Tell me what you did today.”

  “I walked down to the town with Brother Jake this morning. I had to wait because they were late arriving. The first sister was on her own, so I helped her unpack the new stock and price it.”

  “Then?” Brother Felix prompted after a long pause.

  “Brother Jake and I came back to the compound. I made some face packs and scrubs and spent half an hour before the lunch bell picking fresh herbs from the garden.” She pressed her lips together, waiting for one of the men to speak again. The silence lengthened until she wanted to fidget. Another habit, she intended to break.

  Brother Rick and his cohorts were bullies. They’d been the same way growing up, but Brother Samuel had kept them in line. With him gone, they seemed to think they could do anything. Someone needed to stand up to them, but it wouldn’t be her because she had too much at stake.

  Two seconds later, her conscience called bullshit on that, and she took pleasure in thinking the crude word. It was wrong to let them behave without checks, to run Children of Nature without the say-so of the rest of the residents.

  She stood a fraction taller, seeking out Brother Rick’s gaze and holding it. “What is this about?”

  “You had an opportunity to purchase the condoms. No one else. You brought them onto the compound.”

  “Where would I get money?” She stated the obvious because none of the men seemed to grasp the reality. One required money to purchase goods.

  “You were seen meeting one of the owners of Fancy Free. You spoke to her. No lies, Sister Bitter. I saw you myself.”

  “I don’t have money.” This time she punctuated the words with a glare, since the idea hadn’t seeped through their thick heads. “Anyway, I wasn’t talking to her. You know that. You heard me.”

  “It would be easy enough to barter some of your products,” Brother Felix said.

  Disbelief bloomed in Sorrel, reality slapping her across the face. Suddenly she got it. No matter what she said, they intended to stick to their version of events. A jury who’d tried and hung her, despite the fact commonsense indicated she hadn’t committed the crime.

  There was no point arguing.

  “Do you have anything further to say in your defense?” Brother Rick was attempting a solemn judge demeanor. It wasn’t working.

  “Other brothers and sisters leave the compound.” Including the real culprit, but she wasn’t going to inform on Jake. No point in both of them getting into trouble.

  Brother Rick shot her a look as dark as a nightmare and just as scary. “But none of them behave in a suspicious manner.”

  “How do you know?” She pretended she was speaking with Jake, a man who expected her to express her thoughts, her doubts.

  Brother Rick blinked, taking a few seconds before he recovered his normal aplomb. “I have eyes everywhere.”

  “I see.” She doubted it. If he’d seen her flout his rules, he would’ve confronted her sooner. He hadn’t learned of her meeting with Alice and James.

  Another silence fell, but Sorrel could’ve sworn she felt the pulse of Brother Rick’s glee, his pleasure in what was going to come next. Yes, she could see the sparkle of a secret about to burst from him.

  “Sister Bitter you will leave the compound.”

  “But I went to the store this morning. They have enough stock to last the rest of the week.”

  “You misunderstand, Sister Bitter. Let me be blunt. You’re no longer welcome to live in the compound.”

  “But—”

  He held up his hand in a demand for silence. “Don’t try to contact anyone here because as far as we’re concerned you’re no one. Nothing. You are officially shunned. You may leave now.”

  Chapter Ten

  Jake cursed in quiet frustration. He couldn’t hear a bloody thing—except footsteps approaching him. He retreated, noiseless in his sandaled feet. Anxiety churned his gut because Sorrel had been in the office for a while now. She knew he was waiting for her. Surely she’d shout if she required aid.

  “Brother Jake, we require help with a task.” Brother Felix called from the doorway of the building Jake had hastily exited. Brother John and Brother Tyrone followed Brother Felix outside.

  Jake hesitated. Maybe he’d take the opportunity to subtly grill Brother Felix for information. But he hated leaving Sorrel with Brother Rick.

  You weren’t there for Greg. Jake shook himself, although he heard Greg’s confident voice ripple through his memories. No prob. It’ll be a breeze.

  This was a different situation. They were in New Zealand, not in a war zone. Sorrel would be fine.

  “Damn, I forgot the keys.” Brother Felix’s round face creased in a scowl.

  His ears pricked at the mention of keys, but his unease lingered. “I wanted to see Sister Sorrel.”

  “She’s still with Brother Rick, discussing extra help during the afternoon. Meet me at the truck, and I’ll grab the keys. You can talk once you return.”

  Jake’s hands fisted at Brother Felix’s smartass attitude, but he forced back his instinctive reaction, aware this might be the breakthrough he needed.

  “Come on.” Brother Tyrone jerked his bald head in the direction of the truck.

  Jake nodded agreeably and set off with them. Sorrel would be here on his return.

  A few minutes later Brother Felix came jogging out of the office. Sorrel and Brother Rick exited seconds after him, and some of Jake’s apprehension faded. She was okay. He’d speak to her later.

  They drove from the compound with curiosity sitting like a fidgety child on Jake’s shoulders. He concentrated on the passing scenery, picking out landmarks to remember to help Luke identify their route through Sloan. Brother Felix turned the truck and drove along the main street of the town.

  It was pretty, as towns went, with baskets of red, white and purple flowers hanging from poles. No litter clogged the gutters and there was a noticeable lack of graffiti on the fences and buildings. The locals stared as Brother Felix drove down the street.

  “Where are we going?” Jake asked.

  “We have some business that needs taking care of,” Brother Felix said.

  “I hope it’s not too physical.” Jake frowned. “I’m still not as fit as I was before I was sick. The doctors told me it would take a while to
return to full fitness.”

  “We’ll manage between the four of us,” Brother Felix said.

  He seemed to do most of the talking while Brothers John and Tyrone stared at the passing scenery.

  They drove past the police station, but Jake didn’t see Luke. Another thought occurred, one that brought a scowl. He glanced at Brother Felix’s broad back beneath his robe. Brother Felix was big, but on the chubby side. Jake was confident he could take him in a fight. The other two men were smaller than Jake. On their own he could deal with them, but if they jumped him together, he might have problems.

  The shops and office buildings gave way to houses and countryside. Jake was no wiser as to their destination. They pulled off the main road onto a gravel one. The road wound around the base of a hill before entering a plantation of pine trees. Soon the road petered out, and Brother Felix halted the truck.

  Jake climbed out of the vehicle with the others. A low, mournful moo carried on the wind.

  Bingo.

  * * * * *

  Sorrel watched Jake drive away with Brother Rick’s friends, her heart sinking to a level near her sandals.

  Brother Rick remained at her side. When she turned toward her workshop, he grasped her elbow and directed her forcibly in the direction of the gates.

  Heck, what did it matter?

  She’d wanted to leave the compound.

  But not like this, without her plans in place.

  Not without her mother’s books, and definitely not without the battered recipe book she’d left sitting on the counter in her workshop.

  A warning prickle started behind her eyes. She bit on her inner lip, the jolt of pain refocusing her. She wouldn’t give Brother Rick the satisfaction.

  She wrenched from his touch and marched away, head held high.

  “Open the gates,” Brother Rick called.

  Two of the elderly brothers were on security, and it took them ages and much grunting and straining to unfasten the catch and push open the gates. Sorrel wanted to help them. A decent man would’ve helped, but Brother Rick remained silent at her side, judge, jury and now security guard seeing the accused off the premises.

  Finally the gates opened.

  Sorrel marched through and didn’t look back.

  She heard the gates creak shut behind her, heard the puzzled questions from men she’d known since she was a young child, but she kept walking.

  Once she was out of sight of the compound, she sank to the ground, tears streaming down her face. What in the stars did she do now?

  * * * * *

  “I didn’t realize we had stock up here.” Jake turned to read their expressions.

  Brother Felix lifted his shoulders in a careless shrug. “We have several operations outside the main compound.”

  The rumble of another vehicle sounded. The brothers remained relaxed, which meant they’d been expecting an arrival.

  “Right on time,” Brother Felix said.

  They wandered over to the paddock and studied the grazing cattle. Jake counted them. Four head. He couldn’t see ear tags or brands from this distance. Not that it mattered. He had the location and that would help Luke put a stop to the rustling. A set of basic yards stood to their left.

  “Which beast do you want slaughtered?” the new arrival queried.

  Brother Felix shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Just pick one.”

  “Usual terms?” the man demanded.

  “Usual terms,” Brother Felix confirmed and pulled a wad of notes from his robe pocket and handed them over.

  “What do you want me to do?” Jake couldn’t figure out why they’d brought him with them. It seemed strange after the previous secrecy. His gut was shooting him warning messages, yet he forged ahead, playing things by ear.

  This was an opportunity to get the evidence he needed to kick their robe-covered butts.

  The chance to free Sorrel to leave the cult.

  He’d take her with him. God, he couldn’t believe he’d known her for less than a week. He felt as if he’d known her his entire life, that she was the one he’d been waiting for all along.

  “We need help with loading and the clean up afterward,” Brother Felix said. “Actually, can you grab both the tarpaulins from the truck? We’ll need one for the offal and one for the meat.”

  “Sure.” Jake limped back to the truck. He considered texting Luke but he wasn’t sure how much time he’d have alone, and he wasn’t one hundred percent sure the second arrival had come on his own. He glanced at the number plate and frowned on noticing the mud obscuring the numbers. On purpose? Jake wasn’t sure. Perhaps the make and model would be enough. The color. Besides, he had a description of the man too. If he was a local, Luke would know him.

  He retrieved the tarpaulins and returned to join the men. One of the animals—a black-and-white one—was in the yard now. A shot fired. The animal went down.

  During the next hour, Jake helped the men dress the beast. They loaded the carcass onto the truck, secured a cover over it, and followed the SUV down the gravel road. Instead of driving back to Sloan, they turned toward Auckland, stopping on the outskirts of Papakura, the suburb on the very edge of the city boundaries, and where both Nikolai and Louie lived with their wives. Jake was familiar with the area since much of their army training had taken part in Papakura. It was home base for the SAS.

  But he didn’t comment, just stayed quiet in the back, taking careful note of their surroundings and where they were going.

  They pulled into a driveway and drove past a white bungalow to a huge iron shed behind. Jake helped the other men carry the beast into the shed. The stranger opened another door, and a wave of cold sprang out at Jake. They lifted the beast, hanging it on a hook in the chiller.

  A camera flashed in Jake’s face. He frowned at Brother Felix. “What the hell?”

  “Just to make sure you won’t discuss today. Some insurance.”

  The other men laughed, the humor bearing a distinctly nasty edge. It raised Jake’s hackles.

  “Why the fuck would I tell anyone?” Jake demanded. “I’ve decided I want to live at Children of Nature.”

  Brother Felix smirked. “Good to know. Brother Rick will be pleased to hear you’ve decided to join us.”

  * * * * *

  After ten minutes Sorrel forced herself to stand. She sniffed, wiped the back of her hand across her eyes, balancing on teetering legs. No time to dither. Already it was late afternoon, and she wasn’t sure where to seek shelter for tonight.

  Shunned.

  Stars, what age did Brother Rick think this was?

  Fury struck her then, strengthening her weak resolve and shoring up her wonky knees. Brother Rick wasn’t going to get away with this. Shunning her. He might think he was the boss of her, the boss of all of them, but by the time she finished he’d learn otherwise. Yeah, he’d rue the day.

  Sorrel started stomping toward town. The walk seemed much longer without Jake’s company. Jake. Brother Rick had purposely distracted Jake with a chore so he could expel her from Children of Nature with minimal fuss.

  The more she thought about Brother Rick’s actions the angrier she became, tension reverberating through her body with each furious stomp. Brother Rick was a terrible leader. He’d changed the group and not for the good of the members.

  The town came into view. Sorrel marched past their shop. Several women inside were looking at and buying her products. Maybe she could set up her own business at a later date.

  But right now, she had something else on her mind. She strode past the florist shop, past the cafe and the town hall. She stomped right to the police station, thumped up the front steps and pushed through the door.

  “I want to speak to the policeman in charge please.”

  * * * * *

  Jake and the other brothers arrived back as the ring of the dinner bell echoed through the compound.

  “I’m gonna take a shower before I go for dinner,” Jake said, after climbing from the rear of the truck
. The camera flashed in his face, catching his bloody robe and disreputable appearance. He knew what he looked like—a man who’d helped butcher and dress a stolen beast. “Enough with the fuckin’ camera,” he snarled, turning away. Ten steps into his charge across the compound he realized he wasn’t limping and that pissed him off even more.

  Jake stopped by the men’s quarters to grab a clean robe. In the ablution block, he stripped, taking special care not to drop his knife or phone. The water still ran cold as he stepped under the showerhead. Maybe it would help cool his temper before he gave in to his urge to throttle Brother Rick.

  He couldn’t wait to tell Sorrel about Brother Rick’s latest move. The man was a dictator, ruling over his small kingdom. Jake couldn’t wait to take the bastard down.

  Garbed in clean clothes, and firmly back in character, Jake hobbled into the dining hall. As he joined the line waiting for their food, he scanned the room for Sorrel and ignored the men who whispered of his nightmares and violent tendencies. He couldn’t see her, but she’d been here at lunch, which meant she’d eaten her one meal of the day, the second actually, not that he’d tell. Jake snarled under his breath at the injustice, not quietly enough because the sisters in the line in front of him put a larger gap between them.

  He slapped an extra two dinner rolls on his plate plus more roast beef and ham than he could eat. Scanning the room, he noted it was fuller than usual. He dropped into an empty seat and filled the two rolls with meat before eating his meal. Damn, it wasn’t right enjoying a meal if Sorrel went hungry.

  Brother Rick entered the dining hall, his three friends following him—a robed entourage.

  “All he needs is a swirling cape.”

  His snide comment earned Jake a passel of glares from the brothers and sisters who shared the table with him. So shoot him. He didn’t give a crap. Leaning back in his chair, he allowed a sardonic smile to curve his lips.

  The dining hall fell silent as Brother Rick climbed onto the dais at the far end of the room. He stood there, presenting a calm front. “I’m sorry to interrupt your dinner, but something important has occurred. I felt I needed to tell you before our next weekly meeting.” He paused for a long moment.