"A Murder In Milburn", Book 1: Death At A Diner by Nancy McGovern Page B

of supreme truth,” Nora said.
    “I know,” Sean replied. “But what it is. a cult. It hasn’t been recognized by any authority as an actual church. It focuses a little too much on its charismatic leader, Stanley Staten.”  
    Sean had wrinkled his nose when he said the name, and somewhere, a part of Nora filed that look away. It was a look of sheer disgust, with something more lurking under the surface.
    Nora shrugged. “Whatever the case, Jolene is devout. According to her ways, laughing is a sin, singing is a sin, dancing is a sin, as is consumption of any alcohol, caffeine, sugar or meat.”
    “I guess I’m a happy sinner.” Sean took a sip from the cup of coffee next to him and pushed Nora’s untouched coffee towards her. “It’s not the kind of fancy coffee you’re used to, but you do look like you need a little caffeine in you, Nora.”
    Nora smiled and lifted the little white styrofoam cup with both her hands, savoring the heat. She inhaled, and felt the rich aroma switch the lights on in her tired brain.
    “I did need that,” she said, after taking a sip of the dark black liquid.
    “Right. You’re a sinner now, according to Jolene and gang,” Sean said.
    Nora winced. “Yes. Well, Jolene was hard on Raquel, and at 15, Raquel’s sole aim in life was to get her own apartment as soon as possible. To be honest, I thought Raquel was the kind of daughter anybody would be proud to have. It baffled me why her parents didn’t appreciate her more. She was generous, loving, and worked hard.”
    Sean shrugged. “Parents are a mysterious breed.”
    “Yes. Well, Raquel never said much, but I knew she had to hear it every day, from Jolene and all her friends, about how she was doing the devil’s work just by existing. Davis, Raquel’s father, he stayed out of it mostly, and when Raquel yelled or talked back, he took Jolene’s side. I think that made Raquel resent him more. We didn’t talk about parents much, to be honest. Before, when my parents were still around…” Nora hesitated again, and Sean saw the muscles of her neck work as she controlled herself. “Back then, I think we both saw it as disloyal to whine about parents. It was the one subject we left alone.”
    “All right. How about boyfriends?” Sean asked. “Give me a list, if you don’t mind.”
    Nora shook her head. “Well, look, she’s only had three serious boyfriends in her life, though she’s been out on a few casual dates in Jackson.”
    “Their names? The three serious boyfriends?”
    “You know the first, of course. He’s a happily married man now. Jeremy Norton. She dated him for three years back in high school. After that, there was Aldo Waybury in 2008. I don’t know what happened to him.”
    “He’s working as an architect in Spain now,” Sean said. “I was good friends with Aldo. I guess we can rule him out. The third?”
    “Jonah,” Nora gulped. “Jonah Ashburn.”
    “Ah.” Sean gave her a pointed look. “Jonah Ashburn, now a devout member of the cult of the supreme truth.”
    “Do you call them that to their faces?” Nora asked. “I’d be surprised if you did.”
    “I don’t like them, and that’s the truth. But I am diplomatic, yes,” Sean said. “They’ve bought out the old Delaney Ranch, you know the one? Ten miles down south? Well, they’ve taken to living in a community together and keeping to themselves, but their tentacles are spreading. Me, I guess I’ve got to stick to my job and not interfere, but let’s just say I keep an eye on them all. A very close eye.”
    “Are you really suggesting the cult was involved?” Nora asked. “I know they’re all very… strange , with their chanting and their mix of pagan beliefs, but still, they all seem mostly nice and harmless to me.”
    “Right,” Sean said. “I’ve no doubt they are, for the most part harmless.”
    “Mostly harmless.” Nora raised an eyebrow. “But, perhaps, not completely?”
    “No.” Sean leaned back in his chair,