know what I'm starting to think? You really like me. You're trying to force me to join your organization by spilling too many secrets."
She walked down to the edge of the water and leaned on an iron fence.
His legs were still wobbly, but he managed to stand up without falling over. Slowly, he went over and stood beside her.
"This is bad," she said softly. "I'm acting like a teenage girl instead of a professional."
"We're both adults, and we're allowed to be attracted to each other. What's the problem?"
She grabbed his wrist and squeezed hard. "You don't have any idea. This situation just got dangerously complicated. I'm not allowed to like you in that way." She rubbed her temples.
"Why? You have a boyfriend? Is it Victor?"
"Him?" Her eyes widened. "No! God, no. He's a creep. It's just that romantic relationships are a problem in my business. They make it hard to be objective. Be quiet while I think about this."
He enjoyed her presence in silence for a few minutes. Despite the heat, it was a nice day to be out for a walk in the city. A steady breeze kept the air fresh and clean.
Marina's cell phone rang, and she answered it immediately. Like the rest of her team, her phone was big, thick, and gray. "I'm here... I understand... I'll talk to him." She closed the phone.
"What's up?" Aaron said.
"The evidence we collected was tested, and the results were conclusively positive."
"What does that mean?"
"We need a lot more information about the Church of One Soul," she said, "and the most convenient source is Brittany Waters. Where is she?"
"At her parent's house, but the poor girl is traumatized. She's been home for less than a day. I can't imagine her parents would let you talk to her."
"They might let you see her. They trust you."
"But I'm not part of your secret society," he said.
"Aaron, we need your help." She looked at him intently. "I know this is coming at you fast, but it's extremely important."
"What is the real threat? What can this cult do?"
"They are an abomination unto God, unfit for His world."
He gave her a skeptical look. "Huh?"
"Remember Sodom and Gomorrah? Destroyed by brimstone and fire. Chicago could get the same treatment if we don't fix this problem quickly."
Chapter Five
Aaron and Marina stood at the front door of the Waters residence.
Marina had insisted they change clothes on the way. They had stopped at a department store where she had purchased new outfits for both of them. Aaron now wore a blue business suit made of polyester, which trapped his sweat and made him itch. She wore a long blue skirt and blouse with a deliberate coffee stain. A steel pin held her hair in a tight knot.
"What's my name?" Marina asked.
"Gretchen Stableford," Aaron said.
"And who do I work for?"
"FBI."
She nodded. "Don't slip and use my real name, ever. Go ahead and knock."
He knocked on the door.
A short while later Frank Waters answered. "Mr. Glade? What are you doing here? We're eating dinner."
"Sorry to interrupt your meal," Aaron said. "This is Ms. Stableford from the FBI. We would like a few minutes with Brittany, please."
Frank looked at Marina curiously. "Why?"
"The Church of One Soul might be violating federal laws," she said in a crisp, professional tone without any hint of her Russian accent. "We're hoping your daughter might have information about the church's activities."
"I don't know. Brittany... isn't well." He shook his head. "Come back later." He began to close the door.
She quickly blocked the door with her foot. "I understand your concern, Mr. Waters. I'm sure her experience was horrific. We'll try to be as quick and gentle as possible."
He frowned.
"If you make me get a subpoena, I'll have to take her downtown for a real interrogation," she said. "I might have a few questions for you, too, while I'm at it. None of us wants that, right?"
He reluctantly led them inside the house. The interior was small, and hundreds of knick-knacks on shelves made the space even tighter.
She walked down to the edge of the water and leaned on an iron fence.
His legs were still wobbly, but he managed to stand up without falling over. Slowly, he went over and stood beside her.
"This is bad," she said softly. "I'm acting like a teenage girl instead of a professional."
"We're both adults, and we're allowed to be attracted to each other. What's the problem?"
She grabbed his wrist and squeezed hard. "You don't have any idea. This situation just got dangerously complicated. I'm not allowed to like you in that way." She rubbed her temples.
"Why? You have a boyfriend? Is it Victor?"
"Him?" Her eyes widened. "No! God, no. He's a creep. It's just that romantic relationships are a problem in my business. They make it hard to be objective. Be quiet while I think about this."
He enjoyed her presence in silence for a few minutes. Despite the heat, it was a nice day to be out for a walk in the city. A steady breeze kept the air fresh and clean.
Marina's cell phone rang, and she answered it immediately. Like the rest of her team, her phone was big, thick, and gray. "I'm here... I understand... I'll talk to him." She closed the phone.
"What's up?" Aaron said.
"The evidence we collected was tested, and the results were conclusively positive."
"What does that mean?"
"We need a lot more information about the Church of One Soul," she said, "and the most convenient source is Brittany Waters. Where is she?"
"At her parent's house, but the poor girl is traumatized. She's been home for less than a day. I can't imagine her parents would let you talk to her."
"They might let you see her. They trust you."
"But I'm not part of your secret society," he said.
"Aaron, we need your help." She looked at him intently. "I know this is coming at you fast, but it's extremely important."
"What is the real threat? What can this cult do?"
"They are an abomination unto God, unfit for His world."
He gave her a skeptical look. "Huh?"
"Remember Sodom and Gomorrah? Destroyed by brimstone and fire. Chicago could get the same treatment if we don't fix this problem quickly."
Chapter Five
Aaron and Marina stood at the front door of the Waters residence.
Marina had insisted they change clothes on the way. They had stopped at a department store where she had purchased new outfits for both of them. Aaron now wore a blue business suit made of polyester, which trapped his sweat and made him itch. She wore a long blue skirt and blouse with a deliberate coffee stain. A steel pin held her hair in a tight knot.
"What's my name?" Marina asked.
"Gretchen Stableford," Aaron said.
"And who do I work for?"
"FBI."
She nodded. "Don't slip and use my real name, ever. Go ahead and knock."
He knocked on the door.
A short while later Frank Waters answered. "Mr. Glade? What are you doing here? We're eating dinner."
"Sorry to interrupt your meal," Aaron said. "This is Ms. Stableford from the FBI. We would like a few minutes with Brittany, please."
Frank looked at Marina curiously. "Why?"
"The Church of One Soul might be violating federal laws," she said in a crisp, professional tone without any hint of her Russian accent. "We're hoping your daughter might have information about the church's activities."
"I don't know. Brittany... isn't well." He shook his head. "Come back later." He began to close the door.
She quickly blocked the door with her foot. "I understand your concern, Mr. Waters. I'm sure her experience was horrific. We'll try to be as quick and gentle as possible."
He frowned.
"If you make me get a subpoena, I'll have to take her downtown for a real interrogation," she said. "I might have a few questions for you, too, while I'm at it. None of us wants that, right?"
He reluctantly led them inside the house. The interior was small, and hundreds of knick-knacks on shelves made the space even tighter.
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