"It's okay," said Blechman.
Part of her said run, but she fought the impulse. Her cover wasn't completely blown yet. At least she didn't think so.
His voice and demeanor were unthreatening. "Kira, many of my most devoted followers lied to me at first about their pasts. Some were simply unable to talk freely about past abusive relationships. Others were afraid I would reject them if they revealed their previous life of crime, drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, or whatever."
She felt a wave of relief. He didn't even suspect she was FBI. Just another loner with a checkered past. "I'm sorry I lied to you."
"I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable. But to come on this journey, you have to break with the past. To break with the past, you have to confront your demons."
"That's what I want to do."
"Good. And don't be afraid. You won't go through this alone. Felicia will help you. I will help you. And as you progress from one level to the next, you will find others to help you overcome the human traits that torment you."
"I'm not really tormented by anything."
"Yes, you are. That's why you're here. Only when you rid yourself of those past vibrations can you vibrate at the next level. Do you want to reach the next level?"
"Yes. Of course."
"Then make that your sole objective for all your remaining days on this planet. Not to become a better human, as your parents and teachers instructed you. But to become more than human. As long as you are human, it makes no difference whether you are a prostitute or a scientist, a minister or a murderer."
She cringed inside at the mention of a murderer. "I understand."
He rose and stepped toward her. Andie took a half step back, but she was suddenly in his grasp. She stiffened with fear, but it was just a warm embrace. He held her for nearly a full minute, then whispered softly, "Your name is now Willow, and you belong to us."
Chapter Fifty-Six.
Gus had his investigator tail him to the meeting with Meredith Borge, fully armed, just in case. Though it would be illegal to record their conversation without Meredith's consent, Dex wired him up anyway. No telling what direction this might take. He wanted it all on tape.
The coffee shop was nearly empty, just two men at opposite ends of the counter and a family of five sucking down the spaghetti special at a corner table. Meredith was alone in a booth by the revolving pie display. Gus arrived precisely at eight o'clock, as instructed.
"Got your call," he said.
She looked up from her coffee and gave a sideways glance toward the door, as if checking to make sure he hadn't been followed. "Have a seat."
The waitress poured him a cup and freshened Meredith's. After she'd gone, Gus asked, "Why the change of heart?"
"Why were you so stupid as to come to my front door in broad daylight?"
Gus wasn't sure how to respond, but after the message on his windshield this afternoon, it was a fairly astute question. "Guess I wasn't thinking."
"That's a dangerous way to live."
"I'm no stranger to danger. At least not lately."
"I know all about your situation."
He wondered if that included the alleged spouse abuse. "Don't believe everything you read in the papers or see on television."
"I don't. But my daughter was a very reliable source." Gus stopped in mid-sip. "Shirley told me she didn't even know if you were alive."
"We didn't talk for quite some time, that's true." "You mean after she conspired to kill you?"
His knowing surprised her. "That put a crimp in the relationship, yeah."
"So when did you get over it?"
"When she called and told me you were going to pay her a quarter million dollars."
"If she could help me find my wife."
"Which is precisely the reason she called me."
"I don't follow you."
She smiled wryly. "No way Shirley was going to find her without my help."
"Do you know where my wife is?"
"No"
"Stop playing games with me."
"It's not a game. It's a theory. Shirley's theory, to be exact. But she couldn't prove it without me. I know what you need to know."
Gus was tiring of her coyness. "Are you talking about the cult?"
"My, you have done your homework."
"What do you know about it?"
"You mean the one in the Yakima Valley, right? The one on ten acres of land with the old white farmhouse, big barn, apple and apricot orchards? Chicken. Coop out back?"
"Either you're totally making this up or you've been there."
"I lived there." "When?"
"Long before your wife started shoplifting and donating clothes to the Second Chance."
"Are you still . . . involved?"
"No. It's been years. Used to be a very positive environment. I got out when Blechman took over."
"Blechman?"
"Younger guy. Very ambitious. Likes to think he pioneered the cult's thinking, but he's just another egomaniac with a pulpit."