Messiahs by Matt Rogers (bookstand for reading txt) 📕

Maeve suddenly looked hurt. She cast her eyes away and took a small, fluttering breath. ‘If not, dear, the last thing I want to do is annoy you…’

Alexis said, ‘Why’d you come to me? I’m sure you see lots of people passing through town, ma’am.’

‘And sometimes I talk to them on park benches like these,’ Maeve said without missing a beat. ‘If I don’t like their energy, I never make the offer. We’re a rather exclusive community, Alexis. I hope you understand how rare it is for me to offer an invitation so soon. But you’re a pure soul. I can sense it.’

Sure you can, Alexis thought.

She looked all around like she was grappling with indecision, even though she had Maeve eating out of the palm of her hand. She stared vacantly off at the horizon, then allowed herself a half-smile and turned back to the woman.

‘You know,’ she said. ‘That sounds like a fine idea, Maeve.’

Maeve beamed. ‘You won’t regret it, dear. I’m afraid we don’t have everything set up to accommodate your needs — after all, I didn’t know I’d be doing this so soon — but it won’t take long. Shall we pick you and your friend up at eight tomorrow morning? At the entrance to Bicentennial Park?’

Alexis nodded, then paused. ‘That’s within walking distance of the Budget Inn. Did you know we were staying there?’

Maeve smiled, and Alexis could swear she was gripping her knee tighter. ‘Perhaps. Word travels quickly, as I said. But don’t be alarmed, dear. We have the best intentions in our hearts. Trust me, I think you are going to finally discover your purpose. Tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of your life. I guarantee it. And if not, no harm done. You and Violetta can be on your way. But life becomes magical when we open our eyes to new ideas, doesn’t it?’

Alexis smiled back. ‘It does. I’m excited to see your commune.’

Maeve said, ‘We’re all thrilled to have you. The rest of the community doesn’t even know you’re on your way, but they’ll embrace you lovingly. Would you like that?’

Alexis teared up like she’d never had a place in this world. She shook her head in embarrassment and wiped her eyes, as if it were unintentional. She said, ‘I would like that very much.’

Maeve took her hand off Alexis’ knee and put it on her shoulder. ‘You are loved, Alexis. I want you to know that. No matter what this life throws at you. You are loved. And there’s a home for you out there. I have faith it will be with us.’

Alexis let the tears flow freely.

Maeve said, ‘I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t mean to make you emotional. We’ll see you tomorrow. Have a pleasant evening.’

She got up and walked away, slowly, without hurry.

Alexis waited for her to go, then killed the tears. She wiped her face, impressed by the fact she could pull the waterworks out of thin air.

Then she headed back to the Budget Inn on foot.

27

In case the Arbuckle Lodge was compromised without their knowledge, King and Slater spent the night sleeping in shifts.

They got three hours of sleep each, twice over, going back and forth from midnight to midday. No one disturbed them. No one came for them. There wasn’t so much as a peep from the corridor outside their room.

With six hours each under their belts, they headed outside in the early afternoon for a meal.

They’d already got word from Alexis that Maeve had approached her in Overlook Park.

En route to the closest eatery with Glock 43s concealed under their jackets, they kept an eye out for any signs of ambush, but it appeared their escapades the night before had deterred anyone from pursuing them. They knew if they hung around in town for too long and made their presence obvious, escalation was inevitable. But they couldn’t maintain the roles they were playing and shut themselves up in their room from paranoia, so they strode for a twenty-four hour diner up the road from the lodge, aware they were probably under surveillance.

Slater said, ‘That was fast from Maeve.’

King said, ‘I’d wager she has her finger on the pulse of the rumour mill. It wouldn’t have taken long for word to reach her.’

‘You think she’s heard about us?’

‘I can’t see how she hasn’t.’

‘Then why haven’t we been approached yet? She should have been waiting for us downstairs.’

‘She’s not omnipresent,’ King said. ‘She can’t be in two places at once. And we’re wildcards in her eyes. Best to deal with the backpackers, get the easy job out of the way, before she figures out what to do with us.’

‘Do Violetta and Alexis need us, then?’

King looked across. ‘What?’

‘They’re already in. Their cover’s intact, and they’re getting taken to the commune tomorrow morning. Surely they can kill Maeve on their own.’

‘You think Maeve’s the only person running Mother Libertas? It’s a serious cult. She’ll have at least a handful of co-conspirators, and maybe hundreds of followers living in the commune. You think Violetta and Alexis can kill everyone in charge and escape without getting torn apart by the masses?’

‘If they do it fast, and they don’t hesitate … yes. Won’t that shatter the followers’ belief systems? If they see their invincible leaders killed?’

King shook his head. ‘That’s not us. We’re not storming in there to kill anyone who seems like they might be in charge. What’s to say Maeve hasn’t brainwashed or threatened everyone she works with? We need more information on just how guilty the cult leaders are. Right now we know nothing. We barely understand how the cult operates or what exactly they tell their followers, and we don’t know who’s responsible.’

‘You think we can stay here in town and find out?’

‘We’d serve more of a purpose if we go there ourselves.’

‘That’s if this act works.’

‘Then let’s hope it does.’

They made it to the diner without incident, found no hostility in the faces of the patrons eating lunch,