“Howdy, Sheriff. What can we do for you this afternoon?”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSdHJPag3V
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He’d never liked Joseph. The man was as pretty as he was false, and he had a nasty habit of whisking through Clear Springs and paying too much attention to the married women for anyone’s peace of mind. As far as Zach knew, no one had crossed any lines there—and even if they had, it was hardly his jurisdiction to police cheating spouses—but it didn’t sit well with him. He’d always thought the only reason Martha kept the little shit around was because he could have passed for an Abercrombie model, right down to the short blond hair and chiseled jawline. But then, that might be Zach’s personal dislike for the man showing through.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSKrGZZsLm
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He nodded at the gates. “We’d like to speak with Martha.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAH5BacYUS
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“Sorry, but that’s not possible.” Joseph’s brown eyes flicked to the police cruiser behind him and then back, the only part of him he didn’t bother to lie with. He might appear relaxed and easygoing, but he’d categorized everything about the situation the second Zach pulled up. “She’s deep in meditation.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeD8E8PG810
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Meditation, his ass. He crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s important.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN7TuUwVpI
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“Not going to happen.” Joseph’s smile widened. “But I’m more than happy to deal with whatever brought you all the way out here. As a courtesy in the name of cooperation, of course.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOL914UUZg
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Of course.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVehGLq0PZK
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Zach exchanged a look with Henry. They were hiding something. That wasn’t new, but usually Martha and her inner circle fell over themselves to let him wander around in an effort to prove that they weren’t, in fact, a cult. He couldn’t remember the last time the gates were closed to him. He was pretty sure they never had been.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOr9fsl9ma
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Holy hell, what if Julie is right?152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADIds9caSt
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He leaned against the cruiser, putting every effort into appearing relaxed and unconcerned. “You know Neveah Smith?”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrgHz2p68c
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Joseph shrugged. “Sure. She’s been up a few times.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGmWBG5z8c
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He blinked. He hadn’t expected the man to admit it.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GcSqVRjb2
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And, damn it, Joseph knew it. He laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with letting the kid attend a few services. If she’s not supposed to be here, take that up with her and her parents. We haven’t violated any rules.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPegOlzZoib
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They knew something. He was sure of it. There was no other reason for them to close him and Henry out. “You seen her around lately?”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZkUuE7DG7
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“Not in a couple weeks.” Joseph flashed a grin again. “Apparently we weren’t exciting enough for her tastes. She was expecting crazy orgies and drugged-out parties.” Joseph leaned in and held a hand to the side of his mouth. “We don’t start that sort of thing until they turn eighteen.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i0c9FHFA2
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He was fucking with Zach.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY43nutK94E
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Zach knew it, but it didn’t stop his blood pressure from rising. He’d rather deal with just about anyone other than Joseph, if only because the idiot liked to make a joke of everything.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1iki6FMdN
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This was serious. Or it would be if the girl was actually missing.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG4x0oYr3u
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But he wasn’t getting anything from the Elysians today. He pushed off the cruiser. “You call me if she comes around.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG2R921Nsp
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“You have no jurisdiction here.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaGdJQM8Rx
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“That’s where you’re wrong.” As much as some of them liked to pretend otherwise, they weren’t an independent state. As far as he knew, Martha didn’t even preach that sort of nonsense. But the Elysians were an insular sort, and they didn’t take too kindly to what they viewed as civilians telling them how to live their lives.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK8jkqe55g
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Too damn bad. He didn’t make a habit of meddling in their business as long as they didn’t break any laws, but that didn’t mean he’d look the other way if they did.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eW64kdf30
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Zach headed for the passenger seat. “Don’t cross me, Joseph. If she shows up, I expect a call.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aLgbtJo1U
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“I’m scared. Really, I am.” Joseph pointed at himself. “This is me, shaking in my boots.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFfgrupC90
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There was a time when Zach used to solve his problems with his fists. He’d never thought he’d miss it until this moment. Punching in that smug bastard’s face sounded brilliant—except he was an officer of the law, and sheriffs weren’t allowed to go around assaulting people who made them angry. “See you around.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWddkGLiGBi
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“Sooner than you think.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1qeIsRuDq
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Once they were back in the cruiser, Henry backed away, but Zach kept his gaze on the two men the entire time. “They’re up to something.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUidZF3ZBl
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“Seems like it.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfatQlyILaU
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But what? On the grand scale of things, Elysia might irritate the hell out of him, but they hadn’t set a foot outside the law since they’d bought the hundred acres out here. And if one of Martha’s flock stepped out of line . . .152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1gazTEUDc
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He shook his head. When he’d been maybe sixteen, he remembered her hauling in her own daughter to the police station to report that the kid had stolen a violin. That was the only time she’d ever been in the station, and the only time she’d asked for outside help. She’d always gone above and beyond the call of duty to present the facade that Elysia was really just a harmless commune.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuqIzdrXdJ
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For her to refuse to see him and close the gates . . .152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzkuQpdH4t
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Yeah, something was up.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfEcptq2kx
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The radio crackled, Chase Moudy’s voice cutting through the cruiser. “Zach? Zach, where the hell are you?”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY9anfgyx1
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He exchanged a baffled look with Henry. What now? The other deputy sounded like he’d seen a ghost. Zach picked up the radio. “I’m here.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCobOmqOld
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