Page 5 of Vows of Murder

“Oh, so it’s an administrative building?” It definitely would be amazing to work here.

“No, this building is where we live, most days. There are a few offices, like mine, carved out of the space here. On normal days, people are here studying, working, and, of course, eating. The dorms are for sleeping or when you need some time to yourself.” Hepulled out another book and pressed it into my hands. “I want to give you something. I feel like we aren’t communicating well. This book explains a lot of our beliefs.”

I glanced down at the book, titledThe Four Agreements. “You don’t have to give this to me. I can order a copy for myself. If I don’t have it currently in stock.”

“I’ve made notes in this one. I think you’ll find it most interesting.” He glanced over at the door, then tucked the book into my tote. “I won’t let you leave without it.”

“Okay, then.” I tried to follow his gaze, but he turned me away from the door. This was getting weird. I was beginning to regret coming. “I’ll read it and let you know what I think at the next business-to-business meeting.”

“That would be lovely. I look forward to talking with you about the contents.” He took me by the arm and led me over to where a table had been set up for refreshments. “Have you tried any of our delectables? The goat cheese is made on-site. And of course, all our breads and sweets are made herein our bakery.”

“I’ll have to try some.” I glanced around the room to see if I could find Amanda. I wanted an excuse to end this conversation.

“You sell bakery items in your shop. Maybe you’d be interested in talking about switching your supplier.” He stepped closer and handed me a business card. “I’m sure we can beat the pricesyou’re paying.”

“I have a relationship with Pies on the Fly. I probably won’t be needing another supplier.” To be truthful, even if the New Hope product was cheaper, I wasn’t going to switch. Sadie Michaels, the owner of Pies on the Fly, was one of my best friends. The only way I’d need a new supplier was if Sadie closed her bakery.

“That’s unfortunate. I know Diamond Lille’s is considering taking on our business.” He smiled and tapped the card. “Keep that handy. You may find you need our products sooner or later.”

He walked away and greeted someone else. It had all been a sales job. I should have known. I bet the book talked about their bakery products too. I felt a hand touch my arm and I jumped. Amanda stood next to me, her eyes wide.“Are you okay?”

“Sorry, just a little edgy. Let’s continue our tour.” We moved past the treats. Women were standing with trays, waiting for people totake a cookie or other sample. They didn’t say anything, just smiled. I scanned the group to see if the missing girl, Carlie, was part of the welcoming committee, but she wasn’t there. I wondered if Reverend Matthews had seen the missing person postersall over town.

I didn’t take anything, even though the chocolate mini pie looked so good. It was the principle. I didn’t want Kane to see me eating one. We walked into the chapel and stood to the side. The stage in front was huge and had a television screen to match. They could watch movies here. Instead of pews, there were couches lined up in the room. The first two rows were all recliner chairs. Apparently, these were available for the most important worshippers.

There was a video running on the large screen. People singing in what appeared to be a choir, but the songs, though uplifting, weren’t hymns. They were pop standards from the oldies station. The pictures showed parishioners working in the meetinghouse. Chatting, and talking over dinners, and some were praying, eyes closed in their placeon the couches.

On the screen, Kane took the stage and started talking. The sermon was on personal responsibility. Being true to your word. He was magnetic. The camera panned over the audience, their eyes closed and heads lifted up. I could see that other visitors were listening to Kane’s words and nodding along. I wondered if they even knew they were doing it. The man could sell ice cream to Alaskans.

An elbow dug into my side and Amanda leaned close. “Do you think they’re praying or sleeping?”

I swallowed a giggle and we moved on. When we walked through the next door, we found ourselves outside in a backyard, surrounded by buildings. A playground was to the side, by what appeared to be the women’s dormitories. Although there were several women members standing and helping with water or sodas, there were no children out there. Guards stood around the yard watching as people came and wentfrom the area.

A man greeted the group that had just left the meetinghouse. “This is our communal yard. Our members enjoy being outside and we spend a lot of time here when we’re relaxing. We eat out here as often as the weather allows.” He went on to point out the dorms, the bakery, the laundry, and the schoolhouse.

Wherever the kids that attended the school were, they weren’t on display today. I scanned the buildings and saw a young woman standing in the window of the women’s dorm. She was watching the tour. She looked like the picture of the missing girl. Our gazes met and she waved at me. I started to raise a hand, but then she was gone, pulled away from the window.

When the guide, Maxwell, asked if we had any questions, I raised my hand. “How many people live here?”

“We’re up to five hundred souls as of our last meeting.” He smiled as he held out his arms. “We’ve been welcoming so many new members, we’re starting work on another set of dormitories. Who elsehas questions?”

I pushed on. “How many kids attend school here? And where are they? I haven’t seen a child since we arrived.”

Maxwell’s mouth tightened into a line, and the guards who were near the doors stepped closer to me. I figured three questions were too many. He took a breath and I saw him shake his head. The guards behind me stepped back in place. “We feel that the children are here in our care. Adults choose this life. The kids aren’t old enough to choose, so we are keeping them out of the limelight, so to speak. But to try to answer your question, our schoolhouse can accommodate up to a hundred students.”

Amanda met my gaze. He’d skirted the question, but the warning in her eyes made me rethink my usual persistent nature. I let go of the next twenty questions that had popped into my head.

Maxwell nodded, and when there were no more questions, he smiled. “Feel free to hang out here in the sunshine. When you’re ready to leave, the path to your left will take you past our vegetable garden and back to the parking lot and your cars. Thank you so much for visiting our home today.”

We wandered around the yard, but everywhere we went, guards were close by, watching us. I’d made us a target. There would be no sneaking off-tour today. If Carlie was here, she was hidden away with the children and most of the women.

I took Amanda’s arm. “Are we ready to head back to the house? Or maybe we should stop and grab lunch on the way. I know a perfect little seafood restaurant that overlooks the ocean.”

“This was lovely, but I’m feeling a little worn out. I’d love to go get some clam chowder.” Amanda smiled as we passed by another guard. “And maybe a glass of wine. Do you think the members here drink wine?”

When we got into the car, she leaned back against the headrest. “Greg told me that you can be a little direct when things don’t add up. I think you just found another mystery.”

“Remember the woman we saw arguing with the guard, who you thought climbed the fence?” I told her about talking to Molly Cordon the other day about her missing daughter. “I wanted to see if we could spot her, but they didn’t have many women out to meet the community. Most of those women who were serving food and drinks, I’ve seen inmy bookstore.”

---