“Howdy, Sheriff. What can we do for you this afternoon?”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyI3wM23Vg
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCKOuUl2QK
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He nodded at the gates. “We’d like to speak with Martha.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zezN8gMFj
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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.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhIE39QkSc
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Meditation, his ass. He crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s important.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPeYhxZOIj
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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.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh9gXM8Yf2
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Of course.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7yXhZKuTr
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBapyABqVMd
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Holy hell, what if Julie is right?195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMxqPWBj3R
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He leaned against the cruiser, putting every effort into appearing relaxed and unconcerned. “You know Neveah Smith?”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1Rnjnb00j
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Joseph shrugged. “Sure. She’s been up a few times.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRtUOVIl9Q
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He blinked. He hadn’t expected the man to admit it.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrYxDRqvWU
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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.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjScJA7M83
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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?”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIokau6Gh1
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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.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzkR8pH7VS
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He was fucking with Zach.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hUyrQpFIj
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSbQbK6Vrx
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This was serious. Or it would be if the girl was actually missing.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijZOchnGjF
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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.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbf6TTpHwC0
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“You have no jurisdiction here.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd9Bpi8vQI
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon7u7IJ2bE
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPDsrsv8kn
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Zach headed for the passenger seat. “Don’t cross me, Joseph. If she shows up, I expect a call.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBV2lk1f0r3
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“I’m scared. Really, I am.” Joseph pointed at himself. “This is me, shaking in my boots.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX2BVKHAjO
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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.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2P2yxiAjv
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“Sooner than you think.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2oyrbBWQ7
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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.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD0XtlviZO
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“Seems like it.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWKXFE1Jvd
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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 . . .195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2BRKlZ8j6
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoK2kYxkvw
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For her to refuse to see him and close the gates . . .195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10bECiMVde
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Yeah, something was up.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pVKa1QMLl
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The radio crackled, Chase Moudy’s voice cutting through the cruiser. “Zach? Zach, where the hell are you?”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD4TSQ800p
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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.”195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Vq4nqPZ66
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