“Howdy, Sheriff. What can we do for you this afternoon?”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaXsQWEO2k
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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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOksNM9R0P2
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He nodded at the gates. “We’d like to speak with Martha.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYj17Gvhzq
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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.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQy0iupp50
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Meditation, his ass. He crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s important.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaMmNgFdTW
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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.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtX50RKDt1
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVb8mgbouo
Of course.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUdxMahjCw
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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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkZOqSz8t5
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Holy hell, what if Julie is right?208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpUNWIaXTP
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He leaned against the cruiser, putting every effort into appearing relaxed and unconcerned. “You know Neveah Smith?”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjATb6GZXU
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Joseph shrugged. “Sure. She’s been up a few times.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdckkZNgPN
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBL8VNRpUA
He blinked. He hadn’t expected the man to admit it.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDoxfxznHp
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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.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppRoNIDFOT
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWaj1kLl4K
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?”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6qzIUaL7q
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuwEDFPf69
“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.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBatsO92kTx
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He was fucking with Zach.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAEWYfJ6k0
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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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryEAqbP4Al
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This was serious. Or it would be if the girl was actually missing.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnfgXPyD39
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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.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8sNvDrAmw
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“You have no jurisdiction here.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z1eeqaAGB
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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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtl1c4tsJq
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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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N3pasOPp3
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Zach headed for the passenger seat. “Don’t cross me, Joseph. If she shows up, I expect a call.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5CzDs0KMq
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“I’m scared. Really, I am.” Joseph pointed at himself. “This is me, shaking in my boots.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAA1oQ931X
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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.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyxtrIRzjL
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“Sooner than you think.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPSJmp7iHg
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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.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95eUXO7wes
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“Seems like it.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuglkPfa8U6
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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 . . .208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRqNAbaGT1
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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.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwei8xhuopG
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For her to refuse to see him and close the gates . . .208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbB0LLCYILK
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Yeah, something was up.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXb9yC9ied
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The radio crackled, Chase Moudy’s voice cutting through the cruiser. “Zach? Zach, where the hell are you?”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQ7MRPe80R
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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.”208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk210ptubmr
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