The Boys in the Church by Chris Culver

Author:Chris Culver [Culver, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chris Culver

23

I went by my locker in the basement and grabbed my department-issued bullet-resistant vest. Agent Costa was in the lobby waiting for me as I climbed the steps. He was on the phone, so I turned to Jason Zuckerburg.

“Who’s on duty tonight near my house?”

He drew in a breath and focused on his computer for a moment. “DeAndre Simpson and JD Phillips are about a mile away. They’re looking for drunks, but fishing is light tonight.”

“Unless they’re occupied, send them to my house but tell them to hang back until I arrive. I’ve had a break-in.”

Zuckerburg typed and then looked at me.

“They’re on the way. You need anybody else?”

I looked to Agent Costa. He had finished his phone call and walked to us.

“Bruce Lawson and Sheriff Delgado will meet us at your place,” he said, looking to me before focusing on Zuckerburg. “Jude Lewis and his parents will be coming in. Make sure they’re comfortable in the conference room. We’ll need to talk to them again soon.”

Zuckerburg nodded and said he’d look for them. Then Costa and I left. We took separate cars to my house, but we both parked in the driveway. Within moments, two St. Augustine County police cruisers joined us. I met the small team in front of my car.

“My house has a door in the front and a second in the back. Agent Costa and I will clear the house room by room to make sure we’re alone. DeAndre, I want you in the front. JD, you’re in the back. Just watch the doors. If you hear us shout for help, please come in and help us. I don’t anticipate finding anyone in the home, but it’s possible. Questions?”

The team had none, so DeAndre and JD got in position by the front and back doors, and Agent Costa and I searched the house room by room. It felt almost surreal leading a man I barely knew through my house, like it was some kind of bad dream. It wasn’t a dream, though. I felt sick.

My place wasn’t big, so it only took a few minutes to clear it. Once we finished, we left and stood on the front lawn. Delgado and Lawson arrived a few minutes later. The two FBI agents then went to Lawson’s SUV to talk in private, leaving me alone with Delgado.

“Jude couldn’t find the Apostate’s hideout,” said Delgado. “He tried his best, but it’s dark. He got pretty upset, so we didn’t want to push him.”

“They’re holding back on us,” I said. “The Apostate contacted me and told me to ask about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. When I did, Paige clammed up.”

Delgado narrowed his eyes. “You don’t think they’re working together, do you?”

I screwed up my face and shook my head. “You’ve seen them. He starved these kids. If Paige and Jude are doing the Apostate’s bidding, they’re not doing it willingly. I think they’re just scared.”

“How’d he get your phone number?”

I shrugged. “Maybe from the station’s website, maybe from one of my business cards.

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