Father Emmanuel
When he realized the fire seemed a little too coincidental, a little too contained, and that it was taking the fire department a little too long to put out what was only a small blaze, Father Emmanuel realized what was going on. The fire had been intentionally set as a distraction. And the only thing anyone might try to distract him from was the young man and woman he’d been holding in the compound against their will.
He found Luke right away. Zeke and Jeb flanked the young man, ensuring he couldn’t sneak away. But Juliette was another story. Where is she?
He charged toward Sister Margaret. “Where is she?” he cried. “Where’s sister Juliette?”
Sister Margaret seemed taken aback by his forceful tone. “She’s gone to the henhouse, Father. With Sister Naomi. It was their turn to collect the eggs tonight.”
He stormed past the woman and aimed for the chicken coop, running as fast as he could in his boots and robe, which seemed determined to trip him up.
As he drew near, he could tell something wasn’t right. Juliette’s lantern hung from a hook outside the coop, but its flame had been extinguished. Fingers curled through the wire, and Naomi’s face was pressed up against the door. A hair ribbon had been tied around the frame and knotted tightly on the outside, trapping the young woman inside with the boisterous birds. Squawk-squawk! Cluck-cluck-cluck!
“Father!” Naomi cried. “I’m so glad you’re here! Juliette locked me in here and—”
“Where is she?” he barked.
“I don’t know,” Naomi said, her young face bewildered, her voice softer.
Emmanuel’s eyes darted around, looking for signs that might tell him in which direction she’d gone. Where the hell is she?
Only God could help her if Emmanuel caught her. There was no way in hell he’d let that little whore bring him down.
A scuffling noise behind the chicken coop caught his attention. He circled the coop just in time to see Juliette’s feet disappear through a hole that had been dug under the wall. He could see two furry legs on the other side.
It’s that bitch cop and her bitch dog.
He should’ve known they’d be back. Only God could help them if he got a hold of them, too.
As much as he’d like to settle the score with that cop and her dog, revenge would have to wait. With Juliette now on the outside, it was only a matter of time before law enforcement would be swarming all over the refuge. His only hope was to get out now, before the officers realized he was gone.
He ran to his house as fast as he could with his robe still doing its best to wrap around his legs. He pulled the ladder and wire cutters out from behind the bushes hiding them. In mere seconds, he’d leaned the ladder against the wall and scaled it to the top, where he used the wire cutters to strip through the rigid strands of razor wire. He didn’t bother trying to pull the ladder up and over to climb down on the other side. Instead, he straddled the wall, leaning forward across it, and swung his inside leg over to slide down the other side.
It was a farther drop to the ground than he’d expected. His right ankle was jarred when his feet hit the ground, sending jolts of pain up his leg. He grimaced against the pain and limped away from the wall.
I have to get across the field!
Inspired by the biker the cop had pulled over days earlier, Emmanuel had realized a motorcycle would provide an easy and elusive means of escape. He’d bought a powerful dirt bike and stashed it in the silo, just in case an event like tonight ever transpired. He’d stashed a wad of cash in the saddlebags, too.
It was a perfect plan.
He’d be off and long gone before those stupid cops even began looking for him.