“Are you three sure about this?” the sheriff asked. “This is quite an unusual request.”
“This is something I must do for myself, Sheriff.”
“And you two support this?” he asked Josh and Jacob.
“We do.” Josh squeezed her hand.
“Sheriff,” Jacob said, “this is Carrie’s way of ending the darkness of her childhood and embracing her new life with us in Destiny.”
“Okay,” the sheriff said. “I will take you to the prisoner, but I will be within earshot in case you need me.”
“Thank you, Sheriff, for understanding,” she said.
The sheriff led them to Willie’s cell.
“You fucking whore!” Willie grabbed the bars. “How much of my money have you spent on your two gigolos already?”
Josh and Jacob started to step forward but she put her hands in front of them. “It’s okay. I need to handle this.”
Even though she could see the protective rage on their faces, they stopped, clearly respecting her wishes.
She turned her attention back to Willie, whose eyes were filled with hate. She no longer feared him. Her monster no longer had claws. “I knew your only concern would be about the money. This was exactly what I expected from an evil, demented man like you. The fact is, Willie, we are returning your money to the churches you stole from. In fact, some of it has already been returned.”
“You bitch. That’s not possible. I deserve that money. It’s mine.”
“Oh it is possible,” she said softly. “I kept a secret list from you all those years of every church you conned. They were good people. You manipulated them into trusting you. You even used me, claiming I was your little motherless daughter. The lies have come back to haunt you, asshole. And now that the truth is out you will never be able to con anyone again. No one will ever trust you. Not even in prison, where you’ll be spending the rest of your miserable life.”
“Trollinger will get me out of here,” Willie spat. “And when she does I’m coming after you, Carrie. You and your two perverts.”
“The way I understand it, she doesn’t want to have anything to do with you. And besides, where they’re sending you, Trollinger won’t be able to find you.”
“You lying bitch.”
“Enjoy your cage, William.” She turned to Josh and Jacob, feeling completely free. “I’m finished here. Let’s go.”
Willie continued cursing as they left him behind.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Are you sure this isn’t too skimpy?” Carrie asked Jena, staring at her own reflection in the full-length mirror. Halloween was more than a month away, and yet here she was wearing a costume. She had on a little white half shirt that tied in the front that put on exhibit her cleavage, a plaid pleated mini skirt that was shorter than any she’d ever worn before, thigh-high sheer stockings and a pair of red stilettos. “I’ve never worn anything this revealing in public before.”
“I’m sure you haven’t.” Jena came up beside her. “Look at what I’m wearing. Talk about your little black dress. If I bend over, there will be nothing left for the imagination.”
She smiled. “You look really sexy.”
“My guys love parading me around the club like this. I’m their prize to show off as they please, but a prize that no one but them can touch. They really get off on it. Yours will, too. Take these. It will enhance your whole look.” Jena handed her a pair of glasses with thick black frames and an oversized multicolored lollipop. “Damn, Carrie. You look good.”
Getting into the spirit of the night, she asked. “You think I should put my hair up in pigtails?”
“If you think Josh and Jacob would like it, I say go for it.”
“I’m pretty sure they would want my hair down.” She spun around, excited about the evening. Tonight would be her first night at Phase Four.
“You make a very sexy naughty school girl, Carrie. Your guys are going to be beaming with pride.” Jena looked at the time on her cell. “They should be here any moment.
They heard the doorbell.
Jena smiled. “Told you. They’re here. Ready for the night of your life?”