Without Mercy (Mercy 1)

Another window shattered, hot glass splintering and spraying, but Spurrier barely noticed, not when he had someone to brag to. Eyes glowing like the true zealot he was, Spurrier wasn’t finished gloating.

“They’ll think it was an accident, you know,” he said as if he’d planned everything, including the damned storm.

Trent’s head cleared a bit.

Spurrier motioned to the burning living area. “The spilled lantern fuel, the burnt mattress. You and your lover caught in an inferno. Unable to escape. That’s how it will look.”

“That … that’s nuts.” Trent said. “No one will believe anything of the sort.” But inside he was panicking. Where was Jules? Already in this megalomaniac’s clutches? Terror ripped through him. God, please, let her have stayed locked in her room at Stanton House. He raised his head, ignoring the pain and skewered Spurrier in his gaze. “You’re a damned psychotic.”

“Most men with vision are misunderstood.” Spurrier found a lantern that hadn’t yet cracked, and he smashed it onto the floor, next to Trent. Kerosene ran crazily over the hardwood toward the flames already burning bright.

“Misunderstood?” As battered as he was, Trent pushed up to his elbows. He couldn’t believe the man’s ego. “Give me a break.”

“Really, we gotta go!” Bernsen was starting to feel real terror. “This place is going up fast.”

Spurrier didn’t seem concerned. “Lynch is going to be blamed for everything that happens here, all the deaths,” he told Trent in a calm voice. “It’s only fair. They weren’t my fault, you know.”

“Sure.” Trent spit out the word.

“Blue Rock will need a new director, someone with vision, someone who understands God’s will.”

“You?” This guy was certifiable!

“That’s right. And everyone will see. Everyone including her.”

“Her?” Oh, God, Jules,” Trent realized. The sick bastard had plans for her.

“She married the wrong man,” Spurrier said, his mask of calm slipping a bit.

Was he talking about Sebastian Farentino? That didn’t make sense.

“Trust me,” Spurrier added, “She’s going to know the mistake she made. That’s what the bitch will get for listening to her father.”

What the hell was he talking about? Not Jules, thank God. “Oh, don’t tell me. Some woman got smart and dumped you?” Trent mocked. “Now, there’s a surprise. What do you bet, she didn’t see Blue Rock as a stepping stone for taking over the world.”

Anger flared bright in Spurrier’s eyes.

Who did this guy think he was?

“Cora Sue will finally understand,” he said.

“Cora Sue? As in Lynch’s wife?” Trent coughed, the smoke burning into his lungs. “You and her? Was that before or after she married the reverend?” One corner of Trent’s mouth lifted, he couldn’t help it and pushed hard. “You’re sick, Spurrier. Twisted. You know that, don’t you? Lynch was right. He called it. I saw it in his notes.”

“Lynch is a fraud!” Spurrier snarled.

“But not a killer, right? You’re the one. And you started with Lauren Conway.”

Spurrier’s eyes narrowed, his lips twisted downward. “Lauren was a traitor. She wasn’t who she claimed to be. You didn’t know that, did you? She wasn’t here for an education, to learn about God, to follow! She had her own plans. Cameras. Flash drives. Stealing information. She came here to expose the school and Lynch for what he was.”

“I would think that would have fit right into your plan,” Trent taunted.

“We gotta get out, man,” Zach cut in, nervous and trying to back out the front door where flames were chewing through the casing.

But Spurrier couldn’t let it lie. “She should have stayed with her original purpose. If she’d stayed on course—”

“For the love of God, just tell him you fucked her and let’s get out of here!” Zach was frantic now, his face twisted in fear. “Before someone sees the damned fire. Before we’re trapped!”

“It was more than that,” Spurrier said, ignoring the flames, a fanatic defending himself.