Dream Keeper (Dream Team 4)

I decided to start closer to the beginning of all of that.

“What’s hinky and convoluted mean?”

“He’s had three different names, three different identities, two churches. Though, before he hit his second identity, he was involved in another situation. Not a church, a commune where it looks like he got some of his ideas. Particularly men having multiple partners and the general subjugation of women. And when he’s left behind identities, he’s left behind wives and kids. He did this when it was out with the old, in with the new because things got hot for him.”

Okay.

Yes.

That was hinky and convoluted.

“What does hot mean?” I asked.

“Hot means he’s practicing bigamy and that’s illegal. And he delivered one of his own children, and he has no medical training. The child was lost, and the mother almost didn’t make it.”

“Holy hell,” I breathed.

“I already told you, there’s money tied up in all of this, a lot of it. There’s also property. It’s fishy, Pepper. We’ve been attempting to set up some surveillance of the actual church and the higher-ups who run it, namely Clyde, but predictably, it’s been difficult to get a safe in. There’s always someone around and they’re watchful. Exceptionally watchful, which tells its own story. It’s strategically undesirable to push it, and maybe tip our hand that we’re nosing around in their business, because we sense he’s going to make a break from it soon. And the way he has things set up, he’s golden. The church, though, will be fucked.”

And it didn’t get any better.

“Now what does that mean?” I queried.

He took in a deep breath, and since he’d been offering me some unfun info, the fact he had to take a deep breath before what he was about to say didn’t make me super happy.

Then he shared, “I got the bulk of this information today, and considering how your day has gone, I decided to sit on it. But now were talking about it.”

We sure were.

“So,” he carried on, “it means the church is mortgaged to the hilt and in debt. Nothing is paid off. Not the building. Not the furnishings. Not the equipment or vehicles. This is the case, even though they have access to millions of dollars that could easily pay it all off. And Higgins personally has access to all that money. So he could wipe them all out and go live in his big house in Utah, or his luxury condo in Florida, and leave them with a mountain of debt.”

Although that wasn’t awesome, I didn’t know why he took a big breath before he shared that, and not before he shared that Reverend Clyde had a hand in the death of his own child.

Therefore, I asked, “Why would I care about this?”

“Because the deacons are the cosigners for the loans. Reverend Clyde isn’t personally responsible for dick.”

There it was.

And it was worth a big freaking breath.

“Oh my God,” I whispered.

“Yeah.”

“Dad?”

He nodded.

I couldn’t believe this.

“How could he be so stupid?” I asked a question Auggie couldn’t answer.

So he didn’t, he just shook his head.

“This is…” I couldn’t finish.

Auggie could.

“Fucked up?”

I stared down at my food, my appetite having vamoosed.

“It’s his bed, Pepper. He made it. Like you said, this has nothing to do with you.”

I looked to Auggie. “My sister is recruiting for this guy. My father is a leader in that church. When Reverend Clyde takes off, everyone is going to look at them when they’re left holding the bag.”

“Yes,” he agreed simply.

Yes.

I stared at him.

And that was it.

Yes, all I said was true.

But that “yes” Auggie said meant something else too.

It wasn’t my thing. It had nothing to do with me. With Juno.

It was simple.

My family made their bed.

And I’d made mine.

“We’re working to gather evidence that, if you want—” Auggie started.

Nope.

No more.

“You’re off duty, honey.”

His thick, gorgeous brows drew down over his deep-set, hooded, equally gorgeous eyes.

“Say again?”

“My mom has cancer,” I stated. “If it’ll bring her peace, I’ll sit in a prayer circle. Since it means something to her, when I don’t have Juno, I’ll attend their services. That’s all I can do because that’s all they’re allowing me to do. If she reaches out for more, I’ll do what I can for her. If Saffron or Dad need me in a way I can give myself to them, I will. But this…” I shook my head. “It’s too messy. I’m done. And so are you.”

“You don’t want to warn them?” he asked.

“Oh, I’ll warn them,” I told him. “I’ll talk to Dad. But I have to time that right, Auggie. Because if he’s in denial, or if he gets mad, he can cut me off from Mom. I mean, do I save him and Saffron from themselves? Or do I do my best to give my mother as much peace and comfort as I can while she’s going through this?”