A Deadly Influence (Abby Mullen Thrillers #1)(79)

“Okay, cool,” Brian said. “But you didn’t say that. I’m crazy scared, Leonor. I just want to spend a day or two with you, see you’re okay.”

“I’m not going back to Mom and Dad’s,” she said quickly.

“That’s fine,” Abby said. “I have a place you can stay. And just talk. Tell us about this group. Convince us it’s not destructive. You can leave whenever you want. And you get to spend a few days with your brother.”

She saw the yearning in Leonor’s eyes. She missed Brian. She wanted to spend time with him.

“I can’t,” Leonor said.

“Why?” Brian asked, his tone getting angry.

Abby shot him a warning stare. “What do you think will happen if you come?” she asked. “What’s the worst-case scenario? You trust your brother, right?”

“I trust my brother. I don’t trust you.”

“It sounds like you think I’ll lead you into a trap,” Abby said lightly. “How can I convince you that’s not the case?”

Leonor thought about it. “I ride with my brother,” she finally said. “Not with you. You’re not coming with us.”

“I didn’t intend to; I have a job.”

“We stop by the place, and if I don’t like the looks of it, we drive off.”

“No problem.” Abby saw the fear in Leonor’s eyes. “Like I said, you’re free to leave whenever you want.”

“What about Detective Wong? She needs me to identify the person I saw.”

“She can do that later. Brian, is that okay with you?”

“Sure. Just give me the address.”

Abby gave him her parents’ address. Brian and Leonor went to his car and drove off. Abby gave Wong the thumbs-up, and for the first time, Wong grinned at her, a wide smile. Then Abby stepped into her own car and drove after Brian.

She dialed her mother, who answered almost immediately.

“Hi, sweetie.”

“Mom, they’re coming. I won’t be joining them; I have to check in with the task force.”

“I’ll prepare the spare bedroom.”

“Don’t do anything that will make her feel trapped. I told her she can leave whenever she wants.”

“Then I’ll throw the shackles away.”

“Not funny, Mom.” Abby grinned. “Did you drop Ben at Steve’s?”

“Yes. Sweetie, you need to talk to Sam. She’s really angry.”

“It’s your fault.”

“She’s angry because you almost didn’t talk to her all weekend, not because of the dumb snake.”

“I’ll see her today,” Abby said guiltily.

Brian’s car veered abruptly to the left.

“What the—”

To her alarm, the car zigzagged out of control. An oncoming bus honked frantically as it hurtled toward it. Abby could only watch with mounting horror as the bus tried to stop before it crushed the car, but it was too close, going way too fast. Then, at the last moment, Brian veered back to the right, spinning onto the shoulder of the road.

“Shit!” Abby shouted.

Brian managed to turn away from a cluster of trees, his right side mirror hitting one, smashing into pieces. The car stopped, a spinning cloud of dust in its wake.

“Abby, is everything okay?”

“Mom, I’ll call you back.”

Abby stopped behind Brian’s car and leaped out, then rushed to the passenger’s side.

“Are you two okay?” she blurted.

Brian’s cheek was bleeding from three long scratches. Leonor trembled, her face pale.

“Y . . . yeah,” Leonor said. “We’re . . . oh god, we nearly crashed.”

“What happened?” Abby asked.

“Nothing,” Brian said, rubbing his cheek. He stared at the blood on his fingers. “Nothing serious.”

“I . . . I scratched him,” Leonor stammered.

Abby looked carefully at the girl. She seemed frightened, but it wasn’t a full-blown panic attack. Cult leaders often scared their members with threats of untold horrors that would occur if they ever left. What lies had Otis threatened Leonor with? Whatever they were, the girl wouldn’t divulge them. Not right now.

Abby took a deep breath and softened her voice. “Leonor, remember. You’re just taking a day off with your brother, okay? You can return to Tillman’s farm whenever you want.”

“O . . . okay.”

“Brian, are you okay to drive?”

“Sure.” He seemed shaken, but his voice was steady, resolute.

“Okay.” Abby exhaled and returned to her car. She called her mother again.

“Abby, what happened?”

“Mom, when Leonor and Brian get there, just . . . be gentle, okay? That bastard did a number on her.”





CHAPTER 53


Eric was working on a new project. Every now and then he’d grab the scotch bottle and take a swig.

His head spun, and he felt nauseous. He didn’t normally drink so much. Sometimes one glass in the evening while watching TV. But the circumstances were appropriate.

He wasn’t searching the image of Nathan for any marks of manipulation. He now knew he’d find none. He’d been played for a fool. They all had. No, instead he’d found that classic Disney photo of Snow White’s stepmother, the evil queen. She stood in front of the mirror, but Eric had given her a cell phone, which she held in her hand. He was proud of his work—he hadn’t been as drunk when he’d done that part.