The Devil's Daughter (Hidden Sins #1)(37)
She approached, mentally comparing him with what she remembered of the guy who’d come when she was a teenager. He couldn’t be more than a few years younger than she was, and though he smiled at the pair of women in front of him, he still had sad eyes. She stopped a few steps away and cleared her throat. The women took one look at her and scattered like chickens seeing a fox in the henhouse.
Lee didn’t seem all that bothered to be facing down Martha’s wayward daughter. He took her measure, looking her up and down, but in a strangely respectful way. She responded in kind, but her first impression stuck—attractive with an underlying sorrow that would bring people in like catnip. She cocked her head to the side. “I don’t suppose you’re in recruitment?”
This guy would have moved through colleges across the United States and made friends wherever he went. He was just good-looking enough to draw people to him, but not so attractive that he would intimidate women or make men jealous.
He flashed a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes any more than his other had. “What makes you say that?”
“Call it instinct.” She looked around, noting the blatant eavesdropping going on. Most of the people around them weren’t even trying to pretend not to listen. “Is there somewhere we can speak privately?”
“I really don’t think that’s wise.”
He could think that all he wanted. She had the only information that mattered. “Abram is the one who gave me your name.” Part of Eden hated that she was playing the game, using the big, bad monster beneath the bed to scare this man into submission. The rest of her didn’t give a damn as long as she walked away with much-needed answers.
Just like that, the careful smile on Lee’s lips disappeared. He looked over her shoulder, and she didn’t have to follow his gaze to know the man himself was behind her, silently giving permission. She hadn’t really expected Lee to take her at her word, but it still rankled.
He sighed. “I have to relieve a shift.”
“I’ll walk with you, then.” Maybe if she got moving, she’d get rid of the feeling making her skin crawl. Eden rubbed her hands over her arms, realized what she was doing, and dropped them to hang at her sides.
Of course you’re being watched. You’re standing in the middle of a crowd.
It wasn’t just being watched, though. It was the little voice inside her screaming that she was being hunted. She turned a slow circle, studying the faces around her, but they held nothing but blatant curiosity. A flash of pale hair caught her eye, and she waved at Beth, mentally reminding herself that she planned on talking to the woman when she had a chance. It wouldn’t be today, but soon.
Lee motioned. “After you.”
They walked away from the chapel, Lee carefully leading her north toward the pastures. Martha kept everything going on the property that they would need to survive without outside resources, including cattle and various gardens and crops. It was part of her back-to-nature preaching, and with the way the world was going these days, she’d drawn in more than a few people with the promise of being able to survive in the event of any kind of government meltdown. People were scared. The media had a lot to do with it, but in truth, they should be scared. Global warming and too-big government and corporate corruption abounded. And in the midst of it all, Martha stood, offering a simpler way.
Even though she knew it was a sham, Eden understood why so many people ended up at the gates of Elysia.
The place was nearly 100 percent self-sufficient. Martha had no problem importing what she needed to run her businesses, but most of the food they ate was grown in Elysia, the clothing sewn there, even if the fabric came from elsewhere. The people had nearly every one of their needs met, and most chose not to take advantage of Martha’s allowance for them to travel into Clear Springs or Augusta whenever they wanted. They’d rather go without certain luxuries than have to interact with noncult members.
Lee stopped in front of the closest garden. It had high fences designed to deter deer, and through the chain link she could see neat little boxes about two feet tall lined up in perfect rows. It was hard to tell at this time of year, but they appeared to be herbs rather than produce. Just like they were when I was here.
Eden waited, but Lee didn’t seem all that inclined to start talking. Fine. I’ll go first. “Why did Abram point me in your direction?” She suspected she knew—that Lee was the man who’d stepped in on behalf of Elouise—but she was curious if he’d tell the truth.
“I guess it’s because you’re looking into Elouise’s death.” He frowned at her carefully blank look. “He didn’t tell you? She and I were . . . close.”
Close. There were so many ways that small, innocent word could be interpreted. Eden wasn’t inclined to make any guesses in general—and that rule went double for dealing with anyone under her mother’s control. Close went beyond saving a girl from her abusive asshole of a father. “Explain.”
He hesitated, and she could almost see him weighing the benefit of defying Abram. She could have told him it was a lost cause, but he seemed to come to that conclusion all on his own. Lee dropped onto the low wall surrounding the taller fence. “I was the one who originally brought her here. Back in July, I was in town doing an errand for Martha, and I heard a scuffle. I went to investigate and found Elouise on the ground and her father standing over her with his fist raised.” Anger flared in his brown eyes, temporarily chasing away the sadness. “I intervened. It wasn’t my business, but I didn’t have it in me to walk away.” He shot her a look. “I got a little physical with Michael Perkins, which I’m sure he’d be all too happy to report if you ask him. He took off, and I brought Elouise back here.”