Page 113 of First Surrender
“Filth doesn’t belong here.”
“Is that why people have been going missing? Kidnapping them and selling them to the highest bidder? Why my family?”
“I wasn’t interested in your family, Sheriff. It only pleased me to rattle you. Declan went rogue in his attempt to pay me back the money he owed me.”
“He was going to pay you back by selling a little boy and a young woman to God knows who? To blackmail me? What?”
“Don’t use the lord’s name in vain, son.”
“I don’t give a damn, Reverend.” My voice is as cold as ice. I’m done with games.
“I don’t know why Declan took your family, he only promised to get me what he owed me.” He shrugs. “I never cared for the skin trade. Wasn’t my goal. Vagrants wander into this place and ruin it. They bring drugs and corruption. Getting rid of outsiderswas my only interest. My sons were greedy in their endeavors, and it got them killed.”
“Where are all of the bodies then? The ones who have gone missing since Benjamin and Anthony were killed?”
He shrugs. Part of me hoped that he was trafficking these missing people somewhere else, only because it meant they might still be alive. His dismissal of their humanity leaves a heavier rock in my gut.
“Long gone, Sheriff. Don’t bother. The mountains have reclaimed their souls.”
It takes every ounce of strength to stand here and act unphased. I hardly blink at his detached words.
“Why the 5k bombing?” I ask, needing to tie all the loose ends I can.
“That was Thomas’ idea. He thought he could get back at the military for what they did to him, but I only cared because it showed just how much power I have here. With a snap of my finger, I could have these streets cleaned up quicker than you ever will.”
“Those were innocent people.”
“No one is innocent, Sheriff.” He coughs hoarsely into a handkerchief and lays it on the pew beside him.
“Tell me about the drugs.”
“Drugs. God forgive us for the drugs.”
“You said you were cleaning up, why provide Declan with drugs?” It’s only a theory, but now I need to hear the reverend admit it. He’s the one behind the overdoses, too.
“Mr. Randolph got one of my grandsons addicted. Hooked him years ago. When I found out it was him, I told him he could do my bidding or I’d assist in his descent to hell. He chose to do as I told him until he didn’t. He was supposed to take over the drug supply, boot all the competition out, and get rid of theusers. Let them die on the very addiction controlling their lives, it didn’t matter to me.
“He stepped out of bounds. He mixed our business with his personal affairs. Killing his wife put a target on his back and put me in a bad way. I needed him out of jail because he was a tool. A tool who owed me a lot of money.”
“Where are the rest of the drugs?”
He shrugs again. “That is the question. I’m out a lot of money now that Mr. Randolph is dead.”
“How did you know he died?” It’s only been a few hours since I shot Declan, the events haven’t been made public, yet.
“I have ears everywhere, Sheriff.”
Of course, more secrets. The information and lack thereof is making my head pound erratically. I’ve been asking for answers for so long, that it seems my brain can’t fathom it. “Who killed Thomas in the jail?”
“Well, you did, Sheriff.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Ah, but asking too many questions gets people killed.”
“So, it was you?”
He chuckles. “I’m an old man. I don’t get my hands dirty but you know that already. I needed Declan out of jail and I needed him to take me seriously.”