Blood Sins

them.'

Chapter Thirteen

SAMUEL WAS ALWAYS careful, when he used Ruth, not to drain her to the point of unconsciousness. Partly because he preferred to take the energy of younger women, and partly because Ruth's energy wasodd. He wasn't sure what was different about her, but over the years had come to understand that her role in his life and his ministry was different from the role other women played.

Perhaps it was because she had been with him longest and had known him through all the stages of his journey. Or perhaps it was simply that God had decreed she would stand with him in order to remind him, again and again, of the devil who had borne him.

Because he could never draw Ruth's energy without remembering

He was nearly twenty before he truly began to master the gifts God had bestowed with that bolt of lightning years before. Until then, he was erratic, uncertain when he would be able to hold a congregation spellbound with his power and when he would be forced to rely on the knowledge and tricks he had gained when preaching had been merely a means to earn enough for a bed and a meal or two.

But that day, that particular day, had been one of the more frustrating he'd endured, with his gifts eluding his grasp, and in the dark night he had found himself walking the streets of a cold and dirty city a lot like the one in which he had last seen his mother alive.

Perhaps that was why.

The whores were easy to find, as they always were, and he chose one with little thought beyond the knowledge that she was cleaner than most and promised him a room.

The room turned out to be at a rundown motel that brought back too many ugly memories, and in a rage, in the middle of the furtive act for which he'd paid, Samuel put his hands on her throat and began to strangle her.

He probably wasn't the first John to like his sex rough, but she must have seen something on his face or in his eyes, because she choked out a quick protest before he could cut off her breath completely.

'Waitdon't! I cando something for you. Something better'

'You can die,' he grunted, fingers tightening.

'No! I canshow you death.'

That got his attention. And earned her a reprieve. But he finished with her first, his hands still at her throat, just tight enough so that the sight of her red, sweating face and panicked eyes brought him to orgasm.

He got off her once he was done, stripping the condom off and tossing it into a corner, then using his own handkerchief to clean himself. He straightened his clothing, then sat on the bed beside her and stared down at her. She was no longer gasping, but watched him warily, as if afraid to even move.

'What did you mean? That you could show me death?'

She licked her lips nervously. 'It's justmy grandma could see spirits. So can I. Is there anybody you want to talk to, honey? Anybody from the other side? Because I can make it so's you can talk to them.'

Disgusted, he said, 'You really think I'm going to fall for that bullshit? Where do you keep your crystal ball?'

'It ain't like that, honey, I swear! I'm no phony. I think about it, about opening a door to the other side, and the spirits almost always come through. I can see them and hear them.'

'Can you?' He laughed and, obeying an impulse, lunged to once again grip her throat. 'I think I want to be able to do that, honey. I think you're going to give me that. Aren't you?'

This time, she couldn't answer, because he was strangling her in earnest. And as he choked the life out of her, he reached. Reached with his mind, thrusting into her as his body had thrust into her just minutes before. Thrust and thrust and thrust

'Sammy! What're you up to now, you little bastard?'

He jerked his hands away from the whore, staring at her. But it wasn't she who had spoken. She was never going to speak again. Her face was so mottled it was almost blackened, her swollen tongue protruding between her lips, her eyes wide and so red they looked bloody.

Her body was stiff. Cold.

Time had passed. A lot of time.

Samuel pushed himself off the bed and scrambled to his feet. And it was only then that he saw her.

His mother.

She stood near the door, her smile the cruel one he remembered so well, looking every bit as real and alive as she had looked all those years before.

'You're still a bastard, Sammy,' she said mockingly. 'No matter how old you get, no matter how many people are stupid enough to believe you're God's little soldier, we both know the truth, don't we? We both know what you really are.'

He stared at her, his head pounding, hands curling into fists at his sides. He wasn'tcouldn'tlet her destroy what he was building. He couldn't.

'I'll tell you a little secret, Sammy.' Her voice dropped to a whisper. 'God knows too. And the devil's waiting, with a seat for you that's right in the fire'

'No. Noooo!' Terror shot through him, and with all his will, with every last ounce of strength and determination he could muster, Samuel slammed the door he had opened.

The spirit of his mother vanished, popping like a soap bubble.

He stood there for an endless time, swaying, exhausted, mumbling over and over, 'I can't see spirits. I can't see spirits. I can't see spirits.'

He refused to see spirits. Ever again.

* * * *

'How do you propose we get her out of there?' Sawyer demanded. 'I'm game to try something, but what? According to your list, Ruby Campbell has parents, both followers of Samuel, both living in the Compound. They're her legal guardians, and since we have squat in the way of evidence that she's at risk, no judge is going to issue an order allowing us to remove that child from her home and parents. I doubt very much the parents will consent. And taking her out of there any other way is kidnapping.'

'I don't care,' Tessa said. 'That little girl reached out to me. I can't just stand by and do nothing.'

'I know that. All I'm saying is that we need a plan. A reasonable plan with at least a reasonable chance of succeeding.'

Hollis said, 'I know someone who can get into the Compound at night, without being seen or detected by any of the monitors. And into any of the buildings, locked or not. But Sawyer has a good point, Tessa. We can't just go in there and snatch the girl.'

'We can't wait until night.'

'Tessa'

Somebody banged on the front door, making them all jump.

Sawyer had his weapon in his hand and was at the dining-room window before either of the women could move. 'No car. I can't see the porch from here, let alone the door.'

Tessa frowned, closed her eyes for only a moment, then said, 'Dammit,' and headed for the foyer.

'Tessa'

'It's okay. I know who's here.' She pulled the front door open, aware as the others joined her that Sawyer still held his weapon and that Hollis had one hand behind her, undoubtedly holding her own gun.

'Quentin, what're you doing here?' Tessa demanded.

'Saving your ass,' he responded politely. 'Believe me. And not just yours.'

Hollis said, 'You do love to make an entrance, don't you?'

'Always. Chief Cavenaugh, I'm Special Agent Quentin Hayes. I know all this seems very abrupt, but if you