Page 79 of Forever Dark
“Do you ever travel with repeat attendees?People who follow the revival from county to county?”Selena pushed.
Croft’s smile returned in diminished form, thoughtful rather than warm.“This is the Midwest, Agent Raven.A lot of lonely people are driving a lot of back roads in search of something.Some show up more than once.We don’t always learn their names.”
“Like who?”Selena said.“Who shows up more than once?What sort of people?”
“I couldn’t tell you.”
Connor shifted in his chair.“Anyone stand out as unstable?Aggressive?Too interested in women who come alone in your flock?”
Croft spread a hand.“Sheriff, the kind of people who come to us are often in pain.Pain doesn’t always present prettily, but that doesn’t make you a murderer, just lost.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“But that is my answer, my boy,” Croft said.
For the first time a trace of steel showed through the preacher’s soft cadence.
Selena watched his eyes rather than his mouth.“Is it possible someone in your group spoke with Lauren or Brenda?”
“I don’t know.But I can guarantee you that whoever is responsible, it won’t be someone who works for me.”
“How can, you be sure?”Connor asked.
“Because every employee here has to be a devout follower of Christ.And Christ would never support murder.”
Selena was starting to feel like Elias could run the best of them around a circle without giving them an answer.“Could someone in your group have known them?”
“That’s possible.”
Connor said, “Then give us the names of everyone who works with you.We can do background checks and canvass them to see if they know.”
Croft’s gaze moved to him and did not blink.“I can ask around if you leave the photographs, but I don’t feel a list is pertinent.”
Selena let that line settle between them.“And why is that?”
“I mean I can make inquiries on your behalf.Quietly.What I won’t do is hand over the names of everyone traveling with me because two women who once sat under our roof happened to be murdered.”
Connor’s voice stayed even.“Why not?”
Croft leaned back a little in his chair.“Because I take in all kinds to my flock.Some come to us in shame.Some come broken.Some come fresh out of places where nobody has spoken kindly to them in years.I’m not going to perturb fragile people by sending authorities through their lives unless I’m convinced there is cause.”
Connor’s jaw tightened.“So, you mean some of them have a criminal past.”
“I said no such thing.”
“You didn’t need to.”Selena could hear the irritation in Connor’s voice.
Croft gave the slightest shrug.“I said people deserve a second chance, and that is what I give them.”
“Like your security guard out there, Leon?”Selena asked.“I noticed the scar on his neck.It struck me as similar to what we’ve seen on the victims.”
“His name is Leon Matheson,” Elias said.“And he doesn’t have a criminal record.You can check.I have to trust my security with my life.Leon got that scar in an accident.So, shame on you for thinking otherwise.”
“We can get a warrant for that list,” she said.
Croft’s eyes returned to her.“I know, child.Unlike Judas, I still won’t betray my brethren.”
He folded his hands again.“Do what you think is necessary, and I will do whatIthink is necessary.”
