Read Apocalypse Cult (Gray Spear Society) for Free Online Page A

tightly for a full minute. Brittany did not return the affection and just stood stiffly with her lips curled in disgust.
    Frank Waters walked out of the house wearing shorts and a white T-shirt. "Mr. Glade! You're back so soon! You're a real hero." Frank shook Aaron's hand vigorously. "How did you do it?"
    For several good reasons Aaron didn't want to answer that question, so he said, "Trade secret, but your daughter is safe now, so the 'how' doesn't matter."
    "You're right."
    Caroline finally released Brittany, and Frank took his turn with her. He frowned as he ran his finger along the tattoos around her eyes and touched her bony cheeks.
    "There are some things you need to know," Aaron said. "Brittany is not the daughter you knew. The cult changed her. I've seen cases like this before, and you'll need to watch her all the time. She may try to hurt herself or you. She will try to run away and return to the cult. I hate to suggest tying her up, but you'll have to figure out some way to confine her."
    "Will she get better?" Frank said.
    "With professional help. Find a therapist who specializes in de-programming teenagers, and do it quick."
    "Yes, we'll do that. Thank you."
    Caroline took Brittany into the house.
    "Be careful!" Aaron said. "Watch her!"
    Frank stayed with him. "About your fee..."
    Here it comes , Aaron thought.
    "Two days of your time..."
    "Closer to three. We'll split the difference and call it 20 hours. With expenses, the total is 1,500 dollars."
    Frank grimaced. "We don't have that much in our checking account."
    Aaron clenched his jaw. Apparently, being a real hero did not imply he would get paid. "I'll send you a bill. It's not so much money compared to how much your daughter's life is worth. Can you just pay it, please?"
    "Sure, somehow."
    "And pay for a cab, too, so I can go home. That is non-negotiable."

Chapter Four
    The smell of fresh brewed coffee woke Aaron in the morning, which was very surprising because he lived alone in his downtown Chicago loft. The last person to make him coffee had been his wife, now ex-wife, when he had led a very different life.
    Instead of jumping out of bed, he kept his eyes closed and listened. He heard the squeak of a drawer sliding on metal rails. There was a soft slurping noise, suggesting the intruder was drinking the coffee. Papers rustled. My files , Aaron thought. His home also served as the office for his private detective agency, and he kept his case files here.
    Aaron rolled over silently, opened the drawer of his night-stand, and took out a snub-nosed revolver. He confirmed it was loaded.
    He slept in the nude, but there was nothing he could do about that right now. Putting on clothes would make noise. The loft was a single large room separated by wooden partitions into functional areas. The intruder would hear even the smallest sound.
    Aaron peeked around a partition with his gun ready.
    "Ethel!" he said. "What the hell?"
    The mysterious woman was sitting at his desk, leaning back with her feet up as if she owned the place. She smiled at him. "Get dressed. I brought Danishes and fresh brewed coffee."
    "You broke into my home! I'm calling the cops."
    "Relax. I just want to talk."
    He pointed the revolver at a pile of folders in front of her, his case files. "Those are confidential."
    "I'm very good at keeping secrets."
    "That's not my point," he said with a snarl. "I have an obligation to my clients."
    "I need to know how skilled a detective you are." She held up one of the files. "These are more informative than any resumé you could give me."
    He fumed, indecisive about what to do. He couldn't just shoot her, and physically confronting her didn't seem wise. His head still hurt from being rammed into the van yesterday. He decided to let her talk to him. He got dressed but kept his revolver under his shirt.
    A little calmer now, he walked through his loft and stood behind her. "Well? What's your verdict?"
    "You're a perceptive and thorough investigator," she