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“Okay, so you’ve talked to the police. What about credit card companies and your phone service provider?”
    Jasmyn shook her head.
    Liv said, “We’ll get to that. I thought some friendly faces and food might be comforting before all that other business.”
    At last the woman spoke. “Really, I’m not very hungry.” The voice fulfilled Sam’s expectation. It was tenuous and soft, like a little girl’s.
    Fully aware that it was not the woman’s fault that she spoke in syrupy sweet tones, Sam found it off-putting anyway. But it called for help, and Liv was dropping the ball.
    Sam tilted her chin and crossed her arms. “Liv.”
    â€œOh.” Liv caught on to her disapproval. “You think business first?”
    â€œYes. She’ll be hungry later.”
    â€œYou’re right. Right as rain, like always. Why don’t you take her into my office and show her around?” Liv looked at Jasmyn. “I told you Sam was the bright one.”
    Sam nearly laughed out loud. Bright one. Yeah, right. Liv had just finagled her into donating several items to the cause and helping Jasmyn wade through headache-producing details.
    At least she would not be sleeping on her couch tonight.

Eight
    Alone in the Casa’s office, Jasmyn sat at a desk, on the phone with Quinn. As she had imagined, her friend assumed Jasmyn had stumbled upon the sort of group that made national freaky headlines.
    â€œYou should come home right now. Tomorrow.”
    â€œWhen I said everything was stolen, that meant my purse and my wallet and my driver’s license. You can’t get on a plane without ID. I’ll call in the morning about getting it replaced.”
    â€œOh, no. What are we going to do?”
    â€œQuinn, I’m fine. Really and truly.”
    â€œWould you know if you weren’t? Nope. Cult wackos are always super nice at first. That’s how they get you to trust them. Tell me again about the scary guy.”
    â€œI said he was kind of intimidating, not scary.”
    â€œMm-hmm.”
    Jasmyn wondered how to describe the energy she’d felt when Keagan said with such certainty that Liv was the real deal. “He’s like Sheriff Cal. You wouldn’t want to cross him, but he makes you feel safe.”
    â€œThis guy sounds bizarre. Who names their kid Keagan ? It’s probably his special cult name.”
    Jasmyn stifled a sigh and looked through the office window. Everyone milled about the pretty courtyard and seemed to be having a good time. Liv was easy to spot, tall and laughing.
    â€œLiv is one big heart walking around on two legs.”
    â€œEvery cult needs a mother figure and an enforcer. You’ve met them both. What are the others like?”
    â€œQuinn, honestly, they’re just regular people. Sam is a little uptight. She’s the one who got me online. She has short, coal-black hair. You’d call her chic. I thought she was the manager, but she told me Liv manages and owns the place.”
    â€œYou should check out the office. See if you can find any incriminating evidence.”
    â€œWhat in the world would that look like?”
    â€œI have no idea, but you’d recognize it.”
    â€œRight.” Jasmyn swiveled in the chair and took in again the pretty room that, according to uptight Sam, was originally one of the cottages. It had been divided in half to create an office and a laundry room. “I don’t see any. The room looks like a big heart must have decorated it.”
    Quinn moaned. “Okay, fine. I’m just concerned.”
    â€œNo need. I’m looking at pretty pink floral curtains and wallpaper. Comfy chairs. A rose in a crystal vase. Old photos on the walls. A kitchenette with a super cute teapot on the counter. Only a lovely person has an office like this. I will be fine, Quinn. How’s the picnic going?”
    â€œIt’s going.”
    Jasmyn pictured her friend right