But he wouldn’t let them cast Pastor out of Eden. Not until the old bastard gave him the passwords for the offshore accounts. Then the membership could do as they pleased. He’d be on his way to a private island where he’d sit on a beach and drink rum for the rest of his life, the rightful steward of Eden’s millions.

He’d lifted his binoculars to take another look at the Sokolov house when he heard the quiet rumble of an approaching vehicle. He ducked low just as a black SUV passed without stopping.

He peeked above the steering wheel in time to see the vehicle parking in front of the Sokolovs’ house. Fuck. That was an official law enforcement vehicle. It wasn’t the first. There had been a black sedan parked in front of the house all afternoon, but it hadn’t moved.

Now a tall blond guy in a black suit got out of the SUV, flashed some kind of ID at the guy in the sedan, then was admitted into the house.

This was what Ephraim had been afraid of. Feds and cops coming by. Any of them could get in his business just for sitting too close in a junky car that didn’t fit the neighborhood, and if they searched his car, they’d find Granny’s rifle, Regina’s golden gun, his own revolver, and the college kid’s .22. A search of the trunk would reveal Granny’s preserved and canned veggies as well as the rope and duct tape that he’d stolen. He suspected that the Feds wouldn’t care about the preserves. The guns, however, would get him into a lot of trouble.

He needed to find somewhere else to wait, and quickly. Mercy wasn’t staying here and if he wanted to follow her to wherever she was staying, he’d need to be able to see the front door.

Time to take a ride around the neighborhood and check out the real estate.

GRANITE BAY, CALIFORNIA

SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 4:20 P.M.

Rafe led Tom Hunter through his parents’ house and into his father’s office. Motioning to the chairs in front of Karl’s desk, he took one and waited until Tom had done the same.

“The last time I saw you was the night Mercy was abducted,” Rafe said. That had been the only time, actually. “I’m sorry that I didn’t recognize you.”

Tom’s smile was rueful. “I’m glad you didn’t. It gets a little awkward sometimes, especially when I’m trying to do my job. Besides, we were all focused on getting Mercy back that night.”

“Thank you,” Rafe said quietly. “I’m not sure what you did that night to help, and I don’t need to know. But thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Tom pointed to the cane. “Injuries are a bitch, right?”

Rafe nodded, racking his brain for what he could remember about this man and his former career. “You got hurt, too.”

“Torn ACL,” Tom said with an eye roll. “Benched me for the rest of the season.”