“I can’t leave him. He’ll find me. He will always find me. The kids belong to him. I’m his. There’s no way out for me. No escape. I’m trapped. I know that now.”

“What if I tell you I have a way that means you will stay in this house? No one will ever question you. All you need to do is go upstairs, pack a bunch of his stuff, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

“It can’t be that easy.”

“You tell anyone who comes by you had a fight and he said he was leaving you for another woman. You remove some of that paint on your face, and the bruises tell the story as to why you didn’t stop him from leaving.”

She touched her cheek again. “It couldn’t be that easy,” she said. “No way could it be that easy.”

“I’m not saying it won’t be easy. What I’m saying is this, he’s not coming back, but I need his stuff and an alibi that puts him out of town. Can you do that?” he asked.

“That’s all I have to do?”

“I’ll give you some money to tide you over for a job, or you can work for me.”

“What about my kids? They need a father.”

“Do they need the kind of father who abuses his son? Who allows people to rape his son?”

She covered her mouth. “Is that what happened to Thomas? You spoke to him? How is he? What’s happening?”

Preacher looked at her. “You don’t know about your eldest son?”

“He told me it wasn’t any of my business. He was taking care of everything and I shouldn’t worry.”

“Your husband is a real piece of work. I’ll have Thomas brought back to town by the end of the week. You and your family can live in peace. You’ve just got to do as I say. Can you do that?”

“Yes.” Her voice was firm, determined.

This was the voice of a fighter, and he could work with that. “Go and get me his things. The most valuable of possessions.”

She moved away, and he stood, waiting. Checking the time, he saw it was a little after seven.

His cell phone rang, showing him Bear’s number.

“What is it?”

“He’s taken the bait. Joanne is working him now as I speak. I’m watching things, shooting the shit.”

“Good, keep him there and tell Joanne there’s an extra bonus for keeping his attention and teasing him.”

He hung up his cell phone as Mrs. O’Klaren came back downstairs.

“Here is everything. I’ve also packed his spare gun. My prints are on it, but if you get him to touch it like they do in those cop shows—”

“I’ve got it. I’ll handle everything.”

He took the cases from her.