The Cult Read Online Free PDF Page A

wall, arms and legs crossed.  
    “You knew a girl called Mika?” Alexa asked tentatively.
    Jeremy nodded. “She served me at the soup kitchen up at Trinity.”
    Eden stepped forward. “Soup kitchen? Why the hell did you go to the soup kitchen? There’s more than enough food here—”
    “No, there’s not mom,” the boy said, fidgeting with the seam of his pants.
    The woman pursed her lips, clutching the sleeve of her threadbare jersey, but she said nothing.
    “Did you go there often?” Alexa asked.
    “Almost every day.”
    “And you saw Mika every day?”
    He looked up at Alexa, chewed his lip. “Only on Mondays, that’s when she didn’t have any classes at Steinhardt.”
    “You a member of the church?” Neil asked.
    Jeremy shook his head. “Neither was she. Sure, they wanted us to attend the sermons, but they didn’t force us to.”
    Alexa nodded, crouched next to the boy. “She referred you to a counselor.”
    Eden Calloway threw her hands in the air. “A counselor? Why do you need a damn—“
    “Mrs. Calloway, please,” Neil bellowed.  
    Eden Calloway closed her eyes and gripped the sleeves of her jersey in her hands. She folded her arms and nodded curtly.
    Alexa turned to face Jeremy.
    He looked up, a feint smile on the corners of his mouth. “Bishop McGill, he’s real cool.” He turned to his mom. “He killed someone,” he said excitedly.
    His mom gaped. “What? You were talking to a murderer ?”
    Alexa interjected. “Why did you call her when the cops arrested you?”
    “My mom didn’t answer…“
    “I’m not allowed to answer calls when I’m working,” Eden said, looking at the floor.
    “Even from your own kids?” Neil asked, casting her an accusing glare.
    Eden Calloway’s eyes narrowed as she stuck out her finger. “Look, Mister. You don’t know anything about my life, so don’t start judging me.”
    Neil’s eyes bore into her, but he said nothing.
    “All the kids phone Mika when they’re in trouble,” Jeremy said. “Not just me.”
    “Like who?” Alexa asked.
    “I dunno, why don’t you ask Mika yourself?”
    Neil and Alexa glanced at each other. “She died a couple of days ago, Jeremy.”
    He looked up, then pursed his lips, nodding slowly. “I guess God came to fetch her then.” He smiled at Alexa. “Bishop McGill says God comes to fetch all his crown jewels sooner or later.”
    Alexa cupped his chin, then stood up. “Thank you, Jeremy, you’ve been very helpful.”
    Neil ruffled the boy’s hair on their way out, nodded at Eden Calloway. He stopped on the porch and turned around, pushing open the door that Eden was about to shut. “Look, Mrs. Calloway, I’m sorry for sounding judgmental in there.”
    She narrowed her eyes and glared.
    “If you need anything at all, money, food—“
    “Screw you!” she sneered and slammed the door in Neil’s face.
    Alexa watches as Neil sighed, resting his palms against the door. “Shit.”
    Alexa took his hand, dragged him away. “C’mon baby, let’s go solve this case.”
    He reluctantly allowed himself to be pulled away, and she glanced over her shoulder as they left. In the window, a curtain parted an inch, but Alexa couldn’t see who was inside.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

    Ted Olson watched from his Chevy Impala as the two agents exited Eden’s home and greeted the boy and his addict mom. He punched a number on his cellphone, waited six rings before it was answered. “Boss, I think we have a problem.”
    “I pay you to solve problems, Ted, not to tell me about them.”
    “They’re cops, Boss. What do you want me to do?” He focused on the brawny guy and cute woman as they climbed into their car and accelerated past him.
    “The longer they keep sniffing around up there, the more dangerous it’s going to get for both you and me. Deal with them.” The phone clicked and he heard an engaged tone.
    Ted Olson cursed as he opened the door and slipped out of the car. He sauntered to Eden’s home. The door opened