Tribe Read Online Free PDF Page A

over his shoulder. “I told you I wouldn't.”
    “Good, then you don't have anything to worry about.”
    “But Pat— ”
    “Listen, I don't care what they call me back at the fraternity, I won't tell them it was you in my room, and I won't tell them that we've done it, had sex, you know.” Suddenly his voice became stern. “I promise no one will ever know just as long as you do one little thing
—
suck me.”
    “What?”
    “That's right—you have to give me a blow job.”
    “Now? Down…down here?”
    “You got it. I'm just all stressed out. I need it.” Pat opened his coat and started to unzip his jeans. “Trust me, you don't want to piss me off, especially not now.”
    All Todd wanted to do was run as fast and hard as he could. All he wanted was to scream out. To punch Pat in the jaw. But looking into his eyes, seeing the intent, the determination, Todd realized that he really didn't have an option, at least not if he didn't want the world to know.
    “So did you do it with one of the guys there in the fraternity?” asked Rawlins, studying the picture.
    “Well…”
    “I sense some genuine dirt here.”
    “Trust me, you don't want to know.” Todd moaned, took back the photo, and buried it in the box. “Something really horrible happened back then.”
    “Don't hold out on me, man.”
    Full of remorse, Todd shook his head. “Maybe I'll tell you someday, but it was something truly awful. You know, the kind of thing that haunts you the rest of your life.”

3
     
    “Here, this is it,” said Rick, seated in the passenger seat of the Pontiac. “Pull over.”
    He stared up at the house, a one-story bungalow nestled in the low hills on the edge of Santa Fe. She'd always been an early riser, and there were a handful of lights on this morning, which meant she was already up, probably getting ready for work. And probably alone. He knew she hadn't remarried, and if she was anything like her old self, Martha would still be a loner. She'd never had many friends, never much liked going out. Then again, he hadn't see her in nearly a decade.
    Rick took his leather-bound Bible from the dashboard, closed his eyes, and bent his head forward in silent prayer. He needed information. Had to have it. And he prayed to God that his trip from Colorado Springs would be fruitful, for a child's life was at stake. He was a tall man with thinning hair and snowy-white sideburns, his long face ashen, and he just wanted what was best for all. What had happened was ridiculous, absurd, and with the help of the Lord Jehovah he was going to put a stop to it. Help me right this terrible wrong, he begged silently. Help me punish those who have transgressed my family.
    He turned to the driver, Paul, a quiet, heavyset fellow with a mustache, a prominent member of The Congregation for almost five years now. When all this mess had begun, Paul, who'd worked for years installing security systems, had been more than happy to offer his help. Yes, agreed Paul. They needed to rescue Zeb and Ribka, they needed to bring them back into the fold of love.
    “Is it doable?” asked Rick, studying the house.
    Paul stared at the telephone wires leading to the low structure and said, “Of course it is.”
    “Good.” Rick added, “And she shouldn't be a problem either. If she's anything like her old self she's easily intimidated.”
    Paul shrugged and reached for his briefcase, from which he took a small white plastic box and his pistol. “You never know.”
    “Right. I'll take the carrot,” said Rick, slipping his Bible into the large pocket of his raincoat, “and you take the stick.”
    If things got nasty, then so be it. There was so much more at stake than this reclusive woman. And as the two men walked past a couple of tall cactuses and up the edge of her short drive, Rick checked up and down the street. It was too early, no one was out. No one had seen them thus far. He just prayed to the Lord Jehovah that they'd come to the right place, that