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Imogene

In the end Timothy Wray isn’t found on the beach of some tropical island, or deep in a forest rebuilding his community. Because of the popularity of my interview with Jane Morgan the whole world started looking for Timothy Wray.

Ultimately, four days after the broadcast, they find him in Las Vegas. Photos are plastered all over the news—images of Anex sitting at a table in the middle of a smoke-filled casino. He’s got a cigarette between his fingers, a drink at his fingertips and he’s wearing a baseball cap and jeans. Two women sit on either side of him, watching him gamble.

Jane Morgan announces from the TV that these are sex workers. Not his sex workers, but ones he hired in Vegas to be his companions.

“I mean…” Rex says from next to me. His arm is around my shoulder, and the five of us have been glued to the TV since the reports started rolling in.

“Right?” Elon adds, not able to formulate a full sentence.

“It’s just so—”

“Anticlimactic?” Levi offers.

“Yes,” Silas nods. “Exactly. It’s anticlimactic. Not to mention fucking hypocritical.”

The entire scene is surreal. Our leader, the champion for health and clean living, is caught in a smoky bar wearing polyester clothing surrounded by bright lights and gluttony.

“You know what?” I say, dragging my eyes from the screen. “I fucking hate that guy.”

Rex laughs, pulling me into his side and kissing my temple. “Me too, Little Lamb.”

“Can we skip to the best part?” I ask.

“I’ve got it,” Silas says, fast forwarding a little until he gets to the next part of the report. I snuggle into Rex’s side as the images on the screen flip, shifting to the scenes of the police surrounding Anex in the parking lot. He’s shoved to the ground, arms behind his back.

“After Timothy Wray was taken into custody his partner, Margaret Robinson, who is eight months pregnant, was found in their lavish penthouse suite at the Royale Casino,” Jane says, voice short and clipped. She’s not doing a person-to-person interview here. She’s reporting the news and her persona changes like a chameleon. “She was found with Jasmine West, heir of the Cobra Tequila empire, and another one of Wray’s followers, Robert Carrington. Carrington is reportedly a self-made millionaire from the tech industry who hasn’t been seen by family or friends in months.”

The three of them are escorted out of the hotel by police, the bright lights of photographers' cameras flashing in their faces. Margaret looks huge, like she could give birth at any moment. The screen shifts again, this time to a press conference with Attorney General Michael Morris.

“We’re thrilled to learn of the capture of Timothy Wray, Margaret Robinson, Jasmine West and Robert Carrington. We look forward to extraditing them from Nevada and bringing them home where they will face the charges brought by the state.” He looks directly at the camera. “Many people have asked about the remaining members of the Serendee community. We continue the process of determining the roles residents played in Wray’s schemes. Many, including dozens of children, are victims. It will take time to figure this out. We ask for your patience and consideration.” He rests his hands on the podium. “And last, due to new evidence, I’d like to announce that investigators are looking into the allegations of foul play in the suspicious death of Beatrice Wray, Timothy’s wife. Thank you. That’s all for today.”

Shouts come from the media, their voices drowning one another out. Morris walks off the stage, clearly not planning on answering any questions. Next to me, Rex disentangles himself from me and stands. “I think I need some air.”

He walks to the door, closing it with a sharp snap. I look at the guys. “Go,” Silas says. Elon nods.

He’s out on the porch, leaning against the railing. I wrap my arms around him. “I doubt anything will come from it, but it’s nice to hear they’re looking into it. Thank you for getting this started.”

“Me? I didn’t do this, Rex. You did.”

He turns, facing me. “What are you talking about?”

“The day you picked me for the Ordering, that’s the day all of this fell into line.”

“Careful, you sound like my father.” he snorts and gestures to the house. “Or like Levi.”

“Anex’s talk about The Way and Enlightenment may have been self-serving, but there’s a reason people wanted to be part of his world. This connection between us—this need for something bigger than us.” I place a hand on his chest. “We found that. Me, you, Elon, Silas, Levi—we’re bigger than Anex.”

“I worry about everyone left behind.”

“Me too.”

“I wonder if there’s anything we can do for them.”

“I know who we can ask.” I smile. “I have you to thank for her, too. You opened that door for me.”

“One of us should have a mother in their lives, don’t you think?”