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The man is a complete jackass.
He’s clearly morally bankrupt and obviously leading a church for power rather than because of any truerighteousbelief system.
That’s a huge red flag. There is surely illegal activity surrounding him.
I want to know what it is.
I join Ruby in line to order coffee and eye the cinnamon rolls in the bakery case. They don’t even look as good as Mandy’s. I’m still getting one so I can taste-test them, though.
A return text vibrates my phone, and I glance down.
It’s from Iris, and it’s simple.Call me.
Nope. I’m not going to do that. I’m sure Iris has several things she would like to say to me about leaving Cara without notifying her, sending Jonah with Cian and Scarlett, and coming to Ohio where there are no O’Gradys or Olsens to protect.
I don’t feel like getting into any of that with her right now.
Or probably ever.
“Are you okay?” Ruby asks.
I look up at her. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
“You know I’m fine. That guy and his opinion stopped mattering to me a long time ago. In fact, if he did like me, I’d be worried.”
I appreciate that. I would feel similarly about my father if I ever had to interact with him. Being someone that our fathers like and respect is not a compliment.
“I’m fine,” I tell her. “But full transparency, I’m looking into your father. And if I find anything to act on, I intend to.”
“Anything illegal, you mean?”
“Yes. Though if I can find a way to act on anything immoral, I’ll do that too.”
“More immoral than leading an entire cult that fifty percent of this town follows?”
“Say the word, and I’ll burn it to the ground,” I tell her, not kidding. “But also, not half this town.”
She looks up at me. “That church has always divided this town.”
Oh, of that I have no doubt. “I know it feels like half the town and the people who follow his church are loud and obnoxious, so it seems there are more of them than there are. But only about thirty percent of the church-going people in this town attend his church. There are plenty that go to other churches or follow other religions. And then there are plenty of people who are not churchgoers at all. He doesn’t even have a majority.”
She studies me, thinking that over. “That’s good to know. They do seem like a lot, though.”
“Your father does that on purpose, too. And I’m sure he’d love it to be half the town. Or more. Your father is a greedy, power-hungry narcissist.”
She nods. “Thanks. I need to remember all of that.”
It’s our turn to order, so we get a cinnamon roll, a pecan roll, a caramel vanilla latte, and a hazelnut cappuccino. If I’m going to tell people here that the coffee and pastries at Dick’s are better, I need to know for sure.
After we pick up our order, I survey the room and note the table with four older gentlemen situated right in the center of the room.
“Is that them?” I ask Ruby.
She nods. “Yup. I’m guessing my father just left them. They’re probably doing a Live Right Bible study session right now.”
“Okay then.” I lead her toward the table next to the guys.
Sure enough, they have two Bibles lying open on the table, and each of them holds a smaller booklet and a pen.