Chapter 207

Louis adjusted the collar of his black jacket. He had worn a bulletproof vest underneath, a lightweight, flexible weave that barely added to his frame. He felt its reassuring pressure against his chest. He looked at the women as they gathered in the lounge. Everyone had dressed for the occasion. “You all look stunning.”

“Thank you, Louis,” Angelique said, smiling. “I hope the Prophet King appreciates the effort.”

Gladice inspected her necklace. “I hope I won’t have bullet holes in this dress before the day is over.”

“I’m sure you won’t, Glads,” Willa said. “But it’s a good dress to die in, if you have to.”

“Let’s not think about dying, Willa,” Donya said, her hands trembling as she adjusted her hijab.

“I never saw you wearing a hijab, Donya,” Louis said. “It’s nice.”

“Thank you, Louis,” Donya said. “I only wear it on special occasions. And when I feel I need a reminder of who I am.”

Savannah smoothed her dress. “A special occasion it is. Let’s make it a good one.”

“I will,” Louis said. “Let’s go.”

The bedroom door opened and Rachel came out, wearing Cherish’s white dress. She looked like a bride. Her hair was brushed, her face washed. A nervous smile played on her lips.

“You look beautiful, Rachel,” Cherish said.

“Thank you, sister,” Rachel said, looking at Louis. “Am I presentable, Brother Louis?”

“You are, Rachel,” Louis said. “Let’s go.”

They walked to the elevator. Yamamoto and García stood by the door, their hands on their rifles.

“Sir,” Yamamoto said. “The reception is in the Grand Ballroom on the ground floor. The Prophet King is already there with a few of his council members and the Danites.”

“Are you allowed to enter, Captain?” Louis asked.

“Only four of us,” Yamamoto said. “Myself, Sergeant García, Corporal Green, and Corporal Wilson. The others will stand by in the hallway and our vehicles. We will be in constant communication.”

Gladice laughed. “At least we won’t have to run down twenty flights of stairs if we have to get out of here.”

“I hope not,” Louis said. “So Frederick will be the one guarding us. Good. I trust him.”

Yamamoto nodded. “He will protect you with his life, sir. So will we.”

The elevator door opened. Wilford Young was waiting for them in the lobby, with a smile.

“Mr. Collins. Ladies. You all look exquisite,” he said. “Please, follow me. The reception awaits you.”

They followed him through the lobby to the courtyard. A white marble fountain with a beehive in its center was splashing water. The path to the ballroom entrance was lined with Legion guards. Wilford opened a pair of gilded doors. “Here we are. Enjoy the reception.”

Louis stepped into the Grand Ballroom. The room was a bit old fashioned for his taste. A long buffet table was covered with white linen, laden with food. A string quartet was playing a gentle melody. A few dozen people in formal attire were standing around, talking in low voices. At the far end of the room, on a raised platform, a man in a white robe was sitting on a gilded throne.

As Louis and the women walked in, all eyes turned to them. The music stopped. The Prophet King stood up and smiled.

“Welcome to the Kingdom of Utah,” he said, walking toward them. “Mr. Collins, Princess Bourbon, Miss Simington, Miss Locke, Miss Al Madani, Miss Ellington, Miss Nowak, Miss Fyres.” He stopped in front of Rachel. “And my dear Rachel. Welcome home.”

Rachel curtsied, her face glowing. “Your Majesty. It is an honor.”

“The honor is all mine, Rachel,” the Prophet King said, then turned to Louis. “Thank you for bringing her safely back to me. I am in your debt.”

Louis shook his offered hand. “We are happy to help, Your Majesty.”

“I trust your accommodations are to your liking?” the Prophet King asked.

“They are excellent, Your Majesty,” Angelique said. “We appreciate your hospitality.”

“It is my pleasure, Princess,” the Prophet King said. “Now, please, join me. We have much to discuss.”

He led them to a platform at the other end of the ballroom. He gestured to a long table with a white tablecloth. He sat at the head, and gestured for Louis to sit at the other. Then he motioned for the others to take their seats. Rachel sat on a chair to his right.

“Help yourselves to the food and drinks,” the Prophet King said. “Our chefs are the best in the Kingdom.”

“I’m sure they are,” Angelique said, smiling. “But we will wait until you have started, Your Majesty. Out of respect.”

The Prophet King nodded. “A wise decision, Princess.” He gestured a waiter to bring a plate of food. The waiter placed it in front of him. The Prophet King took a bite of a roasted chicken. He chewed slowly. He looked at Louis. “It’s not poisoned, Mr. Collins. I assure you.”

“I never suspected it was, Your Majesty,” Louis said. “We are just cautious. As you can imagine. You must have heard about what happened to us in New Orleans.”

“I have,” the Prophet King said. “It was a tragedy. An outrage. I condemn it.”

Louis nodded to Corporal Wilson, who had finished scanning the food by the buffet table. Wilson nodded back to Louis. “I’m glad to hear that, Your Majesty. Because the perpetrators are still at large. And we believe they have connections to your Kingdom.”

The Prophet King nodded. “I’m aware of your concerns. I share them too. In fact, I have a gift for you, Mr. Collins. A token of my goodwill and commitment to our cooperation.” He clapped his hands twice. Two Danites in black suits and sunglasses dragged a man between them and forced him to kneel before the platform. He was wearing a simple grey suit, and his face was bruised and swollen.

“Do you recognize him, Mr. Collins?” the Prophet King asked.

Louis looked at the man. He did not recognize him.

“I’m afraid I don’t, Your Majesty,” Louis said. “Who is he?”

“His name is Victor Sterling,” the Prophet King said. “A representative of Lumen Path Shipping. I believe he’s the one you are looking for.”

Louis exchanged a look with Angelique. Angelique raised an eyebrow. Willa typed on her phone under the table.

“Victor Sterling,” she whispered. “He’s that Mr. Sterling Dan Turner told us about. The one who negotiated the price in Country Pleasure Compound.”

“He’s our gift,” the Prophet King said, looking at Louis. “A peace offering. You may take him with you and do with him as you see fit.”

“I appreciate the gesture, Your Majesty,” Louis said. “But he is only a pawn. We are more interested in the players. The ones who gave him the orders.”

“You can ask him yourself,” the Prophet King said. “He’s a talker. Especially when he’s in pain. From what I’ve heard, your country’s interrogation methods are very effective.”

“We prefer to call them interviews, Your Majesty,” Louis said. “But you are right. We are very good at them.”

“I’m sure you are,” the Prophet King said. “I have a great respect for the Dominion. For its achievements. For its leadership. For its Supreme President. He is a remarkable man.”

“He is,” Louis said. “He will be pleased to hear that you have cooperated with us.”

“I hope he will,” the Prophet King said. “I believe our two states have much to gain from a friendly relationship. A partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests.”

“Like what?” Gladice asked.

“Like trade, Miss Simington,” the Prophet King said, looking at her. “Like investment. Like technology. Like security. The world is changing, Miss Simington. We must change with it. Or we will be left behind.”

Gladice laughed. “You’re a businessman, Your Majesty. I like that.”

“I am many things, Miss Simington,” the Prophet King said. “A prophet. A king. A father. Or a businessman. I have to be. To lead my people. And to protect my Kingdom.”

“I have a question, Your Majesty,” Willa said. “What is the Kingdom’s official stance on human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women? And on the auctioning of virgins for a million Euros?”

The Prophet King’s smile tightened. “You are very direct, Miss Locke.”

“I am, Your Majesty,” Willa said. “I also expect a direct answer.”

“Of course,” he said. “The Kingdom’s official stance is that those acts are abominations. They are sins against the Lord and against the laws of the Kingdom. We do not tolerate them.”

“Then why did you buy a virgin for a million Euros?” Willa asked.

The Prophet King’s face turned serious. “I did not buy a virgin, Miss Locke. I redeemed a soul. I rescued a child of God from a life of sin and from the hands of wicked men. I gave her a chance to be saved and to be happy.”

He looked at Rachel, who was looking at him with adoration. “Isn’t that right, my child?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Rachel said, her voice filled with devotion. “You saved me.”

“I see,” Willa said. “So you are a philanthropist.”

“I am what the Lord wants me to be, Miss Locke,” the Prophet King said.

Gladice laughed. “You’re a good actor, Your Majesty. I’ll give you that. You should have been in movies.”

“I am afraid I do not have the talent for that, Miss Simington,” the Prophet King said dryly.

Louis leaned back in his chair. “Your Majesty, we appreciate the gift of Mr. Sterling. We really do. But we are here for another reason. We are here for the head of the Common Roots Organization. The one who calls himself Brother John.”

The Prophet King looked at him. “I am sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Collins. But Brother John had been missing since last night after we arrested Mr. Sterling. We believe he might have fled the city.”

“Or you’re hiding him, Your Majesty,” Willa said.

The Prophet King’s face hardened. “Miss Locke, I would be careful with your accusations if I were you. You are in my Kingdom. Even if you are my guests, I have a limit to my hospitality.”

“We are not here to provoke you, Your Majesty,” Angelique said, her voice calm and steady. “We are here to seek justice. For the women who were trafficked and abused. For the ones who are still suffering. And for the ones who died.”

“I share your desire for justice, Princess,” the Prophet King said. “But I cannot give you what I do not have. We are still searching for Brother John and his associates.”

“Like the elders of the farm?” Willa asked.

“Yes,” the Prophet King said. “Matthew, Micah, and Nathan. They disappeared with Brother John.”

“What about Lumen Path Shipping?” Louis asked. “Is it still operating?”

“The company reached out to us a few days ago,” the Prophet King said, raising his chin toward Sterling. “After I learned of its connections with your kidnapping in New Orleans, I decided to sever all ties with them and help you in any way I can. That’s why Mr. Sterling is here.”

“We appreciate it,” Louis said. “But we need more than that. We need full access to Lumen Path Shipping’s records, the names of all their clients, and their locations.”

“I will give you everything I have, Mr. Collins,” the Prophet King said. “But I don’t have much. Lumen Path Shipping is a foreign company. We have no jurisdiction over them.”

“What about the auction house?” Willa asked. “The one where Rachel was sold.”

The Prophet King looked at Willa. “I don’t know what you are talking about, Miss Locke. There was no auction house. There was only an online meeting between me and Rachel in my private residence. To arrange her salvation.”

“You are a liar, Your Majesty,” Willa said. “And a hypocrite.”

“You are out of line, Miss Locke,” the Prophet King said, his voice cold. “I am a patient man. But I will not tolerate insults in my own house. If you continue, I will have to ask you to leave.”

“I will not leave,” Willa said, her eyes flashing. “Not without Brother John.”

“Willa,” Angelique said, putting a hand on her arm. “Enough.”

Willa looked at Angelique, then at the Prophet King. She sighed. “Fine.”

The Prophet King’s expression softened. “I understand your passion and anger, Miss Locke. But you must understand that I am your only ally in this city. And your only hope of finding what you are looking for. So I suggest you cooperate and trust me.”

“Trust you?” Maeve scoffed. “Why should we trust you? You bought a woman like a cow. Yet you call it salvation.”

“Because I have given you a gift,” the Prophet King said. “I will give you more. If you are willing to work with me.”

“Like what?” Louis asked.

“Like I said, Mr. Collins. Trade. Investment. Technology.” He leaned forward. “Your Dominion of the Pacific has a great deal to offer. So does the Kingdom. We have natural resources. We have a stable society. We have a devout workforce. And we have a strategic location. We can be a valuable partner for the Dominion.”

“I’m listening, Your Majesty,” Louis said.

“Good,” the Prophet King said. “I have a proposal. I want to open a trade office in Sacramento. In return, I want you to open a trade office in Salt Lake City. We can start with agricultural products and minerals. Then we can expand to other areas like energy or infrastructure.”

“It’s an interesting proposal, Your Majesty,” Louis said.

“It’s more than interesting, Mr. Collins,” the Prophet King said. “It’s a historic opportunity for both of us. God has brought our paths together for a reason. Maybe America was meant to be reunited. But in a new way.”

“You are ambitious, Your Majesty,” Angelique said.

“I am a servant of the Lord, Princess,” the Prophet King said. “I do his will. He wants me to build a righteous kingdom. But even a righteous kingdom needs allies and trading partners.”

“I have to discuss this with my father, Your Majesty,” Louis said. “But I am open to the idea.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Mr. Collins,” the Prophet King said. “I will have my minister draw up a preliminary agreement. I will have it sent to you by tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Louis said.

The Prophet King looked at Rachel. “Now, enough of business.” He glanced at Sterling. “Please transfer Mr. Sterling to Mr. Collins’s security team. He is no longer welcome in my house.”

The Danites dragged Sterling away. Louis nodded to Frederick and García, who escorted Sterling out of the ballroom.

The Prophet King smiled. “It’s time for a celebration. My dear Rachel, the Lord has answered your prayers and mine. We will be wed tomorrow in the Temple. It will be a holy ceremony for all to witness.”

Rachel’s face lit up. She looked at Louis, her eyes full of gratitude. “Thank you, Brother Louis. Thank you for bringing me to him. I am forever in your debt.”

“You’re welcome, Rachel,” Louis said, forcing a smile. “I wish you happiness.”

The Prophet King looked at him. “You are all invited to the wedding, of course. It will be a joyous occasion.”

“We would be honored, Your Majesty,” Angelique said.

“I’m glad to hear that,” the Prophet King said. “I’d also like to know more about each of you, and your family. I have heard of your remarkable journey and your devotion to each other. It is inspiring.”

“We are a family, Your Majesty,” Donya said. “We love each other. And we protect each other.”

“I can see that, Miss Al Madani,” the Prophet King said. “I commend you for it. Love is a gift from the Lord. I can see family is a sacred bond.”

“What about you, Your Majesty?” Gladice asked. “Do you love all your wives and children?”

“I do, Miss Simington,” the Prophet King said. “Each of them is a precious jewel in my crown. I cherish them all.” He paused. “In fact, I would like to invite you to my private residence this afternoon to meet my family. So we can get to know each other better in a more informal setting.”

Louis looked at Angelique, then at the Prophet King. “We would be honored, Your Majesty.”

“I will send my car for you at three o’clock,” the Prophet King said. “We will have an informal dinner too. My wives are looking forward to meeting you.”

“I’m sure they are,” Gladice said, her lips twitching.

“Thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty,” Angelique said. “But we have our own vehicles and security details. We will meet you at your residence.”

The Prophet King nodded. “As you wish, Princess. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to prepare for my wedding. I look forward to seeing you later.” He took Rachel’s hand. “Come, my dear. We have much to prepare.”

Rachel stood up, her face radiant. “Yes, Your Majesty.” She looked at Louis. “Goodbye, Brother Louis. May the Lord bless you.”

“Goodbye, Rachel,” Louis said.

The Prophet King led Rachel out of the ballroom, followed by the Danites. The string quartet started playing again. The other guests resumed their conversations.

“Now that was a performance,” Gladice said, taking a glass of orange juice from a passing waiter. “He’s good. I’ll give him that.”

“He is,” Louis said. “He’s smart too. He gave us a pawn, a promise of a deal, and an invitation to his home. All in one hour.”

“He’s trying to soften us up,” Savannah said, her eyes scanning the room. “To make us drop our guard.”

“Or he’s trying to flatter us,” Angelique said. “To establish a relationship with the Dominion, using us as a bridge.”

“It’s a good strategy,” Willa said, typing on her phone. “But it doesn’t change the facts that he bought a girl.”

“I’m more interested in where Brother John really is,” Maeve said. “And why the Prophet King is so eager to help us find him. Unless he wants to get rid of him, of course.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Savannah said. “Brother John was probably threatening his authority. Or he got too greedy. Or he knew too much.”

“It’s also possible that the Prophet King is telling the truth,” Donya said. “That Brother John really escaped.”

“Anything is possible, Donya,” Angelique said. “But we should not assume anything. We should keep our eyes and ears open.”

“Let’s go back to our suite,” Louis said. “We need to discuss this in private. We also need to get ready for the next step.”

The women nodded. They stood up. Gladice grabbed a full plate of steaks from the buffet. “Just in case.”

Wilford Young rushed to them. “Mr. Collins. Ladies. I can have anything from the menu sent up to your suite.”

“That’s kind of you, Mr. Young,” Gladice said. “But I’ll take this with me. I don’t like to wait.”

Wilford nodded, a little nervous. “Of course, ma’am. If I may, I could carry it for you.”

“I can carry my own steaks, thank you,” Gladice said, walking out.

They left the ballroom and took the elevator back to the top floor. Zhang and his men nodded to them as they stepped out.

“Sir,” Zhang said. “Mr. Sterling is in the lounge with our medic. He’s ready for interrogation.”

“Good,” Louis said, walking into the suite.

Sterling was sitting on a sofa while Corporal Wilson was tending to a cut on his forehead. Sterling looked at Louis with fear.

“Mr. Sterling,” Louis said, sitting in an armchair opposite him. “We meet again. In a more pleasant setting.”

The others found seats too, surrounding him. Gladice put her plate of steaks on a table and sat down. She picked up a knife and a fork.

“What do you want from me?” Sterling asked, his voice trembling. “I’m just a businessman.”

“Names, Mr. Sterling,” Willa said. “Who are you working for? And who are your clients?”

“I’m working for a man known as the Bishop,” Sterling said. “But I don’t know his real name.”

Louis exchanged a glance with Angelique. He whispered to her, “That’s the man Dan mentioned.”

“Tell me about the Bishop, Mr. Sterling,” Angelique said. “Who is he?”

“I need protection,” Sterling said, looking at Louis. “I can help you. I can give you everything. But you have to promise to protect me.”

“That depends on what you give us, Mr. Sterling,” Louis said. “And how deeply you were involved.”

“The Bishop is the manager of the North American division of Lumen Path,” Sterling said. “He is from Canada. Quebec, I think. He’s the one who plotted your abduction in New Orlean with the help of a local gang.”

“Why?” Angelique asked. “What was the purpose?”

“I don’t know all the details,” Sterling said. “I was not part of that operation. I only handle the business in the Central Union and now the Kingdom.”

“Brother John,” Willa said. “How did you meet him?”

“We met at a conference in Denver,” Sterling said. “About a year ago. He was looking for new girls for a farm he ran. He had connections with some LDS churches in Idaho and Wyoming. He would take in orphans, runaways, or girls from troubled families. So we made a deal. I would supply girls to him. In return, he would pay a good price.”

“Where did you get the girls?” Louis asked.

“From all over, Mr. Collins,” Sterling said. “From shelters. From foster homes. From the streets. But I don’t know the details. I only make the deals. I don’t do the dirty work.”

“You do the dirty work, Sterling,” Willa said, her voice cold. “You sell human beings. That’s as dirty as it gets.”

“I’m sorry! I truly am,” Sterling said. “I will help you. I will give you everything I have.” He looked at Louis, pleading. “Please don’t kill me!”

Louis leaned back, ignoring the plea for now. “What about the Prophet King? Were you working with him?”

“The Bishop arranged a meeting,” Sterling said. “He said Brother John was reselling some of the girls to the Kingdom’s elite. He wanted me to have a direct line to the King’s court, so we don’t have to deal with the middlemen.”

“Like Brother John,” Willa said.

“Yes,” Sterling said. “Brother John was greedy. He kept the best girls for himself. And he sold them at a high price. The Bishop wasn’t happy about it.”

“Tell us about the auction, Mr. Sterling,” Angelique said. “The one where Rachel was sold.”

Sterling looked confused for a moment. “I have no idea what you are talking about, ma’am. I came here only a few days ago.”

“Try again,” Louis said, his voice low.

“I don’t know anything about any auction!” Sterling insisted, sweat beading on his brow. “If there was one, it must be between the Common Roots and the King’s people.”

“I’m tired of this,” Maeve said, standing up. She walked behind Sterling and placed her new sword on the sofa next to his neck. “Tell me about the auction, Mr. Sterling. Or I will make you a eunuch.”

“Please, don’t,” Sterling said, his eyes fixed on the gleaming blade. “I don’t know anything. I swear! I was here to negotiate a new shipping contract with the King’s court, not to attend an auction!”

“Did you meet Brother John? Here in the city?” Louis asked.

“No,” Sterling said, raising his voice. “Why would I? We wanted to cut him out, not to invite him to our meeting.”

“What did the Prophet King say about the kidnapping?” Angelique asked. “About us?”

“He didn’t,” Sterling said. “He let me stay at the hotel for a few days. Then he invited me to a meeting last night and arrested me.”

“He must have decided to sacrifice you,” Savannah said. “To get into our good graces.”

“It looks that way, ma’am,” Sterling said, looking at Savannah.

Louis stood up. “What about this Bishop? Where can we find him?”

“I don’t know,” Sterling said. “Maybe in Quebec. He has an office in Montreal. But I doubt he’s there now. After what happened to me.”

“Address? Contact info?” Willa asked.

Sterling told her what he knew. Willa typed. “Got it,” she said.

“When did you last speak to the Bishop?” Louis asked.

“Two days ago,” Sterling said. “He told me to finalize the deal with the Prophet King and keep a low profile.”

“Because he knew you’re a loose end,” Maeve said. “He wanted to get rid of you.”

“Maybe,” Sterling said. “Or maybe your activity in the Central Union made him nervous.”

“He’s a smart man, then,” Angelique said. “But not smart enough.”

“What about the other clients, Mr. Sterling?” Louis asked. “Who bought the girls from you?”

“Private collectors, Mr. Collins,” Sterling said. “Wealthy men. In Colorado. In Montana. In Missouri. That’s where I was operating. I can give you their names.”

“Do that,” Louis said. “We might be able to work out a deal for you.”

“I need a guarantee, Mr. Collins,” Sterling said. “A witness protection program. A new identity. A new life.”

Louis looked at Yamamoto. “We can arrange that, Mr. Sterling. But only if your information is accurate and useful.”

“I will give you everything I have, Mr. Collins,” Sterling said. “I swear.”

“I know you will,” Louis said. “Now before we go any further, tell me, can you still contact the Bishop?”

Sterling shook his head. “No. He cut me off. I was supposed to report to him this morning, but I was in a cell. He will assume the worst and go to ground, especially when he learns about your arrival here, Mr. Collins.”

“He’s right,” Willa said. “The Bishop is gone. He’s probably on a plane to Europe or Asia by now.”

“Probably,” Louis said. “But we will still track him down.”

“What about the other members of your organization, Mr. Sterling?” Angelique asked. “Do you know their names and their locations?”

“I do,” Sterling said. “I will give you a list. I will tell you everything I know about their operations in exchange for my protection.”

“You will get your protection, Mr. Sterling,” Louis said. “After we verify your information. And after we get what we want.”

“I understand,” Sterling said. “I will cooperate.”

“Good.” Louis nodded to Yamamoto. “Take him away. Give him a room. Have two guards watching over him at all times.”

“Yes, sir,” Yamamoto said, grabbing Sterling by the arm. “Come with me, Mr. Sterling.”

Yamamoto and García led a shaken Sterling out of the suite. Louis looked at the women. “So, what do we think?”

“I think he’s telling the truth,” Angelique said. “He’s a coward and a traitor. He will do anything to save his skin.”

“He’s a useful coward, then,” Savannah said.

“We already knew the Bishop,” Willa said. “But we can now confirm he’s the one behind your abduction. Maybe a new trail to follow.”

“A new pile of shit to clean up,” Maeve said. “In other states. Not our problem.”

“It is our problem, Maeve,” Donya said. “As long as the trafficking network exists, it is our problem.”

“I’m more interested in finding Brother John and putting a bullet in his brain,” Maeve said.

“I’m with you on that, Mae-Mae,” Gladice said, cutting a piece of steak with her knife. “But I’m also interested in the Prophet King’s private residence.”

“Let’s not go there unprepared,” Angelique said. “We have a few hours before we meet him again. Let’s use them wisely.”

“Can we talk about Rachel?” Cherish asked. “Are we just going to let her marry him and become his seventh wife?”

“We don’t have much of a choice, Cherry,” Savannah said. “We can’t just take her by force. And we can’t rescue her if she doesn’t want to be rescued.”

“She doesn’t know what she wants, Savvy,” Donya said. “She’s brainwashed. We have a moral obligation to help her.”

“We have a moral obligation to protect ourselves first, Donya,” Gladice said. “And to get what we came here for. We can’t save everyone.”

“Why not?” Donya asked. “We saved the girls at the farm. We can save her too.”

“The situation is different, Donya,” Angelique said. “Rachel is not a prisoner. She’s a willing participant. For now.”

“But she’s still a victim,” Donya insisted. “We are here to stop the trafficking. Not to witness a marriage.”

“We need to focus on the bigger picture, Donya,” Angelique said. “The Prophet King gave us Sterling. That’s a start. But we need more. We need Brother John for his knowledge of the rest of the network. We have to use our leverage while we have it.”

“You mean Rachel.” Donya shook her head. “She’s not a leverage. She’s a human being.”

“You’ve seen her, Donya,” Louis said. “She’s devoted to the Prophet King. She thinks he’s a saint. Trying to take her from him would be like trying to take a bone from a starving dog. She would fight us. So would he.”

Donya sighed. “I know. But I still feel we’re abandoning her.”

“We’re not abandoning her, Donya,” Angelique said. “She made her choice. We have to respect it, even if we don’t agree with it.”

“I guess so,” Donya said, her shoulders slumping.

“Don’t be sad, Donya,” Cherish said, putting a hand on her arm. “We can still pray for her and the Prophet King. That they will see the light.”

Donya forced a smile. “Thank you, Cherry.”

Louis thought about the Prophet King, and about Rachel. He didn’t feel sad. He felt relieved. Rachel was too deep into her delusion, and her presence would only complicate things. Maybe the Prophet King’s solution was the best one. Maybe Rachel could even be happy in her own way, even if it was a lie. Or at least, he hoped so.