Chapter 9
9
The older man clapped him on the back, then stood. “We’ll figure this out. And it will be what is best for the church, son. I have full faith in that. I know it hurts us all, but all things work together for a reason. Romans 8:28 is one of my favorite verses, after all.”
Gunn just nodded. But this was going to hurt some people very deeply. Including one he cared about. “It’s already been set up with Emerson?”
“I purchased his ticket myself this morning.” Reverend Adrian Barratt gathered his files and notebooks and slipped them neatly into his bag. “I think once we have all the answers, that is when he’ll begin to heal. I know this stabs him in the gut. I suspect he’s still blaming himself. He needs to forgive himself. None of this was his doing.”
Gunn had had the same thought. “I think he feels guilty for not seeing them for what they were. He just thought he was helping people down on their luck. He didn’t realize they were using him as a cover.”
“I think they used far too many of us as a cover. I’ve been reading on cults, since… then. It infuriates me that the word of God is so often corrupted for these monsters’ sick evil.” Adrian paused for a moment, a look of memories and pain on his own face. “Cults… no different than criminals. They trade on power and adulation, whereas criminal gangs are motivated by profit, in my opinion. Two different sides of an evil coin. And what they do, leaves lasting harm. I’ve seen the remnants of evil too often lately.”
“How is your brother’s family doing?” Adrian’s older brother’s family had been held hostage by an organized crime ring using the Finley Creek: TSP as a front. Adrian’s niece, a woman who had been in law school with Giavonna and was a good friend of hers, had been abducted by those same criminals just a week before. Powell Barratt’s fiancé had almost not survived the hostage situation. Another woman, a member of the TSP and an aunt of Ronnie’s brother’s wife, was still in the hospital, clinging to life.
Gunn had seen the updates in the local news just that morning.
“Good people keep getting hurt. Powell’s fiancé was released from the hospital recently. He’s going to make a full recovery. They are holding off on picking a date until the young woman who saved their lives recovers. Powell is insisting she be able to be in the wedding first.”
“My congregation is praying for Lieutenant Coleson. I know Mrs. Gillhiam has taken up a collection for her family, as well. And some of the women in my church are organizing a meal drive, to help out. We’ve heard she lives with a rather large family.” Gunn would deliver it personally when it was ready. His church board worked quickly when members of their community needed it. It was his honor to help them serve.
“She does. Twelve people in her house, all but one of them are women and children. She is a single mother of two girls, a preschooler and an infant. Two… two of her family were victims of Eastman, as well. And that young woman my brother found shot along Reservoir Road is Lieutenant Coleson’s younger sister. That family has been through literal hell lately, Gunn. I’m not sure what God’s plan is for them, but… if we can help in any way, we are going to.”
Gunn nodded. “I’ll talk to my community committee, see what we can do to help even more, as well. Just help them get through.”
“We’ll have to coordinate. Now—” Adrian checked his watch. “I need to get across town. I am picking up Josephine and taking her to physical therapy today. Turner was going to, but he had an emergency city council meeting that he couldn’t get out of.”
Adrian’s son’s sister-in-law was another victim of the Eastman assault at FCU. She’d been shot multiple times—and had barely survived.
Far too many people were being hurt around Barratt and Finley Creek counties lately. Gunn had prayed for the hurt to end so many times.
And with what had happened to Genny… he had prayed for understanding and clarity. But he didn’t quite feel like he’d received it yet.
That kind of evil… Gunn feared it was starting to spread.
As was the fear.
All he could do was help the people he could, and rely on his own faith to get through.
“I’ll call Em. Let him know he’s more than welcome to stay with us at the ranch. I’m going to help him however I can.”
“We both will. He doesn’t have to do this alone.”