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"I knohat he claimed to do with it--he said it was , but he didn’t have a pers with the government By the time he said that it was all medicinal, I kneas a lie We lived a rich life in that co we needed We women didn’t have cars or televisions or computers or jewelry, but Jacob had a house of his own, a private residence across the river I’ve been there He has everything a man could want"

"Were you sexually abused?" he asked

And she looked down into her lap "No He never forced anyone, to e He seduced He promised to share his personal utopia and care for us forever I hadn’t been there long before I was pregnant and it was then that I realized all the children there--all tended by all the woht he was Warren Jeffs with a pot garden"

"Did he engage in sexual activity with underage girls?"

Again she shook her head "Everyone was over eighteen, at least during the four years I was there I tried to leave, but he wouldn’t allow it"

"How did he prevent you froate and a couple of hter and I couldn’t take her The guns were downplayed--everyone clais and wildlife And I was afraid if I took ht be shot"

"Are you afraid for your safety now, Devon?"

"Well, yes, I am I don’t know that I have reason to be--no one has threatened me I’ve been here forforfor Reese, her son and Mariah, but ested I run said that if things got scary, I should tell the authorities about the gardens I know she wasn’t talking about the tomatoes"

He sat a bit taller in his chair "What woman was that?"

"She ith us about six months, I think Her name was Laine" Tears came to her eyes "I loved her I loved Laine I loved Reese, too Reese delivered Mercy She was so good tohis hands on the top of his desk "I’ to tell my boss about this, of course And that property isn’t in my jurisdiction, so my boss will very likely talk to so here today that creates a legal problem for you I have no reason to arrest you But if it turns out you have valuable testireide "Like secret witness stuff?"

He gave her a lopsided grin "Like that, yes If you need it And I wouldn’t be surprised if soency wanted to hear what you have to say If that becomes necessary, we’ll be very quiet and careful about it Have you discussed this with anyone else?"

"Rawley A little bit He took one look at me and knehere I was froave ave Dr Grant a few details when I first started working for hiht s are ht direction for you," he said "Let’s stay cal whether Jacob and your old co looked at by law enforcement"

"I have no idea what you can do," she adrinned "It’s spooky sometimes Devon, the very second you think you’re unsafe or suspicious or feeling jittery, I need you to call me and let s worse Our offices are next door to each other We see each other alo about your business, keep a sharp eye, I’ll let you know if I learn so Now it’s tiet arrested? For just being there? Because I thought there was this whole accessory thing in the law"

"You have an advantage when you co, you look safe to me I think you can leave this with me now"

She visibly relaxed, as if Mac’s words allowed her to think, for the first time, that the worst of her worries were now in the past

Devon was exhausted that evening Once she got hoave Mercy a bath, then had one herself while Mercy stayed close and kept throwing beach toys into her tub She didn’t turn on hts and they stayed mainly in the bedroo cross-legged on the bed With all the s closed up it was getting a little stuffy By eight-thirty it was getting dusky and the sun was beginning to disappear behind clouds over the Pacific

A light knock sounded at the front door "Stay right here, please," she told her daughter With her heart pounding, she headed to her living rooht of Spencer’s car sitting in front of the house She leaned against the door and asked, "Spencer?"

"It’s me"

She opened the door He stood there in sweatpants and a sweatshirt that had the sleeves and neck cut out; his hair was all spiky and he had a shadowy beard He s those excellent white teeth and she nearly oo She was about to ask hi there when she saw he had a toolbox in one hand and a couple of big sacks from Home Depot in the other

"Sorry--it’s kind of late And I have a couple of things I think you’ll need"

"What?" she asked

"Well, let’s see Some of these paper shades They’re supposed to be te for your fancy custom blinds or shutters to be installed--but here’s a secret They last a long ti--had them in their s for two years They don’t look bad, either And you can’t see through theht, there’s a slight silhouette" He handed her a second, sood locks But this is the " He handed her a box "An iPhone With a GPS and all kinds of bells and whistles"