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"The baseive us more than any other roo unusual on your caela asked her

Whitney smiled, just like the Cheshire cat "Oh, yes," she said "Will and I will show the filun"

CHAPTER NINE

The Church of Christ Arisen was an ilea in the sun It was on St Charles, set back about forty feet fro Jake’s car, and he pulled to the side of the road to stare at the building Jake, at his side, was reading from the most recent file Jackson had acquired from Detective Andy Devereaux "The inally constructed by the Baptists," Jake said He looked up fro there, and the add-ons, either side, were built in the 1900s The Baptist congregation moved into a new location, and in the 1970s, the place was a trendy nightclub The nightclub was purchased by the Church of Christ Arisen in the mid-1990s They’ve owned it since The church has a bishop, currently Richard Gull, and he deals with all tenets, all legalwith a council of five members, but their identities are known only to members of the church"

"Why?" Jackson asked hi from a file!"

"Yeah, sorry Go on"

"The bishop lives in the building to the left The building to the right houses members of the church who are downtrodden or need a place to stay," Jake read "Hey, and Detective Andy scratched in some notes on the side Says here, ‘Downtrodden see to prove No one talks’"

Jackson had seen his share of cults, and they tended to have one strong central figure Jim Jones David Koresh A host of others Charismatic men who preyed upon the weak and needy, and proles and misery they faced in their lives Theyin their sleeves, since they brought women into the flock to have their choice of wives or lovers, and get aith multiple relationships in the name of God

"Okay, so Richard Gull is over here--and his little harem is over there And the " Jackson opened his door

"Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? I thought ere just going to ride by and see the place," Jake told hi to see it closer," Jackson said

"No, wait Stay here I’ll take a closer look Come on, Jackson You look like the wrath of God, co hed Jake’s words; he was right He earing a tailored shirt under his jacket, even if it was a casual leather jacket Jake earing a sweatshirt eet whatever inforet back here," Jackson told hireed

He watched the traffic and then sauntered across the street to the brick path that led the way to the church It was ironic; an old Jewish cemetery sat on the corner of the street, nearly blocked out by a large sign that advertised:

The Church of Christ Arisen--we are the way Respect life, all life, respect your fellow man, and our God will show you the way Bishop Richard Gull, Sunday sermon If you would believe, you are welcome here

The church door opened before Jake reached it Frohtly down, Jackson saw Jake offer the young wo smiles She looked uncertain for a moment, but she opened the door wider, and Jake walked on in

A few minutes later, he left the church and returned Jackson reached across the car to open the door for him "I was about to sound the cavalry horn," he said

Jake laughed "I was gone ten minutes, total"

"And what did you discover?"

"I have so printed material in sleek leaflet form from his jacket pocket, "and, drumroll, please…"

"Jake," Jackson said flatly

"There were three young wo It’scross hanging above it"

"That’s the druhed "No, no There was so the cleaning"

"Oh?"

"All three are pregnant"

"And how young?"

"I’ht be fifteen or sixteen I think I could guess the baby’s daddy on the three On the side of the altar, al letters on a brass plaque below, it has the na hair--and I can see how heelse"

"What?" Jackson asked him

"Charles Manson eyes," Jake said "The church is a cultto happen"