Free If Looks Could Kill by Elizabeth Cage Page B

their deep-seated aversion to real life and used it as a springboard to brainwashing. Lucien was a dream of an authority figure—he put no pressure on them as long as the cash rolled in. It was as if they were paying him to protect them from the real world.
    Ha. Not a bad setup.
    But Caylin also realized that she was being harsh. She doubted that any of their decisions had been conscious. They looked ahead at their responsibilities and couldn’thandle what they saw. Instinctively they rebelled. Fled to a place where the pastures were greener than any they had ever seen. Greener than cold, hard cash at any rate.
    Yet down to the last one she had met, they seemed happy. Their “inner peace” was genuine. Inside these walls, stress was extinct.
    Caylin couldn’t really fault them for wanting true inner peace.
    A bell rang from the temple. The group slowly got to their feet.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Caylin asked.
    â€œThe midday gathering,” Jenny said, offering a hand to help her up. “Come on.”
    The group made their way toward the front of the temple. Small crowds of other members came out of buildings and copses of trees and other gardens. It was like a slow, serene stampede of white cloth.
    Lucien calls, Caylin mused, and they come running.
    She purposely lagged back from the group to watch them all more closely. But something distracted her.
    A pair of sparkly white Range Rovers entered thecompound and drove toward them. Their arrival was rather shocking since Caylin hadn’t seen any hint of outside technology within the compound (other than Lucien’s computer room). The SUVs’ windows were tinted black. As they passed, Caylin tried to see inside. But no dice.
    The Rovers proceeded to the back of the main temple, disappearing around the corner.
    Hmmm.
    Caylin glanced around. The rest of the group was intent on getting to the gathering. No one paid any attention to her.
    Perfect.
    She edged through some shrubbery to the side of the building and peered around the corner to check it out. The Range Rovers were backing up to a pair of steel double doors. When the SVUs stopped, the drivers—both burly shaved heads—dismounted and went straight for the doors. One knocked while the other opened the hatchbacks of the Rovers. Something wasn’t right with these guys. What was it—?
    Caylin stiffened.
    They wore the regular “spiritual” garb like all the others.But in her spy training Caylin had seen enough concealed weapons to know that these two peace lovers were packing heat. The bulges were unmistakable.
    What would cult members need with guns?
    The double doors swung wide, and several more shaved heads carried out a bunch of large duffel bags. Judging by the effort, Caylin guessed the bags were full of something heavy. The guards tossed them into the back of the Range Rovers without a word.
    In seconds the transaction was complete. The hatchbacks were slammed shut, the double doors closed, and the armed drivers got back in and put the SUVs in gear.
    This was huge. She wasn’t exactly sure what she’d seen, but weapons and bags and secret exchanges sure felt huge. Caylin had to get to her phone. She’d stashed it in her room, frustrated like crazy because she didn’t have anywhere to carry it. But this definitely deserved a phone call to the other Spy Girls.
    â€œHey!” a voice called from behind her.
    Caylin froze, fear streaking down her spine.
    Somehow a phone call didn’t seem to be in her future.

EIGHT
    Caylin whirled.
    Jenny!
    â€œWhat are you doing?” she demanded.
    Caylin grinned. “Just looking around. I’m still kind of lost around here.”
    Jenny shook her head. “All you had to do was follow us. Come on, we’ll miss the gathering!”
    Caylin nodded and went with her, reminding herself to let out a really heavy sigh of relief later. That was close!
    She had to be more careful. The new person