There were nods from mostly everyone. Clara continued to fret from one foot to the other, looking increasingly agitated as the conversation continued.
“We’ve always kept a low profile. We do not shift outside the confines of this ranch unless it is an absolute necessity. We do not run afoul of the law. We participate in our community just like everyone else here. The majority of you live out in the mainstream as if you are no different than anyone else. This is what makes our neighbors feel safe and this is what keeps us safe too.”
The nods continued. Clara looked like she was ready to bolt at any moment.
“So, I’m here to tell each and every one of you that anyone who was involved in this crime will be found out and dealt with long before the authorities find you. I have zero tolerance for this sort of crime or those who choose to protect anyone participating in such activities. You have a choice. Come forward and receive the benefit of mercy or stay in the shadows and take your chances at a full reckoning.”
The faces in front of him were solemn as he spoke. Some might be involved, but overall, it seemed that the majority was just worried about the clan and how this might affect them all. Bradley dismissed them and made his way toward her, just as she noticed Clara making a hasty exit, headed for the line of vehicles belonging to clan members who lived elsewhere and often carpooled in together.
“Bradley,” Kay called out as someone attempted to stop and talk to him. He looked in her direction and she nodded toward the cars, “Clara.”
“I’ll talk to you shortly,” Bradley said to the young bear that had approached him as he headed toward Clara with Kay right behind him. She was fumbling with her keys as he arrived, snatching them from her hands and grabbing her by the arm. She tried to struggle free, but he held firm.
“Clara, we don’t want to hurt you. You are obviously distraught. Just talk to us,” Kay said, trying to sound much calmer than she felt.
“I can’t.”
“Why can’t you?” Bradley asked.
“They will hurt me.”
“Who is they?” he said.
“Those men that paid us to take those girls.”
“Come in the house with us, Clara. Let’s talk through this.”
“I can’t. They will see.”
Bradley and Kay exchanged glances. If Clara was worried about someone here seeing her talk to them, then there were still others involved. There was no way to let her go and taking her inside might flush them out.
“We will protect you. Come on,” Bradley said, pulling her toward the house.
She resisted, obviously terrified. Rather than risk dislocating her arm, he merely picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, letting her kick and protest as he hauled her to the house against her will. Kay opened the door and they led her to his study, where he put her down in a chair while Kay locked the door.
“I don’t want to tie you to that chair, but I will,” he told her.
Clara began to cry, sobbing uncontrollably. Only a word or two could be understood between her sobs. Bradley let her babble for a bit before trying to talk to her again. He handed her a box of tissues from his desk and knelt down in front of her.
“Clara, I need for you to settle down and tell me what you know. I don’t know how much time we have. Whoever did this could do something to other members of the clan or the feds could come marching in here with a warrant, despite all the efforts we’ve made to prevent it. You know our history. You know what they will find here. We’ll all have a huge issue on our hands.”
Clara sniffled and nodded her head, trying to calm herself. Kay retrieved a bottle of cold water from the small mini fridge in Bradley’s credenza and gave it to her to drink. She took a few sips and nodded.
“Trevor. He set the whole thing up. He said that the girls were out of hand, doing drugs and disobeying their parents. He said the parents paid him to teach them a lesson. We were supposed to scare them in the woods and nothing more.”
“What happened?”
“When we got there, we were in human form. Trevor had been making the drugs for some time. His wife has been sick, and he needed the money.”
“Cindy? Yes, she has cancer. Her system hasn’t been strong enough to fight it.”
“Yes, Cindy. Trevor got us involved in helping him. We knew it was wrong, but we felt sorry for her and for him. First, we were just growing some pot on the back acreage where no one really goes. Then, he found a way to make meth in the old caves. Someone burned the fields and he got scared, so he shut down the cave and went to another place.”