Nate shouldn’t have staged such a big scene. He could’ve come to the gate, demanded to talk to Ethan and been sent away without getting hurt.
But then she wouldn’t have seen him.
“I appreciate the safe haven,” she said. “But being here, leaving Nate, doesn’t mean I want to see him injured.”
“Of course not. And he’s not injured. Not really.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Where is he now?”
“How should I know? Probably at home, sleeping off the alcohol.”
She hoped that was the case. She could survive this much better if she knew he was safe.
When she said nothing, Ethan glanced into her room. “So…are you comfortable for the night?”
“I’d like my old clothes back, please.”
“Don’t worry about them,” he said with a dismissive wave. “You need to dress in clothes more befitting your station.”
“My station?” she echoed.
He swayed on his feet but retained his balance by catching hold of the doorjamb. “You’re a Covenanter now.”
She’d seen Covenanters dressed in a mismatch of styles and clothing. Why was Ethan so picky about her wardrobe? “But I have this—” she indicated the new robe “—and nothing else.” She hesitated to mention her lack of underwear. She was nervous about Martha’s assertion that orgies were quite common here. After the parade of people who’d watched her disrobe and then the many hands that’d helped “cleanse” her, she could believe it. Such intimate contact could easily mow down the typical barriers to that kind of behavior. She didn’t need a psychologist to tell her that.
“Everything you need will be provided.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“And tonight?”
He lowered his voice. “Sleep naked, beautiful Rachel. Sleep naked and think of me as I’ll be thinking of you.”
“Ethan!”
The sharpness of Bartholomew’s voice surprised Rachel. Apparently, it surprised Ethan, too. He gave her a guilty “I’ve been caught” expression, then chuckled softly as he twisted around to see his head of security. “There you are,” he said. “I was wondering when you were coming to bed.”
“I was just about to retire to my room,” Bart responded. “But I had an important matter to discuss with you before you retire to yours.”
“Of course. I’m coming.” With a nod exaggerated in its politeness, Ethan left.
Rachel shut and locked her door, then pressed her ear against the panel, trying to hear what was being said in the hall. Bart kept his voice too low, but Ethan wasn’t as careful. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
There was more rumbling from Bart. Although Rachel couldn’t make out the specific words, she sensed he was upset. Was it Ethan’s visit to her room that had spurred his displeasure? Or was it her initiation? Or the fact that she was staying in the Enlightenment Hall? Or did his annoyance have something to do with Martha and Sarah?
“Of course I know that,” Ethan said. “I’m fine. I’ll be careful. You’re such a killjoy.”
Bart spoke again as they moved off. Then she heard a door close farther down the hall.
What did their interaction mean? She’d assumed Ethan was in control of Paradise, but the exchange she’d just overheard sounded as if Ethan had been trying to cajole a strict parent.
Maybe it was about the drugs. Martha said Ethan took drugs, and he’d obviously been tweaking tonight.
Either way, something was different from even a few days ago, something that gave Bart more power than before. Was it somehow related to Martha’s recapture? What else could’ve happened?
Rachel knew she wasn’t going to find out by cowering in her room. According to an alarm clock on the nightstand, she waited an hour, maybe longer. Then, when she found the hall dark and empty, she slipped out.
27
It wasn’t going to be as difficult to get in as Nate had thought. The fence was high, was topped with razor wire and appeared to go at least a foot deep into the ground. But it was regular chain-link, and there were only two guards on duty, both of whom sat in the station most of the time and rarely walked the perimeter. If he came upon Paradise from the opposite side, over by the mountains, he’d place himself behind the Enlightenment Hall and out of sight of those guards. He’d also be close to where he wanted to end up. All he had to do was cut the fence along the ground, slide beneath it, bend it straight and throw a little dirt to hide where it’d been cut.
Supposedly, Ethan had weapons, which meant that Nate risked more than getting his ass kicked again. Although he’d been sorely tempted, he hadn’t brought his gun. He figured he’d have a better chance of convincing them he was simply a vengeful husband bent on getting his wife back if he wasn’t armed. Then, if he did get caught, it might not blow the whole operation.
But he didn’t plan on getting caught. This time he wasn’t here to put on a show. He wanted to talk privately with Rachel, make sure she was okay, find out what she’d learned so far and decide how he could best support her—but mostly, he just wanted to see her.
Making a wide arc, he stopped to take a look at Paradise through the night-vision goggles he’d brought in his backpack. Two dogs trotted back and forth in a cage not far from the Enlightenment Hall. He’d seen them when he was here before but had forgotten about them. Although he was far enough away that they didn’t seem to notice or care about him, that wouldn’t be the case as he got closer, and he couldn’t have them barking and making a fuss.
While checking for other problems, he decided to change his point of entry. He’d come through the fence by the garden area. There were no dogs there. That meant he’d pass through the largest number of tents but he’d soon reach the cheese factory, which should be deserted at this hour. Most people were going to bed. If he acted as though he belonged, maybe anyone he met would assume he was one of the guards. Many of them wore camouflage, too.
If that didn’t work, he’d have to start acting belligerent again.
Stretching his sore jaw, he winced at the thought of playing it that way.
After gathering the items he’d need, he hid the rest of his gear behind some boulders and hiked down. He was pretty sure his clothing was thick enough to protect him when he slid under the fence. But he’d have to shed his jacket once he got through. No one wore a jacket in the middle of a night as warm as this one, and he couldn’t afford to stand out.