Biding His Thyme: 4 Read Online Free

place.
    Alice laughed. “No, it’s a serious
question.”
    “The cops want a man undercover at the
compound?”
    “Yes,” Alice said.
    “Yes,” Janaya said.
    “What’s going on? No, wait.” Sorrel held up
a hand. “I don’t want to know.”
    “Is it possible? How does a person join the
cult?” Janaya asked.
    “Most people visit the compound and look
around. If they’re impressed by what they see, they gift their property—their
money and valuables—and move in. That’s the simple answer.”
    Janaya pursed her lips. “And the
complicated answer?”
    “Brother Rick is the new leader. He hasn’t
taken in new people since he’s become leader, but a decent amount of money
might change his mind.”
    “How decent?” Alice asked.
    “I don’t know for sure, but maybe four or
five thousand. It will depend on Brother Rick. This man—who is he? What are the
cops looking for? What’s going on at the compound?” Curiosity got the better
and questions tumbled out of her.
    “You haven’t seen anything illegal?” Janaya
asked.
    Sorrel shook her head. “I spend my time
making soaps and lotions to sell in the Children of Nature shop. If I’m not
making stuff in my workshop I’m collecting herbs or flowers. I need to collect
leaves now. I can’t be late.”
    “Show us what you need, and we’ll help,”
Alice said.
    Sorrel dug out her clippers and started
gathering leaves from the lower branches. The sharp scent of eucalyptus filled
each breath and coated her bare hands.
    With the women’s help her handcart was soon
full of leaves.
    “So you think our guy shouldn’t have any
difficulty joining Children of Nature?” Janaya asked.
    “Brother Rick will interrogate him about
his reasons for joining, but if he has money…” She shrugged in guise of
finishing her sentence.
    “Good. We can work with that,” Janaya said.
    “My cream?” Sorrel was more interested in
her future. “How long will it be before I know your decision?”
    “I’ll trial it and get back to you,” Alice
said. “A few weeks maybe. If I see potential in the idea we’ll get you to come
to the lab, and we’ll work on the recipe, refining it if necessary.”
    “A job?”
    “Or if you prefer we could buy the rights
to the recipe outright,” Alice said. “But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
When are you delivering new stock to your shop?”
    “I go Mondays and Fridays, but they’re
saying they need new stock more often. I’m finding it difficult to keep up with
demand.”
    “We’ll watch for you and attempt a meeting
when it’s doable,” Alice said.
    Sorrel nodded, not trusting herself to
speak. Her hands trembled as she fastened elastic cords across the foliage to
keep it in place during the trip back to the compound. “Thank you,” she
managed. “I need to go.” She pushed the handcart up the incline without another
word, excitement bursting free in a wide smile when she was sure neither of the
women would see. She’d taken the first step, and now all she needed to do was
trust in herself because she’d invented a dynamite product.

Chapter Two
     
    Jake Ramsay had done some crazy shit in his
time, but this idea was plain weird even for him. He stared at Louie Lithgow,
one of his best friends who he’d served with in the SAS, New Zealand’s elite
military unit. His gaze slid to Louie’s cop cousin, Luke Morgan, while he
waited for one of them to break and crack a smile. This had to be a joke at his
expense.
    Didn’t happen.
    He continued to stare at them without blinking.
“You want me to what?”
    “I need someone undercover at the cult. If
I don’t do something the local farmers are going to take matters into their own
hands. Innocent people will get hurt,” Luke said.
    “Why is it my problem?” Jake asked, wanting
to bite back the words as soon as they left his mouth. He was a soldier. It was
his job to protect innocent people.
    “Luke needs your help,” Louie said. “You’re
not doing anything