Divine Evil

father.”
    “No, my dear, I wasn't even there.”
    “You murdered him,” she repeated. She struggled against the rope. She wanted to bite, scratch, claw. Calmly, Atherton picked up a square of cloth and neatly folded it into a gag.
    “I'm afraid you'll have to be quiet while we transfer you.”
    “Go to hell.”
    “There is no hell.” He smiled, closing the gag over her mouth. “Except the one we make.”
    Stoically, Mick carried her up the steps and out to her car. Clare writhed and bucked, but to no avail. When he dumped her in the passenger seat of her own car, she swung out with her banded hands. He took the blow on his shoulder in silence, then strapped her in.
    “It was careless of you to leave the keys in the car.” Atherton climbed into the driver's seat. “We may be a small rural town, but young people might find it difficult to resist the temptation of this car. A Japanese model, isn't it?” he continued conversationally as he fastened his seat belt. “I believe strongly, at least publicly, in buying American.” Atherton turned the key. “But I can appreciate the sense of power. It won't be a long drive, Clare, but try to make yourself comfortable.”
    He cruised out of the parking lot, turned left away from Main Street, and headed out of town. For his ownamusement, he toyed with the radio until he came to a classical station.
    “An excellent machine,” he said. “Handles beautifully. I envy you. Of course, it wouldn't do for me to be seen driving such an expensive vehicle. Political aspirations mean I must continue a more subtle life-style.” He imagined himself in the governor's mansion. “My money goes into Swiss accounts—and land, of course. Jack taught me the value of land. And it's so pleasant just to have it. Naturally, I indulge Min's wishes whenever possible. Her tastes are very simple, really. A man couldn't ask for a more supportive wife. Sexually, if I might say, she's a bit rigid. But paying for a whore is a small price for a solid, successful marriage. Wouldn't you say? Oh, of course, you can't say.”
    He reached over and tugged off her gag. “You can scream if you like. You won't be heard.”
    She didn't bother. With her hands tied in front of her and strapped to her body by the seat belt, she couldn't even attempt to grab the wheel. Perhaps that was best, she thought. She might not survive a car crash. And she was determined to survive. The best she could hope for was to keep him talking and to pay very close attention to the direction they were taking.
    “Your wife—she knows?”
    “Min?” He smiled affectionately, tolerantly, at the thought. “Now, now, we won't discuss my Min. One of our basic rules is not to involve our wives and daughters. You might say we have a very exclusive men's club. You might consider that both sexist and unconstitutional. We prefer to think of it as selective.”
    “Dr. Crampton. I can't believe that he would be a part of this.”
    “One of our founding members. It's unlikely you know that he had a bit of a problem with drugs in medicalschool.” He gave her a brief glance. “As you should be aware, people are not always what they seem. Though the good doctor has been giving me a bit of trouble of late, it's nothing I can't deal with. In time.” And it would give him great pleasure to deal with Crampton as he had dealt with Biff. Once done, there would be no one left who'd dare to question him. “It isn't difficult to find men who want a different way,” he went on. “Particularly when that way offers sex, money, drugs, and a taste of power.”
    They were climbing now, up a steep, winding road that cut through largely undeveloped land. Woods closed in on either side. Atherton tapped the accelerator and pushed them up to fifty.
    “A wonderful car. It's a shame to destroy it.”
    “Destroy it?”
    “George at Jerry's Auto Sales and Repairs sees to such matters for us. We'll strip it first. It should make up for the worthlessness of Sarah Hewitt's tired old Chevy.”
    “Sarah? You—”
    “It had to be done, I'm afraid. She knew more than it was wise for her to know.”
    “And Biff.”
    “Executed.” He smiled. There was new power here, he discovered, in being able to speak with impunity of things he had done. “Quite simply, he could no longer control his drinking or his drug habit. He broke the Law by attacking one of our own, then publicly fighting with the sheriff. A pity. He was one of the first to accept the power