Rizzoli & Isles 8-Book Set

a possible suspect in the shooting of Deputy Martineau. Surely doubts about her still lingered in their minds, even if no one voiced them aloud. “The people who lived in Kingdom Come were most likely poisoned by an organophosphate pesticide,” she said. “The question is, was it mass suicide? Homicide? Or an accident?”
    That was met with a sound of disbelief from Cathy Weiss. The social worker had been sitting in the corner as if aware she was not fully accepted as a member of this team, although Detective Pasternak had invited her to attend the briefing.
    “An accident?” Cathy said. “Forty-one people are dead becausethey were
ordered
to drink pesticide. When the Prophet tells his followers to jump, their only possible response is to ask
how high, sir?
”
    “Or someone could have dumped it in their well water,” said Dr. Draper. “Which makes it homicide.”
    “Whether it’s homicide or mass suicide, I have no doubt it was the Prophet’s decision,” Cathy said.
    “Anyone could have poisoned the water,” pointed out Fahey. “It could have been a disgruntled follower. Hell, it could have been that Perkins boy.”
    “He’d never do that,” said Maura.
    “They kicked him out of the valley, didn’t they? He had every reason to get back at them.”
    “Oh right,” said Cathy, not bothering to hide her disdain of Fahey. “And then that lone sixteen-year-old boy single-handedly drags forty-one bodies into the field and buries them with a bulldozer?” She laughed.
    Fahey looked back and forth at Maura and Cathy, and he gave a dismissive snort. “You ladies obviously don’t know what sixteen-year-old boys are capable of.”
    “I know what Jeremiah Goode is capable of,” Cathy shot back.
    Pasternak’s ringing cell phone cut off the conversation. He glanced at the number and quickly rose from his chair. “Excuse me,” he said, and left the room.
    For a moment there was silence, the tension from the last exchange still hanging in the air.
    Then Jane said, “Whoever did it needed access to the pesticide. There must be a record of its purchase. Especially since we’re talking about a large enough supply to kill an entire community.”
    “The Plain of Angels compound in Idaho grows its own food,” said Cathy. “They’re a completely self-sustaining community. It’s likely they’d keep this pesticide on hand for farming.”
    “Doesn’t prove they’re guilty,” said Fahey.
    “They have the poison. They have access to Kingdom Come and its water supply.”
    “I’m still not hearing a motive. No reason why Jeremiah Goode would want forty-one of his own followers dead.”
    “For a motive, you’ll have to ask
him
,” snapped Cathy.
    “Yeah, well, you tell us where to find him and we’ll do that.”
    “Actually,” said Pasternak, “we do know where to find him.” The detective was standing in the doorway, cell phone in hand. “I just got a call from the Idaho State Police. Their contact inside The Gathering reports that Jeremiah Goode has just been spotted inside the Plain of Angels compound. Idaho’s mobilizing for a raid at first light.”
    “That’s at least seven hours from now,” said Jane. “Why are they waiting so long to do it?”
    “They need enough manpower. Not just law enforcement, but also child protective services and social workers, to deal with the women and children. If they meet up with resistance, it could get dangerous.” Pasternak looked at Cathy. “And that’s where you come in, Ms. Weiss.”
    Cathy frowned. “What do you mean?”
    “You seem to know more about The Gathering than anyone else does.”
    “And I’ve been trying to warn people about them for years.”
    “Well, now we’re listening. I need to know how they might respond. Whether they’ll react with violence. I need to know exactly what to expect.” He glanced around the room. “Idaho is requesting our assistance. They want us to be mobilized before sunrise.”
    “I can be ready to leave within the hour,” said Cathy.
    “Good,” said Pasternak. “You’ll ride with me. Tonight, Ms. Weiss, you are my new best friend.”
    T HEY DROVE through the night, Pasternak at the wheel, Cathy riding beside him. In the backseat, Jane sat alone. This was to be a police operation, one that Maura could not be part of, and Cathy was the only civilian invited to participate.
    As they journeyed west, Cathy predicted what they would face at Plain of Angels. “The women won’t talk to you. Nor