[Chapter 60: They Cannot Find Me]
"Are you saying someone's looking for Katherine?" Daniel's face tightened slightly.
The news Sheriff Ford brought wasn't just about Katherine. More precisely, they were searching for Tanusha -- who was residing within Katherine's body.
"Yes," Ford confirmed. "They appear to have already located the Douglas family residence."
Daniel's mind immediately went to the Brotherhood of Saints, the cult Tanusha had mentioned. It was likely this group was hunting for their lost member.
Still, Daniel pressed, "Who exactly is looking for her?"
Ford replied, "I don't have all the details, but these people are powerful and have deep connections."
Deep connections?
That surprised Daniel. It contradicted everything he knew about Tanusha and her husband. Early on, they kept a low profile, targeting poor, overlooked individuals. Only after numerous successful Soul transfers did they grow bolder, setting their sights on wealthy young women like Katherine.
If these people truly had deep connections, it meant their plans had been long in motion. Either they had transferred their Souls into influential figures or recruited powerful people into their ranks -- or both. Either way, it showed this cult had become a dangerous force, far beyond the obscurity Tanusha and her husband once lived in.
Daniel mulled over his rough suspicions about the couple but knew he'd have to confirm them firsthand.
What troubled him further was his role as the Exorcist caught in the middle. Would confronting them make him a target of this cult's fury?
He rubbed his temples. It was all because of that cursed Tanusha couple -- he never wanted to meddle in their affairs, but they kept provoking him, forcing his hand and derailing their schemes.
Perhaps because of this exposure, the Brotherhood had now zeroed in on Katherine.
Daniel asked Sheriff Ford, "When you reported Katherine's disappearance, did you mention the Soul transfer?"
Ford shook his head. "Of course not. Who would believe something like that? If we'd written it down, the whole report would have been thrown out, and we'd be grilled for it. We just said Katherine was kidnapped, and in the rescue operations, the kidnappers were killed. Those who died in your shop? They were all kidnappers."
Daniel nodded, impressed by Ford's handling. Still, with such a high-profile case, could the truth really be kept under wraps? Anyone paying attention would notice, especially since Douglas reported Katherine missing and hired police, and then exorcists to find her. All those records existed.
And then Katherine had turned up on her own.
Those were undeniable clues. Given the cult's deep connections, discovering the truth wouldn't be difficult for them if they dug around.
Daniel asked, "What about Douglas? Have you informed him?"
"Not yet," Ford said. "The moment I heard this, I called you. I figured you'd need to know first."
"Thanks," Daniel said.
Ford smiled. "I'm just glad to help. You've done so much for me already."
"When's your promotion coming?" Daniel asked.
Ford grinned. "Soon. Once all these cases close and the paperwork clears, it'll be official."
Daniel studied him, sensing that trouble might still be brewing.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Daniel got serious: "Let Douglas know what's going on so he can prepare."
"I'll call him now," Ford replied.
Taking out his phone, Ford quickly called Douglas and filled him in. Hanging up, he looked at Daniel. "Douglas had his suspicions too. He invited us over to talk."
"Let's go," Daniel said, eager to confront Tanusha again.
...
Back at Douglas's mansion, Daniel felt no desire for politeness. Douglas's own solemn expression mirrored the gravity of the situation.
"I want to see Tanusha again," Daniel said flatly.
Douglas didn't hesitate and led him to where she was restrained.
Tanusha was still confined in a straitjacket, with a bite guard preventing her from harming herself or others. She had no freedom at all -- even feeding was a challenge, requiring two strong female attendants to force liquid meals down her throat, optimizing nutrition while minimizing incident risks.
Seeing Daniel, Tanusha thrashed violently -- her body moving as if on instinct. The hatred in her eyes was thick and tangible. She let out muffled curses, venom in every muffled sound, but communication was impossible.
Daniel ignored her tirade. "You and your husband are defectors from the Brotherhood of Saints, aren't you?"
At this, Tanusha froze. Her shock was palpable as disbelief glazed over her eyes.
Daniel continued, his voice steady:
"The Brotherhood of Saints has been around for years. You and your husband started as low-ranking members with no privilege to perform Soul transfers... or even glimpse the cult's core secrets. But you were never satisfied with being ordinary.
You tried every trick to access the cult's forbidden knowledge. When you first discovered the secret of Soul transfer, greed consumed you. Slowly, carefully, you seized your chance and learned the method. Curses, too -- you appropriated those arts.
Then you betrayed the cult, escaping to a remote hideout and using Soul transfer to inhabit other bodies. That way, the Brotherhood couldn't trace you, and you gained temporary freedom.
You survived for years -- living under different skins, growing bolder with each passing year, craving a wealthier, more comfortable existence. That's why you chose Katherine. Everything was going well until you ran into me."
Tanusha stared, utterly frozen, fear flickering behind disbelief. It was as if Daniel had unraveled every secret they'd tried so desperately to hide -- a terrifying truth laid bare.
"It seems I was right."
Daniel's tone dropped coldly, voice sharp as ice. "Do you know your own recklessness is the reason the Brotherhood is hunting you now? They've zeroed in on the body you occupy."
At his words, Tanusha's entire body trembled uncontrollably. She whimpered with helpless panic.
As Daniel removed her bite guard, she cried out in a trembling voice, "No, they cannot find me... they cannot find me..."
*****
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