The end begins, p.9
The End Begins, page 9
“I know.” Kate offered her a small smile.
“Mind if I join you?”
Both women looked up. “Hey, Drew.” Kate pointed to the chair beside Meryn. “Make yourself comfortable.”
Meryn shot her a look as the man set a paper plate holding a piece of apple pie down on the table and folded his tall, lean frame onto the metal folding chair. He was a couple of years older than she was, but the freckles sprinkled across his nose gave him a perpetually youthful look. “Hi, Drew. How are you doing?”
“Better now.” He flashed her a smile. “I haven’t seen you in a while. Where have you been hiding?”
“I haven’t been hiding. I’ve been busy with the store. With Christmas coming in less than a month, business has really picked up.”
“That’s good news. Do you have plans for the holidays?”
“I’ll probably go to Ottawa and spend a couple of days with my parents. To be honest, I’m having a hard time getting into the spirit this year.”
Kate frowned. “You love Christmas. You always make a big deal of it.”
“I know, but the highlight for me has always been the Christmas Eve service. With the army refusing to let us have one this year because of the curfew, all the other things like the tree and the food and the presents seem kind of pointless.”
“We can still celebrate the birth of Christ, even if we have to do it at home.”
“I know. And I will. It’s just taking some time to get used to everything being so different.”
Drew cut into his pie with the side of his fork. The aromas of cinnamon and nutmeg rose into the air on a cloud of steam. “So, what were the two of you talking about so intensely when I came in?”
Meryn glanced at Kate. “We were discussing this morning’s sermon.”
“Yes, right.” Kate nodded. “The sermon. Very inspiring. I feel stronger now, more equipped to face whatever comes. I’m not sure everyone feels the same way, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“A lot of people were missing today and have been since the soldiers arrived. And I’ve heard rumours about people pulling their memberships from the church. I hope and pray they find the people responsible for those bombings soon, so life can get back to normal.”
Meryn’s chest hurt, as if she’d just finished a long run and her lungs were fighting for air. “Do you really think life will ever be normal again?”
“I don’t know. I keep hoping. If things are this bad now, what will they be like for the kids? How will they survive?”
“They will survive the same way we all will. The same way the church always has. By the grace of God and by helping each other through whatever lies ahead.” Drew picked up his white plastic fork and waved it through the air. “Sure, some people have left. But more have come, searching for hope. That’s what we have to offer. And no matter how bad things get, it’s what we can never let go of.”
The ache in Meryn’s chest subsided. None of them knew what the future held, but God did. All they could know for sure was that they wouldn’t have to face it alone. “You’re right, Drew. We have to stand together.”
“Yes, we do. If there’s anything I can do, for either of you, please let me know.” Drew covered Meryn’s fingers with his.
She let them rest there for a few seconds before slowly pulling her hand away. She and Drew had been friends for years, but the last few times they’d met, he had acted differently toward her. Less simply friendly and more … well, more than friends. She didn’t want to encourage him in any way, especially now.
No, not especially now. She had never felt that way about Drew. Nothing that may or may not have happened recently had any bearing on that.
Kate smiled. “Thanks, Drew. I needed to hear that today.”
Drew’s gaze shifted from Meryn to Kate. “Meryn has a point. It’s more likely that things will get worse, not better. But we don’t have to live in fear. We just have to remember that we have each other.” He gathered up his dishes and stood. “It was good to see you both.”
Meryn looked up at him and forced a smile. “Thanks, Drew. You too.”
He nodded and wended his way through the tables, stopping long enough to toss his uneaten pie into a garbage can before disappearing through the swinging doors.
When she looked over at her friend, Kate was studying her. Meryn shook her head. “Don’t say it.”
“Don’t say what?”
“Whatever you were thinking.”
“I was thinking that it never rains, but it pours. But okay, I won’t say it.”
“Thank you. I admire your incredible restraint.”
“You know, there are some new people coming. I was talking to a couple of them before the service, and they are really interested in finding out more about Christianity. I wish we had Bibles to give them.”
“Yeah.” Meryn paused as an idea began to form in her head.
“Meryn.” Kate reached across the table and gripped her arm. “What is that look on your face? You’re not going to do anything crazy, are you?”
“Of course not.”
“Good, because, as a wise man once said, this situation is already way too complicated. And he’s right.”
12
“Jess?”
Jesse looked up from his computer as Caleb stuck his head around his office door. “Yeah?”
Caleb came into the room and shut the door behind him. “I need you to come to a meeting with me.”
“Okay. Who with?”
“An informant.”
Jesse scrunched up his face.
“I know. I’m not overly fond of those types either, but they can be useful, and I suspect this one might be different than most.”
“How so?”
“It’s a woman, for starters. Code name Scorcher.”
Jesse laughed. “Scorcher? Seriously? Who came up with that?”
“Someone at Headquarters. From what I hear, though, the name fits. Apparently she’s gorgeous but a bit of a handful, and since I’m guessing you’re immune to any but the lovely book lady’s charms at the moment, I thought it would be good to have you with me.”
“So basically I’m the chaperone.”
“Basically.” Caleb propped an elbow on top of the filing cabinet by the door. “I’m hoping we can get in, get the information, and get out relatively unscorched.”
“Sounds like you put a lot of thought and effort into coming up with that brilliant strategy. I can’t believe the Chief of the Defence Staff hasn’t snatched you up to work in his office yet.”
“On second thought, maybe this is a bad idea.” Caleb walked over and tapped the top of the computer. “You should probably stay here and review the document I sent you this morning on military protocol. You know, the one about showing respect for ranking officers?”
Jesse powered down his laptop and closed the lid. “And miss the opportunity to watch you stammer and stutter through a high-powered meeting with some man-eating source? No way. This is going to be the highlight of my month. Besides, you send me that same document every Monday morning. I’ll read it next week.”
“Sure you will.” Caleb retraced his steps and pulled open Jesse’s office door. “Hey, any news on the broken window at the store?”
Jesse grabbed his green beret from the hook by the door. He pulled the beret on as the two of them started down the corridor, side by side. “Unfortunately not. I was hoping there might be fingerprints on the brick or the letter, but the lab couldn’t find anything. No witnesses have come forward, so unless some new evidence surfaces, I guess that’s it.”
“Too bad. Is Meryn still staying with friends?”
“I don’t think so. She did for a couple of days, but I drove by her place last night and her car was in the driveway, so I’m assuming she’s gone back home. I left a message on her i-com yesterday, saying that the investigation hadn’t turned up anything. She probably figures there’s no sense staying in town any longer since she does have to go home sooner or later.”
“But you don’t like it.”
“No, of course not. She is way too vulnerable out there. But she knows how I feel, and she promised to think about moving somewhere safer. There’s not much more I can do about it.”
“Except keep an eye on her place.”
Jesse glanced at his friend. “You did say it was okay, right? I won’t go out there every day or anything, but if I’m out anyway, I will likely drive by.”
“Yeah, it’s okay. I’ll drive by sometimes too.”
“Thanks, Cale, I appreciate it. As long as you don’t get any ideas about dropping in to see her or anything.”
Caleb smirked. “Still smarting about that, aren’t you?”
“No.” Caleb shot him a look, and Jesse’s shoulders slumped. “Not much.” They reached the exit and Jesse followed him out to the jeep.
“You don’t have anything to worry about, Jess. Like I told you, I would never go after a woman you were interested in. And in spite of what I said about not being a monk forever, the fact is, I might be. I know it’s only been a couple of years, but I still can’t even think about getting close to anyone again. I can’t imagine that I ever will.”
“I’m starting to get that.”
“What, the monogamy thing? I guess the Christians do have some things right.” Caleb stopped in front of the vehicle. “In any case, I think I might have a cure for our pining away for women we can’t be with.”
“What’s that?”
“Scorcher. Based on some of the stories I’ve heard, if we survive this meeting, we’ll likely be quite happy to retreat to our quarters and stay away from women for a while.” Caleb rounded the jeep and opened the driver’s side door.
Grasping the handle on the passenger side, Jesse met his friend’s eyes over the top of the vehicle. “That bad, huh? Maybe you were right. Maybe I should stay back and review that document you mentioned.”
“Oh no, my friend. Get in. If I’m going down, you’re going down with me.”
Jesse climbed into the seat beside Caleb and reached for the air-conditioning button. The weather had turned extremely hot and humid again over the weekend. Unusual for late December, but weather patterns had changed so much in the last couple of decades it was hard to determine what really was unusual anymore.
Jesse swiped at a bead of sweat that had started down the side of his face. Somehow I doubt Caleb’s cure will work. However intimidating this Scorcher might be, no one, not even her, would be able to drive thoughts of Meryn O’Reilly from his head.
Jesse studied the squat, industrial-looking building as they crossed the parking lot. Graffiti covered the grey-brick walls, partially obscured by waist-high weeds.
Caleb stopped with his hand on the knob of the steel door at the back entrance to the warehouse. He tapped Jesse’s arm lightly with his fist. “Let me do the talking.”
“She’s all yours.”
Caleb pulled open the door.
A long hallway stretched before them, dimly lit with pot lights set into the drop ceiling every few feet. The two men walked down the hall, footsteps muted on the cement floor. A clammy chill swirled around Jesse’s feet and seeped into his body.
He shuddered. If he were a movie director looking for a place to shoot a horror movie where two unsuspecting guys walked into an elaborate trap and were never heard from again, he’d be jumping up and down right now.
It wasn’t the building itself, exactly, but the feel of the place. Like something alive crept around in the shadows between the lights.
He looked down, half expecting to see a snake slithering across his boots. “What is this place?”
“Just some abandoned warehouse, I think.” Caleb sounded as spooked as Jesse was. “It was her idea to meet here.”
“Well, it’s creepy. I can practically hear hissing in the shadows.”
Caleb looked back over his shoulder. His face held a grey pallor.
Was that the result of the lighting in the hallway, or something less … quantitative?
“I know what you mean. There’s definitely something strange in the air here.”
“Maybe we could suggest a different meeting spot next time.”
“If there is a next time.”
Jesse threw him a quizzical look.
Caleb grimaced. “I mean, if we think she’s going to work out as an informant, not if we live to tell about this.” He stopped in front of an unmarked door, knocked twice, paused, then knocked twice more before turning the knob and pushing open the door.
Jesse strode into the room behind him and blinked. The sudden brightness, after the dull light in the hallway, nearly blinded him. Fluorescent bulbs lined the ceiling, reflecting off the whitewashed walls and white, tiled floor. In spite of that, the darkness he’d felt walking toward the room didn’t diminish, but only seemed to intensify when he closed the door.
Scorcher leaned against a heavy oak table, the only piece of furniture in the room. She wore a short, pink dress that showed off a curvaceous figure and long, tanned legs to full advantage.
Jesse lifted his gaze.
Blonde, shimmering curls tumbled almost to her waist.
He had to admit that she had been well named. She was quite possibly the most attractive woman he had ever seen. His eyes met her ice-cold blue ones.
Her full red lips turned up slightly. “Well, well, it’s my lucky day. The only thing hotter than one good-looking man with a gun is two good-looking men with guns. Good afternoon, gentlemen.”
Beside him, Caleb crossed his arms over his chest.
Jesse tried not to let the fact that her gaze was roaming up and down the length of him—like she was assessing him before he went on the auction block—bother him, at least not to the point where she could sense his discomfort. Unfortunately, he seriously doubted that those eyes, that finally came up to settle on his face, missed much.
Caleb cleared his throat. “Let’s get down to business, shall we? Do you have anything for us?”
“My, my. So impatient. I always like to get to know the people I’m dealing with a little before I go to bed with them. Figuratively speaking, of course.”
Caleb blew out his breath. “Major Donevan.” He jerked his head toward Jesse. “Captain Christensen. Now could we—?”
She pushed herself away from the table and walked toward them, carefully placing one silver-stilettoed foot ahead of the other.
Jesse’s throat went so dry, memories of doing manoeuvres in the Rigestan Desert in southwestern Afghanistan flooded through him. He’d never wished he was back there again until this moment.
Scorcher held a hand out toward Caleb. “Annaliese Pettersson.”
Caleb hesitated before he took it. “You should use your code name.”
“Why? I don’t have anything to hide.” She turned to Jesse and held out her hand again. “Captain.”
Jesse shook her hand briefly.
When he tried to release it, she tightened her grip and held it for a few seconds longer before she let him go.
A faint, exotic scent drifted on the air around her, and Jesse’s head began to spin.
“See? Isn’t that better? Now we’re friends. You men, always wanting to dive right into business. You miss out on all the fun that way.” She walked back to the table, every movement languid and clearly calculated to have the greatest effect.
Jesse looked over at Caleb and mouthed the word wow.
Caleb managed a strained grin as he crossed his arms over his chest again.
Scorcher picked up a piece of paper. “I’m just starting to build up a network here, so I don’t have a lot yet. I do have this list of all the Christians”—she wrinkled her nose slightly as she said the word, like it gave off a bad odour—“I’ve been able to discover so far who still have Bibles in their possession.” She held out the paper.
Neither he nor Caleb moved.
She waved it in the air. “Come on, gentlemen. When Bill 1071 passes, making anyone disobeying the order to give up their Bibles at risk of being charged with a hate crime, this list will be gold. Arrests like these will get Headquarters’ attention pretty fast. Who wants it?”
Caleb nudged him with his elbow.
Jesse repressed a sigh and stepped forward. When he grasped the paper, she didn’t let go until he met her eyes again.
The ice in their blue depths had melted slightly and the look she gave him now was mocking. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Jesse didn’t answer, just took the sheet and moved back to his place.
She twisted to reach for another piece of paper behind her. “This one is a list of all the people I recommend keeping an eye on—the ones whose actions come across as suspicious, or who I believe are the most likely to break the law or cause trouble for you. I have three names so far.”
Caleb nodded at the paper. “And they are?”
“James Fromme, an outspoken Christian businessman with a lot of powerful connections. He has been making some noise about standing up to the soldiers and demanding they stop harassing Christians and stripping them of their rights and possessions. A lot of people are listening to him, so I would keep pretty close tabs on him if I were you.” Her voice had grown low and husky and incredibly mesmerizing.
Jesse actually felt his eyes begin to glaze over, as though he were staring at a swinging object in the hand of a hypnotist. He blinked rapidly.
A slow smile crossed her face. Obviously she was aware of the spell she was casting. “The second person, Taylor Rockwell, owns a printing press. Always a danger in the hands of propagandists. I haven’t seen anything he has printed that would be considered subversive or hatred-inciting yet, but I’m sure it’s just a matter of time.”
“And the final one?” Caleb tapped his fingers on his arm.
“Meryn O’Reilly. She owns a bookstore downtown. Another one with connections in the publishing industry you should be keeping under constant surveillance.”
Jesse worked to keep his features even, but he couldn’t stop his jaw from tightening.
Scorcher scrutinized him. “Is it the listing of names in general, or that last one in particular that you object to, Captain?”
