When Brian landed in Detroit, Pastor Jim was waiting outside the baggage claim area for him. Mulrooney climbed into his truck.
“Hey stranger, long time no see! How was the flight?”
Brian laughed then grew serious. “I chatted with Tamika before boarding the plane.”
“Is she okay?”
“She’s in trouble, but wouldn’t tell me online. Said she was too afraid. She begged me to come to New York immediately.”
“So, what will you do?”
“Already booked a flight. I leave in two days. While I’m there, I plan to meet my mother. Time to tell her I’m leaving Michigan.” Brian took a deep breath. “And getting married...”
“What about your father?”
There was this pained expression on Brian’s face. “Still haven’t spoken to him since I shared my dream about the Catholic church with him. I think he hates me.”
“The great separation has begun, Brian. All we can do is pray that God will change your father’s heart.”
“That’s my daily prayer for him.”
“From now on, I’ll join you in praying for him.”
Brian was deeply touched by his pastor’s gesture. “Thanks, brother. I can’t wait to tell Jacquelyn you’re an ETSM member. She’ll be thrilled with the news.”
“After meeting Clayton and Travis, I have no doubt God has ordained them for this time.”
“I thank God every day for them. If I had to endure all this craziness alone, I don’t know what I’d do, especially knowing what’s still coming. Don’t know what I’d do without Jacquelyn, either. With dark clouds gathering in the distance, she’s my warm blanket on a cold day. Speaking of Jacquelyn, would it be okay if we were the last to be baptized?”
Sensing Brian’s reasoning, Pastor Simonton said, “As you wish.”
“Other than you, Charles and brother Tom, I plan on telling no one else. They’ll know soon enough.”
“Your secret’s safe with me, Brian. Good news travels quickly these days.”
“You’re right about that!” A few moments later, they reached Brian’s apartment. “Don’t think I’ll see you until next Sunday at church. Until then, take care of yourself.”
“You too, brother. Have a safe flight to New York. See you next weekend.”
“Oh, there’s something I’ve been longing to say to you, Pastor.”
“Oh, yeah, what’s that?”
“Keep fighting the Good Fight. Pray for me as I pray for you. God is with us.”
The comment made Jim Simonton grin from ear to ear. “You too, Brian.”
Brian climbed the three flights of stairs and opened the door to his apartment. Tom Dunleavey was sitting on the living room couch reading the Word of God.
The TV was on, but the sound was muted. Whenever the Two Witnesses appeared on TV, the former Catholic priest stopped everything he was doing to watch and listen ever so carefully.
Seeing the same two men who’d disrupted his dream world for three straight nights, consuming all who became too aggressive with them by breathing fire from their mouths, was the most bizarre thing his eyes had ever seen. It was impossible to put into words.
“Welcome back home, Brian. How was the flight?”
“She’s alive!”
“Who?”
“Tamika, the woman we prayed for the other night. Talk about a huge load off my chest! The not-knowing was making me crazy.”
“Why’d she wait so long to contact you?”
“She’s in serious trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“Don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me online. I’m going to New York in two days to see her. While I’m there, I plan to meet my mother. It’s time to tell her I’m leaving Michigan and getting married...”
Tom Dunleavey raised an eyebrow. “Married?”
“Yes. Just like in your dream. Decided on the plane that when I return from New York, I’ll spend what little money I have left on an engagement ring. Only you, Charles, and Pastor Jim know for now. I’d like to keep it that way.”
“I won’t tell a soul. You have my word. Speaking of Pastor Jim, did he tell you why he wasn’t at church today?”
Brian shook his head. “He was in Washington D.C. with me...”
“What? Seriously?” Tom Dunleavey’s curiosity shot into the stratosphere.
Seeing the shock on his face, Brian said, “Believe me, I was just as surprised as you. Didn’t know until I saw him at the meeting. I was equally surprised when he told me you’d be preaching in his absence.”
“That would be correct...”
“How’d it go?”
“Well, it went...” Tom Dunleavey laughed at his own statement. “Actually, it went very well. I admit I felt out of sorts at first. And nervous, mostly because I didn’t want to drag any old habits from my years as a Catholic priest into the sanctuary.”
“What did you preach on?”
“Since I had no time to prepare a message, I preached the same message I gave at my old church in Ann Arbor, Revelation chapters four and five. Thankfully, it was well received by everyone...”
“I’m sure it was, brother...”
Tom Dunleavey eyeballed Brian carefully, “I must say I’m even more curious about this Christian group you’re involved with...”
“Hopefully soon, you’ll know more.” Brian rubbed his throbbing forehead. It had been a long day. Hope I don’t regret saying this. “By the way, you were right...”
“In what way?”
“President Danforth was there!”
“Not surprised to hear you say that. After all, I had the same dream both nights you were gone.”
Brian’s eyes doubled in size. “Seriously? I wasn’t supposed to tell you that. Had it not been for your dream I wouldn’t have said a word.”
“Hope someday soon you can tell me more.”
“That’s the plan, brother. Let’s just say because of the dreams you’ve had, the ball’s already rolling. But the decision’s not mine to make. It’s out of my hands.”
Tom saw the sincerity in Brian’s eyes. “I understand. Guess you’ll be needing a ride to the airport again?”
“Actually, I think I’ll ask Jacquelyn this time. It’ll be the last time I see her before the Sunday baptism service. That’s where I plan to ask for her hand in marriage. But thanks, anyway.”
“For the record, I think you make the perfect couple.”
Brian Mulrooney didn’t reply, but from what Tom saw on his face, his comment had hit the mark. It was priceless.
Little did they know the turmoil in their lives was about to be taken to a whole new level.
This was only the beginning...
19
TWO DAYS LATER
TAMIKA MOSELEY CIRCLED LAGUARDIA Airport for the third time, doing her best to avoid being seen by anyone, especially the police!
Perhaps the soon-to-be 28-year-old woman was being overly paranoid, but even with her face covered with a bandanna it seemed everyone was staring at her. That’s what being on the run from authorities did to a person.
Tamika spent every-last dollar she had on gas and tolls just to get to LaGuardia. But what other choice did she have? She was lonely and terrified and in desperate need of a friend; which is why she risked coming here in the first place—to fetch Brian Mulrooney.
Brian’s flight was due in at 3:16. It was now 3:47 p.m. and still no sign of him. Tamika knew his plane had already landed, after foolishly going inside the terminal to check the ARRIVALS board. She covered her dark-skinned face with her bandanna, left her pet cat, Cocoa, in the car and hurried inside. Her heart pumped wildly every step of the way.
Sure, it was potentially dangerous, but with no cell phone, how else would she know if his plane had landed or not? Tamika was learning first hand just how difficult it was navigating life in the twenty-first century without a mobile device, especially as a wanted woman!
“Where are you, Brian?” Tamika grunted under her breath and
circled again. A million thoughts assaulted her brain. Had New York City authorities already tracked her down to her mother’s vehicle? Was there a BOLO (Be On the Look Out) for the car she was driving? Would airport police officers who were out ticketing and towing illegally parked and unattended vehicles recognize her at some point?
Even worse, had someone known she’d communicated with Brian on Twitter, brief as it was? If so, was Brian detained by airport police upon landing? If not, would someone follow his every move hoping he would lead authorities straight to her?
Nothing could be ruled out. Every fiber in Tamika’s body was on full alert. Part of her wanted to flee back to New Jersey where she felt slightly safer. But she couldn’t; she really needed Brian’s help.
“Please protect me, Father!”
Finally, at 3:58 p.m., after circling LaGuardia Airport for the seventh time, Tamika spotted Brian Mulrooney out of the corner of her eye and pulled to the curb.
Brian wore a New York Mets baseball cap just like he said he would. For added measure, the surgical mask he wore on the plane now dangled from his neck, so Tamika could easily recognize him. He looked a little pale. Other than that, nothing had changed.
“She’s here now,” said Brian to Charles Calloway, noticing her. “I’ll call later with an update. If you could contact Pastor Jim and brother Tom and tell them I arrived safely, I’d appreciate it.”
“Will do, Brian.”
“Thanks, Charles.” Mulrooney ended the call, covered his face with the surgical mask, and lowered himself into the late model Oldsmobile. “Hey, stranger, we meet again. Are you ever a sight for sore eyes! Talk about answered prayer!”
“Good to see you, too, Brian...”
“Sorry for the delay. We waited on the plane for nearly a half hour before a jet way finally opened up.”
“Just glad you’re here!” Tamika breathed a sigh of relief. She suddenly felt safe, at least as safe as one could feel given her dire situation.
Mulrooney reached over and hugged Tamika, doing his best to ignore that his friend looked ghastly thin. She was perhaps 20 pounds lighter than when they’d first met last November. She was bordering on skeletal. Bones protruded through her facial features.
“Who’s this little guy?” Brian asked, noticing a cat in the back seat.
“Her name’s Cocoa.”
“Nice to meet you, Cocoa,” Brian scooped the cat into his arms, looking more at Tamika than her pet feline. He couldn’t overlook the fear in her eyes. Nor could he avoid the overpowering foul odor in the car. It took all his strength to keep from gagging. It smelled more like a homeless shelter than a vehicle.
Mulrooney tried not to sniff it in, for fear he might have an asthma attack. “Looks like you’re moving up in the world. Least this car has no dents or holes in the floor.”
Tamika tried to laugh but couldn’t. She half-smiled through her bandanna.
Brian fastened his seat belt. “So, what’s so important that I had to travel all this way to see you?”
“Ever since I received Christ as Lord and Savior, my life’s been turned completely upside down. And not in a good way...”
“I can relate.”
“Not sure you will after you hear what I have to say.”
The way she said it made Mulrooney squirm in his seat. “What’s going on, Tamika? You had us worried.”
“Search my name online and see for yourself.”
Brian did as he was instructed and took his time reading all about the graveyard incident. The more he read the more breathless he became. His shock knew no bounds.
Tamika’s head remained down the entire time.
Finished reading it, Mulrooney’s eyes narrowed. “Did you do this?”
Tamika shook her head no. “Only thing I did was open my grandfather’s casket.”
“Why would you do such a thing, Tamika?”
“To see if the Rapture theory was true or not...”
Brian gasped. His eyes grew wide. “Are you saying you went there looking for your grandfather’s remains?”
Tamika nodded yes. “That’s when I came to faith in Jesus.”
Brian knew Tamika recently became a believer, but never in a million lifetimes would he have ever guessed her method of finding the Truth. Had it happened before the Rapture, he would have thought she was a demented psychopath like everyone else did.
“Man, oh man! Wait until Charles hears this!” First Tom Dunleavey? Now Tamika?
“It’s quite a story, I know. Can’t help but wonder if God’s punishing me for it now? But what a moment it will be for Momma when she sees me in Heaven!”
“Amen to that.” Brian looked forward to meeting Ruth in Heaven too. His list of saints kept growing! “Hungry?”
“I could eat,” Tamika said.
“Let’s eat then. My treat!”
“Where to?”
“As much as I’d like to see Craig again, I’m afraid Mitzi’s is out of the question.”
“I heard that.”
“Hmm, why’s that, Tamika?”
“I’m no longer welcome there. Craig sent me a text message the moment he saw my face on TV. He urged me to turn myself in and let justice prevail. I told him the charges against me were false. I admitted to opening my grandfather’s casket, but everything else was untrue.”
Though Brian hadn’t heard from Craig Rubin in many months, he was mildly surprised his old friend hadn’t contacted him by now, regarding this serious matter. “Are you saying the forty-five thousand dollars worth of stolen vases was made up?”
“All I can say is if it happened, I had nothing to do with it.” Tamika let out a deep exhale, “Craig never even offered to help me.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised. All we can do is pray for him.”
“Been doing that nightly. Anyway, when I got home that night, I parked my car a few blocks from my apartment building and limped home, after being bit by two cemetery dogs. Turned out to be a good move. Had I parked outside the apartment building, there’s no way I would have escaped that night. Cops had the place surrounded.”
“Amazing!” Brian took this as evidence that her conversion was genuine.
“Yeah. Been sleeping in my car ever since, mostly in vacant parking lots in New Jersey. Which explains the unpleasant odor you may be smelling. I also have a serious leg infection. Looks nasty and full of pus. I’ll show you later...”
Brian thought about Jacquelyn’s leg and how she had needed 72 stitches. And she wasn’t bitten by dogs! “We need to find a way to have your leg looked at.”
“No chance I’m going to a doctor now, or back to my apartment. Too many doors been knocked-in over the years by police officers out to make an arrest. Don’t want the next felon hauled out of the complex in handcuffs to be me. Besides, I didn’t pay the rent the last two months. So, on top of everything else, I’m sure they trying to evict me by now.”
“Why didn’t you contact me or Charles sooner? We could have helped you.”
“I tried. The moment I heard my name on the radio I called you both. Got your voice mails. Got so frustrated I smashed my phone on the sidewalk. Been without one ever since.”
Mulrooney sighed, “I remember seeing a missed call from you. We were busy with an important matter and our phones were temporarily confiscated. We tried calling you many times since.
“Would’ve Googled your name, but I knew I’d never find you on social media. I can’t tell you how frustrating it was not hearing from you all this time. I thought you were dead.”
“Well, I’m not dead, but this is no way to live.”
“I think your life is a microcosm of things to come for all believers.”
“Hmmmm.” Tamika’s shoulders slumped. She lowered her head.
It was time to change the subject. Brian said, “Do you like Chinese food?”
“Yes.”
“Tell you what, let’s order Chinese and take it back to my hotel room. You’ll be safe there.”
; “Okay.” Tamika knew she could trust Brian.
“Move it or get a ticket!” barked a burly police officer out of nowhere, startling Tamika. Seeing it was a cop, she turned her head the other way and shrank in her seat.
The man glared at her wondering why she looked so familiar to him. Unable to connect the dots, he shrugged it off and kept walking. Had he remained there a moment longer he would have seen Tamika Moseley hyperventilating.
Brian saw the fear in her eyes. “Think it might be best if I drive.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Tamika said, in between breaths.
Mulrooney removed his baseball cap. “Put this on.”
Tamika did as she was instructed.
Brian got out and Tamika slid over to the passenger side. After their seat belts were fastened, they drove off.
Mulrooney pulled his cell phone out of his coat pocket and called the hotel. A woman at the front desk answered. “I have a reservation for the next two nights. The reason I called is that I think I failed to mention that I brought my pet cat with me.” Sorry, Lord, for my dishonesty...
“I’ll be happy to check for you, sir. Name?”
“Brian Mulrooney.”
“Let me check your reservation.” The woman perused the computer screen in front of her. “There’s no mention of a cat, sir.”
“That’s what I thought. Sorry, it was a last-minute decision to bring her along with me. If I have to pay extra, I will.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem, sir. We’ll just put a larger hold on your credit card, just in case.”
“That’ll be fine. See you shortly.”
The call ended.
Even through her worn out bandanna, Brian knew Tamika was smiling. Finally!
20
BRIAN AND TAMIKA ARRIVED Moseley arrived at the hotel an hour later. Knowing her frail body lacked nutrients, Mulrooney ordered enough Chinese food for eight people.
“Why don’t you park the car while I get us checked in?”
“Okay.”
Brian handed Tamika his cell phone. “Give me a few minutes, then call the front desk asking for me. Check my call history. It’s the last call I made.”
The Countdown Begins Page 14
