The Journal: A Prophecy, A President & Death

by Parker, W. Leland

  “Yes.”

  Brown continues, “Good! Now, why not put this new lady—the nurse—with the old lady?”

  “’cause Hinton’s not too sure about her, and he wants her where he can keep an eye on her.”

  “Uh-huh.” Brown works it through in his mind, “Okay, Dad here, Mom there, son, son, lady-we-need-to-watch. Okay.” Then says, “And you’re not concerned about the lady you don’t trust—the nurse—being in the car with your primary asset?”

  While sipping his coffee, Hinton shakes his head, negating; then swallows and says, “Just as long as I can watch her. Sometimes I can tell more about a person by how they act and react than I can from reading a background check.”

  Brown, “Alright then, let’s do it.”

  And so, much to Joanna’s particular satisfaction, they begin placing them in the cars. The first car will have one of the new agents at the wheel, Agent Levy; Agent Reese, on the second row with James; Agent Sandoval on the third row, with Joanna and Mrs. Phelps. The second car will, at Lauren’s request, have Agent Brown, at the wheel; Agent Hinton and Coles will ride with Joseph on the second row; and Robert will sit on the third row, with the only remaining NSA agent in town, Agent Pratt, on his left, and Mary on his right.

  Pratt, who has been the liaison to the local police, calls and makes them aware of their movements. They offer Officer Anderson to assist, and he is a welcomed addition. They give him some instructions and ask him to meet them at the church.

  As they entered the cars, Joseph seemed transfixed by the red ten-speed bike in the bushes of their house. Agent Hinton notices him and asks, “Is that your bike, Joey?”

  Joseph says a shocking, “No, sir, that’s the bike that caught the vandal.”

  Hinton, hearing that, all but spews his coffee! Completely shocked he says, “What? What was that?”

  Hearing his concern Lauren then asks, “What? What did he say?”

  Joseph continues, “In a dream I had last week, a red ten-speed bike like that, captures a vandal who–”

  Lauren asks again, “What about the bike?”

  Hinton, “Shhh, wait a moment. What dream Joey? Tell me about the bike.”

  Robert says from the back, “Whose bike is that Joey?”

  Hinton interrupts, “Please, everyone, let me ask Joey a few questions.” They all yield, allowing him to ask, “Joey, tell me how in your dream the bike factors in.”

  “Wow, I just remembered, our door was broken.”

  “What? Wait, one thing at a time, Joey.”

  “Well, I had this dream where a kid came riding down our street on this red bicycle. When he got to our house he got off, and threw it at our home. But because our front door was broken, it just flew down the hallway and out the kitchen door. It landed on its feet, um, wheels, and then began rolling. It rolled between the houses and landed on top of the kid. He couldn’t get up and the police came and got him.”

  As the cars begin to pull out, only Hinton knows what really happened and realizes the similarity of what Joseph is saying to the actual events in the capture of Calvin Stone. Calvin was deliberately dressed as a young kid to hide in plain sight. He rode a bike that, had he taken the time to hide better, he may have gotten a lot further, but he merely threw it in the bushes like the vandal threw his bike in the dream. Also, the bike running up the hall in the dream was like Hinton noticing the bike then running up the hall and between the two houses to capture Calvin! So he asks Joseph one last question:

  “Joey, where exactly did the bike in your dream trap the kid so the police could get him?”

  As they head down the street, Joseph points out the window to the exact spot where Hinton stopped Calvin.

  Lauren cannot wait another moment, “Mr. Hinton, please, what does this have to do with our case?”

  Stunned to silence, Agent Hinton scratches his head, rubs his chin and says, “Um, some of the things in Joey’s dream reminded me of our case. Lauren, you’ll want to read my arrest report.” He then turns and looks at Joseph with great amazement. His beliefs about him, and the supernatural in general, have been severely challenged; and he’s wondering exactly who he has here, sitting next to him in this car.

  While Lauren eagerly goes through her PDA to access the arrest report, Joseph answers his father’s question saying, “Dad I don’t know whose bike that is, but if no body claims it …”

  • • •

  En route to church, the first car’s occupants are on a different topic all together. Mrs. Phelps asks question after question, trying to make sense of Lauren Coles. “So she doesn’t go to school with James?”

  “Yes she does,” answers Joanna. “I mean, she was enrolled, but she was also looking into this whole case that we have here.”

  “But, doesn’t she have a wedding to go to?”

  “No, that was what they call a cover.”

  “So she could investigate this attempted kidnapping?”

  “Yes.”

  Mrs. Phelps just looks at Joanna for a moment then says, “Oh, c’mon Joanna, you think I’ve gotten senile?”

  “No, ma’am, why do you say that?”

  “You think I don’t remember the prophecy? The journal page that I had Carl send in to the FBI? About the president.”

  Joanna, clearly trapped in her attempt not to delve into the particulars of the case, says, “Well, Mrs. Phelps, everything I said was true, there was an attempted kidnapping, but no one can say for sure whether one is tied to the other.”

  “Okay then,” says Mrs. Phelps, “I just don’t want to be treated like an old fool.”

  “Never, ma’am.”

  “After all, I was the wife of an FBI agent before most of you were even born.”

  Joanna, “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I know how to keep a secret.”

  “I don’t doubt it, ma’am.”

  Mrs. Phelps then looks at James and trying to whisper, says to Joanna, “So, is James disappointed that the pretty girl was just using him for information?”

  Startled by her bluntness, Joanna says, “No! It’s not like that. In fact I believe they’ve come to an understanding.”

  “That’s good, they would make a lovely couple.”

  James, from the middle row seat says, “Um, you know, it’s not like you’re in another room or anything.”

  Joanna laughs. “I’m sorry sweetheart; we didn’t mean to be insensitive.”

  He says, “No. It’s okay, and … well, since you brought it up;” he turns around on the seat so he can face them, “What do you think I ought to do? Should I ask her for her phone number? I mean she’s an agent of the Secret Service!”

  Before Joanna could counsel her son, Mrs. Phelps provides an interesting insight, “Carl was a fresh, first year FBI agent when we started dating, and I was a freshman in college, just like you.”

  James simply says. “Hmm.”

  In five minutes time, the short drive is over, and they are at the church. The first car is at the front door, and the second car is standing by. NSA Agent Pratt had radioed ahead and Officer Anderson has a copy of the floor plan of the church waiting for them. He meets the first vehicle and hands them the papers.

  As it turns out, their late arrival actually works to their advantage as it grants them entrance without a crowd of people standing around. The precision with which the Secret Service does what it does to get assets into and out of a building is quite remarkable. Lauren has only recently completed training in this area, but the other agents are seasoned pros, and in just minutes they have reviewed the floor plan, placed agents at every entrance and at the best vantage points.

  Since they are not wearing vests, their ability to intermingle with the rest of the patrons will be severely limited. In fact, they will not be allowed to go into the crowd at any time. All will sit or stand at the very back, and must be the first ones out the door at the end of the service. The first group is cleared to go in. Agent Reese leads the pack, with Joanna behind him, followed
by James, followed by Sandoval, who gave a helping hand to Mrs. Phelps, and they quietly slip in and sit in the back row. It was odd to have the most senior citizen of their group enter last, but considering the safety of Joanna and James, it was understandable. With the group safely inside, the first car moves forward around the curved driveway to make room for the second car.

  The second car has been in standby mode a block away. Given the green light, Agent Brown moves them into position. Inside the car, they give the family instructions on their positioning. They proceed to exit the vehicle. Hinton is first, who, looking up at the church steeple, mumbles to himself, “I was sure to wind up here sooner or later.” Sandwiched between himself and Lauren, is Joseph. Behind Lauren, is Robert, followed by Agent Brown and Mary, who is last through the church doors.

  Stepping out, Mary says, “But I don’t go to this church! I only come to help Mrs. Phelps.”

  Lauren kind of grimaces at the presumption that has been made, but Hinton, who is still processing what’s going on with the case, with Joseph, and with his whole belief system, is not in the mood for a hiccup at this point. He looks Mary in the eyes and says, kindly but firmly, “Mary, for safety reasons, this is your church today!”

  Inside the church, the family collects together. Joseph, Joanna, Robert, and James are book-ended by Agents Hinton and Lauren. Hinton is on Joseph’s side, Lauren, predictably sits next to James. Mary sits next to Mrs. Phelps across the isle. Their arrival is most opportune in that the congregation is standing and their entrance is scarcely noticed. They are on the very last row, and there are seats enough for all of them.

  The other agents take up positions around the building; Agent Levy is at the side entrance, Agent Sandoval is at the door, Agent Reese is in the vehicle outside, and Agent Brown is in the other one which has been moved to the end of the block. Both cars are running. Additionally NSA Agent Pratt stands at the opposite end of the block in communication with police Officer Anderson and the rest of the team in DC.

  Inside the church, the sermon is just about to start, but it is incredibly late, at least 20 minutes behind normal. Joanna squeezes her man’s arm, pleased that he was right about things working out. And they have worked out, up until now; for it appears that their clandestine entrance is in jeopardy when Pastor Harmon catches a glimpse of Robert Market in the back of the sanctuary; one of his favorite ministers, he is sure to acknowledge him. It was the pastor’s understanding that Robert wouldn’t be in town this weekend, and he feels his attendance is just perfect for the news he’s about to share.

  Robert leans over James to tell Lauren, “You know it’s very likely that Pastor Harmon will ask us to stand or something. The whole family hasn’t been seated together like this for a long time, and I am a well-known minister here.”

  Lauren doesn’t even hesitate. She grabs her phone and sends a text message to Sandoval that, when deciphered, says, “Tell the officer to tell the pastor NOT to acknowledge the Markets.”

  Sandoval steps outside and calls Anderson on the walkie. Anderson, who is stationed on the back stairs leading to the basement, comes rushing up the stairs. He slows his walk as he enters the sanctuary. Pastor Harmon is just beginning to acknowledge people in the audience. But, not wanting to make a scene, the officer grabs an offering envelope off a pew and scribbles the note, “The Markets ask not to be acknowledged;” and hands it to an attendant.

  Pastor Harmon continues his acknowledgements, “Every day that the Lord makes is a great day, but some days are more easily recognized as blessings for what happens in them. Again, we apologize for the very delayed start, but I was unavoidably detained before the service. You see we have some very special guests with us this morning.” Dutifully the attendant passes the note to Pastor Harmon, but he continues speaking without seeing it, “One guest I’d like to acknowledge in particular.”

  Robert grimaces as he is very much expecting to hear his name.

  Pastor Harmon, “Mayor Henry Black is here on the front row.”

  People rise and applaud their city mayor, and during that time Pastor Harmon reads the note. He smiles politely in the general direction of the Market family and continues. I would like to invite the Mayor to share a few words with you at this time. There is an audible gasp from the congregation. Pastor Harmon has never allowed a politician to speak from the pulpit.

  The mayor takes the podium and says, “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to speak with you today, and my joy to bring some extremely good news. You all know Pastor Harmon, and what a rare treat it is to speak from this podium, but I’ve only been given a couple of minutes, so I’ll be brief; and will try to trim my remarks to just a couple of hours.” There are a few light giggles and laughs. “My predecessor, Mayor Hawkins, had a note in his file for the mayor who succeeded him, and I too, assuming it would be necessary, have had a note in my file for the day that I no longer had the privilege to serve you as mayor.”

  Pastor Harmon clears his throat to help the mayor stay on track. The mayor glances his way, and catching his meaning says, “So, again in the spirit of being brief, I have with me two items of great interest.” Joanna begins to get very restless; concern and anticipation show on her face. “I’ll read the pertinent portion of the note I had planned to pass on, Dear mayor elect, please note that on such-n-such date, a prophecy was proclaimed that said this town was due a generous gift.”

  Joanna’s eyes grow wide and she grabs a hold of Robert’s sleeve and begins to pull. Her husband places his hand over hers to comfort her, and leans in to give the mayor his full attention. Bruce Watson, who is seated in the first row, also leans in, wanting to hear every breath.

  There is a noticeable restlessness beginning throughout the congregation as he continues, “It has not come to pass during my term, but on the off chance that it should come to light during your term, please make the following people aware as soon as possible. The note goes on to list various people who should be notified. One of the people listed, is your very own pastor, Pastor Harmon—which is why I’m here today. Ladies and gentlemen, the prophecy that Middletown would be blessed for taking care of the last days and the last rites of a stranger named Gary Carlson has come true!” The congregation begins to buzz with comments and discussions. “The other item is a memo from the FBI to the third circuit court of Seattle, explaining that the man many of you knew as Gary Carlson, was in fact Grant Carrolton, a multi-millionaire with a provision in his will that he would leave the bulk of his considerable estate to the town of his burial; which happens to be Middletown, New York!”

  Pastor Harmon is teary eyed as his congregation erupts into shouts of praise and cheers! Joanna recites the phrase, “pretim singuli vita,” as her eyelids begin to flutter and she faints away from the excitement! Robert quickly turns his attention to her and aids in her swift recovery. Tears in her eyes, she is simply overwhelmed. Though he’s right next to her, Joseph doesn’t notice his mom’s brief lapse, as he himself is completely shocked to hear the report. In fact, Agent Hinton leans over him to ask Joanna if everything is all right.

  Robert answers for her saying, “She seems to be okay. Maybe we should go.”

  Joanna, “No! I’m okay, really. I think I just felt this incredible drop, like I was going over the hill of a roller coaster.”

  With all the conversation, Lauren, who is at the other end of the lineup, leans forward along with James and asks, “Is everything okay?”

  Joanna leans forward and replies, “Yes, I’m fine, we’re fine. Let’s hear what he’s saying.”

  Lauren sits back and looks at James, who shakes his head in disbelief, reminding himself of the translation of his mother’s words, “for the cost of one life.”

  Bruce Watson has a very intrigued expression and writes a note to himself on an offering envelope that says, “What about the president?”

  By this point the mayor is essentially done; his short amount of time is up, and he finishes with, “So, please be sure to at
tend the special council meeting I am scheduling for tomorrow evening at seven p.m.. Thank you, and thank you, pastor, for this time.”

  There is applause from the congregants, and every one is buzzing at what this means for the small town. As the mayor passes by Pastor Harmon, the pastor slips him the same note that was given to him requesting that he not call attention to the Market family.

  • • •

  Pastor Harmon takes the podium. He is still a little teary and looks down to conceal his emotions. The source of his joy though is different from what has brought most of the congregation a buzz, and most are too busy chatting about the mayor’s announcement to notice his struggle. He blinks back the tears and looks out praying, “Father in heaven, thank you.” The room settles some. “All the glory, of course, goes to you Lord, and we marvel at the works of your hands!” He looks around the nearly full sanctuary and continues, “Now, let us set aside for a moment this, which we believe to be such good news, and focus on you from whom all good things do actually flow.” The room quiets down now, and bowing his head he says, “I humbly ask that you guide me this morning, guide the words of my mouth, change my thoughts where they do not align with your will, and give me the courage to speak your truth.”

  Hinton watches him intently, impressed at his command of the crowd and his straightforward presentation. Lauren is likewise impressed. She glances over at Hinton who, like her and the other agents, is the only one whose head is not bowed.

  Pastor Harmon continues, “Bless everyone here with the ability to receive the truth, not as I perceive it, but your truth, and in so doing, advance your Kingdom here on earth! Father in your great mercy, forgive us where we’ve behaved poorly.” James, feeling humbled, bows his head even further. “And grant us, this day, the heart and the mindset to forgive those who treated us poorly, so that nothing will stand in the way, and you can have free reign to direct our lives according to your loving plan for us, whom you love and gave so much to have as your very own.”

  With heads bowed, Robert and Joanna look at each other, and she pulls his hand tight into her chest. Lauren swallows hard and looks over at James.