Vicki’s hands shook as she dialed Josey Fogarty’s home phone. She wondered what would happen if Tom answered. Were they making a mistake to bring Josey into their problem?
After four rings, the answering machine picked up. Tom’s gruff voice said, “You’ve reached the Fogartys. As you can tell, we’re not able to answer your call. Leave a message. He is risen.”
The last phrase startled Vicki for a moment and she realized her stuttering was being recorded. “Uh, Josey? I don’t know if you’ll remember me or not, but I really need to talk. I’ll try back in about—”
The phone picked up and a woman said, “Hello? Who is this?”
“Is this Josey?” Vicki managed.
Vicki could tell the woman had been crying. “Yes, it’s me. Go ahead and come for me. I don’t care anymore.”
“I don’t understand—,” Vicki said.
“Yes, you do. Well, I don’t care what you do to me!”
“Josey, it’s Vicki Byrne.”
The woman sniffed and caught her breath. “Vicki? I don’t believe it.”
“I’m only a few minutes from your house. Do you mind if I come see you?”
The woman sobbed. Finally she said, “Yes, I would love to see you again.”
18
IT WAS after midnight when Lionel found a place to sleep. He was grateful that God had led them to Yitzhak’s house and that they had reconnected with their friends. Before Sam left, Lionel asked about General Zimmerman, the man who had opened his home up to so many believers.
Sam looked at the floor and whispered, “We were speaking openly in the streets with some of the undecided when a band of Global Community officers approached and asked the General to follow them. He looked at us, not knowing what to do. Finally, when he saw things might get violent if he refused, he went with them.
“Mr. Stein and I came here to begin a time of intense prayer. The next night, one of the General’s servants who had become a believer rushed to tell us that the GC had surrounded his home. We believe everyone got out before they set it on fire.”
Lionel shook his head. “Have you heard anything from him since?”
Sam nodded. “We continued to pray that God would protect him and have him released. However, when the GC began marking their prisoners, the newspaper carried the story of General Zimmerman’s choice of the blade.”
Lionel bit his lip. “You know, we were responsible for putting him in that situation.”
Sam smiled. “You and the others helped him see the truth, and today, though it pains us to lose him in such a terrible way, he is with God.”
Lionel went to bed with thoughts of Carpathia and what would happen the next day. Would he and Judd be treated the same way as General Zimmerman? As Lionel fell asleep, he was praying for Vicki and his friends back home.
As they drove closer to Josey’s home, Vicki studied the countryside west of Rockford. Some areas still showed the effects of the great earthquake. Trees and grass had been scorched by the plague of fire, and residents had done their best to try and bring back some of the beauty of the city.
Mark continued his protest of the plan, though he admitted some curiosity about seeing Josey and finding out what had happened to her. He had talked with Judd many times about the sting operation against Cornelius Grey and LeRoy Banks, two bad guys the kids had helped catch. Mark’s main concern was that they not be anywhere near Global Community officers who were sure to be on alert.
Vicki felt a tingle down her spine as they came closer. She had often thought of Josey and hoped to one day meet again.
“Turn left here,” Colin said.
Josey’s street seemed similar to Judd’s in Mount Prospect. The houses were nice, with big, fenced-in backyards, but the place seemed deserted. All this space and no children, Vicki thought.
Mark drove past the house and turned around, making sure everything looked okay. He parked on the street and the kids unbuckled.
“Let Vicki go first and talk with Mrs. Fogarty,” Colin said. Everyone agreed and Colin gave Vicki one of the handheld radios from their operation in Iowa. “If anything goes wrong, call us. We’ll be waiting.”
Josey opened the door before Vicki could knock. Vicki recalled first meeting the woman and being blown away by her simple beauty. Though Josey didn’t wear makeup, not even lipstick, her pale blue eyes, sandy blonde hair, trim figure, and huge, easy smile were striking. Now, only three years later, Josey appeared to have aged ten years. Her hair was tinged with gray, her face, cutely freckled before, was wrinkled. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy. The woman was still trim, and Vicki couldn’t help thinking she looked gaunt.
“Come in, Vicki,” Josey said in her familiar husky voice.
Vicki hugged her. “It’s been a long time.”
“Too long. Are you with friends?”
Vicki nodded. “They thought it would be best for us to talk alone first.”
Josey showed her into the living room and brought her a hot cup of tea. She wiped away a tear and sat next to Vicki. Vicki wanted to tell her everything, but she sensed the woman needed to talk.
“I need to ask first about your husband,” Vicki said quietly.
“I understand. He’s not a believer, if that’s what you mean.”
Vicki scooted forward. “And he works for the Global Community?”
Josey nodded.
“Has he taken Carpathia’s mark?”
Josey sighed. “The Global Community came in and took over. If he was going to stay in law enforcement, he had to go with them.”
Vicki put a hand on her arm. “I need to know if he’s taken the mark.”
Josey hung her head and sighed. “Not yet. But with all that’s going on around the country, this new commander, Fulcire, is pressuring employees to take it quickly.”
Vicki took the woman by the shoulders. “You have to convince him not to take it.”
“He’d have to leave the GC.”
“Exactly.”
“He’s not going to do that.”
Vicki asked more questions, but the woman broke down. When she stopped crying, Vicki asked what had happened after they last saw each other.
“Tom went back to work and pushed God aside. I started reading the Bible and studying, trying to understand what would happen next. I didn’t want to beat Tom over the head with my beliefs, so I was careful to not come on too strong. But at times, I couldn’t help it. I’d find a passage that really helped, and I’d want to share it.”
“Did it drive him away?”
“At first he thought it was just a phase I was going through,” Josey said. “I’d been into crystals, channeling, astrology, and angels. You name it, I’d tried it. I’d hop from one to another as fast as some people switch channels on their TV. I think he figured my belief in Jesus would change sooner or later too.”
“But it didn’t?”
For the first time since Vicki walked in, Josey showed a hint of a smile. “I can’t say that I’ve been perfect in following him, but I still believe in God. It’s just that I’ve had no one to talk with. The first time I saw someone with the mark of the believer, I nearly fainted.”
“We’re going to have to get you plugged into an online group.”
“I didn’t want to offend Tom, and I know how much the GC hate underground groups, so I backed off. Then the earthquake came and we moved here and I’ve been sort of stagnant.”
“What happened when the locusts came?”
“Tom was stung the first day and suffered for months. He couldn’t believe they didn’t sting me, and I told him it was because I was protected by God. He wouldn’t listen.”
“So you’ve seen no change in him?”
“At times he seems open. I even saw him cry once when I started talking about my boys, but most of the time he just seems mad at God.”
“And you’ve been alone, so it’s been hard to grow.”
Josey nodded. “I’ve read your Web site, and Tsion’s of course, but
I’ve been so worried about Tom that I’m afraid I haven’t been much good to the cause.”
“Don’t say that,” Vicki said. “God gives everybody a gift and—”
“That’s why I feel so guilty. I could be doing something, using my hospitality to have people in and tell them the truth, but here I sit, paralyzed with fear that my husband is going to come home with the mark of Carpathia on his forehead and ask me to do the same. That’s who I thought you were on the phone, the GC coming to take me away.”
“You don’t have to worry about taking the mark,” Vicki said. “God will give you the strength to resist it.”
Josey wiped her eyes. Vicki didn’t want to bring up Cheryl’s situation until the time was right.
“Do you think there’s still hope for Tom?” Josey said.
“I have to admit, if he’s known the truth this long and has still waited—”
“He sees through Carpathia,” Josey interrupted. “He knows the guy isn’t what he seems.”
“Then why is he working for the GC?”
Josey shook her head.
“Does he know that you won’t take the mark?”
“We’ve talked about it. He says he’ll keep my secret, and no one needs to know, but I’m scared.”
“You should be.” Vicki looked at her watch and keyed the microphone on the walkie-talkie. “Mark, where are you?”
“End of the street. You want us to come?”
Someone moved behind Vicki, and Josey put a hand to her mouth and gasped. Vicki turned and saw Tom Fogarty staring at her.
“How long have you been here, hon?” Josey said.
“Vicki, you want us to come over there?” Mark said.
“No, stay where you are,” Vicki said, returning Fogarty’s stare.
“So, Vicki Byrne, Vicki B., Jackie Browne, or whoever you’re calling yourself these days,” Tom said, “I’ve been following your little rebellion against the Global Community.”
“Tom, Vicki was one of the kids who helped you—”
“I know what she did, and I know her friends on the other end of that radio are probably the ones wanted in Iowa. Am I right?”
Vicki stared at the man and stayed silent. She had wanted to help Cheryl so much that she hadn’t counted on this. Now she was trapped.
“You just going to sit there, or are you going to try and save my soul too?” Tom said.
“Vicki, is something wrong in there?” Mark said on the walkie-talkie. “Conrad said he thought he saw someone walk through the backyard a moment ago.”
Vicki keyed the microphone. “Just stay where you are. I’m okay for now.”
“Why don’t you tell your friends I can have ten squad cars and a couple of choppers here in five minutes?” Tom said.
“Tom, you won’t,” Josey said.
“You don’t know what this girl and her friends have been up to. Stealing satellite trucks. Breaking into international video hookups. I was there at that schoolhouse after you kids left.”
“Did you burn it down?” Vicki said coolly.
“Whatever she’s done, it’s been for a good reason,” Josey said.
“Ends justify the means, huh? I thought Jesus followers were supposed to be good, law-abiding citizens. Instead, you break people out of jail and defy every rule the Global Community has made.”
As she listened, Vicki thought about the others in the van. Fogarty could have already called in a team of GC officers before he walked into the room. She stood and faced him. “You used to be a cop, and a good one from what Judd told me. You shot straight with people, even perps, and they respected you.”
Fogarty pursed his lips and lifted his hands. “What’s your point?”
“Well, I’ll shoot straight with you. I assume since you’re telling me all this that you haven’t talked about me and my friends to your superiors. You’ve been following us on your own, wondering when we’d make a mistake.”
“Keep going.”
“And if you’re willing to keep quiet about us, there must be some reason. You must agree with what we’re doing, or at least are willing to look the other way.”
“I feel sorry for people who are misguided, that’s all.”
“Well, here’s the story. I met this girl in Iowa. She’s pregnant. Two, maybe three months along. She’s had a hard life and the baby will have an even harder time if I don’t do something about it.”
Vicki looked at Josey. “I was thinking about her situation, and for some reason the names of your two boys popped into my head. I don’t know why.”
Josey put a hand over her mouth and shook. Tom’s mouth dropped as he sat on the edge of a chair.
“She’s not prepared to care for a child, and I asked how she would feel if we found someone to adopt it. Maybe take care of her while she was having it. Someone with experience.”
“What did she say?” Josey said, her eyes wide and filled with tears.
“She wants the baby to have the right family. That’s why I’m here.”
“Praise God,” Josey said, and she broke down. Tom fell back onto the chair and stared at the ceiling.
Vicki knew something was going on with Tom and Josey, but she didn’t know what.
Finally, Josey spoke. “I didn’t tell you this, Vicki, but the doctors told me I would never have children again. A few weeks ago Tom and I were talking and I was trying to tell him how good God is, that he wants to help us. Tom brought up Ben and Brad—he always loved them even though they didn’t live with us—and said God was selfish and mean to take them.”
Josey fought the tears. “I asked what it would take to get him to believe God was there and wanted a relationship.”
Vicki looked at Tom. “What did you say?”
Tom Fogarty, former Chicago policeman and now Global Community tough guy, shook in his chair, overcome with emotion. When he could finally speak he said, “I told her … I would believe in God … when he gave us a baby.”
19
VICKI didn’t know what to say or do, other than put an arm around Josey and hug her.
Tom had moved to the window and stared out at the street. “Your friends out there?”
Vicki nodded. “What are you going to do?”
“I’d be the GC hero of the day if I brought you guys in.”
“But you’re not going to?”
Tom turned. “In the morning everyone will be talking about Carpathia and what a great god he is.”
“And you?”
Tom shook his head.
Josey reached for him and said, “This is a perfect time to give your life to the true God. You know everything I’ve been telling you is true. And our prayers have been answered.”
Tom looked at Vicki. “You think this girl would let us care for the baby if I’m working for the GC?”
“I think that puts her and Josey in too much danger,” Vicki said.
“So you think I’m going to just give in and get religion?”
Josey said, “It’s not religion—”
“I know, it’s a relationship. I’ve heard that about a million times.” Tom paced in front of the window, gesturing wildly. “I’ve lived my entire life without God. I’ve never tried to use religion as a crutch—”
“And you think that’s what we’re doing?” Josey said.
“I didn’t say that—”
“It takes a lot bigger man to admit he needs help than one who says he can do it himself,” Josey said. “You’ve arrested enough people in your career who have done it their own way and paid the price.”
“I’m not going to say I believe this just to make you guys happy, or to make sure we get that baby.”
“I’m glad,” Josey said, “because we’d know you were faking it.”
Tom rolled his eyes. “Oh yeah, the thing on the forehead.”
Vicki stepped forward. “Mr. Fogarty, the Bible talks about people being blinded to the truth at this time of history. I don’t know how it works, but it’s clear there’s s
omething supernatural going on that keeps people from believing what’s obvious.”
“So I’ve been blinded by little demons running around? Or maybe by Satan himself? You expect me to buy that?”
Vicki put out her hand to stop him from pacing. “I’m not asking that you buy anything. Just stop and ask God to take the blinders off. If he’s real, he’ll help you understand the truth. Are you willing?”
Tom stopped and folded his arms. “All right, but I feel stupid.”
“It’s okay,” Vicki said. “You want me to pray with you?”
“No, I can handle it.” Tom cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “God, I know that my wife and this girl care about me, and they’ve said if I pray, you’ll open my eyes. So if you’re there, I pray you’d show me where I’m wrong and what I need to do about it. Amen.”
The radio crackled with Mark’s voice. “Vicki, we need some direction here. There’s a car pulling up to the house.”
Tom pulled the curtain back, looked out the window, and cursed. “It’s my partner. Tell your guys to get out of the neighborhood. Vicki, you go upstairs with Josey.”
“Is this a trap?” Vicki said.
Tom scowled. “Just go upstairs. He’s coming up the sidewalk.”
As she followed Josey upstairs, Vicki told Mark she needed more time. “We’ve got GC company, so move the van out of sight and maintain silence until I get back to you.”
Josey left the door open a crack as Tom’s partner knocked downstairs. Vicki strained to hear as the men laughed and walked into the kitchen.
“His partner’s name is Cal Trachsel. They’ve been together since we moved here.”
“Is Cal 100 percent GC?”
Josey shook her head and closed the door. “I think he knows there are problems just like Tom. He’s pretty levelheaded.”
“Have you ever talked to him about God?”
“No. I’ve only met him face-to-face twice. He calls for Tom a lot and we chat, but that’s about it.”
The front door closed and Josey walked to the stairs. “Tom?”
When he didn’t answer, Josey went to the window and made sure Cal was leaving. Vicki followed the woman downstairs to the kitchen and found Tom sitting at the table, his head in his hands.
Deceived Page 13
