Dark Justice
Page 25
“Oh.” She looked around the table. “Yes.”
She scooped some mashed potatoes into her mouth.
It was about two in the afternoon. We would have eaten earlier if not for the piles of presents we’d needed to open—most of them from strangers. There were even some for Aunt Margie. And these were just the most recent. Ever since the lights came back on in April, the whole country seemed to want to thank us—in any way they could. We were so humbled by all the gifts, especially in an economy in which people were fighting to regain what had been lost as a result of the attack.
And the attention didn’t end there. Emily and I had been inundated with requests for interviews—on every major TV talk show and channel you could name. We hadn’t wanted to talk to anyone, but Sergeant Wade persuaded us. “Just do one or two. The country deserves to hear your story.”
We’d done a full hour on Sixty Minutes. And another on CNN. The stations asked that Mom participate too. I said absolutely not. She remembered nothing of our ordeal. And she would likely be far too confused in front of the cameras and hot lights. While Emily and I traveled, Mom stayed with Aunt Margie.
For the most part, Mom had been delighted with the “new friends” who would stop by to say hello and thank us. If the conversation turned to That Day, she would frown. “What are you talking about?” And I’d have to steer the discussion to another topic. But then Mom would offer to play her music for our guests—and that would make her smile again.
In July, my mother received her most cherished gift of all. A signed CD from Lady Gaga herself. With a note of thanks on behalf of the nation.
Mom had played that CD every day since.
“Grand.” Emily cut some of the turkey on her grandmother’s plate. “Guess who’s coming over in a few hours to see you. Sergeant Wade.”
“Oh, good.” My mother beamed. “He’s such a nice young man.”
Aunt Margie and I exchanged a smile.
“You ought to ask him if he has any male friends your age, Emily. You’re still looking for a boyfriend, aren’t you?”
Emily wagged her head. “Actually, Grand, you have no idea how many men want to date me these days. I’m kinda famous.”
“Well, of course. You’ve always been famous to me. Doesn’t mean those men are good enough for you.”
“That’s just the problem.”
I looked to Aunt Margie. “My beautiful daughter is very picky.”
My aunt lifted a shoulder. “She ought to be.”
“He likes my music, you know.” Mom took a bite of green beans.
Emily stuck out her chin. “Who?”
“Sergeant Wade.”
“Oh, yes. So I hear.”
I wasn’t sure he did like her music, but he pretended to. One time he’d even danced with my mother—the only person she’d ever allowed to do that.
We’d met Charles Wade’s wife and two children. Strange, to realize he was a husband and father. A man with his own personal life. We’d thought of him only in the context of a sergeant caught in the vortex of That Day. Charles and his family visited every once in awhile. And he would keep Emily and me up to date on the continuing investigation into FreeNow—as much as he was allowed.
I’d been quite incensed at the sergeant’s treatment during his testimony before the Home Security Committee in September. Emily and I had spent days testifying before that committee as well. I told Chairman Morse in no uncertain terms that his attitude against Charles Wade was unwarranted. Yes, the sergeant may have wrongly perceived the pounding events of That Day in February. But so had I. Were they looking for someone to blame? Blame me. If only I’d told the sheriff’s department everything from the beginning. If only I’d gone to them for help when that man broke into my house. If only I hadn’t believed Tex was a real agent turned bad, and had called the FBI.
Because of my mistakes, valuable time was lost. Maybe we could have saved the western region from going dark.
The committee did not agree that I was to blame. But in the end, they did agree that Sergeant Wade was not a part of the FreeNow organization.
“Carol,” Aunt Margie pointed to a bowl. “Would you like more sweet potatoes?”
“Oh, yes.” Mom looked so happy. “And do we have hot tea, Hannah?”
“I’ll make you some.” I left my plate and headed into the kitchen.
Mom gave a contented sigh. “‘He has provided food for those who fear Him. He remembers His covenant forever.’”
Amen to that. We were safe. We were together. And we were celebrating Christmas.
“You are so right, Grand!” Emily laughed—a delighted sound that surged warmth through my heart and lit my face with a smile.
Had Mom been playing her music, I might even have danced.
Bible Verses Quoted by Carol Ray Ballard
Chapter 1
“In God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” –Psalm 56:11
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted. He saves those crushed in spirit.” –Psalm 34:18
Chapter 4
“Those who mourn are blessed, for they shall be comforted.” –Matthew 5:4
Chapter 15
“Lord, be gracious to us. We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble.” –Isaiah 33:2
Chapter 27
“The fear of the Lord is this: wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding.” –Job 28:28
Chapter 39
“He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness, for a man does not prevail by his own strength.” –1 Samuel 2:9
Chapter 54
“But I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will stand up; though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” –Micah 7:7–8
Epilogue
“He has provided food for those who fear Him. He remembers His covenant forever.” –Psalm 111:5
Discussion Questions
1. Have you ever made an “off-the-cuff” decision that changed your life?
2. Of the Bible verses that Carol quoted, which was your favorite? Why?
3. Can you name a time in which you misperceived the truth about a situation and based your actions upon that misperception? What happened?
4. What was Hannah’s greatest strength? Her greatest weakness?
5. How did Hannah, Emily, and Carol resemble each other in their thinking and choices? How did they differ?
6. Have you ever been a caretaker for someone during a protracted illness? What was the hardest part of that task?
7. For Hannah’s mom, Carol, Scripture was an integral part of her life, even when she forgot so many other things. Are there verses that strengthen and uplift you that way?
8. Could you kill someone to defend a family member? If so, how do you think doing so would affect you?
9. What do you envision your life would be like if you had to live without electrical power?
10. Why do you think God allows terrorists to carry out their attacks—sometimes on His own followers?
11. Do you think you will see another serious terrorist attack in this country in your lifetime? If so, what can you do to prepare spiritually for such an event?
12. Did you think Sergeant Wade was guilty of working with the terrorists?
13. What was the most surprising part of the story?
14. What are the different meanings of the title Dark Justice?
15. What did you learn from reading Dark Justice?
with friends