In Sheep's Clothing (28 page)

She loved him. She’d started loving him when he’d tracked her down and scared the life out of her on the train, and when he had bought her a new dress and her reflection had sparkled in his eyes. Most of all when she’d unlocked her secrets and seen his compassion. She wanted to love him more, know him more. He’d abandoned his plans for revenge, and instead had prayed. Vicktor had so much potential to be a man of God. She ached to watch the Almighty take over Vicktor’s life and change it.

That would be loads of fun across the ocean.

She leaned her forehead on the Plexiglas window. The sun glinted brilliantly across an endless landscape of fluff. Below the mantel, these same clouds wept upon her Russia.

Gracie reached down, slid the laptop computer from under her seat and plopped it on the seat beside her. Overwhelmed with regret, she rubbed the case with her palm. “I’m sorry, Dr. Willie.” His life work lay in cinders in Khabarovsk Airport. Her eyes burned at the injustice. So many lives sacrificed for nothing.

She wondered if her office really had been trying to contact her, or if Yuri had been simply trying to oust her from Vicktor’s protection that day at the lighthouse restaurant. Lowering her tray, she hoisted the computer onto it and grabbed the air link hookup.

She unzipped the leather case and opened it.

A thick sheaf of papers had been wadded inside. Clipped to them was a small note.

Gracie unclipped the note and clutched it to her chest. Then she peered at the title page of the stack of A-4 paper: “Scientific Explorations and Experiment Results of Trichinosis Virus Vaccination by William Young, M.D.”

Trust me, Gracie
. Vicktor’s voice, with the slight accent that curled her toes and sent ripples down her spine, reverberated through her mind.

Gracie closed her eyes.
Hope dies last.
She pressed her fingers to her lips, remembering the sweet taste of Vicktor’s kiss, promising, loving. She would pray and wait, just as she had for Vicktor’s salvation.
Oh, God, thank You. Thank You for adopting Vicktor into the family.

Her eyes fluttered open. She had finally led someone to Christ. God had used her for the work of Vicktor’s salvation.

The thought made her tingle. So maybe she wasn’t a joke. Maybe, in fact, it was more about her needing God and God doing His thing in amazing ways. Using the darkest moments to bring light, and joy, and salvation.

Simply because they’d needed Him.

“The poor will eat and be satisfied. They who seek the Lord will praise Him—may your hearts live forever.”

So, maybe this wasn’t goodbye. Maybe, in fact, God was just getting started.

She leaned back, closed her eyes and let herself rest.

“Okay, Captain, you’re free to unbuckle.” The flight attendant freed herself from the jump seat, leaving Vicktor to wrestle himself out of the restraining harness. He got to his feet and peeked through the blue curtain separating the seats near the cockpit from first class and coach. “I don’t see her.”

Humor played on the flight attendant’s face. “Seven-A, sir.”

Standing tall, Vicktor smoothed his still-damp suit coat and entered the compartment.

Gracie sat slumped in her seat, her eyes closed, clutching Dr. Young’s notes. He smiled. So she’d found them. While Gracie had waited in his office at FSB HQ, he’d emptied the envelope, made a copy of the first page, then tucked the real notes in with the computer, just in case.

Leaning over, he tapped her on the shoulder. “Miss?”

“Yes?” She didn’t open her eyes.

“Can I sit with you?”

Slowly, she looked at him. Now,
that
was the smile he’d been hoping to find.

“You see, I’m with the KGB and I’ve been searching all over for you.”

This time, she didn’t kick him.

1. In Sheep’s Clothing
   opens with Gracie confronting the end of a season of her life. What seasons of life have you experienced? Gracie also feels as if she hasn’t accomplished anything with the opportunities God has given her. Have you ever felt like a failure on the inside when others consider you a success on the outside?
   
2. Vicktor is a man who has regrets in his past that compel him to go on the hunt for his friend’s killer. Do you think regrets are a good motivation for actions or behaviors? Have you ever had a regret that has motivated you to do something out of your comfort zone?
   
3. Vicktor has a group of friends that he considers his closest—yet his best friend, David, is only available online. With the advent of the online world, more and more good friendships are located online, with many of these friends never meeting. Do you have a good friend online that you have never met face-to-face? How has e-mail changed your relationships, either local ones or long-distance?
   
4. After seeing her friends’ murder, Gracie tries to flee for the American consulate, via the train. In the same situation, what would you have done? Would you have trusted an FSB agent if he came after you on the train?
   
5. Gracie has a spiritual revelation while hiding at Andrei’s mother’s house. What is it? Discuss how it changed her outlook. Does it have any application to your own life?
   
6. When Vicktor changes Gracie’s appearance, how does it change the way she feels about herself? Why? Have you made any appearance changes that have changed the way you feel about your life, or your circumstances?
   
7. Vicktor is deeply affected by the revelation of Leonid the Red’s cure. Why? Discuss how his mother’s death affected him spiritually. Have you ever felt that God betrayed you? Why did Gracie’s spiritual answer to him on the way to the dacha make him angry? What might you have said to Vicktor’s questions?
   
8. Gracie comes to believe that she’s been using her fear of men to not fully trust God. Why? How does she make a leap of faith?
   
9. Gracie believes Andrei is in heaven. Why? Not that we can judge a man’s heart, but do you agree with Gracie’s thinking? Why or why not? Why does her faith in grace upset Vicktor?
   
10. Gracie is finally able to make an analogy about grace that affects Vicktor. Discuss that analogy and why it made a difference, finally, in Vicktor’s relationship with God. Does that analogy have an impact on you, and why?
    
11. How did God use Gracie to heal Vicktor’s emotional and spiritual wounds, and vice versa?
    
12. What do you think will happen with Gracie and Vicktor’s relationship?