Into the Storm (5 page)

Ryan inched through the line with Lionel in front of him.

Hundreds of people filed past Bruce’s body. The casket was open now, and on both sides of the casket were beautiful flowers.

Lionel stopped at the head of the casket,then patted Bruce’s folded hands. Ryan came next. Bruce looked like he was asleep. Ryan touched Bruce’s hands. They were cold and rigid.

“Good-bye, friend,” Ryan managed to say,then he broke down.

Rayford Steele, who was shaking hands with people as they filed past, helped Ryan to the front pew.

“You OK?” Rayford said.

“I’m sorry,” Ryan said.

“Don’t ever apologize for feeling bad about things like this,” Rayford said.

“This is a really sad thing. Would you like a glass of water?”

Ryan wiped his eyes.

“Why do people always give you water when there’s something wrong?”

Ryan said.

Rayford smiled.

“I don’t know,” he said.

“The other thing they do is try to make you feel better. They say things like,“ Bruce is in a better place now,” or “ Bruce is with his family. “ That’s true, but it’s still hard to know he’s gone.”

“I just thought of something,” Ryan said.

“He’s with Raymie and Mrs. Steele, too.”

Rayford looked away.

“There’s something I never told you, Mr. Steele,” Ryan said.

“Can I tell you now?”

“Go ahead,” Rayford said.

“On the day of the disappearances, I came over to your house. My mom and dad weren’t home, and I didn’t know what to do.

I came to see Mrs. Steele or Raymie. The door was open a little, so I walked in. “

Rayford listened carefully and paid no attention to the mourners who were passing by.

“I went up to Raymie’s room and saw his nightclothes in a neat pile on the bed,” Ryan said.

“When I found them on his bed, I folded them,” Rayford said.

“Then I heard a noise down the hall,” Ryan said.

“You were on the floor of your bedroom, your shoulders shaking. I didn’t want to disturb you, so I ran home. That’s when I found out that both my mom and dad had died.”

“You should’ve said something,” Rayford said.

“I could’ve helped.”

“It still makes me sad to think about it,” Ryan said.

“But even though it was bad, it made me go to Raymie’s church.

And that’s where I met Bruce. “

Rayford put his hand on Ryan’s neck and squeezed it.

“I’m really proud of you,” he said.

“I wasn’t around much when you and Raymie played, but I know he liked you. I can see why.”

“I miss him a lot,” Ryan said.

Rayford stood.

“Can I ask what you’re going to do next?”

Ryan said.

“Are you still going to work for the Global Community, or can you stay around here?”

“I wish I could stay,” Rayford said.

“But I’m still flying for the GC. I’ve decided I want to be obedient to God, even if that means I’m giving service to Carpathia. He wants me to be back in New Babylon next week.”

When Vicki hadn’t heard from Judd by Sunday evening, she grew more concerned. Lionel and Ryan had no idea where he might be. Chaya wanted to be alone, so she dropped Vicki off at Loretta’s house.

Chloe Williams and Amanda Steele asked about Chaya.

“I guess she’s doing OK, considering what she’s been through today,” Vicki said.

“She’s facing two big losses at one time,” Amanda said.

“It’s important for her to grieve and not shove it under the rug.”

“She’ll be doing fine and then, all of a sudden, she loses it,” Vicki said.

“That’s common,” Amanda said.

“It’s a process. You don’t grieve once and move on. Most people feel waves of bad feelings wash over them. There could be regrets or other memories that come back again and again. You realize the person is gone and is never coming back. That’s really tough. Then, over time, the waves slow down and you have longer periods where you think normally. You get back into your routine. “

“But it’s sad that you do that,” Vicki said.

“For me, I lost a father. He’s never coming back. But the world just goes on.”

“And that’s what Bruce would want you to do,” Amanda said.

“Think abouthis own story. When his wife and children were raptured he grieved and grieved. But God used that grief.

Bruce went into action and helped others come to know God. “

“Is there anything I can do to help Chaya?” Vicki said.

“When I lost my mom,” Chloe said, “it really helped when I chose a keepsake of hers. I gave her a necklace before I went to school, and that’s one thing I still cherish.”

“Maybe she can go back to her house,” Amanda said, “not tonight, or even this week, but in a couple of weeks, and find something that reminds her of her mother.”

“As sad as it is, I don’t think her dad would allow it,” Vicki said.

The talk turned to the memorial service and what had happened afterward with Verna Zee. Vicki was interested.

“Buck and I met her at the magazine office later,” Chloe said.

“Basically she said she knew it was Tsion Ben-Judah in thatservice, and I planted a little doubt in her mind. “

“Did she buy it?” Vicki said.

“Not at first,” Chloe said. “butthen she called here, and Loretta didn’t give her any information. She backed off a little, and Buck challenged her. I think she’ll leave it alone for now.”

“At least she came to the service like she promised,” Amanda said.

“Did she mention anything about what Mr. Steele preached?” Vicki said.

“She said it was strange, all those predictions coming true,” Chloe said.

“When I asked her what it would take to convince her about God, she said an earthquake would be pretty hard to argue with.”

Taylor Graham had been gone a long time. Judd wondered if he really would get each of the kids and bring them to the hideout, or if that was a bluff to get him to talk.

Judd sorted the facts in his mind. He wanted to believe the pilot. To have someone inside the Global Community who could give information and help him escape seemed too good to be true. Maybe it was.

Judd thought of escaping. He knew the woods nearby well enough. He could make it to the road in ten or fifteen minutes of hard running. But something told him to stay.

Then he thought about Bruce. It was evening, and the viewing of Bruce’s body was long over. Judd had missed his chance of saying good-bye to his friend.

Ryan was reading in bed when he sawPhoenixsit up. The hair on the dog’s back stiffened, and he growled.

“What is it, boy?” Ryan said.

Phoenixjumped off the bed and whined. He put both paws up and scratched at the door.

“OK, show me what’s out there.”

Ryan followedPhoenixup the stairs. There was a light on in the kitchen, but the hallway and the living room were dark.

Ryan noticed a thin strip of light under Lionel’s door.

Judd’s door was open, and the room was dark.

Phoenixwent to the front door and sniffed. He turned and barked loudly.

“What is it?” Ryan said.

As his eyes adjusted to the room, he saw the figure of a man sitting quietly in an easy chair. Ryan saw a red glow and smelled smoke in the room.

“Remember me?” the man said in a low voice.

Ryan shivered. Whoever it was had broken into the house and was waiting. Ryan did remember the voice, but he couldn’t place it.

“I can’t even see you, let alone remember you,” Ryan said.

Phoenixwas barking wildly and moved toward the man.

“Grab your dog and put him away before I do,” the man said.

Ryan moved closer and grabbedPhoenix’s collar.

“Put him in the closet and shut the door,” the man ordered.

“I’ll put him back downstairs in”—“I said, put him in the closet,” the man said, gritting his teeth.

Ryan obeyed. He felt bad putting the dog in such a small place, but he didn’t have a choice.

A door opened down the hall. Lionel entered the room.

“What’s all the noise?” Lionel said.

“And why isPhoenix”—“Shut up and sit down,” the man said.

“We have company,” Ryan said.

“How did you get in here?” Lionel said.

Ryan heard the click of a gun.

“Doesn’t matter how I got in, what matters is that I’m here. Now sit down.” Lionel and Ryan sat.

“Where’s your friend?” the man said.

“We have more than one,” Ryan said.

“Don’t get cute. The tall kid. Judd.”

“We haven’t seen him since this morning,” Lionel said.

“Why?”

“” Cause I need to talk to him,” the man said.Phoenix’s muffled barks came from the closet. He scratched harder at the door, frantically trying to escape.

“You really don’t remember me, do you?” the man said. He fiddled with a lamp shade and clicked on a light.

The flash nearly blinded Ryan. The man had turned the lamp away from himself and onto the boys. Ryan shielded his face with his hand, and the shadowy sight of the man sparked his memory. The long black coat. Short hair. Under the L tracks.

The man with the gun.

“Remember me now?” the man laughed.

“He’s with the Global Community,” Ryan said to Lionel.

“He was going to kill Judd and Vicki and Mr. Stahley.”

“Until this little runt jumped me,” the man said.

“What do you want with Judd?” Ryan said.

“It’s personal,” the man said.

“We’re look- Going for a few missing people. ThatStanleywoman and her kid. A pilot named Graham.

You know where any of them are? “

“For a professional bad guy, you have a hard time keeping track of people,” Ryan said.

Lionel flinched.

“Cool it,” he whispered to Ryan.

“I think I know how we can get out”—“Knock it off,” the man yelled.

Lionel sat up.

“Maybe I need to show you I mean business.” The man raised his gun at Lionel,then pointed it a few inches to the right.

“This will quiet the little pooch,” the man said.

“No!” Ryan screamed.

Ryan heard a quick spurt from the silencer and a thwack behind him as the bullet went through the hollow door and into the closet.Phoenixstopped barking. Ryan turned to see the huge bullet hole. The hole was at the same height as the doorknob.

“Stay where you are,” the man said, “unless you’d like one of these for yourself.”

“You better not have hurt my dog!” Ryan said.

Phoenixwhimpered inside the closet and barked again.

“Listen to him,” the man said.

“Your dog’s fine. But I’ll aim a little lower next time unless you tell me where your friend is.”

“We don’t know,” Lionel said.

“He was supposed to meet us after a funeral today, but he didn’t show up.”

“Not good enough,” the man said, raising his gun again.

“It’s the truth!” Ryan screamed, standing to block the door.

“Sit down!”

“No!

“Ryan said.

“I told you, get out of the way” Ryan heard a loud bang and closed his eyes. Then he heard another spurt from the gun. Glass shattered. Ryan opened his eyes and saw the man running for the front door.

He opened it, held his gun in front of his face,then pivoted into a shooting stance. When he didn’t see his target, he shouted at the boys to stay where they were. Then he was gone.

“What happened?” Ryan said.

“GetPhoenixand let’s get outta here,” Lionel said.

“I’ll explain on our way to Yield’s place.”

Lionel collapsed on the couch when he arrived at Yield’s house. Ryan fell to his knees, gasping for air, asPhoenixbounded through the door. Vicki gotPhoenixa bowl of water and waited for Lionel and Ryan to catch their breath.

“What happened?” Vicki said when they could finally talk.

“First,” Lionel said, “I don’t think they followed us, but in case they did, who’s here?”

“Darrion, Chaya, and me,” Vicki said.

“What’s going on? Did you find Judd?”

“No,” Lionel said, “but we did find out we’re not the only ones looking for him.”

Ryan explained who the man with the gun was and what had happened.

“I still don’t know why the guy took off like that,” he said.

“You didn’t see him?” Lionel said.

“Who?” Ryan said.

“Just before I whispered for you to cool it,” Lionel said, “I saw a guy look in the window.”

“Another GC guy?” Vicki said.

“I don’t know who he was,” Lionel said, “but he got a good look at Ryan and me. He moved around to the front to get a look at the other guy. I figured they weren’t together.

That’s when you stood up. “

“I wasn’t about to let him blowPhoenixaway,” Ryan said.

“He shot at the window, and the other guy took off,” Lionel said.

“That’s when we bolted.”

“What did the guy at the window look like?” Vicki said.

“It was pretty dark, but I could tell he was tall,” Lionel said.

“Looked like a swimmer.”

Ryan asked a few more questions and then shouted, “It was Taylor Graham!”

“What would he be doing at the house?” Vicki said.

“Looking for Judd,” Ryan said, “or me. Whatever the reason, I’m glad he showed up.”

“I feel like the walls are closing in,” Lionel said.

“Let’s get Darrion and Chaya and get outta here

“Wait,” Vicki said.

“First, I’m not going anywhere until we find Judd. Second, if we run, they’ll think we’re guilty of something, and we’re not! If you miss the meeting with Mrs.

Jenness tomorrow, people from the school could be looking for you as well. “

“If they find us here, they’ll find Darrion,” Lionel said.

“That’ll connect us with Mrs. Stahley, who’s wanted for murder!”

“And we all know it was the GC who killed Mr. Stahley,” Vicki said.

“We have to keep our lives as normal as possible until we find Judd and figure out what to do.”

Judd looked for a way to escape from his underground prison, but he found none.

Taylor Graham had locked him in a room | deep inside the hangar. The heavy metal door was impossible to open, so Judd spent his time looking through the desk and the bookshelves that lined one wall of the room.

In the center drawer of the desk Judd found paperclips and stationery.