Frantic (26 page)

If Conrad hadn't told her his suspicions, Vicki would have been elated. Transporting Chris Traickin to Illinois and helping him escape the GC would encourage all believers. But Vicki couldn't get Conrad's words out of her mind. She stared at the mark on Traickin's forehead. Was it her imagination or was there something strange about it? And there seemed to be more locusts swarming around the windows of the gas station since he had arrived.

Vicki wanted to talk with Pete, but the more she thought, the sillier she felt. What would she do, ask to inspect the former senator's mark? Open the door and ask him to run around outside without protective clothing?

Pete suggested they get rid of the GC van. Roger knew about an old barn a few miles into the hills where they could stash it. “Who knows, the thing might come in handy one of these days,” Roger said.

While Roger drove the van away, Pete and the others waited.

Conrad whispered to Vicki, “I'm going to expose this guy.”

Judd phoned Nada with the news of Pavel's death. She wept and asked to meet with him. “Kweesa isn't here, and I don't want to be alone.”

“I understand,” Judd said. He suggested they meet outside the GC building so Judd wouldn't have to go through security.

Lionel spoke up. “You think we should get out of here soon?”

“Mr Rudja can arrange for us to stay,” Judd said. “Let's wait until after the funeral and figure out our next move.”

Lionel hesitated.

“What?” Judd said.

“I've been checking possible flights,” Lionel said. “Chloe Williams gave me the names of some pilots who have signed on with the believers' co-op.”

“What are you saying?” Judd said.

“If I can arrange a flight back to the States, I'm going ahead. You can come if you want.”

Judd felt his face flush with anger. “Can't you wait until we bury my friend? Don't you even care?”

Lionel sighed. “I know this is a rough time to bring it up. This may be our best shot.”

“Fine,” Judd said. “Make your plans.”

Judd briskly walked into a beautiful New Babylon sunset. The buildings glistened with light. The sight was stunning. But with the death of his friend and an uncertain future, it was more than he could bear. Judd stopped and tears rolled down his cheeks.

He met Nada at the corner of the building and they walked across a plaza and found a bench behind a row of shrubs. Nada put her head on Judd's shoulder. “I'm so sorry.”

“It's just beginning to sink in,” Judd said. “I know he's in a better place, but it went so fast.”

“You can be happy you were part of the reason he's in such a good place,” Nada said. “You were the one who told him about God.”

“It was one of the best things that's happened to me since the vanishings,” Judd said.

As they sat together, Judd spilled everything. He told her Lionel's plan to return to Illinois with Sam, Pavel's words to Judd the last time he had seen him, and what Judd had seen outside Dan Nieters' door.

Nada pulled away. “We have to go to Dan's apartment.”

“Lionel thinks it's a trap,” Judd said.

“Perhaps,” Nada said. “But maybe someone's there who knew Kasim. We could find out for sure about his decision.”

Judd tried to talk her out of it, but Nada said she would go alone if he didn't come with her.

“All right,” Judd said, “let's go.”

Vicki grabbed Conrad's arm. “What are you going to do?”

“Watch,” Conrad said.

Vicki followed him into the office. Pete was in the middle of a sentence but stopped. “What?”

Conrad looked closely at Traickin's forehead, then stepped back. “I know you used to be a senator, but I've got my doubts about you being one of us.”

“Conrad!” Pete shouted.

Chris Traickin held up a hand. “It's okay. I don't blame you for being suspicious.”

Pete was enraged. “How can you think . . . ?”

“I have my reasons,” Conrad said, “and the first is that mark on your forehead. There's something weird about it.”

“Looks the same to me,” Pete said, leaning forward.

“What do you see on my forehead?” Conrad said.

The man squinted in the dimly lit room. “The same thing I see on everybody else, a cross.”

“When did you first see yours?”

Traickin smiled. “I've never seen my own. Not even in a mirror. But I suppose it looks like yours.”

“This will stop right now!” Pete said.

Before Conrad could say anything, Traickin held up a hand. “You're probably wondering about this suit I'm wearing too.”

Conrad nodded. “Let's see you take it off and take one step ouside.”

“That's enough!” Pete shouted.

Traickin stopped Pete again. “It's a fair question. Two answers. Number one, I think it would be better for all of us if I wear this protective gear.”

“So you won't get stung,” Conrad said.

“No, in case we get stopped by the GC,” Traickin said, “I might be able to bluff my way around them in this costume.”

“What's the second reason?” Conrad said.

“It's kind of embarrassing,” Traickin said.

“Humor me.”

Traickin smiled. “Ever since I was a kid, I've had this fear of bugs. Maybe a spider crawled on me when I was little, I don't know. When I first got a look at those locusts, I was terrified. Even though I'm a believer, even though I'm an adult, I'm scared. I've stayed inside most of the time. I just can't stand the thought of having one of those things touch me.”

Conrad stared at the man. After an awkward silence, Traickin sighed. He unsnapped and unzipped his protective suit.

“What are you doing?” Pete said.

“It's obvious there's only one way to prove I'm the real thing. I'm going to take this off and head outside for a little chat with those slimy—”

“No, you're not,” Pete said. “This is ridiculous. You're one of us and that's that.”

Conrad turned away. Traickin put a hand on his shoulder. “Look at me.”

Conrad turned.

“I believe in God,” Traickin said. “My wife disappeared and I searched for answers. I found them on Tsion Ben-Judah's Web site. I asked God to forgive me and I gave him my life.”

Pete stood and hugged the man. “That's enough for me.” He looked at Conrad. “Are you satisfied?”

Conrad glanced at Traickin, then walked away.

Traickin looked at Vicki. “You believe me, don't you?”

Vicki smiled. “Of course. Conrad's been through a lot.” Pete grabbed more supplies and headed for the truck. “We'll leave as soon as Roger gets back.”

Judd and Nada rode the elevator and found Dan Nieters' apartment. They stood in the shadows by a stairwell and waited.

“Maybe I could get some tools and we could pick the lock,” Nada suggested.

“They'll hear us. Does Kweesa have an extra uniform?”

“A bunch.”

“What if we find something to deliver? A letter or a package?”

“And I could dress as a GC worker and get a look at whoever's in there,” Nada interrupted.

“I was thinking I would go.”

Nada smirked. “You wouldn't look good in her uniform.”

Judd watched the hallway while Nada went to Kweesa's room to change. She returned a few minutes later with a small package under her arm. “How do I look?”

“Pants are a little long, but I'd hire you,” Judd said. “What's in the package?”

“One of the GC handbooks autographed by Nicolae Carpathia himself.”

“You're kidding!” Judd said.

Nada smirked again. “Just signing the name made me feel powerful.”

“I'll wait here,” Judd said. “Promise you'll do what we agreed. Put the package on the floor, knock, and get out of there.”

“Why are we doing this if I can't talk with them about my brother?” Nada said.

“Let's see who opens the door. And remember to put the package in the hall so the person has to step out to get it.”

Nada kissed Judd on the cheek. “Just let us Global Community workers do our job, okay?”

Nada straightened her uniform and walked down the corridor. She slowed when she came to the apartment and put her ear to the door.

Come on,
Judd thought,
just knock and get out of there
.

Nada placed the package on the floor a couple of feet from the door.

Good job
.

Nada knocked lightly and put her eye to the peephole.

“Nada,” Judd whispered, “get out of there!”

She put a finger to her lips and pointed toward the door. “I think somebody's coming.”

Judd's heart beat faster. The elevator dinged. A man and woman got off the elevator and headed down another corridor.

A lock clicked. Judd glanced at Nada. She picked up the package as the door opened. “Someone at the front asked me to deliver this,” Nada said.

Her voice trailed as she straightened and looked at the person. Judd strained to see but couldn't.

Suddenly, Nada cried out and crumpled to the floor. Judd rushed to her. A man stepped out and said, “Help me get her inside.”

Judd dropped to the floor to help Nada but she was out cold. He stole a glance to see what had shocked her.

24

JUDD
couldn't believe his eyes. The man in the apartment had a dark beard and a mustache. On his forehead was the mark of the true believer.

The man picked Nada up and hurried inside. Judd closed the door and looked through the peephole. “I don't think anybody saw us.”

“Good,” the man said, placing Nada on a couch in the living room.

The apartment was dark. Blinds were drawn, and a flickering light came from a computer screen down the hall.

“She's out cold,” the man said, putting a hand to Nada's face. “I hope she didn't hit her head.” He hurried into the kitchen and brought ice in a plastic bag. He lifted Nada's head and gently placed the ice underneath. “Are you her boyfriend?”

“I guess you could say that,” Judd said.

“What do you mean, you guess?”

“Yes, I'm her boyfriend. What's your problem?”

The man gritted his teeth. “If you really cared about her, you wouldn't have brought her here.” He brushed hair from Nada's face and knelt beside her. “She should have stayed in Israel.”

“How did you know she was from Israel?”

Nada stirred. The man propped her head on his lap and whispered something in her ear. Finally, Nada opened her eyes.

“Is it really you?” Nada said. She reached out and touched the man's face.

“You're not dreaming,” the man said softly.

She pushed his hair away, revealing the mark of the true believer. Nada hugged him.

Judd paced.
How does Nada know this man? Is this one of her old boyfriends?

Nada sat up and slapped the man hard across the face. “Why didn't you tell us?”