Web of Deceit (24 page)

“I know the Bible,
girl, and have read it several times!” Mrs. Freedman says in her defense as she
moves closer to her target, now on foot pursuing her prey.

“You keep saying
that, but you miss the most important part. Jesus can set us free.” Beth
watches the clothing racks in the direction of the mad woman. “I gave my life
to God today, and when I asked him to forgive me, he gave me peace. You can’t
find it on earth, and it can’t be bought. I know this because I have searched
for it since I was eleven years old. And, Jesus was there the whole time
waiting for me to believe.”

Bang!

A bullet hits Beth
in her right shoulder, spinning her around. “Augh!” Beth screams as the impact
of the bullet sends her crashing through the mannequins and landing hard
against the display window.

*   *   *

“Beth, where are
you!” Symphony says as she stomps on the gas pedal and lets out a scream of
frustration. “Augh! When is this nightmare called life going to end!?” Symphony
turns onto the highway towards Boston. Symphony flips open Beth’s phone and
presses
Send
on the last number that called her and listens as it rings
four times before …

“Hello?” Sarah
answers.

“Sarah,” Symphony
says, happy to hear a familiar voice. “I can’t find Beth. Have you heard
anything?”

“They aren’t
telling me anything, and Elliot is being loaded into the ambulance. But I did
hear a voice on the radio say they had a 911 call from a mall about ten minutes
ago. They said it was approximately fifteen minutes outside of Boston.”

“Do you think it’s
Beth?”

“I don’t know, but
two officers ran to their cars and took off right after the call.”

“I must be just
ahead of them. I’ll check out the Townsend Mall just in case.”

“Good idea.” Sarah
pauses a moment. “Please be careful, Symphony. Without God in your life, it’s
like playing with matches and gasoline. If you die without choosing him, you
will go to hell. I’m praying for you.”

“Um … thanks, and
don’t worry, I’ll save Beth.”

“Beth is safe in
the arms of God. It’s you I’m worried about.”

“OK, I’ll call ya
when I find her.”

“Thank you.” Sarah
gets the hint to end the conversation. In a sweet voice she says, “God loves
you.”

She really
believes all that stuff about God. I wish I could believe. It would be nice to
have something to look forward to after I die. I’m pretty unlucky though. I’d
find away to mess that up to. After all this is over, I’ll find myself a hobby.
Maybe then I’ll find the peace and happiness Sarah’s talking about. That’s what
it is—believing in God is her hobby. Well, that’s not exactly what I’m into
right now. That’s it. I ran into Avery last week, and he said he was going hang
gliding at the cape, and it’s as close to flying like a bird as you can get.
That would be true freedom, flying in the air with nothing around you except
the birds and wind. That’d be awesome. I’d probably have to jump off a mountain
… “Hey! That’s it!” Symphony squeals the tires as she takes a sharp right onto
the exit. She whips the wheel so fast the car almost slides into the concrete
embankment flanking the ramp. Regaining control, she races for the mall
entrance on the other side of a traffic signal turning red. In a blur, she
drops a gear and punches the accelerator. She gains speed as she nears the
light, and she takes a quick glance from left to right.
All clear.
Symphony barrels through the red light and takes a sharp right into the empty
parking lot.

“Man! What’s
that?” Symphony reaches the mall entrance and hears the alarms. “Wow.” She
slows down enough to get a better view of the gaping hole in the mall’s main
entrance. “The doors are smashed.”

Bang!

Symphony hears the
distant gunshot.
That came from the other side
. Symphony pops the clutch
and presses the accelerator, turning right, still stepping on the gas as she
rounds the front of the mall nearing the east side. The Corvette’s exhaust
bellows in response.

Symphony sees a
man in a wheelchair nearing an old Ford truck and drives in his direction.
Symphony tromps on the brake pedal engaging the anti-lock system. The car comes
to an abrupt halt.

“Hey, what’s goin’
on?” Symphony asks.

“Someone has lost
their mind and they’re chasing a young woman in the mall with a gun. She’s
trying to escape through JC Penney. Over there.” The man points toward the
mall. “Can you help her?”

“Yep,” Symphony
says as the Vette’s wheels chirp, and she speeds away from Sydney. Symphony
shines her high beams on JC Penney’s storefront. Beth is up against the glass,
and Mrs. Freedman is to the left raising her gun. She hears sirens.
Sorry
guys, I’m not stopping.
She stomps the gas pedal all the way to the floor.

Fifty yards before
the front of the car impacts the window, Symphony focuses on Mrs. Freedman.
I
hate clichés, but, “the more you run over a dead cat, the flatter it gets.”
Glass
shatters as the car impacts the storefront and crashes to the floor, stopping
exactly where Mrs. Freedman was.

*   *   *

To protect herself
from flying glass, Mrs. Freedman drops her gun to the floor and covers her face
as she runs to safety, avoiding the falling vehicle.

*   *   *

Spotting the
cowardice, Symphony backs the car up and lunges forward sending several clothing
racks flying. She stops three feet from Mrs. Freedman and rolls her window down
and glares at her. “This time I won’t miss!” Symphony holds the brake, revs the
engine and readies herself to flatten Mrs. Freedman.

“No! Symphony!
Don’t do it. I’m OK!” Beth pleads for Mrs. Freedman’s life.

“She needs to
die!” Symphony says loudly enough for Beth to hear.

“It’s not up to
us. God will take care of it. Please don’t bring yourself down. I’m begging
you.”

“OK, but I’m not
moving until the police have her in cuffs. One false move, and you become part
of the décor. Symphony warns Mrs. Freedman.

“Please, my little
imperfections, together we can change the world!”

“Talking counts.”
Symphony stomps the gas and break pedal again, quickly enough to lurch forward
and stop inches from Mrs. Freedman.

Mrs. Freedman
collapses.

“Just kidding.”
Symphony says, returning to her monotone voice.

As Symphony gets
out of the car, a policeman enters the room. “Don’t move!” he says loudly
enough to be heard over the alarms.

“It’s the old
woman on the floor in front of the car.” Beth directs him away from Symphony.
“And can someone please shut off those annoying alarms!”

“I have a key for
that,” Sydney says from outside the window, elated Beth is alive.

Pushing the rubble
out of the way, Symphony reaches for Beth and helps her to her feet.

“You know, you are
beginning to sound like Sarah.” Symphony helps Beth through the rubble and
leads her out of the storefront through the shattered window.

“Thank you!” Beth
says. “It’s true, Symphony, everything that Sarah has told us about God. He has
given me peace that I couldn’t imagine.”

“Praise God!”
Sydney shouts with glee.

“What is this, an
epidemic?” Symphony asks.

“Oh Symphony,
after all that has happened, don’t you believe?” Beth asks.

“I believe you
have become a human being and are no longer an untouchable princess,” Symphony
scoffs.

Sydney places his
hand on Beth’s shoulder to comfort her. “Don’t underestimate the power of
prayer, Beth,” he says. “God opened your eyes, and he’ll open Symphony’s too.”

“Yeah, you’re
right.” Beth throws her good arm over Symphony’s shoulder. “We’re gonna keep
praying, and you’ll see his love through us.” She gives Symphony a tender shake
and then finishes with a big kiss on her cheek.

“Um … space
bubbles are still a good thing,” Symphony says without emotion, causing sweet
old Sydney to burst out in laughter as they continue toward the ambulance.

Beth’s phone
vibrates in Symphony pocket. “I almost forgot, here’s your phone, Beth.”
Symphony opens it for her.

“Thanks. Hello?”
Beth says.

“Beth. Thank God.
I was worried about you,” Elliot says. “They found Kelly’s body.  She’s …”

“I know.  She died
helping me.  Her last words were ‘I believe.’  We’ll see her again. So much has
happened. I can’t wait to tell you everything. God literally lead me to
safety.  I could hear his voice.”

“Sweet, I wanna
hear all about it.”

“We’re on our way
to the hospital, I’ll call you when I get their,” Beth says. “Hey, I’m sorry I
tried to slap you when …”

Elliot interrupts,
“No, I shouldn’t have …”

“No Elliot,” Beth
says. “I …”

“For cryin’ out
loud,” Symphony says, eavesdropping. “Tell him you love him and let’s go
already.”

“Elliot, we’ll do
this later,” Beth says, laughing as she presses “end”.

Beep. Beep.

Beth presses
“enter” to read the text message: “Hello, my beautiful, beautiful, girls.” Beth
shakes her head. “Wow, this guy doesn’t give up. It seems there’s another mess
that needs cleaning, Symphony. Are you feeling up to it?”

“Does it involve a
raise?” Symphony asks, smiling.

“Yes.”

“I’m there.”

“Frank, you
awake?” Elliot asks in a low voice, peeking his head through the hospital door.

“Elliot, it’s
about time.” Frank reaches up to turn on the light mounted above his bed. “I
heard you got shot, but it’s been two days. You’re kinda milkin’ it out a bit
don’t ya think,” He teases.

Elliot checks his
hospital gown and bathrobe as he limps through the door. “Yeah, yeah. Keep it
up old man. I’m back on the Force, and I got my eye on your position.”

“I heard someone
was eying my spot. I can rest easy now, knowing I’ve got no worries.” Frank
grins and reaches his hand out to greet Elliot. “So, what’s going on?” Frank
asks in a more serious tone. “I heard Joanna got electrocuted.”

“Yeah, Sarah
Perkins’ parents have been keepin’ me up to date on everyone. Joanna’s in a
burn unit, and they said she’s responding to the treatments. I guess she’s been
askin’ when she can get back to work, so apparently the shock only hurt the
outside.”

“What about
everyone else? I haven’t seen anyone accept the captain.”

“Yeah, they’re not
sure who’s been hypnotized and who hasn’t. So, they got us all under quarantine
until they’re positive we can’t harm ourselves or anyone else.”

“That explains the
late visit,” Frank says in a knowing voice.

“Yeah.”

“What about that
little girl? Did you find her?”

“Vicky and her mom
are under quarantine too. Beth is hooking them up with a job and a place to
live at the hotel.”

“She’s a good
girl, Elliot.” Frank raises an eyebrow. “Better not let that one slip away.”

Elliot rubs his
temples with the palms of both hands then runs his fingers back through his
hair, letting a chuckle escape. “Apparently, Symphony drove the Vette through a
store window to save Beth.”

Frank bursts out
laughing. “Do you think your car’s mechanic will be able to buff that out?”

“Nah, I decided to
take you up on that offer to trade her in for your mini-van.” Elliot grins.

“Finally,” Frank
says as a police officer opens the door.

“Elliot, you’re
not supposed to leave your room. Captain’s orders,” the officer says.

“Yeah, yeah.”
Elliot waves to Frank and follows the officer into the hall.

“I better be the
best man,” Frank says.

“Wouldn’t have it
any other way,” Elliot says, as the door closes behind him.

Psalms
142:4  I looked on
my
right hand, and beheld, but
there was
no
man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

Psalms
94:11  The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they
are
vanity.

Psalms
139:2  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my
thought afar off.

Job 42:2 
I know that thou canst do every
thing,
and
that
no thought can be
withholden from thee.

Isaiah
55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and
let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God,
for he will abundantly pardon.

1Peter
5:6-7  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may
exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Revelation
22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, “Surely I come quickly.” Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.