Dead Dreams (22 page)

He gave a low chuckle. “She’s all ears, that one. I’ll have to be careful what I say around her. I did have a dream of you disappearing but I was telling your mom about the three dreams Joseph had.”

“Joseph with the multicolored cloak?”

“No, no. The other Joseph. Mary’s husband and Jesus’ adopted father.
He
had three dreams. too.”

I’d heard Christmas stories, of course—how an angel visited Mary and told her she would be with child—the angel also visited Joseph in a dream, asking him to marry Mary. “I wasn’t aware Joseph had that many dreams about Jesus. This is baby Jesus, right?”

“Right. Bear with me. I don’t know what trouble awaits you, but I highlighted some Bible passages to help you.”

“Sure.” Why not have a Bible-study in the middle of the night, in the hospital parking lot to calm my nerves? I sat there in the dark in my car and waited. I really didn’t want to be rude to this nice man. My mind was still on Sarah and Keith
Why couldn’t Keith have just come to me? Share his problems, whatever they were, that he and Sarah were facing? I’m his sister. Was it so beneath Mr. Big-Shot Architect to ask his nobody sister for help?

“Brie, you there?” Pastor Perry asked.

“Yes, yes.”

“Regarding Joseph’s first dream, the Bible said this: ‘Son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’ But, it was the second dream that I felt the Lord wanted me to share with you. May I read that?”

“Why not?” Preach on, Pastor.

“It comes from Matthew, chapter two. ‘An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”’ So, God warned Joseph about the trouble awaiting him as Satan sought to kill Jesus, and shortly after they left Israel, Herod ordered all the baby boys under the age of two to be massacred.”

“How’s that related to me, exactly? I’m not about to massacre any babies.”
Although, I could be persuaded to massacre one very spoiled heiress.

“Of course, you’re not going to hurt anyone. You have a kind heart, Brie. But, maybe it’s a warning.”

Like maybe someone was planning to massacre
me
? My heart pounded in my ears and suddenly the temperature in the car dropped. Was God dipping His head so low below the clouds and trying to warn one Brie O’Mara? Miss Gullible a la Naïve, herself?

“What was the third dream Joseph had?” I asked. Maybe there was something here.

“It’s also from the Book of Matthew, chapter two. ‘Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.’

“Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. ‘But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being
warned
by God in a
dream
, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.’ So, Joseph was first told to return to Israel, then warned by God to go to Galilee.”

“So, how is that related to me?” I asked again.

“God didn’t fill me in with details. All He told me was to relate those passages to you. But, I know He loves you, Brie, and wants you safe. These are dark times for you, and it’s not easy processing all that’s happened to your father. And you must be supportive of your mother—she needs you now more than anything.”

“
Well, she has Keith.”

“
I probably shouldn’t tell you now, but eventually you’re going to find out.”

The way he said this, my danger feelers tingled. “Find out, what?”

“
Keith’s going to be away for a few months; which means you’re going to—”

“
Wait! Where’s he going?”

“I don’t have the details, but he’s been posted overseas, or something, and he has to leave soon. Which means your mother—”

“Wait! How soon? When’s Keith leaving?” Was he planning to leave with Sarah and me? That could be awkward.

“In a few days. Like I said, I don’t have the details. I guess he didn’t think it a big deal before, but now with your dad so ill, it changes the picture, but he has already committed himself to this posting, and he doesn’t want to ruin his career.”

Of course, him being Mr. Ambitious.

My heart was beating so loudly I was sure Pastor Perry heard it. I found it hard to breathe, so I started the engine and brought the window down. “Do you know where exactly he’s posted to?”

“’Fraid not.”

“Thanks, Pastor. I appreciate it, really.” I swallowed a lump in my throat. “But don’t worry about me, okay? Dreams happen all the time. Besides, God had good reasons to give Joseph those dream. But, you forget, I’m not important like Jesus. I doubt anyone’s out to hurt me like that.” And I clicked the phone off before he could say anything else.

By the time I reached my apartment’s underground lot and parked, I was still seething with anger at Sarah for deceiving me about her relationship with Keith. My heart pounded like an angry woodpecker, and I reminded myself to inhale deeply. Several possibilities played in my mind, and I kept telling myself not to speculate until I had all the facts. But, one reality stood out: Sarah and Keith had deceived me.

And how was Jackson involved in this? I reached under my seat, where I’d stuffed the envelope of paperwork Jim had compiled for me. I’d picked it up but hadn’t had the chance to read through anything in there. I needed to catch my cool while I was still in the MiniCooper. Make some sense while I still had my sanity.

I drew the rubber-band-bound sheaf of papers out of the envelope and flipped through the dozen or so pages. Most were just articles about the Anderson and Partners, Attorneys-at-Law firm and a description of its services, which ran about a page. A short list of paralegals and names of two junior partners and one senior partner, an Italian-sounding name. A couple of newspaper write-ups in the
San Francisco Chronicle
and
San Jose Mercury
about the firm and its origin traced to West Virginia, the main partner having moved here four years back. I skimmed through everything in the dimness of the parking lot fluorescent light.

What caught my eye was the grainy picture of Jackson sitting on the edge of a desk. Jackson Anderson had a beefy face, a ruddy complexion, and a completely bald head. This was not the Jackson I had met at the bank! That Jackson had a full head of salt and pepper hair.

Instead of calming myself, this revelation further incensed me. Sarah must have hired that fake Jackson to fool the bank, knowing full well she’d never get the
real
Jackson to go along with her plan. This explained the brown bag that must have been filled with his pay. Where was the real Jackson? Maybe I could find him and spill the entire set-up to him. He’d know what to do.

I shoved the paperwork into the envelope and stuffed the package back under the driver’s seat. Now it was time for Sarah to face the music, and for me to get some answers.

My steps made loud thuds on the carpeted hallway that led to my front door. Once I stepped inside, I turned off the alarm and switched on the living room lamp next to the door. I half-expected Sarah to holler her complaint from my room about the beep of the alarm. Still, she was probably sleeping like an infant, what with the margarita and pill, and I shouldn’t have troubled myself by climbing that ledge and almost falling earlier. I’d left the front door of the vacant apartment next door unlocked. I’d take care of it after my serious talk with my split-tongued roommate. For now, nothing mattered but hearing what she had to say to justify her duplicity.

“Sarah!” I called her from outside the shut bedroom door. I pounded on it.

A rustle of papers behind me startled me. The
Elle
magazine Sarah had flipped through earlier sat on the kitchen table, its pages fluttering. Where was the draft coming from? Had I left something ajar? Come to think of it, the apartment felt more chilly than usual. An icy finger traced up my spine.

The sliding door that led to the balcony was open a crack. I could have sworn the slider had been shut tight when I’d left. I glanced at the microwave oven clock as I strode to close the sliding door. –2:13, the digital clock read. The alarm zone was set for every point of entry into the apartment except my bedroom window and Sarah’s. I hadn’t checked coming in to see if someone had re-adjusted the alarm to bypass this particular slider. Had Sarah left the apartment while I’d been gone? Why would she have done that? I hadn’t thought to check if her Jag was still parked in the usual lot. I recalled the red truck zooming past when I’d left. I wouldn’t put it past Sarah to have planned another early-morning rendezvous with her secret boyfriend. Did my brother know about her two-timing ways? And how would this affect his relationship with her?

The hair behind my neck prickled more. Another thought hit me. An intruder could be in the house. Possibly the same one who’d tried to take Sarah out that time. I stepped backwards two steps, and in the dim light of the living room’s standing lamp, I saw the kitchen knife on the counter. Arming myself might not be a bad idea.

I’d flung the LV backpack on the sofa when I’d come in and it felt miles away. If I could get to the bag, I could get my cell and call 911. I grabbed the knife and planted one foot in front of the other as I headed toward my LV—or rather, Sarah’s LV, since mine was still in the bedroom. Yet Sarah hadn’t responded, even with the ruckus I’d made. Was she in my room? Or was it someone else?

I glanced at the glass coffee table, but the note I’d stashed under the vase was gone. She must have found it—and what? Split for her nightly tryst with Mr. Red Truck, who might just be Keith? He did gravitate toward flashy-colored cars. Half of me hoped she was two-timing him.

I kept still and strained my ears. A rattling sound came from the bedroom Sarah was supposed to be sleeping in. If I dashed into the room, I could scare the intruder. But, with the racket I’d made, the intruder was probably gone. Unless he was waiting for me.

Where was Sarah? Nothing was making sense.