Divine Destruction (The Return of Divinity Book 1) (26 page)

“Thursday,” was all Itishree could muster.

“I’ll be at your place in twenty minutes,” Griffin announced.

“I’ll need twice that time you evil man.”

Griffin laughed. Itishree laughed.

“I’ll see you soon,” Griffin said.

"Go with God," Itishree said and ended the call.

The way she said 'Go with God' gave him chills. He could feel a confirmation from Gabriel. And then a calm came over Griffin. Gabriel suffused a certainty. Together they had reached a milestone. Itishree and Griffin believed.

Goosebumps rolled across his skin.

“Thank you,” Gabriel said in their mind. His mental voice rich with comforting tones. “In the days to come there is much to teach you and Itishree before she gives the first words of our Lord.”

Griffin didn't reply. Gabriel could deliver such comments, at any time, that would shake him. He subdued his fear and drove. Remembering Itishree needed more time, he exited and topped off the gas tank taking his time.

Pulling from the station Griffin asked, “Will we be in danger in New York?”

“Yes, there will be much danger from here until this world changes forever,” Gabriel toned in his mind.

Griffin's thoughts were of Itishree.

“I will be with you and Itishree. God is with us and we dwell within God,” Gabriel added.

Griffin didn't know what to make of the last statement, '..dwell within God'. It puzzled him. He could feel Gabriel giving the puzzlement some consideration but wasn't speaking up.

Driving, Griffin's mind chased at several thoughts at once. He tried to prioritize his thoughts into what he wanted to know and what he needed to know. And, then by order. Within a few breaths he was losing the order of his thoughts. The frustration was beginning to sour him. They both noticed.

“Be at peace Griffin. You and Itishree will be protected. As I dwell within you, together we dwell within God,” Gabriel said in his mind.

He gave some thought to Gabriel's edited statement. “Is there meaning here? Are you explaining the previous statement?” Griffin asked to them both.

“Griffin, be with Itishree today,” Gabriel added. “To love is to be in the moment with another. Focus there. Learn to live within the shared moments between you and Itishree. She is more important than we. She is the foundation of what time remains for humanity. You are the vessel. She is the voice.”

They drove for several minutes without a shared thought or word. Griffin churning over Gabriel's words. Gabriel monitoring the acceptance of those words.

He pulled the car up to the curb in front of the apartment and waited. Itishree came out of the apartment with a smile. The kind of smile that blanks out suns. He was instantly transported to a happier place. From within a warmth flowed over him. Griffin felt he would melt. He knew part of this sensation was from him and partly from Gabriel.

“How long will I have with Itishree?” Griffin asked watching Itishree cross the lawn.

Gabriel said in his mind, “You will be with them both until the end.”

“Both?” Griffin asked.

He had to ward against shaking his teeth out from that statement. Itishree was at the car and he was running around to open the door for her.

“There are a few of us left,” Griffin said to Itishree as she waited. Her smile threatened to blind Griffin.

“I like it,” Itishree said getting into Griffin's rental.

He had taken to renting cars once he knew he, or they, were being followed.

“Shopping?” Griffin asked.

“A girl always loves to shop,” Itishree replied.

Griffin dropped the car into gear and sped away.

Identities

Joe was furious and even more convinced Mr. DeLuca was his prime suspect. Suspect of what Joe couldn't decide. Did DHS have a category for assisting alien life? Would this life form be considered an alien? Foreign to United States sovereignty? He would have to give his department head, Arthur Graves, a call and ask for his assistance. One does not run into these circumstances everyday. Best to be cautious and thorough.

It was now afternoon and Mr. DeLuca had not been located. Seems his listed cell phone had not been used for several days. The car, registered to Mr. DeLuca, had sat in the suspect’s driveway for as many days. Which could only mean Mr. DeLuca was on to them. He was somehow aware he was being watched. Or, was under the instructions to hide his involvement and therefore, movements since the arrival of “Captain Flashlight.”

Both were grave conclusions. Mr. DeLuca, and “Captain Flashlight” were up to no good. Meaning, they were a threat to national security. Joe made another mental note, then a physical note, to notify his department head of latest during their morning briefing. Arthur would be just as excited as he and would give Joe that missing item he usually over looked. For these reasons Joe enjoyed his working relationship with his boss. They complemented each other. Joe the eyes and ears. Arthur the ever thinking mind.

Bryce came to the office door and rapped quietly on the frame. The door was open. Joe never closed his door. It was his real 'open door' policy. What he said to one he could say to all of his team, or it wasn't worth saying.

“Boss, we have something,” Bryce said bringing a notepad to a reading position.

“Seems Mr. DeLuca picked up another phone the day he stopped using his normal cell. We had track from that day forward and check the video feeds of every phone provider outlet for ten miles in every direction,” Bryce said.

“Curious is that we watched the feed and the phone registered at the moment of activation was in the name of a George Flickman.” Bryce looked at Joe for a moment. A look of concern crumpled his face.

“Using the same process, and from the parking lot footage we know he is using car rentals. We caught him at Avis down on Stanwick Street. But, again, the activated rental time coded to the video feed was for a …” Bryce was saying and Joe cut in.

“George Flickman?” Joe asked.

“No,” Bryce answered. “A Theodore Brenston.”

“So,” Joe exhaled, “Mr. DeLuca has obtained multiple identities?”

“But the funny thing is,” Bryce said looking up from his notepad, “Every ID he's used comes up valid. In this day and age, a spoofed ID will raise many flags. You just can't make up people. Every person is real, seemingly.”

“Seemingly?” Joe asked.

“Seemingly,” Bryce replied. “Each raises no flags and each has multiple duplications.”

“Meaning?” Joe asked.

“Meaning, there are six George Flickman's. Four alive. Two recently deceased. Nine Theodore Brenston's. All alive. All with established histories and activities, both Theodore and George,” Bryce said.

“Mr. DeLuca is, apparently, a master identification thief in a time of that being a near impossibility,” Joe said, adding, “Have you beacon'd his new cell?”

“Chris is doing that now. We should have his location in,” Bryce checked his watch, “ten - fifteen minutes.”

“I want a team of four, in suites,” Joe said as he stood and reached for his jacket. “I want to confront this fucker where ever we find him.”

Bryce gave a sharp, “Yes sir, I'll call in the request,” and left Joe's door way.

Joe pushed out behind him and went for the door.

Griffin and Itishree shopped with a seriousness each never imagined. After Griffin explained that it would be best if they didn't go back to their residences before leaving, Itishree became fierce in her need to replace the few comforts she brought from India. His mind wandered in Itishree's presence. Gabriel would prod Griffin now and again, but Griffin put the solemnity aside and tried to enjoy the day. When he would see Itishree purchase an item he needed to cover the same purpose, Griffin become more involved in his own purchases. Itishree would giggle. He would smile.

Griffin didn't press their growing relationship. He had little experience with Indian women. Well, okay, no experience. He also realized he had little experience with women or relationships. He resigned to caution. And, when that failed, he just relaxed and became himself. After all they were preordained to occupy each other's time for years to come. Could he get fired from such a role? Would Itishree grow tired of him? Could they become closer? Again, Griffin had to talk himself into relaxing. Gabriel didn't answer his lesser questions throughout the day. And, for that, Griffin was grateful. He knew the thoughts racing threw their minds were driven from ego and bordered childish. But, his feelings for Itishree were strong. And Itishree seemed to genuinely enjoy his company.

They shopped for two solid hours in and around a mall outside the far reaches of western Pittsburgh. After what Griffin had witnessed the day before, he was staying clear of downtown.

They walked back to the car and deposited a few more bags into the car's trunk. Griffin opened the door for Itishree again which earned a short laugh from Itishree.

“If you would let me open and close my own door, we may be able to contain this shopping experience to a single day,” she said.

Griffin smiled and asked, “Are you sure? I enjoy it.”

“Yes, please Griffin. I can open my own door,” Itishree said and leaned over towards him.

Griffin leaned to meet her. They kissed. A small sweet exchange.

Itishree opened her eyes and said, “I already know all you're trying to convey.”

She withdrew and squared herself back into her seat.

“Oh you do?” Griffin more stated than asked.

“Yes,” she said looking at him. Her eyes narrowed and she presented a look of mischief.

Griffin had enough experience to know what that look meant. He drank in her sultry expression and began to allow himself a reaction when Gabriel made a disproving tone in their minds.

“We’ll talk about this later,” Griffin thought to their minds.

Gabriel made no response.

They drove to the sprawling retail complex on the opposite side of the highway. Griffin mentioned there was a sporting goods store where they could pick up comfortable and durable shoes. Parking the car, Griffin asked Itishree if she was hungry and checked his watch and saw the it was nearly lunch time.

“No, I'm too excited and involved to be hungry yet,” she purred in a heavy accent letting her purposeful English slip away.

“I love your accent,” Griffin said getting out of the car.

She stood smiling and said, “I love your eyes.”

They entered the sporting goods mega store and headed to the back where Griffin knew they displayed the shoes. They walked through display after display of synthetic clothing with outrageous colors. Tall brand banners covered the walls on either side, proclaiming their superiority over the other brands. Itishree walked closer to Griffin and took his hand. They bisected the remaining isles holding onto each other. Neither spoke. Griffin felt he would melt. Itishree seemed at peace. They glided through the store without acknowledging the connection between them. They were within each other. Floating in each other's aura.

Once they hit the shoes they formulated a plan. Bring back their collection to a single bench and try on the shoes.

“See you soon,” Itishree said smiling.

“This bench,” Griffin pointed with his chin as he turned toward the men's shoe section.

Itishree headed in the opposite direction.

Griffin preferred cross trainers and low purpose hiking shoes. Within a few minutes he had two styles of each piled on the bench. Itishree had dropped two boxes, he saw. One looked like a cross between a sneaker and sandals. The other pair was a medium purpose shoe, similar to a cross trainer. Did women have cross trainers? Griffin wondered.

Griffin saw Itishree round an end cap in the women's running shoe isle and they exchanged glances and smiles. She slide down the nearer isle. Griffin turned to his left thinking of searching a modified sandal for himself. As his gaze passed over the main isle of the store, he saw a man he recognized. He had dark features, dark sunglasses, and was wearing a suit. It was his head shape and suit that Griffin recalled. He stood frozen between shoe displays trying to remember where he had first seen this character.

The suited man was searching intently for something in the store. His actions were not that of a shopper looking for the hottest driver or camouflage gear. This guy was out of place. Hell, he would be out of place almost anywhere. Griffin swore.

He darted down the nearest isle toward the back wall, and then left into the women's section of the shoe department. Two rows over he found Itishree looking into boxes.

“Help me find a size eight?” she asked.

“Stay back here until I return,” Griffin ordered Itishree. “We have company in the store. I think someone is looking for me.”

“Really?”

“Yes really,” He walked by Itishree towards the front of the store.

Itishree followed Griffin to the end of the isle and strained to look over the displays and the store floor.

Griffin stopped at the displays beyond the row and scanned the clothing racks for the suited man. From his far left, he emerged from the Golf equipment kiosk. He continued to wear a hunter expression.