Wings of Deception (39 page)

“Okay
,
so say I now believe that there may have been….uh….unnatural forces present there that night. Just tell me what you think and leave it to me to
d
ec
i
de if I want to believe it or not.”

Dwight pulled up a chair close to the bed and sighed, “Here it is. I think you were intended to be used by a demonic entity….or rather your body would have hosted this….demon
,
if you had crossed over into that circle. The ritual was set in place and you were the chosen vessel.”

“So you are telling me
,
that
Asa
would have controlled my body
,
if I had gone through with the thing?”

“Yes and I further believe that the man Garrett
,
took your place at the last minute and what was meant for you went to him.
”

“Garrett….the fool, and what happened to
Asa
, well the old man?”

“I am sure he was dead when he hit the floor
,
so the demon
was released
into Garrett’s body
immediately
.”

Jacks looked suddenly
sad
and Dwight hastened, “You must realize that the body
Asa
was in before
was stolen too, that this entity has been doing this for many years, ever since creation.”

Jacks’ was sure he was hearing truth but if he agreed with this explanation
of demonic forces
, would
not
he have to admit there was
also
a God? He thought of the angels.

“I saw Carol’s angels.”

“I am not surprised.”

“There were thousands all around.”

“The Word tells us
it is so.”

“I have denied God all my life, how do I suddenly believe in
H
im?”

“I think deep down, you already do.
”

“But where was He
,
when I was a child and needed
Him
?”

“Never far away, I assure you. May I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“If your life had been different would you have grown up to help the many children you have helped?”

“Probably not.”

“So, you can understand that sometimes we have to live certain circumstances in order to fulfill our destiny. God always knows what He is doing Jacks
,
and
He knew your destiny before you did.”

“Tell me how Jesus comes into all this.
”

Dwight smiled, “It is all about Him. I could quote you many scriptures but there is one which sums it up. Colossians 2:9: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. You have to feel it in your heart Jacks and when you
do
,
you will not need anyone to tell you He is real, you will know it.

“I understand. Thank you Dwight, you have given me
much
to think about.
T
he girls, do you
think
they should
not
know what you
suspect
happened?”

“That is just it, what I
suspect
happened, we can
not
know that Garrett is now
Asa
,
unless we see him again and I hope we never do. Just my thinking that we should
not
alarm those two
,
anymore than they already are. They are worried enough as it is
.”

“I guess you are right,
it sure
spooks me.” Jacks laughed but Dwight knew what he meant. He was pretty spooked himself but at least he had the assurance that God was always in control. It must be hard not hav
ing
that when you were faced with advers
ity
.

The
women
showed up and Dwight said his good-byes to Honey and Jacks. Sheila walked him to the elevator.

“I will call you when I get home. Looks like Jacks
’
is doing well and you three
may
be right behind me.”

“Yeah, but the doctor said he would release him only if he checked in at the hospital back home as soon as he gets there. I had no idea how extensive his surgery was! They had to take out….”

Dwight stopped her. “Hey, I got to run if I am to make this flight. I do
not
want our last words to be about Jacks. I want you to know that I really do love you Sheila and I am so happy that God has given me another chance to love and be loved. You and Honey be careful and when you get home
,
we will plan an engagement party
. I want everyone to know just how thankful I am that you came into my life.”

“It was a long speech for him and Sheila was touched by his sincerity. She reached up and kissed him lightly on his lips and told him, “I do so love you too! We are going to be the most happy, perfect family ever! Now go on
,
before you make me cry!”

He stepped into the elevator and when the door shut
,
Sheila walked back to the room to find Honey and Jacks in earnest conversation. Rather than to disturb them she walked back down the hallway to give them more time alone.

When she returned
,
they visited until the nurses ran them out
de
spite Jack’s protests. They said goodnight and left hoping not to have to wait
too long
for a taxi back to the hotel.
Just their luck, o
ne was sitting right there when they exited the building.

“What luck, come on!” Sheila was already claiming it and Honey laughed at her. They were sliding into the back seat as Sheila defended her actions.

“Hey, I know this place and if you don’t watch it
,
someone will grab a taxi right out from under you….this is New York, remember? Take us to Thirty-fourth and Lincoln.” She directed the driver.

They never made it back to the hotel.

                                                                        TWENTY-NINE

Jacks answered his phone when
Dwight
rang the next morning.

“What do you mean
?
T
hey never showed back up at the hotel last night? They left here and said they were going straight there and get some rest.
You guys hung out here at the hospital the whole night before
.
I know you were all tired out.
”
Jacks
said as he
sat up on the bed.

“
I know
. T
hat
is
what the clerk
told me. She never saw them come in
and they would have to go by the front desk to
g
et
to
the rooms.
N
either
are
answering their cells. I called Sheila last night and left a message
.
T
his morning both
phones
say the party is unavailable. I
am
worried Jacks
.
M
aybe those people are retaliating
at
us
for
upsetting their plans.”

“Have you called the police?”

“I called
them
just before I called you
. T
hey say they can’t do anything until they have been missing for twenty-four hours. I was
not
able to reach the detectives
. I
thought you might
try
. They said yesterday that they wanted to talk to you. Will you let me know what you find out?”

“Yeah
,
I will
. Don’t
go worrying too much
.
T
here is probably a good explanation. Sheila knows a lot of people here and they may have stayed overnight with some
of her
friends.”

“You really think that could be it? Then why not answer the phones? No
.
I think something has happened to them
.
I am going to come back
there
as soon as I can make arrangements for Gem.”

“Hold off on that Dwight, until I call you back. Let me check on a few things first.”

He would hate to see him waste a trip. They were most likely as he had said, with friends. Then why
weren’t
they answering their phones?

“Okay
.
I
f I do
not
hear something real soon
,
I am on my way back!”

Jacks made a few calls to people he knew
,
that
also
knew Sheila
. N
o one had seen or heard from her. He then scrambled around trying to find the card that Cranford and Purcell had left the morning before
,
when they came to talk. He was getting
terribly
frustrated
,
when he finally found it and called the number.
He explained to Purcell his concern about Sheila and Honey. The man told him that he and Cranford were coming to the hospital and would stop by the hotel on their way.

Within the hour they were in his room.

“Did you guys find them?” Jacks asked anxiously as they entered the room.

Cranford shook his head. “They never returned to their room last night. We put an APB out on them and got our people checking out all the
taxis
for the time frame you say they left here. We are just waiting to hear something. Meanwhile, we need to ask you some questions about what happened on that rooftop the other night.”

“
That’s fine, but I am more concerned about my friends right now.”

Purcell was looking at his notes and said, “We understand and believe me we are doing everything possible to locate them. I am curious as to what you think may have happened to them?”

Jacks did not answer right away and when he did he was truthful
. N
ot to be would do no good.

“I think
Asa
has them
.
I believe he is angry with me and wants to strike out. What better way than to kidnap Honey and Sheila.”

“How well do you know this man?”

“I met him only a few months ago. He claimed to be my grandfather.”

“And you believed him?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Why?”

“Because he had a letter from my mother….and he carries the same marks that I do.”

“What kind of marks?”

Jacks blushed
push
ing
past
the
embarrassment he was feeling. “There is an unusual birthmark on my groin, and he has the same. He said it has been in the males
of our family
for generations.”

“What is so unusual about it?”

“It is a circle with an x inside it.”

The two men looked at one another and Jacks knew they thought he was crazy.

“Look, no one has ever seen this thing….except
maybe
….”

“We get
it. T
here must be quite a few women in your past
.
G
o on.”

Purcell smiled at Jack’s discomfort.

“The letter he had told him that I carried the mark
,
so when I first met him uh, he showed me his.”

“Okay
. I
f he was,
or is, your grandfather, why would he want to hurt you
?
It makes no sense.”