Chapter 23
The Assassination
The briefing started a mobilization of a well-planned attack on Federal offices and strongholds. It was meant to be swift and decisive with minimum damage. They had been waiting for a sign from God on the right time. The murder of the President's wife was that sign to them. It was just disruptive enough to cause the U.S. to fall apart and give believers a chance to regain control over important and strategic points of power.
Most of this had to do with the radio, TV, and newspapers. They considered them the seeds of power. Wheeling was considered the most important place to start such an attack. No troops would engage, just a mass of firepower at the right places to control government long enough to get God's message and the truth out to the general public.
When Jeff walked through the commune, he worried for a second that he didn't have any jeans to give them, but suddenly forgot it. This wasn't a trade commune. This was a military base. All he saw for miles surrounded by the high walls and covered with camouflage material, were tanks, troops, heavy artillery, including a fleet of Apache helicopters. This whole base was part of a civil defense center for the National Guard Army that was abandoned years ago. It was so covered with overgrowth that the camouflage was almost not needed.
Sal felt her heart jump into her throat. All this firepower scared the "willies" out of her. This was like the beginning of an Armageddon. The total number of troops located in this small area and in its underground bunkers was 250,000. This was something neither of them could imagine. Here was all this firepower, and two teenagers were going to save the day.
Jeff spoke first, "I never realized that this was going on."
"No one did. We aren't stupid. Just because we're believers doesn't mean we don't know how to protect ourselves. This country is worth fighting for. Nothing will stop us. We're proud of you two. You're the trigger to regain the U.S. The minute after Cassidy is dead, our new candidate will announce the Christian Alliance's intention of running for office in November, and beside Monica Johnson will be your friends, Alex and Abigail. This is a great moment for the world," replied a general wearing a decorated marine uniform.
"As soon as the broadcast is live, other Christian Alliance forces will be moving in Britain, Canada and Ireland. This is a consolidated front. We can't pull out of the EU conglomerate yet, but we'll have to eventually. When we do, we have to be strong enough to withstand an attack from Montplier's group. They won't stand by and let us fall away that easily. We have to be ready, and we will be," replied another Air Force general, continuing the speech.
Sal and Jeff slept until near five that evening and were awakened in a start, then taken out into the compound by separate units of a well-equipped militia. A colonel with a redfish on his ball cap and one on his forehead talked to them after handing them sandwiches and some Gatorade. "You have exactly 30 minutes to get to and across the river. We can't help you. Your raft is inflated, but you can't afford a small motor, too much noise. You'll have to row. Too many of us will draw too much attention. They probably won't bother with two civilian teenagers on the river, especially after what we have planned. They'll think of you as insignificant."
"We've set up charges all over Wheeling. The bridges will go first, then we've set up explosives all over town in empty buildings to keep casualties down. They'll be so busy that they'll never notice you. Even if they did, they'll not bother with you anyway. The charges will start going off 15 minutes after you leave shore. You'll have just enough time to get to the capitol before they close; and about the time that the security guards change their shift. The sun is going down directly in their eyes. Even if someone could see what's on the river, the sun would blind them."
"I hope what you call insignificant, and what I call it means the same thing," remarked Jeff sarcastically.
Other marines helped them carry the boat down to the river. Nikki jumped in first, then Sal while Jeff handled the rowing. The marines gave them an enthusiastic push and saluted them in respect. The marines pulled back from the bank and hid in the bushes. The current was running slowly, which helped. They started upstream by a half-mile to compensate for the current, and it seemed that the calculations were on the money. They could see the capitol with its wide bay windows facing the river just ahead of them. The lights showed the shadows of several people pacing back and forth in the upper stories.
Cassidy asked Pendwight, "Were there any catches from the Southern checkpoints?"
"Yes, there were a hundred who weren't marked, and we've taken them to our PEC Centers."
"What about that dog?"
"Twenty of them had dogs. We put them all to sleep, already. Is that sufficient?"
"Maybe, maybe not. I still have this feeling, and it's getting stronger."
She approached the window, but the sun was so bright she couldn't stand to look out just now. "Why in the world did someone build a view of the river facing the sun like this? It's blinding this time of day."
"Guess you can't have it all here in Wheeling. I used to get away from the evening glare by moving to the other side of the suites, at least, before Terrone came back. Have you seen him lately?" he asked.
"No, he has room service bring him his meals and just reads all the time. I haven't seen him in a week. At least he's out of my hair until this Sunday's event is over. We're counting down now, aren't we?"
"Yes, the planes are on alert. We're ready. Nothing will happen until you give the signal. This red flash drive contains all the passwords and orders with all the targets. Once you send the e-mail with the attachment, the deed is done. It will go simultaneously to all the headquarters in each state."
Explosions rocked the bridges on both sides of the capitol. Concrete and metal fell into the river completely disabling one bridge and part of another. The kids kept rowing until they were across the river. Just then, ten different explosions took out harmless but effective abandoned buildings on the far side of town away from the capitol with only two nearby, but enough to shake the ground around them while they ran for the White House.
"What in the heck is that?" screamed Cassidy while trying to see. The screams downstairs had people running from the building into the streets.
Terrone came from his wing and looked out at the mayhem and only said, "I told you we're the bad guys," then went back into his study and closed the door.
"Ignore that idiot! Find out what's going on! Do it now!" she screamed at Pendwight. He tried to call down to the guard station, but it was busy, and he hung up angrily.
"Give me the flash drive. I don't trust anyone with it but me," she commanded as she grabbed it from him.
"I'm keeping this one close to me," she said and sat down watching the clock and wishing the hours would slide by. She wanted to do it now, but held back. Timing was everything.
Jeff and Sal walked up the steps to the first checkpoint. "We're here to see Professor Pendwight. Here's a letter from his niece in Sewanee."
The guard had already made a bad mistake second guessing Eddie not long ago. He cautiously regretted having to bother Pendwight at all. He nodded in courtesy and reluctantly said, "Just step through this metal detector, and I'll buzz him. Hey, do you know what's going on out there?" he asked nervously, then watched fire engines and rescue crews flying in all directions to numerous but unimportant fires.
"Got me, come on Nikki," said Sal.
"Your dog going too?" he asked. Nikki scampered under the metal arch without a hitch. He was wearing a cute little vest, which had a Teflon-covered case with the Colt hidden in it strapped to his stomach.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but you'll have to leash him. Is he a favorite of Pendwight's? Dogs can be family too. I have a basset hound called George, myself."
"Professor Pendwight, this is the down-stair's guard, Donnie. There are some kids here with a letter from Abigail. They said she was your niece. They've come to see you."
"They picked the wrong time. Tell them to come back," he said, the
n slammed down the phone.
"Tell him she just got married to the governor of Tennessee, Alex Tabor. Tell him we just came from Sewanee where we spent weeks with them."
"Okay, but I hope he doesn't fire me?" said Donnie still shaking in fear.
"I'm sorry, Professor Pendwight. They said your niece just got married to the governor of Tennessee, Alex Tabor. They just spent the last couple weeks in Sewanee with them." There was silence on the phone.
Pendwight remembered the man at All Saints. It clicked, "That was the governor. I thought I recognized him from somewhere. Then, we couldn't find Abigail. I bet they were both hiding together. No wonder, Tare couldn't find her."
"Send them up, Donnie. But only for five minutes," he replied cordially while Donnie wiped the sweat from his face and neck.
"Whew, I thought I was a goner. Just go up the stairs to the right, then through the big doors. The second set of doors is where he'll be. Here, take these Presidential passes. His bodyguards won't bother you. In fact, there's only one on duty right now. We're changing to the night shift in a couple minutes. I won't be here when you get back."
As they walked up the stairs, Sal thought she'd start throwing up again. She had never been so scared in her life. She just knew they wouldn't make it out alive. Jeff felt the same way, but he was more afraid for Sal than himself.
"Pendwight, I'm ordering the strikes on the communes early. I can't wait till tomorrow," she proclaimed and went over to the computer with her back facing the double doors.
"You're kidding. You've come this far to panic at the last minute. You might be a Nephilim, but you're acting just like a woman, a fickle woman," he said challengingly.
"Watch it, Pendwight. Don't step across that line!"
He backed down, then realized two kids were standing behind him. Jeff felt like something was terribly wrong. He saw the panicked look on Pendwight's face and saw Cassidy putting a red flash drive into her computer. She was totally absorbed in her task, not turning around, not wanting to be distracted.
"Oh, kids, you must leave right now. A grand event is taking place, but we grownups need to take care of it without distractions. Give my regards to Abigail. She was always my favorite."
The pain in Sal's chest was a Holy Spirit alarm, "She's doing it, Jeff! She's doing it! Sal reached and pulled on Nikki's vest, then pulled the Colt from the Teflon case. Nikki charged past Pendwight almost knocking him down. Before Cassidy could turn around, Nikki gripped her arm in his jaws. She had just put the flash drive in place and was getting ready to send. When she felt and saw the dog, she screamed, "It's the dog from my dreams! Pendwight stop him! It's God's dog! It's Jehovah's dog!"
Pendwight ran back towards Cassidy and tried to pull Nikki off her, but Nikki had Cassidy's arm clenched in a death grip. Cassidy raised her other hand getting ready to bring it down on Nikki's head when Sal screamed, "Leave my dog alone! Leave my children alone! Leave my people alone!" she commanded in a voice, not her own, but full of a Godly authority that sounded like God's voice Himself.
Cassidy stood up with Nikki hanging from her bleeding arm just as Jeff reached the double doors locking it securely in place. Cassidy felt the Godliness from Sal, and her hair stood up on her arms. She started to levitate above the floor, and Nikki dropped off with a thud.
Sal ran up to Cassidy; and as she looked up at her, she screamed, "For my children!" again in that voice. She fired once hitting Cassidy through the front of her head that threw her back with a fierce impact against the wall that left a wide blood streak down the wallpaper. They all watched her slide to the floor, then twitch several times before she died.
Pendwight crawled in a panic for the top drawer of a small desk. Sal looked at Jeff, and he looked at her with a questioning shrug.
"Let's get out of here!" Jeff shouted as the guards started banging on the front doors and firing on the lock.
Sal heard the shot and watched as it burst out of Jeff's back. She saw him fall and hit the floor. She ran to him, but changed her mind and turned to Pendwight before he could get off another round, then fired her final bullet. It hit him in his throat, and he gasped in surprise as warm blood flowed through his fingers. He couldn't hold on to consciousness, but heard one final despairing comment from Sal.
"Abigail got saved and married to the new Vice President of the Christian Alliance Party, yesterday. Burn in hell, Pendwight. Burn in hell."
Sal bent down over Jeff while trying to lift him up, but couldn't. "Oh Jeff. Oh please, don't die. Please don't go. You never did give your life to Jesus. Please don't go," she said repeatedly while sobbing hysterically.
"I did, Sal. I did. I just didn't tell you. I did it while standing with all those hunters on the last stop. God gave me his peace. I couldn't have held together without Him. You have to believe me. I did…," he died while patting at her face and letting her slip from his touch.
"I'll take care of him. You need to get out of here," said President Terrone, "That was a brave, wonderful thing you did. I just didn't have the guts. I knew God would send someone to do it before it was too late. I've been in my study praying for that someone since I got back from rehab. Yes, I got saved in rehab. Now, get out of here. There's a rope ladder for fires in the bottom drawer of that big desk. Go, go," he said. He picked her colt and threw it out the window as he watched her unravel the ladder.
"Come on, Nikki. I'll carry you down."
He wouldn't budge. He was staring at the red flash drive. Sal ran to it, pulled it out, put it in her shirt pocket, then saw the send command still flashing. She looked at the list of e-mail addresses. She did a control print. Somehow she knew this list would be useful to the Alliance. She pressed escape and pulled the power cord out of the wall, then took the printed copy and wadded it up to put it in her back pocket.
Nikki jumped into her arms; and as she lowered herself over the side, she mouthed to Terrone, "Thank you," who nodded and winked to her at the same time.
As she hit the ground, Caleb stepped from the building and caught her as she lost her balance. He had the Colt stuffed in his own waist belt. If she hadn't been in such shock over Jeff, she'd be overjoyed to see him.
Her only comment was, "I have to get back across the river."
"You can't. The banks are covered with capitol militia and marines. You're not immortal, yet. Come with me. This is a little trick I learned from Isaac thousands of years ago. Step close to me, as close as possible. There, perfect, now hold on."
He pushed his wings from him and surrounded her completely. Nikki followed as if he was on a stroll. Then Caleb disappeared completely with Sal under his wings. She couldn't be seen either.
"Keep very quiet. Don't make a sound." They walked for blocks down side streets and through several parks. Finally, they came to a Catholic Church five miles from the capitol. Caleb opened the doors and walked with Nikki following them down the center aisle.
A priest was having his evening prayers when he noticed Nikki sitting beside him staring at him. "Hey fellow. You lost or something. Want a bite to eat," he asked, and Nikki bowed to him.
"That's a respectful trick. Who did you learn that from?" he asked, not expecting an answer.
"Your grandpa taught him that," replied Caleb as he reappeared with Sal tucked under his wings.
"Whoa, Holy Mary, Mother of God! Are you who or what I think you are? You have to be. If you know my grandpa, you have to be."
"The pastor was your grandpa? The pastor that did the Enoch with Irish and disappeared?" Sal replied flatly.
"So my grandpa finally did an Enoch. Well, if anyone ever deserved to do that, it was he. He brought me to the Lord after the rapture so I wouldn’t miss the next time, but what can I do for you two?"
"We need shelter. We need a place to stay for a couple days in privacy. Can you help us? I need something else. I'm taking a chance now. Give me your prayer book. Sal, look at page 433 through to 438. Do you see what that's about?"
&nb
sp; She nodded with tears in her eyes, "Yes."
"Will you?" he asked, still holding her close to him.
"Yes," she answered quietly.
"Will you perform this blessing and give us the Eucharist."
"Yes," said the priest, overwhelmed by the significance of this moment.
"Is it allowed, though?" asked the priest.
"I'll ask to make sure if it will make you feel any better," replied Caleb, then holding his hand in the air in a praise gesture.
"It's okay," replied Caleb. "I've never taken a human wife since my creation."
The priest prepared the Eucharist and performed the blessing and order of marriage. It was all a blur to Sal, but a loving one. When she came to the communion, she confessed, "Lord, I have sinned. I murdered a the President’s wife, a Nephilim, and Pendwight, tonight. Please forgive me."
The priest stopped, "Is she okay?"
"No, she's just seen her best friend murdered, and she really did kill those people. Our Lord has it under control, and she's covered by the blood of Jesus. She can take the communion."
Afterward, the priest took them into a private place deep inside the church basement. He bowed to them, gave a blessing on them and around the door. For the first 15 hours, Caleb held Sal, and she never said a word. She was so stunned by the look on Jeff and Pendwight's face. It just wouldn't leave. Two days later, they got up to leave.
"I have to go for awhile, Sal. There is no other way to the commune except by swimming. I'll take you to the river. Can you make it across by yourself? The darkness you removed allowed me to stay these extra days, but I'm losing my hold on earth again. I will come to visit you soon. I love you, Sal."
She spoke for the first time since the communion and marriage vows, "What's my new last name, Caleb?"
"Angels don't have last names," he said while holding her.
"That seems a little unfair. Well, then it will be my name, then, I guess. I'll make you take on my last name when you are with me, okay?" she laughed and hugged him, still feeling dazed by all of this.
Caleb disappeared at the river. Sal looked at Nikki saying, "Well, let's go for that swim? Oh no, the pastor told me. You can't swim."
Sal grabbed Nikki and put him around her neck, along with her tied together boots, and jumped in. Marines on the other side saw her and watched apprehensively while she carried her head barely above water while doing powerful breaststrokes. Halfway across the river, she started losing momentum, and the current pulled her down several times. The marines pulled boots off and jumped in after her. Five of them made it to her as she gasped in exhaustion, which was as much emotional as physical, and they swam Sal and Nicodemus to shore.