TWELVE
God moves in marvellous ways; that is why we have the word marvellous, to describe the way God moves.
Julius Mann, Collection, vol. 41, ch. 2
Ida Zarman’s message on Roy’s TCS was written in the same kind and reassuring way that she always spoke. Roy admired the way she could be so peaceful in writing out a simple request for him to come by and visit. He wrote out an acceptance for her and promised he would see her on Wednesday morning.
Thinking of Ida and her strong faith in God, Roy found it easier to pray. He had been putting off his daily prayer time and he knew it had caused his loss of confidence. He should have prayed after the church was destroyed, and after he returned from the nightclub. Perhaps he would not have wanted to go to the nightclub if he had prayed first. Perhaps he would have conducted himself better on TCS and not turned out to be an embarrassment to everyone, especially the people he was meant to be representing. He knew he had let them down. Ida was one of them. He hoped she would not be angry with him; angry in her own subtle way, with just a hint of disappointment and loss of respect.
Wednesday morning for tea and cakes. It was like the old days, when life was easier, before his world had crashed in around him. Roy enjoyed meeting with the elderly church members. They were always encouraging for him. He had their general approval and it was like they didn’t want to lose him. Ida greeted him with the normal love, like a grandmother to her grandchild, and Roy could think of no better tonic for his troubles.
“Reverend, I saw you on TC, talking to Blair. But wasn’t that man rude to you, not giving you a fair chance to speak, saying all those awful things?”
“Ida, I think it was a mistake, appearing on the show.”
“Why do you say that? I thought you did all right, except for that rude man.”
“No, I did badly. I did not prepare myself well enough. Ida, I was meant to be representing you and the others. The Carters, Shari-Anne and Lenny. I’m afraid I let you down. I let that expert they found walk all over me.”
“But I thought you stood up to him well, after he insulted our church like that. What he said was just not right.”
“I don’t know. Some of the things he pointed out might be correct. To be honest with you, the scriptural evidence put forward by rapturists teachers amazes me in its weakness. It wouldn’t be too bad if they were secondary proofs, but they are the leading evidence to support their rapture scenario. St Angelo also identified them as weakness, and left me without anything to answer. But I should have done better, all the same. I’m sure there must be other proofs we can use, and I should have had the mind to quote them. Actually, I wasn’t thinking too well at all yesterday. The tragedy with the church burning down has made my mind go a little crazy, and made me do some silly things.”
“Well, he was quite rude, all the same. I was nearly going to lodge a complaint, but the Lord told me to hold my peace.”
Roy nodded politely and chose one of the cakes. Many times she had told him that she heard from God. It was so regular and mostly concerning trivial matters that he seriously doubted that she really heard anything. He knew she was not purposely making it up, but she probably only imagined she heard a voice. Whatever it was, he would never insult her by questioning her about it.
Ida then offered him some freshly baked biscuits and they went to sit in a sunny room packed with chairs while they chatted idly.
“But there is one thing I must point out, Reverend,” Ida said as she leaned forward in a serious manner.
“Yes?”
“You said you represented the Carters, and Shari-Anne and Lenny, on TC?”
“That’s right; and you, and anyone else who believes in Premillennialism and the rapture.”
“I’m afraid I must confess I don’t hold to that teaching.”
“You don’t? But I thought you were a Premillennialist too.”
“Oh yes, I do believe our Lord will come to end this age and set up his kingdom rule from Jerusalem, according to what the scriptures promise. I do believe that, Reverend. That’s what the Bible says, plain and simple. But I mean the rapture; the Pre-tribulation rapture, I believe they call it. Or is it the Partial Rapture? That one seems closer to what they were getting at.”
“The Partial Rapture, yes, when only the good Christians are taken to Heaven. But that idea disregards the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone. Do you know all about the rapture theories, Ida?”
“Oh yes, I’ve read through all of the books in my time. It’s all very confusing, if you ask me. If you read the Bible, and not all those other books, I don’t think you see the rapture clearly revealed, as far as timing is concerned. I’m certain it will happen one day, when our Lord returns for his people like he promised he would. But personally, I don’t care when the rapture happens, as long as I’m part of the ride,” she said with a giggle.
“But I thought you agreed with the others on Sunday, when we discussed it in church, before the fire.”
“I didn’t want to make a fuss.”
“You mean to tell me you don’t really think we’ve missed the rapture?”
“No, I don’t, because the Lord told me I would be spared from whatever it was that happened. How can that be the rapture if he wanted to spare me from it? No, it must have been something else.”
“Something else? But what?”
“I don’t know. But I am sure it isn’t any of the nasty things they’re saying on TC. Mass-psycho-induced suicides—have you ever heard anything so dreadful? And now they’re trying to tell us that the survivors helped them but have now forgotten.”
“Yes, and if what they are saying is true, then where are the bodies?”
“Well, that’s right.”
“Ida, I’m not going to rest until I at least find the bodies of our congregation, if they have actually died in some horrible, tragic way. Wherever they are on this Earth, if they are on this Earth and not in Heaven, I intend finding them.”
Roy felt better; invigorated at the thought of finding out for himself. He had tried that from the start, but somewhere along the line he lost track. Now he felt inspired to continue with it.
“Reverend, I must ask you: What are you going to do about the church?”
Roy felt a slight loss of confidence at hearing her question. He had wondered how he was going to break the news to her that he no longer considered himself fit to be church leader, and that she would have to go to another one; perhaps Rick Rheem’s.
“Ida, we won’t be rebuilding the church.”
“You won’t? What a shame.”
“If you look at it logically, there is no point. Our congregation is now too small. And unless by some miracle the missing people return, we have no need for a church building.”
“But can’t you still hold services?”
“Ida, the church has been destroyed. There’s nothing left.”
“Yes, I know that, but what about us, the ones who remain?”
“How would you feel about visiting Pastor Rick Rheem’s church? He’s a friend of mine, and he runs a Church of God’s Glory congregation; and a very nice conservative one. I was there recently. They are not too different from ours, but they have little of our rituals, I’m afraid.”
“Reverend, I’m quite happy with you as my spiritual leader.”
Roy told himself to be patient with her, that she was old and sometimes had difficulty in understanding current events.
“I should no longer be regarded as your spiritual leader. The church was destroyed and it won’t be rebuilt. Unless funds come in from Chichester, St Antipas will have no Kingdom church. I haven’t heard a thing from then since this entire ordeal started, and I don’t know how they would respond to a request to build a church for only seven people. They currently have building projects going on in India for hundreds of people. As with all other churches, India is seen by Chichester as a major harvest field. I think we here in St Antipas would be very low on their list. You will have to start g
oing to another denomination, in the meantime anyway. I will help you find one suitable for you, if you like. If you don’t want to try a CGG church, then how about something more traditional; the Methodists for instance?”
“Reverend, I don’t think you understand me. I’m quite happy to continue with you as my spiritual leader. I’ve asked the Lord about it and he says it’s all right.”
“Then where do you suggest we have our services?” He was just about to say they could meet at the empty section next to the old church site, but he remembered to be nice to her.
“We can have the service anywhere we like. It doesn’t really matter. Whoever has a suitable room, I suppose. A big enough lounge? But I think, see you will be the leader, you lounge will be more suitable.”
“I can’t do that.”
“But why not?”
“Ida,” Roy started before pausing, not knowing where to begin. He knew how it was necessary for the church service to be conducted on holy ground, in a sanctified area, a place reserved for God. His or anyone else’s lounge was out of the question.
“Let me tell you about my days as a missionary to Papua New Guinea,” she said with enthusiasm. “Most times we were living in little leaking tents, in the upper parts of this most remote region. It was the rain-forest, you know, and it was so wet, all the time, we had no respite, and even the locals said it was too much for them. Anyway, we did not worry about trying to find or build a church building up there. We were just so happy to get a local man or woman along to participate in our worship. We would worship the Lord and praise him anywhere, but mostly right inside those little tents, to get out of the rain. I can tell you, you can break down any cultural barriers by worshipping God in such a confined space. You find out pretty quickly that people are people, no matter where they are from or how different they might be to you. And do you know, they were the best church services I have ever attended.”
“St Antipas is not some remote part of the world. This is a modern city. Here we have churches to hold our services in.”
“But you said yourself, we no longer have a church. Is this not the perfect time to throw away the rule book and just adapt? Reverend, it’s not like we have to do this indefinitely. You said yourself, funds might come in from the top, to rebuild your church. Besides, with the Carters, Shari-Anne and her two girls, and Lenny, we have a good number, a perfect number for your lounge. What do you say?”
Roy laughed and found her enthusiasm irresistible.
“It doesn’t have to get back to Chichester, you know,” she added with a mischievous smile. “Just tell them you had a little private meeting to discuss spiritual things, and we might have also sung a few songs and did a little bit of praying. In fact, we won’t even call it a church service, if you wish.”
“All right, Ida, you’ve convinced me. We’ll give it a go. But just remember this is only due to the current emergency. I would much rather we all went to another church as soon as possible.”
“It will be just fine, Reverend, let me assure you. The Lord told me it would be.”
As Roy drove home he laughed to himself. Ida had surprised him, and certainly enlivened him. It amused him that she could have talked him into agreeing holding a Sunday service in the lounge. He knew it would be one service he would not be logging on his church files and sending back to the world headquarters. He would not be adding to the attendance files, or updating the records. He did not want anyone to know about it, not even the other church leaders in Carlow.
The smile left his face when he eased his car up to his house. He could see at least two people in his lounge, moving near the window. He kept going past his driveway and stopped further down the road. Now he was angry. He had let St Angelo walk all over him, live on camera. And now some intruders were walking through his house.
No more. I’ve had enough of this. It’s time to fight back.
He charged up his stunner and took heart from the fact that it was ready to unleash a powerful stunning effect on anything in his path. He sneaked through a neighbour’s property. The fence at the back had fallen down years before and there was no real need to replace it. He knew he could get in that way.
He carefully made his way to the back door without making himself obvious. He had no idea how many people were in his home, or what to expect. Was it the same vandals who trashed Doug Paull’s house? Or was it the Carters who had just happened to find the door open? Or was it the Thompson brothers looking for their ball and his computer equipment?
He was surprised to find his back door locked. He had assumed it was where the intruders had made their entry. Without making a sound, he inserted the key and opened the door. With his heart racing he peered into the kitchen. Seeing no one, he gripped the stunner harder and took a few steps inside. Listening for any sound, he quietly took a few more steps. He looked down the hallway and saw nothing. The lounge was before him and he held the stunner up near his chest, his finger paused on the trigger, ready to use it without mercy if someone should come leaping out at him.
As he edged near the lounge doorway he saw two pairs of feet. The intruders were sitting on his couch, apparently making themselves at home. They were wearing sandals; cheap and worn.
He walked a little further until he could see them, and they could see him. He could not believe his eyes. They were two young Chinese men, and they were looking at him like they were expecting him, both smiling broadly. One had a round face and small nose, with waving black hair parted down the middle so that it draped over his temples. The other had different features; his thin black hair was straight and cut not far above his eyebrows.
Both jumped up from the couch and bowed their heads in a submissive manner. They said various things that Roy could not understand. He kept his stunner raised and ready to use on both of them, trying to think who they were. He looked at their clothes, nothing but simple rags, old and worn, like their sandals.
“Roy, we have been waiting for you,” the one with the fat face said, careful to get every syllable right, watching Roy for any sign that he had not.
“Waiting for me?” asked Roy, dumbfounded.
“We thank you for opening your home for us at short notice.”
“You what?”
“You do not know?”
“Know? Know what?
“You did not hear the Holy Spirit say we were coming today?”
“Now, look, who are you? What are you doing in my home? Was it you who broke in here last week?”
“We thought you would know.”
“Know you broke in?” Roy returned with his voice raised.
“No, we did not break into your home.”
“Then how did you get in here?”
“We thought you would know.”
“Know what?” Roy shouted at them, causing them to look at each other and exchange a few words. “Now look, you can speak English, can’t you?”
“Sorry, but no. Jian can speak no English, except by what the Holy Spirit will give him in utterance. I myself try my best to be good with your language.”
“Tell me right now who you are,” Roy ordered as he held the stunner at them threateningly, “or I’m calling the police.”
“Please, no. No police. For your sake we beg, don’t call them. They will only get in the way.”
“Don’t you know what this is?” Roy said when he saw they were taking no notice of the stunner.
“We well know what you have. Do you not see our scars?”
For the first time Roy noticed deep scars on their arms, and on the neck of the taller one, Jian, who was keeping quiet. They shocked Roy. He could see it was not the work of a stunner like his one. It could only have come from deliberate torture. He lowered the stunner.
“They are the marks of Christ on our bodies.”
“Who are you?” Roy asked, his voice softer.
“I am Wuting, from Henan Province, from Zhenping city. This is Jian. He is from Sichuan Province, from a remote village, with not
many people; only about five hundred families.”
“So, you’re from China? I mean, where have you come from lately?” He raised his stunner at them again.
“We have come straight from China.”
“You have? Why?”
“The Holy Spirit sent us.”
“The Holy Spirit sent you,” Roy repeated, unimpressed and becoming more annoyed.
“We thought you would know. We thought he told you.”
“Well, he didn’t tell me. Look, I don’t believe a word you’re telling me. Are you on drugs or something?”
“No drugs.”
“Tell me what you’re doing here, and don’t tell me again the Holy Spirit sent you, or I’ll start using this stunner.”
“We are here to help you, Roy.”
“You’re what?”
“Please let us explain. You should sit down. You do not look well.”
“I’m perfectly all right. Explain yourself.”
“Both of us heard from the Spirit how you need help, and he sent us to you, here to your home. Jian told me only a short time ago he came from Sichuan Province, and I told him I was from Henan Province. We both never met before, but both enjoy the company of the other while we waited for you in your lovely home.”
“All right, tell me how you got here. Did you fly in?”
“Something like that.” Wuting looked at Jian and they exchanged a few words, making Jian laugh loud.
“What flight did you take?” Roy pressed. “I’ll call the airport now and get a confirmation. If they don’t tell me they had two crazy religious guys within the last couple of weeks, then I’m calling the police, whether you think they’ll be good for me or not. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll take my chances with them. How long have you been in the country.”
“About an hour.”
“Just a recent flight? You don’t look jet-lagged,” he said as he tapped at his TCS controls. They both looked shocked when the large screen next to the bookcase brightened and displayed various colourful pictures. Haven’t they seen a TC before?
“We don’t feel jet-lagged either, Roy. You will not find us on the list at your airport. We came here by the Holy Spirit.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Jian said a few words to Wuting, who said to Roy, “Acts eight-thirty-nine.”
“What?”
“You’ve read Acts?”
“Acts?”
“The Book of Acts. In the Bible. Have you read it?”
“Yes. Of course, yes.”
“Well, then. Acts eight-thirty-nine.”
“What about it?”
“Philip went to Azotus by the Spirit.”
“In Acts?”
“Yes, Roy.”
“No one knows what that means.”
“We do, now. Amazing transportation, to be taken away by the Spirit.”
What are you saying?—the Spirit brought you here?”
“Good; you understand, Roy.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Not kidding you, Roy. And now, both Jian and myself have better understanding of the most holy scriptures. I know the Greek word used in Acts means to be snatched away. I can tell you, Roy, it felt like it. But we safe and sound, and overjoyed at what God can do.”
How would you do in talking to St Angelo? Roy mused to himself.
“Harpazo,” said Roy.
“Pardon?”
“The Greek word is harpazo.”
“Good; you understand.”
“Come on. You expect me to believe that?”
“What is there not to believe?” asked Wuting, disappointed.
“Are you trying to tell me the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, brought you here from China, to my lounge? What do you take me for?”
“It was the same Spirit in Acts. Why can he not do the same thing now? Has he become weak?”
“But what happened in Acts is not what you are trying to tell me happened to you. It’s not meant to be taken literally. It was just poetic language. Saint Philip just simply went away. He didn’t go flying away, like you’re trying to tell me.”
“You read Acts funny.”
“Now look, I read Acts and everything else perfectly well. I know poetic language when I see it, and it is certainly there in that bit about Philip. Who are you two, really, and how did you get here?”
“Do you think the eunuch was not really baptised?”
“What?”
“Perhaps that bit was in spiritual language too, like the flying away bit.”
“I know what Acts means without your help, thank you. And I don’t believe any of what you’re telling me.”
“Please; we are being patient for you, Roy. Why do you not understand us? Why are you being stubborn? Do you not know the ways of the Spirit?”
“Look, why don’t you both just leave? Just go, and I’ll forget I ever saw you. I’d prefer not contacting the police anyway. I’ve had enough of them for quite a while. And it looks like you two boys have come into contact with them too, back in China, if that’s where you’re really from. Spare yourselves, and me, any more trouble and just be on your way. I have too much else to worry about than trying to figure you two out. Just leave. What do you say?”
“Why do you grieve the Spirit, Roy?”
“Look, who told you my name? Did you see me on TC?” He then noticed that his two intruders were still uncomfortable with the TCS, especially the silent Jian. Perhaps they have never seen the TC before. Perhaps they’re telling the truth!
“We do not know where to go, Roy. The Spirit put us here until he sends us out. Until that hour we will stay here and we will help you.”
“Help me? Help me with what? What could you possibly help me with?”
“Help you with your church. Stop you from falling further than you have.”
“How do you know about me? Who told you?”
“The Spirit told us everything about you. He says you need help. He says you want to find your church. He says you plan to run your church from your home, from this room. He says you will need help to run your church from here. He says you will need help to learn the ways of the Spirit. We see now what he means.”
“How did you know about all that? Who told you I was planning to have a church service here? Did Ida tell you?”
“The Holy Spirit told us before we left.”
“Before you left what?”
“Before we left China.”
Roy sat on his easy-chair and they followed him by sitting on the couch. He turned off the large screen and both young men looked happier that he did so.
“Who are you guys? You’re Christians?”
“Yes, Roy.”
“You’re really from China?”
“Yes, Roy,” Wuting said with some exasperation, like he was trying to teach a stubborn child. “We are here to help you. Why do you not believe us?”
“You’re saying God sent you?”
Jian responded loudly, saying, “God the Father, God the Son, his name be praised forever through the Holy Spirit, amen!”
“I thought you said he couldn’t speak English!” Roy said to Wuting with alarm.
“Only when the Spirit gives him utterance.”
“You mean that was …?”
“An utterance, yes.”
Jian then said something to himself.
“So what was that?” Roy asked as he pointed at Jian.
“Interpretation of tongue, for himself.”
“So, he said the same thing in your language?”
“I believe so.”
“You don’t know?”
“He said it in his own dialect, which I do not speak.”
Roy put the stunner on the floor beside the chair and absently rubbed at his chin. “So, you’re Charismatics? You believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit?”
“You do not?”
“Well, my church teaches they died out with the early Christians.”<
br />
“Do you believe that?”
“I don’t know what to believe any more.”
“You have a lot to learn, Roy.”
“Now wait a minute, you can’t say that to me. I’ve been to Bible school and have trained to be a priest for fifteen years. You can’t tell me I’ve got a lot to learn.” St Angelo may have made me look ignorant, but I’m not!
“Are you a teacher?”
“What?”
“The holy scriptures say God has set in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers. Are you a teacher?”
“I guess so. Yes, of course I’m a teacher. I have been trained for that role and I am perfectly capable of teaching others the doctrines of faith.”
“We are apostles.”
“Now, just wait a minute.”
“You don’t believe what I say?”
“I don’t know much about China, and I certainly know nothing about the both of you, but the office of the apostle has died out in the church since the first century; that I do know.”
“You know nothing. We are apostles and we are prophets and we are teachers. You are only a teacher, and one in need of milk and not meat, since you know nothing of the ways of the Spirit.”
“You can’t speak to me like that.”
“We will teach you. Then you will become strong in the faith, like us.”
“Oh really? How do I know you’re for real? Prove it to me.”
“The Spirit bears witness in your spirit, if you really hear from the Holy Spirit. He will testify of us. We do not testify of ourselves. We let the Holy Spirit testify of us. If you do not accept us, we will leave you now.”
They stood and started walking to the door, at first unsure where it was.
“Where will you go?” Roy asked, not quite sure if he wanted them to leave.
“Maybe some place else,” said Wuting. “Depends on how much you have grieved the Holy Spirit. Maybe we will go back to China, and reject your city.”
“If you go back to China, then what?”
“You sound like you think we are for real.”
“I’m thinking about it, all right? Just answer my question. What will happen if you go?”
“Then you will suffer, your church will suffer, your city will suffer and your country will suffer. You will wither up and you will die.”
“That’s a little harsh, isn’t it?”
“Good-bye, Roy Hoyle.”
“Hang on a moment. Just stay.”
“Do you hear from the Spirit now?”
“No, I just want to be sure.”
“Sure if we are real?”
“Something like that.”
“Ask the Spirit, Roy.”
“You say you’re prophets? Prophesy something for me.”
“You have a lot to learn,” Wuting said as he indicated to Jian that they were staying. “But we will teach you. We will help you. Rejoice, Roy. God had mercy on you by sending us to you. We have helped many in China, both Jian in his own province, and myself in my own province. This the first overseas mission for us both. We are both excited.”
For the first time Roy realised that when Wuting spoke he felt like he was being addressed by someone with much more authority than he had, and more than anyone he had ever known. It was not the overbearing, mocking way of St Angelo; this was deeper, spiritual. He felt unable to argue with what was said, or even add his own point of view. Are they for real? Can they read my mind?
“What do you know about me?” Roy asked softly.
“I told you. You need help.”
“I mean, about my personal life. What do you know about that?”
“You personal life?”
“Yes, my life outside the church. What do you know about that? What has God told you about me?”
“We know nothing about you outside your church, as you say.”
“Nothing? Are you sure?” They don’t know!
“You can tell us, if you want.”
“Tell you what?” Roy asked defensively.
“Anything.”
“I don’t have anything to tell.”
“Nothing about yourself? We will pray for you if you have need.”
“A need?”
“Any problem in your life. We will minister to you by the Spirit of God, to break the yoke and set me free.”
“No, I’m all right, thank you.”
“Then how about you wife? Perhaps she has a need?”
“My wife? No, I don’t have a wife.”
“We are sorry. Perhaps you will get one soon, if it is God’s will.”
“No,” said Roy, feeling odd that he needed to explain to them, “the Kingdomite order is one of celibacy for the priests.” They don’t know anything about me. How can they be prophets?
Wuting looked at Jian and they discussed it in their own language.
Roy listened patiently and then added, “The Kingdom churches have always followed this way, every since out founding in 1674. It’s only for the priests and deacons. We have others serving in our church who are allowed to marry. They preside over the secular side of the church. The celibate ones preside over the spiritual side.”
“First Timothy four-three,” said Wuting.
“What are you talking about?” asked Roy.
“It cannot be changed by us. We cannot help you there, unless you are willing to leave Babylon.”
“Can I get you some food?” Roy asked, intentionally changing the subject.
“Thank you, no. We are fasting.”
Roy felt stupid for asking such a question. Fasting? Perhaps they really are what they claim.
“We are pleased you are now accepting us, Roy. We will need to use your home.”
“Use my home? For what?”
“To use as somewhere to rest, that is all. We will need it only a short time, as the Spirit directs, while we complete our mission.”
“Your mission? Is that what you call helping me?”
“No, our full work is to pray for your city.”
“My city? Carlow? We have many churches here.”
“This is what the Spirit told us, that your city needs much prayer.”
The TCS sounded. Roy excused himself and went to the private speaker in the kitchen to answer it. He looked back and saw that they had not taken their eyes off him. They were smiling so much that Roy thought their cheeks must be aching. They exchanged comments to each other and nodded. Roy hoped it was a wrong number, so he could get back to them. He had never met anyone like them before. They were highly abnormal, but at the same time something about them attracted him to them. But their last comment concerned him. He could not understand why they should think that a church-filled city could be lacking in prayer.
“Hello?” he said into the private hand-held receiver.
“So, you’re a Reverend, are you?” came a woman’s voice.
“Pardon me?”
“You didn’t tell me you were a Reverend. I wouldn’t have gone with you if I knew.” The voice had a hint of bitterness.
“Who is this?”
“You know who this is. You remember me.”
“No, I’m afraid I don’t.”
“Well, I certainly remember you. Saw you on TC.”
“Look, who is this?”
“You’ve forgotten the nightclub, have you? I know you haven’t forgotten me. I saw you on Monday. I know you saw me.”
Roy turned his back to the two Chinese men and hoped they did not notice the horror that overwhelmed him.
“Leave me alone,” he said before he slammed the controls to close the call. He had never acted like that in his life. His training was to help people and he thought he excelled at it. He tried to regain his composure before he turned back to his two guests.
“A bad call, Roy?” Wuting asked him from the lounge, concerned.
“Just a wrong number,” he said casually.
They must never find out about her. No one must ever find out.