“As you should. You’ve reached an honorable level within The Light in a short time. Keeping our chosen with us and productive is our goal. To that end, my brother, have you seen the forecast? It’s been changing by the hour. Perhaps it would be better if you chose to stay here until tomorrow. Northern Light is a far journey.”
I smiled respectfully, hoping the new vibration of my phone would continue to go unnoticed. “Thank you. My flight plan has me landing at Lone Hawk for the night. I won’t be heading back to the Northern Light until morning.” I wasn’t sure if his invitation was another test, but my flight plans were set and clear. Even with a small plane, it was best to have records of arrivals and departures. Lone Hawk was one of my favorite airports, privately owned with few questions asked. Even so, I’d never land my plane there with a full load of product. Once I landed, I planned to buy supplies. I wasn’t looking for anything to draw attention, only normal living-type stuff, things to make my stop believable. Besides, it didn’t make sense to fly back to the Northern Light in an empty plane.
I checked my watch.
Yes, right on schedule.
“Very well, Brother, safe travels.”
Once I completed my preflight checklist and was in the air, I checked my phone. It hadn’t vibrated since I’d spoken with Brother Michael, and due to the recording device in the plane, I wouldn’t be able to return a call until I landed at Lone Hawk. Above all, I didn’t want to risk anyone from the Western Light questioning my ethics.
When the screen came to life my pulse quickened. I’d missed one call from Brother Benjamin’s phone and five from a burner phone.
Shit!
After the incident with Brother Timothy and Sister Lilith, I’d set up an emergency chain of communication. The long and short of it was that I was simply gone from the Northern Light too much. Even if Father Gabriel believed that the entire episode with Brother Timothy and Sister Lilith had added to Sara’s eventual success, I refused to allow anything like that to blindside me again. While having a wife increased my risks, with this system, I increased my odds. It was a gamble, but I believed Sister Raquel would help, if necessary.
According to the screen, it was time to cash in the chips.
Once I had the Cessna secured on Lone Hawk’s tarmac, I searched for the manager, Jerry. He was a quiet man, friendly in an unobtrusive sort of way. I made my way back to a small apartment area near the back of the hangar. I didn’t know if he lived there all the time, or just when he was working. Either way, I was happy when he answered my knock.
“Jacob, I saw your approved arrival on the CBP e-mail. Welcome back to the big city of Whitefish.”
“Thanks, Jerry. I have some business in town and was hoping you had that truck here I could borrow. I’ll bring it back in the morning, promise.”
“No. Sorry. That piece of shit has seen better days.” His furrowed his weathered brow. “But I’ll tell you what, my old lady’s Chevy Tahoe is sitting out back. She ain’t going nowhere tonight. Besides, I’ve got my new truck if she needs a ride. You’re welcome to take the Tahoe into Whitefish.”
“Thanks, Jerry. I owe you.”
“Next time you’re here, you can bring me some of that Preserve the Light jelly. The old lady goes nuts for that stuff.”
“I’ll do my best,” I promised, taking the keys he handed me and heading toward the beat-up Tahoe.
If Raquel had used that burner phone, it meant only one thing: trouble, serious trouble. As we’d agreed, I could answer a burner only with a burner.
Before checking into the cheap hotel, I stopped at a gas station and purchased two burners. Something in my gut told me one wouldn’t be enough. Once in the hotel room, I plugged them both in and recalled the telephone number I’d hoped I’d never need to call. I waited for the ringing to stop. Once it did, I asked, “Raquel?”
“Brother Jacob, tell me she went with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
Her voice changed to a low whisper. “Sara. Benjamin said you asked the Commission about her going with you on some of your flights. Please tell me that you did it, you took her without permission, and she’s with you.”
I had asked the Commission, but I sure as hell wouldn’t bring her on one of these trips. The last thing I wanted was to have my wife around Michael’s goons. I took a deep breath. “Raquel, I left her in our apartment. She was in the kitchen cleaning up after breakfast.” I tried to hide the trepidation. “She couldn’t have come. I didn’t have the Commission’s permission, and besides, she was scheduled to work in the lab today.”
“I know. Benjamin was the one who contacted me and asked if I knew why she didn’t show up at the lab.”
No longer content to sit, I paced the confines of the ratty hotel room. “That doesn’t make sense.” I searched for answers. “Was she ill? Have you checked in on her?”
“I went to your apartment. When she didn’t answer, I used my key. She wasn’t there.”
“And you’re sure this doesn’t have anything to do with Brother Timothy or Sister Lilith? God help me!” I wasn’t even trying to hide my distress any longer.
“I really don’t think it does. At least nothing approved by the Commission.”