Renate snickered but remained silent.
“Truth is,” Brian said, “had the Rapture not happened, I’m sure we’d still be together. But now that my eyes have been opened, even had I not met Jacquelyn at the football game, it would still be over between us. Our situation is spiritual in nature. And eternal. At least to me.”
“Whatever...” Renate rolled her eyes. There was a sarcastic expression on her face, but inside she felt like she was dying.
“Look, Renate, this isn’t easy for me. We’ve had five good years together. I was good to you just as you were to me. Again, it’s more spiritual than anything else.”
“What if I become a Christian?” Renate said out of desperation.
“You can’t choose Jesus merely to get something you want. True Christianity doesn’t work that way. Besides, we don’t choose Jesus. He chooses us...”
“What are you getting at?” Boy, he’s out there...
“If you truly were searching for God, I think you’d understand. In fact, I know you would.”
“Are you saying I’m not searching?”
“Let me put it this way. In the five years we were together, the one sure thing in your life, not counting me, was protecting the environment. The energy and passion you put into that cause is the very same passion I now have for Jesus. Only more.
“Sorry to say, Renate, but whereas my cause leads to eternal assurance, yours ultimately leads to a horrific dead end.”
Renate shot Brian a sideways look but remained silent.
Brian looked at her carefully and went on, “Not trying to rain on your parade, but despite what your boy Romanero preaches, this world—including the environment—can’t be saved. What’s coming our way is far worse than any scientist or environmental alarmist could ever predict. For those who belong to God, soon there will be a new Heaven and Earth. But only to those who trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.”
“You know my love for you was deeper than my concern for the environment, Brian. Hasn’t your God confirmed that to you by now?”
“I can never go back to the worldly love we shared.”
“Excuse me, Brian?!” Worldly love?
“I’m sorry, Renate, but I no longer love you the way I once did. Even if you became a Christ follower, it would still be over between us.” Brian shook his head, “That part of my heart’s now occupied by Jacquelyn...”
After waiting for a reply and not getting one, he went on, “You’re a beautiful woman. You’ll have little trouble finding someone else. My real prayer is that you’ll come into proper relationship with the One who made you...”
“How do you know I haven’t already found someone?”
“What are you saying?”
“Nothing. None of your business,” Renate said angrily.
“Who is he?”
“Someone Rachel set me up with.”
“Wow, you cheated on me?”
Renate ignored his question. “Speaking of Rachel, she’s three months pregnant. Who knows, perhaps I am too...”
“Seriously?”
“Does it really matter at this point?”
“I suppose not.” Brian closed his eyes and gulped. It was time. “I’m getting married...”
The room turned icy cold. Tears formed in Renate’s eyes. “I knew it the first time I saw the two of you together!”
“What you saw that night was nothing more than two frightened people searching for answers. It wasn’t until we both became Christians that our relationship deepened. I’m sorry, Renate. I never meant to hurt you.”
“How can you be so heartless after all this time?”
“I’m not being heartless.”
“Really? I come here hoping to make up with you and this is what I get in return? Not only are you ending our relationship, you’re getting married to someone else, yet you’re not being heartless?!”
Brian sighed then lowered his head. “I see your point.” There was a long silence. “But nothing will change my mind.”
“Where are you moving to?”
“Can’t say...”
“Close by?”
“No.”
“Back to New York?”
“No.”
“Out of Michigan?”
“Can’t say, swee...Renate,” Mulrooney said, nearly calling her “sweetie”, like he’d habitually done the past five years.
There was another prolonged silence as Renate pieced it all together in her mind. Brian was taken back to when he met with Jacquelyn to tell her that her husband was forever doomed. It had that same feel to it.
That is until, as a last-ditch effort, Renate raised her skirt just high enough for Brian to see what she was wearing underneath. If logic couldn’t rescue him from the doldrums to which he had sunk and win him back, perhaps seduction could.
Brian turned his head away. “This isn’t happening, Renate.”
“You haven’t touched me since before the disappearances, Brian Mulrooney! This time last year you could hardly keep your hands off me. Now you’re suddenly rejecting me because you’ve become religious? You and I both know you’re no priest!”
Thank God for that! “Like I said, I’m not the same man I once was...”
“That’s for sure!” Renate grunted. “So, when are you getting married?”
“Soon...”
“When?”
“Soon, okay?”
Full blown panic set in. Renate inched in closer once more to seduce Brian.
Brian grabbed her shoulders and kept her at arm’s length before their lips could touch. “I said no!”
Renate let out a God-awful scream, “Mark never rejected me! Not even once!”
“Mark?”
“Never mind.” The old Brian would have been insanely jealous knowing she’d cheated on him. But not now. His silence only served to incense her even more.
Renate picked up Brian’s half full glass of water and threw it at him with all her strength. It just missed his head. It hit the wall behind him sending glass and water in all directions. She stood and removed the apartment key from her key ring.
Brian could no longer maintain eye contact with her, “When would you like me to drop your things at your parents’ house?”
“Are you serious? That’s all you can say?” Renate slammed the key on the coffee table then slapped Brian across the face with all her strength, leaving a mark. “I hate you, Brian Mulrooney and never want to see you again!”
Renate McCallister stormed out of the apartment, knowing it was for the last time. Her heart broke a little more with each step she took. The pain was so intense. Perhaps it’s time to call Mark and give him a chance!
Though she’d met him a few times, she never seriously entertained him because her hope all along was that Brian would eventually come back to his senses.
Renate now had every reason to believe it would never happen. Yeah, it’s time to give him a chance!
She pulled her cell phone out of her purse and called Mark.
BRIAN CALLED TOM DUNLEAVEY informing that Renate had just left and he was free to come back to the apartment. Then Mulrooney drove to Livonia, Michigan to meet with his manager Susan Marlucci to officially tender his resignation, effective immediately.
Marlucci listened thoughtfully, then said, “Not giving us ample notice won’t look good on your resume, Brian.”
“I know and I’m sorry. You know me. Normally I wouldn’t do this. But something came up and I need to leave Michigan as soon as possible.” Seeing a framed picture of Salvador Romanero hanging on the wall behind his boss made him want to vomit. “It’s sort of an emergency.”
“Are you sick or in legal trouble?”
“No. Nothing like that.”
“Is Renate going with you?”
Mulrooney sighed. “No. We’re through...”
“I thought you loved each other?”
“Lately we’ve been going in different directions...”
“When did you break up?�
��
“Today, actually.”
Susan Marlucci wasn’t overly surprised. It seemed most people who were in relationships prior to the disappearances were no longer together.
In that light, this was simply par for the course. There was no need to discuss the matter any further. But leaving the job he loved so much was altogether different.
“Try as I might, I can’t seem to wrap my mind around this. You’re not even on the layoff list. You were deemed too valuable to the organization to be let go, even despite our shrinking profits. You’ve overcome so much to get to your position, Brian. Now this? Are you sure you’re okay?”
Mulrooney nodded yes. “On many levels, I’ve never been better.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing.”
Marlucci shook her head. “Call it woman’s intuition, but why do I feel I should be concerned for you?”
“I’m fine, really...” Infinitely better than you! he thought, glancing up at Romanero’s picture again.
“I want to believe you, Brian, I really do, but cutting ties so suddenly and walking away from the position you’ve worked so hard for is so unlike you. Aside from the increased sick days you’ve taken of late, you’ve been an exemplary employee. I’d hate to see you throw it all away so suddenly...”
Brian sighed and looked down at his feet.
Once eye contact was established again, Susan Marlucci gazed deep into his eyes, a little more skeptically this time, “Did one of our competitors steal you away?”
Mulrooney shook his head. “It’s nothing like that. Promise.”
Time will tell. It always does. “I ask because you’re not even asking for a transfer.”
Brian took a deep breath, “Let’s just say I’m in need of a serious life change, one that has nothing to do with the hotel business.”
“What kind of life change?”
“Perhaps another time. I need to get going. Lots of packing to do.” Brian rose from his seat and extended his right hand, “Thanks again, Susan, for hiring me way back when. I really enjoyed my time here. Sorry again for the lack of notice. Hope you can forgive me.”
“Good luck, Brian.” Susan Marlucci shook his hand knowing something wasn’t right. She could feel it in her bones. She was deeply concerned for her now-former employee.
Marlucci added Call Renate McCallister to her “To Do” list.
Brian Mulrooney left the Marriott Hotel in Livonia, Michigan, officially retired from the hotel business and from mainstream life as a whole.
Little did he know he would be forced to drop out of mainstream life sooner than even he expected...
28
ONE WEEK LATER
“WAIT!” TAMIKA MOSELEY WHISPERED into the cell phone Brian Mulrooney had purchased for her. She was putting ointment on her leg when he called.
Just like last time Brian called to check up on her, Tamika turned up the volume on the TV then dashed to the bathroom and turned on the ceiling exhaust fan.
Knowing how flimsy the walls were—after all, she heard every sound in the hallways and in the adjoining rooms—she turned on the shower to further drown out her voice.
“Okay, we can talk now.”
“How ya holding up, sis?”
“I’m fine. But every time I hear someone out in the hallway, I pray they don’t start banging on the door.”
“Have you gone outside at all?”
“No. But I ordered a pizza last night.”
There was silence.
“Don’t worry, Brian, the delivery man only saw my hand when I gave him the money. And I made sure to wear gloves. Told him to put the pizza on the floor cause I had a very bad cold and didn’t want him to catch it.”
“Think it worked?”
“Let me put it this way: After doing all I could to sound like a man, he said, ‘Thank you, sir’ before leaving.”
The way she said it made Brian laugh. “That’s good. Anyway, I call bearing good news.”
Tamika braced herself, “Oh yeah? What news?”
“Jacquelyn said yes.”
“That’s fantastic!” Tamika practically shouted, before quickly toning it down a few notches. “Congratulations to you both. When’s the big day?”
“Four days from now, here in Michigan.”
“I’m so happy for you, Brian.”
“Jacquelyn and I want you to be one of the bridesmaids.”
“But I don’t even know her...”
“You’re my friend. And that’s good enough for her. Besides, Jacquelyn feels like she already knows you.”
“I don’t know what to say...”
“Honor us by accepting.”
“Okay, I accept.” Tamika sighed, “But what about my situation here?”
“That’s the other reason I’m calling. There’s been a slight change of plans. I know you weren’t expecting to check out until tomorrow, but our good friend from the Sunshine State’s coming to smuggle you out of the city instead of me.
“Sorry for not giving you more advance-notice, sis, but he has another matter in Manhattan to take care of. We figured it was best to kill two birds with one stone. Since he’s the one who will be picking you up, I mailed your mother’s car keys to him.”
The old Tamika Moseley might have protested, but after everything Brian had done for her, she knew she could trust his plan. The prospect of finally leaving New York thrilled her to no end. “When will he be here?”
“Not sure, exactly. All I know is he lands early this evening. He’s not sure how long the other thing will take. He told me to tell you to be ready at any time.”
“My things are already packed. All I gotta do is shower and I’m good to go.” After two weeks, Tamika was getting a little stir crazy.
“Once you get to Michigan, you’ll stay with Jacquelyn until we figure where to go from there.”
Tamika’s soul flooded with joy upon hearing this. It was really happening. Just as she was about to share her gratitude with Brian, there was a gasp. Then, “Oh, no!”
“What is it, Tamika?”
“I think they linked me to my mother’s car.”
Mulrooney felt this sharp pain in his temples. “Why do you say that?”
“I see my face on TV and the license plate numbers from my mother’s car. Hold on.” Tamika left the bathroom and sat on the bed. She watched and listened. Her body trembled so much she could barely hold the phone in her hand. “I’m toast. Won’t be long before they find me.”
“Remain calm, Tamika. Don’t panic. If you start freaking out, you may do something foolish. If they find your mother’s car parked at the airport, perhaps they’ll think you already skipped town. The room’s in my name so there’s no way they can track you there. Just do your best to remain calm while I think up a Plan B.”
“What do you mean?”
“For starters, there’s no way Charles can use your mother’s car now.”
“So, what will we do?”
Brian rubbed his throbbing forehead. “Not sure yet. I need a little time to think things through. But chances are good they’ll find your mother’s car soon enough, which means you can kiss it goodbye.”
Brian took a deep breath, “Don’t expect to hear from me tonight. In fact, the moment the call ends, turn off your phone and keep it off. I’ll do all the coordinating with our friend from the Sunshine State.”
“I need to get out of here, Brian. I can feel the walls closing in on me.”
“I know. Be ready to leave in a moment’s notice. Until then, try and remain calm. Turn off the TV and read the Bible. And keep praying.”
“Please hurry, Brian. I’m scared to death.”
“Relax, my dear sister. We’ll get through this. God is with us.”
The call ended, and Tamika powered down her phone. But it was too late. The damage was already done. Brian Mulrooney unknowingly just gave New York City authorities the big break they’d been waiting for.
With so much ong
oing tragedy in the world, the Graveyard Incident story had died down considerably. But once the media got wind of this latest development, pressure was once again applied for authorities to find Moseley and finally put an end to it all.
Knowing most fugitives on the run still used cell phones and social media, that was always the next step in the process. But since Moseley ditched her phone weeks ago, and authorities couldn’t find her anywhere on social media, both avenues turned out to be dead ends.
If she was online, she was completely invisible.
The only other shot they had was to enter certain keywords into their voice recognition system and hope something would flush out at some point. Those words were Tamika – Moseley – Graveyard – Incident. Whenever they were mentioned in New York and the surrounding areas, either by phone call, email or text message, it was immediately red flagged and sent off for further analysis.
At first, with so many New Yorkers still talking about the Graveyard Incident, those two words turned out to be more white noise than anything else. And with hundreds of “Tamikas” living in the region, it was almost like finding a needle in a haystack.
Brian Mulrooney changed everything.
Thanks to him, both his and Tamika’s voices were stored away in the universal voice recognition system which boasted a 99.9999998 percent accuracy capability. Their voices would remain in the system forever.
After listening to the call, authorities suddenly had a treasure trove of information to go on. They knew a “Brian” and a “Jacquelyn” were involved, who just happened to be getting married in four days in the state of Michigan. They knew there was a man from the Sunshine State named “Charles” who was coming to New York to smuggle their fugitive to safety.
They also knew their final destination was Michigan.
The most damning evidence they had on Moseley was when she told Brian they’d linked her to her mother’s car, and it wouldn’t be long before they find her. It was all on audiotape.
After putting a “BOLO” (Be On The Lookout) for a late-model Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme belonging to Ruth Ferguson—Tamika Moseley’s mother—authorities scanned all flights originating in Florida scheduled to land either at JFK, LaGuardia or Newark, looking for a man named Charles.
The Countdown Begins Page 19