“Louisa Deidre Gaudet,” he announced. “She hired me to try to get to the bottom of her sister’s murder. I was bound by her wishes not to tell y’all unless and until things were resolved satisfactorily. Given her sensitive government position, of course. Sorry about that.”
“I understand confidentiality,” I replied.
“But now that y’all have blown this wide-open, we’re hoping the authorities can tie up all the loose ends. Round up everyone who’s part of this devilish scheme. And track down Minerva’s house cook, who was responsible for her death. A good place to start might be with Lawrence Rudabow.”
According to Canterelle, the New Orleans housing inspector had been captured in Laredo, Texas, trying to slip into Mexico through the Juárez-Lincoln port of entry. That led to a search of Rudabow’s home and the discovery of a pair of familiar sunglasses, a little bebop hat, and a construction map of the Six Flags site with markings for entry points.
Canterelle ended the conversation by saying, “By the way, I was there when Peggy Tanner and her parents were reunited. And I cried like a big ol’ baby. Yes sir, miracles still happen, Trevor. They surely do.”
Attorney General George Shazzar held a press conference, announcing the arrests in connection with the criminal enterprise known as Chicken Fox Videos. When questioned about the fact that Vance Zaduck, US attorney for the District of Columbia, was suspected of being the mastermind behind the horrid crimes, he gave the expected response: it would be “improper to comment before the investigation is completed.” What he really meant, of course, was before the grand jury released its anticipated indictments.
But the attorney general did add, “As for our pursuing offenses involving child exploitation, endangerment, and other human trafficking, particularly those fueled by dangerous cults, we are looking forward to a robust new task force to prosecute those crimes. Particularly now that an internal impediment has been removed.” That was as close to mentioning Vance Zaduck as he came, at least at that early stage in the case.
By the time Heather and I had reached the harbor on our walk, the sky had turned black and the wind was picking up. She looked up and studied the signs of the changing weather. I told Heather that if she wanted, we could close up my cottage and head to the mainland.
“No,” she said. “I can’t tell you why exactly, but I want to stay here. Both of us. Right here together.”
Then she asked a coy question. About a visit from Belle Sabatier.
A few days before, Belle had called me, and we had a short conversation. The first thing she said was that she was moving out of the Sabatier mansion in New Orleans.
“I’m reopening my art studio,” Belle explained. “White magic, black magic—either way, I don’t want to live here in the house with all the voodoo memories.” She added, “I’ve been thinking about something you said.”
“Oh?”
“About opening doors. Giving the devil an unintended opportunity. Heather reminded me of what you said about that at Bayou Bon Coeur. It made an impression. On her and on me.”
I wondered—is every father as stunned as I was just then, realizing his daughter actually remembered his advice?
Belle said she wanted to visit me on my island. “I’ve been invited to display my work at an art show in the Outer Banks. Close to you. It’s a small show. Nothing grandiose. But it’s a start. I’d love to visit you and Heather.”
I told Belle that she was always welcome, but I had no idea how long my daughter would be staying with me. And as we walked, I shared all that with Heather.
As I said it, reality set in. I didn’t want Heather to leave, but at some point I would have to let her go. She had her master’s thesis to finish and then wherever that would lead her in her future life. Most certainly somewhere apart from me. Which was as it ought to be. Though it was painful to imagine.
Heather and I stopped at a spot on the road where we still had a view of the whitewashed brick lighthouse. Though the power of the wind was mussing her hair, Heather didn’t seem to mind. Instead she closed her eyes and leaned her head back, letting the rising storm lift her hair in the air like sea grass dancing in the wind.
“Storms seem so powerful on the island,” she said. “Makes you feel small.”
A thought came to mind—about power. And about God. That when you connect with his power, and when you find him, and he rescues you, there is no smallness in it. Just the opposite. You are enlarged and empowered. Because even though unworthy, you know that you are loved and loved infinitely. Which is where the real power lies.
I reached over, laid my hand on Heather’s shoulder as we walked, and told my daughter that I loved her.
She paused. “Love ya too,” she replied a few seconds later.
We walked in silence for a while.
Then Heather blurted out, “I did it because I wanted to know where I came from. And to figure out who I am.”
I asked what she was talking about.
“My neck tattoo,” she said. “The umbrella tree. Roots. Branches. Belonging. You know, family. That’s the reason I chose a tattoo with a picture of a tree. Silly in retrospect, I guess. Because now I know where I belong.”
Together, we both looked at the white tapered lighthouse. High above its two small windows, there was a glass-enclosed beacon at the top, designed to flash a strong beam out to the tumultuous ocean. Light into darkness. Over the ages, guiding to safety all who were in peril on the sea.
Heather took a few more seconds to study it. After that, she spoke in a voice so casual that the full power of it might have been missed.
“Hey, Dad, let’s go home.”
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
While this is a work of fiction, there is also a storehouse of data both astonishing and disturbing that undergirds two aspects of this tale. First, current figures indicate that, worldwide, some forty-six million people are enslaved in some form of human trafficking. Those exploited victims are often female, and many of them are young. Second, technology has regrettably provided a kind of petri dish where this trafficking enterprise is grown and harvested. The “dark web”—that dirty underbelly of the Internet where these criminal activities flourish—is reported to enjoy some 2.5 million visitors every day.
As for the element of this story dealing with the dangers of a certain cultic practice, I believe there is evidence to support a genuine concern. Where do these various forms of evil come from? The reader is perfectly free to read this novel as entertainment and to dismiss the question. On the other hand, the reader may consider the thesis in this novel, that there exist two invisible yet life-impacting kingdoms, one of darkness and one of light. If that is true, then our choosing one rather than the other will necessarily have far-reaching, even staggering consequences.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
At the beginning of the novel, Trevor and Heather are still nearly strangers to each other. What did you think of their efforts to connect as father and daughter? Heather has lived into adulthood without knowing her father’s identity; how would you react to new information like this?
At the ABA convention, Trevor knows he’s in unfriendly territory, yet he doesn’t shy away from tackling unpopular topics head-on. How do you approach situations like this, when people aren’t receptive to the truth? How do you determine when to be silent, when to be tactful, and when to speak out with boldness?
The Bible tells us the devil “prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Where did you see this play out in the novel? Which characters were in danger of the enemy’s clutches?
Heather and Belle each have an interest in voodoo. Why does this worry Trevor? Do you agree that other religions can be gateways for demonic activity? Is this true of every other religion, or only some?
We can’t smell or otherwise physically sense demons, so how can we discern spiritual activity in the world around us? Do you find this easier in large or in small situations? How can you sharpen yo
ur sense of discernment?
In the subway scene, Trevor was rescued by angels. The Bible clearly talks about angels and their actions in the world. How are angels at work today? In what ways has your view been shaped by cultural depictions of angels rather than by biblical ones?
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). Where does the world’s evil come from? How much of it is due to Satan and his forces, and how much can be blamed on humanity’s own proclivity for evil?
Though he’d never been part of any kind of exorcism, Trevor trusted God and stepped forward in faith to deliver a man from demonic possession. What other kinds of deliverance do people need? How can we be part of that redemption process?
“We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). How does this information shape our approach to evil in the world? How does it change our approach to people who do evil?
Is there anything in your life that you need to be delivered from? Can you think of someone you trust who might help you in that spiritual battle?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I realize that the seeds of this story were planted in my mind slowly, and over many years, and in a variety of ways, and I have many to thank because of it. I am sure that the lawyers in the Wisconsin law firm known at the time as Hippenmeyer, Reilly & Arenz, who hired me fresh out of law school and thrust me into a wide-ranging trial practice, had no idea how those initial legal experiences would later give me the inspiration for a great deal of courtroom fiction, some of which makes an appearance in this book.
My friend, mentor, and previous fiction coauthor Tim LaHaye, who passed away before the publication of my first book in this series, The Occupied, generously nourished my fiction career. Tim and I shared a common vision that novels can provide an opportunity to reach people and to touch minds and hearts, and I owe him a great debt of gratitude.
During my too-short association with Enough is Enough, an Internet safety group, and its founder, Donna Rice Hughes, I sharpened my understanding of the potential harm that digital interactivity can pose to unsuspecting young people. But more than that, I was encouraged by our meetings with tech giants when they demonstrated digital programs that parents can use to protect their children when they are online, reminding me that risky situations can have happy endings after all.
The legal organization for which I act as special counsel, the American Center for Law and Justice, provided me with a real-life example of the dangers of Internet exploitation of young women when they asked me to help them to forge legal arguments that would be used in a recent state supreme court case. A state law prohibiting the sexual enticement of young people over the Internet was being challenged by an online predator, and our ultimate victory arguing in favor of that restriction not only protected the teenager in that case, but likely rescued future victims as well. That stuck with me, and I am sure that in some way it motivated me to pursue a few of the plot lines that show up in this story.
As always, my editor at Tyndale, Caleb Sjogren, provided insightful and necessary suggestions about the manuscript, while also patiently enduring my sometimes-intractable positions about what should remain and why it should not be stricken. In the end, his hand in this process has been invaluable, and I and this book are the better for it. The staff members at Tyndale have provided me with boundless encouragement and practical help; in particular Jan Stob, and on the marketing and promotion side, Maggie Rowe and Cheryl Kerwin. Karen Campbell of Karen Campbell Media was quick to grasp the real essence of this story, and she has artfully and passionately communicated it far and wide. My literary agency, AGI Vigliano, and specifically Thomas Flannery Jr. and David Vigliano, have continued to provide excellent representation. As a result, they have freed me up to focus on my writing rather than on numerous transactional issues, a blessing beyond description.
Last but certainly not least, my wife, Janet, has always been, and always will be, the best friend, the sharpest listening ear, and the most pragmatic voice that a writer/husband could ever hope for. She is the lifeblood, in one way or another, of every story that has been, or ever will be, tapped on my keyboard.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CRAIG PARSHALL is a fiction writer who has authored or coauthored twelve suspense novels. His fiction work has appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List and on the CBA bestseller list.
Craig is also a current events columnist and has coauthored several nonfiction books with his wife, Janet, a national syndicated radio talk show host on Moody Radio. As a constitutional attorney, Craig serves as special counsel to the American Center for Law and Justice on matters before the US Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill, and before state supreme courts.
Craig is also a commentator on issues involving culture, faith, freedom, law, media, and technology, and he frequently debates the most controversial and engaging issues of the day with atheist groups, separation-of-church-and-state leaders, and cultural pundits. He also speaks nationally on topics such as Washington policy and politics, religious liberty, Internet freedom of speech, and worldview, as well as debating artistic and creative issues with movie directors in Hollywood.
On constitutional matters, Craig has testified frequently before committees of the US Senate and House of Representatives, as well as before the Federal Communications Commission on broadcasting freedoms and the future of media. As a veteran trial and appellate attorney, Parshall has represented clients in civil liberty and church/state cases before the US Supreme Court, the majority of US Courts of Appeal across the United States, and numerous federal trial courts and state supreme courts.
Craig was the founding director of the John Milton Project for Free Speech, a pioneering venture advocating for freedom of speech and religious liberty on the Internet that he launched in his previous capacity as senior vice president, general counsel, and senior adviser for law and policy for National Religious Broadcasters.
Craig’s appearances before national media as a fiction author, cultural commentator, and constitutional attorney have included television and radio interviews on FOX News, CBS, CNN, NBC’s Today Show, Inside Edition, PBS, NPR, CBN News, and Court TV, among numerous others. He has been interviewed or featured in major newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, National Law Journal, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Boston Herald, Boston Globe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Charlotte Observer, Des Moines Register, Newsweek, and US News and World Report.
Catch Craig on his website (CraigParshallAuthor.com), on Facebook (Craig Parshall Author), on Twitter (@CraigParshall), or on LinkedIn (Craig Parshall—Principal at Parshall Policy).
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