Deadly Disclosures

by Julie Cave

  “It would have been easy for God to reject us. He could have washed His hands of us and let us continue to destroy each other. The truth is, He is too loving to do that. He still desperately seeks a relationship with each of us. So now there is a dilemma. He loves us and wants a relationship with us, but we are full of evil. How can a God who is perfect and holy have anything to do with the corrupted human race?

  “Well, He’s not willing to give up. We have to pay the price for our rejection of God — He requires justice, after all. So He devised a plan that enables us to come into a perfect relationship with Him and deal with sin at the same time, and the best part is, we don’t have to live up to impossible standards. He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to be both fully human and fully God.”

  “Okay, I know the story,” said Dinah. “But why is it such a big deal?”

  “God is required to deal with sin seriously because that’s part of His nature. So He chose a perfect sacrifice, One who could face all the temptation to do wrong while on earth, remain perfect, and take the wrath of God. No one is strong enough to do that except God Himself — so He sent His Son Jesus to do all those things to redeem the human race. Think about it, Dinah; Jesus took the punishment for the sin you’ve committed in the past, but also the sin you’ll commit in the future. It was a one-time solution to an ongoing problem.”

  Dinah nodded while Sandra took a drink of water.

  “God now offers us this redemption as a free gift. There is nothing you have to do except accept it. That’s the beauty of it — there are no demands on you. It’s all been done for you.”

  A nurse bustled into the room at that moment. “Hi, guys, visiting hours are over, I’m afraid.” She began checking Dinah.

  Sandra stood, and Dinah suddenly realized how exhausted the other woman looked. “I’ll be back tomorrow,” Sandra promised. “Get some rest tonight.”

  • • • •

  When she was left alone again, Dinah rearranged her pillows and lay back, thinking hard about what Sandra had told her. She had never been religious; had never seen any need for it. But anyone could see that her life was in the ditch. She was a broken woman and she needed relief. She had thought that suicide might provide such relief, but now she wasn’t sure.

  God, if You’re there, I want to know.

  She was suddenly reminded of a dream she’d had, where she’d been struggling through darkness to try and reach a light. A thought rose, unbidden, in her mind: I have been waiting for you.

  Shocked, Dinah was silent for a few moments. I don’t want to live this way anymore. I don’t want to drink myself to death. I don’t want to die. I want to have some respect for myself. I need hope in my life again. I don’t know how to have all these things.

  Dinah lay in the cool dark, listening to the idle chatter of the nurses, and remembered that there was always a Bible in the bedside tables of hospital rooms, and she found it. She didn’t know much about the Bible, but she wanted to read about Jesus. So she opened to the New Testament randomly and began to read.

  “Come to Me, all you who are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.”

  Tears sprang to Dinah’s eyes. I am heavy burdened, and I need rest. Jesus, I am a wreck of a human being. What can You do with me? I haven’t done a good job on my own, so I need You to help me. I have done so many wrong things and they have cost me so much. Please forgive me. I want to accept the free gift of freedom You have offered through Your death on the Cross. I need Your salvation.

  Eventually Dinah fell asleep, and for the first time in many years, slept through the night without nightmares.

  • • • •

  When Dinah awoke, she felt refreshed and alert, something she hadn’t experienced for quite some time. Although the attempt on her life had left her weakened and sick, she realized what a pleasure it was to wake from sleep without dread of an encroaching hangover or despair at having to face another day. Finally, it seemed, she would be able to move on with her life.

  The Colemans arrived after she’d eaten breakfast bearing a large bunch of flowers. “You look much better today,” Andy told her. “In fact, you look the best that I’ve ever seen you.”

  Dinah laughed. “I must have looked truly hideous when you first met me!”

  Andy was embarrassed. “Oh, I didn’t mean that! I just …well, I thought …you know, that….”

  Dinah patted him on the arm. “I know what you mean. Hey, here’s some good news for you. I gave my life to God last night!”

  Andy and Sandra looked at Dinah in disbelief, then at each other, before both breaking into enormous grins. “Wow!” exclaimed Sandra, her eyes shining. “What a miracle. Congratulations on the start of your new life.”

  Andy hugged her. “That’s fantastic. We’ve both prayed long and hard for you.”

  “I read some of the Bible last night,” continued Dinah. “But I’ve realized I have no idea what I’m supposed to do now. I know nothing about being a Christian.”

  “We can certainly help you there,” said Sandra. “Keep reading your Bible — I’d recommend you begin with the Gospel of John. And start talking to God regularly, every day if you can. Being a Christian is not about being religious; it’s about a relationship with Jesus. To keep any relationship growing, you need to spend time communicating with Him.”

  “What are you going to do now, with regard to work?” asked Andy. “Are you going to go back to the FBI?”

  Dinah sighed. “I don’t think they’d have me. Despite the last 24 hours, there was a much longer history of bad behavior on my part. I think they’d be much happier if I faded into the background.”

  “So you’ve thought about what you’ll do then?” asked Andy.

  Dinah nodded. “Only fleetingly, but I think I could put my profiling skills to use as a consultant for the police and business, maybe.”

  “Have you thought any further about going to biblical counseling or rehab?” asked Sandra.

  “Yes, I think I’ll go to counseling. I need help, I see that now.” The thought of actually going made Dinah’s skin crawl, but she knew it was necessary.

  She paused for a minute, hunting around in the little drawer of the night table next to her hospital bed. “Can I ask something of you?”

  When Andy and Sandra nodded, Dinah showed them an envelope and asked, “Are you on good terms with the FBI agent based in Cleveland?”

  “Special Agent O’Donnell?” Andy said. “Yeah, we talk quite regularly. Why is that?”

  “I need to take some precautions. I’m not convinced that the threat to my life has ceased,” explained Dinah, thinking of the hollow eyes of David Winters. “I’ve written down everything that has happened during this case, and included some details of some people who can support me, such as Ferguson. I have stored a copy of the statement on a number of online sensitive document storage sites.”

  “Sorry, you’ve lost me. I’m not into computers,” admitted Andy.

  “There are several websites that have set up virtual vaults for storing sensitive documents,” said Dinah. “They are heavily encrypted and have state-of-the-art security. I’ve sent a copy of my document to several of these sites in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The envelope I’m about to give you contains the URL addresses and passwords to these sites. I need you both to memorize them and then destroy these envelopes. In the event of my untimely death, or that of Ferguson, then I need you to log onto one of those sites, obtain my document, and send it to Special Agent O’Donnell immediately.”

  “Okay. That I can do. What’s in it?” Andy asked curiously.

  “I’d rather you didn’t know; I believe it would endanger your life, also. I don’t want that. Would you feel comfortable doing this for me?”

  Andy and Sandra glanced at each other. Andy shrugged. “Sure. If you are really worried about your life being in danger, it’s the least we can do.”

  Dinah smiled. “Thank you. I feel as if I can finally relax.”

 
; Sandra stood up. “Well, if you’ll excuse us we need to slip away, but we’ll come back to visit you tomorrow.”

  Dinah watched them go, marveling that such special friends had been provided for her in her darkest hour of need.

  It was a clear indication of the unseen hand of God, reaching out to save her.

  Chapter 21

  Dinah picked up the phone on the night table next to her and dialed the most powerful building in the country. She was put through to the senator’s office, where a chirpy office girl tried to refuse Dinah’s request to speak directly to Winters.

  “Tell him that I’m the woman who came back from the dead,” Dinah told the secretary. “He’ll want to speak with me, trust me.”

  It must have worked, because seconds later, she heard his voice.

  “Dinah Harris, I suppose?”

  “Yes, it is, Winters,” Dinah said. “Are you surprised to discover I survived your attempt to have me murdered?”

  Winters chuckled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, though I’m sorry to hear of your misfortune, Ms. Harris. I hear that the police have apprehended two fellows responsible for your attempted murder. I’m sure that you must feel relieved.”

  “Funny enough, I’m not relieved,” said Dinah through clenched teeth. “I know one of the killers is still roaming free.”

  “That’s a troubling thought. I do hope the authorities find him and arrest him.” Winters was infuriatingly cool, refusing to incriminate himself. “But I fear there is no evidence of a third party being involved.”

  “Maybe not, but there is an eyewitness account,” rejoined Dinah. “That eyewitness account has been written down and stored safely.”

  “From what I understand, the credibility of said eyewitness is questionable at best,” Winters said. There was no mistaking his mocking tone. “I believe any defense lawyer worth his salt would have a field day with such an eyewitness in court. And there really is no other evidence to support the testimony of the eyewitness, is there?”

  “You’re probably right,” agreed Dinah. “So let me get to the point of this call: the written account was not written to serve as evidence in court; it was written to ensure the safety of all the witnesses involved.”

  “You’re scared this so-called third party might not have finished with you?” Winters asked scornfully.

  “And you’re scared that the written account might be used against you in a court of law?” snapped Dinah. “It’s a pretty big gamble for you to take, given your position. Even if you were cleared of charges, I wouldn’t expect you to be electable again. Then how would you achieve your whacked-out agenda? What would you do then?”

  There was silence for several moments and Dinah knew she’d struck a chord. She was banking on the fact that the senator was indeed worried about even being associated with the case at all. It was not the sort of exposure he could bounce back from. The American public usually didn’t take kindly to their elected officials being involved in murder. And Dinah knew that Winters knew it.

  “So,” continued Dinah, “I think a deal might be struck — where the written account will stay locked away safely as long as Ferguson and I remain alive and well. Should either one of us meet with an untimely death, no matter if it appears to be an accident or not, the account will be made available to the FBI immediately.”

  “You’re an imbecile if you think a shred of paper can’t be destroyed,” snarled Winters.

  “Well, thankfully I’m not an imbecile. The account is held in a large number of virtual vaults, impervious to attempts to destroy or sabotage it.”

  “Do you know how easy it would be for me to get a subpoena to obtain that record?” gloated Winters. “And have it destroyed?”

  Dinah laughed. “Perhaps in this country you might be able to do that, assuming you could find the companies with which I’ve lodged the account and the name under which it’s been filed. I can assure you that I’m not imbecilic enough to lodge it under my own name. But I do think you’d have more trouble explaining to the sovereign states of Canada and Australia why you need to obtain such records. A U.S. subpoena holds vastly reduced sway on foreign soil.” Dinah affected a bored tone of voice. “And again, you’d have to find the companies involved and the name under which I’d filed it. Oh, and did I tell you that every company I’ve opened a virtual vault with will contact me anytime someone makes a query on my account? So if you do start digging around, I’ll find out about it and give the document straight to the FBI. I just love the worldwide web, don’t you?”

  There was more silence.

  “Obviously, Hanlon and Petesky thought that they could trust you,” continued Dinah. “You allowed them to take the fall for you, after all. On the other hand, I see you for the purely evil person that you are, and I don’t trust you one little bit. So you’ll forgive me for wanting to take out an insurance policy. Now, do we have a deal?”

  Winters made a peculiar noise, as if he were choking. “Fine.”

  “I don’t want to see anyone lurking around, following me, or watching my house. I don’t want any bugs or listening devices. I know what they look like and where to find them. If I see anything remotely suspicious, the deal is off. Okay?”

  “Fine.”

  “Great. Well, I’m glad we had this little talk, aren’t you? Hopefully I’ll never have to speak to you again.”

  “Likewise,” growled Winters. He hung up on her.

  Dinah hung up and exhaled. She had done all she could to protect her own life and Ferguson’s life from Winters. She knew that she’d never be 100 percent safe from someone with the resources of Winters, but she’d done her best. She just had to hope that his need for power outweighed his desire for revenge.

  Now it was time for a fresh beginning, with a new outlook on life. A strange sensation bubbled inside Dinah, and it took her a moment to realize that it was anticipation and excitement.

  And who knew? Perhaps she might even do away with the sarcasm. Dinah contemplated it for a moment — on second thought, probably not.

  • • • •

  David Winters hated Thai food, but Chief Justice Maxwell Pryor loved it, so they had agreed to meet in the tiny restaurant on the edge of Georgetown. While he was worse than useless with a pair of chopsticks, he was at least glad of the relative anonymity the place gave him. It was time to lie low, as much as the senator could, until he sorted out some loose ends.

  Pryor slid the sheaf of documents across the table and elegantly picked up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks. “Have a look,” he invited. “I think you’ll be pretty happy.”

  The document was headed “Proposed Vilification Bill,” and Winters immediately began to read. He was quickly impressed.

  The bill outlined its major new idea: that it should be illegal to publicly incite hatred against others because of race, religion, sex, gender, or sexual preference.

  “So, let me be sure,” Winters said, ignoring his rice and chicken satay. “If this bill is passed, it will be illegal for a pastor to teach that homosexuality is wrong?”

  “Absolutely,” confirmed Pryor. He chewed for several seconds. “The crucial elements of the bill, which you must not allow to be amended, are ‘public’ and ‘hatred.’ Our government cannot control what people say or think in the privacy of their own homes. However, the inclusion of the word ‘public’ will include churches, auditoriums, lectures, classrooms, and even a public gathering within a private home. This will broadly cover the places where fundamentalists like to stir up their religious fanaticism. It covers all forms of communication including speaking, the written word, displays, broadcasting, distributing materials, and playing of recorded material. It covers conduct also, which includes the wearing of clothes or displaying signs, flags, and emblems. The term ‘hatred’ can include any negative connotations whatsoever, and any good lawyer would be able to interpret the law to include teaching that homosexuality is wrong or that abortion is wrong. It would be seen as the pastor i
nciting hatred amongst his congregation toward those who are gay or pro-choice.”

  “Excellent,” said Winters. “Now, can the bill be used by the fundamentalists against us?”

  Pryor smiled briefly. “A good point. It’s important to remember that we’re not saying Christianity is wrong or that their beliefs are wrong. We are simply trying to stop them from spreading their beliefs around the rest of us. It’s beautiful in its simplicity.”

  “Wonderful.” Winters sat back in his chair and grinned. He had won after all. Not only would he introduce this bill and introduce the right for the public to prosecute those he described as irritating evangelicals, he had effectively stopped the encroachment of creationism and Christian fundamentalism on the scientific establishment. Whitfield was gone, and in his place would rise someone with truly unimpeachable and mainstream credentials.

  There was, of course, work still to be done. Winters would have to file progress reports on his efforts to the others. The very idea of this grated on his nerves, but ultimately it was a mutually beneficial relationship: he wanted their cash, they wanted his power.

  The plan he intended to put into action would be considered unpalatable by some, but that was the difference between the average person and one who strode the halls of power. First, he would silence the opposition — no small feat in a country that prized freedom of speech. He’d already proven several times over that he was willing to take extraordinary measures to snuff out the cries of any who resisted him. Second, he would lay the groundwork for social restructuring based on the simple Darwinist premise: survival of the fittest. The perfect opportunity to achieve this had just erupted on the political scene.

  The president wanted health care reform, for the good of the people. Winters wanted to progress the acceptance of euthanasia and eugenics in the legislation. While the media and politicians noisily scrapped over Medicare and private health insurance, Winters could do his work quietly in the background, so that nobody would even know until it was too late.

  Winters grinned again. Darwin had been wrong, he thought. It doesn’t take millions of years to change the world. It took only the actions of one man, in the right position of power, at the right time, to envision a future where the value of human life was determined by government under guidelines he himself would draft.