Carbon-14: The Shroud of Turin (An Amari Johnston Novel)

by Williams, R. A.

  Dad put his arm around her shoulder. “I’m sorry, baby. I know you loved that car. I’m just glad you weren’t in it.”

  “You know I just paid $800 on the transmission,” she said.

  “At least you have insurance.”

  “It’s just liability insurance. It only pays the other person if I hit them.”

  “I’ll help you buy another car.”

  “And I’ll drive you around until you get one,” Kevin said.

  “You see there,” Dad said. “Kevin will help in the meantime. Come on, I don’t like you out in the open. I’ll drive you home. There’s something we need to talk about.”

  Kevin went back to work and George stayed to finish the investigation as Dad drove her home. She sat with weary eyes watching the buildings go by. She was going to miss that car. She’d had it since she learned to drive back in ’81. But her dad was right about one thing—at least she wasn’t in it.

  “You think that was one of those fire grenades?” she asked. “You told me a guy was caught selling them.”

  “It’s the only thing that could produce that much heat, that fast. Fire guys said whatever it was burned a hole in the bottom. Melted the metal clean through. Amari, it’s not too late to get a refund on your tuition, is it?”

  “I think I have a couple more weeks,” she said with resignation. She knew what her dad was about to say. It was time to get out of Dodge.

  “You know you have to go into the police academy before you can make detective, right? Just getting a degree won’t cut it. You gotta pay your dues.”

  “I know the procedure,” she said as they pulled into their neighborhood street.

  Two squad cars were outside the house and an officer was checking the windows. Foster barked frantically from within.

  “What are they doing to my house?” she asked.

  “They’re checking the perimeter. Looking for signs of forced entry. Just in case.”

  She cupped her face in her hands and fought to hold back the tears. She had to be strong. She couldn’t show weakness, not in front of her dad. Courage, she told herself. Trust in God. He is your strength.

  She felt her dad’s hand caress her back. “It’s okay, baby. Everybody has their breaking point. Even me. He pulled her head under his chin and held her close. “I’m going to get you out of here. I’ve got a plan.”

  She pulled her hands from her face and looked at him through tear-blurred eyes. “So what’s your plan?”

  “Washington DC. It’s about as far away from Tucson you can get while still being in the States. I’ve got connections with the police academy there. The next class starts January 18. If you’re not safe in a police academy, I don’t know where you would be.”

  “But I can’t leave,” she said, stunned by the suggestion. “What about school?”

  “Work as a beat cop during the day and take night classes at George Washington University. They’ve got a criminal justice program there. Or work at night and take day classes. You’ll figure that out later. For right now, we need to keep you safe. Once this guy is caught, you can move back home if you don’t like it out there.”

  “I don’t know, Dad. That’s a big move. What about Kevin?”

  “What about him? You’re just friends, right? Once you two make your case with the Vatican, you’ll probably go your separate ways.”

  It tortured her to admit he was right, but she knew he probably was. “I guess you’re right. But what about Foster?”

  “I’ll take him. I’ll move back into the house. I can apply the rent I’m paying now toward your rent in Washington.”

  “I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.”

  “All right, then why don’t you go stay with your mother’s parents on the reservation? Nobody will be able to find you there.”

  “At the reservation? I hardly know my grandparents. I’ve seen them maybe three times my whole life. They’re strangers to me.”

  “And that’s a shame. Maybe it’s time you got to know them better.”

  “Okay,” she said reluctantly.

  “Okay what? You’ll go to the reservation?”

  “No, okay to Washington.”

  “All right, then. I’m going to double up on police at the house while you pack. We head out next week and find you an apartment. Police academy lasts about six months. They don’t offer female housing, so you’ll need a place to stay.”

  “It would be nice to see snow every once and a while,” she said, trying to sound upbeat. “And trees, real trees that bloom in the spring, trees that change colors and lose their leaves in the fall. I’ve always wanted to see that. And it’s right next to the FBI. Quantico is just a few miles away. Maybe I could join the FBI someday.”

  “There you go. You see? Everything works out in the end.”

  “But what about the Shroud? What if the bishop calls?”

  “What if he doesn’t? What if they don’t agree to talk to you? You can’t stay here.”

  “I guess I could fly out there over a weekend or something. If they ever call, that is.”

  “Or just mail them what you’ve got and talk to them over the phone. You’ll figure something out. For now, keeping you safe is all that’s important. You go start packing and I’ll give my friend in Washington a call and tell him to expect you.”

  Chapter 36

  Amari folded clothes in her bedroom and stacked them into a suitcase. She couldn’t believe she was leaving. She was going to miss Kevin so much. Of course, she could always call him—every day if she wanted to. She could write and send pictures. Maybe she would fly back one weekend and surprise him. People do it all the time, she reminded herself. It didn’t mean they couldn’t still be friends.

  She flinched at the sound of the doorbell. Foster sprang from the floor and dashed to the front of the house, barking. She went to the door and saw Kevin through the peephole. “It’s okay,” she soothed Foster. “He’s my friend, remember? Sit.” She pointed at the ground in front of the dog. He promptly complied, his pointy ears at attention.

  She unbolted both bolts and chain, then opened the door.

  A police officer stood next to him. “Do you know this guy?” the officer asked. “I patted him down. He’s clean.”

  “Thank you, officer, but he’s my friend.”

  The officer tipped his hat and walked back to the patrol car.

  Kevin stepped inside and grinned. “That guy got a little too intimate.”

  “Sorry, Kevin. They’re all terrified of my dad. He’s probably making them do that.”

  “Hey, I’m glad they’re so thorough,” he said, one arm behind his back. He was hiding something. “Anyway, I thought I’d swing by here after work and check on you. Make sure you’re okay.”

  “Like my dad said, I’m just glad I wasn’t in the car. So what’s behind your back?”

  He pulled out a bouquet of flowers, red roses garnished with white baby’s breath.

  She caught her breath. “What’s that for?”

  “It’s for your loss. I know how much you loved that car.”

  She took them and caressed them like a newborn. But red roses weren’t for the grieving. Didn’t he know that? Red roses were for love. “That’s so nice. Nobody’s ever brought me roses before. Let me go put them in water.”

  She filled a vase with water, dropped the flowers in, and set them on the coffee table. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”

  “They reminded me of you when I saw them. So what’s with all the boxes? Are you going somewhere?”

  There was no easy way to do this, so she sighed and let it out. “I’ve decided to drop out of college for now. I’m going to the police academy instead.”

  “Are you serious?” He let the words sink for a second. “I can see you doing that. Beats Pizza Hut, I guess. But you’re not going to finish school? You had straight A’s.”

  “Not in my art classes.”

  “Still, it’s not like you to give up. Remember, your n
ame says you can’t give up.”

  “I’m going to finish, eventually. I’ll go part time when I start working. I’ll make more money then. Besides, I have to be a cop before I can be a detective.”

  “So is that nine to five? You still get weekends off, don’t you?”

  “I’m sorry, Kevin,” she said, her voice cracking. She looked away from him and stared at the roses, hoping he wouldn’t notice the moisture building in her eyes. “But I’m not staying in Tucson. I’m moving to Washington DC.”

  “Washington?” he blurted. “That’s on the east coast!”

  She turned back to face him. “Kevin, I have to get out of here before it’s too late. It’s too dangerous. My dad set this all up. He wants me out of Tucson, to somewhere safe.”

  He was silent as the thoughts churned in his head. “You know what, I agree one hundred percent. Let’s get out of here. My lease is up. I’m paying month to month.”

  She was astonished. Did he think he could just tag along? “You can’t just follow me to Washington. You have a job, responsibilities here.”

  “I’ll get another job. I’ll bus tables if I have to.”

  “Don’t be silly. This is your post doc. You can’t just quit.”

  “I can do whatever I want.”

  “Kevin, we’re just friends.”

  “Stop calling me that!” he snapped, his fists clenched.

  “Calling you what?”

  “Your friend, stop calling me your friend.”

  “Then what am I supposed to call you?”

  “Amari, I didn’t buy those roses because of your car. I bought them because I’m trying to tell you something, only I don’t know how.”

  A surge of joy gushed from within. She had prayed so hard for this moment. Could it be? “What? What are you trying to tell me? Just say it.”

  “Look, I don’t know what love is, Amari. I’ve never been in love before. All I know is this. I think about you all the time. I can’t stand the thought of being without you. And the other day when we came back from Los Alamos, you know, when you had that cracker on your lip?”

  “Don’t remind me.”

  “That day, I wanted to kiss you so bad, I couldn’t stand it.”

  She threw her hands up in exasperation. “Then why didn’t you?”

  “Because you’re so beautiful, Amari. It’s a privilege to be in the same room with you.”

  “Kevin, that’s so sweet.”

  “But look at me. I’m just some backward hick from Tennessee. And I don’t even go to church. What would someone like you see in a guy like me? I was afraid you didn’t share my feelings. What if I chased you off? Then we would never get to the Vatican. Our mission was too important for me to risk it.”

  “And I’m just some half-Navajo cop’s kid from Tucson. What does that have to do with anything? Of course, I share your feelings. How many hints do I have to give you?”

  “Well, I didn’t know. Sometimes you acted a little flirty and then you’d turn around and call me your friend. Why do you girls have to be so complicated? I swear, quantum mechanics has nothing on you.”

  She shook her head and laughed. “We’re not that complicated.”

  “Well, you are to me. So I went and asked Ms. Embry for some advice.”

  “Ms. Embry? The receptionist? What did she say?”

  “She told me to get my head out of my behind and do something before I lost you. She’s the one that told me to buy the roses.”

  Happy tears welled in her eyes. She plucked one of the roses from the vase and breathed in its aroma. “Because roses aren’t for friends. Roses are for love.”

  Suddenly, Kevin pulled her in close by the small of her back. His spearmint breath was hot on her face and she dropped the rose onto the floor. “Kevin, this isn’t like you.”

  His gaze fell to her lips. “I’ve been crunching the numbers.”

  “What numbers?”

  “About how I was gonna kiss you for the first time. I’ve gone over and over it in my head, playing out every hypothetical scenario.”

  “And?”

  “In real life, it’s a whole lot simpler than I thought.”

  “An how’s that?”

  “In the real world . . . it all boils down to one thing.”

  “And what’s that?” she said and gently pulled him closer.

  “I just can’t seem to help myself,” he said and eagerly pressed his lips onto hers.

  She kissed back, lost in his soft, warm embrace. And in that moment, she believed what he had been telling her all along—everything was going to be okay.

  ****

  “You think these books will be too heavy?” Amari asked. She had brought a couple of boxes to the lab to help Kevin clean out his office. “Or should we put them in another box?”

  “Actually, those stay here. Property of the university.”

  “What about the computer?”

  “Theirs too. I’m taking the floppies though.”

  “Dr. Brenner, what is she doing here? Did I not warn you what I would do if I found her here again?” It was Rahal. The eye that focused on her was bloodshot. He sounded more weary than angry.

  “You haven’t been to your office yet?” Kevin asked. “Slid my resignation under your door. Saved you the trouble of firing me.”

  She thought he’d blow his stack when Kevin laid that on him. Instead, worried panic showed on his face. He moved over to Kevin’s chair and sat. “Can we talk about this?” he asked. “If you are angry about the way I treated your girlfriend, I offer my apologies. But she put me in a difficult position,” he said, glancing up at Amari. “I wish you would reconsider. We have to finish dating the Dead Sea scrolls. We have a deadline. I cannot meet that deadline without you.”

  She felt an unexpected wave of pity for Rahal. Clearly, the trouble with his now missing son had affected him, perhaps shown him what really matters in life.

  Kevin walked over and looked down at the little man. “Before you say anything else, I want to ask you something.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Was that you who got my clearance pulled at Los Alamos?”

  “So you did go there. I thought you might. Dr. Brenner, I’m sorry, but Miss Johnston should have shown me more respect.”

  “So now you know I’m helping her. You still want me to stay?”

  “My wants have nothing to do with this. We have contractual obligations.”

  “I need to let you in on another secret. Did you know that I’m a Christian?”

  “As long as you give us accurate numbers from the Dead Sea scrolls, I don’t care if you practice witchcraft on your own time. So will you stay a little longer? Just until we finish this project?”

  “No-can-do,” Kevin said. “I’m moving out of town. I’ll give you the numbers of a couple guys who can help if you want.”

  Rahal stood and moved to the door. “If you will not reconsider, then, yes, I would appreciate those numbers,” he said and walked slowly, quietly down the hall.

  “Wow,” she said. “I thought this would be a lot more fun.”

  “Yeah,” he said, a perplexed, sad look on his face. “Now I feel like the bad guy. Did your dad ever find out what happened to his son?”

  “Nothing yet. They still don’t have a clue.”

  “Then I guess we should keep him in our prayers. Remind me next time we go to church.”

  She caught him by the wrist. “Kevin, are you serious?”

  “Well, you heard me. My cover’s blown now. What do I have to lose?”

  She pulled him in for a hug. “Thank you, Kevin. You don’t know how much that means to me.” She let him go and reached for his hands. “The couple that prays together stays together.”

  “Just don’t make me sit up front.”

  “I don’t care where we sit, as long as you’re sitting next to me.”

  “And don’t make me sing either. Cause I can’t sing.”

  Chapter 37

&nb
sp; Dad stood in the doorway with drooping eyes and a red nose that looked worse against his pale face. He held an overnight bag in his left hand and a box of tissue in the other.

  Amari bolted the door closed behind him and led him to the couch.

  “Let me guess,” she said. “You never got your flu shot.”

  “It’s not just me,” he said through stuffy nostrils. “Half the precinct has it. I’m sorry, but they don’t have the extra manpower to leave a car outside. That’s why I’m sleeping on your couch tonight.”

  “Lot of good you’re going to do me like that.”

  “I can manage.”

  “How about you let me take care of you this time.” She put her hand to his head. “You got a fever. I’ll get you some medicine. I have a can of chicken soup in the cupboard.”

  Dad sat his gun holster at the base of the couch, slid off his shoes, and laid down. Amari went to her closet and came back with a pillow and a blanket.

  “Thank you, baby. Don’t you worry. Anyone comes through that door, I’ll take him out,” he said, an arm hanging off the couch, patting his gun.

  “Just get some rest. Foster and I can handle this. Anyway, what are the odds of this guy hitting us tonight, of all nights? The patrol car has been out there for days. I think he gets the hint. He won’t even think to come by here.”

  “You’re probably right,” Dad said. “I’m sure he got the message. But just in case, I’ll feel better if I stay here.”

  She gave him some cold medicine with antihistamine to clear up the drainage and help him sleep. He took his medicine, ate the soup and crackers, and passed out on the couch.

  “Come on, Foster. It’s bedtime,” she said. The loyal German Shepherd followed her to her bedroom. She closed the door to muffle her dad’s snoring.

  Later that night, she laid in bed reading the Bible. Foster made his bed on an old quilt comforter on the floor next to her. Lately, Scripture was the only comfort that helped eased her into sleep. She drifted in and out, on the edge of sleep, determined to finish Second Peter before she placed her bookmark.

  Foster sprang off from the comforter and startled her. He went to the sliding glass door and whined to go out.