VirtuaScape

by Kelvin Kelley

There really was only one option, and that was for Grace to release the data directly to the media. It would be the only way to know for sure if they were being forbidden from publishing the information. As the day had progressed, it had become more and more evident that there was no way to keep Graces fingerprints off of the release, and for it to still have the same impact. Together they carefully crafted the release, and prepared it to be delivered the next morning, literally just hours before the final debate. This would give the media outlets several hours to digest the personal message from Grace. And hopefully they would vet the information, and confirm directly with Grace, that it was a legitimate claim. But even though this was their final plan, Connor still had great concerns about her safety, and whether he would be able to remain in her detail.

  They decided to plan for evacuation. Connor set up several exit strategies where he could get Grace out of the hotel, and away to safety. They would go somewhere that even his own boss would be unable to find her. And even if the order came down for him leave her detail, Connor had no intention of following such an order. Grace had her own issues with their final decision. Once she sent the message, there would be no way for her to keep it from Sarah or Bradlie. But Connor had explained, that even if they found out that it came from her, they were going to be devastated by the content, not the source. If not initially, eventually they would see that it had to be done. The agenda had to be revealed, in order to save millions of lives. Reluctantly, after great soul searching, Grace agreed. That night she could hardly sleep, even after several glasses of wine, and a double dose of her meds. She was once again thankful that Mason was not in the suite. Finally at three in the morning, she fell into a fitful dreamless sleep that carried her through until the first streams of the light of dawn began to filter through the window.

  She rose groggily out of the big bed. Her first thought was of Bradlie. After she released her message this morning, their lives, all of their lives would forever change. She had to speak to her before then. To be with her. To see her one last time. But she was so far away. Far away enough that even Grace had no idea where they were being kept. And Sarah, she thought. I’ve got to tell her what’s happening. I just have to. I can’t let her be blindsided by this. She needs to be prepared, so that she can help Bradlie through it all. Never in her life had she felt so cornered. She hated what she had decided to do, but there appeared to be no alternative. It was as if this information, this horrid plan, had been laid in her lap by the very hands of God. And that she alone could stop it from happening. She knelt beside the bed and began to pray. Asking for forgiveness of her sins, asking for His strength to do His will, and asking for her family to be safe. The words drifted from her as barely a whisper, but as she prayed she felt a strength began to well up inside her.

  Almost in answer to her prayers, she recalled the times her life had been spared. When she had been shot while serving at the border. When she had survived the bomb in the church that had claimed her father and her brother. When Rod had been shot and killed protecting her and her family. Had all those events led to this day? Had God acted to protect her each time she had faced certain death, because she was supposed to be here and now. Had He brought Connor into her life to help her see the path that she must take? And to help her gain the strength she would need to go through with this? Was this why she had been spared? To be the one, the only one that could stop this madness? And if so, what if Connor had been right? What if, hundreds of years ago, there had been someone just like her. Someone that could have stopped the atrocities of the Holocaust. Someone that, through their own sacrifice, could have saved millions of innocent lives. And ultimately, they had turned away from God. What if they had made selfish decisions, and let events go forward when they could have done something to stop them? Her heart swelled.

  “That would be the greatest sin of all.” She whispered. This action she was taking must be by the grace of God. She would do His will, regardless of the outcome for her. She had to. There was no longer a choice. “Sarah.” She said, rising up and walking to the dresser. She rummaged through her bag, and retrieved the small translucent rectangle, and keyed the device. She needed to hear her daughter’s voice. The phone lit up, and she hit the icon to call her. The phone rang several times before she heard her daughter’s sleepy voice answer.

  “Mom?”

  “Sarah.” Grace said, as she fought to control the emotion that she felt.

  “It’s a quarter to six.” Sarah said, and yawned. “And you’re calling on the phone. What’s wrong?” A suspicious tone had crept into her voice.

  “I just wanted to talk to you. For a minute.” How would she tell her, she wondered. How did she even begin?

  “What’s wrong, Mom?”

  “Nothing, Honey, it’s just...”

  “Just what, Mom? You’re never up this early, and you never use the phone. Something’s wrong.”

  “No, Honey, I just...”

  “Is it Dad?” Sarah asked, and Grace could hear the sudden fear in her voice. “Did something happen to him?” She asked, now fully awake.

  “No. No. He’s just fine.” How could she tell her. Just those few words said entire volumes on how much their daughter loved her father. But I need to tell her.

  “Are you feeling okay?” Sarah asked, her voice falling to a soft concern.

  “Yes. Yes, I’m fine.” Grace answered, as she came to the realization that she could not tell Sarah about Mason’s agenda. She could not do it. She would do God’s will, and release the information, but she would not be the one to break her daughter’s heart. Not now. Not this way. Not today.

  “You still there, Mom?”

  “Yes. I just wanted to hear your voice, sweety. It’s been a long week.” I will not tell her, Grace thought. “And I wanted you to have Bradlie contact me with that virtual reality thing this morning.

  “Maybe tonight, Mom. She’s got school today with the tutor. He comes five days a week while we’re here.”

  “No!” Grace exclaimed. “That will be too late!”

  “What? Too late for what?” Sarah asked. Grace paused. She had to remain calm or Sarah was going to know there really was something wrong.

  “Just the debate, and the interviews, and all.” Grace said, fighting to keep a calm tone in her voice. “I really want to see her, Honey, and it could be days before I have another chance.”

  “I know you’re busy, Mom, but your granddaughter’s education is important. You never let me cut school, what makes you think I will let Bradlie?”

  “Sarah, dear. Please?” Grace asked. Sarah was silent for moment. “It will only take a few minutes.” She heard Sarah sigh.

  “Alright. What time?” She said, obviously not wanting to give in.

  “What time does she get up?”

  “Eight.”

  “Then let’s make it at nine then.”

  “Fine. I’m going back to sleep.”

  “Sarah?”

  “Yes, Mom?”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too, Mom. Going back to sleep now. Bye, Mom.”

  “Good bye, Sarah.” The phone went dead. Grace sighed, fighting back the tears that threatened to flow.

  Chapter 29