Secret Passages

by R D Hathaway

  “Before we continue, who was at the front door?” Roger asked Angie.

  “It was just Rod, the camp manager. He wondered if we needed anything. He’s okay.”

  “We can’t be too careful right now,” Roger said. “Matthew, what do we need to do?”

  “I recommend I remove each document, lay it out where Angie needs it, and then after the photo is taken, either of you two can set out my translation and notes in the space where the document was located. Once they are all photographed to Angie’s satisfaction, I will return them to the fold in the manner they had been stored.”

  Everyone agreed with some hesitation. Rennie looked at her fingers and then at the tin box.

  Matthew offered another thought. “It’s important that we recognize how we might react to what we are about to see and do. If you feel moved or possibly overcome, it’s understandable. These are letters written by the hand of Jesus, as well as from his mother and Matthew. They are in Aramaic, so you will not casually read the text. This is the last time we will have the privilege to be this close to them. We are blessed beyond measure. Are you ready?”

  Angie put a hand over her mouth. Rennie stared at the sheet lying on the bed. Roger seemed grim.

  “Wait,” Roger said. “No matter what happens from here on, I’m grateful for your bringing me into your confidence. This moment makes life worthwhile. I don’t know what comes next, but I welcome it.”

  Rennie put her arm around his waist.

  Angie breathed on her glasses and cleaned the lenses.

  “Okay, team. Let’s get at it.”

  A Campground

  Outside Indianola, IA

  XII - 3

  Rennie thought she heard a noise behind the cabin. She lifted a corner of the sheet that covered the window to look into the dark woods.

  “Darn, I can’t see a thing out there.”

  Matthew moved the third letter of Christ from its position on the bed to allow Angie to photograph the translation and notes. “Angie, I’m grateful you brought the archive gloves. I was worried about my grimy hands touching these precious documents.”

  She had a gleeful look on her face as she helped direct the papers into place on the sheet. “I cannot believe these are letters from Jesus. He’s here with us.”

  She grabbed the monopod and looked at the image on the back of the camera. “Just for reference, I’m shooting these at five megs. That’ll deliver reasonable clarity for anyone who wants a closer look.”

  “How’re you doing, Roger?” Rennie asked.

  He didn’t respond. She noticed the redness in his cheeks and nose. His face expressed a concentrated determination.

  He took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about where we go from here. The file sizes she’ll be putting up would take a full day on a dial up connection. We don’t have the time. Angie and I will take the RV to my house to create the Web site and upload these images on my cable line. You and Matthew take Angie’s car and meet the fellow from Minnesota to hand off the package.”

  Rennie nodded. “Great idea, Roger. If anyone is looking for us, they won’t notice you. Whoever is searching for us is less likely to spot Angie’s car.”

  Matthew moved the documents for the next photos. “Once the letters have been passed on and the Web site is on-line, I recommend we meet at Rennie’s house. It’s best to insulate Roger’s residence for the time being.”

  “I can handle whatever they’d like to dish out,” Roger said with energy.

  Rennie grinned and pointed at him. “Remember, gently and humbly. That is a good idea, though. When you guys are done on the Web, we should be home already. Just call before you come over.”

  Peaceful energy flowed between them as they worked together with precision and grace. Forty minutes later, the photography was completed. Matthew folded the documents into place. Then he lifted the package, looking closely at the top layer. He raised it to his lips and kissed it.

  His lips quivered and his eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry. I could not resist. This is the closest I shall ever be to the physical presence of my Lord. I am so sorry.” He began to openly weep. Tears formed in everyone’s eyes.

  Rennie raised her hand. “Holy, loving God, we humbly thank You for this opportunity to know Your presence in our lives and to try to serve You. Amen.”

  All said amen and shared hugs. A hard knock on the front door hit their senses. They looked at each other for a moment. Angie hurried to the door as the knock sounded again. Rennie ran to join her. Roger and Matthew closed the bedroom door.

  Angie snapped open the dead bolt lock and eased open the door a few inches. She peered through the crack and saw a young man in a sweatshirt and jeans. She fully opened the door.

  “Hi, Rod. Good to see you again.”

  He shifted his weight, looking uneasy. He glanced at Rennie but stared at Angie. “Angie, I got a strange call. It was a guy named Maxwell. He said he was with the FBI.” Rod’s face twitched and he jammed his hands into his pockets.

  “He asked if I knew someone by the name of Rennie Haran. I told him no and asked why. He said he was just making inquiries. Do you know who this person is, and what’s going on? I never got a call from the FBI before.”

  Rennie’s nostrils flared. She stepped forward but Angie stopped her with a subtle touch.

  “Yes, I know that person, but I don’t know this fellow Maxwell. If I can tell you anything more, I’ll let you know.”

  He glanced at both women and briefly into the cabin. “Well, okay. It seemed odd. Is there anything else you need tonight?”

  “No, thanks. Our meeting is nearly over, so we’ll probably leave soon. Sometimes, Bible studies can end more quickly than expected.”

  He smiled uneasily. “Well, yeah. You don’t hear that too often! Like I said, if you need anything, let me know. Good night.”

  Rennie and Angie watched him walk into the night. He looked back and waved.

  After they closed the door, Rennie was furious.

  “Maxwell is the purported FBI guy who stopped me at my car. How the heck did he connect me to this place?”

  Roger and Matthew came out of the bedroom, meeting the women in the living area.

  Rennie became agitated. “That was the camp manager. He said he got a call from the guy who stopped me at my car. How did he track me out here?”

  “That doesn’t matter,” Roger replied. “Now we know they think we might be here. It’s good we’re done with the photo work. Angie, you and I need to hit the road. You can work on your laptop in the motorhome while I get us back to my place. Rennie, you and Matthew take the box and get out of here. Just drive around if you have to. Make your connection with our knight in shining armor, and then we’ll meet at your house. Okay?”

  Rennie shook her fist. “No! I want —”

  Matthew interrupted. “Roger is right. However, this came to be, we must proceed to the next step.”

  Rennie took a deep breath. A realization hit her. She hurried to her bag and removed her company cell phone.

  “This might be it. These come with GPS that can be tracked. It rang a while ago and let’s see. Yeah, some ‘unavailable’ number called. They called the phone and determined where it was.”

  Angie responded, “Rennie, it’s all right. We’re done here. Let’s go.”

  Everyone packed up their belongings. Matthew bound up the biscuit tin and placed it in his tapestry bag. He removed from the bag Matthias’s journals, placing in them his translations and notes. He then wrapped the journals in a dish towel and placed them into a plastic bag, then in a paper sack with a bag of chips, a loaf of bread, and some plastic utensils.

  Angie was about to bring her car to the cabin when Rennie stopped her. She handed Angie the business cell phone.

  “Here, I turned it on. When you get to your car, go a little int
o the woods and throw it as far as you can. If they’re tracking its signal, it will be a little diversion for them.”

  They slapped hands in a high-five. Angie hurried out the door and Rennie continued to help pack up.

  When they were ready to go, they shared hugs and got into the vehicles. Roger guided the RV down the dirt road and through the dark woods as Rennie followed in Angie’s car.

  Matthew clung to his bag as the car bumped along the road. “We may want to consider which route any authorities may take to this location. They may not recognize Angie’s vehicle, but we must be cautious.”

  “Quite right, my friend. Unfortunately, there’s only one road into the woods. We need to get to a county road as soon as possible. I wish we would hear from our Minnesota friend.”

  “I, as well. It’s quite admirable that he has undertaken this cause without knowing any details. He is a true disciple.”

  They followed the motorhome through the night as dust from the dirt road floated across the car. Reaching the county road, Roger turned right and proceeded up the highway toward town. Rennie accelerated straight across the road, continuing away from the camp.

  On the Road Home

  XII - 4

  Rennie opened her window, allowing the late-night air through the car. She leaned her elbow on the door, enjoying the wind in her hair. She checked the clock and noticed it was after ten.

  “We should be hearing from that guy at any time. I’m concerned we don’t have a backup plan.”

  “O ye of little faith,” Matthew replied with a grin. “Once he calls, we will need to be at the appointed place within the hour.”

  “Not a problem. If I can get to the freeway, we can cruise along until we hear from him. We can be at the hand-off place in twenty minutes from wherever we are if we stay on the freeway. All he needs to do is give us that much notice.”

  Matthew relaxed his grip on the bag. “Have you thought about where you will go from here, I mean regarding your career? I am concerned that the newspaper you work for may feel awkward having you on staff when this is resolved.”

  “The way I see it now, one’s career is an opportunity to express one’s personal gifts. If one place doesn’t allow that, you move to where you can. The main thing is to do what you were crafted to do.”

  Matthew watched the road ahead. “So, for what were you crafted?”

  “I’m a little closer to understanding why I was put here. What we are to do doesn’t have to be some great thing. It’s okay to work on an assembly line if that’s your calling. But, if you are an artist and you’re twisting a bolt every thirty seconds on the line, you will kill the spirit you were given. People are terribly unhappy when they are working for things instead of living out their destiny.”

  “How will you live out your destiny when this is over?”

  “I haven’t had a chance to think of that. We’ve been a little busy. I seem to be a little more mission oriented than task-based. I think where I go will be revealed to me. Okay, here’s the freeway coming up. It’s time to fly!”

  ***

  Tilting with the roll of the RV as it cruised down the highway, Angie worked away on her laptop. In a fluid motion, her fingers danced across the keyboard inputting information needed for the Web site. Roger turned on an old CD player. He occasionally checked the rearview mirrors for other vehicles.

  As the motorhome approached the on-ramp to Highway 5, Roger squinted to see past the overpass, where several cars appeared to be moving quickly down the road. They were unusually close to one another.

  “That’s odd,” he said.

  “What’s odd?” Angie asked, while she continued to type.

  “It’s odd that three cars are coming this way, all together, and at this hour of the night. Hang on. I’m taking the on-ramp. You’d better get down. They shouldn’t see you if they can look in here.”

  Angie folded together the laptop and stretched out on the bench seat, holding the computer in her arms.

  Just before the cars reached his position, Roger turned onto the access ramp to the highway. He accelerated and looked into the rearview mirrors.

  “It looks like they slowed down a little, but I’m not sure. They aren’t following us.”

  “Is it okay for me to continue?” Angie asked as she got up and reopened her laptop.

  “Looks good. It was probably nothing. Our timing was lucky, though. We’ll call this a short cut. How much longer do you need?”

  “Not long, maybe fifteen minutes. When we get to your place, I’ll have the bulk of the text and set up needed for the site. Then it’s just a matter of filling in the blanks. Let me know when we’re close.”

  ***

  Matthew’s phone rang. He removed it from his coat pocket and put it to his ear.

  Rennie felt renewed suspicion and urgency as she glanced at Matthew listening and responding to the call.

  He turned and handed the phone to her. “His name is Dale and he needs directions.”

  “Hi, this is Rennie. I’m glad you’re close. Are you at all familiar with the City of Des Moines? Good. I’ll try to get you to the meeting location along a simple route.”

  Rennie provided him with the route to the designated meeting point. When she felt confident he knew where to go, she had a question for him. “One last thing before we meet. What will you do with this package? How do you intend to get it back there? I’d like to know the details.”

  Matthew motioned he wanted the phone.

  “Hold on, Matthew wants to talk to you.”

  “Hello. I understand. It’s not a problem. We look forward to seeing you soon. God be with you.” Matthew put away the phone. “Rennie, it will be alright. We need to trust at this point.”

  She glanced at her companion, wondering if she trusted too much. “It’s hard for me to let go of some things. That’s one of my problems. I need to fix everything.”

  “It is a good burden to have, my dear. There are few like you, and the world needs many. You can trust this.”

  As they approached the turnoff to their meeting place, Rennie suddenly became nervous. She checked her rearview mirrors and scanned the area, ducking her head back and forth.

  “What’s wrong?” Matthew asked.

  “I just realized that if there was anyone looking for us back at the campground, they might come this way. This road also goes to the camp. What if they see us?”

  “We have no choice, now. We must do what must be done. There are only a few minutes to our meeting time. Can you get there in time? He will not wait for more than a couple of minutes.”

  “Why, does he have other plans tonight? Sorry. It’s up ahead. Do you have it ready? Say, are you giving him your personal bag?”

  He held the tapestry bag in his arms and slid his fingertips across it. “Yes. It will be a privilege to know this was the transfer case. My father, Matthias, purchased this bag for my mother when they were on an outing. She always treasured it, and now the greatest treasure of all will be carried forth in it. I believe they would be pleased.”

  Rennie bit her lip and nodded. Then, she pointed. “Look, there’s the parking lot. Do you see him? What’s he driving? There he is, in the corner.”

  She turned off the road and drove across the lot, turning her lights out as she came close to the other vehicle. A man stepped out wearing khaki slacks and a Minnesota Golden Gophers t-shirt. Rennie stopped the car next to him.

  “So, our white knight is a Gopher?” she said with a smile.

  “He is this evening,” he replied. “I’m Dale. I appreciate the call.”

  Matthew got out of the car and walked around it to shake hands with their contact. “Hello, I’m Matthew. I’m very pleased that you would assist us. Please tell any others who may be involved they will soon know how remarkable this venture is.”

  “It need not
be remarkable, sir. It only needs to serve God. That’s why I’m in the Order. I guarantee your package will reach its destination. I’ll be leaving now. God’s peace to you.”

  “And, God bless you, my friend,” Matthew responded.

  The man took the bag, got into his vehicle and drove to the parking lot exit. When he reached the road, he turned on his lights and accelerated up to speed.

  Matthew tugged at his beard and looked down at Rennie through the driver’s window. “That was a bit quick.”

  “Yeah, for me, too. I’m feeling a little empty.” She looked at the road. “Matthew, did we accomplish anything?”

  “That will depend upon Angie and Roger. I hope they arrived safely at his house.”

  “Let’s get over there and see.”

  Matthew got into the car, and Rennie turned the car around. She stopped and stared out the window. He observed three cars stopping in the street and the entrance to the parking lot.

  “How long have they been there?” he asked.

  “They’re just arriving. I hope they didn’t see our buddy leave.”

  “I suggest you go straight to your house. Don’t try to evade them.”

  Rennie winked at him and drove out of the parking lot past the cars. All three followed her home. When she turned into the driveway, the cars parked on the street one house away. No one got out of them.

  Rennie and Matthew strolled to the house without looking toward the street. When she got to the front door, she discovered it was unlocked.

  She looked at her key. “It seems whoever broke in couldn’t bother with locking up when they left.”

  Rennie turned on lights as Matthew closed the window shades. She hurried to the back door to see if there were lights on in Roger’s house. She saw one light on the second floor.

  “Shall I make some tea?” Matthew called from the kitchen.

  “Please do. I can’t believe how good it feels to be home. Are those guys outside going to simply sit there? I don’t get it.”

  “It’s difficult to say. They may be awaiting orders. They obviously move very carefully.”