CHAPTER 6
Deborah turned to find Andrew standing beside the bed. “Hello, Andrew.” She forced a smile on her face. “Shalom.”
“And shalom to you.” Andrew approached her. “God sees the concern and fear in your heart, and He wants you to remember that it’s all in His hands. He’s working on your brother, even as I speak.”
A grateful smile crept across Deborah’s face. “Then this murder plot won’t succeed?”
Deep sadness welled up in Andrew’s eyes. Inserting his hands into his pockets, he sighed. “I’m afraid it will, this time, Deborah,” he said, slowly. “Their time is up, today. Puccini is here—he just arrived this morning. Your brother has already helped his boss, Dayan, make their plans. Puccini is going to kill them.”
“No!” Deborah screamed. “Please, God, no!” Shock surged through her heart. She had to stop her brother! She couldn’t allow the two witnesses to be murdered. Grabbing her purse, she rushed out the door; it slammed behind her. She took the stairs two at a time, then darted out the front door of the hotel.
“I’ve got to stop him! I can’t let him do this!” She choked back a sob. “Please, God,” she shrieked, “stop my brother from helping Puccini kill them!”
A distant gunshot startled her. “No!” she screamed. “Please, no! Don’t let them die!”
Meanwhile, at the Wailing Wall, the two witnesses lay on the cold stone tiles, gasping for breath. Blood gushed out of their sides, forming spreading pools. Puccini watched from the far corner on the roof of the Wailing Wall, a satisfied smirk on his face.
“Tell your man I thank him, for the help he gave us,” he told Dayan. “This was indeed an excellent spot for an ambush.”
Dayan nodded, a pleased gleam in his own eyes. “I will, Excellency.” He glanced at the wisps of clouds drifting overhead, then climbed down the ladder. Puccini followed him. The two climbed into a limousine and left the Wailing Wall.
As the two dying witnesses lay writhing, two pools of blood spreading from their sides, Andrew and Adam appeared next to them. Beams of Heavenly light illuminated and poured off the two angels of death’s beige suits.
“Hello, Moses.” Andrew knelt at Moishe’s side. “God has sent me here to take you Home.” He rested his hands on the cold stone tiles as he spoke.
“And I’m taking you Home, Elijah.” Adam touched Eli’s bony shoulder. “The Father tells us He’s quite proud of you. Of both of you. You have carried out your assignments well.”
Andrew nodded agreement. Too weak to speak, Moses nodded his thanks. In the next moment, he found himself next to a now-standing Andrew, gazing down at his now-lifeless body and waiting for Eli to join him. A few seconds later, Elijah’s own spirit left his body and joined Moses. Adam flanked him.
“Come on.” Andrew gestured skyward. “You bodies will be restored to you in three-and-a-half days, but for now, the Father wishes to reward you gentlemen for a job well-done.”
Followed by a snow-white dove, circling overhead and cooing softly, the two angels strolled down the pavement with the spirits of the two witnesses until all four disappeared from sight. At the same time, Tess, Monica, and Gloria stood in a nearby alley. Worried frowns creased their foreheads.
“We must stop Deborah,” Monica said. “If she shows up at the Wailing Wall now, Puccini and Dayan will target her.” She scratched her arm.
“No, they won’t. Puccini and Dayan left a few minutes ago. But their henchmen are still on the scene, and they will recognize Deborah.” Tess glanced toward a group of men gathered next to the Wailing Wall. “You go find her, Miss Wings.” Tess turned to Gloria. “And baby, you stay with me.”
A few seconds later, Monica found Deborah on a back street fifty feet from the Wailing Wall. Her breath came in gasps and her shoes clicked on the pavement. Deborah stopped just short of colliding with the angel.
“It’s too late, Deborah!” Monica grabbed the frantic young woman’s shoulder. “It’s too late to stop them now. Moishe and Eli are dead.”
Deborah gaped at her, grief surging in her heart. She clutched the purse to her waist with one hand and wiped her sweaty face with the other. “Who—who are you?”
“An angel. Sent by God.” Monica smiled at her, tenderness etched on her face. “Be not afraid.”
“Like—like Andrew?” Deborah stared at her. Monica nodded.
Deborah leaned against the brick wall, trying to catch her breath. A low moan escaped from her throat. “What has my brother done?!” She shook her head, gazing down at the pavement. Her breaths came out more slowly and evenly.
Monica embraced her, then stepped back. “Nothing that God cannot forgive him for, even now. But he must seek God’s mercy and His forgiveness.” She touched Deborah’s shoulder. “Come, let’s go back to the hotel where you’re staying.”
Monica walked her back to the hotel, where they found the Dalys and the Whittakers in the lobby. Richard, she noticed, was using his debit card to pay for the rooms they would stay in for the rest of their Israeli visit. “You must be Deborah Weizmann.” Christina approached her. “My name is Christina Daly. Ryan told us about you.” She slumped her shoulders. “You’ve heard?”
Deborah bit her lower lip. “Yes,” she said. “They’ve killed Moishe and Eli.” Christina nodded, sighing.
Ryan approached her, his shoes making soft thuds on the thick carpet. “Why don’t you call your brother, Deborah? He hasn’t heard from you in days; he might be relieved to know you’re safe.”
Deborah shook her head. “Not now. Not yet. He doesn’t want to hear from me, and besides, it wouldn’t be safe to call him now.” She sighed. “I’ll wait till it is safe.” She choked down a sob.
Tess jangled a ring of keys in her right hand. “Come with me, and I’ll take you to your rooms. I’m having tea and pastries sent to your rooms.” She turned to Deborah. “Your room is next to the Whittakers. And Richard, yours is on the other side of Ryan’s and Kristen’s.” She paused, frowning. "Richard, you won't be able to use that debit card much longer. Soon, an implant will be required instead. So use that card to purchase some gold, as Ryan has done. I know someone here in Israel who will be glad to sell you some."
Richard exchanged glances with his wife, then nodded acquiescence. "I will, Tess."
Ryan and Kristen exchanged chuckles, covering their mouths so as to not let Tess hear. “She’s certainly efficient and hospitable. And no-nonsense,” Ryan whispered. Kristen nodded agreement. Grief surged in Ryan’s heart in the next moment. How he missed the witnesses!
END OF CHAPTER 6