Page 67 of Fatal Strike
“Good choice. There’s one at the next exit. Who’s buying?”
“Depends on how much you order.”
“I need a huge milk shake, two chicken sandwiches, and acheeseburger. Large fries.”
“We’ll go dutch.”
He enjoyed their bantering, but would it last? “Before we do a date thing in the future, I need to discuss a few issues from my past.”
“If you knew mine, you’d run.”
“I’m not afraid.”
Back at home, as the clock neared 11p.m., Jon’s mind couldn’t stop churning over how he’d lost his temper with Father Gabriel. He grabbed his Bible from the kitchen counter and turned to read more in the Gospel of John. He read the account of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest and the magnitude of love demonstrated at the cross. Sacrifice that knew no boundaries.
Jon’s gut burned, and not because he’d eaten so much.Imessed up tonight.He snatched his phone and contacted Father Gabriel. The priest answered on the first ring. “This is Jon Colbert. I owe you an apology for tonight’s outburst. I was way out of line.”
“You were forgiven the moment you unleashed your feelings.”
Jon closed his eyes and bit his tongue. “Then we’re good.”
“You’re the better man. I should have taken the initiative since I’m guilty of the same offense. I should have told you about Dylan’s adoption. Kindly accept my apology.”
“Sure.”
“A few minutes ago, I read a quote from Mother Teresa about putting our foot in our mouth. ‘Follow the path of serenity. Why lose your temper if by losing it you offend God, trouble your neighbor, give yourself a bad time, and in the end have to set things aright anyway?’”
Jon smiled. “Truth.”
As he wrapped up the call, Peter’s denial of Jesus wouldn’t leave him alone. Jon reread the text, concentrating on how Peter had sworn allegiance, then lied through his teeth. Peter lived. Jesus died. Good old Peter must have faced a heavy dose of survivor guilt. Too bad the two of them couldn’t sit down and talk about sending good people to their deaths.
If Jon believed the Bible, Jesus came back to life and forgave Peter. Hanson and Chip weren’t afforded that kind of miracle. Would his friends have held a grudge against him for leading them to their deaths? How many times had Jon gone over the past and how he’d failed his friends? Hanson claimed Jon could have a new identity in Christ.
Jon scooted back the chair and walked outside onto the front porch. He shoved his hands into his jean pockets and looked up at the millions of stars. Somebody designed the universe and put them into place, a Being much smarter than Jon.
“Truth,” Jon said again, coming to a point of surrender in himself.
He would have to email Claire and tell her the good news. Hanson now had a brother-partner in faith.
45
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING,Leah crawled into Jon’s rental truck. She moaned the hour. “We’re consistently in the dark, either going to Galveston or coming home. And today’s a funeral.”
“Someone needs her coffee.” Jon pointed to the large cups in the console, the smell of the brew wafting her way.
“Don’t placate me.” She scowled, but a smile crept through.
“But I’m right.”
“This time. Thanks for the coffee. It’s exactly what I need this morning to get my mind in gear. Any updates other than Elena and Dylan haven’t been found?”
“One, but it’s personal and has nothing to do with the case.”
“Don’t turn all Father Gabriel on me. Will it help make arrests?”
He patted the steering wheel. “Only in the eternal perspective.”
“What?”
