IT’S A NOVEL WITH A MESSAGE: OUR UNITY IS IN CHRIST; NOT THE BALLOT BOX.

Chapter 22

April 5th, Thursday Afternoon, FBI Headquarters

The envelope I got from Pete this afternoon was thick. I knew it was going to be an all-night read, so I ordered in and began to eat when I got a rare call on my private cell phone.

“Mom, what a surprise,” I said, truly shocked. She knows how busy I am and has mastered social media, including texting. She always texts ahead of time, to see if she can call me. But this time she didn’t.

“I hope I’m not bothering you, Son.”

“No, not at all. I’m still at the office. It’s going to be a long night and so I ordered dinner and just started working on it.”

“Oh, good. Are you eating healthy?”

“Funny, Mom. Very funny, but I am eating a salad tonight, which someone keeps telling me is healthy.”

“She’s a wise mother who says that, listen to her once in a while, okay?”

“Of course, Mom. What’s on your mind?”

“Well, Jacky. . .”

My mom has called me Jacky ever since I can remember. Even when I am around my colleagues she will call me Jacky. It’s embarrassing, but what am I going to do? She’s my mom. I guess she has some rights.

“Are you there, Jacky?”

“Sorry Mom, yeah, what’s up?”

“I honestly don’t know. Son. I just wanted you to know I was praying for you.”

I never know how to respond to those kinds of statements from her. Do I humor her and tell her “I’m feeling the vibe?” No, she’d punch me out, even through the phone.

I respond as I always do, “Thanks, Mom, I’m sure I need it.”

We chit-chatted for a few more minutes and then I said I needed to go.

“I understand, Jacky. Let me just lift you up before I hang up.”

I don’t even speak, because I know she’ll keep going, so I just stay quiet and let her pray.

“Lord, God of heaven and earth, You have the address to my Jacky. I ask You to keep him safe and out of harm’s way, but more than anything else, I trust you to give him wisdom. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I was saying when I remembered a note of mine.

“Mom, hey, Mom; before you go. I seem to remember you telling me. . . I don’t know, some years back, that you were going into hospital rooms and praying with old people. Do you remember that?”

She laughed at me and said, “Yes, I remember that, Jacky, because I remember you saying, ‘My mom, an old person taking care of old people.’ Do you remember that, Son?”

“I’m pleading the fifth, Mom.”

“Wise choice, Jacky. Anyway, yes, I do remember that; I still do, why?”

“Well, I seem to remember you saying something about ‘burdens’ and about ‘casting.’ I remember the casting comment because I immediately thought of fishing while you were talking about praying. For a reason I can’t explain to you, I’m interested in what you did, or do, or both. Will you explain that to me again?”

“Oh, honey, I would love to.”

I fear she thought she was going to get me converted. Nevertheless, her explanation was fascinating.

“When I go into a hospital room, Jacky, my job is very simple; I am there to bear the person’s burden. Galatians 6:2 tells us to do that. Would you like me to tell you what the verse says?”

“No, Mom. I’m kind of busy. If you say the verse has to do with bearing another’s burdens, I trust you.”

“Okay, but I can if you want me to.”

“Thanks, Mom, no.”

And she continued, “Every time I pray like that for someone, it amazes me to watch them cast that burden onto the Lord.”

“Is there a passage which goes with that, too?”

“Of course, Jacky, it is 1 Peter 5:7.”

“Thanks, Mom, that’s what I needed.”

“But that’s not all, Jacky.”

“What, Mom?” I asked, getting impatient.

“The next thing that happens when I pray is what God promises in Philippians 4:7. He gives them a peace which transcends their understanding.”

I sat there amazed at my mom. That was it! I exclaimed, “Mom, you are the bomb!”

“What does that mean, Jacky?”

I laughed and said, “Never mind.”

And then I added, “Hey, Mom, doesn’t the Bible say something about correctly parsing truth?”

And of course, she responded with a verse.

“Yes, Son, 2 Timothy 2:15 says we are to rightly divide the word of truth.”

“So, if I check out these verses I can determine if you have correctly explained them?” I said with a laugh.

“Be careful, Son,” she said with some clear caution in her voice. “The Word of God does not return void.”[i]

We said goodbye, and I took my empty dinner plate out into my reception area, where the garbage would be picked up. I have always had an aversion to meals being dumped into an office trash can.

No matter how big the office, and mine is among the largest in the FBI building, the smells of food will linger. So, I always take my food out into Grace’s space.

Walking back into my office, my mom’s last words rang in my ears. What did she mean by that, “God’s Word doesn’t return void?”

I opened Pete’s “Eyes Only” file. It was a DED. Or Deep Examination Dossier.


OPERATION: JUDAS I.

DED:

5, April

Transcripts:

Attached

Summary:

Interviews at Previous Employment: At Macon Poly Technic University, where Perp #3 was just short of tenure, we interviewed all available regents. Three of the university’s regents said the perp’s actions looked suspiciously like those of radical right-wingers who cause discord, perhaps even violence, possibly on the scale of terrorism. They could not say what actions, in particular, which we conclude is because the Perp had concealed or disguised his true intentions so well. A fourth regent is dead (of natural causes), and the fifth regent said the charges were fabricated. This fifth regent also admitted to being a close friend of the Perp, so his credibility is suspect. We interviewed a close friend of the Perp’s wife who also said the firing of Perp #3 was a hoax. When asked for clarification, the interviewee said the one who brought the charges was an old boyfriend of hers and wanted revenge on her new friends, Dr. Dale and his wife. She refused additional clarification.

Document Review: Looking into the Perp’s private files, both online and in his home, we found a number of suspicious items: A) something called ‘prayer cards’ which he hands out each time he is in an elected official’s office. We believe they have an obscure meaning but at this time are unable to determine the significance. B) We found a suspicious document marked as a 1656 English Sermon which Perp #3 often emails to others (including Perp #5 and a number of staffers and several Congressmen). Its significance is currently beyond our comprehension. C) There are three words which we hear often from him, “Bear, Cast, and Peace.” The way in which these words are used is clearly suspicious and must have a meaning which we are still trying to run down.

Washington D.C. Surveillance: As stated above, every time Perp #3 visits elected officials and/or their staff, he claims he is there to pray. Then these same three words show up in his notes, “Bear, Cast, and Peace.” These also seem to be used in his social media posts as well as his speeches given in front of other like-minded religious nuts.

Perp’s Timeline: We were already aware of his crossing paths with Perps #4 and #5, including a dinner where he deliberately hid a document from our oversight team. We have also noted his attendance in a hotel, the same one as Perp #2 (odd that Perp #2 stayed in a different hotel than Perp #1, although they were traveling together. BTW, we checked and there were plenty of rooms available in Perp #1’s hotel). Conclusion, Perp #3 is not afraid to meet with Perp #2 in public but is keeping a buffer between him and Perp #1. Very professional. We were just setting up a tap on Perp #3’s phone when we found he had a direct contact with Perp #1. The audio of the call was never recorded. Again, very professional. They must have known which words to stay away from so our automatic triggering devices would not engage. Nevertheless a few short weeks after the call, Perp #1 through two businesses, with hidden ownership, gave $1,000,000 to each candidate’s advertising agencies, apparently, without candidates knowing about the other’s agency receipt of same amount. Final item under, “Timeline” is the question, why does the Perp go to Washington D.C. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and never varies those days? Why not Wednesday and Thursday? We have investigated, to our satisfaction, that the Legislators schedules are wide-open all three days, while Mondays and Fridays are usually travel days. Why doesn’t the Perp ever deviate from his itinerary? With whom is he coordinating? We don’t know yet.

Distribution:

Classified, Director Pete Beecham

Copy, FBI, Eyes Only: Jack Jones

Three hours after I got off the phone with my mom, I closed the file, locked it away in my safe and wasn’t sure whether I should laugh or cry.

I don’t ever pray, but this once I ushered up some words, which really were more along the lines of a verbal sigh; nevertheless, I said, “God, my mom prayed for wisdom for me. And I need it. Are we looking like bumbling fools as badly as I think we are?”

I looked around not knowing what to expect. I did look intently at the walls in my office, though. I seem to remember something about God writing on a wall in front of some government officials.[ii] After staring at my walls for a few seconds, I shook my head and got up.

“You’re acting foolish, Jack,” I said to myself and then cut the lights and headed for home.

 

[i] Isaiah 55:11

[ii] Daniel 5