Chapter 35

 

Carol pulled a pan of brownies from the apartment oven Thursday morning and inhaled the rich chocolate steam. Eleven to seven wasn’t the greatest shift in the world, but at least when she came home the chores were done. Tonight, supper would be waiting too. Meatball stew, and brownies with ice cream.

Another half hour before she had to leave for work. She changed into her café uniform and settled on the couch with a recipe magazine.

The phone rang. Adrenaline pumped, like always. It was probably just a telemarketer. But surely the drug dealer would call soon. Please, God, I want this over. With Paul and me safe. Did she need to spell it out like that? Better safe than sorry.

Carol dashed into the kitchen and checked the caller ID. Another unfamiliar cell number. This could be it. What did the guy do, steal them in bulk?

“Hello?” Could he hear the tremble in her voice?

“Ms. Daniels. You have a package for me.”

“Yes.” The word came out as a squeak. Carol cleared her throat and tried again. “Yes.”

“Answer your front door in one minute and hand out the package. Don’t try to ID my messenger.” Click.

One minute, and here she stood, staring at the phone! Carol slammed it into its cradle and bolted for Paul’s room. Her fingers fumbled with the catch for the hidden drawer. At last she yanked it open and grabbed the envelope.

The doorbell rang.

She cracked her head on the underside of the desk. Shaking off the pain, she bolted for the front door, envelope in hand. Carol unlocked the deadbolt but froze with her hand on the knob.

The silhouette through the frosted glass loomed like a giant. His raised his arm. Pounded a series of thundering knocks.

Carol’s heartbeat hammered in her ears. She forced herself to turn the knob. This had to end. Now. She pulled the door open a crack and stuck the envelope through. Rough hands snatched it from her fingers.

She threw her weight against the door and clicked the deadbolt home. She sprinted for the living room window. Was he really leaving?

A hairy pink gorilla opened the driver’s door of a grey Volkswagen, squeezed in, and sped away. Carol sagged against the wall. A giddy mix of tears and laughter bubbled over.

When she caught her breath, she rooted Garraway’s loaner phone from her purse and selected his cell number from the menu.

“Garraway.”

“Detective, it’s over. Sorry, this is Carol Daniels. They picked up the money. I only had a minute’s notice so I couldn’t call you. But it’s gone. I’m free!” More giggles erupted and she clapped a hand over her lips.

“Did you get a look at them?”

“It was a guy in a gorilla suit. Pink. With a ‘Granny’s Singing Telegrams’ sign on his back.” Carol couldn’t keep the lilt of laughter from her voice. “He drove the same grey Volkswagen I told you about. Did your patrols ever get a plate number from it?”

“We’ve got that angle nailed, and we’ll check out the telegram company. Sign’s likely a fake. Best you can’t identify the guy anyway, from your point of view. Too bad. I’d have liked another witness. Well, Ms. Daniels, keep vigilant, but you should be clear now. I’ll be in touch to get the phone back. Have a good day at work.”

“Thanks, Detective. You, too.”

Work! Carol gasped and checked her watch. Two minutes later, she pulled the insurance company’s rental car out of her driveway and joined the traffic flow. With luck, she’d make it on time.

 

~~~

 

Carol woke in the middle of the night, sweating and tangled in the bed sheet. Her breath rasped in the darkness. The only other sound came from Chance snoring on the floor. A fine comforter he was tonight!

She swung her feet to the floor and turned on the bedside lamp. The nightmare faded, but so had sleep.

“I can’t take this. What do I have to do for a decent night’s sleep?”

The dog’s feet twitched and another snore shook his ribs. Carol sighed. She put on slippers and robe and wandered into the kitchen. She turned the radio on low, remembering the loud rap station and the horror of a violated home. And Chance’s brush with death.

Waiting for the water to boil, Carol cut a big piece of brownie and heated it in the microwave. Warm chocolate with ice cream could smother a nightmare any day.

Joey’s show made good background music, and Carol enjoyed his casual chatter between sets. Snack finished, she rinsed her plate and left it in the sink. She turned off the radio. At least tonight she hadn’t needed to load Joey with another high-maintenance call.

Chance didn’t stir when Carol entered the bedroom. Tired as she was, his snores didn’t keep her awake.

She’d been asleep less than an hour when the second nightmare hit. Carol woke in a panic, heart pounding, eyes wide and filled with the image of flames devouring her son.

Sobs shook her, and she rolled to bury her face in her pillow. “God, can’t You stop this?” Pain constricted her throat.

Not bothering with a light, Carol fumbled for her robe and made a beeline for the kitchen phone. For once, her call went through first try. “Joey, it’s me, Carol.”

“Hey there. I’d given up on hearing from you tonight. Hope your being awake doesn’t mean another nightmare.”

She swallowed hard. “Why doesn’t trusting God take them away?”

Joey groaned. “I don’t know. They’ve been going on a while, like a habit for you, or a pattern. Maybe it’s something your mind has to unlearn.”

“I can’t go on like this.” Could Joey hear the tears in her voice?

“Let me introduce you to my pastor. He’ll connect you with one of the women at church who’ll know how to help.”

The ridges of the phone cord dug into Carol’s fist, and she loosened her hold. “But what do I do now? Tonight.”

Joey’s sigh chased along the phone line. “I wish I had an easy answer. Faith isn’t just about God getting us out of things. It’s about knowing His presence with us in the middle of it. Even if your worst nightmare comes true, He’ll be with you to bring you out the other side.”

Goosebumps washed Carol’s arms. “I don’t want to think about them coming true!”

“They won’t, they won’t. What I mean is no matter what, God is there. Nothing can scare Him away. I need to set up the next songs. Can you wait for me?”

Carol leaned her head against the kitchen cabinet. She remembered Joey’s arms around her the night Paul was missing. The echo left her feeling more alone than ever.

Joey’s voice came back on the phone as the next song started. “Okay. Fear was never one of my issues, but the same principles apply. I’m sorry I don’t know more, and I’m sorry we have to do this over the phone.”

“Do what?”

“We’re going to pray, and it might sound kind of weird. Can you trust me?”

“Yes.” The realization both thrilled and scared her.

“That means a lot to me. You can trust God, too. As I pray, you agree in your mind.” Joey paused. “Here goes. Father, You are holy and all-powerful, and You love us more than we can know. Thank You for drawing Carol — and me — to trust You.”

His voice broke. Steadied. “Because of Jesus, we are free. Carol is free. Free to be Your daughter and learn to love You.”

Carol stood with her eyes closed and head bowed, phone pressed to her ear. The love for God in Joey’s tone warmed her, but how could this help?

His prayer continued. “In the name of Jesus, by His authority because of the Cross, we declare that Carol’s mind belongs to God. Evil influences and thought patterns, we banish you in Jesus’ name.”

Carol’s eyes flew open. Evil? But it sure wasn’t God.

“Carol, will you say this part after me?”

“Um... okay.” She wet her lips with her tongue. Don’t let Paul walk out into the middle of this! Good thing he was a sound sleeper.

“Good. God, I surrender my heart, mind, soul, and body to You.”

Carol repeated the words in a whisper.

“I invite You to take full control.”

She stumbled but pushed the words out.

“I’m sorry for allowing fear to take hold in my mind.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose!”

Joey sighed. “I know you didn’t, but it happened. Let’s get rid of it.”

Carol paced the length of the phone cord. “God, I’m sorry I let fear get hold of my mind.”

“In the name of Jesus, I ask You to remove the fear and replace it with trust in You.”

She had no trouble saying those words. Her heart ached for them to come true.

“Amen. Carol, you did great. Here’s the tricky part. Since fear is a behaviour pattern for you, your mind will go back to it. Like a path worn in the grass. It takes time for the grass to re-grow while you wear a new path.”

A heaviness settled in her stomach. “So I’ll have more nightmares?”

“Whenever you catch the fear response starting, or if you have another nightmare, remember you don’t have to surrender. Say it out loud. Things like, ‘Jesus is my shepherd. I don’t have to be afraid.’ Believe it’s true even if you don’t feel it, and change will come. It worked for me.”

“You said fear wasn’t your issue.”

“I had a bad time with depression. It was a long fight, and I still have to be on guard. You can do this. God is on your side. And so am I.”

Tears formed in Carol’s eyes. “Thank you.”

“I need to get back to work. Father, please guard Carol’s dreams tonight and give her rest. Good night, Carol. I’ll play you a song in a bit.”