Mercy's Pen: The Redemption Series, #5

I see the hand of a merciful God at work in amazing ways in me, in my family, and beyond. We are being transformed, redeemed. My story—our story—is all about God’s love. ~ Cat

Chapter One

Cat

George Aldridge found a measure of freedom in insanity. God surely works in strange and wondrous ways.

I watched him hard at work painting at his easel. He sat by a large, sunny window overlooking a glorious garden—certainly one of the most carefully tended in Beverly Hills. Sheer joy radiated from his face as he splashed color over the canvas. He demonstrated none of the magnificent talent his daughter, Debbie, possessed.

It was curious to me how the very first drawing he’d produced four years ago was so precise and real. But truly, it was God working through him, and it had impacted lives. Now it seemed God had other ways of working in and through George.

Standing behind him, I put my hands on his shoulders to pray a blessing over him. An unexpected and overpowering sense of torment coursed through me and thrust me backward, but I held fast to his shoulders. George paid no attention to my grip. He seemed lost in the riot of color in front of him.

I whispered a blessing to the back of his head, and then continued a silent prayer.

Sudden hideous laughter came out of him. Now you know my secret. His voice became more high-pitched as he threw black paint over the canvas. Now you know!

The guy’s a total nut job.

I turned to see Glori standing in the doorway.

Come on, hon, let’s get this over with. It’s time to go see Tamara.

***

Tamara Everett had lost her freedom in insanity.

I took my husband’s hand, and we followed Glori and her husband, Agent Alain Dusseault, through the luxurious lobby and then through a number of locked and guarded doors. Glori had described this institution as the most posh insane asylum in the world. I believe she was right. Everything about Beverly Hills was grand, including their facilities for those deemed criminally insane.

Tamara Everett was a most special prisoner here. The only child of a wealthy U.S. Senator, she had grown up with every advantage. Unfortunately, her father was the worst of criminals, and Tamara became involved in his despicable crimes. By the time she was in custody she was in tatters: body, soul, and spirit.

A guard directed Glori and me through a final door. We sat in a lovely parlor with silk upholstered chairs and bars on windows constructed with bulletproof glass. Alain and my husband, Cisco, remained behind an observation window, ready to defend us should the need arise. Undoubtedly, Alain would be interested in our conversation, as well. General Pearson would want every detail.

Glori drummed her immaculately manicured nails on the arm of her chair, then raked them through perfectly tousled hair. Hon, this was probably a mistake. I mean, I’m as big on forgiveness as anyone. But we could’ve just written her a nice note.

A guard let Tamara enter through another door at the opposite side of the room. She looked thin and drawn, her demeanor calm. She smiled at us.

Glori was uncharacteristically silent, frozen in her seat.

I stood and approached Tamara, and we embraced. I felt her surprise at my gesture, the relief that she was still human. I felt the regret and the pain in her body. I felt her tears dripping onto the top of my head.

They’re never going to let me out of here. Never.

I didn’t know if her words were true. I didn’t know what her life was to become. I did know God had a plan. But that was all I knew.

David

David Lambrecht lounged in a chair beside his best friend, Eduardo Clemente, overlooking the back garden of the Bainbridge mansion. His five boys splashed in the Olympic-sized pool with most of the youngest generation of their large, extended family. There were almost too many to keep track of, but Raphael had a watchful eye from his position at the edge of the pool. The youngest were perched on an oversized float. With continuous screams and giggles, they encouraged him to keep sailing them in ever-widening circles. Although his boys had a penchant for mischief, David’s attention was primarily focused on his tiny five-year-old daughter, Sabena, and his dour mother-in-law, Marion Aldridge.

Clutching a doll nearly as big as she, Sabena stood staunchly in front of her grandmother who was seated in a lonely chair on the terrace. Where’s baby Annie? Her question was insistent and unchanging—a characteristic of his five year olds that he thought would drive him insane.

Where’s baby Annie?

Marion’s face shriveled under the torture, but she remained silent until he could take it no more.

He tried to control his voice. Sabena, you have your doll in your arms.

She exhaled a sigh he could hear across the terrace. No, Papa. She stomped off and picked up the bag of art supplies that went everywhere with her. At least her attention was finally diverted.

Eduardo reached into a strategically placed cooler and produced two beers. Here. Looks like you can use one.

Cheers. David raised the bottle and scanned the pool to make sure all children were accounted for.

So the papers were signed this morning. Cookie and Jen officially own George and Marion’s old place.

David almost choked on the beer. Don’t remind me.

Hey, it’s all good. With Cookie around we’ll have a quick commute to work every day. And you don’t have to worry about your mother-in-law moving back to Salzburg. It’s a win-win, as Glori would say. He smirked that smirk that always made David want to punch him.

And where will she stay when she decides to come visit? His stomach twisted at the thought.

Eduardo’s face fell. Oh. Yeah, never thought of that. I guess you’re gonna have to book up your guest rooms. Tell her she needs to give you a two year notice.

Right.

Hmm. Yeah, with George in the mental hospital now, she can go visit any time.

David’s attention was diverted from that happy subject as his daughter raced at Marion, her doll under one arm, an art project in the other hand. She stopped short and carefully handed the doll to Marion for safe-keeping.

"This is baby Annie. Where’s baby Annie? She held out the paper, and Marion’s face puckered. Where’s baby Annie?"

Marion tightened her arms around the doll, but did not respond.

Sabena dropped the paper, then stomped her foot. Her tiny voice pierced the air. Let the little children come to Jesus!

His stomach flipped, the terrace spun, and he was back in a wreck of a plane holding Cat’s bloody body. "Let the little children come to Jesus. Beautiful Jesus." He gagged on the beer.

He felt Eduardo steadying him. David! Are you okay?

He put his beer down. I’m okay. He wiped wet eyes. I’m okay. He sat up in his chair and opened his eyes. Sabena stood in front of him, wide blue eyes staring into his.

She handed him her artwork. He blinked and blinked again. It was Debbie—as she might look in middle age. He knew he was still shell-shocked. Sabena had obviously inherited her mother’s amazing artistic talent. It was apparent from the start. But this interest in God and the Bible—she was Cat all over again.

Fear spiked through his gut. How could she know the words Cat had spoken that day? It had to be a strange coincidence. It had to be. Just a coincidence.

He took a purposeful breath. He wanted to respond calmly. This is very nice. Very nice. It looks just like your mother.

Sabena’s eyes wouldn’t let go of him. No, Papa, it’s baby Annie. Where is she? Where’s baby Annie?

He thought he’d vomit.

David! Are you okay? Debbie came out of nowhere and wrapped her arms around him.

Thank God. He made sure to thank God for her every day.

Nita was right behind her with her medical bag. She took his wrist, and he pulled away. I’m fine. Fine. He looked up to see the entire extended family fanning out around him. I’m fine.

They looked at Nita, who had stubbornly held his wrist. He’s all right. He’ll be fine. Just give him some breathing room. They decided to believe her and did as she said.

Cindy arrived with a cold glass of water. Here, David, have a sip of water.

He took a swallow, and tightened his grip on Debbie. Before he could speak, Sabena resumed her questioning.

Where’s baby Annie?

He thought he’d go insane if he wasn’t already there.

Debbie took the paper and looked at it. Nice! Go get your supplies, and I’ll show you where baby Annie is.

A moment later Sabena was quiet, and Debbie was painting a picturesque home by the ocean. As relief washed over him, he noticed Eduardo, Nita and Cindy were as intrigued with this new painting as Sabena was.

Within five minutes, Debbie had completed the job. See. Baby Annie lives here.

Sabena grabbed the paper and ran to Marion. See? Baby Annie lives here.

Marion cradled the doll and stared at Debbie’s painting. He could see a tear escape down her cheek.

Glori

I felt bad for Tamara Everett, even though she nearly killed me and the people I love most in the world. I call them my family, even though we’re kind of a hodge-podge of people from everywhere that basically turned into my family. I always say, I patched them together and called them family.

Anyway, Tamara and I grew up as friends here in Beverly Hills. It turned out Tamara had the misfortune of growing up in a family of criminals, even though we thought she was so lucky to be the globe-trotting fashionista daughter of a very powerful U.S. Senator. In reality she was sucked into a violent underworld that eventually cost her everything—including her freedom and her sanity.

I couldn’t believe Cat had the heart to hug Tamara like a long-lost sister. Well, I guess I could. Cat was a saint if there ever was one.

I sat stiff in the seat, my stomach in knots. I didn’t think I could even speak, never mind hug Tamara. But still, I felt bad for her.

Cat wasn’t flustered in the least. With a glance, she knew I’d be useless here. She settled beside Tamara on a silken couch, the two of them sinking into comfy down cushions.

Tamara’s tears came in a flood. Oh Cat! Thank you for writing to me. She grabbed both of Cat’s hands like a drowning woman grabbing for a life preserver. It’s…It’s awful here. I’m so frightened. All the time. I’m so scared. She let go of Cat to blow her nose. Then she pushed the tissue back in her pocket and took Cat’s hands again.

I’m so glad we have this opportunity to meet, Tamara.

I was glued to Cat’s face. I knew she was praying inside her head. Her eyes reached into Tamara and stopped her tears.

Me, too. Tamara sniffled. I’ve had a lot of time to think. And every morning lately I wake up, and I remember your cousin—Agent David Lambrecht. And I remember he told me he forgave me. It was the craziest thing that ever happened to me. Why would he say that? Why would he tell me I have to forgive him, too? But with all your letters, I think I’m starting to understand. I think I am.

Yeah, Cat was big on forgiveness. Dollars to doughnuts, that’s where David got that from, too.

Cat just listened as Tamara rambled on.

I keep re-reading all your letters, and then I come up with new questions, new thoughts, and I write them down, and send them to you, and I’m so happy when you answer me. I think I believe in God now. I think I do. That’s why I wanted to see you—I think I believe in God. I know Satan is real. I’ve seen him. So God must be real. Why am I so scared?

Why, Tamara?

"I saw him. I know it was Satan. He took my fiancé. He took Dad. He took Colonel JL Johnson. He tried to take me. I’m so scared. He comes to me almost every night. He says he’ll get me one day. That’s what he says. I’ll get you one day, Tamara!"

Tamara’s eyes sunk farther into their sockets with each passing second. I thought the devil himself would show up. But Cat wouldn’t let that happen. That’s the only reason I didn’t run screaming from that room. That and my heels were stuck—anchored right into the plush carpet.

Weird stuff always happened when Cat was around. At least it usually didn’t faze her anymore. Cat’s favorite thing was always leading people to God. But the past few years—she was at it full force. She seemed right at home in the Supernatural. Me, not so much. But what choice did I have? Cat was like my sister. And I know she helped me understand God better.

Cat proceeded to help Tamara understand she was so fearful because she didn’t trust God. I gave myself a pat on the back as I listened. I remember, I applied the armor from God when I was pregnant with Christina, and I’ve trusted God ever since. I learned my lesson.

Before we were done that afternoon, Cat made sure Tamara was a believer and her soul was saved and everything. She even told her how to shoo the devil away. Then Tamara went back into lockup, and Alain picked me up off that chair. Cat pried the shoes off the carpet.

***

I stared at the ceiling. It must have been 4:00 AM, and I couldn’t sleep. Alain was unconscious in the bed beside me. It was weird being back at the Bainbridge mansion, sleeping in the room where I grew up. It brought back too many memories—probably because the experience with Tamara was so fresh in my mind.

My parents had pretty much ignored me most of my life. I was lucky that my best friend Cindy’s family took me in when I was fourteen. Well, Cat would’ve said it’s because God is good and has a plan and everything. Staring at the ceiling now, I figured he did. Seemed like it was way better than my plan, too.

I was now married to the man of my dreams. Well, I never really dreamed of being married to a secret agent, but it was an excellent curve ball from God. And we were the parents of our own little miracle, Christina. She was three now and following in my fashionista footsteps.

That was kind of strange. I started off as a swimsuit model just to make some money and get some exposure while I pursued my acting career. I was a damn good actress. But the acting thing never really worked out until I became famous as a pop star and then CEO of my own fashion empire. The pop star thing must have been God, too. No one could’ve seen that one coming. Even with unending voice lessons I can’t sing my way out of a paper bag.

But the fashion business was my true calling. And now that I was a pop icon and a fashion icon, everyone was sending me scripts. Even my manager, Joe Harris, was pressuring me to do a movie on the story of my life. But I was happy to do a few cameo roles that kept me and my business in the public eye. Yeah, the family business I’d grown was perfect for me.

Such were my thoughts when Alain reached for me, and I started a new day with the man of my dreams.

David

Cat was a prophecy waiting to happen, and this was not the first night David lost sleep over that. His cousin undoubtedly saw Jesus himself in that plane crash at the age of five. Now his daughter Sabena was five, and he could no longer ignore her strange behavior. How could this happen?

He didn’t want to admit it even to himself, but that painting Debbie did was more than a gesture to placate a whiny child. It was a clue. And he didn’t care to find out what the mystery was this time. The way Cat had smiled at that painting when she returned from visiting Tamara Everett, he knew it would not be long to wait.

She told Sabena, Annie lives in a beautiful home on the coast of Maine. That’s in the northeastern United States. Right on the Atlantic Ocean.

Sabena nodded as though she knew exactly where it was.

He shuddered, and it disturbed Debbie.

David, are you okay? She wrapped herself around him, comforting him.

I’m fine, Sweetheart. Get some sleep.

He knew Marion had to be involved somehow. Her behavior today was weird—completely out of character. It was unlike her to remain silent for more than a moment. What would Debbie and Marion have to do with a baby named Annie?

He drew his wife closer. Her touch, her breath comforted him. He had a big day ahead. He needed a decent night’s sleep. He needed Debbie more. And she knew it.

I love you, David. Her sweet voice, her kiss, was heaven.

***

David, Eduardo, and Alain expected to meet the commander of SEAL Team Six today and become involved in a week-long training exercise. When they saw General Pearson at the door, they knew things were not as they were originally told. They were summoned to the General’s breakfast with members of SEAL Team Six, as well as SAS and other operatives they knew, or knew of, from past training and operations. It was apparent that Pearson had more than a simple training exercise in mind.

As they entered the room, Tony Cookie Cooke waved his undignified summons to their table. Though he was certainly the world’s most talented and courageous helicopter pilot, Cookie was not only crazy enough to attempt any daredevil stunt, he could care less about decorum. David didn’t understand it, but somehow it worked for him.

Cookie gave them his crazy smile. Neighbors! So nice to see you here. Have a seat. He pulled out their chairs and landed in a seat between Eduardo and Alain.

Eduardo didn’t mind chatting. He never did. Yeah, so it’s official. You and Jen are moving in next door to David. When?

Soon. Very soon. Cookie emoted. Jennifer is over the moon!

Yeah, Eduardo said. So what the fuck is goin’ on here, Cookie?

Not entirely sure. Pearson’s arranged quite an event. Lots of SAS brothers-in-arms. Feels like I’m back in the Regiment.

Yeah, I see. Cloth napkins and everything. Eduardo rubbed his sleeve over his face.

Out of the corner of his eye, David saw his close friend, Agent Jimmy Hollinger. Before he could alert his colleagues, Jimmy was upon them. The five made more of a scene than David would have liked, huddled by the table, but it had been over a month since they’d seen Jimmy.

So what the fuck, Hollinger? What’s goin’ on? Eduardo was the first with the questions.

I decided not to take the position, Jimmy said.

No kidding? Eduardo was incredulous. That’s awesome! He grinned from ear to ear. You’re stayin’ with us? I thought they made you an offer you couldn’t refuse.

Jimmy glanced side to side. I’m not so sure anybody is stayin’ with anybody. But I don’t want to be a paper-pusher at the CIA. It’s not for me. I like gettin’ dirty sometimes.

Speaking of which— Cookie’s voice was a bit too concerning.

They looked to the doorway, and David moaned. Agent Gwen Munroe turned heads as she made her way to their table.

Eduardo guffawed. Here comes trouble.

What now?

Good morning, gentlemen. Gwen pulled out her chair and took the seat beside David.

He sat down with a perfunctory Good morning. This did not bode well.

***

As Pearson had disappeared, the din in the room became louder. Eduardo polled surrounding tables. No one knew what was going on. But they were all aware the caliber of the attendees meant it was something significant.

David looked up in time to see Cisco and Raphael escorted through the door. The guard pointed them to the table.

Leaning back in his seat, Eduardo almost lost his balance on the two remaining chair legs. Shit! What now? Let me just spend the fuckin’ day in the Kill House.

Eduardo’s older brother, Cisco, and his cousin, Raphael, looked no happier to see Eduardo, or any of them for that matter.

As Cisco grabbed his chair, Eduardo had to accost him. So why didn’t you tell us you’d be here today?

Cisco’s bright blue eyes were on fire. Because we didn’t know until an hour after you left. He reached for the coffee and splashed it into his cup.

Raphael was taking the situation more in stride. Pearson gave us a personal phone call and issued one of those invitations you can’t refuse. We had a nice escort—a motorcade. The general knows how to impress.

I’m getting sick of his impressing. Cisco took a gulp of coffee and