The Perthra Incident

By J.T. Lewis

Dan Brown meets James Rollins in this epic international thriller that pits Gabriel Celtic and his crew against an unnamed society that has been seeking control for a millennium!

Happy at the chance to once again enjoy some challenging work, Gabriel Celtic, Preacher, and Abby take off in a private jet headed for Murmansk in Russia. But what starts off as a simple hostage exchange, suddenly explodes in their faces when they suddenly find themselves as the hostages.

Waking up in an unheated shack in the artic, Gabriel soon discovers Preacher lying next to him...unconscious...and with a bullet hole in his shoulder. But unfortunately, he has an even greater worry...Abby. She's is not there with them...and he has no idea where they have taken her.

Fighting for their lives until they nearly perish, Gabe and Preacher finally make it back to civilization and immediately start the search for Abby. When they finally do find her, it's amidst a heated battle in the Russian countryside.

The enemy, a secret organization that no one has ever heard of, has by now discovered something about Gabriel's lineage that they suddenly realize they must have. As Gabe and Abby finally find each other, the enemy steals away...taking something with them that is priceless to Gabriel!

Already exhausted after their Arctic experience, Gabriel and crew must now find the strength to forge ahead as they work to rescue their precious family member.

But there are two obstacles to overcome that seem insurmountable before they can even go after the secretive group. They don't know who they are...and they don't know where they are!

The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic are "suspenseful mysteries with a touch of (the) supernatural..." Anonymous Review

(This book) was AMAZING!!! A definite must read! It jumps straight into the action and keeps you guessing till the very end with non-stop action and adventure. New characters are added that are hard to define and leave you wondering whose side they're on. There also continues to be a hint of magic that weaves its way through the story in a way that enhances the characters, but still leaves them believable. And the end, argh, I can't wait for the next book! JT Lewis and his Gabriel Celtic series is something to be excited about! (Review by JMKH)

(This book previously titled as Murmansk)

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.T. Lewis
• Release date: Jul 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310373992

J.T. Lewis

Mystery abounds in the books of Amazon Best Selling Author J.T. Lewis.Living in Southeast Indiana with his wife, J.T. has always loved a mystery. Striving to bring readers a story packed full of action, adventure, and suspense has led to his current selection of titles.His first full length novel, Murder! Too Close To Home, was the beginning of the acclaimed Adventures of Gabriel Celtic series, and was voted #1 on Goodreads Best Debut Mystery Series list. The thriller/adventure series continued with Gabriel's Revenge,followed closely by In Case of Death as well as The Book of Gabriel in 2014. The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic is as series about the life of Gabriel Celtic...an ordinary man caught up in extraordinary adventures!Another new series, The Nick Behr Mysteries, starts with the story Kidnap Inc., where we get to meet Nick Behr...as well as all of the people that have crowded into his head! Fighting against the craziness of his life while trying to solve the murders of the current case sometimes leads the story to veer off-kilter a little. This unexpected result has caused the story to be labeled, "One of the funnest mysteries I've read in quite some time!"Also added to J.T. Lewis' series list this year...The Artifact Hunter! Jesse Flanagan is just a guy who enjoys making a profit from the antiquities he buys and sells. When one of his discoveries suddenly puts him in the cross-hairs of assassins, he must change his whole life as he goes underground to try and reclaim his life!An electrician by trade, at night JT Lewis morphs into a fictional detective with a keyboard, a transition that suits his need for creating exciting stories for his ever-growing audience.Find and follow JT Lewis @:http://jt-lewis.blogspot.com/https://www.facebook.com/JTLewis.Authorhttps://twitter.com/JTLewis_Bookshttp://www.wattpad.com/user/JTLewisAuthorhttp://pinterest.com/jtlewisbooks/https://www.facebook.com/Murdr.Too.Close.To.Homehttps://www.facebook.com/gabriels.revengehttps://www.facebook.com/ThePepperAndLongstreetMysterySeries

Book preview

Prologue

December 10, 2000

Murmansk, Russia

Abby moved the tray slightly on her shoulder to help the balance as she weaved her way through the tables.

Setting the tray down at a booth with four leering men, she distributed glasses of Vodka to them while surreptitiously eyeing the front entrance.

Hey! she shouted suddenly, jumping away from the table.

Xpahnte Grubby pkyn moeň ass! (Keep your grubby hands off my ass!)

The Russian men around the booth burst out in riotous laughter as they threw their money on the tray.

Grabbing up the empties, Abby pocketed the bills and made her way to the bar to pick up the next order. As she waited for Gregor to fill the tray again, she blew her bangs out of her face nervously as she once again furtively glanced toward the door.

Where the hell are you, Gabe? She mumbled to herself worriedly.

***.

Outside of the bar, a man in the back of a nondescript car lowered his sniper rifle. He could have easily pulled the trigger when the American girl was serving her last table; even though his shot would have probably been ruined when she jumped back.

One of the old perverts had grabbed her from behind!

The man smiled despite the delay in completing his mission.

Soon, little printsessa, soon. We will soon see if your man comes through with his end of da bargansk.

The Arctic

I shoved the hand full of gauze pads against Preacher’s shoulder and applied pressure.

Hold on, buddy, the bullet went through and through, we just need to get the bleeding stopped.

Preacher’s pain was evident in the film of sweat on his forehead, his breathing short and shallow. Wrapping his shoulder tightly with tape, I was relieved when I saw that it had seemed to slow the flow.

Covering him with several blankets, I went to check on the heating unit. I could see by the condensation showing at the bottom of the tank that we were about to run out of propane.

"Damn it," I whispered, angry at getting my friend into this…angry at getting myself into this!

Slipping into the heavy parka, I pulled the hood over my head and walked out of the shack and onto the barren plateau. Distractedly, I realized that it was close to the first day of winter…the shortest day of the year.

But there had probably been no sun here today…we were already in the depths of arctic winter.

Pulling the satellite phone out of the parka’s pocket, I powered it up and waited for it to find a satellite. I had discovered a speed dial number on a note taped to the phone when I woke up, and I was waiting to try it when I heard the beep.

Looking down at the device, it told me that there was a picture message coming in. Clicking on the icon, the screen filled with the image of Abby, looking back over her shoulder toward the camera. It would appear that she was acting as a server at some establishment, but that wasn’t the worst part of the picture.

The picture had been taken through what appeared to be the scope of a rifle…the cross-hairs converging on her heart!

Punching the speed dial, I waited anxiously for someone to pick up. Bringing the phone to my ear, I could barely hear the ringtone over the biting wind beating at my face.

Da? the voice finally answered smugly.

I waited a few seconds before I said anything, exerting, I suppose, the last vestiges of my failing rebellion.

Ok, I finally said into the phone, you have my attention.

Chapter 1

November 24, 2000

I pulled the coat around my shoulders a little tighter when I saw my breath form a cold fog in front of me.

It was 6:30 in the morning and I was enjoying the dark silence of the street as I sipped on my third cup of coffee. Most of the Black Friday crowd had already left for the day, and those of us that didn’t brave the malls were letting the day unfold before us at a slower pace.

My mind wandered to the day before with a smile. It had been the first Thanksgiving with May and I together as man and wife.

It was also my first Thanksgiving as a grandfather!

Although I was still not used to that term applying to me, I was getting a little more comfortable with it.

I grinned despite my overt reluctance.

Raven May Celtic had come into this world in June, and had basically been running the household ever since!

The spitting image of my daughter Abby, Ya Su* was a bundle of joy and determination. Already crawling, the purposeful set of her exotic eyes when she was concentrating on a task never ceased to bring a smile to my face.

(* We called her Ya Su at that time to avoid the confusion of calling her Raven or May. Raven was our close friend, and of course May was my bride, so it could get a little confusing. Ya Su is a Hoosier-ized attempt to simplify the Vietnamese Nhô Xíu, which essentially means tiny girl.)

Moving in the chair again to get comfortable, I uncrossed and re-crossed my legs, looking for a comfortable spot that eluded me.

I sighed with frustration before taking another sip of the coffee. I knew it wasn’t the chair that was bothering me.

Although I had never been happier with my life on a personal level, I was still antsy.

Our last big case had been over a year ago!

We had kept ourselves busy of course, even though most of those first few months had been filled with the healing of our injuries obtained from the previous case. Once we had recovered however, we started taking on a veritable treasure trove of smaller cases. But working as a bounty hunter or catching cheating husbands was not what I would consider remotely challenging.

Not after helping to save the world!

I had to smile at my mental proclamation. It had indeed been a heady time then, and an accomplishment that I had thought would hold me for the rest of my life.

I had been wrong.

I sighed as I took another sip, hearing the door rattle beside me.

I looked up and smiled at my oldest friend as she shut the door behind her. Carrying a blanket and a cup of coffee, she handed me the cup before sitting beside me on the glider and covering both of our legs with the blanket.

Brrr, she shivered as she took back her cup and tipped it to her lips. Taking a swallow first, she then leaned over to give me a kiss.

Good morning, she smiled as our eyes gazed into each other’s.

Good morning, yourself, I replied. How did you sleep?

She smiled as she took another sip of her coffee. Pretty well…mostly I guess. I got up with Ya Su around 4:00. Abby had already been up with her twice…I’d forgotten how annoying teething could be.

I smiled back, but up to this point in my life, I had never personally experienced teething…or any other of the now-persistent traits included in having an infant in the house. It continued to amaze me how much time they could claim, but lucky for me, Abby and May took on the brunt of the work.

May, my bride of less than a year, had kids of her own, as well as two grandkids. Unfortunately, they all lived far away and she didn’t get to see them often. Although my daughter Abby and she were not related by blood, they had both grown close, as both friends as well as having a mother and daughter relationship. After Ya Su had arrived in our lives, May had immediately taken to her as if she were her own granddaughter.

Abby’s mother had died years ago in Vietnam. Not knowing anything about me until her mother’s deathbed confession, Abby had then moved to the states to seek out her unknown father.

I hadn’t even known of her existence before that time, but found her to be a natural addition to my life.

It had been a wild ride ever since…and I wouldn’t have changed a thing!

I may need a nap later, May continued with a grin. I’m not as young as I used to be.

Maybe I’ll join you, I grinned back with a wink. May giggled and pulled me to her as she kissed my cheek and whispered, "Again?"

Grinning, we both then fell into a comfortable silence…sipping our coffee and watching the quiet street as the day started making itself known in the east.

My mind had inevitably wandered back to my dilemma when May again spoke in a near whisper.

"We need to get you a job."

It took a few seconds for her words to fully hit me, but when they did I quickly sat up and turned toward her.

I have a job, May, I smiled as I took her hand in mine, As well as a whole household of family that I love dearly. I’ve also acquired just enough good friends, ones that coincidentally I can work with and depend on with my life. I’ve never been blessed with so much goodness at one time…ever!

Folding her hand over mine, she gazed into my eyes lovingly.

I’m blessed also, but we both know something is missing…don’t we?

I had been trying to hide my feelings from her on this matter for months, and the fact that she already knew what I had been thinking made me a little sad. I certainly didn’t want her to think that she wasn’t enough for me!

I’m sorry, I started, I hope you know this is no reflection on you, May. Finding each other again after all of these years is one of the best things to have ever happened to me.

Nodding, she then laid her hand on my cheek. "Me too Gabe, but you have always had the need to be working on some kind of mystery or adventure. Even when you were a boy, I often wondered how any woman would ever corral your heart if there was another adventure around the corner."

Leaning toward me, she kissed me gently. Holding herself inches from me, she smiled a smile that infused my soul.

"I am that woman now, Gabriel Celtic; and I feel no threat from any mystery that you throw yourself into. It is a part of your makeup, part of your persona that can not be denied…even by you!"

Deep in my heart I knew that she was telling the truth as she saw it. I smiled inwardly as I also thought of her part in our last big case. Both her and Raven, our friend and a onetime love of mine from long ago, had both risked their lives as we faced off the enemy at the Vatican.

I had witnessed bravery that day from those two that I could never have imagined possible.

Leaning back into her seat, May took a few moments to sip some more of the warm coffee.

True as that may be, May, there is just nothing out there!

Frustrated, I turned forward in my chair again, leaning back into it with a sigh. My eyes flicked momentarily to movement out on the street. A dark car was parking in front of the neighbor’s house…probably picking someone up for a trip to the mall.

It’s the weirdest thing, but there hasn’t even been a single murder in this part of the state all year! I continued. "Not that I’m complaining about that mind you, but it’s indicative of the lack of anything interesting going on!"

Turning toward her again, Maybe I’m just too old for this crap anyway. Maybe everyone thinks I’m washed up…or that I think I’m too good to work the measly crimes anymore.

May grinned at me with tender eyes. Something will turn up, it always has and it always will.

Yeah well, I grumbled, Patience hasn’t always been my strong suit.

At that very moment, a voice from the sidewalk suddenly interrupted our conversation.

I may be able to help with that.

Chapter 2

November 24, 2000

As our eyes moved toward the sidewalk, they were met by a strange sight.

Leaning on crutches, a small man with round, wire-rimmed glasses stared back at us with a smile on his lips. Wrapped in a long, dark coat that almost touched the ground, his head was covered by an old-fashioned dark, brimmed hat.

I would like to hire you, Mr. Celtic, he proffered suddenly as he started moving toward the porch steps. At least, I’d like to discuss hiring you, if you have a few moments.

Still moving toward us, he started up the first step with a small clank. As my eyes were drawn toward the noise, I noticed that he was wearing some sort of leg braces. Glancing at May, she met my questioning glance with a shrug, but her eyes were dancing with excitement.

Show the gentleman in, Gabe, she grinned before her eyes moved back to the approaching man. It’s too cold out here to discuss business.

Nodding, I jumped up and made for the door, opening it and standing aside to allow our guest into the kitchen.

Please come in, I smiled as I watched him pass.

Thank you, Mr. Celtic, Mrs. Celtic. I must admit, I’m already chilled to the bone.

As he cleared the doorway, May moved around me and pulled a chair out at the head of the table.

Please sit here, Mister…?

McGruder, Mrs. Celtic, He grinned as he offered her his hand, Patrick McGruder.

Do you like coffee, Mr. McGruder, May asked while shaking his hand.

I do indeed, thank you.

Turning then toward me, he again offered his hand.

Gabriel Celtic, it is indeed an honor to make your acquaintance. I have heard much of your exploits…particularly that mess in the Vatican last year…spectacular work really, simply spectacular.

I studied the man’s face suspiciously as I shook his hand. Although I could read nothing in it that would indicate anything but good intentions, I had to wonder how the man could know anything at all about our exploits at the Vatican.

No one knew!

That was a rash generalization of course. The Pope and some of his people knew of course, as well as some highly place bureaucrats in Germany, and probably a few other world leaders as well. But in general…no one really knew what had happened except the few people in my inner circle…only my family and friends that had been with me on that deadly day, as well as a few others that had assisted us along the way.

It made me damn suspicious!

Before I could reply to his statement, however, a knock sounded at the door. Confused at the sudden high traffic so early in the morning I glanced at May, who could only shrug.

Excuse me a minute, Mr. McGruder, I mumbled distractedly as I released his hand and headed toward the door.

Not even seven o’clock in the morning and it was already like Grand Central Station!

Except for the time, I was not overly surprised at who I found standing on my porch.

Standing a stocky 5’10", the dark-haired man in front of me wore a light blue leisure suit straight out of the 70’s, as well as an eye patch. Holding a mangled yellow cat on his arm, he immediately set it down on the floor before extending his hand to me.

Preacher, I greeted my partner, extending my own hand. What brings you and Dirk out here so early?

The look on Preacher’s face turned to confusion as he stepped through the doorway.

Before he could say anything, however, we were interrupted by a grumpy-sounding, Morning.

All eyes moved toward the living room doorway as a bedraggled Abby moved into the room. It was clear from her demeanor that she was not yet ready to be here at this hour of the day.

I’d better make more coffee, I heard May exclaim before turning and heading for the coffee pot.

Stepping forward, I encircled my arms around my daughter’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze.

You should have slept in, Abby, I soothed, We would have taken care of Ya Su.

Pulling back out of my embrace, she looked at me like I was some unknown ogre.

"You asked me to come down!"

I did what? I replied with confusion. "Abby, I’ve been down here since 5:30 this morning, most of that time spent on the porch. I haven’t even been near your bedroom!"

Confusion was spreading around the room like the plague.

Looking frustrated, Abby dug her hand into the pocket of her robe and pulled out her cell phone. Flipping it open, she then spent a few moments punching at the keys before turning the screen towards me.

Does this ring a bell?

Taking the phone out of her hand with growing aggravation, I glanced down at the screen:

6:50 AM

From: Gabe

Can you come to the kitchen?

There’s someone I’d like you to meet!

My eyes felt like they would bug out of my head when I read the message.

I didn’t send this! I mumbled, more to myself than anyone.

By this time, Preacher was tapping me on the shoulder with his own cell phone-laden hand. Handing it to me, I eyed his open screen.

6:35 AM

From: Gabe

Can you come over right away?

There’s a guy here that may have some work for us!

My mouth was agape as I moved my eyes to meet Preacher’s. Staring at each other for a few moments, we then both turned toward Abby.

Aggravation had melted away to confusion by the time we all slowly turned our heads toward the visitor.

A small smile beamed at us from across the room before he shrugged shyly.

"You?" I accused as I glanced back at the two phones in my hands.

"I haven’t even turned on my cell yet! How the hell could you have sent these messages?"

McGruder shrugged his shoulders once again.

"I am sorry for instigating so much confusion before the sun is even up, Mr. Celtic, but you see, I really needed to see all of you. This is, after all, an interview of sorts."

Taking up his crutches, he then stood and made his way over to us, his braces clicking as he moved.

And as a matter of fairness, he stated as he stopped in front of us, I realize that, in essence, you are also interviewing me. It was with this in mind that I instigated the cloned text messages, in part to show you a little bit of what I would be able to bring to the table.

Kewl! Abby exclaimed suddenly.

Glancing toward her, I noticed the gleam in her eyes at McGruder’s revelation. Ever the techie, what Abby perceived to be a marvel of technology I often found hard to fathom. Although technology had its uses, much of it I perceived as nothing more than an annoyance.

Turning my attention back to our guest, I took a few moments to mull over what he had revealed.

"What exactly is it you do, Mr. McGruder?"

Grinning back at me, "It’s hard to put a name on it, Mr. Celtic…but I consider myself…a Watcher."

Chapter 3

November 24, 2000

Humph,

I turned toward Preacher as he rolled his eye at McGruder’s proclamation.

Laying my hand on his shoulder in understanding, I turned back toward McGruder.

Maybe we should all sit down and grab some coffee as we discuss this further, I uttered.

Splendid idea! McGruder exclaimed as he turned back toward the table.

As the others moved to take their seats, I met May at the coffee pot to help her.

"What do you think?" she asked in a whisper when I was beside her.

I shrugged.

"He has impressive tricks," I whispered back, Let’s just see what else he has to say.

Nodding imperceptibly, the bright glow in her eyes as she gazed back at me nevertheless revealed her true feelings.

You will never be bored again if you hang out with this guy!

Shaking my head at her implied thought, I hefted up four cups and headed toward the table.

You take anything in it Mr. McGruder?

Cream and sugar please, McGruder answered happily. And please…call me Patrick.

Grabbing the plastic jug of milk out of the fridge, I set it in front of him as May set down the sugar bowl. Grasping the milk, he poured a generous amount into his cup before adding four spoons of sugar.

Taking my seat between May and Abby, who now held Dirk in her arms, I sipped at my own cup as I watched McGruder enjoy his first taste. Smacking his lips, he then looked up at me with a smile.

You have questions I see, he stated matter-of-factly. "May I offer up some…examples of what I can do?"

That may be a good place to start, I uttered as I glanced at Abby and then Preacher. Please continue, Mr. McGruder…Patrick.

Very good, McGruder exclaimed. Shall we start with Preacher here? For instance, I know that until a little over a year ago you were holed up in a bookstore in Phoenix, Arizona…suffering under the Witness Protection program.

The gun was out in a flash as Preacher stood, knocking his chair over in the process. Holding the barrel inches from the man’s face, Preacher was as angry as I’ve ever seem him.

When Preacher had come to me last year offering his help, he had told us little about his past life. We had taken Preacher at face value, as he had asked, and I had never been sorry.

That McGruder knew he had lived in Phoenix was more than what had been revealed to me, however, and apparently the truth was a very sore subject with Preacher.

To McGruder’s credit, the little man didn’t even flinch when the gun came out.

Who else knows about this? Preacher growled threateningly.

No one, McGruder replied evenly, facing down the angry man. And if you will lower the weapon, I’ll convey more information that will probably make you feel a little better.

Preacher stood there for a few moments, anger coursing through him.

Preacher? I finally uttered.

Preacher glanced at me. Let’s hear what the man has to say. If you don’t like what you hear…you have my permission to shoot him then.

A glint of a smile crossed Preacher’s face as he nodded and finally holstered the gun under his coat. Turning around, he picked up his chair and took a seat before pointing a meaty finger at me.

I’m going to hold you to that, Gabe!

McGruder snickered at his reaction.

Worriedly, May placed her hand on my forearm. Covering hers with mine, I then looked back toward McGruder.

Please continue.

Not missing a beat, McGruder looked toward Preacher once again.

In point of fact, Preacher, you evacuated your previous city just in the nick of time. Your enemies, who shall remain nameless, had indeed discovered your location. Had you not left to come here the day that you had, you may not have been here at all!

Preacher’s face paled at the news.

Since then, McGruder continued, I have overhauled your records. Should anyone ever get close enough again to peruse your file, they will find that you and your Road Runner had met an early demise in a traffic accident in San Francisco.

But the Road Runner was wrecked here! Abby interjected. Won’t they be able to trace it back?

McGruder turned to Abby with a smile. It was a simple thing to change that record as well. The car has been destroyed for scrap. The record I created is now the only record of it at all.

Prove it too me!

Preacher’s sudden outburst surprised even me, but it didn’t seem to even faze McGruder. Waving Preacher closer, he whispered something in his ear that caused Preacher to rear back in surprise.

"Son of a bitch!" he whispered.

Preacher? I questioned, unnerved at his shock.

Preacher turned toward me, but stared blankly for a few moments.

"He knows my real name," he finally mumbled in explanation, still stunned.

What about me? Abby exclaimed then, setting Dirk down on the floor. What can you tell me about me?

McGruder turned in his seat with a smile.

Gabriella Tran…but you go by Abby. Born and raised in Vietnam. Daughter of one Anh Ly, stepdaughter of a man named Kym Tran, who joined your pregnant mother in an arranged marriage, adopting you after you were born.

Anh Ly passed in 1997, revealing that your true father, Gabriel Celtic, was indeed alive and living in Indiana in the U.S. When you arrived to seek him out, you found that he had moved to Peru for an extended stay at an archeological dig. You stayed here, making a new life for yourself as you waited to hear anything about him. When you found out he would be returning, you secretly flew to Lima, Peru and met him there. He was, however, unaware of your true relationship to him at the time.

Damn! Abby exclaimed, sitting back in her seat.

"You really do know things!"

I deal in information, my dear, I even know of the exploits of your fine feline, Dirk, he continued as his eyes sought out the cat now lounging in the middle of the floor. Initially possessed along with his owner, Sonja Nelson, you converted him to your side…along with your friend Snake Black I might add, McGruder continued before turning to face me.

Please don’t think me too brash for delving into all of your lives, I usually only take what I need to accomplish the job at hand. Today, I needed to impress all of you a little, as well as show you part of what I do…and part of what you would be involved in should you accept my invitation.

I had been knocked back psychologically by everything he had revealed so far, and was still far from recovered when I continued the conversation.

Call me dense, Patrick, but I cannot fathom how we would be able to help you. Besides Abby, none of us are really computer literate, although I can see her jumping into what you do with a passion.

Patrick McGruder folded his hands in front of him, seeming to collect himself.

What I do can’t be easily classified, Gabriel. As I mentioned before, I consider myself a Watcher, but that is a title that I have created for myself that seems to fit the overall flexibility of my chosen profession.

Sitting forward determinedly, he continued.

"In essence, I do many things for many people. Some things happen because I instigate them; some things are instigated by others. Those I try to fix. You see, there are very few people that know or can even comprehend that someone like me is out there. Because of this, I watch what is going on in the world and try to help where I can by offering my services."

And people pay you for this? Preacher asked, leaning over the table with intense interest. Do you like…give them a quote or what?

McGruder reared back in laughter, enjoying the interaction immensely.

Sometimes yes, most times no, he finally uttered between breaths. "Those with money will oftentimes pay handsomely for my services…and will do so gladly. But I also help those with little or nothing, for which I also charge nothing."

So, you would want us to work for free sometimes? Abby questioned then, always the practical one in the family when it came to money."

McGruder grinned as he faced her. Absolutely not, my dear, should I offer you a project; you will be paid handsomely for it!

Abby grinned at the prospect, but I was still perplexed.

"Again, sorry for being dense, Patrick…but why would you ever need us? It sounds like you have everything well in hand."

Patrick grew serious as he turned toward me once again, a sadness seeming to envelop his being.

"As you can see, Mr. Celtic, I deal with certain…physical limitations on a daily basis. There are times…many times actually, when I need trusted operatives in the field. One of the biggest quandaries I face in my work is finding operatives that I can trust. There are any number of men and women out there that can do the work, and there are any number of men and women out there that I can trust…but finding both in someone is rare."

Reaching for his cup, McGruder sipped some of his coffee before he continued.

"You see, Mr. Celtic; I have been watching you and your group for quite some time, since before your clash with the Wolf last year. To put it bluntly…you are good people."

"Good people that also have the requisite skills and disposition to carry out my projects the way I would like to see them carried out. I only waited this long to present myself because I recognized that you all needed a break after your last case…time to heal…and time to build a family. Similarly, I excluded any alerts to Mr. Black, since he hasn’t been working with you much lately, although I also consider him a valuable asset should you choose to bring him in on this."

His eyes grew in intensity as he finished his thought.

"I am trying to do good in this world, Mr. Celtic. And that is not always the easiest thing to accomplish…especially when you don’t…or can’t trust the people that are working for you!"

With that, Patrick McGruder stood, placing the crutches under his arms with a practiced motion. A look of pain and fatigue crossed his face as he rose, giving me an insight to another side of Patrick McGruder. I hadn’t given a thought to how much his disability might pain him until that moment, how much he actually had to fight to keep doing what he was doing.

I have given you folks much to digest I’m afraid. I should go and let you discuss the proposal.

But we still don’t know what it is you would want us to do, I exclaimed.

A small smile crossed McGruder’s face again. You would always have a say whether or not you accepted any project, Mr. Celtic. Suffice it to say that they are of such a varied assortment that it would be hard to put into words.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a cell phone and tossed it to me across the table. Snatching it from the air, I looked at it with confusion.

Untraceable and secure cell, Mr. Celtic, He continued in a strained voice as his pain apparently ramped up. When you are ready to speak again, I am on speed dial one.

Turning slowly, McGruder started for the door as May got up to help him out.

I have one prerequisite before we even start to consider your offer, Patrick, I called after him.

Turning, he looked at me thoughtfully, pain now etched plainly on his face.

Call me Gabe…Mr. Celtic was my dad.

Smiling a smile that transmitted both humor and pain, McGruder nodded before turning back toward the door.

As you wish, Gabriel, as you wish.

Chapter 4

November 24, 2000

We sat quietly by as May helped McGruder out of the house. Once the door was closed however, Preacher stood and made his way to the door, easing the curtain aside slightly as he watched the man head toward his car.

That-was-freaky! Abby stated exuberantly, her eyes still on the doorway as if she too were following his progress.

By then May was standing beside me, her hand on my shoulder.

You don’t believe him, Abby? May questioned.

"I have to believe most of what he said, Abby said with a shrug, Because it was the truth."

It’s what he didn’t say that worries me, Preacher mumbled as he watched the car pull away from the house. He’s gone.

Glancing at me with a questioning glance, I nodded.

Returning my nod, he quickly opened the door and exited the kitchen.

Where’s he going? May asked.

To follow McGruder, Abby stated quietly, her eyes still on the kitchen door.

"You guys don’t trust him," May exhaled quietly when she realized what was happening…a statement not a question.

I put my hand over hers and turned to look up at her. "Trust is a big deal in our business, May, and he laid a huge amount of information on us without really telling us anything."

May nodded distractedly. I think she had been so excited that McGruder was offering something exhilarating for me to do that she never gave a thought to whether he was on the up and up.

May?

She looked down at me and smiled, her reverie broken.

You ok?

Taking her chair beside me, she patted my hand. Yes, Gabe, I had just assumed that you would jump at his offer. But I can see now that the wise move is to be suspicious until you can confirm some things.

Turning toward me, her blue eyes glowed as she smiled. "I’m just afraid, however, that your normal system of checks won’t work very well on this particular man."

As if confirming May’s prediction, Preacher came back into the house at that moment, his face a mask of frustration.

I lost the son of a bitch!

***

You lost him? Abby exclaimed. But he just left!

I am aware, Preacher responded tightly as he picked up his cup and moved toward the coffee maker.

I saw him drive off. When I got to the street I could see him a block away. By the time I got my car rolling, he had his signal on to turn right. At the end of the block he turned, and thirty seconds later I did the same.

And he was gone? I asked, perplexed.

Disappeared off the face of the earth…like one of those huge elephants on a TV magic show.

I went over the area in question in my head. Heading west on my street, McGruder would have ended up on Nowlin Avenue. Turning right would have taken him north on Nowlin…basically a two-lane county road out of town. There were few roads to turn off of for the next quarter mile or so, but Nowlin was fairly straight…you can see almost a half mile ahead at that point.

"He could have done it by simply speeding up. If he had accelerated to over sixty miles an hour he probably would have been out of sight in thirty seconds."

Preacher shrugged, "He was driving real slow before that…old man slow. Plus, his car was just an old Ford sedan."

You mean like an old Crown Vic? Abby interjected excitedly, Like they use for police cruisers?

Preacher shrugged again dejectedly, Could have been, I guess…

Whether he shot off like a rocket or magically made his car disappear, that’s a lot of deception to throw at us the first day, I said dejectedly. How far can we trust someone like that?

I’m with Gabe, Preacher offered angrily, All this sneaky shit doesn’t sit well with me.

As we quietly mulled this over, I glanced at May, who was smiling across the table. My eyes followed hers to find Abby deep in thought.

"What say you Abby?" May inquired quietly.

Seeming surprised at hearing her name, Abby glanced up, looking from one to the next of us before speaking.

I disagree, she stated simply.

You disagree? an angry Preacher responded. He’s already deceiving us and we haven’t even started working for him yet!

Is he?

Is he what? I replied, surprised at her proclamation.

Is he deceiving us? In this particular case anyway, I’m not sure we have been looking at it the right way.

Please, Preacher sighed with frustration, Enlighten us.

"Ok…ok…here’s my thoughts. Number one, who’s to say that this wasn’t his normal mode of operation? If we are to believe what he has told us so far…and there’s no reason to doubt it…maybe