Things Not Seen: Science Falsely So Called, #1

By Kristina Hall

Fear or trust? Lies or truth?

Fear rules Cassie Randall's life. Fear of facing the brother her testimony helped put behind bars. Fear of sharing the Gospel with others. She's spent the last four months hiding. But a random meeting with a man who has no reason to show her kindness just might force her to face those fears and give them to the One greater than any fear.

Derek Walker has based his career—his life—on denying the existence of the Creator. Evidence for God doesn't exist. The firm beliefs that Cassie—the woman he helped one rainy night—holds can't change that. Nothing can change that. Until his world is shaken and that evidence is thrust at him.

When Derek and Cassie are faced with circumstances far out of their control, will they believe the One Who has revealed Himself through His Word, or will they fall prey to the lies of man?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristina Hall
• Release date: Jan 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393026433

Kristina Hall

Kristina Hall is a sinner saved by grace who seeks to glorify God with her words. She is a homeschool graduate and holds a degree in accounting. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, arm wrestling, lifting weights, and playing the violin.

Book preview

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

-Hebrews 11:1-3

Chapter 1

THICK YELLOW BEAMS cut the driving rain and split the darkness that covered the shiny asphalt.

Rain ran in rivulets down Cassie Randall’s face, splattered her drenched cotton shirt and work pants, and plastered her hair to her neck and cheeks.

The approaching headlights slowed on the country road.

Was it him?

The ache above her left knee pulsed with each thrash of her heart. A reminder. Always a reminder.

The pickup pulled in behind her stalled car, and the lights vanished.

He’d found her.

The empty Nebraska prairie surrounded her. Running would do no good. Not that he’d let her escape after he’d vowed to kill her.

The truck’s door swung open, and light poured into the night.

What could she do? What could she say to save her life?

A man stepped from the truck and slammed the door behind him.

The solid thud might as well have been a gunshot.

She tensed, lifted her chin, and squared her shoulders. She had to face the consequences of her sins.

Long, slow steps brought him closer.

She shrank against the cool, wet metal of her car.

So much for bravery.

Her lips parted, and drops of water slipped into her dry mouth.

A flashlight flickered.

The light skittered over her car and came to rest at her feet.

Need some help?

Her legs wobbled, and she braced both hands against the car to keep from sliding to the ground. The voice had been a well-modulated bass. Not a voice gravelly from four packs of cigarettes a day.

He stopped in front of her, still aiming his flashlight at her feet. You all right?

She clenched her arms over her chest. I’m ... yes.

He stared at her.

Anyone could see through that weak lie.

She shook her head. Car trouble. That’s all.

He shifted the light to his other hand and pushed his dark hair off his forehead. A smile turned up the corners of his mouth. I can see that. You know what it is?

A coil of tension loosened in her chest. He couldn’t be dangerous. At least not as dangerous as Sam. The alternator. As if this day—now night—could get any worse.

Not much I can do for that. He leaned against the quarter panel of her car as if he stood around talking in the rain every night. Have you called a tow truck? Someone to pick you up?

She ducked her head. No use telling him about unpaid phone bills and her lack of friends. Some things were best left unsaid.

She lifted her head. No.

He fished in his pocket and extended his phone. Rain splattered the screen. Here. Make whatever calls you need.

No, I ... Had no money to pay the tow truck. Had no one to call.

Pathetic.

He raised one brow, retracted the phone, and tipped his head to his truck. Then come get out of the rain.

He pitied her.

Yet she followed him on shaking legs, crawled into the truck, and scooted over until she sat in the passenger seat. Her wet pants squeaked against the leather. Would he be mad she’d gotten his interior all wet?

He climbed in after her and set the flashlight on the seat between them. Rain drummed on the roof of the truck in what should’ve been a soothing sound. Yet what was soothing these days?

She folded her hands in her lap.

He stared through the darkened windshield as if she weren’t even there. Water seeped from his soaked dress pants onto the leather seat.

Dark hair. Well-trimmed beard. Athletic build. The kind of man her parents would’ve matched her with before she’d destroyed all her chances of a normal, productive life.

I’m sorry. I’m getting the seat all wet.

He turned eyes as dark as his hair toward her, and an easy smile tipped up his lips. It’s not like I’m doing any better over here. He slid a key into the ignition but made no other move to start the truck. I can drive you home if you want.

She rubbed the outer edges of her non-slip shoes against the truck’s rubber floor mat. Well, she wouldn’t need these shoes for a while.

But was this stranger harmless? Did he really mean to help her?

Yet her other option was to walk a good five miles in the rain.

He’d shown no signs of aggression and hadn’t acted weird in any way. But were those stupid rationalizations for an even stupider decision? Still ... If you wouldn’t mind, that’d be great.

He turned the key, and the truck rumbled to life. You’ll have to give me directions.

She stumbled through the route to her apartment though she’d driven the roads many times these last four months.

The flashlight still burned on the seat between them, but he eased the truck off the shoulder, his hands relaxed on the wheel. I’m Derek Walker. He glanced over at her, a hesitant smile on his lips.

Well, he probably didn’t pick up people like her every night on his way home from work or wherever he’d been dressed like that. Cassie.

Nice to meet you.

She managed a nod and ran her hands over the soup stains splotching her black pants.

Long day at work?

She tipped her head in a noncommittal motion.

Do you work at a restaurant?

She sighed. He needed to correct his verb tense to match her current employment situation. After tonight, I don’t. Because she hadn’t kept her mouth shut. She’d never had a problem with that before.

What happened?

This guy and his questions were going to be the end of her.

He lifted one hand from the wheel and switched off the flashlight. You don’t have to tell me. I just thought, well, you might want to talk about it.

Not really. But he’d done her a huge favor. The least she could give him was a bit of an explanation, however poor. I saw one of the waitresses slip some money from the register into her pocket. I took her aside. I thought she would put it back once she knew I knew.

Heat flushed her face. Like anything could be so simple in her life. She started yelling, causing a scene. She shoved the wad of cash into my hand. That’s when my manager came running up. And her job had run out the door. I guess I’m lucky they didn’t call the cops.

She pushed her wet hair behind her ears. I’ll find another one. But that would take longer than she had. Bills weren’t patient things.

He tapped his hand on the wheel.

Silence hovered between them, broken only by the hiss of the windshield wipers and the rain that had slowed to a steady patter.

I might have something for you. It’s not much, but it would help until you find something better.

Warmth pushed up the back of her neck. How much did she have to humiliate herself in front of him? Well, she had nothing to lose. As soon as he dropped her off, she’d never see him again.

She rubbed her left thigh, and the scar caught her fingertips through her cotton pants. How she’d failed. Again and again.

But she’d been saved by One Who bore scars much deeper than hers.

I doubt my background check would come back clean.

He shrugged. I’m pretty sure not all the janitors at the university have spotless records.

Things like this never worked out. I wouldn’t want to cause you any trouble.

It wouldn’t be any trouble. I’ve been hearing how they need people for months. Seems you can’t get quality workers anymore.

Minutes slipped by in silence before he turned into her apartment complex and pulled into the spot where she normally parked.

He’d gotten her home safely. She’d survived yet another stupid decision.

He left the truck idling and handed her a business card. If you decide you want the position, come to the lab. Room number’s on the card. The corner of his mouth lifted. I’m there pretty much all the time.

She grasped the door handle and slipped the business card into her wet pocket. She wouldn’t give him an answer. He was just trying to be kind. She forced a stiff smile. Thanks for the ride. Most people wouldn’t have stopped.

She pushed the door open, slid across the wet seat, and eased out into the drizzle. She closed the door behind her before he could say anything more.

She hurried up the sidewalk to her apartment and glanced over her shoulder as she’d done every night for four months.

He’d find her.

Someday, he’d find her.

THE ESSAY BLURRED INTO a mass of blue ink.

Derek blinked and rested his elbows on the stainless steel counter.

Rain tapped against the window to his right. As if he needed more distractions after the two hours of sleep he’d gotten last night.

He pushed away from the counter. The test could wait. The student’s grade would do nothing besides descend. After all, who’d ever heard of studying?

He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked to the window. Drops of water trailed down the glass, obscuring bits of leaden sky and fading green grass. Students hurried along the sidewalks, heads slumped as if they were on their way to the gallows. Or worse, to exams.

Footsteps clicked down the hallway, accompanied by the rumble of plastic wheels. He turned from the window and lifted his hand in greeting.

A smile broke over Jen’s face the same as it did every morning.

She pulled her cleaning cart to a halt and rested her hands on her hips. Didn’t you get any sleep last night?

He must really be a mess. Seems like I didn’t get enough. He crossed the lab and rested one hand against the doorframe. Doing all right?

Every morning I wake up is a blessing.

Random chance was more like it. He let one corner of his mouth tip up. I’d better get back to work. I told them I’d have their tests finished by this afternoon.

She patted him on the shoulder. I’ll be praying for you. She glanced behind her and paused. A couple seconds ticked by. Her brow wrinkled, and she shook her head. Without another word, she eased the cart into motion.

He pushed away from the doorframe. The rain pounded against the window, much as it had against his windshield last night.

Cassie.

Raw fear had edged through her voice. Through her every action. What had happened to her to cause her such terror?

He splayed his hands over the counter. He’d probably never find out, and he had exams to grade.

He picked up his pen and poised it over the essay. Why had he offered her a job? She was probably as unreliable and lazy as most workers. She’d even admitted to having a record.

He set the pen down. Cassie and her problems were no concern of his. She wouldn’t take him up on his offer, and he’d likely never see her again.

Knuckles rapped against the doorframe. Yet another student wondering if his test were graded yet.

He pasted a smile onto his lips and swung around.

Cassie.

She jerked and clasped her arms over her stomach.

He’d been wrong. Come on in.

She took four halting steps into the lab, her gait uneven.

With her dark hair and hazel eyes, she’d be almost pretty if she smiled. Yet she didn’t. Lines etched her forehead, and dark shadows hovered beneath her lower lashes.

She stilled and stared at him. You didn’t need to do that.

It wasn’t like he’d had any other plans. He’d gotten a new alternator from a friend’s shop. Replacing the part in the rain on the side of the road hadn’t been horrible either. Or it wouldn’t have been if the job hadn’t taken most of the night. At least she’d left the keys in the console, and her old Mercedes was designed to prevent keys from being locked inside. Thought you might need it this morning.

She dropped her gaze. I’m going about this all wrong. Thank you. Finding it outside my apartment this morning was the best thing that’s happened to me all week.

He smiled. She must’ve had a pretty bad week. Hey, how’d you get into your apartment without your keys anyway?

Her face turned red. I had a key hidden under the mat.

He motioned to one of the chairs next to the counter the tests sat on. With the way she’d been walking, her leg had to be killing her. Why don’t you sit down? We can talk about the job.

She pulled out the chair and sat. How do you even know I want the job?

He wouldn’t ask her what she’d done to her leg. No, best to stick to the topic at hand. You wouldn’t be here unless you did.

A ghost of a smile softened her tense features. I’d like it if you’re still offering.

He grabbed a stack of papers and a pen from beside the pile of tests and set the employment papers in front of her. I got the employment contract and the other forms from HR in case you showed up.

She narrowed her eyes. You didn’t think I would?

He might as well be honest. No.

She leafed through the papers. You can hire me just like that?

He sat in another chair and combed his fingers through his hair. Still a little damp from the rain. They said they trust me. He let out a laugh. Scary thing, I know. But I am a doctor.

She filled out the forms in a neat print his students needed to imitate, then lifted her head and slid the papers toward him. I can start today. She paused. You’re a doctor?

Yeah.

A breath of laughter escaped her. Not to be offensive, but you don’t look old enough.

I get that a lot. I’ll give you the short version. I got my doctorate when I was twenty-four. I’ve been teaching here for three years now.

"That’s—that’s