Heart of the Scarab

By Roma Montgomery and Jeannie Evenson

It was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for Judith and her two sisters. As the plane circled to land in Istanbul, Turkey, it was like looking at a fairytale come true. There it was, the beautiful Blue Mosque in all its glory, the museum's, and the world-famous Grand Bazaar with over four thousand shops.

The sisters were so excited, that little notice was taken of the dark eyes that seemed to be hiding in the gorgeous setting or how a twist of fate would suddenly turn a quiet vacation into a danger zone and leave them in a fight for their lives. How could this have happened?

The small boat moved silently, slicing through the warm water and humid night air. With impeccable planning, the heist had gone well and the stolen treasures were on board. Kamar silently studied the faces of his men as they whispered quietly one to another. Would they continue to fight for the Nobel cause or, in possession of such wealth, be tempted to betray him?

As a cool breeze flowed across his face, he nodded to his true friend, Gursel, who immediately stood caressing the handle of his long-bladed knife, the gleaming clean metal bearing record of the blood of its victims. Suddenly everyone stiffened as faint sounds of another boat motor could be heard closing in. Kamar sensing betrayal, quickly reached for his gun.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685702434

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Heart of the Scarab

Roma Montgomery and Jeannie Evenson

ISBN 978-1-68570-242-7 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88540-898-1 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-68570-243-4 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Roma Montgomery and Jeannie Evenson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Chapter 1

All three sisters stared aimlessly into the dark of the night, as Janie tried her best to keep the old rattletrap barreling perilously on down the pot-filled road. She slipped her foot to the brake and yanked the wheel a half turn to the left. The tires squealed, and the hot tired rubber tried to grasp the pavement. Time was running out. Each knew that in a matter of seconds, their lives could be over. Only minutes ago, they had been stalked, chased, and shot at, and for what? Something had gone wrong, and now they were in a desperate flight for their very lives.

Actually, each had their own reason for being here. For Roena, the middle sister, it had been her last view of Eric, her handsome, beguiling and deceiving husband entering through the glass doors of the bank where she worked, crossing the lobby below with the spray of forgive me again yellow roses and laurel cradled confidently on his arm.

He'd reached her desk just as the willowy receptionist was seating an eager young couple intent on acquiring a new loan. Undaunted, he'd laid the flowers next to her nameplate, Roena Harper, Loan Officer, smiled the familiar repentant smile which had always worked in the past, and whispered he would call later that evening.

Refusing to look up, she'd merely nodded, noting out of the corner of her eye, his appreciative glance toward the shapely receptionist, before he flourished a goodbye salute and sauntered again down the open mezzanine stairway.

Roena managed an encouraging smile at the young couple, thanked the receptionist—after all, it wasn't her fault she was so darned attractive—and ruffled through papers on her desk for a long-term mortgage contract. It was just then the phone rang, and Judith's familiar voice added to the confusion of the day.

The voice of Judith Morgan, Roena's older sister, rather than being soothing, brought just another frustration! What impossible thing was it she was suggesting? Roe, are you listening to me? I said pack your bags! The most exciting thing has happened! Ryan [Judith's eldest son] is stationed at the Incirlik Air Force Base in Turkey and insists we come for a visit!

Where? Roena held the phone in one hand, while she motioned with the other for the young couple to read over their contract. Where is Turkey?

Turkey! The land with all the old castle ruins, the city of Tarsus, and so many other things to see! Judith was obviously excited. It's the chance of a lifetime! Ryan will help with getting the right airline tickets, and we can stay in his condo on the base. Can you believe it?

Roena pointed out the signature lines for her borrowers. Judith, I have some clients at my desk. Could we talk later?

Of course, but she went on, Andrew is right in the middle of planting, so he can't go with me—as usual. So Ryan suggested I bring my sisters! Isn't that wonderful? You'll never get a chance like this again!

So you said, Judith, but there's no way I could do a thing like that. She lowered her voice. You just don't know…

I do know, Judith responded. And you're going!

Roena smiled a real smile now. How like Judith. So impulsive, so eager to do things and go places, and surprisingly capable of handling everything she undertook. Of course, being a schoolteacher and having summers free was an extra incentive. Roena, on the other hand, was held captive year-round, with a never-ending stack of loan documents and buyers and sellers all urgently clamoring for speedy closures. She glanced over at Mr. Buram, vice president over real estate, sorting through his own stack of documents, and imagined his reaction if she were to ask for ten days off to go to Turkey!

Roe, are you listening to me? Judith's voice had taken on her authoritative tone, asserting her position as the oldest of the three sisters. You must go! I do know what you've been going through, and you need to get away!

Impossible! Roena shook her head numbly at the phone. Couldn't possibly get away. Mr. Buram would have a fit! And it's not just me. You know our little sister, Janetta, would never leave Hank behind and go off to some strange place. Are you forgetting? She can't even function without her husband!

You leave that to me! Judith was used to taking charge. She ran her senior class history lessons with a strong hand and fresh-baked cinnamon rolls as frequently as needed, and the kids loved her. How long has it been since the three of us have gotten together? She answered her own question. Too long! We need some time together. You need your sisters, and there are other things to discuss, she added tactfully, such as the fact that Mother and Dad are getting a lot older now, and we really need this time together to help them with some decisions. What she meant was that she had made some decisions and would like her sister's acceptance.

Just do whatever you think is best, Judith. You always do the right thing.

No, no! You always say that. But we need to get together ourselves! Now is the time! Circumstances are right, and I've already gotten Janetta's consent, with Hank's permission. Actually, it was the right time for him too since he needs to be away on business and had planned to send Janetta to spend some time with me. Had to guarantee we'd keep a leash on her, of course, especially when I explained about Turkey. Also had to swear Ryan would be our constant companion and guard once we got there. I explained to him about Ryan's condo right on the base with extra bedrooms, that it's safely within perimeters of high, impenetrable fences with guard stations—and to top it all off, he has five days free time to spend showing us around. He'll be with us all the time.

Clearly it was not going to be an easy thing to turn the proposition down. Roena stared nervously at the growingly impatient young buyers. Listen, Judith, I can't talk now. I'll call you when I get home tonight. It would be easier to explain then what an impossible position she was in to even think of a trip for herself.

Okay, but don't even think negative! You are going, and that's that!

Face it, Judith, there's no way on earth I am going to a place called Turkey!

Call you tonight, Roe dear. Think it over!

Don't bother, Judith. Not gonna happen.

Roena laughed and shook her head as she firmly placed the receiver back in its cradle. It was hard to stem such enthusiasm as Judith always had, but right now a trip was the last thing she could handle in her life. Yet for the rest of the day, the mound of paperwork on her desk seemed to grow to an insurmountable heap, as her mind drifted elsewhere. And why did it appear that fellow officers of the bank were acting just a little condescending around her? Did it show that lately she had been unable to concentrate or even care when the next loan closed?

What was even worse after work was her own reflection in the plate glass window front on the way to her car. How long since she'd taken a good look at herself? And what was it about the image frowning back at her that was so disturbing? She looked older without a doubt. Thin. Maybe even haggard. Lifeless. Unattractive. Was midthirties really that old? She'd stared at her reflection too long before turning miserably away. Light-brown, shoulder-length hair, worried blue eyes. Everything about her just average, even less than average. Even the soft gray suit covering her tall frame, though expensive, was just average. And how had she gotten so thin and shapeless? No wonder her husband, handsome and outgoing as he was, had been drawn into the string of affairs. If my self-esteem gets any lower, she thought, I won't even be able to climb the stairs to do my work on the mezzanine, let alone face all those buyers and sellers!

True to his promise, for a change, Eric's call came just as she arrived home. Hey, Roe, can I come over tonight so we could discuss somethings over dinner? For a long moment of silence, she held her breath, and then what was it she found herself saying?

No, Eric, I have no time to meet with you to discuss anything right now. I'm busy getting packed and ready to leave for Turkey!

After Judith's call and her enthusiastic thumbs up, Roena then found the courage to call Mr. Buram at his home. His reaction was somewhat surprising. You need to get away, he agreed with her, have noted these last few weeks you needed some time to, ah, square things away.

Apparently, the word really was out about her fizzled life. She began to appreciate Judith's timing. Not only would she leave her job and the thoughts of divorce behind, but she would also leave her whole native land behind. It was almost as good as when Mr. Halbert's wife divorced him, and he ran away to an African safari. She began to smile at how ridiculous it all was. How far was Turkey, anyway? she thought. I wonder if it is far enough.

Andrew, still wearing his striped overalls and sporting a little mud from a last-minute turning of the water into the sugar beet field, chauffeured Judith and Roena to the airport.

All three sisters, wearing their best outfits attracted attention at the airport, but it was Janie with her long blond hair, deep set steel blue eyes and warm smile that always drew attention. She as the youngest of the three sisters, still looked bouncy and bubbly even at age twenty-six. She had been raised on a farm with her two sisters and brother but still tended to be a little shy about worldly things. It had been a big decision to actually go so far away without Hank. But Judith had finally convinced her to come as well.

Hank pulled the shiny new blue Chevy sedan into the airport parking lot in somewhat of a rush. He had taken time from his busy schedule to make sure Janie got to the airport on time and safely on the plane. But as Roena and Judith waved at Janie, he deposited his wife at the airport door and jumped hurriedly back in his car. Janie looked flushed as she hurriedly rushed in and explained she had left her carry-on bag sitting by the garage door. But not to worry, Hank would be right back with it.

After his breathless return, Roena attempted to explain the absence of his wife, noting the panic in his eyes at not finding her in the boarding area where he had left her and fearing he might yet abort the whole trip. But where was the twenty-six-year-old child bride and baby sister now? She glanced frantically around the crowd gathering at the boarding gate. Janie with her long blond hair waving and her beauty contestant shape always attracted attention wherever she went. And you did have to watch her, so naive, always willing to strike up a conversation with any stranger.

This time, she had simply gone to the restroom to be sure she would be comfortable on the start of the trip. But where was she? Judith had gone after her when she failed to return in an appropriate time period. Uh…well… Roena was just attempting to respond to Hank's concerned inquiry when with a great sense of relief, she spotted Judith propelling the girl toward them through the crowd.

Was that just the first call to board? Judith asked anxiously.

What took so long? Roena whispered at her as they drew close. Hank was beginning to panic.

You won't believe what happened. Judith sounded a little panicked herself. Somehow Janie got the door to her stall locked in the restroom—at Roena's rolled eyes—I don't know how! Anyway, she couldn't get out.

That's impossible. Those doors never lock!

Well, it did. Something wasn't working and there she was inside, almost in tears!

Poor Janie, can't she even go to the bathroom alone? What did you do?

I was afraid we were going to miss the flight so I told her, a little harshly, she would have to get down on the floor and crawl under!

She did that? Roena started to smile.

What else was there to do? Judith spread her hands and touched her own perfectly coiffured dark hair. Messed up her hair a little and got some dust on her new white suit.

Roena was now observing Hank's puzzled look, brushing off his wife's shoulders and patting down of her ruffled long hair. Her smile widened.

Wouldn't have been quite so embarrassing if several other women hadn't come in just as the poor dear was squeezing out under the stall door and stood staring at her in unbelief!

Oh no, what did they say? Roe whispered. What could they say at that point? It was impossible to constrain a chuckle and smile. This trip may be more of a challenge than I thought. Wonder how she'll handle the tiny compartment on the plane!

Now, Roe, have some compassion. You know she gets embarrassed easily. I tried to explain the problem with the door, but the women just stood there with their mouths open. You'd think no one had ever crawled out under a stall before!

The last thing Roena saw as they boarded the plane was Hank's panicking face. I should be so lucky, she said to herself, to have a handsome man filled with anxiety and love as I departed to a foreign country. For all her timidness and coddling as baby of our family, Janie managed to pick a pretty dang good husband!

Chapter 2

The flight to New York was disarmingly peaceful. Seating was together and the three of them visited about superficial incidents, mostly centering on growing up under the watchful supervision of parents who leaned toward education, restraint, following Gospel guidelines, working hard and moderation in all things. They were not years to be lamented over as some lives were. Still each sister had her own regrets for certain omissions or conduct which appeared to be creating obstacles at their present stages of life.

Janie admitted with some tears of humility that she had never really learned to make decisions on her own and wasn't sure of herself. As sisters, they spent many hours working on the farm. There were cows to be milked, beets to be thinned, onions to be topped, and wood to be stacked. Not any decisions to make, just chores to be done. And though she loved little children, Hank still felt she wasn't ready to care for them.

Roena recalled her parents cautioning that there was just something about Eric which did not sit well with them. They had tried to discourage the wedding. At the time, of course, they simply seemed to be just too preachy, now she wished she had listened.

Judith stated reluctantly that she had always wondered if her life might have been fuller had she married a man with more intellectual pursuits. Andy was so down-to-earth. And though a hardworking man, his vision of life revolved completely around soil erosion, weed control, and providing for his family. He was content to be a farmer and had little need to experience the rest of the world. There were times, though she tried to keep it to herself, that he was almost boring. What might life have been like with someone else? A more inquiring and intellectual man?

Mercifully the plane touched down at Kennedy Airport in New York before any further confessions or