"Madame Estelle, please ..."
She didn't have time to complete the sentence. Madame Estelle struck her with such superhuman force that her feet left the ground and she flew back, slamming against the wall and crumpling onto the ground. She was bleeding from the mouth where she had been hit.
"Enough, demon!" Murphy yelled. "In the name of Jesus we command you to sit down."
Madame Estelle looked like she was struggling with some unseen force as she stumbled toward a chair that was still upright. She sat down with a fierce, wild look in her eyes. Her head was shaking from side to side and guttural sounds burst forth from her lips.
Murphy and Wagoner looked at each other. They couldn't believe what was happening. They had only heard stories about such events. They had never come face-to-face with the real thing.
"What is your name? In the name of Jesus we demand that you speak."
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Madame Estelle's head went back and forth rapidly and finally she spoke with the deep, male voice.
"Deception."
Wagoner joined in.
"Are there any other demons?"
"Yes."
"What are their names? We command you to speak."
Madame Estelle twisted violently in her chair. "The Black Healer," came another voice.
"Corruption," was the response of a third strange voice.
"Are there any more?" asked Murphy.
"No."
"We command that you three leave this woman at once."
Madame Estelle squirmed and screamed and arched her back and collapsed onto the floor in spasms and finally lay still.
Carlotta, the assistant, was holding her mouth and whimpering in the corner of the destroyed dining room. Carlson was still on the floor with a look of shock on his face. Murphy looked over at Wagoner, who was breathing heavily. Wagoner looked back.
"Bob, are you all right?"
"I am. I'm just shaking inside. This was like a nightmare. I've never done anything like this in my life."
Murphy shook his head. "Me neither."
"I don't think I'd ever like to do that again. It was like coming up to the edge of darkness and facing the devil. There are forces going on in this world that I never really dreamed of."
Madame Estelle began to cry. Murphy and Wagoner approached her.
"Are you all right?" asked Murphy.
She sat up and looked at them. She no longer had a harsh distant look in her eyes. Her whole countenance had seemed to soften.
"How long have you been under their control?" Wagoner inquired.
"As far back as I can remember. I think it began when my mother
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took me with her to a card reader. That sparked my curiosity I started to read books about the supernatural and the occult, and I began to have terrible nightmares. I became a very angry and rebellious child. Later I got deeper into the occult and even joined the Satanic Church. In my twenties I began to discover that I seemed to have the ability to foresee the future. In my late twenties I began to have people come to me for healing. I thought I was helping at first. But before long I began to have deep depressions come over me. I battled with evil thoughts and soon the nightmares became night terrors."
"How are you feeling now?" asked Wagoner.
"I'm not sure. I feel like a great burden has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel a peace like I have never felt before. Please tell me about what just happened to me."
Murphy smiled kindly. This was going to require some delicacy.
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FORTY-NINE
ISIS HAD MIXED emotions as she dialed the Preston University number. In some ways she wished that Murphy would answer the phone. She longed to hear his voice and talk with him. She missed him deeply. On the other hand, she was nervous and half hoping that he wouldn't answer. What if she called and he didn't want to talk with her? She tapped her fingernails on the desk as the phone was ringing.
"Preston University This is Susan. May I help you?" "Yes, Susan. Could I please have the office of Dr. Michael Murphy?"
"Just a moment, please, and I'll connect you."
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Isis continued to tap her fingernails as she listened to the ringing. She couldn't believe how nervous she was. Her heart was beating as if it would pop out of her chest. After the fifth ring, she felt a pang of disappointment. She began to put the phone down when she heard someone answer.
"Dr. Murphy's office. Shari speaking."
Isis brought the phone back up to her ear. "Hello, Shari. This is Isis McDonald."
"Oh, hi, Dr. McDonald. I'm sorry for the delay in answering the phone. I was in the laboratory with a fragile manuscript in my hands."
"I understand, Shari. You just can't drop an ancient manuscript."
"I was placing it back in the humidifier."
"Shari, while I've got you on the phone ... I was so sorry to hear about your terrible encounter with Talon. That must have been frightening."
"It was. And I still wake up in the night thinking about it. I came close to losing my life."
"I know what you mean. I still have nightmares about him choking me to death. I don't think those emotional scars heal so quickly. Michael also told me about Paul Wallach. How's he doing?"
Shari sounded sad. "I'm afraid that he's still in critical condition. If anything, he seems to be going downhill."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I've been thinking about both of you. I know that you were very close."
"Everyone at church has been praying for him. I'm not sure what God has for us to learn through all of this. Dr. Murphy has been very supportive through this tough time. I know he feels terrible."
"Is he there?"
"Not right now. He had a faculty meeting to attend. I can have him call you."
Isis felt disappointed and yet somewhat relieved at the same moment.
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"No. That's all right."
"Is there something I can help you with?"
"You could leave him a message. Would you tell him that I found out a little more information about King Yamani. I did some additional research and discovered that one ancient historian wrote about the destruction of the Temple of Dagon. In a few brief sentences, he mentioned that after the temple was destroyed, the priests of Dagon constructed a passageway leading from the temple to another building nearby. This building became the temporary worship place. It was believed that the priests moved all the sacred articles from the temple to this other structure. Maybe what Michael is looking for is in this other building."
"Did it mention in which direction the passageway ran?"
"No. That was all that was written about it. I thought it might be helpful for Michael to know before he leaves on his exploration of the site. He might be able to discover where it was."
"I'll pass it on to him. Is there anything else you would like me to say?"
There was much more that Isis wanted to say but it would have been for Murphy's ears only.
"No. Thank you, Shari. That's all."
"Okay."
"I hope that Paul will get well soon. I'll be thinking about you."
"Thank you. I hope he will too."
As Isis hung up she found herself wanting to say more. She wished that she could have told Shari about what happened to her after Murphy broke off their relationship.
It nearly devastated her. She went into a depression that was noticeable to the people who worked with her at the Parchments of Freedom Foundation. A colleague named Lisa had asked her what was wrong. It was then that Isis broke down and began to sob, releasing all the sadness that she had been holding back. Isis began to tell her why she was so depressed.
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Lisa listened with such compassion that Isis really felt like she cared about her. Over the next few weeks, her new friend shared advice and counsel. One day, Lisa invited Isis to join her in a singles Bible study. It was there she became more involved with the Bible and began to understand what it was to be a
Christian.
One evening when Isis was alone in her bedroom, she finally came to the point where she cried and poured her heart out to God. She knelt down by her bed and asked Christ to come into her heart, to take hold of her life, and to change her. She knew this was what was missing in her life.
It was after that experience that Isis felt a flood of peace come into her life. Yes, she was still hurting at the loss of Murphy, but somehow she knew deep inside that she would be all right. She also found that she had a strong desire to begin reading the Bible, which brought much comfort to her.
Isis longed to tell Murphy about the change and what happened but something wouldn't let her. She didn't want him to think that she had made the decision of faith just to win him back. She didn't want to seem to be begging him to come back to her. She wanted him to come to her of his own accord. She wanted it to be his decision, not something that was cajoled or forced.
Isis had also resigned herself to the fact that they might never get back together. She knew that she would have to become a woman of God on her own. Because of this, she began to immerse herself into her work and attending the Bible studies with her friend Lisa.
On several occasions, she had been approached by men who wanted to date her, but she declined. They were attractive but she didn't want to be caught up in any kind of rebound relationship. She knew it was best to let herself heal without adding any complications.
Isis had given herself to God and began to trust Him for focus and direction. It wasn't easy at first, but with each passing day it had become more comfortable.
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Isis sat there in her office after talking with Shari. She stared into space as many thoughts raced through her mind.
Dear God. Please help me through the tough days. Please help me to be honest with my feelings and not be overrun by them. Help me to trust You more each day. God, do You make house calls? I could sure use one ....
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FIFTY
GABRIEL QUINTERO had been a policeman for thirteen years. He'd had many assignments during his career, from working behind a desk to pounding a beat. The hardest ones for him were to sit on stakeouts waiting for criminals to possibly commit a crime or guarding someone while they were in the hospital. The inactivity was difficult for a man who craved movement. He was pacing in front of the door to intensive care when Murphy arrived at the hospital.
"Good evening, Gabriel. Long day?"
"Feels that way, Dr. Murphy. I don't mind the responsibility of guarding people, but just sitting around can get pretty dull. My body wants to go for a run."
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"Well, thanks for what you're doing, even though it's not easy for you."
"That's my job, Doc." He moved away from the front of the door and let Murphy in.
Shari was in a chair sitting beside Paul's bed. Murphy went over and gave her a hug. He looked up at all the monitors and electrical wires attached to Paul's body registering his breathing, heart rate, and brain activity.
"Any change?"
"No. Not really. It does seem like the doctors and nurses are coming in and out more frequently, though." She looked worried.
"Maybe I'll go out and talk with one of them, see if they can give me an update."
Murphy found Dr. Thornton talking with a nurse down one of the halls.
"Evening, Don."
"Hello, Michael. I haven't seen you in a couple of days."
"I've felt bad about that, but I've been swamped at work. How is Paul Wallach? Shari mentioned that the doctors and nurses have been coming in and out of the room a little more frequently."
Thornton shook his head. "I'm sorry, Michael. He could go at any time. His systems are shutting down. There's nothing we can do. I understand that he doesn't have any living relatives. It's been good that Shari has been with him. I'm glad you're here now to comfort her."
Murphy nodded his head gravely.
"I understand. Thanks, Don."
Murphy reentered the room and pulled up a chair next to Shari. He put his arm around her.
"Dr. Thornton says he doesn't have long. They've done all they could."
Shari began to cry. Murphy handed her some tissues. She blew her nose and tried to speak.
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"I think Paul was trying to turn his life around after working for Shane Barrington. He had begun to come back to church and he seemed to be more caring than he'd ever been."
"Do you think he made any type of decision regarding faith, Shari?"
"I don't know. He certainly knew all about it. We had talked a number of times. I'm just not sure. That's what bothers me the most."
Shari took hold of Paul's hand and rubbed it.
Murphy prayed with her and they sat together for about ten minutes. He looked at the cabinet next to Paul's bed. It had a number of cards stacked on it.
"It's nice that so many people sent cards to Paul," Murphy said.
"Most of them have come from people at the church. I've opened them and read them to Paul. I don't know if he has heard me, but I read them anyway. Those on the top arrived today. I haven't opened them yet. There are more in the drawer."
Murphy picked up the stack and looked at the return addresses. Many of the names he recognized. One card, however, did not have a return address. Out of curiosity he opened it and began to read.
Roses are red
And violets are blue
Because of the baseball bat
Paul Wallach got the shoe .
...and I kicked him with much pleasure .
Murphy couldn't believe what he was reading.
I'm terribly sorry for all of the
inconvenience. They usually die
quickly and painfully. However,
I must say that there's a certain
pleasure in seeing others suffer.
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His pain, and your pain, does help
to take away the pain in my finger.
Until we meet again!
Murphy was furious. He wanted to yell. He wanted to strike out. He gritted his teeth and looked at Shari. Her attention was focused on Paul. He quietly put the card into his jacket. He didn't want Shari to have to read that. He hoped that he hadn't messed up any fingerprints that might have been on it. Murphy's Irish temper was raging inside. He took several deep breaths to calm down.
His eyes were then drawn to one of the monitors. A little red light had begun to flash. It was soon followed by a beeping sound. He looked over at the heart monitor. The spikes began to separate and then there was a flat line with just a constant tone. There were no more beeps.
Shari's eyes were wide with disbelief. She knew that it was just a matter of time, but still it caught her off-guard.
Two nurses rushed into the room followed by a third pushing a cart. The code blue signal had alerted them. Murphy and Shari quickly moved out of the way as they applied the defibrillator pads to Paul's chest.
"Ready!"
"Clear!"
Paul's body jerked, but the only sound was the dull drone of the heart monitor. They tried three more times and then Dr. Thornton entered the room. He injected something in Paul's arm and they tried one more time to restore his heartbeat.
Dr. Thornton bent over Paul and placed his stethoscope on his neck and then on his chest. He finally stood up and shook his head. There was silence in the room except for Shari's sobbing.
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The funeral was well attended. Most of the people were from the church. A few people from the community who had heard about it on the news were also present. Because it had been considered a murder, three television stations were covering the service. A half dozen policemen had been assigned to watch over the crowd.
Pastor Bob Wagoner performed the service and presided at the graveside. Shari was dressed in black and Murphy sat beside her with his arm around her. She kept wiping tears the entire time.
Murphy tried to distract himself from his own grief and kept surveying the crowd. Would
Talon attempt to wear some disguise and come to the funeral? He didn't think so but he was on the alert. Inside he felt mounting anger. Talon had to be stopped. He couldn't be allowed to continue to kill innocent people. Murphy's resolve to end Talon's reign of terror began to consume his thoughts.
He looked over at Shari and gave her a hug. She just stared at the coffin. She was out of energy and felt numb, like she was stuck in a bad dream. She kept hoping that she would wake up and all this would have been just a nightmare. Reality struck home when the casket was lowered into the ground. Their relationship would never have a chance to develop. But, most of all, she ached inside because she knew Paul's eternity was settled.
Shari stood up and went over to the edge of the grave. She looked down and dropped the red rose that she held in her hand.
Good-bye, Paul .
She turned and buried her weeping face into Murphy's chest.
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FIFTY-ONE
THE TAXICAB SLOWED and came to a stop. The driver started swearing in Italian about the traffic and all the people crossing the street. Talon just smiled. Long ago he had learned that patience was a virtue ... especially in pursuing people. Earning top wages as an assassin made it a little easier too.
He busied himself by looking out the window at the beautiful Trevi Fountain in front of the Palace of Neptune. It had been several years since he had been to Rome, but he remembered it well.
The light changed and it wasn't long before traffic picked up and they passed one of the oldest buildings in Rome, the majestic Pantheon. As Talon recalled, it was built in 27 B.C. by Marcus
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Vipsanius Agrippa and later rebuilt by Hadrian in A.D. 118. He stared up at the dome-shaped roof 1-4-4 feet off the ground.