Empty Is the Grave Read online

  But he knew Josiah would sooner talk someone down than shoot them. Heck, he’d probably get shot before he even considered pulling the weapon.

  Maybe he ought to trust Rafe with a gun. Yeah, it flew in the face of everything he’d been taught, was wrong on so many levels, yet Rafe had turned into a pretty solid guy in the last few weeks.

  His gut rebelled at the idea.

  For now, it was best to only arm himself and Cortez. Rafe could turn into an even greater liability if he was armed. Not necessarily because he thought Rafe would turn on him, but simply because Rafe wasn’t trained on proper weapons usage.

  Sweat trickled down Rush’s back as he neared the wooden hatch at the top of the stairs.

  There was no safe way to open that hatch.

  He might be on a suicide mission.

  God, if Josiah’s right and there are two hostiles up here, could you distract them for me?

  He reached the hatch and paused to catch his breath.

  A few seconds passed before his heart rate slowed enough for him to listen.

  Daylight filtered around the edges of the hatch. He put his ear close to the crack.

  Nothing. Then, a muted male voice. Too muffled for him to make out the words, but it confirmed that someone was up there.

  At least they didn’t seem to know he was down here.

  Now if he could only retain the element of surprise.

  If there was a way of locking the man – or men – up there, he might take it. But he saw no way of doing that.

  Besides, he needed access to the lighthouse’s signal light. If it was functional, it was his only way of communicating with the outside world.

  He didn’t want to think about what he’d do if it wasn’t functional.

  With a measured breath, he slowly pushed up on the hatch. Just an inch or so, enough for him to see that no one was directly in front of him.

  He waited.

  No shouting or gunfire. No one stomped on the hatch to close it. In fact, there was no response at all. The man’s voice continued as if nothing was going on.

  Okay. So either the men weren’t paying close attention or they weren’t facing the door.

  He pulled in a deep breath and pushed it open further.

  Still no sign of anyone in front of him. Or to the side.

  Still no break in the man’s dialogue.

  Something about some chick named Oksana and how hot she was. And how well she handled a gun.

  Sounded like a real winner.

  Time to go for it.

  He ascended into the room, swinging his gun in the direction of the man’s voice.

  Two men stood outside the lamp room, leaning on the railing of the parapet.

  One of them half-turned, did a double-take, and reached for his gun.

  Rush pulled the trigger. Once, twice.

  One man tumbled over the railing. The other fell face down on the parapet.

  Yes! These guys had to have some kind of radio or way of communicating with their team. Now he could listen in, too.

  He approached the man and checked for a pulse.

  Nothing. Not that he expected one. His head shot had been well placed.

  He looked over the railing.

  The second body lay twisted on the ground over eighty feet below.

  Two men.

  Just like Josiah had said.

  A wave of heat rushed through him.

  How had Josiah known that? Could he be wrong about Josiah? Could Josiah somehow be in alliance with these guys?

  Ridiculous.

  Besides, he’d witnessed other weird things around Josiah before. Josiah seemed to know a lot of things he had no business knowing. He always smiled that mysterious smile and said God told him.

  Maybe God had.

  He could trust Josiah. He knew it in his core, just like he knew Josiah served God.

  A cord trailed down the man’s neck.

  Rush followed the cord. Sure enough, an earwig nestled inside the dead guy’s ear.

  He pulled out the little listening device and attached microphone, wiped it on his shirt, and inserted it into his own ear.

  No voices at this point, but he wouldn’t expect a constant string of chatter.

  Whoever these people were, they were here for a reason and it had nothing to do with making idle conversation over their communication devices.

  Okay, so he’d be able to hear what they said, but that still left him the issue of getting a message to the outside.

  Time to take a look at the lighthouse beacon.

  He grabbed the dead man’s rifle. Too bad the other rifle had gone over the edge with the man who fell. They really could’ve used that extra weapon.

  Turning, he entered the lamp room and looked around.

  Dang. He had no idea what he was looking for. There certainly wasn’t a big red button labeled “light.”

  Maybe Cortez would know. Or Rafe or one of those kids. Maybe even Josiah would know something, although he didn’t seem too techie.

  Well, he sure as heck wasn’t gonna figure it out standing here.

  He better head back down. It probably wouldn’t be long before these two were supposed to check in. When that didn’t happen, they were likely to have some unfriendly company.

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  Hugh glared at the island from his place on the boat.

  Attempts to contact the four remaining men stationed on the island had failed. While he couldn’t care less if they were still alive, he cared very much about the status of the guns and smuggled goods stored in the cave beneath the island’s rocky surface.

  Millions of dollars were at stake. Months of planning.

  It’d take them years to recoup the loss if it was gone.

  Not to mention that Bruce would likely hold him personally responsible for the loss.

  And Bruce didn’t handle failure well.

  He darted a glance at Bruce, who stood stoically at the boat’s stern, hands clasped behind his back.

  Sure, he looked calm. But Hugh knew better.

  Men had been shot for less than this.

  He looked at the twenty men he’d brought with him. Many had military training of some sort. Most had been dishonorably discharged, but that didn’t bother him at all. They were paid well enough to ensure their continued loyalty.

  “Shoot anyone who isn’t one of ours. And guard the merchandise at any cost. Go.”

  They all clambered into the waiting motorized rafts. As each boat filled, it took off toward the island.

  Hugh climbed in the last boat.

  Bruce stepped in after him.

  Rolling his shoulders, Hugh forced deep breaths.

  Under normal circumstances, Bruce kept himself separate from this sort of affair.

  Maybe it was because so much was at stake.

  Or maybe he’d lost confidence in Hugh’s ability to manage this.

  He forced a deep breath that was supposed to be calming, but did little to ease his nerves.

  Failure wasn’t an option.

  How anyone had discovered their ingenious hiding place was a mystery, but he’d ensure that they took the secret to the grave.

  Because if they didn’t, he would.

  Nine

  “How’d you say you got here again?” Cortez’s squinty eyes darted between Josiah and the door.

  Josiah smiled.

  He hadn’t said, but that was exactly Cortez’s point.

  “I swam.”

  Cortez blinked, then narrowed his eyes until they were little more than slits on his face. “Swam.”

  “I’m a strong swimmer.”

  “You expect me to believe God told you to jump in the ocean and swim out here to help us?”

  Josiah laughed. “You can believe what you want. I only tell you the truth.”

  He really couldn’t blame Cortez for being suspicious, especially given all that this group had been through today.

  In fact, they all looked a little wary.
r />   Except Rafe. While Rafe didn’t know the truth about Hephzibah and Josiah’s unfallen state, he knew Josiah well enough to trust what he said.

  Even when it sounded a little crazy.

  Josiah looked Cortez in the eyes and held his gaze for a second past what this world considered comfortable. “I am not here to deceive or harm anyone. I only wish to help.”

  Breaking eye contact, Cortez mumbled, “Well, I wish you’d brought help in the form of a small army. No offense, but you ain’t gonna be a lot of help.”

  He wasn’t offended. Not in the least.

  Cortez could only trust what he saw. In his mind, the human threat he faced required an armed response. He couldn’t see the cloud hovering over the island any more than he could see the demon whispering lies of distrust and fear into his ears.

  As much as Josiah longed to address that dark scoundrel, he felt the Father telling him no.

  Why, he wasn’t sure, but sometimes the fallen chose to wallow in the misery inflicted upon them by the enemy of their souls.

  Perhaps Cortez was one of the wallowers.

  Either way, addressing the demon now would likely freak out everyone in the room.

  The fear and anxiety in the room had a tangible presence that weighed heavily on Josiah’s heart.

  Lord, why am I here? If I’m not to release these people from the bondage facing them, why did you send me?

  No answer met his questions, but peace enveloped him. The Lord had heard him, but more than that, God cared. While the inaction was hard to swallow, he knew his attempts to battle the enemy would fail if God was not behind him.

  Two gunshots echoed from above.

  Cortez twitched, but didn’t discharge his weapon, in spite of his finger hovering close to the trigger.

  Switch flinched and Chloe muffled a sob.

  Rafe stared at the ceiling as if doing so would make it magically open up.

  Josiah crossed to where Rafe sat and dropped beside him. “Pray, my brother. There are many dark forces at work here.”

  Understanding dawned in Rafe’s brown eyes.

  They’d had many conversations about the spirit realm.

  “Whatcha see?”

  Rafe’s question, too quiet to be overheard by anyone else, made Josiah pause. How much did he reveal?

  Sovereign Father?

  The answer filtered through his soul a second later. He pulled in a slow breath. “There is a multitude. All over this island. The angels are assembling for battle.”

  Rafe absorbed the words in silence for a moment. “I wish I could see.”

  Ah, to be so naïve. The things he’d witnessed were horrific, terrifying. The lies he’d heard the demons speak cut deep.

  No, Rafe didn’t want to see. No matter how much he thought he did. “Believe me. When you see the things I have, you are never the same. Be careful what you wish for.”

  “Yeah, but it’s gotta be better’n not knowin’ what’s comin’. Least you can be ready.”

  “It drives me to pray. Which is what I need you to do now, my brother. Pray. That the Father would bind these forces, that souls would be saved, that lives would be spared.”

  The heaviness in his soul told him that many lives had already been lost. He’d passed a few of the bodies on his way from the shore to the lighthouse and something told him that it was only a fraction of what they’d find later.

  For now, the Lord had tasked him with protecting the souls in the room around him.

  So far, with the exception of a few small deceivers who hovered over those in the room, the darkness had not engaged.

  He could sense them. Close. Likely just outside the walls.

  But they held back. Or they were being held back.

  Chloe stared at him, her face an interesting blend of curiosity and fear. Curious about him, but afraid of everything else.

  He smiled at her.

  Yes, he could sense the Father’s love for her. There was a special plan for this one, should she choose to accept it.

  “Why…?” The word rasped out of her throat. She cleared it before trying again. “Why would you come here?”

  “God sent me.”

  “God.” Slightly narrowed eyes regarded him. “Why would He do that?”

  At least she wasn’t denying the existence of God. Not openly, anyway. “Because God loves you.” His gaze swept the room. “All of you.”

  “Some love.” Her words came out choked. “We’re all gonna die. And He made you come here to die with us.”

  “No one’s gonna die. God’s with us, right Josiah?” Rafe’s words sounded more like a plea than the confidence he was likely trying to exude.

  “God is with us.” He wasn’t so sure that no one else would die, or that all of the people in the room would make it off the island alive. An ache settled in his heart as he looked at the people around him. Would any of them enter eternity before the day was out?

  That was God’s domain, not his. His job was to protect this group. At any cost.

  He fixed his eyes on Chloe. “God didn’t make me come. I chose to come. I chose to do God’s work. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. God is bigger than all the forces that come against us. Do you believe that, Chloe?”

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  Chloe stared at the weird stranger sitting so casually across from her.

  How did he know her name? She knew she hadn’t introduced herself to him. Too busy running for her life to worry about something like introductions.

  Had someone said her name and he overheard it?

  Must have. It was the only explanation that made sense.

  His question resonated inside her head. Did she believe in God?

  Yeah, maybe. She’d always kinda figured there was something out there that started this whole crazy mess. Why not God?

  But did she believe that God was bigger than their situation?

  Jury was still out on that one.

  She could feel the tension rolling off Switch, who didn’t believe in God. Who was very anti-believing in God. Ever since she’d met him, he’d made no pretense of being both an atheist and an anarchist.

  In fact, she was a little surprised he wasn’t saying anything to this God-preaching crazy man.

  A crazy man who was staring at her expectantly, waiting for her to answer his question.

  “I don’t know.” Her admission sounded loud in the suddenly silent room. “I’m not sure God is there.”

  “I know He’s not there!” The words burst from Switch like water exploding from a dam. “There’s no such thing as God.”

  Uh-oh. The battle had just been brought inside.

  One thing you didn’t mess with was people’s religion.

  She wished she could melt into the floor. Anything to avoid the conflict that was about to start.

  The stranger smiled. Smiled! “I can see why you’d think that, Andre.”

  Andre. The name echoed in Chloe’s head.

  Sure, Switch had told her his real name once, but very few people knew it. How could this man they’d never met before know Switch’s name?

  “You haven’t had very good examples.” The stranger continued, compassion adding a heaviness to his voice. “With your stepfather preaching at you one second and hitting you the next–”

  “Don’t you talk to me about him!” Switch’s protest contained a breathlessness she’d never heard from him before.

  Switch had a stepdad?

  Their understood rule about not speaking of their families carried a price. What else didn’t she know about him?

  The stranger didn’t seem bothered by Switch’s outburst. “Unfortunately, not everyone who claims to follow God represents Him well. But know that God is nothing like that.”

  Switch looked almost as shaken as he had earlier when the bullets were flying.

  No wonder. This man knew things he shouldn’t know.

  And they didn’t even know his name.

  Well, she could solve
that. “What’s your name?”

  The man turned his attention to her. “Josiah.”

  “He’s one of the chaplains at the prison.” Rafe offered.

  As if that would make this all better. What they needed was a superhero. Someone who could bounce bullets off his body and fly them off the island.

  A prison preacher wasn’t gonna do them much good.

  She pushed the thought from her mind. “How do you know so much about us?”

  Josiah smiled as if he wasn’t worried about gunmen bursting inside at any second. “God told me.”

  Right.

  But… how else could he know so much about Switch? Things she didn’t even know?

  Frankly, she didn’t want to know what he could reveal about her.

  Still. For all his weirdness, there was something about him that was calming. He exuded a peaceful confidence, like nothing could touch them.

  If only.

  She jumped as footsteps stomped down the stairs.

  Who was it? The guard who’d gone upstairs a while ago? Or one of the men Josiah had claimed was up there?

  Rush came into view, leading with his gun.

  A shaky breath leaked from her.

  He didn’t look injured. Which meant that he’d likely fired those shots they’d heard, not been hit by them.

  That was good, anyway.

  They needed all the help they could get.

  “Everything okay?” The other guard… she hadn’t caught his name… asked.

  “Yeah. Two guys,” Rush’s eyes flicked over to Josiah, “were up there. I took care of them.”

  Took care. Nice way of saying he killed them.

  Not that she was losing any sleep over it.

  “Any of you really good with a computer?” Rush’s gaze raked over them.

  She looked at Switch. He’d always been techie. Much better than her.

  Narrowed eyes met hers, a barely perceptible shake of the head indicating he didn’t want her to say anything.

  “What do you need?” Rafe’s voice drew her attention away from Switch.

  “We need to hack the beacon’s controls so we can send an SOS.”

  Hack. Switch could do it. No problem.

  Another glance at Switch showed him with his lips pressed tightly together.

  What the heck was wrong with him? This could get them the help they needed! It could be the difference between life and death!