CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

            When the phone rang, at six o’clock, Pete Conley snatched it up, then handed it to Abraham. The doctor leaned from the couch cushions to take it from Conley’s hand.

            “Hello? ...Yes, I understand...But...But I told you I don’t have them. I...” He held the receiver out to Pete and shook his head slowly.” I don’t know what they want me to do. They have changed the plans. I am supposed to meet them at the clinic at midnight with the journal.”

            “Listen, Doctor. I understand all this is hard on you. I know you’ve had some rough deals in your life. But dear lord, we’re talking about a life here. Maybe two. If you know where those notes are, tell me. I’ll go. I’ll deliver them.”

            Abraham opened his mouth to reply but Maxine beat him to it.

            “For the last time, he doesn’t have the notes. They’re gone. And there are things going on here you don’t know about. Things that must be kept secret, for everyone’s sake. ”

            “It seems to me the time for secrecy is over.” The muscles in Pete’s neck bulged and his eyes were hard.

            “And they said no one must go with me. it should be me alone.” Abraham looked at the big man. “But it makes no difference. I can’t give what I don’t have.”

            “Unless...” With effort, Maxine extracted herself from the cushions on the low sofa, and went to the doctor’s ancient black desk, withdrawing a faded notebook. “I found it while I was cleaning, Abraham.” She sat at the desk and withdrew a pen out of its holder. “I can’t imitate your handwriting, but ...if I can get you to write one page, maybe two. I can scan it into my computer and print it out...maybe a hundred, hundred fifty pages? If they don’t check too carefully right away, it may give us time to get to Macie.”

            “It will never work.” Pete folded his arms over his chest.” They’ll be onto us before we get two steps away.”

            “And your idea is better?”

            “Es ken gemolt zein,” Abraham muttered, struggling to his feet. The self -pity was gone. He felt energized.

            Conley looked at him, eyebrows raised.

            “It means it might work.” Abraham took the seat Maxine vacated for him. “My notes were in Yiddish. Unless there is a cagey old Jew there like me, who’s to know from what?” He began to write. “The right numbers thrown in once in a while, the right symbols...”

            “Abraham, I could kiss you.” Maxine sputtered.

            She rested her hand on Abraham’s neck, where a rush of red was creeping past his collar.

            Pete crowded in behind them to watch as the doctor set down line after line. “Well, I sure don’t know what it says but it looks pretty scientific to me.”

            “To you, my grocery list would look scientific. But in this you are right, I think. Yiddish is almost as good as a code. There are not many, including Jews, who still speakit.”

            Maxine patted Abraham’s shoulder. “Maybe I should learn to speak Yiddish. Who knows when it would come in handy.”

                                                                 ***

            The gray sedan pulled onto Interstate seventy. The driver glanced in his rear view mirror.

            “Keep up, don’t let that jerk cut in.”

            Macie twisted her head and looked behind her. A long black Lincoln she knew was Soudo’s trailed about four car lengths behind him, signaling to get into the same lane as Wilson.

            “Where are you taking us?” The men had removed the tape gags, but Macie’s lips were raw and it hurt to stretch them over the words.

            “You got your clinic key, right?”

            “Of course, but...”

            “That’s where they’re going to meet us. Then we’ll all go our own ways.”

             Wilson watched the road. Everyone was quiet, seemingly engrossed in their own thoughts. Paige sat in the front, beside Wilson, her body slumped against the seat. Macie was sandwiched between the two men in back.

            “What if he doesn‘t bring the notes?” Macie addressed the other man, Austin’s associate.

            “He will. I have faith. Oh, excuse me, Deacon Wilson. Faith is your department.”

            Finally, they exited the Interstate and turned south onto Centertech. The streets were congested. It was Saturday night, Macie remembered, and the restaurants, theaters and movie houses were filling up. Soon the streets would be all but deserted. On nights like this she and Phil liked to take long drives, after the cars reached their destinations, and the streets were empty, up and down I-70 and over on Federal. It was easy driving, and Denver fell away from the road , dazzling in amber and red and green lights. Like Christmas.

            She looked to her right, desperate for the reassurance of a familiar billboard or neon light. But they were beyond that now, the restaurants and businesses clustered back along 6th. Here there were only office complexes, and the community college campus crouching –almost invisible- in the darkness.

            Ahead, Macie saw a yellow glow and the car slowed, turning into a narrow drive.McDonalds. There wasn’t much choice out here. Soudo pulled into the parking lot and waited while the deacon took the drive- through.

            Wilson threw a jacket over Paige ’s shoulders, rolled the window down and shouted into the microphone. “Six Big Mac combos with colas, three extra cheeseburgers and three super fries.” He drove up to the “pick-up” and the cashier flashed a bright grin at him as he handed her three twenties and a five.

            “Looks like somebody is going to have a party.”

            “Yeah. Looks that way.” Wilson took the bags from the girl and waved off the change. “The five’s for you, honey.”

            He pulled away from the building toward the exit and the big Lincoln joined him at the intersection. With Austin leading, they found the clinic, and parked in the next block. The men surrounded their bound captives. Under the orange street lights they were just a group of friends, out for a stroll. They entered the clinic through the alley door, closed the shades and turned on the lights in the back room.

            “Ah, home at last,” said Wilson. “Where’s the john?”

            Austin untied the women’s hands. Macie shuffled through the doorway toward the front.

            “Where do you think you’re going?” Brother Soudo came in the back door, shutting it behind him.

            “To the restroom, and to lie down,” Macie said still walking.” It’s more comfortable out here.”

            “Okay, but leave the light off. Prop the door open.” Soudo followed her into the waiting room.

            Macie pushed the door of the ladies room open, falling in front of the stool. Her stomach lurched and she was sick. When she was finally able to stand, she moistened a paper towel and carried it with her to the black leather couch, where she collapsed, the towel over her eyes. Lights, in specks and long-tailed comets swam in front of her. There was a rush in her ears and her head felt like it was caught in a metal band.

            Brother Soudo stood in the doorway . She could feel him watching her. After a couple of minutes, he went back to the others. Someone crept into the room and sat in the chair by the end table. Macie laid still, eyes closed, breathing deeply.

            “Mrs. Stone?” It was Paige McKenzie.” Macie?”

            Macie pulled the paper towel back and turned to face her. Paige was pale, her blond hair tangled and dirty. Even in the dim light, Macie could make out dark circles around her eyes. Paige was only a few hours into her captivity. Macie wondered what she would see if she looked into a mirror. And she was sure, by now, she must smell.

            “What is it...Paige?”

            “I’m sorry. I didn’t know this would happen.

            “How’d you get involved with these people?”

            “I don’t know. I just went to the church a couple of times, and the people were really nice. They had posters on the walls...about abortion and everything. I can’t think about killing those babies without crying. I asked if I could help. At first, I just passed out flyers in front of the clinics. Then, they found out I was friends with Mary and Pete. Mary does crisis pregnancy

counseling.”

            “Yes, I know them.” There was a rattling noise and the refrigerator behind the nurse’s counter opened.

            “Hey, Leonard. There’s more soda pop in here.” She recognized the voice of George Doman. Soudo grunted in reply. So...his name was Leonard Soudo. Not quite what he’d have picked for himself, for the illustrious image he created, Macie thought. She turned her attention back to Paige McKenzie.

            “The church has a pro-life ministry. Not that they’d hurt anyone, but that’s just part of it. Like, if you really believe something is wrong, you’ll do more than avoid it, you’ll try to do something about it. They got me to ask Pete and Mary to help us.”

            “I’m just a nurse. I work in a woman’s clinic. But you didn’t think about that, did you? Doctor Sorkin isn’t an abortion doctor. He’s a woman’s doctor who performs abortions as a part of his practice. He’s not the devil. I’d say your Brother Soudo comes closer to fitting that description.”

            Paige stiffened, almost imperceptibly, then continued. “I had to do something to get God to love me again. I had an abortion when I was sixteen. Afterward, they put me on Prozac. They thought that would make everything better, but it didn’t. You don’t know what it’s like. I sat for hours just crying. I didn’t eat. I lost thirty-five pounds in a month. Then it would get better for a while, but it always came back. The last time was as bad as the first. Then, about four months ago I went to Brother Soudo for counseling. That’s where it started.”

            Macie waved a limp hand. “Don’t try to justify...”

             “It’s just... Brother Soudo.” Paige sat, head down. “He told me if I helped, it would be like a covering over my sin. He said God hated people who murdered, especially people who killed babies. HATED, Macie. He said it wouldn’t do any good to pray for forgiveness until I atoned for my deeds. God wouldn’t pay any attention to my prayers. He said he’d received an anointing and a message from the Spirit for me. A word of prophecy, he called it. He said God showed him that I would be the beginning of an army of believers that would end abortion in our country. He said God told him if I turned back I was unworthy to share eternity with Him and his pure ones.”

            “You should have counseled more with your friend Mary. That woman has the...what did you call it...anointing, if I understand what you mean.

            Macie sat up as Michael Austin entered the room carrying a paper bag. “Here you are, ladies. I’ll bet you’re hungry.”

            “You bet wrong,” Macie snapped. But she pieced at the burger. Weslie, you’ll be okay. Mommy’s going to take care of you. The thought of her baby was comforting. Like she wasn’t alone.