Page 77 of Gideon

He looked around for a hose or any explanation other than the one that was too hard to contemplate, even though it was the one he’d asked for.

He poked his toe on the depression the mat had made. With the amount of water that had come from it, he expected the ground to be saturated, but it was hard.

“I should have asked for a bigger miracle,” he said as he hauled the wet mat back to his room, dropping it outside of the door to dry.

Yesterday, he’d thought his request impossible. Now, he was searching for explanations easier to accept than the truth. If nothing else, it helped him to understand the world better. It didn’t matter what wonders God did. There always had to be another explanation. The world believed what it wanted and adjusted its perceptions to suit.

Believing in God meant being open to the impossible and unexplainable. Believing that understanding existed beyond human reasoning. An uncomfortable truth.

Now back in his room with the decision made, it was time for the hard part. Was he willing to trust again, knowing how things had worked out last time? God was sending him out once again to step into the unknownwith no clear understanding of the consequences, both good and bad. That both relieved him and terrified him at the same time.

But the one thing he knew in his heart was that he couldn’t go back on this. God had done His part. Now Gideon had to do his.

Chapter 20

The door dinged,and Gideon winced as he entered the diner. His phone call to ICE had preceded a moment of clarity. Every moment since, he’d battled with doubt.

The mat was soaked,he reminded himself.God knows what He’s doing.He pushed his fear aside and scanned the room. Normally, he wouldn’t risk being seen in the diner since the trouble he’d had with Fairfax, but this would put an end to all of that.

The agent he’d come here to meet sat in a booth toward the back, sipping a mug of coffee while he looked at his phone. He stood out with his dark suit and the briefcase he’d parked beside him on the floor.

“One of these things is not like the others,” Gideon mumbled as he continued forward, the tread of his shoes sticking to the floor. He focused on the sensation as he took one step, then another until he reached the suit.

“Agent Beck?”

Beck looked up. “You must be Mr. Stone.” He stood and shook Gideon’s hand. “Would you mind if I search you?”

“Search me for what?”

“Anything. A weapon. A wire.”

“Why would I be wearing a wire or carrying a gun?”

“I never said gun.”

“I haven’t got anything on me.”

“Then you won’t mind me searching.”

“Fine.”

Gideon held his arms away from his side. He glanced around the room while the agent searched him. It would give those watching a fun bit of gossip to send around town. He’d probably get a call from Nikki asking about it within the hour. She’d be upset.

“Satisfied?” Gideon said when Beck had finished.

“Let me see your phone.”

“Why?” Beck held out his hand and waited for Gideon to give it to him. After turning it off, he placed it on the table. “Are you worried I’ll record this conversation?”

“You can have a seat now.”

Gideon tucked into the booth. “That was unexpected.”

“Standard procedure.”

“I’ll take your word for it. But thank you for meeting me so quickly.”

“We take accusations of this nature very seriously.” He lifted the briefcase and laid it on the table, pulling a file from it.

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