8/VIII. When God Is Near (Remastered)
“Accord? Who would surrender in their own? By the way, where did you get your information, Greg?” The current chief of the LAPD, Chief Kiel Braxton, asked Greg about his shift for today.
“I am handling the hottest case today Chief, the kidnapping cases. I will submit my report once I have solved this case.” He wanted to protect the witnesses, and as much as possible, he wanted to remove them from the report.
“How’s that going? I want it closed and solved as soon as possible.” The way that he emphasized closed first and then solved gave a different meaning to Greg.
He just wants me to close this case, is this for his publicity? The sergeant thought to himself.
“I have a lead sir. I will be following it up today.” He brought out the folder that he was holding previously and the pictures of the white van that was stolen and the plate number.
The chief was disinterested in details but wanted to stay updated. “Alright, update me once there’s development on your lead. I am expecting much from you. You were transferred here, but I heard great stories from your previous department.”
“Yes, sir. I won’t let you down.” He closed the folder with the pictures within and exited the chief’s office.
“Teach, how’s the reports?” A lady cop approached McMillan as he walked out of the chief’s office.
“Officer Lee, good morning, is that how you greet your superior?” The rank insignia indicated that McMillan is a Sergeant II, and the lady cop, Officer Candace Lee, is a Police Officer III+1.
“Good morning, teach. You’re one step behind having a detective badge but you basically are a detective with your current duties right?” He put his hands over the mouth of Lee.
“Shhhhhh…” You’re too loud!
“What?” She struggled to breathe and violently jerked McMillan’s hand from her mouth.
“I only got transferred here a year ago, don’t be too talkative about promotions, otherwise, we’ll be a target of the old generation here.” He whispered in her ear as his eyes wandered around the office floor.
“I’m sorry, that’s why I followed you here.” She whispered back as she grinned and smiled.
“By the way, I requested to be your seat-in today.” The officers and sergeants has a unique relationship that the sergeants are the ones training the new recruits which are the police officers.
“Alright, I’ll be out on a case, come with me.” He invited the trainee to his police car parked outside and the two went on their merry way to the political figure that has their plates stolen just the other week.
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SFX: [Ring! Ring! Ring!]
“Hi! This is the office of the US California Representative Lovely Lopez. My name is Aimee, how can I help you today?” Greg dialed a number on his phone while Candace drives the police car.
“Hello, good morning, I have reached last night to your office. Greg McMillan from the LAPD, we wanted to talk with the Representative regards with a case that we’re solving, we’re on our way right now, is our appointment still good?” He wanted to confirm the appointment first before they arrive at the office of the Representative.
“Yes, Sir. Miss Lopez does not have any prior engagements and no other appointments the time that you have scheduled which is eight in the morning up to nine in the morning, feel free to drop by. We are happy to help with any case that you are trying to solve right now.” Aimee replied immediately and confirmed the appointment.
“Thank you, we will be there ten before eight. Bbye.” Greg closed the call and pulled out his recorder and the notepad that Arthur scribbled on yesterday.
“What case are you investigating, teach?” Candace wanted to kill the silence in the car.
“It’s the children without organs serial case.” The more longer the name of the case, the more worrisome it is.
“How’s that going for you?” She continued to push her questions.
“I have been on a block this last week since it started, but luckily, I got a witness and a little detective at that.” He grinned and chuckled as he remembered Arthur’s arrogance as he dodged Greg’s questions of his methods.
“Wow, that’s great. So, we’re following the witness’ lead right now?” Candace wanted to know more about the witness than the case now.
“Yep. He told me that this was the plate number of that white van and that this plate was stolen in the representative’s. I just don’t know exactly if it’s from her residence or office.” He opened his notepad to the scribbling of Arthur.
“What white van?” She squinted her eyes as they approached a traffic light. She slowed down as the light turned yellow and stopped as it turned red.
“Oh, uhm… yeah, the witness saw a white van trying to kidnap my daughter when they were out of school going home. He actually saved her from being abducted.” He sweetly smiled and replied to the puzzling questions of Lee.
“And you believe this guy?” She looked at him intently, as he was quite enjoying it himself.
Her question gutted him right out of fantasy, but he answered her honestly. “There are many reasons why I would not believe this guy, but I have one reason why I believe him.”
“And that is?” She got more curious about the witness rather than the case.
“There’s no reason why the witness would lie.” He gave a flimsy excuse, Lee can only scorn him and mock his insincere words.
“Are you sure he’s not just asking for attention?” She mocked him more with her sardonic tone.
“I’m sure he doesn’t have any ulterior motives.” He already researched the Smith household.
The many cases of attempted kidnapping, attempted robbery, and trespassing from the past few years and the frenzy of crazed criminals walking out of that mansion told him that there was something about the twins and their guardians that they want to keep secret.
And this is one way he wanted to uncover that secret - getting close to the household through the use of the genius deductions of Arthur.
The two carried on to their drive and arrived 5 minutes before eight in the morning at the office of the Representative.
“Hi!” Greg slightly waved his hand from outside of the glass door to the reception table where the receptionist was seated at.
He held out his ID card and badge to signify that he’s from the LAPD.
“Hi!” Aimee waved back and sprang up from her chair and gently opened the glass doors to welcome the two.
“I thought you were coming alone.” Aimee walked the two through the hallways towards the office.
“Oh, that was the plan, but I’m a trainer, and this is my trainee, you don’t have to worry, she’s just a seat-in. I’ll make sure she doesn’t make any trouble.” Greg playfully replied and smiled at the receptionist.
“Miss Lopez will be with you within 10 minutes. She’s just running late from her morning jog.” She opened the door to her office and offered the two, drinks.
“Thank you.”
As soon as Aimee closed the office doors, Greg darted his eyes everywhere - from the bookshelves to the filing cabinets, to the table of the Representative and to the decorative plants around.
“Teach, what are you looking for?” Candace whispered cautiously inside the room while she sips the coffee that Aimee prepared for them.
“There’s something weird about that plate number, and the connection of the Representative to the cases.” He whispered back, cautiously as well, as he spotted a CCTV in the corner of the room.
He circled inside the office as he looked for clues and documents that may connect the Representative to the cases.
“There’s obviously a connection. They didn’t report the plate as stolen, but my witness said it was.” He appeared puzzled with the words that Arthur used against the truth in the police database.
“Then your witness may be lying?” Lee seemed lost as well, since Greg believed the witness without any doubts. Then there must be something wrong with the police database?
“Sergeant, good morning.” Representative Lovely Lopez opened the door to her office to the surprise of the two. Their sudden jolt and jerk shocked the Rep as well, “What?!”
“Nothing.” Greg let out a sigh and assured the Rep that it was nothing.
“How can I help you today? Am I being under arrest?” Lopez looked up and down at Lee and with her patrol uniform and full gear of cuffs, gun, and badge ID and number, she asked playfully.
“No.” Greg only smiled. “We just need further information about a case.” He chuckled a little and told their business.
“Okay, what’s it about?” She curiously asked, wanting to know what she was getting into.
“It’s about the organ-taking murders, we believe that you are somehow connected to it, we’re unclear as of the moment, but if you can give us time and information, it’ll be very helpful to solve and close the case for the justice for those poor… kids.” His smile got wipe off of his face pretty quickly as he did not waste time and directly answered her.
“What do you need?” Her voice turned serious as well.
“This.” Greg pulled out from his side pocket a picture of one of her cars with the plate number similar to the white van.
“What about this car?” Lopez didn’t register any reaction upon seeing the car and the plate number. Does this mean she didn’t know? No, let’s feel her more, she’s in politics, it’s common for them to lie, it’s professional for them to lie.
“O…kay. Uhm, I have a witness that stated that this plate was stolen and used in a vehicle that abducts the children that were the victims of the serial murders.” Greg went straight to the point. He wanted to see the reaction of the Rep.
“WHAT?!” Stunned by the cop’s words, she can only react in surprise. Her eyes widened, and her brows curled, trying to figure out how did all of this happen.
“A-a – are you absolutely sure about what the witness stated? Do you have… any proof, s- somehow… to- to…” She couldn’t even form her words, all she can do is process what Greg said.
Greg took a shot, and it appeared that he was right, the Rep was clueless.
“We don’t have any solid proof for now, all we had was the statement of the witness, but I don’t have any doubts on his statement, so I came here to ask details about this car.” Somehow those words relieved Lovely as she was having a meltdown, it pulled her back to reality.
“It’s not registered under my name. It’s registered under my father’s name, he’s using that car.” She looked worried somehow.
“Do you know his prior engagements this week and last week?” She can only sigh at that question.
“Honestly, I… I- I don’t know what my dad’s up to these previous months, but I noticed…” She stopped, hesitant to tell the police what she knew.
“Miss Lopez, I know that you’re hesitant in telling us more information, but I just wanted to remind you that you have a responsibility to this town, to this place, to the people, and to those children who died.” He’s stirring her to the right direction.
“Okay, I know that and I get that, all I know is that these previous months, my dad’s been in the hospital down town for checkups, then he stopped going there about a month ago, and then I found out that he’s been seeking help from a local clinic somewhere, I actually have one of his prescriptions here for pick up.” Lovely dialed in the extension to the reception.
“Miss Lopez, yes?” Aimee answered the other line.
“Can you get me the prescription of dad that you had on file?” She instructed her secretary.
“Yes, of course, one moment.” The receptionist retrieved the paper prescription and brought it to the office.
“Dr. Yan Cheng, NPI number 1396603474. Have you contacted this doctor?” The sergeant questioned them further.
Lovely only stayed silent and looked down in despair. Her reaction garnered more curiosity from the detective.
“Miss Lopez?” He couldn’t wait a minute.
“He’s an oncologist. I tried to ask my father and that doctor about his condition, but my father didn’t tell me, and the doctor said he’s bound by patient confidentiality.” She sadly replied, her tone sounded worried and filled with anxiety.
“We’ll follow up on your information today, however, in the future, we may need to ask your father to come in as a witness depending on how this case goes.” The two cops went on their way out of the office and brought with them the written prescription by the doctor.
Lee presumed driving the police car, “Where to, next?”
“To her residence, we’re meeting the driver.” He pulled out a paper from the brown envelope he’d been holding on to and showed it to Candace.
“Ryan Tian-Lopez, 35 years old, abandoned by his mother and father, the Lopez family was the one who took him in, fostered him, and gave him a job.” An Asian descent, immigrant from the Vietnam war, the kid roamed around homeless for a little while before finding a home in the Lopez residence.
“That’s a hard nut to crack, he’s going to be loyal to the Lopez. Do you think he’ll talk?” Lee started the car engine and drove to the Lopez Residence.
On the way there, the sergeant made a call once more.
“Jim! Thanks for this, I’ll make sure to treat you to dinner next time.” And he ended the call quickly.
SFX: PING!
His mobile phone pinged as he received a picture or MMS. He smirked and smiled as he received the photo.
“What’s that?” The curiosity of Candace never ends. Greg raised his right brow and only grinned at his trainee.
“Our trump card.” He waved his phone playfully as they drove off to the residence.
-------------------- // --------------------
“Why do I need to tell you those things? You don’t have any warrant to interview me, and I don’t want to talk without a lawyer present.” The two already arrived and began questioning the driver as soon as he opened the gate.
“We want to help your foster father. Do you understand?” Greg clarified it once more, trying to have the driver talk.
“Help? If you wanted to help, you’ll directly go to him.” Ryan reasoned out.
“If he didn’t answer his daughter, what’s the use of us questioning him?” The sergeant tried to gain his trust.
“What do you mean?” At least we got his interest.
“We’ve already interviewed Miss Lovely about your father, and she mentioned that he didn’t tell much about his condition. We know that you’re the closest person here to be with Claudio, and I know that you’ve been on the downtown hospital for checkups for months.” Greg pulled out his phone and opened the gallery of photos he has.
“I’m sure you’re familiar with this.” It’s an imaging sheet filed with the name, “Claudio Lopez” on the top right side, and it’s an imaging of the lower ribs with an enlarge photo of the liver.
His stunned reaction told the two cops that he knew what they were talking about.
He only sighed and began to talk, “We visited the hospital for the past two to three months and found out that he has liver cancer. Then one of his friends recommended him to this Doctor Cheng, who has a shady clinic near the Santa Monica Pier, that’s supposedly doing operations to heal cancer patients.” He looked down in disappointment, he felt like he’d betrayed his foster father.
“And… and then…” He tried to say it out loud, but very hesitantly does so.
“After one operation and four visits to that of Doctor Cheng, he asked for another test on the downtown hospital and they…”
“They were surprised that the cancer was gone.” Greg pulled out another imaging film performed by the staff, one that is owned again by Claudio Lopez.
“Yes.” The driver confirmed Greg’s suspicions.
“Thank you.” Greg looked at Candace as they retreated to their car. He sighed as they got in.
“What is it?”
“If my deductions were correct, Doctor Cheng runs a syndicate that kidnaps children and takes their organs for donors of the old and rich generation. The children usually die due to removal of the organ and they dump the bodies to the other piers to get less suspicion.” His deductions shook Lee to her core.
She only heard of cases like these in the television and in the radio, but now that she’s up close and personal to the case, it rocks her belief of the evil humanity can achieve somehow.
“Then, what do we do?”
“Let’s follow the trail. Dump the car and the uniform, we’re going in undercover.”
Greg put on make-up and he sought the help of the tech department to edit the imaging photo he had from the hospital. The two posed as father and daughter and with the help of the ‘friend’ of Claudio, they were referred to the clinic within two hours.
“Hi, I’m Doctor Yan Cheng. I’m an Oncologist. I got your file from Hector, and I understand that my work is your only hope of continue in living.” The dark alleyway towards the clinic already told them that the man was suspicious.
“Do… Doctor, are you absolutely sure that I… I can live with your procedure? I’ll pay you gold and silver, I do not care, I have money, bu- but what I don’t have is time and my… liver.” Candace brought his ‘father’ towards the desk and presented the doctor the suit case of money.
“Please, doctor, you have to save my father.” Her teary eyes proved to be one of the weaknesses of male villains.
“You’ve given me the files and paid a large amount of money. Aren’t you a little bit suspicious of this doctor?” It’s natural that he’d be suspicious of us.
“We’re tried everything doctor, but… my father, he’s the only one that I have, please.”
The tears flowing down Candace’s face looked real, felt real, and touched the doctor’s cold heart.
He performed the operation right away and as he was about to put on his operational gown.
SFX: BAM!
“LAPD! WE ARE RAIDING THIS CLINIC! RAISE YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!”
-------------------- // --------------------
“Yes, according to our witnesses, the three men, paid by the syndicate, picked up children from the districts and as Sergeant McMillan has investigated, the kidnapped children were dropped off to a clinic under the ownership of Doctor Cheng. We have already…”
SFX: [News reporter on the background]
“He caught them.” Arthur intently listened to the Channel 6 report as he quaffed down his maintenance medicine.
“Your father would be mad if he finds out about the tip that you made.” Matthew expressed his concern as he handed a glass of water to Arthur to help the ingestion of the capsule medicine.
“They won’t reveal that information. I’m a minor, especially a child.” Arthur shrugged off the warnings of Matthew.
He never saw Edward expressed anger not once, but he looked at his father’s past, with the touch of his hands and the power of Oracle, he can see the past and foresee the future.
“Art… You don’t know Master Edward. You don’t know how he expresses his anger, especially when his wants are not met.” Matthew sternly warned Arthur again.
“In that case, can you… can you check on that Sergeant’s phone number? I’ll make sure to keep my name out of his report.” Matthew nodded and grabbed his laptop to search for the information.
He knew Arthur was up to something, he just needed to follow his lead.
The faithful butler, ever so obedient, he found a new master in Arthur, and even though the angel was still a child in a human form, he knows that the child is wiser than him.
“Matthew, I wanna sleeeeeep…” Johnny scratched his eyes, and yawned repeatedly.
“We… we can pick it up tomorrow.” Arthur patted Johnny’s head and lead him to the king-sized bed at the centre of the room.
“Sleeeeeeeep…” Johnny climbed the king-sized bed with all of his energy left from the school day, and burrito-ed himself underneath the sheets.
“I’ll tell the bed time story.” Arthur picked up the Holy Bible from the range of books in their small library in the bedroom and laid it on the bed with Johnny.
“I like the story of Michael, can you continue where you left off?”
“Sure.”
-------------------- // --------------------
Michael stood guard for many days even after the four days he has promised as Adam and the woman acclimated and adjusted to their life in the jungle, not long after, on the seventh day, the two humans learned how to procreate.
“You will have the name, Eve, for you are the mother of all living.” Adam caressed Eve’s cheek as they kissed each other good night.
Michael distanced himself further as he can hear the two within the tents even in a kilometre range.
Eve, or the woman, was made for Adam and that same night had to sleep with an unknown stranger, the Light just presented her to the man as a “helpmeet” to maintain order in the Earth, but what happened was she turned everything upside down to chaos in disobedience, and then tempted her husband to eat of the fruit as well.
Right now, there’s no standard of happiness to compare to other humans, but she can compare the happiness and security they had in the Garden compared outside of the Garden of Eden.
All in all, she was still glad to be with the husband who she was getting to know all these days.
Life expectancy for a human these days was so far up to almost a thousand years, but there are dangers all around them.
The animals got wild, the plants got poisonous, the atmosphere was changing, and there are monsters at the other end of the world, what more could they ask for? At least they were still alive at this point in time.
As the humans struggled to survive, the angels strived harder to keep up on the changes on Earth. Due to the rapid alterations of many things on Earth by the entrance of sin and death, the angels were given additional tasks to help the survival of the humankind, the animals, plants and the beautiful creation of the Almighty.
“My lord, the perimeter around this place is setup with lightning, are you the one who set this up?” The leader of a rabbit colony approached the armoured knight as he stand guard near the perimeter.
“Yes, I was the one who set it up.” He communicated using his telepathic powers, Oracle.
“The ground around the perimeter seemed to be dead and dried up.”
“Avoid the perimeter, everything underneath and over the perimeter, make sure to get away and make sure to tell the others.” He warned the animals sternly.
“Yes, my lord.” The rabbit backed down obediently, they knew what was best for them. The ground that the human touched spread death as they walked past.
In science, they called it oxygenation or combustion of life.
When the two were in the Garden, the oxygenation stayed in the Garden as the Light setup a protective shield from the place, however, as the humans were driven out, the angels, or the Virtues, who are in charge of sustaining nature had to change the system of the planet with oxygenation or combustion of life slower than Death would allow to help the humans live outside the Garden, hence, death was imminent.
The human literally brought death to the planet physically, and spiritually.
With oxygenation and combustion of life, the molecules in the air is forced into the living thing’s lungs or respiratory system to be able to breathe in and deliver that oxygen to the important parts of the body.
With oxygenation, the cells in the body dies, but in a healthy body, naturally, the system was made so that the cells would regenerate to maintain the body, however, regeneration only works well or efficient with the nutrients, proteins, and the vitamins naturally produced by the body or the ones taken in through food consumption.
Ironically, oxygenation was the process to stay alive, and without the protection of the Light, it was also the process for burning out.
Burning out occurs when the body does not have the necessary power or proteins or vitamins to go on regenerating those cells, resulting to certain death, and the body to return to dust through decomposition.
This process was to be maintained outside of the Garden to support the living of the humans, and has to be implemented in all living forms.
“Raphael… he was really pissed when he learned this process.” Michael looked at the shining stars that Samael formed and strung through the dark vacuum of the universe.
Raphael, a Virtue, the Angel of Healing, was in charge of the virtues taking care of nature. He was always delighted to observe his creations from the Silver City.
The lilies, the roses, the animal kingdom, the vines, and the Raven’s Towers and many more, and he was extremely sorrowful and grieving as he was informed that the Combustion process needs to be applied to everything on Earth.
He always questioned why Father must bring a process that may end his beautiful Creations, but God has never answered.
“Why do you think there’s death?” Michael ran his hands through the green grass that he was standing on, he felt the smooth and gentle touch of the ground, and the grass gleefully bounced from his hand.
“So that life can be treasured?” One of the trees spoke his mind to Michael. He grinned back at the Tree.
He remembered he plucked out a branch to make a hunting stick for Adam.
The scratches from his dagger bore visible and the essence of the tree, the sap, was still running wet, white on its tracks, down to the ground.
“I’m sorry about yesterday, and I appreciate your help.” He ran his hands on the tree branches and ‘healed’ its wounds.
“I am honoured to be of service, my lord. Please make use of me. I am created to be a tree and a tool for your service.”
Michael appeared troubled by what the tree has replied, service, use, created to be a tool, he was reminded again of Samael, and somehow, he wanted to visit Hell to see how his brothers and sisters are doing inside that prison.
“You… looked troubled, my lord.” Michael smiled as he tapped the tree sap, and closed its wounds.
“It’s nothing.” He took a deep breathe and sighed heavily as he surveyed the next kilometer around the perimeter.
Morning arrived like a flash to the armored knight and the two humans woke up with a heavy body, seemingly relieved from their bodily pressures of the hard living and survival in the woods.
Adam yawned as he stepped outside the scruffy tent they have, honestly, the tent, now looked like a storm hit it and ravaged the nearby ground.
Eve followed out with her coat torn in the sides. “What the hell happened last night?” Michael surprisingly took the ruins lightly as he gather up sticks for the morning breakfast.
“Come on, what do you think happened? I mean, I’m with Eve, my wife.” Adam blatantly denies details to Michael.
“Fine, I don’t care, just, here.”
“What’s this?” Michael handed a shepherd’s staff to Adam, one with resemblance to the letter J only the curve faced upwards.
“Capture one of the lambs or sheep, I will teach you how to make a coat.”
“Okay… thanks!” He grabbed the staff from Michael’s hands and merry went on his way - whistling all the way out of the forest to the plains to at least capture on of the sheep in the herds.
“Were… we loud?”
“I don’t care. Don’t ask me. Gather some large leaves as last time, we will need to rebuild the tent, and gather some sturdy stones at the same time.”
“Sure!” Eve happily skipped outside the perimeter.
As Michael grew more attached to Earth, he cared more about the nature and the animals, rather than the humans, he only cared about their survival, nothing more, and nothing less.
Days passed, weeks, and years, Michael taught the two humans how to farm, how to plan, how to hunt, how to set-up camp, how to hide from dangerous animals, how to clothe themselves, how to survive, and it was the four-hundredth-sixty fifth day, when he decided to separate himself from the humans.
“You’re going away?” This was news to Adam who just got back from hunting games.
“Yes. I need to check up on other creatures.”
“What… what about us?” He sensed a worried tone from Eve.
“You’re gonna be fine, as long as you follow what I taught you.”
“Follow, huh. What if we don’t?”
“You’ll know what happen, this isn’t the second time you’ve wondered that question.” Michael’s sharp tongue pierced into Adam’s heart, his memory jogged off the Garden of Eden since it’s almost been over a year, but it was still fresh in his heart, he missed the warmth of the garden, the fruits that the trees bear.
He missed the light work, of just picking the fruits from the trees, the Light was the one providing life for the trees, he didn’t need to farm, he didn’t need to water the trees, but now…
“We need you here, Eve is… something’s growing in her stomach, and I… I don’t know much of that.” Adam’s tone didn’t help Eve’s anxiety much, but added to it.
“It’s another human. It will be out of your womb about…” Michael touched the grown belly and used Oracle, the power to see the past and future and telepathy.
The baby was already 27-28 inches in size, month 7 from what Michael saw in the past, and the future shows that he will be born about one to two months from now, no one and a half month, one cycle of the moon, and about 15 days forward.
“What do you see?” Eve was just as curious as Adam. Michael’s eyes were glowing white as he uses Oracle.
“About more than a month from now, one cycle of the full moon, the human will come out of your womb. I will be back by then to help you with the childbirth, and to teach you about the childbirth.” He reassured the two humans that he will be back to help once help is needed.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” He looked at them puzzled and unmoving.
“For… for everything.”
“You should thank Father.”
“I…” Adam appeared distressed upon hearing that from Michael, he knew the armored knight was right, it is the Light that commanded the angel to keep an eye on them, why can’t he just thank the Light?
“Your problems now are the consequences of your actions, not His.” His words couldn’t change Adam’s expression.
He can hear his malicious thoughts through the power of Oracle.
“I can’t… He’s the one who drove us out.” He thought to himself. Adam realized a long time ago that everything happening now was his actions, his fault, but he couldn’t come to his senses to admit that.
He became bitter over the years, he tried to justify the actions he made to try to cleanse his hands from the sin he committed.
As he gave the name, “Eve”, to the woman, he realized he is the father of all the living, the father of humankind, and because of him, humankind or humanity will be at death’s door at the moment they are born to this world, no, conceived and made.
As Michael flew away to the other side of the horizon, he reminded Adam and Eve that the new human is a blessing from God, a continuation of the species of humankind, and a proof that God still protects and watches humanity as He sits on the throne.
“And he flew off to see his brothers and sisters who were now residing in Hell, the prison.”
-------------------- // --------------------
Johnny yawned continually and getting teary eyed for being sleepy, certainly needs a sleep from that exhausting day at the school.
“Can I…”
“Just sleep.”
“Okay…” He gently closed his eyes, as Arthur quietly closed the Holy Bible and laid it on the table top on the side of their bed.
Arthur sighed as he remembered Adam and Eve’s first son.
His eyes drifted off to the dark skies outside his window and noticed the glimmer of the stars and the moon in the night sky.
What a tragedy…
-------------------- // --------------------
Upon the next morning, Matthew located McMillan’s number and Arthur contacted him and talked to him during after the school hours.
“Can I have a word, Mister McMillan?” The headstrong six-year old kid intimidated the Sergeant, but it didn’t stop him from stooping down the child’s level.
He followed him to the parking lot and the two quickly got in to the Smith’s black sedan.
“Good afternoon, police officer.” The driver, Matthew, faced the back seat and offered a handshake to the sergeant.
“Good afternoon, uhm, what can I do for you?” Arthur quickly raised his concern about the police report.
“What happened with the guys?” He wanted to clarify the due process of the human laws.
“I thought you were an avid fan of the news?” He remembered Johnny’s excuse.
“I… I watched…” The child looked down disappointed by the wickedness of the humans.
“Yes, we already caught them, including the mastermind.” Greg tried to cheer him up, at least he helped bring the evil to justice.
“Then…”
“Then?” The police seemed to be dumbfounded for this followup.
“You’ve made a report about your investigation.” Arthur was beating around the bush, it doesn’t seem like him.
“Of course, yes, it can be accessed in the public domain after seven days from now.” The two creepily stared at the police officer making him sweat a little.
“Can I ask you to omit my involvement on the case?” The child became straightforward in what he wanted to say.
“What do you mean? Don’t worry about the report, your name and age won’t be included, you’re a minor, right? You will be tagged as ‘witnesses’.” Greg did air quotes.
“No, that’s… that’s not good enough, he will find out from that.” Arthur bit his nails indicating worry and anxiety.
“What’s he talking about?”
“Please, officer, you have to omit this child’s involvement on the case, maybe you can say that you saw your kid talking with the people in the van?”
“You’re asking me to lie on a police report?”
“We just want you to remove Arthur’s involvement totally, especially on the records.” Matthew’s face visible with sweat and the nerves on the neck appeared more engraved.
“Are you two criminals?” Now Greg became worried about the request.
“NO!” The two shouted in sync, as if reading each other’s mind.
There’s no other way, Arthur doesn’t want to lie, nor does he want the police officer to lie in the report as well.
“There’s no other way, speak and write the truth, that way, justice will be served in righteousness without a blemish of malice.” The police officer saw the determination of the kid while the butler was still trying to make a compromise.
“I love your determination, kid.” The police officer grinned, satisfied with the kid’s answer, the calmly continued,
“I will only tell or write the truth, I promise.”
“There’s no justice if there’s no truth.” He continued to blabber his principles as sweat down the butler’s face dropped like ice cream in the middle of summer.
“Pf- pfft- hhahahhahahahhahhahha!” The kid burst out laughing as he remembered his brother, Raguel, the Angel of Justice, when they were back in Heaven.
“What?”
“Master Arthur, that’s quite rude.”
Master?
“No, I’m sorry, I just remembered someone.” He looked back at the police officer, his eyes full of hope and the glimmer of faith.
“Then, are we done here?” McMillan looked at the two as he glanced at the rear-view mirror that Flora is leading Esther, and Johnny to the parking lot.
“Can I… can I call you?”
“Me? About what?”
“About my tips, about cases.”
“You don’t have to, I do my job, every police officer does.” Arthur smirked at that statement.
“Yes, that’s why it took the department about two weeks, and seven children to die before getting a tip from me.” The laughing stopped and Arthur’s face visibly turned from a smiling one to a wrathful one, his eyebrows almost stuck together, his eyes looking so sharply back to the officer, and his posture so dense.
“I’m sorry, if you are not satisfied with the police.” Greg found himself talking in a serious tone as well.
“It’s to be expected, not all of you are doing your job, and not all are bright enough to make a connection in time that someone dies. That’s where I come in. Here.” Arthur rummaged through his small bag and got a paper out, a white paper without any indentation, and any writing.
“What’s this?”
“Call me when it rains.” The police officer appeared to be dumbfounded, but took the paper anyway.
[In connotation to “when it rains, it pours”, something bad happening]
“Master! Are you sure about this? This will definitely not sit right with your father.” The butler and the guardian spoke.
“Even if it means not sitting right with him, if I can help, then…”
The two argued and debated about the kid’s decision in front of the police officer as Flora knocked on the backseat doors of the car.
[SFX: Knock, knock, knock]
The police officer folded the paper and quickly placed it in his breast pocket as he vacated the car, and greeted Esther.
“We’ve been waiting at the gate.” Johnny complained as he was overcome by hunger.
“Dad, what did you talk about?” Esther curiously asked as she walked on the other side of the car to hug her father.
“Just the police case.” He smiled as he hugged and carried Esther. He bowed to thank Flora for taking care of the two while they discussed a sensitive matter.
“You’re welcome.” Flora replied as he led Johnny inside the car.
“Come on, let’s go home. Thank you, again, teacher Flora.”
-------------------- // --------------------
“Uwaaaaa! UWAAA! UWAAAAWAAAA!” Cain’s mellow cries as he came out of Eve’s womb comforted Eve as she sweats blood and tears from the heavy labor and childbirth.
The bloody appearance of her baby did not stop her to hold out her arms to carry her infant.
“We need to clean him first.” Adam stood by watching intently as Michael used the coats of skin and damped it with warm water and ran it over Cain’s body, smearing the blood off of the infant’s body.
Adam cut the umbilical cord as Michael instructed and run back and forth to the fire outside the tent for more warm sterilized water they’ve been boiling on the campfire.
As Michael cleared Cain’s body of any excess bodily fluids, he carefully wrapped him in one of the cleanest coats of skin and handed him over to his mother, Eve.
“Congratulations. You have a healthy child.”
He stood up, while Adam went in the tent and as he cleans the door of the tent, he looked at the three humans, so happy, so content, and a lot different than the angels were on Heaven.
This was the definition of family, the epitome of joy. He looked away in envy, but he was glad to be of help to the humans.
He took a deep breathe and sighed heavily, looking out towards the sunset. Adam noticed that Michael has something on his mind.
“Hey… Thanks!” He walked out of the tent and patted Michael’s shoulder. The angel looked behind him uninviting.
“No problem.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“None of your business.” He shot him down immediately.
“Come on, we’re friends.”
“Why did you name him, ‘Cain’?” The angel deflected the questioning again.
“Because we acquired the blessing of God.” Adam’s smile calmed down erased the envy of Michael, and he remembered that they have their own blessing to appreciate.
“Acquired. That’s good.”
[Cain means “acquired” or “נרכש” in Hebrew.]
“I will be away, but I will look after you and your family, I will be back when you need me the most. Good bye, Adam. Be a good father, a faithful husband, and the head of the family. Make sure to protect what’s-“