The Mormon Candidate - a Novel (54 page)

“It’s true,” Streep said. “By exposing
Joe
Morgan
’s posthumous baptisms of Medal of Honor recipients,
the
harassment
and death
of Zachariah
Hinckley
, and the murderous Danites
and their masters,
we will shake up the faithful
masses. Mormons
will
congregate in their wards and
rise up
in protest. They’ll
force the
sclerotic
leadership to
let go of the reins of
power
and
step aside
.”

“Change will come,” Dreyfuss said. “The
s
aints
will rebel against the
strict chain of command,
destroy
the hierarchical
Church authorities that dictate everything down from Salt Lake City. And then, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will cast aside its anachronistic doctrines and come into the modern era.”

“Sounds good,” Ben said. “But how likely is it to actually happen?”

“We know our fellow Mormons,” Streep said. “All they need is a spark to ignite their core of
righteousness
, to set free their suppressed recognition that the Church must change.
They will fight to e
nd racism,
to
end women’s abuse and subjugation,
to
end homophobia,
to
end the dictatorship from the top, and
to
end the shameful suppression of the Church’s true history!”

“A revolution!” Powell raised his big fist. “
Just like the Arab Spring, we will
instigate a Mormon Spring!”

Powell, Dreyfuss, Streep, and Rex took turns to shake Ben’s hand. He
mounted the GS
and released the
kick
stand
. “Okay,” he said. “I’m ready to start a revolution. No pressure.”

“You’ll do fine, boy,” Powell said.

Streep winked. “Go get them!”

“I’ll pray for you,” Dreyfuss said.

“Three things to remember.
”
Rex
counted on his fingers. “First,
ride straight to
the
Rockville
Metro
, leave the bike at the
station
,
and
take the train
to the
t
emple—no stops or phone calls.
Don’t ride this monster to the
t
emple—they might expect you there.” He
put his hand on the handlebar
. “It’s a beauty, but subtle it’s not.
”

Ben nodded.

“
Second,
when you enter
the
t
emple
,
remember that Mormons smile a lot and never cuss. Third, as soon as you
trigger
the fire alarm, go straight to the office and download the files.” He handed Ben a memory flash drive on a key ring with a pinky-size
d
figure of Angel
Mo
roni
with his
long
trumpet.

The helmet felt cold and loose on his short hair.
Ben turned the key
one click
.
The gauges lit up, accompanied by the beeps and chirps of the self-diagnostic
s
. He waited, watching the display
, and when e
verything seemed
i
n order
,
he
started the engine
. It
coughed twice and settled into a familiar exhaust sound.

Rex
climbed into
the Suburban
and headed down the gravel road. Ben followed.

They spent nearly two hours
on narrow country roads, passing through farms
,
vineyards
, and small towns
.
At one point, they crossed the border from Pennsylvania to Maryland.
When the
signs for I-70
finally
appeared, Rex veered to the shoulder and rolled down
the
window. Ben stopped next to him and
raised
the
face
shield.

“
Take the f
irst right
turn,” Rex yelled over the engine noise
,
“
toward Fred
e
rick.
Go west until you see signs for Two-Seventy South.”

Ben held a thumb up.

“Good luck!”
Rex
made
a U-turn. A moment later, the
Suburban
was gone
.

Ben passed
by the
right
turn
Rex had pointed out
and
continued a
cross
the overpass above the highway
. He turned left
, heading east toward Baltimore.
Change of plans.
It was obvious
he didn’t have what it took to be an obedient
s
aint.

The first highway sign told him it was
twenty-seven
miles to the intersection with
Rt. 29 South
. He settled comfortably in the saddle, bowed his head slightly to reduce wind noise, and shifted up to sixth gear for a smooth cruising at eighty miles per hour.

Chapter 54

Pulling up in front of the hospital, Ben maneuvered the GS
to
jump the curb and parked it next to the glass front.
The security guard
inside the lobby
saw
him and
raised both arms in an Easy Rider imitation.
His name was Sam, and B
en
knew him from past visits
.

Taking off the helmet, h
e
pulled a
R
avens hat from the tank bag
,
put it on
, and went inside
.

Keera usually left her mobile phone in her purse, which was stashed in her locke
r while she cared for patients.
Sam, a black man with
silver
hair and a hearty laugh
,
knew the routine. He pinged three times on the public announcement system and announced, “
Miss
Keera
Torrens
, please contact the front desk.
Miss
Keera
Torrens
. Front desk. Thank you.”

She called a moment later.

Sam pressed the speaker button. “
Happy Monday,
Miss
Torrens
.
You have a visitor.
”

“Who?”

“A
member of the media.”

“Does he have a name?”

“
Lucky Dog
is
here, braving the winter
.
”

“
Ben?
Really?
”

“The man himself
.
”

“Thank God!”

“You want him to go upstairs or should I just kick him out?”

“I’m coming down!” She hung up.

Two minutes later, Keera burst out of the elevator and ran into Ben’s arms. It took them a moment before noticing that a handful of staff and guests were
watching
them, chuck
l
ing.

Keera dragged him into a glass-fronted conference room. “What happened? Where have you been?”

He caressed her face, which was almost ashen. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her hair was rebelling against the confines of a bow
. “How long have you been here?”

“Too long. I’m afraid to leave.”

“
Why aren’t you staying with Fran?
”

“I feel safer here.”
She touched his bleached eyebrows.
“What’s this?”

He took off the Ravens hat.

“Jesus!” Keera covered her mouth. “All your hair is gone! And the color! What in hell have you done to yourself?”

“It’ll grow back.”

“Kind of cute.”
She touched his cropped hair. “Are you coming home?”

“Not yet.”

“You’re still pursing that
Mormon
story?”

He nodded.

“I don’t understand.” She stepped out of his embrace and leaned on the conference table. “How can you do this to me?”

“
It’s almost over.
” Ben unzipped his riding jacket.

“
Why are you
wearing a suit
and
tie?”

He shrugged.

“
And it’s all white! Are you trying to look like Michael Jackson?” She tightened the tie knot. “
Who shopped for you?”

“They’re borrowed.”

“Are you going to a funeral?”

“Not exactly.”

Keera touched
his face
. “I’ve never seen you dressed up. Some relationship we have.”

There was a knock on the glass door
.
Sam came in, holding a small bouquet of indistinct flowers, which he handed to Ben. “As you requested, sir.” He winked.

“Thank you.” Ben handed it to Keera.

“Give me a break!” She dropped the bouquet on a chair.
“
You think a bunch of flowers will pacify me?”

“Oops.” Sam retreated.

“I’m sick of it,” Keera said. “I’ve been living here
for days and nights
, worrying sick about you— about us!—and all you’re doing is running around, risking everything for…
what?
I don’t
even
know! You’re obsessed!” She pushed the chair, and the bouquet fell to the floor.

Ben picked up the flowers. “I didn’t ask him to get the
se.”

She rolled her eyes.

“
I
t’s going to be over
today
. I promise.”

“I
have to go
.” She went to the door. “
They’re waiting for me
upstairs.
We’re in the middle of rounds.
”

“Keera
—
”

“Don’t!” Her voice was breaking. “
Go
away! I
nvestigate
! H
ave fun
!”

“It’s not fun.”

“I’m not having fun either! How do you think I feel—my home broken into, afraid to leave the hospital, not knowing who’s really a friend and who’s an enemy, and the guy who’s supposed to love me
more than anything else
is out there chasing ghosts!
”

“I’m here, am I not?”

“And why is that?
Why did you come here? To check that I’m still hanging around
like a dumb broad who can’t see the writing on the wall
?”
She pulled at the st
r
ands of her loosening hair. “Look at me!”

“You’re gorgeous.”

“Liar! I look like shit!
And smell like it too!
Is that what you came
here for
?”

“I came for this.” He pulled
Powell’s small
box from his inside pocket.

“What’s this?”

Ben opened the box, held it forth, and kneeled. “Will you
marry me?”

Keera’s jaw literally dropped.

“I know this is n
ot the most romantic setup, but, still, will you?
” He
picked the
ring
out of the
box and held it between a finger and a thumb.
“Will you?”

“No!” She clenched her fists and looked up at the ceiling, shaking her head. “This is not happening!”

“Please forgive me—”

“Hell, no!”

“I’ve been a complete schmuck
, taking so long t
o realize how lucky
I am.
”