Page 12 of End of Days

Shoshana’s eyes flashed. “Yes. He’s dead, and this letter on his body proves it wasn’t an accident.”

I shook my head, saying, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Accident?”

Aaron gave me the background on the killing, then said, “There will be more. We want to stop it.”

At a loss, I said, “Okay... I’m not sure why I’m here. You want me to leverage Taskforce assets to do some digging?”

Shoshana said, “No. I want you to help us. I want you to come with me to solve this problem. Before they kill again.”

I looked at Jennifer, then said, “I’m getting married in a week. Are you serious? I have no idea about any of this. Use some Mossad assets.”

Shoshana scoffed and said, “They won’t help. They think they’vebeen penetrated—and they probably have been. They gave this to us because if we fail they can burn us at the stake, but I willnotfail.”

She got into my face and I saw the full fury of her pain. “Iwillfind who killed Gideon, but this fight is more than that. It’s biblical. The man who did it wants a prophecy. I can feel it.”

I looked at her like she was crazy, which, of course, she was, and said, “What the hell are you talking about?”

Aaron glanced at Shoshana and she backed off, taking a seat. He spoke, breaking the tension. “Pike, we were given this mission, and the note is clear, Americans are going to be killed as well. What we don’t know is why, or who’s doing the killing. We would like your help.”

I stood up, doing a circle, then walking to the window. I said, “What the hell do you want from me? How canIhelp? You’ve got the whole Mossad to help. What can I do?”

I turned back around and said, “I’m getting married in a week.”

I saw Shoshana holding Jennifer’s hand. The two connecting yet again. Jennifer hadn’t said a word, but apparently, she was all in.

I said, “Are you serious? You’re good with this?”

Jennifer said, “It’s more than the death. It’s like Kurt Hale all over again. She came when we called. We should do the same. He was her Kurt Hale.”

“Jennifer, we’re basically shut down because of the damn pandemic. We can’t fly anywhere because we’re Americans. Shit, you guys have had the best vaccine rollout on earth. You can go anywhere. We’re still catching up.”

Aaron said, “But you’ve had the vaccine. Both doses.”

Which was true, although I had no idea how he knew it. As Taskforce members, we were at the front of the line, which is sort of shitty, given that teachers and grocery clerks should have gotten it before us, but it was true.

I said, “Yeah, we have, but we still can’t fly. America is still the COVID center of the universe. Nobody will let us into the country without official government diplomatic business, or some other official thing. Since we’re the Taskforce, everything we do is preciselynotto show a government footprint. Grolier Recovery Services cannot travel.”

Shoshana went to her suitcase and said, “You are right. Israel has done a good job with the vaccine. And because of it, we’re allowed to fly anywhere.”

She rummaged around for a moment, then pulled out a package. She opened it and laid it in front of me.

Passports. From Israel.

She said, “I need help here, and when I was given the mission, I didn’t hesitate on who I wanted. I want you, Nephilim. And your team.”

I ignored her use of my given name and opened one, seeing my face. I was astounded at the level of work that had already been done. And was also a little flattered. “You’re going to have me help you as an Israeli citizen?”

She said, “Yes, if that will get you in. If you will commit.”

I smiled and said, “Who else? Did Jennifer get one?”

“Of course she did. Along with Knuckles and Brett.”

Knuckles I understood, but Brett was a little strange. I said, “How did you get a passport for a black man? There aren’t any black men in Israel. At least not citizens.”

Aaron laughed and said, “You’re wrong. We rescued thousands of Ethiopian Jews in Operation Brothers in the eighties. You’re just like everyone else, full of misconceptions about Israel.”

Chagrined, I said, “Okay, but if I have those misconceptions, so will anyone else who looks at this passport. And one crack, we’re done.”

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