Page 33 of Night Fall (The Quantico Files 1)

“What is that supposed to mean?” Alex asked.

Logan shrugged. “Sorry. Like I said, I’m not an end-times expert. Some say it’s a guy who lived two thousand years ago trying to describe some kind of military plane or helicopter. I think that makes as much sense as anything.”

“Wow, that’s some benevolent God you have.” Alex felt a little irritated. Who could understand this stuff?

“This talks about something that will happen,” Logan said. “It doesn’t say God caused it.” He leaned forward with his arms on his knees. “You know, the Bible’s actually pretty easy. God loves, heals, restores. Satan kills, steals, and destroys.”

“But doesn’t your Old Testament have a lot of killing, stealing, and destroying?”

“Yeah. But people were under judgment then. Now, because of Jesus, we’re under grace.”

“Yet there’s still evil in the world. You and I know that better than most. I think whoever wrote The Book and the people who believe in it are just trying to understand the concept of good and evil. Is that possible?”

Logan nodded. “I think you’re right about that.” He frowned.

“What are you thinking?”

“It doesn’t have anything to do with this. It’s just...”

“Tell me.”

“This ... book. The Bible tells about a God who gave the most precious thing he had because He loves humans more than anything. Yet The Book erases them from the earth. It’s ... sad.”

Alex chewed on her lip as she thought. “Maybe it makes believers easier to control because it takes away their human identity and tells them they’re destined to be one thing or another.”

“I guess so.” Logan sighed. “I feel sorry for anyone who falls for this.” His gaze met hers. “Your aunt must have felt she needed some kind of importance in life, just like you think Walker does. An identity. Makes me think she didn’t have one before the Circle came into her life.”

Alex looked away. “I don’t want to talk about her. Let’s get back to Walker.”

“Okay,” Logan said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Alex didn’t say anything. Instead, she took a sip of her coffee. The resentment she felt for her aunt had been stoked by this case. Willow was gone from the world, but she still lived in Alex’s mind. It was getting in the way of her job. She just wanted the woman out of her life.

“Walker seems to be completely committed to The Book,” Logan continued. “He even believes he’s mentioned in it. So why rebel against what he’s supposed to believe in? Why share parts of The Book in public? Like you said, the Circle can’t be happy with that.”

“Yeah, that’s bothering me too.”

“What if this thing about demons being forbidden to read The Book is only an opinion? Maybe it’s not actually mentioned in the text.”

Alex stared at Logan for several seconds. “You could be right. Don’t people have opinions about the Bible that have nothing to do with reality?”

Logan gave her a lopsided smile. “Yeah, like when they make snarky comments about God’s benevolence.”

In spite of herself, Alex laughed. “Point taken. You know, I don’t remember Willow ever reciting anything from The Book about that. It may have simply been her own idea. If it’s not actually in there, Walker might feel he has every right to read The Book and fulfill its prophecies, even as a demon.”

“Maybe so. Okay, until we can see what’s in The Book, let’s drop the idea that Walker is rebelling. I think those concepts have caused us some confusion. Let’s say he hasn’t rebelled. That this guy knows what’s in The Book, and he’s following it to the letter. That will make figuring out his next steps much easier.”

“I agree. But we really need to see what’s in that book for ourselves,” Alex said. “And soon.”

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