Read Online Deceived by Jerry B. Jenkins - Free Book Online Page A

friends out safely. Vicki explained the situation and told her they were coming near a more populated area.
    Kelly covered the phone and spoke with someone else in the room.
    â€œTell her we don’t have much time,” Mark said. “They’ll probably have helicopters out soon.”
    â€œHide the van and we’ll come get you,” Kelly said.
    â€œWhere could we hide a big van like this?”
    â€œThere!” Colin yelled.
    Vicki saw a long, white building with what looked like several hundred garages. On top was a sign that said U-Store It.
    Mark pulled into the parking lot, and Colin told everyone to stay down while he went inside. Vicki gave Kelly the address of the building, and Kelly said they would be there as soon as possible.
    â€œWhat about Pete?” Shelly said. “We need to get him to a doctor.”
    â€œI just need to rest,” Pete said. “I think the bleeding’s stopped.”
    Colin motioned for Mark to drive the van around back. He opened one of the large bay doors, and the van barely fit inside. As the others got out and stretched, Vicki covered Pete with some spare uniforms.
    Several kids knelt in prayer in the darkened storage room, thanking God for delivering them from sure death at the hands of the GC. They all prayed for Pete and that they would be able to escape the oncoming GC manhunt.
    â€œWhat did you tell the guy at the front desk?” Vicki asked Colin.
    â€œI told him the truth. The GC is looking for some escapees from a reeducation facility not far from here and to keep his eyes open. I deputized him and told him to—”
    Colin stopped as noise filled the storage facility. It grew so loud that the door shook.
    â€œHelicopter,” Mark said.

    Natalie waited in her cell, praying that her request would be granted. She had promised to tell the GC everything about herself if she could meet with her roommate. She imagined Deputy Commander Henderson mulling over the request, thinking of some way to salvage his career.
    An hour passed before a guard handcuffed her and led her to an upstairs interrogation room. “Please, God,” she prayed, “I just want to tell Claudia the truth. I know she’s been pro-Carpathia ever since we’ve been roommates, but I’ve never told her what I really believe. Give me the chance today.”
    Claudia Zander was tall, blonde, and caught the eye of every male Morale Monitor in the building. Natalie had noticed a slight change in the girl’s behavior in the past week. She seemed moody, and the two had talked late one night. Natalie had asked questions but didn’t offer any information about her own beliefs.
    Natalie heard a door close in the observation room behind her as Claudia walked in. No doubt Henderson and his crew were back there listening. She would give them an earful.
    â€œThanks for coming,” Natalie said.
    â€œI couldn’t believe it when I heard. They say you’re a Judah-ite and you helped people escape.”
    â€œI knew they’d ask you about me, and I wanted to make sure they don’t suspect you.”
    Claudia scooted back from the table. “You can’t be serious. You’re really working with the enemy?”
    â€œLet me explain.” Natalie began at the disappearances and told Claudia how she had come to know the truth about God. When the kids in the Young Tribulation Force had gotten into trouble, she helped.
    Natalie leaned forward and whispered, “I want you to know how to begin a relationship with God. All you have to do is pray and ask him to forgive—”
    â€œShut up!” Claudia looked at the mirror behind Natalie. “I want out of here. She’s not telling me anything about the ones who escaped.”
    Natalie wished she could touch the girl or give some gesture of kindness, but her hands were cuffed behind her. “At least look up the Young Trib Force Web site.”
    Claudia shook her head and