The Revelation Room (The Ben Whittle Investigation Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

That’s either dedication or love.’
    Ben understood Rhonda completely; he would gladly walk
barefoot across mountains to spend time with Maddie. ‘Are you sure you’re all
right with this, Tom?’
    ‘Your father is missing, son. Only a mean-spirited person
would deny help to someone in need.’
    ‘So I can go and pack, then?’ Maddie said.
    Pastor Tom nodded. ‘Go on.’
    Ben watched Maddie bounce out of the room. She looked like
sunshine in her bright yellow dungarees. He turned to Tom and thanked him.
    Tom reached out and took Ben’s hand. ‘So what are you going
to do if you find this busker, son?’
    Ben felt something pass through him. Something spiritual he
couldn’t define. Peace? Love? Goodness? ‘I thought I might follow him. See if
he can lead me to the cult.’
    Tom nodded. ‘You could try and join the cult, son. Get
inside it and help your dad that way.’
    ‘That’s what I was thinking. But to be honest, Tom, the
thought of going anywhere near that bunch of lunatics terrifies me.’
    ‘The only thing to fear is fear itself. Try and remember
that.’
    Ben wasn’t so sure. Torture and death seemed pretty high up
on his list of things to fear. ‘What if they smell a rat?’
    ‘You have to try and stay positive. Be proud of who you are
and what you have achieved. Trust in yourself and trust in the Lord.’
    ‘I work in an office at home. I sometimes put “missing”
posters on lampposts. Occasionally I go to the stationery store. I’m hardly
James Bond.’
    ‘You’re so much stronger than you think, Ben.’
    ‘My dad doesn’t even trust me.’
    Tom let go of Ben’s hand and took a step back. ‘Really? So
who did he call in his hour of need?’
    ‘He’s got my number on speed-dial. That watch-phone’s not up
to much except in an emergency.’
    ‘Nonsense. He called you because he trusts you to do the
right thing.’
    ‘That’s why he’s always telling me to “buck my ideas up”.’
    ‘People always say things they don’t mean, especially when
they’re trying to motivate you. You’ve got a lot to be proud of, Ben. You’re
bound to be apprehensive. Life isn’t like the movies. It’s easy to be an
armchair hero sitting at home playing games, quite another to confront real
danger.’
    ‘I don’t even know what to say if I do find this busker.’
     ‘Tell him what he wants to hear. Tell him you want to
turn your back on society. Just like that poor misguided child your father was
looking for.’
    ‘Emily probably meant it.’
    Tom shrugged. ‘Teenagers rebel all the time. They’d rebel
against rebellion if it was cool.’
    ‘I wish I’d rebelled more.’
    ‘The letter said she wanted money for The Rapture. Do you
know what The Rapture is, son?’
    Ben shook his head. ‘Not really. It just seems like a load
of nonsense to get money to finance the cult.’
    ‘Sounds that way to me, too,’ Tom agreed. ‘The Rapture can
be a dangerous concept in the wrong hands. Waco being a classic example of
that. The time of The Rapture is known as Tribulation. What it boils down to is
a rebellion against Satan. There will be great battles between good and evil.
Some of those with faith will be chosen to be saved and taken up to Heaven.’
    Ben frowned. ‘In a spaceship?’
    Tom nodded. ‘Jesus will return to earth to judge the
remaining people and rule for a thousand years. Then Jesus will defeat Satan
and banish evil forever. The world will be destroyed and a new Heaven and earth
will be created.’
    It all sounded like utter hogwash to Ben. ‘Do you reckon
that’s true, Tom?’
    ‘I don’t know, son. I look at the sky at night and see the
moon and all the stars shining in the galaxy and I believe anything’s
possible.’
    ‘Do you think there’s such a thing as Heaven and Hell?’
    ‘Absolutely, son. I believe that the Lord is putting us to
the test to see who is fit for the Kingdom of Heaven.’
    ‘What if I mess up, Tom? What then?’
    ‘The Lord trusts you, son. He