Free The Warning by Davis Bunn Page A

true just the same. I want to do something good for somebody else.” A trace of the shadow returned. “While there’s still time.”
    â€œAlex, hearing you say those words is like a knife in my heart.”
    Instead of replying, Alex slid over a yellow legal pad, pulled his pen from his pocket, and started making notes. “We’ll make this your command center.”
    â€œWhat, here?”
    â€œWhere did you plan on having it? You can’t use the bank, that’s for certain.”
    â€œI hadn’t thought that far.”
    â€œWell, you’d better. They’re not going to be very pleased to hear their manager start warning about a financial collapse.”
    â€œAssistant manager.” But his mind was trapped by the realization that going public meant exactly that. “They won’t be pleased at all.”
    â€œâ€™Course, we’re not planning on calling them up and telling them what you’re doing in your spare time.” He made rapid notes. “Anybody who wants to hear what you’ve got to say can call or fax us here.”
    Each word Alex spoke made the whole affair that much more real. “I feel awful.”
    â€œYou look awful. You look like you need to go lie down before your third big sign comes true tonight.” Which was good for another chuckle. “Boy, did you ever get it coming and going.”
    â€œAlex, I’d do anything—”
    â€œJust stop right there. You didn’t cause this illness.” Alex raised his eyes from his note taking. “Did it ever occur to you that your God might have suggested these signs to you?”
    Buddy did not know which was more startling, the thought itself, or to hear it come from his brother. “He’s your God too.”
    â€œHe might have known you’d need something like this to get you up and moving. If it’s my time, well . . .” Alex stopped, momentarily silenced by the rising shadows. He pushed them back down and focused once more on his brother. “I want to help you do this, Buddy.”
    â€œThen you will.” Buddy forced himself to his feet. “I’d better be going.”
    â€œCall me tonight when you get back.” Another smile. “Tell me how it went.”
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œBuddy.” Alex waited until Buddy turned back around to say quietly, “There was something else I was thinking while you were telling me about this message. I was thinking that God couldn’t have chosen a better man.”

–| | ELEVEN | |–
    Buddy arrived at the church still numbed by his brother’s news. He had left Molly teary eyed and heart-sore, trying hard to put on a brave face for him. But she did not need to be brave. Buddy was too worried to care much one way or the other.
    He entered the church’s main conference room to an argument. One so unexpected that it almost shocked Buddy from his cloud. The church’s two pastors were squared off at the front of the room. The others present clustered in silent little groups, staring in confusion.
    Pastor Allen demanded of his assistant pastor, “You are certain this is a good idea?”
    â€œYes, I am. More than that, I feel it is divinely inspired.”
    Pastor Allen shook his head, clearly irritated. “I have to tell you, Clarke, I think this is unwise. Very unwise.”
    â€œYou weren’t there,” Clarke Owen responded. He held to his normal, quiet tone, but he was equally firm. Equally unbending. “You didn’t witness what I did.”
    â€œWe have too full an agenda already, as you well know.” Pastor Allen was a tremendously dynamic man in his mid-thirties, with an athlete’s taut build and a movie star’s even features. He dearly loved the Lord and approached the pulpit as he would a goal-line drive. He was definitely the force behind the church’s revival and growth. He was also accustomed to subservience from