Unlocking the Kingdom Page 9

  Jonathan had worked with Hawk for years on the staff of Celebration Community Church. When Hawk had shifted responsibilities and become the CCA of Disney, Jonathan had accepted a cast role in consulting much like Shep had. In addition, Jonathan had kept an active ministerial staff role at the church, working alongside the new administrator the church had hired and leading in the worship events. He had been the last to arrive, and he bore an armload of pizzas.

  This was a gathering of friends; the conversation was crisp, full of fun and familiarity. There had been some ribbing about Shep being afraid of ghosts and some lighthearted jabs aimed at Jonathan, when he walked in sporting a bandage across his forehead. He explained he had cracked it running a cable under his desk in his office. This had prompted Hawk to launch into a well-worn story of one of his klutzier moments, and the room was filled with laughter. Even Reginald Cambridge was smiling and relaxed. He rarely relaxed, he explained, because Hawk was always getting into some kind of trouble that Reginald had to get him out of.

  One of the strengths that Hawk had believed and taught as a leader was the importance of how a team spent time together. Strengthening relationships, allowing one another to catch a glimpse of doing life together, tightened the bonds that held a team together. Times when they could be relaxed like this were some of his favorite moments, and he had missed them because they had not occurred often over the past eighteen months. He had a sense that their lives were about to change again. The laughter subsided, as Hawk turned the conversation to the events of the day.

  Once again they revisited the audio-animatronic pirates that had turned up in the Magic Kingdom. The pirate attack account was familiar to all but Jonathan, who sat amazed at what he was hearing. As Hawk relayed the story of what had happened in the Hall of Presidents, he could see Reginald straighten up and slide forward in his chair. Each expression darkened as Hawk recalled how the masked man had struck him and delivered the threatening warning, One if by land, two if by sea, put out the lights and give us the key. The mood lightened slightly when he explained how he was released and had improvised with a group of visiting students after they saw him sitting among the presidents. But as he finished his account, the tension in the room hung thick with the threat of what they might be facing.

  Reginald bristled. “I knew I should not have let you wander through the park alone.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Hawk leaned forward. “I’m not going to let you baby-sit me, and it turned out just fine. I’m not hurt.”

  “You aren’t hurt this time.” Juliette shook her head. “But remember what happened before. These people who want to take this key don’t care what they have to do to get it.”

  No one said a word, but Hawk knew what they were thinking. Over a year ago, Hawk was trying to unravel the mystery of the key to the kingdom. Juliette had been kidnapped and threatened. If Hawk hadn’t found her, they weren’t sure how far her captors would have gone to use her to get Hawk to turn over the key. Those days and the quest to solve the mystery had deepened their friendships, but he knew they were all aware of just how dangerous people who desired power, control, and riches could really be. It was easy to ignore this looming threat when things were going well. But as with any moment in life, it only takes a quick reminder, and the events of the past crash back in around you.

  Cambridge rose to his feet. “I’m going to call Al Gann. We need his assistance.” Al was their liaison with the sheriff’s department and a friend who had helped them on the first key quest.

  “That’s a good idea, but hold on a few minutes.” Hawk motioned for Reginald to retake his seat. “We need to unpack our little ghost hunt tonight.”

  They compared their experiences in the Pirates of the Caribbean from earlier. The group explained to Hawk and Jonathan what they had seen on the security footage. Hawk then told them of his journey through the damp, darkened catacombs of the attraction and his encounter with George. He carefully recalled everything George had said to him. He summarized why he believed for certain that George was one of the original Imagineers who had helped Walt and Roy Disney design this plan for a key to be the driving mechanism for the progression of power and leadership of the company. He told them what George had told him to do: unlock what never was, to protect what is yet to be.

  “What does that mean?” Shep interrupted.

  “It means we have enormous problems.” Again Cambridge got out of his seat and drew his cell phone from the holster on his hip like a gunfighter.

  “Yes,” Hawk agreed. “We may have problems, but we also have something else to do.”

  Cambridge paused once again. He lowered his phone. Each set of eyes looked at him, waiting for him to sit down once again so Hawk could finish. Relenting to the peer pressure, he took his seat, looking extremely uncomfortable.

  “George told me to start in his tower.” Hawk pulled the envelope out of his back pocket. “That is where I found this.”

  “What is it?” Jonathan nearly slid out of his chair trying to get close enough to see it.

  “I don’t know.” Hawk spun the envelope in his hand so they could see it. “I wanted to wait until you all were with me so we could see it together.”

  “I already know what it is,” Cambridge said guardedly. He allowed his stare to pause on the face of each person in the room. “It is going to be some type of clue. Which will lead to another clue. And then yet another. You don’t realize how dangerous this game might be. But once you open the clue, it won’t matter . . . you will willingly embrace the game and want to play it until the bitter end. You can’t do it this time. There is too much at risk. Too much to lose.”

  Shep’s eyes were dancing from person to person. “But we figured it out last time. It all worked out great. Hawk is now the chief creative architect, and—”

  “That is exactly what I am saying,” Cambridge slowly stated. “If you will remember, I was pursuing you on your last mystery-solving excursion.” He leveled his gaze at Hawk. “And I almost caught you. If it hadn’t been for your girlfriend, who turned out to be an enemy who was just playing you—” He slowed down, as though realizing his words may have hurt Hawk. “You turned my theme parks upside down with your disregard for rules, safety, and common sense. Only when it was over did I discover this grand and glorious adventure that you claimed to be on.”

  “But—” Hawk felt a surge of pain like he had just been punched in the gut.

  “Wait.” Cambridge held up his hand. “Let me finish. Since that time, I have come to understand why Farren Rales and the Imagineers helped the Disney brothers create this model for how to keep the company running. And I have also done my best to keep you safe, always knowing in the back of my mind that the same people who tried to stop you before, the same people who kidnapped Juliette before, and the same people who will stop at nothing to take your key to the kingdom, would one day try again.”

  The group was silent. Cambridge paced the room. He ran his hand over his forehead, paused, and looked down at the floor. After a few moments he inhaled deeply and continued. “Today they have managed to shut down four attractions in the Magic Kingdom. We don’t know how they did what they did. They managed to kidnap you.” He nodded toward Hawk. “And you walked right into it. They obviously knew that George the Imagineer was getting ready to contact you. More than likely that is why they used pirates today to send you a warning to give up the key. Just like before, they were watching and staying one move ahead of you. Grayson, they are better at playing this game than we are. They don’t play by any rules. You have to take care of our guests, our resort, the rest of us, and yourself.” He finally replaced the phone into its resting place on his belt. “We can’t win on our own this time. We need help.”

  “He’s right, Hawk.” Juliette sank back in her chair. “This is serious stuff.”

  “I agree.” Jonathan clasped his hands behind his head. “It’s pretty risky. Juliette could have been hurt badly, and you could have been hurt. Shep and I were j
ust trying to help you solve some clues, but you were in way over your head by the time we got involved.”

  “That is why I wanted you all here this time when I opened the clue.” Hawk looked at the envelope he was still turning over and over in his fingers. “But you’re right. It is pretty crazy stuff. We should let the professionals figure out who is trying to mess with us.” He stood and placed the envelope back into his rear pocket. “Reginald, go ahead and call Al. I can give the envelope to him tomorrow. I have breakfast in the morning with Farren.

  He might be able to shine a little more light on the mysterious George.” He glanced at each person. “I don’t ever want you to get hurt because of me. Let’s call it a night. Thanks for coming. Thanks for being my friends.”

  The friends exchanged hugs, handshakes, and pats on the backs as they made their way to exit the Hawk’s Nest. Cambridge left, Juliette followed, Shep lingered, and Hawk nodded at him, giving him permission to use the firefighter’s pole that had been installed in the apartment. The trapdoor opened, and Shep slid down into the shop below, causing an audible reaction from the guests that drifted up into the apartment. Hawk was gazing out the window down to Main Street USA. He sensed someone still in the room with him and turned to see Jonathan standing in the doorway.

  “You good, Hawk?” Jonathan asked.

  “Yep, I’m good.”

  “And for tomorrow?”

  “Yes, good for tomorrow. Looking forward to tomorrow.” Hawk nodded and waved, reassuring it was alright for Jonathan to leave.

  Tomorrow was Hawk’s day to cover and participate in one of the worship services at Celebration Community Church. The sudden fame and notoriety of Grayson Hawkes had created some positive press for the church. As a result, the visibility of the church had been enhanced, and visitors flocked to see what was going on there. Now as one of the teaching pastors, Hawk would make an appearance at one of the worship events each week. Tomorrow was that day. He was scheduled to preach in an evening worship event. Worship and teaching was one of the things he looked forward to each week.

  Jonathan spoke softly. “See you then.” He closed the door and left.

  Hawk turned back toward the window and gazed out at the guests exiting the Magic Kingdom at the end of another day. Walt Disney World was truly a magical place for him. He was living a dream. Deep inside, he prayed that his dream would not turn into a nightmare.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  * * *

  HAWK’S THOUGHTS WERE INTERRUPTED by a knock on his apartment door. He crossed from the window to the door and absently called out, “Who is it?” as he clutched the door knob. Turning it and pulling, he opened the door to see Juliette, Shep, and Jonathan all standing there. Juliette and Shep were grinning. Jonathan had a more skeptical expression.

  “You’re going to open it now, aren’t you?” Shep pushed past Hawk and reentered the Hawk’s Nest.

  “No,” he replied sternly.

  “But you are going to, right?” Juliette placed her hands on her hips.

  “No, you said it was serious stuff.” Hawk turned toward Jonathan as he closed the door behind him. “And you said it was risky.”

  “And you expect us to believe that you’re just going to leave that envelope alone all night?” Jonathan pointed at the envelope still in Hawk’s hand.

  “And you won’t open it?” Juliette raised her right eyebrow.

  “Actually . . .” Hawk paused and looked down at the envelope. “I was waiting for you to come back up here.” A grin exploded across his face as he raced over to the table and took a seat.

  The three followed him to the table and huddled around him as he carefully worked his finger under the sealed edge of the flap. It gently released. Looking up at his staring friends awaiting the contents to emerge, he smiled. “Thanks for coming back up.”

  “Will you just look inside already?” Shep shook Hawk’s shoulder to get him moving.

  He reached inside and felt a thin, flat object. Tilting the envelope, he slid out the lone item within, a very old picture. As Hawk placed it on the table in front of them, they peered at it.

  The black-and-white photograph showed wear and tear collected over the years. It was a picture that had been valuable enough to keep, but it had not been well preserved. There were three people depicted in it, seated on a front porch; the person in the middle was instantly recognizable. It was Walt Disney. The picture captured a moment in time when he was caught between a smile and a laugh, and his mouth looked as if he were getting ready to say something.

  Holding a hat in his hand, Walt appeared as he would have looked during the 1950s. His two companions were huddled close and smiling brightly for the photographer. The woman on the left was seated beside Walt in a wooden swing suspended by chains, leaning in toward him for the picture. Shoved up right next to the swing was a wooden rocking chair. In it sat a smiling white-haired woman. All three seemed to be having a good time being together, without a care that this time of their lives was being captured in a photograph.

  “A picture.” Shep stated the obvious.

  “A picture of Walt Disney.” Jonathan added to the obvious.

  “I would say an old picture of Walt Disney, but you guys are killing me with the obvious. Tell me something I don’t know.” Juliette leaned in even closer. “This isn’t the standard kind of picture the studio would have had taken, archived, or released. This is from someone’s personal collection. And that’s not quite as obvious.” She nodded, satisfied.

  “That makes sense.” Hawk studied it. “I wonder whose collection . . . Walt’s or the people in the picture with him.”

  Juliette reached over Hawk’s shoulder and picked up the picture. Bringing it closer to her face, she flipped it over in her hand to see the back. With a smile, she softly placed the picture back on the table face down in front of them. There was writing on the back of the photo.

  “Aunt Jessie, Walt, and Irene,” read Jonathan aloud.

  But something else was written below that inscription. Clearly this notation was not a part of the original writing and not penned by the same person. This cleanly scripted note had to be a message that was intended for whoever opened this envelope and discovered this picture.

  Aunt Jessie has a special delivery. Walt’s grandparents are trying to Call you. Go back to the roots to find your way.

  This was it. Hawk picked up the picture. He knew those three simple lines were about to propel him into something unknown. Juliette drifted away from the group and slumped back into a chair by the window. Jonathan moved a few feet and took a seat at the table with Hawk. Shep began pacing the apartment. All four were lost in thought and no one spoke.

  “OK, I give.” Juliette shook her head. “What does it mean?”

  “It’s a clue,” Shep said. “It has to be.”

  “No kidding!” She rolled her eyes.

  “It is a clue,” Jonathan restated. “Which brings us right back to where we were before we opened it.”

  “What do you mean?” Hawk turned toward his friend.

  “It’s what we talked about.” Jonathan’s eyes locked on his. “This is another moment when you have to decide if you’re going to go on some wild clue-finding, who-knows-where-you-will-end-up-or-what-might-happen scavenger hunt.”

  “Maybe it will be easier this time—or at least not as bad.”

  “Really, boss?” Jonathan got up and moved toward the living room area. “It was created by an Imagineer, like Farren Rales, who is trying to give you a secret created by Walt Disney. And let’s not forget that there are some very connected, angry, and bad people out there who would like to stop you from finding it. . . . I think you just told us about your encounter with an upset president from earlier today.”

  Hawk placed the picture back on the table. His friends already knew what he was going to do. His drive for adventure and his commitment to protect what he had been entrusted with was one of his strengths . . . and might be where he was most vulnerable.
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  “You already have decided to solve this thing.” Juliette forced a laugh. “I could have been killed last time.”

  “But you weren’t,” Hawk reminded her. “I found you.”

  “And you remind me of it . . . often.”

  “However . . .” Hawk raised his hands palms up and closed his eyes. “If you three, as my most trusted friends, tell me it is too dangerous and risky to get tangled up in this . . . then I will leave it alone.”

  “We told you a minute ago it was too dangerous and risky,” Jonathan chided.

  “Oh, yeah . . . you did.” Hawk reopened his eyes. “I guess I just never listen.”

  “Let’s solve this thing.” Shep moved back to the table to take another look.

  “What about Reginald?” Juliette’s face turned serious. “You told him you would leave it alone and that he should call Al Gann.”

  “He needs to call Al . . . I told him I would give the picture to Al, and I will.” Hawk smiled. “I’m just not going to tell him I am not ready to let it go . . . not quite yet.”

  “He’ll be upset,” Jonathan reminded them.

  “He worries too much,” Hawk countered.

  “His job is to keep you safe and out of trouble.” Juliette got out of her seat and moved back toward the table. “And you make that extremely difficult.”

  Jonathan also returned to the table, and once again the group settled into seats around it. Hawk slid the picture to the middle of the table, the three smiling faces looking up at them from the black-and-white image. The friends studied the picture and its inscription with great attention to detail.

  “Let’s all do a little digging into what the clue might mean,” Hawk instructed. “We can compare notes tomorrow night at church.”

  “I’ve already been to church this week,” Juliette said. “We went to the morning service this week.”