The world is in crisis, and the future feels uncertain...
John "Haggs" Haggerty is the leader of a special military unit charged with stopping potential pandemics before they spread, so he has a front-row seat to the sharp increase in natural disasters—including plagues, earthquakes, famines, wars, and rumors of war. And each catastrophe is becoming more intense. His best friend and right-hand man, Caleb, believes they're signs of the impending Rapture—but Haggs just sees a world in pain.
Meanwhile, his own life feels like it's falling apart. He's still caught in the grief of messing up his relationship with his ex-wife, and he's trying to keep it together so that he can show up for his adult daughter before she wants him out of her life entirely. As both personal and professional situations push him to the brink, Haggs finds himself stretched further than ever in his desire to be the kind of good person he knows he should be.
Just when it seems as if things might turn around, Haggs is forced to decide between his need to find solutions and his need for personal redemption. And the world will never be the same.
Chapter 1
JUNE 13, PRESENT DAY
HERAKLION, CRETE
“It’s gotta be here somewhere.”
John Haggerty shifted his perch atop a small, cramped desk in the middle of a small, cramped office at the edge of the small, cramped city of Heraklion on the island of Crete. He dug his left hand blindly through an open drawer at the front of the desk. His right hand wiped another drop of sweat off his forehead. “You see anything?”
Leaning against the opposite corner, a tall Black man wearing US Army fatigues shook his head. “What are you going to say when she finally gets here and finds you rooting around through her desk?”
“If she comes in, I’ll muster all my available charm to apologize profusely,” said Haggerty. “Then I’ll ask her very politely to please turn on the air conditioning because it’s way too—Hold on . . .” He had slipped his hand into a second drawer, and he pulled it out to reveal a white rectangular remote control. “Bingo.”
The other man smiled, then shook his head again. “I doubt it works.”
Haggerty said nothing. He pointed the remote at a larger white rectangle bolted to the wall above the desk— an independent HVAC unit. The European kind, designed for a single room. He pushed a button. When the unit emitted a soft beep and rattled to life, Haggerty looked over at his friend and tilted his head slightly to the left. He raised one eyebrow. Told you.
The other man shook his head a third time. Still smiling.
No chance. Haggerty reached up and placed his hand in front of the small plastic flap now oscillating up and down at the base of the AC unit. The stream of air flowing out from the machine was warm—warmer than room temperature.
Frowning, he pressed a different button several times. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
He kept his hand in the still- warm flow of air as he looked back toward his friend. He raised his eyebrow another quarter of an inch, then shrugged. Maybe it’ll kick in?
The tall man in the corner pointed his chin at the remote, then toward the second drawer at the front of the desk, which was still open.
May as well put it back. Not happening.
After another thirty seconds of waiting, Haggerty lowered his hand. He tossed the remote to the top of the desk in a rare gesture of defeat.
No gloating came from Caleb Johnson, wordless or otherwise. He stood still and quiet for several moments. A tower in uniform. A living plumb line. With his slender legs, frame, and neck and large bald head, he looked a bit like an upside-down exclamation point. When he did speak, his voice was deep and resonant and clear. It was a professor’s voice. Or a preacher’s voice.
He pointed to the manila folder squashed under Haggerty’s leg. “You’ve got about twenty different items on those pieces of paper, and each one would make today her worst day ever.” He glanced at the empty chair behind the desk. “She’s going to fight the whole thing. And she could make things difficult.”
Haggerty snorted. “It’s difficult no matter what she does.”
“You know what I mean, Haggs.”
Haggerty nodded.
“You’re sure it’s necessary.”
Not a question, but Haggerty nodded again in answer. “I’m sure it’s necessary.”
This article is an excerpt from Dr. David Jeremiah's novel, Vanished.
More than just a novel, Vanished is designed to entertain, teach, and powerfully evangelize, reaching those who might not engage with traditional sermons or Bible studies.