"Yeah, but tracking them down is nearly impossible. They're scattered across the globe."

"I don't think anyone really understands the whole conspiracy completely. I'm not sure I do. But the fact is, there are eleven potential mass murderers lurking out there in the shadows somewhere."

She turned her back to the ocean and rested her arms on the banister. "I'm also eager to investigate all the doctors and scientists who worked for Scarrow in the Bahamas. I know the Bahamian police have questioned them, but I want to get the real story of what went on in Azteca."

"What's going to happen to that place? And the Phoenix Ministry temple in Mexico?"

"Azteca is being turned into a tourist attraction. And apparently the new Groves Consortium board of directors is converting the Mexican temple into a nondenominational house of worship and charity outreach center. It's been renamed in honor of William Groves and his contributions to science and industry."

"I'm sure Groves would be proud, wherever he is." Matt seemed to grow serious. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"The command to destroy the veil by fire, we saw it in the catacombs and again at the island penal colony. And yet, you said that when Al gave you back your camera, those photos were missing. The legend says that an angel gave that command to Veronica. Do you think the woman we saw in the catacombs..."

"Was an angel?" Seneca slowly shook her head as she looked into his eyes. "I don't know, Matt. What I do know is that my beliefs have shifted since this whole thing began. I used to think that everything should be scrutinized until proven true. Now I'm wondering if it's just the opposite. Maybe all things are possible until proven otherwise. And it's certainly made me look at death in a whole different light. There's a lot more to this life than we can possibly ever understand."

"You should read my novels. That's what Sariel says all the time."

She looked at Matt. "You know, in some bizarre incomprehensible way, I feel sorry for Scarrow-for Montezuma. In his mind he believed he was doing the right thing, nothing evil, nothing diabolical. He wanted to ensure the well-being of the world and the universe in the only way he knew how. I remember when I asked Daniel about Aztec human sacrifices, he said that we should try to understand the why as well as the what and the how. We have to understand the customs and the belief systems of other cultures, other civilizations."

"That's an interesting point of view." Matt motioned to the horizon. "Check it out."

Seneca turned to see a final unexpected burst of color as the sun set the sky on fire. "My God, that's lovely." She glanced over her shoulder. "Isn't that beautiful, Mom?"

Brenda Hunt sat in a lounge chair nearby, a light blanket wrapped around her legs. She wore a bright, flowered blouse, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed straw hat. "Beautiful."

Al sat next to Brenda holding her hand. He leaned in and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Almost as beautiful as you, sweetheart."

As Seneca watched her mother and father together, she felt a surge of warmth rush to her cheeks. It was a sight she had never thought possible. Even if Brenda didn't know who Al was, there was a thread of love that wove its way through the convoluted labyrinth of her dementia and into the present.

The chime of her cell phone distracted her. Seneca pulled it from her pocket and read the display.

"Bad news or good?" Matt asked.

With a smile, she said, "It's a text message from my editor. He says he thinks I finally have enough for a story."

THE END.

Joe Moore (Florida) spent twenty-five years in the television postproduction industry where he received two regional Emmy awards for individual achievement in audio mixing. As a freelance writer, Joe reviewed fiction for The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, The Tampa Tribune, and The Jacksonville Florida Times Union. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Authors Guild, and Mystery Writers of America.

Lynn Sholes (Florida) is a writing teacher on special assignment for Citrus County Schools. Writing as Lynn Armistead McKee, she wrote six historical novels before writing thrillers under the name Lynn Sholes. Lynn is a member of International Thriller Writers, the Authors Guild, and Mystery Writers of America.

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end.