NOTE: Before we get to David Telbat’s short story, we want to let you know that EVE OF DESPAIR, Book Two of The ELM Series, is NOW OUT!! Click the link to read about this new Christian Suspense and to find a link to it as well. Be sure to read the review excerpts in the front of the ebook that came from some of our faithful Beta Readers! AND both EVE of CHAOS & EVE of DESPAIR are on SALE for four days! Find more details after the story.

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Now, here’s David with his latest short story, in honor of the upcoming Father’s Day in the U.S.—

Dear Friend, as fathers, we may be proud of our sons and daughters for many different reasons. We let them know we’re proud of their accomplishments, work ethic, and success. Maybe their prosperity and drive to become wealthy has made us boast in their growth. The following short story celebrates Father’s Day from a little different perspective. Enjoy! ~David

IT’S NOT PROPAGANDA

by D.I. Telbat

Dr. Christopher Gaines opened his front door a few seconds before Private Investigator Andre Platt reached the doormat.

“You’re overdue.” Chris did his best to hide his anxiety. He hadn’t slept much for three weeks. “I expected you days ago!”

Andre was a thin man with small eyes. Around town, people often called him a mole behind his back, but it wasn’t said with serious disrespect. Andre was the finest investigator in the county.

“I was overseas.” Andre stopped on the porch, weariness in his face. “I caught an overnight flight to get here this soon.”

“Why weren’t you working on my son’s case?” Chris checked his anger. “That’s what I hired you for. I’ve been waiting for word every day—just something!”

“Your son’s case is the only one I’ve been working on, Mr. Gaines. Do you wish to hear my findings?”

“Yes, of course.” Chris winced. “I’m sorry. I’ve just wanted answers, you understand. Junior’s been in the ground a month and I still don’t know who’s to blame.”

“I have your answer, even if you won’t like it.”

“Please, Andre,” Chris moved aside. “Come in. There’s coffee in the kitchen.”

Minutes later, Chris wrapped his hands around a cup of his own brew as Andre sipped from another. Chris owned two dentist offices across town, so he was used to directing situations around him, but it seemed Andre was a man who couldn’t be hurried.

“This was an unpleasant case for me,” Andre said softly. “But I know it’s even less pleasant for you. No father should have to bury his son.”

“Did you find them?” Chris asked. “Who was it who filled Junior’s mind with all that propaganda?”

“I found them.” Andre nodded. “But it wasn’t propaganda, sir.”

“Not propaganda?” Chris cursed. “Why else would Junior die for something in such a faraway place like Pakistan? He was supposed to be training local dentists!”

“He had come across some other foreigners who were in Islamabad. They were Chinese.”

“Chinese!” Chris sat back in his chair. “The Chinese killed him?”

“No, the Chinese didn’t kill him. They cared for him—from everything I could uncover. They were Chinese missionaries to Pakistan. They were Christians.”

“Christians!” Chris blinked. “I don’t understand. I didn’t bring up Junior to believe in that nonsense!”

“Seems he found it himself.” Andre shrugged. “It’s an unlikely place to learn about Jesus, but it is said that God works in mysterious ways.”

“You must be mistaken. Junior would never become a Christian—and then die like one.”

“I went to Pakistan myself to uncover the truth, Mr. Gaines. I’m not mistaken.”

Chris frowned, unsure that he even wanted to hear the rest now. He’d had his heart set on hating the evildoers who’d involved Junior in their trouble while abroad.

“Well, what happened?”

“He trained dentists during the day, and in the evenings, your son met with Chinese missionaries. A couple of them spoke English.”

“So, they filled his head with, well, what? Whatever it was, it got him killed.”

“I talked to some of them who were still in the city,” Andre said. “They taught Junior about God and they studied the Bible together. It was all very innocent, sir, on the Chinese missionaries’ part.”

“Then who sent him outside the city to get killed? That’s not being innocent!”

“He went himself.” Andre drew a wrinkled envelope from his breast pocket. “I found this page in a Bible he was using. Junior wrote the note himself. I see no coercion here.”

Chris unfolded the page and recognized his son’s penmanship. There were words like faith, obligation, and sacrifice.

“I know the official story,” Chris said. “So, what’s the unofficial story—with this new information? How did he really die?”

“It seems Junior proposed an idea to the missionaries to go with him into the hills outside Islamabad. Junior would offer his dentistry skills to the locals as a cover, and those who went with him could share the Gospel. That’s what Christians call their message about Jesus.”

“I know what the Gospel is!” Chris took a deep breath. “Sorry, Andre. Keep going.”

“Some Muslim cleric in a hill village saw that your son was American. The Chinese were reportedly blaspheming against Muhammad since they were teaching about Jesus being the only way to God. They killed your son and two of the Chinese missionaries, but a couple made it back to the city. They’re the ones I spoke to.”

“So . . .” Chris studied the surface of the table and fidgeted in his seat. “My son became a Christian in a Muslim country because of some Chinese foreigners? I thought someone, well, manipulated him. Or got him to do something he didn’t want to do.”

“No, sir. Junior led the way into danger. He took care of more than just people’s teeth in Pakistan.”

“This . . . is unexpected news.” Chris frowned.

“You should know that I spent enough time with those missionaries to understand the Gospel for myself. Your son wasn’t duped. He was following the truth—and living it.”

“So, there really was no propaganda.” Chris’s chin trembled as a sob escaped his lips. “Junior died for being a Christian. I never would’ve thought it possible.”

“You’re disappointed, sir?”

“Disappointed? No.” Chris wiped his eyes. “I guess . . . I’m proud. Yes, I’m proud of my son. But tell me: what exactly was it about the Gospel that endangered Junior? I should know that for myself, like you needed to know. I want to hear it all.”

The End.

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NOTE-1: Be sure to pick up David’s newest novel, EVE of DESPAIR, eBook Two in The ELM Series! It’s on SALE for four days only so get it NOW! We’ve ALSO put eBook One, EVE of CHAOS on sale! They are each just $.99. Gift them to a friend! 😊

NOTE-2: You may remember us telling you about a new way to get David’s paperback books through our account with IngramSpark. Now they have a sale on shipping! If you order 5-25 books (US only), you get shipping for ONLY $.99!!! This sale expires June 15. Check out David’s paperback books on IngramSpark here. Click on any title on this PDF list to safely go to that title’s landing page powered by IngramSpark!

COMING UP: Join us next time for David’s newest Author Reflection, “What Comes from What?”

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