Seek Ye First (book 5 of Genesis 64)

Chapter 8 - Danville

U.S. Interstate 42 west, Sept. 2010, a few hours before Chapter 7 ends

Jonah and Chris have been on U.S. Interstate 42 heading out of New Jersey and into central Pennsylvania for a little while. Chris still has a stunned look on her face when she says to Jonah, "How did you just do that?! We just walked..." Jonah cuts her off by shushing her, "Shh... shh... it's a trade secret... from way back. It's best if you don't think too much about it"

"Oh okay...," her voice trails off. She tells herself, "Let's not think about that - just file it under 'what the heck just happened'."

Jonah puts in his favorite CD and when the first song starts playing he sheepishly says to Chris, "Sorry, I usually listen to 'classic rock' when I travel."

"That's ok. My dad listens to that old music too!" Chris responds and they both laugh.

Boston's song 'Don't Look Back' plays:

Don't look back, ooh a new day is breakin'

It's been too long since I felt this way

I don't mind ooh where I get taken

The road is callin', today is the day

I can see, it took so long just to realize

I'm much too strong not to compromise

Now I see what I am is holding me down

I'll turn it around, oh yes I will

I finally see the dawn arrivin'

I see beyond the road I'm drivin'

Chris comments, "Hey, we're headed toward where you and the Remington's live."

"Yes, well, we're not headed quite that far," Jonah says as he pulls off the interstate and into the town of Danville.

"The story I got," he says, "is that your mom showed up at the Janet Weis Children's hospital here in Danville, and told the doctors that she was too sick to care of her newborn baby. The doctors treated her and contacted Children & Youth Services about putting the baby up for adoption. C&YS eventually contacted the adoption agency your parents were a part of, and rest, as they say, is history.

"So where do we start first?" Chris asks.

"The county office building is where the adoption records would be," he replies.

They arrive at the 3rd floor and the records dept. where they're greeted by the perky little county clerk Mrs. Walizer.

"Hello there! Can I help you folks?" she asks.

"Hi, I'm Jonah Fortress, and we're looking for the adoption records for this young lady?" he says, gesturing towards Chris.

"Oh! Well, that could be a problem. Most of our records are sealed by the judge, but, like I said, not ALL of them are sealed," she says. She turns to Chris and asks, "So, what is your name, dear?"

"Chris Cappelletti, ma'am" she replies.

"And your date of birth...?" Mrs. Walizer asks.

"December fifth, 1995," Chris answers.

"Well, I'll go see what I can find, honey," Mrs. Walizer says and disappears into another room.

Jonah and Chris wait patiently in the lobby while Mrs. Walizer is gone. She's gone 10 minutes... 15 minutes... 20 minutes... then they can hear the distinctive "clip, clip, clip" of her high-heeled shoes. Jonah pulls out the remote-control-sized device from his pocket and touches the button to arm it. Chris is close enough to him to see something in his hand. Her eyes get big and she mouths the words, "What are you going to do?" to him. With his other hand he puts his finger to his lips saying, "Shhh..." as Mrs. Walizer enters the room. Jonah silently slips in behind her with his thumb on the red button.