Thursday soon came and Adam met Jason at the van after school. It was the first time that week that Alyssa was not there with him.

"Where is Alyssa?" Jason asked.

"Her uncle picked her up today. They had to go and get some things for the party Saturday night," Adam replied. " It is going to be great to spend a nice festive time with her with her own family."

"I just hope Dad sees it that way," Jason answered. "He should be home by now. His plane was coming in around noon."

"Jason, I really don't care what Dad says," Adam said as he fastened his seatbelt. "I really care about Alyssa. I finally have found a girl that is genuine and beautiful."

"I just don't think that you should have your mind set to go against Dad," Jason replied, starting the van and heading for home.

"I am not against Dad, but look at all the cases we have solved and made it through," Adam said with a defensive tone. " I think I can take care of myself. I don't trust her uncle that much either, but it is not like I am going to marry her in the near future. Well, at least not now."

"Marriage? You are thinking about marriage at this age?" Jason teased, trying to lighten up the conversation. He felt that he really needed to have a talk with Adam before he talked with their father. Jason knew that sometimes Adam and his father did not always see eye to eye.

"I just really like her and it is not her fault that her family is not like Kara's family. You never had a problem when you started dating Kara. Everyone thought she was great, I would like to have the same respect," Adam said.

"I totally agree, but things are not the same just like we are not the same. We might be brothers, but we are very different." Jason answered. "Honestly, what do you think of her family situation?"

"I like the idea of her living around a lot of other people that care about her, but the uncle is just a little strange. I just don't trust him and deep down I don't think Alyssa does either," Adam replied. " I think Alyssa is trying to get an education to be able to gain independence and live her own life. I do know that she does not believe that he is the Messiah, but he is her uncle and she loves him very much. He is like her father."

"It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into this, little brother. I really do like Alyssa, just watch how you handle things with Dad," Jason said looking over at his brother. "Besides, I am rooting for you whether you believe that or not."

"I am glad you like Alyssa because she thinks a lot of you and Mom. She loves to talk about history," Adam said as he rolled his eyes. He had a slight grin on his face as he looked over at Jason.

"She will definitely make a great sister-in-law," Jason said with a grin as he turned onto the country road that led to the Kramer's house.

Adam jokingly punched his brother. He felt a little better that his brother at least truly liked Alyssa.

When the boys arrived home, their father was in his study making phone calls. It was not until dinner that the boys finally even saw their father. Adam was trying to find the way to start the conversation about the party when his father spoke up from the head of the table.

"Your mother says that you are a committed man now, Adam", Carl Kramer said, looking over at his son with a grin. "She told me that she is nice, smart, beautiful and a history lover."

Adam looked over at his mother, who winked her eye at her younger son. It was clear that his mother had talked to his father about Alyssa on his behalf.

"I think it is great that you are finally meeting a nice girl. It gives me hope that you will not be a bachelor all your life," Mr. Kramer said. "What is the name of her uncle?"

"Ashita Rawlins, he is the leader of their congregation," Adam answered. "They came from North Carolina and live out at the old church camp."

"Your mother mentioned a party this weekend. Just be careful. I am in the process of checking out this Mr. Rawlins because I don't like the sounds of this congregation," Mr. Kramer said as he finished off his drink. "I think that your mother and I raised you well enough to know that you will not be joining his cult after one night."

"Besides he might just be a harmless man who likes to live in a community based church," Mrs. Kramer added. "That is how some of the earliest civilizations started out."

"I honestly don't believe that even Alyssa takes him seriously," Adam told his father. "Besides, Chuck is going with me."

"Let me guess, for the food?" Mr. Kramer chuckled. He had known Chuck ever since he was born and knew of his love for food.

"Yes, but he wants to see if there are any other girls like Alyssa there," Adam said with a laugh.

"Are you going Jason?" Mrs. Kramer asked, starting to clear the table up.

"No, Kara and I are going to do something else," Jason said, also starting to help clear the table. "I will be taking the van and they will be going in Chuck's car."

"Well, I expect you guys to keep to your curfews and watch out for each other. Your mother and I car going to San Diego for the weekend. The university is having a meeting on the findings of an excavation in Mexico and your mother has been wanting to see it," Mr. Kramer said as he started for his study. " We will be leaving Saturday morning. Just be careful Adam and enjoy yourself. "

"Thanks Dad. I hope you will enjoy your time with Mom," Adam replied. His father shot him a side-glance. His father enjoyed historical topics just about as much as Adam did.

"Just help your brother wash the dishes," his father mumbled as he went back to his study.

Adam felt relieved and was very much looking forward to Saturday. He wanted to find out more about Alyssa's uncle himself- no matter what the truth was to be.

* * *

Saturday morning soon came and Carl and Laura Kramer left for their meeting in San Diego. Adam was waiting for Chuck to pick him up in his beat Dodge Omni. You could usually hear it before you saw it. Jason was getting ready to pick up Kara.

"I will see you later. Call and leave a message if you are going to run late," Jason said as he picked up the keys to the van. " Please just watch yourself out there."

"I will, besides I am going to be with Chuck too," Adam said, still listening for Chuck's car.

"Like that is supposed to make anyone feel better," Jason said as he shut the door to leave.

Soon Chuck came down the road, but he had his parent's station wagon. His car would not start so he borrowed his parent's car. Adam promised him that they would work on it together on Sunday. So the boys set out for Alyssa's house. Chuck was being very careful with his parent's car.

"Not a scratch, or you will not drive anywhere for a long time", he kept repeating all the way to the old church grounds.

They soon pulled up to the entrance where two guards were standing, but they were not Cyrus and Jacob. Adam told the men who they were and the men welcomed them to the party. As they proceeded up the drive, they could see a group of people behind the main house all gathered around a big bonfire. Chuck was being especially careful because some of the children were playing hide-and -seek between the cars. The boys parked the car and made their way towards the group of people. It was dusk and it was hard to make out the people's faces as they searched for Alyssa.

"There you are!" they heard a voice yell behind them. It was Alyssa. Both boys had to keep their mouths from dropping at the sight of Alyssa. She was just dressed in cut-off jeans and a plain white T-shirt, but she was beautiful. She had her hair up in a ponytail with little ringlets hanging down and her eyes twinkled with excitement, even though it was almost dark. She ran up to Adam and kissed him gently on the cheek and gave Chuck a hug. "I am so glad that you came, where is your brother?"

"He had made other plans with Kara," Adam said as he put his arm around Alyssa.

"Come over and meet everyone," Alyssa said as she led them towards the rest of the group.

The rest of the congregation was seated at picnic tables that were placed around the bonfire. There was a set of tables lined up with the food on them and another table set up to be the "head table". Alyssa took the boys around and introduced them to the other people. They were very welcoming and not as weird as Adam thought that they might be since they did follow Ashita. Alyssa led them to a spot near the head table. She had already prepared their plates with fried chicken, salad, and barb-a-cue potato chips.

"Now this is service," Chuck said as he sat down to the plate with the extra piece of chicken on it.

"I figured I would already get your seconds ready," Alyssa said with a smile as she sat down next to Adam. "You will have to try the apple pie. I made it myself."

"We sure will," Chuck replied looking at all the food. He was about to pick up his chicken when everyone became quiet and bowed their heads. He looked up and saw that Mr. Rawlins and his two guards, Cyrus and Jacob, was making their way from the main house to the picnic area.

"Messiah," everyone said at once. Even the children stopped and bowed their heads where they stood.

"My people, be grateful for what the Holy Father has bestowed us with on this beautiful evening. We are celebrating for good reasons. We are now finally together again and successfully planting our seeds. I want to thank all of you for your faith and help, especially my beloved niece Alyssa. I have decided to greatly reward Alyssa for her faithfulness," Ashita proclaimed and walked over to Alyssa. "Hold out you hands, dear child."

Alyssa did as her uncle asked and held out her hands. A set of keys fell from Ashita's hands.

"So you will not have to ride the school bus anymore," Ashita said and pointed to a little red older model Jeep Cherokee. " Plus you can help take our members into town."

Everyone around cheered for Alyssa, who stood there just trembling with excitement. It was a beat up old Cherokee, but to Alyssa it was the greatest gift ever. She hopped up from the table and gave her uncle a great big hug. Then she turned to Adam and Chuck and gave them each a hug. Adam was so happy for Alyssa.

"Want to come over and take a look at it?" she asked her guests, the keys still clinging because of her shaking hands.

"Sure," Adam said as he started over to the vehicle with her.

"I will be there after I finish my chicken. I am starved to death!" Chuck said as he reached down for the piece of chicken.

Adam and Alyssa nearly ran to the vehicle. She jumped into the driver's seat and began to look over the brown sport utility. Adam leaned up beside the passenger door and watched as Alyssa looked over the controls and turned the vehicle on to try out the radio.

"Just a FM radio, but I can live with that," she said trying to find her favorite station.

"I can help you install it when you get one", Adam replied. Maybe her uncle is not so bad after all, he thought. A little weird, but maybe harmless.

"This means everything. I have been secretly saving for a car for when I turned eighteen, but this will do nicely," she said, sitting up behind the wheel. " How do I look?"

"Simply breathtaking," Adam answered as he leaned in to kiss her. Alyssa looked up at him and smiled," Does that mean I can officially call myself a committed girl?" "You have been around Jason too much," Adam said, happy to spend a little private time with Alyssa.

"So when are we going to try this baby out? We can definitely go places in this with it having four-wheel drive!" a voice bellowed from the back of the vehicle. Adam and Alyssa jumped at the sound of the voice. It was Chuck!

A little annoyed at his best friend's intrusion, Adam shot Chuck a side-glance. "Did you finish your dinner?" he asked his friend.

"It was great and so was the apple pie!" Chuck said. "You have a great cook here."

"Thank you Chuck," Alyssa said. " So do you really want to go for a spin?"

"Might as well because the apple pie is probably gone," Adam said heading for the passenger seat.

"Why must I always get the blame," Chuck said sarcastically, hopping into the backseat. "So where are we off to?"

"Let's just drive, we have a full tank and it is only nine o'clock. The night is young!" Alyssa said as she started the Cherokee and went down to the guard's area. She told them that she would be out for awhile driving and proceeded down the twisty, county road.

It wasn't too long until Alyssa turned down the radio and slowed the vehicle down.

"What is wrong?" Chuck asked from the backseat. "Why are you stopping?"

"Something is not right. It is driving funny. The steering wheel shimmies a little," she answered, bringing her new car to a stop.

"Let me try it out" Adam said, getting out of the Cherokee and switching places with Alyssa. "I know a lot about cars."

Adam started the vehicle out and started down the narrow road. He felt the shaking, but thought that the vehicle just naturally rode a little rough. "I think it is okay, it is a little different from a car you know."

He was just starting down the long narrow hill that led to the crossroads when he heard a pop from under the hood of the Cherokee.

"What was that?" Chuck yelled in fear.

"Get your seatbelt fastened tight. We just lost the steering," Adam said, trying not to panic. But that was going to be hard to do. On one side of the road was a grove of pine trees and on the other side was a steep decline that led into the darkness. Either way, the Cherokee was picking up too much speed and beginning to swerve uncontrollably. Adam tried to apply the brakes to slow the vehicle down, but the Cherokee stalled, causing the power brakes to stop working.