Atlantis

Chapter 10

Key West Church of the Kingdom was a rectangular brick building with white columns at the entrance and a tall steeple that loomed high above the other buildings in the area. The morning sun shone on the stained glass windows and the golden cross atop the steeple. Matt thought it was an oddly happy image for a place suspected of such dark deeds.

Since the water had damaged the sanctuary, the worship service took place in a large, crowded room on the second-floor. Organ music wafted through the stairwell, guiding Matt and Joel upward. They entered just before the service began and settled into folding chairs on the back row. Joel, who seemed to know a lot about church for an atheist, explained that church visitors usually liked to remain inconspicuous on their first visit. That way, if the church wasn’t a good fit for them, they wouldn’t have to deal with awkward visits from the pastor or church members. Matt was happy to remain inconspicuous. He ran a hand across his smooth cheeks. He had gotten used to his facial hair, and now he felt naked without it.

Everything about the service was ordinary: hymns, prayers, and a sermon about repentance, followed by an altar call. By the closing hymn, he wondered if they were in the right place. He glanced at Joel, who nodded. Apparently he wasn't concerned. After the benediction, they took their time leaving. A few people sitting nearby greeted them and shook hands, but most stared at them with varying degrees of suspicion.

After a few minutes, they joined the crowd making its slow way downstairs and out onto the street. When they reach the front steps, a sandy haired, middle-aged man in a three-piece suit greeted them.

"Welcome." He shook hands first with Joel, and then with Matt. He had a firm grip and a tight smile. "Is this your first visit?"

"Sure is. Me and my brother here just moved to the area." Joel inclined his head toward Matt. "We are opening a business, and thought it would be a good idea to start getting to know some of the people in the community." Matt had to hand it to Joel. With just a few subtle changes in his posture, facial expressions, and vocal inflection, he had adopted an entirely new persona.

The man's features relaxed when Matt was introduced as Joel's brother. "I forgot to introduce myself. I am Davis Franks. So, what sort of business are you all in?"

"We'd like to open a pistol range. Maybe sell handguns and ammo. Matt here is ex-military and a pretty fair instructor. Of course, with the way the winds are blowing, it might not be the best business to get into."

"Gotta love the government." Matt rolled his eyes, playing the role of disgruntled soldier. “It’s like they’ve never heard of Constitutional rights.”

“Amen to that, brother.” Franks nodded sympathetically. "What branch of the service were you in?"

"Army." Matt didn't say anything else, letting Franks guide the course of the conversation.

"I take it you didn't like it very much?"

"I liked the Army fine. It's the federal government I don't love." Matt looked around, then lowered his voice. "I guess that's not a popular opinion around here, is it?"

"No, not in Key West, but you'll find sympathetic ears in this church. If you don't mind my asking, why did you decide to settle here? Most of the locals aren't exactly firearms enthusiasts."

Joel gave an embarrassed smile. "The worst reason in the world. I love Jimmy Buffett. I've wanted to live down here for twenty years. We just hope we can get the required permits and find enough like-minded people to keep our business afloat. If not, we'll figure out something else." He shrugged as if to say, “What are you going to do?"

"Well, you've already found one,” Franks said. "I love to shoot, and so do a lot of the fellows here. We’ve got to keep in practice. You never know when you’ll be called to stand up against tyranny.” He paused, thinking. “Listen, we have a men's group meeting tonight at six o'clock. If you two would like to visit, I’ll give you directions. I think you'd enjoy it. Lots of potential customers in that group."

After they accepted his invitation, he introduced them around. The church members were much friendlier now that Matt and Joel had been accepted by one of their own, and by the time they left, they'd already fielded and politely declined three invitations to lunch, explaining they needed to start scouting around for possible places to open their business.

"Good work today," Joel said as they headed back to their car. "We'll make you an undercover agent yet."

"Do you think we're on the right track?"

"Can't say for sure, but I bet we'll find out tonight."