Cover of Darkness

Eugene can barely believe that the homeless man known as Joel is really his father. Leonard is equally astonished to learn that Eugene never boarded Michael Mushnick’s doomed train and has been alive in Odyssey for twenty years. As the two men begin to absorb their reunion, Eugene proudly announces Leonard’s identity to everyone at the benefit dinner. Leonard panics, orders him not to follow, and disappears into the night.

To understand Leonard’s fear, Eugene contacts Gobir in Africa. Gobir reluctantly reveals the role he played while serving the greedy archaeologist Dalton Kearn. Dalton had invited young Eugene to Africa and ordered Gobir to meet his train. He intended to use Leonard’s son as leverage to force Leonard to work at another dig. Gobir knew Dalton’s promises of eventual freedom were lies, but greed kept him from resisting.

When the train crashed with no survivors, Gobir believed Eugene had died. He carried that news to Leonard and Thelma. Before they could reach the wreck, Dalton kidnapped them by force and took them to his new excavation. Whit and Eugene now understand why Leonard has believed his son dead and why their family tragedy is tied to Dalton.

Whit learns that Dalton is wealthy, ruthless, and supported by people around the world. Eugene realizes that Leonard has disguised himself and lived as the wandering Joel because he is still hiding from his former captor. Being publicly identified at Whit’s End may have exposed him to Dalton’s watchers.

Leonard returns after closing time and meets Eugene in the darkened shop. He explains that he came to Odyssey hoping to reconcile with his own father, Hiram, only to learn that Hiram had died. He also identifies Everett Meltsner as Eugene’s younger brother, who died in Africa at age two. Leonard had believed he had lost his wife, father, and both sons.

Eugene eagerly describes Katrina and longs to introduce Leonard to his family and friends. Leonard refuses to treat their reunion normally. He insists that they meet only briefly and secretly, under cover of darkness, and that he alone decide when it is safe. Eugene rejoices that they are both alive, but Leonard remains controlled by the danger of Dalton finding him again.

Whit confirms that the threat may be immediate: Dalton left Africa about a month earlier, and no one knows where he went. During a hurried meeting at a gas station, Eugene tells Leonard about his Christian faith, Whit’s spiritual influence, and his work with Hand Up. Leonard has seen Eugene’s website and wants to know him, but he still refuses to remain in public or promise another meeting.

At home, Eugene laminates a list of everything he hopes to say during their next few minutes together. Katrina sees that the reunion is nothing like the relationship he imagined. Remembering her own father’s devotion, she suggests that family may be worth the risk. Eugene agrees, though he recognizes that Leonard’s life - not his own - is the one most directly endangered.

Eugene leaves a message for Leonard on the gallery page of his website. Leonard finds it and arranges a meeting at the library, but angrily warns that the public message could also lead Dalton to him. Eugene asks him to hide at the Meltsners’ home, where Whit can add alarms, cameras, and police protection. Leonard refuses to expose Eugene and Katrina to the danger or risk another imprisonment.

Eugene argues that fear has already imprisoned Leonard. Faith has taught him not to live that way, and he wants more than stolen conversations with a stranger: he wants a father who will meet Katrina, know his friends, and share his life. Leonard angrily recalls listening helplessly to Thelma’s suffering during their captivity and says Eugene cannot understand what they endured. When he still refuses, Eugene gives him photographs, awards, report cards, and other pieces of the life Leonard missed, then leaves the next decision to him.

Whit assures Eugene that asking his father to take the risk was necessary, but the choice belongs to Leonard. Soon Leonard returns to Whit’s End carrying the family mementos. He jokes about a tardy mark on Eugene’s tenth-grade report card, admires Katrina’s photograph, and asks to meet her that very day. He tells Eugene that he trusts him, and Eugene promises to do all he can to keep them safe with God’s help.

Far away, Dalton orders his people to continue searching. He has no definite lead, but he believes Leonard has left Africa and refuses to rest until Leonard Meltsner is found.