by Laura Scott
“Enough.” Sun worked the sat computer. “There’s a big box store six miles from here. We can get a replacement phone and arrange for the same number to be used.”
“And the possibility of being tracked with the phone?” He met Sun’s gaze in the rearview mirror.
“It’s a risk.” She shrugged. “But we only need it long enough to connect with Bryn.”
“Sounds good.” It was good to have something concrete to do to find their daughter.
Baltimore was a big city with far too many places to hide.
He had to trust that Bryn was smart enough to find a way to get in touch with her mother.
* * *
September 10 – 1:16 p.m. – Washington, DC
Meira stayed close to Elam’s side, resting her hand protectively on her abdomen.
He couldn’t believe they’d gotten this far. His diversion had worked, and Meira, with the girl’s help, had managed to assist in their escape.
Despite his actions today, it was humbling to realize God still looked after them.
“What is it, Elam?”
He shook his head, then spoke in their native tongue. “You need to convince the girl we need to stay away from the police. I set that bomb back there to help distract the guard in front of Liberty Bell, and it worked. I can’t risk being caught.”
She nodded. “I will, Elam. And I know finding me with the girl was a surprise, I’m sorry about that. I want you to know they didn’t hurt me, or Bryn.”
Relieved at the news, he said, “That’s good, Meira. Seeing you with her was a surprise, although I should have realized they wanted you for a reason.”
“That is how these men operate, yes? By keeping secrets.” She paused, then added, “The child can help us, husband. I will make sure she won’t take us to the police.”
Elam’s mouth tightened. Accepting help from a child was difficult. What could the girl possibly know? At the moment, he viewed her as a burden. Another mouth to feed. It wasn’t as if he was given much money each day, and now that meager influx of cash would stop. They only had what was in his pocket to live on. “We should let her go,” he finally said. “There is no need to keep her with us.”
Meira glanced at Bryn, and he knew the child was watching them curiously and listening to their discussion. Of course, the child didn’t understand Arabic, but still.
Meira switched to English, probably for the girl’s benefit. “Bryn’s mother has helped other Muslim women escape bad situations. We need to get far away from here if we want to survive. She can help us escape, for good.” She waited, and when he didn’t respond, she added, “For our unborn child, Elam. Do this for our baby.”
He glanced over at Bryn, then down at the backpack he still carried. The close call with the K-9 cop had shaken him. He still had a couple of explosive devices, and the scent could have easily brought the dog over to them. He debated leaving it behind on the subway but thought it was possible he might need them.
It was the only weapon he had if they were caught.
At that moment, his cell phone vibrated. He tensed and glanced at Meira. He lifted the phone but didn’t answer it.
“You have a phone?” The girl’s voice was loud enough to attract attention. He instantly replaced the phone in the backpack.
“No.”
“I saw it,” Bryn protested. “Don’t you understand? We can use that to call my mom!”
“Not now, later.”
The girl opened her mouth to protest, but Meira put a hand on her arm. “Hush, child, we will call soon.”
Elam felt the phone stop vibrating, then almost immediately start up again. His hands began to shake with fear. Every one of the men he’d been working for would be searching for him.
He glanced again at Meira. She was right. They needed to disappear, and soon.
To protect their unborn child.
* * *
September 10 – 1:31 p.m. – Washington, DC
“Can you hear me? Open your eyes if you can hear me?”
Mustaf tried to do as requested, but the lights were so bright they hurt his head. His mouth tasted foul, his lips dry and cracked.
They must have tortured him. He hoped he didn’t say anything about the upcoming plan while he was being worked over by these infidels.
“Ahmed, please open your eyes. I need you to take a big breath for me. I know it will hurt, but you need to breathe on your own.”
The words were confusing, but the pain was very real. His abdomen felt as if he’d been stabbed with a thousand knives. He pried his eyes open and looked up at the face hovering above him. It took a moment to note the blue scrubs and the stethoscope hanging around her neck.
A nurse. He was in the hospital. Memories flooded back.
He’d been shot, then flown to a hospital via helicopter. Not tortured, unless you count the gunshot wound as torture, which at the moment he did.
“Water,” he croaked.
“Good, I’m glad you’re awake. I have an ice chip for you, no water until your belly starts working again.”
His belly wasn’t working? Was she speaking in riddles to confuse him? She used a plastic spoon to give him an ice chip, and it melted in his mouth providing a small relief.
“More,” he said.
“Not too much or you’ll throw up,” she warned, but spooned another ice chip into his mouth. “Trust me, you do not want to throw up, not after the surgeon spent the last two hours repairing the damage from the gunshot wound.”
He closed his eyes, savoring the ice chip. Now he understood. He’d undergone surgery. Had his abdomen repaired from the gunshot wound.
“Would you like something for the pain?”
The pain was horrific, but he forced himself to shake his head no. He couldn’t afford to have a mind fuzzy with pain medicines.
He needed to remain alert. If a rescue attempt was in process, he intended to be ready.
No matter what the cost.
* * *
September 10 – 1:48 p.m. – Baltimore, MD
Diana clutched her new phone like a lifeline. It wasn’t charged up and ready to go yet, but as soon as they were settled in the motel room, she intended to check her voice mail.
Maybe Bryn had already reached out to her!
Jordan pulled back into the motel parking lot and looked back at Sun. “Would you mind securing the room?”
“Of course.” Sun closed the computer and slid out of the back seat.
“We’re going to find her soon, Jordan. I can feel it,” Diana said, breaking the silence.
“I know we will.” Jordan’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I wish I knew what the plan was behind freeing Mustaf. I don’t like the timing of all this.”
Diana tensed, thinking again of her cousin Tariq. “When we have Bryn safe, we can focus on your terrorism concerns.”
“Time is running out.” Jordan sighed. “You know what time the plane hit the first tower?”
“Eight thirty-six a.m.” She didn’t have to think about it, the timeline was drilled into her mind.
“It’s close to two p.m. now,” Jordan said. “If they’re planning something, I have to believe it will happen at the exact same time on the exact same date as nine eleven.”
She swallowed hard, the news sobering. For hours now, all she could think about was getting Bryn back safely. But Jordan was right.
They needed to figure out the rest of this mess.
Before it was too late.
* * *
September 10 – 2:04 p.m. – Washington, DC
“What do you mean, she’s gone?” He was settled in his modest hotel room that overlooked the Potomac River. He tightened his grip on the phone, hoping his first-in-command had made a mistake.
“There was an explosion that created some chaos, and somehow the girl and the woman caring for her escaped. We are actively searching for them now.”
He cursed his first-in-command. “What is wrong with you? You allowed a
measly woman and child to escape? How could you fail me like this?”
“We will find them. They can’t have gotten far.”
It was all he could do not to scream more obscenities. Remaining calm was difficult, but necessary. His first-in-command obviously had to die. But that wasn’t his primary concern.
Without the girl, he didn’t have the leverage he needed with Rashid.
And Diana.
He’d been looking forward to killing them all. To avenge his father’s death. With the added bonus of freeing Ahmed Mustaf.
“Find them. I will see you soon.” He disconnected from the call.
These imbeciles were useless.
As distasteful as it was, he’d need to get his hands dirty and take care of this himself.
* * *
September 10 – 2:16 p.m. – Arbutus, MD
Bryn’s stomach was rumbling from the various food scents surrounding her. Elam was skinny and didn’t look as if he ate much, but she was worried about Meira and her baby.
“Can’t we get something to eat?” She directed her question at Meira, even though she knew Elam was the one with the cash.
“Soon, little one,” Meira said in a soothing tone.
Bryn glanced around, wondering if it was time to ditch Meira and Elam. She wanted to help Meira, she really did. But things weren’t moving fast enough for her. She wanted to use the phone to call her mother. She wanted to wash up and get clean clothes. She wanted to eat real food, not the glop they made her eat over the past few days.
She needed to use the bathroom with a real toilet, not a bucket.
As the thoughts washed over her, she felt a sense of shame. She’d escaped from the icky men because of Meira and Elam’s help. Without them, she knew she wouldn’t have made it.
Didn’t she owe it to them to provide help in return?
God wouldn’t want her to be so selfish.
Bryn kept up with Meira and Elam as they headed away from the subway. The sun was bright, but now she tipped her face toward the sky to bask in the glow. It seemed as if she’d been kept in the dark for weeks instead of days.
After they went another couple of blocks, they turned toward a large store. Elam glanced at Meira, and she heard them talk in rapid Arabic. She couldn’t follow the conversation but understood when Elam pulled a few dollars out of his pocket.
He didn’t have much money, and they were trying to figure out what they could afford with the scant money they had.
Her breath came out in a whoosh. Bryn should have figured it out earlier. Elam obviously cared for Meira, he wouldn’t refuse her food without a good reason.
“Please, Elam,” she interrupted them. “If you’ll let me call my mother, I’m sure she’ll come and get us. She can buy food for us, and more water. Just let me use your phone.”
Elam hesitated, uncomfortable with the idea. After a quick glance around, he directed her toward the side of the building where they were partially hidden from view.
“Be quick,” he said, handing her the phone.
Bryn almost wept with joy as she punched in the numbers she’d memorized a few months ago. Her mother had to answer. She just had to!
* * *
September 10 – 2:17 p.m. – Baltimore, MD
When the phone in Diana’s hand rang, she was so startled she nearly dropped it. Staring at the screen, the number was one she didn’t recognize, but it started with a DC area code.
“Hello?”
“Mommy?”
Bryn! “Oh, baby, yes, it’s me. Where are you? Are you okay?” Diana reached out to grab Jordan’s arm, her eyes filling with tears. “We’ll come pick you up right away.”
“I’m okay, it’s so good to hear your voice.” Bryn sounded as if she was going to break down and cry, so Diana quickly wiped her own tears away.
“Everything is going to be just fine, baby. Can you tell me where you are? What city you’re in?”
“Baltimore.” Bryn paused, then said, “We’re at a Walmart Supercenter.” Diana heard a man’s voice and tightened her grip on the phone. “In a suburb called Arbutus.”
“Who is with you, Bryn? Does a man have you captive?”
“Huh? Oh, no,” Bryn hastened to reassure her. “I’m fine. I’m not alone, I had help getting away from the icky men, and to be honest, Mom, they need your help too.”
“They?” She glanced at Jordan who was right next to her and listening in. “How many?”
“A man and his wife.”
“Okay, baby. That’s fine, we can help.” Anything to get Bryn back safely. “We can be at the Walmart Supercenter within fifteen minutes. Can you stay on the phone with me while we drive?”
Again a male voice mumbled in the background. Diana couldn’t understand the words, but her stomach clenched in warning.
“No, I’m afraid not. I have to get off the phone now. But you’ll come soon, right? I’m hungry.”
“Oh, baby, yes. I promise we’ll be there soon. I love you, Bryn.” Tears welled in the back of her throat.
“I love you, too, Mommy. Please hurry.” Bryn didn’t wait for a response but disconnected from the line.
“We have to go right now.” Diana leaped to her feet, still clutching the phone. “Sounds as if she hasn’t eaten in a long time.”
“We’ll get her.” Jordan glanced at Sun. “You’ll need to stay here, okay?”
“Got it.” Sun smiled. “I’m really glad you’ve found her.
“Me too.” Diana was almost dizzy with relief. But she still couldn’t relax, not until she was holding Bryn in her arms.
Jordan took the wheel, which was fine with her. She stared out at the streets, glancing back down at her phone as if willing Bryn to call back.
“Did she say anything about who helped her escape?” Jordan asked.
“No, other than she was with a man and his wife.” She glanced at him. “You think they were her caretakers?”
Jordan shook his head. “Not the man, but the woman? Maybe.”
Diana didn’t care who they were, even tiny green people from Mars would be welcomed with open arms. “I’m so glad she wasn’t alone the whole time.”
“Me too.” Jordan reached over to touch her knee. “You did a great job raising her, Diana. I’m not sure what she’ll think of me, but I hope you allow me to be a part of her life.”
It was something she’d worried about early on, but now? How could she possibly refuse? “Of course, Jordan. Just . . . give her time, okay? I told her you were dead because that was part of our cover in witness protection. I also told her the men who killed you were dangerous, which is why we had to always be careful, learn self-defense, and change our phone numbers frequently.”
“I know.” He gently squeezed her knee. “At some point we’ll have to rehash the past, but not now. Let’s focus on getting Bryn and whoever this couple is who helped her escape.”
“Yes. Thank you.” Diana peered out the window. “Is that the Supercenter?”
“Yes.” It took Jordan longer than she had patience for to get from where they were located to the Walmart. As he entered the large parking lot, she anxiously raked her gaze over the area.
Where were they?
Jordan drove up and down a couple of aisles before she spotted them. “There, Jordan, see? Next to the building.”
He narrowed his gaze and quickly headed in that direction.
Without waiting for the car to come to a complete stop, she opened her car door and jumped out. “Bryn!”
Her daughter rushed forward, throwing herself into her arms. Diana clutched her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
Safe. Dear Lord, thank you for keeping Bryn safe!
“Hello, Elam,” Jordan said in a calm voice.
Diana glanced toward the tall thin Arab man who was staring at Jordan as if he’d seen a ghost.
And maybe he had. It took a moment for her to understand the implication.
Elam must have been the contact Jordan h
ad been given to infiltrate the terrorist cell operating out of Washington, DC.
Chapter Seventeen
September 10 – 2:37 p.m. – Arbutus, MD
“You know Elam? And Meira?” Bryn eyed him curiously. “How?”
“We’ll discuss this later,” Jordan said, keeping his gaze on Elam. “Let’s get back to the motel, okay?”
“Can’t we eat first? And get new clothes” Bryn protested. “I’m hungry and so is Meira. We didn’t get any food since this morning, and she’s pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” Diana’s eyes widened in surprise.
Jordan hesitated, then nodded. “Let’s make a quick trip inside for clothes, then we’ll stop and pick something up from a fast-food restaurant along the way.”
The clothes didn’t take long. Minutes later Jordan, Diana, and Bryn were back outside. Elam and Meira were still huddled near the building.
“Let’s go, I need you all to get into the car,” Jordan said.
“Even me?” Elam asked in a low voice.
Jordan nodded slowly. “Yes, I think you and I have a lot to discuss.” He was stunned to see his contact linked to the terrorist cell here with Bryn. And the man’s wife.
“It’s okay, Meira.” Elam spoke in Arabic, reassuring the woman standing beside him. “We can trust him.”
“Yes, you can,” Jordan agreed, using their native language as well.
Meira and Elam climbed into the back seat. Diana reluctantly let go of Bryn so their daughter could join them, clutching the bag of clothes to her chest. The SUV was better than a sedan, but five people were the most that could be comfortably seated.
Jordan slid in behind the wheel, glancing at Diana sitting beside him. “Ready?”
“Elam, wait,” Bryn said. “You forgot your backpack.”
“Leave it,” Elam said firmly.
Jordan met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “Are you sure?”
Elam inclined his head. “There is an explosive device inside. Best that it remains here.”
Jordan didn’t ask twice. It bothered him to realize that Elam had carried a bomb with him the entire time he’d been with Bryn. Sure, he assumed the guy knew what he was doing, but still, it was crazy dangerous to walk around with explosive material in a backpack.
