Race Against Time

by kimberly

  A smile split his face. Just what he was looking for.

  He read through the document. Jackpot.

  Then found another.

  And another.

  Plenty of details. Enough for him to show that he’d acquired the program. And could sell it. To whomever he wanted.

  Ma had always warned him about playing with fire. But this time, he couldn’t get burned.

  Because he controlled it. He held the matches. And could fan the flame however he wanted.

  Let the whole world burn.

  He looked forward to watching.

  * * *

  ZOYA

  January 23

  The Tikanni-Gray-Maddox Home

  9:05 a.m.

  Andie jumped off the bed and walked over to the dresser. “My toes are cold. I’m gonna put on some socks.” She dug around in the drawer then sighed. “This thing is way too jammed!” She started removing pairs and setting them on the dresser’s top.

  I tried to hold back a yawn. I’m so tired . . . I blinked back the sleepiness and sat up straighter. Do not fall asleep.

  Andie set one pair of socks after another on the smooth wooden surface of her dresser. A familiar little black box sat next to her hairbrush.

  I cocked my head. Maybe there’s something in there. “Hey Andie, what’s in that box? It belonged to your dad, right?”

  Andie nodded, reached for it, and tossed it to me. “We found it in the plane after our crash. It has his initials. But I can’t figure out how to open it.” She took out more socks.

  I fiddled with the odd, shiny thing. I wonder what’s inside. “Looks like it needs a key, but maybe we could pick the lock or something.”

  “You can if you really want to, I’m gonna find those—ah-ha! Here they are.” She pulled out a pair of purple monkey socks, then started jamming the others back into the drawer.

  “Andie, you can’t wear those crazy socks to church.”

  She smiled. “Who cares?”

  I giggled and went back to studying the small saeł. Uncle Marc’s initials were carved onto the lid in bold letters. My finger traced them. I squinted.

  “Hey Andie?”

  “Yup?” She shoved more socks in.

  “These initials, there’s something wrong with them.” Again I traced them with my fingers. It felt funny.

  “What do you mean?” Andie walked over and took it, turning it over in her hands.

  “See the letters? It looks like there was something underneath them.” I stood and peeked over her shoulder.

  Andie turned to me and smiled. “Yeah, it does. Almost like—”

  “Like someone sandpapered over it.”

  “Exactly.” Andie rubbed it under her thumb. “We may have just found a clue.”

  “Well, let’s go tell—”

  “Girls, are you ready? We need to leave!”

  “Snap!” Andie huffed and sat down onto the bed.

  “Well?” I sat down next to her.

  “Girls!” Cole’s military-man voice snapped us to attention. “Let’s go.”

  “Uh oh, we better ‘hut-two.’ You know Cole, we have to be on time for everything. We’ll have to wait.” Disappointment sank into my stomach.

  “Andie! Zoya!”

  “We’ll tell them after church.” Andie clutched the small black object to her chest. “The moment we get out those doors, we’ll show them.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  ZOYA

  January 23

  Naltsiine Kennels

  11:44 a.m.

  “I loved the sermon this week. Especially his joke.” Andie giggled, walked over to her backpack and began pulling out everything, throwing it on the floor. “Baby elephants in a bathtub . . .” Her giggles turned into gasps as she snorted and laughed.

  “You’ve got stuff to change into, right? If we want to go out with the dogs you’re gonna need to change.” I ignored her mirth and sat down on the bed. Stay focused, Zoya.

  “Yup! Got ’em in here . . . somewhere.” Andie smiled and passed me the week’s bulletin. “Will you put that in my Bible case?”

  “Sure.” I nodded. Don’t pay attention to what it says. It won’t help. I tried to smile. I can’t wait to go riding. Excitement bubbled up.

  “Zoya, Andie, come eat!” Auntie Jenna’s call for lunch brought another round of giggles from Andie.

  “Perfect timing.”

  I placed the bulletin back inside her Bible’s cover where a sheet of paper lay. Andie and my scribbled notes caught my attention. “Oh! We forgot to show Cole the box!”

  Andie bounced off the bed and opened the door. “Well? Come on!”

  We ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. Mom, Auntie, and Cole stood waiting for us.

  “Ready to say the blessing?” Auntie Jenna smiled.

  “Not yet!” I smiled back and jumped up and down. Hurry up, Andie!

  Andie grabbed my hand. “Mom, do you remember when you gave me that little black box with Dad’s initials on it?”

  “The one I found in the plane? Yes.” Auntie Jenna looked from Andie to me, question written on her face.

  Andie giggled and reached inside her pocket. “Zoya and I found it this morning and thought it—”

  She dug around in her pocket some more.

  Cole nodded. “Thought it . . .”

  “Well, we think it’s a—”

  My brow furrowed. “What’s wrong, Andie?”

  “A what?” Cole took a step forward.

  My heart beat quickened. Eyes widened.

  Andie looked to me and nodded.

  No!

  “It’s gone!”

  * * *

  ANESIA

  11:51 a.m.

  “Oh no.” Her daughter gripped Andie’s hand.

  “What’s gone?” Cole stepped even closer to the girls. “The box? How did you lose it? What was in it?” Military man just crossed the line.

  Tears formed in Andie’s eyes and her bottom lip trembled. Then words spilled out. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened. I put it in my pocket this morning before church, ’cause I knew we were coming over here for lunch, and we wanted to tell you all about it, and then I lost one of my shoes this morning, and my jeans ripped, and Dasha wanted to play in the snow and didn’t want to come in and—”

  “Andie”—Jenna wrapped an arm around her daughter’s shoulder—“it’s okay. Breathe. Just calm down. We’re not upset about it.” Her friend drew out her words and shot Anesia a pleading look that clearly said, save the day before I kill my over-interrogative husband.

  Time she stepped in. “Andie, Zoya, why don’t we sit down at the table. Get some food in us and hash it all out, okay?”

  Andie sniffed. “Thanks, Auntie.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart.” She shot a glare at Cole that he couldn’t miss. “No one is going to grill you over a little black box.”

  Cole frowned.

  Go ahead. I dare you. She stared him down. Good thing their relationship had a good foundation. Otherwise, she’d be really mad.

  Everyone took their seats around the table.

  Zoya glanced around. “Where’s Sean?”

  “He had to make a phone call, so he said to start without him.” Each person reached for the hand of the person next to them until they were all joined around the table. Anesia inhaled and absorbed the sweetness of having family. “Cole, would you please say the blessing?”

  “Huh?” His furrowed brow relaxed. “I’m sorry. Of course.”

  After a brief prayer, the platters of food were passed, and quiet settled on everyone. The silence was so thick, she wanted to slash it with a knife. As soon as everyone had food, silverware clattered and they started to eat. “All right then, now what is this about Marc’s black box?”

  Zoya chewed for a minute. “We were gonna try and figure out what Uncle Marc could’ve used for the code when we spotted his shiny box on Andie’s dresser.”

  Andie nodded. “Yeah, and I’
ve never been able to open it, so we thought maybe the secret was inside.”

  “I turned it over and saw Uncle Marc’s initials, but the more I rubbed, the more I noticed that it looked different under the light.”

  “It wasn’t as shiny. You know, a little duller.” Andie shoveled more roast beef into her mouth.

  “And one of the letters was longer than the others. But the closer I looked, I realized the long part wasn’t attached.”

  Anesia felt like an observer of a tennis match. Andie and Zoya volleyed their words back and forth across the table. She shook her head. “Okay, so let me get this straight. You think Uncle Marc’s box holds the clue for whatever Cole is looking for?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Yes.”

  “All right. But what does the dull part about his initials mean?” Anesia poured herself more tea. “I’m a bit confused.”

  “Don’t know. Just thought it was interesting.” Zoya shrugged.

  Jenna and Cole set their forks down and stared across the table at each other. Uh oh. What did they know?

  “Girls, we need to find that box.” Cole wiped his mouth with his napkin.

  Anesia had to give him credit. At least he remained calm. For the moment.

  “Where did you last see it?” Jenna asked. “Was it at home when you placed it in your pocket?”

  Andie shook her head. “I remember rubbing the smooth surface during the sermon. Sorry. I got a little distracted and started thinking about how to open the box and what could be in the box . . . I hadn’t thought about it in so long. It was kinda fun. Like a mystery that needed to be solved.”

  “And we wanted to help solve it.” Zoya looked to Cole. “We were hoping you could help us get it open today. Even if we had to break it.”

  “Well, I will gladly help you with that.” Cole raked a hand through his hair. “But we need to find it first.”

  Andie turned to her stepfather. “Are you mad at me for losing it?”

  His face softened. And he sighed. “Sorry, Squirt. I know I seem tense right now, but I’m not mad at you. After your description of the engraving on the back, I’m curious to take a look at it.”

  A knock sounded at the door, and then Sean called out.

  “Come on in, Sean, we’re in the dining room.” If only Marc had never been involved in the military and its secret technology. How much would they have to endure for the rest of their lives because of it?

  “Hello, everyone.” Sean sat down and began to fill his plate. He looked around the table at the solemn faces. “What’s going on?”

  “I lost something important today.” Andie looked like she just might cry.

  “Well, we’ll just have to find it then, won’t we?” He shot her syats’ae a smile. “Where do we look first?”

  Zoya smiled at him. His kindness to her best friend must’ve earned him some brownie points. “The church. That’s the last place she remembers having it.”

  “All right.” Anesia caught her daughter’s eyes and winked at her. “Now that we have a plan, why don’t we finish eating, and then we’ll call Pastor about letting us into the church. Sound good?”

  Cole and Jenna shared another glance down the table. Was there some other significance to the box?

  * * *

  ANESIA

  3:22 p.m.

  The troops clomped back into the house without speaking a word. A dark cloud hanging over their heads wouldn’t have been more obvious. What happened to the box?

  Pastor Brian had helped them search the entire campus. Everywhere the girls had been. Even the snowy parking lot. He’d even pulled out shovels and they dug through all the snow piles.

  But no black box.

  Andie and Zoya clung to each other and sat side by side on the couch.

  The adults stood in her foyer, trying to figure out what to do next.

  “Cole,” Jenna wrapped an arm around her husband’s waist. “We can’t do anything about it. Maybe it will turn up.”

  “I know, hon. I’m more frustrated with myself that I didn’t think of it sooner. Hank, Marc, and Lee all had one of those boxes. They had to hold something important.”

  “But maybe it wasn’t anything you actually need.”

  “Yeah.” He smiled down at his wife.

  Anesia felt that sense of longing flood her again. There were times watching those two that she thought maybe, just maybe she was missing out by remaining single.

  Cole grabbed her by the shoulders. “Thank you for not killing me earlier.” He chuckled. “I know you wanted to. You know how thick a skull I have, and well, I needed you to temper me.”

  “You’re welcome.” Her best friend had found a prize in that one.

  Sean clapped and rubbed his hands together. “Well.” He winked conspiratorially at Cole. “Who’s up for a game of Phase 10? I hear we have a champ in this house, and a couple of teens who think they can beat me.”

  The girls perked up on the couch. Anesia could’ve kissed Sean for his suggestion.

  Whoa! Where did that come from? Kiss him? Not likely. Not that the idea was repugnant or anything—

  Anesia shook her scrambling thoughts into submission, hoping her face wasn’t as red as it felt.

  “You okay?”

  She jerked a look at Sean. “What? Why?”

  “Your cheeks are all pink.”

  Drat. Time for a distraction. She forced a smile at him. “Let’s go back to the dining room and I’ll get everyone some ice cream and hot chocolate.”

  “That would hit the spot.”

  Sean’s warm smile sent her stomach into a little flip. What was wrong with her? She wasn’t a teenager anymore.

  The men followed Andie and Zoya into the dining room.

  Jenna came up beside Anesia. “Hit the spot, huh?” She elbowed Anesia in the ribs.

  “Oh, stop it.”

  “No way. After all the razzing you gave me about Cole, you have to give me my turn.”

  Anesia elbowed her back. “Razzing? I don’t ever recall razzing you, my dear friend.”

  “Whatever.” Jenna laughed. “I’ll stop. But you’re not foolin’ me, Anesia Naltsiine. I’ve known you far too long.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Oh, please. You’re attracted to him. And that scares you to death.”

  “Wha—?” Anesia could feel her jaw muscles stretch as it lowered to a definite bug-catching stance. No other words would come. She stood there. With her mouth hanging open.

  Her friend wrapped her in a hug. “I’ve got two eyes.”

  Anesia pulled back and stiffened. “That’s good. Maybe you should open them more often.”

  “Don’t get all bristly with me. Give me a little credit here.”

  Anesia rolled her eyes. “Fine. Let me have it.”

  “If you think you’re fooling anyone, you’re wrong. I’d have to be blind to miss the attraction between you two.”

  “Who two?”

  “You and Sean.”

  Anesia gasped. Was it that obvious? Could her daughter see it, too? Did Zoya think she flirted with Sean? Is that why Zoya teased her about him? She covered her mouth with her hand.

  Jenna grabbed her arm. “Don’t worry. I don’t think the girls suspect anything. And Sean’s just as clueless.”

  “Hey!” Cole yelled from the other room. “You ladies gonna join us?”

  “Be right there.” Anesia wanted to melt into the floor then and there. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks yet again.

  “Just be yourself. You’ve put off your own happiness for far too long.”

  “I’m not sure I appreciate God’s sense of humor here.”

  “Huh?” Jenna started scooping ice cream into bowls.

  Anesia slammed her hand onto the counter. “I mean, right before the shooting, I’d finally gotten tired of feeling alone. Finally thought I’d give love another chance. But Jenna, look. I’ve got to keep Zoya first. Look at what that poor kid has gone through. I�
��ve got to protect her.”

  “Whoa. Hold it right there. Don’t you think you should leave Zoya in God’s hands? And what if God sent Sean so you’d have someone to lean on, someone to help you protect her?”

  “This coming from my OCD, control freak, best friend.” The barb slipped out before she could stop it.

  “Yeah, it is. And God had to use a plane crash in Denali National Park to get my attention and show me that He could take better care of my daughter and me. I don’t think you want to play tough with the Big Man.” Jenna continued filling bowls.

  Exactly. She knew what she had to do. Knew the struggle within herself. Knew the conversation she’d had with Him in the woods. But letting go was so much harder than she’d imagined.

  “So . . . spill it. I’m right, I told you so, and all that jazz. Now the real question is: What are you going to do about it?” Jenna popped a spoon of ice cream into her mouth and smiled around it.

  Anesia lifted her thick braid over her shoulder. “I don’t know. I noticed him most definitely when he first arrived, but I thought he was too good looking, you know? Like he wouldn’t have a brain or have any substance whatsoever. Then I find out the guy’s been to Harvard and was a VP for CROM. Then he had to go and love the dogs, the kennel, the job—he’s so stinkin’ helpful. The attraction started inching its way in. But with everything we’ve been through . . . first Marc, and then you and Andie, and now the mess with Zoya witnessing that murder . . . I just don’t know.”

  “It’s okay to allow yourself to fall in love, Anesia.”

  “I made a vow, Jenna.” Her words sounded harsh to her own ears.

  “I know. But the vow was to the Lord, to stay pure until marriage. Not a vow to never allow yourself to love again.”

  Her friend could never know the truth. That she didn’t trust herself. She was too passionate. That couldn’t be honoring to God. And she didn’t want to lose herself again. Couldn’t forgive herself.

  Jenna patted her arm and walked toward the dining room. “I hope you all are ready to get trounced, because I aim to win tonight.”

  Anesia stood there for a moment longer and pulled a long breath into her lungs. Was she that attracted to Sean? She shook her head. There wasn’t any room for these thoughts right now. Sean was her employee. And her friend. She wouldn’t allow herself to go any farther than that.