Race Against Time

by kimberly

  The dogs saw her coming and yapped expectantly.

  With deft movements, she unlocked the shed and pulled out her fastest sled. Her movements were quick and steady. Years of practice and training had her ready with a team of dogs in under ninety seconds.

  She released the hooks that anchored her sled and the team took off. As the sled whooshed on the fresh powder, Anesia whispered to the wind.

  “Hold on, baby girl. I’m coming.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  SLIM

  February 3

  Naltsiine Kennels

  9:59 a.m.

  Great. Two police cruisers sat in front of Anesia’s house. What were they doing there? He needed those chips. Now.

  He parked in the long driveway and pulled binoculars out of the glove compartment so he could watch through the windows.

  Yep. Two cops. Sitting in the living room with computers set up. One talked on a radio.

  Something must’ve gone down.

  This would mess up his plan. His buyer already said they couldn’t wait. How was he gonna get those chips?

  The cell phone on the console bleeped at him. The familiar number flashing with the incoming call.

  “Hello?”

  “Well, hello, Slim. How are you doing today?”

  Great. The guy wanted to make small talk. “Fine. You?”

  The man chuckled. “I’m doing very well. Just wondering about you. One of my few employees that I care about.”

  Yeah, right. “As I recall, you weren’t real happy with me last time we talked. Are you willing to up your price?”

  “You aren’t in any position to negotiate”—The congenial tone turned hard—“I know they found the chips. But I have a plan that will help us both.”

  He sat up straight in his seat. No. It couldn’t be true. The guy was playing him. “What do you mean they found the chips?”

  “Exactly what I said. They found them yesterday. Pulled more than fifty chips out of those poor dogs. While you were shopping. The FBI has them.”

  How did this man know where he’d been? Nausea rolled through his stomach. This guy was bad news. The money and power had seemed so intoxicating, but now he felt sick. How would he get his money now?

  “Slim? You still there?” The voice changed back to its original soothing sound. “Like I said, I have a plan. It’ll help us both, and you can still get your share.”

  “I’m listening.” Would Ma want him to continue?

  “I’m tracking all of the players right now. It seems little Zoya has run away because of the threats, and mommy dearest has gone after her. The police don’t realize Anesia has left yet. But you and I do. I want you to kidnap Anesia while everyone else is looking for Zoya. Then we’ll ransom her for the chips.”

  Who did this guy think he was? “I’m not an idiot. There’s no way the feds are going to trade one lady of no importance for those chips and you know it.”

  “Ah, but that’s where you’re not seeing the full picture. Of course they won’t trade her for the chips—they’ll certainly switch them out with phonies and then ambush at the hand-off—but I have a man inside. A man who can get us the real chips while everyone is out trying to catch the kidnappers.”

  He sucked in a breath. “You’ve had a man inside this whole time?”

  “Of course. I like to keep my options open.”

  * * *

  COLE

  February 3

  Miles outside of North Pole, Alaska

  11:24 a.m.

  “Whoa!” Cole slowed the dogs to a stop and pulled out the crackling radio. “Maddox here. Whatcha got?”

  It was Sean. “I lost my GPS in a tumble down a hill a little while ago, so I’m not sure where I’m at, but I found some faint tracks. They may or may not—” Sean’s voice broke up as the radio crackled and hissed.

  “Sean! I think you’re getting out of range. What were your last coordinates?”

  No response.

  “Sean! Can you hear me?”

  Nothing.

  Not good.

  Maybe he should head north, toward Sean’s last known coordinates, and follow his tracks.

  Time ran out all too quick in this frozen north. Heavy snow fell now, and light dimmed on the horizon.

  The roar of a plane’s engines echoed toward him.

  Jenna.

  Maybe she’d seen something in her wide sweep.

  Cole clicked the small handheld radio. She’d be in range for only a little bit. “Jenna, I’m below you at a clearing just north of Pleasant Valley. Have you found anything?”

  “Nothing yet, Cole”—Andie’s voice came over the com—“but I’m sure we’ll find her.”

  “Can you see Sean? I lost contact with him, but I think he said he saw tracks.”

  “We saw him a little bit ago. Mom says we’ll sweep back that way.”

  He watched the plane change directions. “Good. We won’t have light for long today.”

  * * *

  SEAN

  11:35 a.m.

  There. Barking in the distance. Could it be Zoya?

  Sean pushed his dogs as fast as he dared following the call of the dogs ahead. After another hill his sled broke through the edge of the trees. A lone cabin sat in the distance.

  And sled tracks led straight to it.

  Sean slowed his team as he reached the cabin and set his hooks. The cabin seemed deserted except for a dying trail of smoke from the chimney. He banged on the door.

  Nothing.

  The barking grew louder. There were definitely dogs inside that cabin. Grabbing the handle, Sean pushed on the door. As it groaned its way open, his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the interior.

  A lump in the corner captured his gaze.

  Lifeless and gray.

  Zoya!

  * * *

  RICK

  11:37 a.m.

  The hit would take place later that afternoon. Everything was in place.

  His chest ached with every breath. Probably his imagination, kicked it into high gear. If he were going to die from a heart attack, it would’ve happened by now, wouldn’t it?

  Rick popped another pill into his mouth and swigged water down with it.

  His phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID. Good, his man. “Yeah?”

  Raspy breathing answered.

  “Hello? Olman, is that you?”

  “Yeah”—a gurgly wheeze came over the line—“you’ve been duped, man . . .”

  “What do you mean? What’s wrong with you?”

  “They . . .” A long exhale resounded in his ear.

  “Olman!”

  Thud.

  “Olman!”

  Dead air.

  Rick’s hands shook. He hit END on his phone and glanced at his watch. Not much time.

  He’d ordered the hit. But he’d also ordered the hit to prevent the hit. If Olman was dead . . . then one of the pieces was no longer in play.

  And Zoya would die.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  ZOYA

  11:40 a.m.

  Someone stroked my hair.

  Mom? Had they found me?

  No. It couldn’t be.

  Was I in heaven? Would I have to stand before God? Look at Him? Talk to Him? Tell Him about my doubts?

  Guilt flooded over me. No, it couldn’t be Him . . . Why would He still want me after what I had done?

  “Shh . . . Sunshine, it’s okay. I’m here.”

  Sean?

  My eyes slid open. Sean sat beside me. Heavy coat. Tousled blond hair. Tears running down his cheeks.

  Thank You, God. How had he found me?

  No, I couldn’t let him take me back. Those men would hurt Mom. Kill her. I had to get away. From Sean. From everyone.

  “Sean?” His face loomed above mine. In that moment my heart tensed so much I almost couldn’t breathe again. I’d missed him. More than he could ever know.

  Why had I run away?

  My vision fogged.

/>   A gun . . .

  I blinked back the images. For some reason, they weren’t as scary as usual . . .

  “It’s okay. I’m here, Sunshine. I’m right here. I found you, it’s going to be okay.” Sean put a hand to my forehead. Did I have a fever?

  No.

  Tears ran down my cheeks. The anger . . .

  “Shh . . . Zoya, it’s okay.” Sean pulled me up into his arms.

  I let the tears come. One by one. Agonizing torture.

  I cried. As the tears fell, my anger puddled at my feet. And then, just like that, it was gone. But it would return. It always did.

  “Shh . . . Sunshine, it’ll be okay.”

  How could he say that? I grabbed his arm and pulled myself closer.

  For the first time in weeks I felt safe.

  But not safe enough.

  I couldn’t help but think of Jesus, even though I promised not to. He died on the cross. Took my sin. He paid the price for me.

  So why hadn’t He taken care of me? Or saved my dad? Or kept that man from being murdered?

  Sean rubbed my back in a slow, circular pattern. I let myself melt into his gigantic frame.

  “Sunshine, talk to me.” Sean’s gentle whisper made my heart break. Again.

  I wanted to talk. But I couldn’t.

  I wanted to make things right. But I couldn’t.

  I wanted to trust God.

  But I couldn’t.

  “I feel so lost.” I tried to pull myself as close as possible. I couldn’t get close enough. Couldn’t hide. Couldn’t run. Fear, anger, hatred stared me straight in the face.

  I didn’t want to listen to their demands to come into my heart.

  But I did. I let them in. Just like I’d done before.

  Nothing made any sense anymore. I wanted to die. To lose my spirit and return to the dust. Never again to return.

  But I was there. There with Sean. In a cabin far away from home. In a dungeon far away from God. My Savior. My Friend. My Father.

  God . . . please. I don’t know how to get back.

  “I’ll take you home, Zoya. I’ll get you home.”

  My body trembled all over. I didn’t know why. I didn’t know how to stop it. But I was there. With people who loved me.

  God loved me. But did I still love Him?

  “I can’t do it, Sean. I just can’t do it.”

  He squeezed.

  “I can’t feel God. I don’t feel Him by my side.” My voice squeaked. Everything in me shook. Everything cried out my fear, that I wanted someone to take away all this pain. Forever.

  “I feel lost and alone. I don’t know how to get God back. I don’t know how to live without Him. Yet I don’t want Him to be here if it’s going to cause all this pain.”

  Sean held me. Said nothing. Just held me. As if assuring me. What was he trying to tell me? Why couldn’t I get the message?

  “Sunshine, God hasn’t left you. He’s been right by your side the entire time. He doesn’t leave us. We can move away from Him, but He never abandons us.”

  “Then why can’t I feel Him? Why isn’t He near?”

  “He is here. He brought me here, to you. He’s helping me know what to say to you. Just because you can’t feel Him, it doesn’t mean He’s not there.”

  I stared at the floor.

  Could that be true?

  No.

  Yes.

  Maybe . . .

  “Zoya, ‘He will never leave you nor forsake you.’ He loves you beyond description. You are His creation.”

  “Then why? Why is everything . . .” I tried to hold back the tears. It didn’t work.

  “He never leaves, He never abandons, He never drops you off at someone else’s doorstep as if you’re being thrown away. He loves you very much, Zoya. He wants you to run into His arms. To love Him. To trust Him.”

  I felt the rhythm of Sean’s chest, up and down. Listened to his heartbeat. Rubbed my fingers in circles against my snow pants.

  “God doesn’t move away from us, Sunshine. If anyone moves, it’s us. We move away. But He’s still there. Always. Waiting. Ready to open His arms to us.”

  His words repeated in my mind. Over and over.

  Was it true?

  Had God been there all along? And I just moved away? Had I not given Him time to show me He was there?

  I swallowed back more tears.

  No, He—

  Yes.

  I sobbed. Then sank into Sean’s embrace. What had I done?

  God, I’m sorry.

  I’m so, so sorry.

  * * *

  SEAN

  12:17 p.m.

  How could he not have known? How could he never have realized how much he could love someone? How deep love could go.

  As he sat there, holding Zoya, hearing her pain and despair, it was all he could do to hold back his own tears. This girl, this precious child, she was part of him. As much a part of him as Anesia had become. And all he wanted to do was comfort her. Protect her.

  “Zoya, listen to me.” Sean placed his hands on either side of her face. “God is here. He’s just waiting on you to reach out to Him. Let go of your fear and your doubt. Let go of the anger. He’s there with open arms, Sunshine. Run into them.”

  “But it’s all my fault”—her words choked on the sobs—“I couldn’t stop the murder. I couldn’t stop the murderers after that. I couldn’t protect my mom . . .”

  He tapped her nose. “That’s not your job.”

  She looked up at him. The dogs inched closer. One licked her face as she stroked its head. “But why would God want a failure? A kid whose mom and dad weren’t even married! Everyone’s always looked at me like I’m different. As soon as I was old enough to understand, their words haunted me. And they’ve always said that my mom distracted my dad. That he could’ve been the greatest champion ever if he’d never gotten messed up with that ‘girl’ they called her.” She sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve. “Why do some people have to be so ugly?”

  So much pain, so many wounds for one so young. God, ease her pain. “Living in a small town can be like that. But, living in a small town can be wonderful too. Can’t it?”

  She stared down at her hands.

  “I’m willing to bet there have only been a couple of people who’ve said those things to you. Am I right?”

  Zoya scuffed her boot on the floor. “Maybe.”

  “I’ve seen how many of those small-town people adore you and your mom. They respect you both, and they cheer you on during a race as if you belong to all of them.”

  “Yeah.” She chewed on her bottom lip and pulled a wiggling dog into her lap.

  “So maybe it’s about impressing people.”

  Her head popped up and she looked him in the eyes. Finally.

  “Maybe you’re just afraid. And you’ve let that fear take hold. You’ve driven yourself to prove you’re worthy. And you’ve let one or two people’s gossipy comments fester inside you. You’ve kept it hidden and squashed down, and then the horrific events of late made that festering, nasty infection explode. And the poison spread. So now, you have a choice to make.”

  Another sniff. “A choice?”

  “A choice.” Sean tapped her chin. “To hang on to your fear and anger, or to let it all go and forgive. Forgive your mom and dad. They weren’t perfect, but they loved you. Forgive whoever made those nasty comments. Those people, those words don’t define who you are. Forgive the murderer. It wasn’t your fault. Forgive the guy who shot you. Forgive whoever wrote those threatening notes. But most of all, you need to forgive yourself, Zoya. And be the beautiful Sunshine I know you are. You are God’s child. And perfectly worthy in His sight.”

  Zoya’s hand reached out and took his hand. “Sean . . .” The words choked, and she dove into his arms again.

  He hugged her close, wiggling dog and all. “Shhh . . . it’s okay.”

  He didn’t know how long she cried, how long they sat there like that, but finally she nodded ag
ainst his chest. “You’re right. It finally is okay.” She sucked in a shuddering breath. “I want to go home now.”

  “Good.”

  She sat back and wiped her face. “And I want to tell Mom everything. Then I want to tell Andie, and Auntie Jenna, and Cole, and my Uncle Rick.”

  He flinched. “Your who?”

  “My dad’s brother. He came to one of my races recently and talked to Mom. But I’d just gotten one of those notes and passed out.”

  “Okay then. We’ll tell Uncle Rick.”

  Zoya smiled. The first real smile Sean had seen in a long time. He hugged her close, then stood.

  “Come on, Sunshine. It’s time to go home.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  SEAN

  3:08 p.m.

  Dogs yapped in their harnesses as he finished hooking them up. The lead dogs would have to wait until they were fully loaded, otherwise, they’d take off without him. Snowhooks and all. He looked over his shoulder.

  Again.

  What is it, Lord? Why do I feel so on edge?

  If he didn’t know better, he’d think someone was out there. Watching . . .

  He shook the feeling away and pulled out his radio. It hissed at him again. No signal. Sean pulled out his cell. No signal there either. They’d have to get closer to civilization for him to let everyone know that he’d found Zoya.

  If only he could’ve found the GPS. But after the sled took that crazy tumble, he was thankful he’d made it in one piece. The last information he’d received had been from Charlie when he’d given him the coordinates of this cabin. Once he found Zoya’s tracks, he knew he was onto something, but he’d gotten too far away from Cole for the FRS transmissions on their little handheld radios to work.

  Now their window of daylight was gone, but at least it had stopped snowing. For the moment.

  He didn’t relish heading back in the dark, but he was even less inclined to keep everyone worrying. As long as they didn’t hit another storm, they’d be fine.