by Leigh Bale
She clasped it to her chest like a lifeline.
“I suggest you conserve the batteries,” he warned.
He left her then, closing the top door to the stairway with a hollow thud. She sprayed the beam of the flashlight around her prison. The window had been covered with a heavy piece of cardboard. It must be night outside, but she figured she’d been unconscious for awhile. What time was it? How many days had she been down here? Or had it merely been a few hours?
Wrapping the blanket around her shoulders, she picked up the tray of food and took it over to sit on the mattress. Not knowing when he might feed her again, she ate her fill, then curled up in a tight ball, her body trembling with fear.
What would Toni do if she were here? Calm, strong-willed, always-in-control Toni.
She would pray, that’s what she’d do. And conserve the battery of her flashlight. Then, she’d calmly find a way out of here. Cara realized now how much she’d relied on Toni. How badly she’d treated her older sister. No matter how mean Cara acted, Toni was always there for her. Sure, they had fights like any other sisters, but deep inside, Cara knew Toni loved her and would do anything for her.
She sure wished Toni was here, now.
In spite of her captor’s promise, Cara wondered if she’d ever see her family again. She only hoped Toni found Eric’s missing file and handed it over so she could go free.
“Please, God. Help me,” Cara prayed. She asked for mercy and guidance, vowing to change if only the Lord gave her another chance.
Vowing to make things right with Toni.
Her body felt weak with fatigue and she realized her captor must have drugged her food. Logic told her the man wouldn’t poison her, but a sedative would keep her under control. Until he got what he wanted.
As she lay on the mattress, she continued her prayer. Thinking about the Lord calmed her enough to click off the flashlight before her eyelids dropped closed.
If only she could see Toni again. If only she had one more chance to make things right with her family. She’d change. She promised.
Chapter Fourteen
Mac drove Toni to her Aunt Holly’s house in Summerlin. In the quiet of night, Toni fell asleep, laying her head back against the seat. For several minutes, Mac sat in the truck after he’d killed the engine and watched her sleep. A strange emptiness settled in the pit of his stomach. He longed to protect her and her family. In spite of all his training, he felt so inept and helpless.
He reached out and nudged her shoulder. “Wake up, sleepy head. We’re here.”
She blinked and sat up straight. “I must have dozed off.”
He got out and limped around to open the door for her, then walked her to the front step.
“I’ll pick you up around eight in the morning so we can go visit Colonel Wilkinson. We’ll figure things out. Get a good night’s rest,” he told her.
“Thanks, Mac. Good night.” She gave him a faint smile.
Mac waited outside until her Uncle Glade answered the door and she was safely inside, the dead bolt thrown into place. When he steered his truck away from the house, Mac saw her standing at the open window of the living room, watching him.
As he skirted the evening traffic, he felt tempted to ask his Heavenly Father for help, but hesitated.
What if God let him down again?
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Maybe he should try prayer again. Just one more time.
* * *
The following morning, Mac picked up Toni. Taking the freeway, he headed south, skirting through traffic with ease. She sat quiet in her seat, frustrated that she hadn’t heard from Cara. Mac knew Toni hadn’t slept much the night before. Neither had he.
Toni’s cell phone rang and she dug into her purse, finding the phone before flipping it open. “Hello, Cara?”
She froze, staring at Mac with wide eyes. Scenery flashed by as the color drained from her face. From her expression, the news couldn’t be good.
“Who is this?” She spoke into the receiver, her voice trembling. “But I don’t know where it is. I’ve only received a letter and some pictures. Can’t you at least tell me what I should be looking for?”
A horrible, swelling silence followed. Mac gripped the steering wheel with whitened knuckles, listening intently, focused on her stricken face.
Toni tightened her grip on the phone. “Yes, I understand. Now, let me talk to Cara. I need to know she’s all right.”
Mac hesitated, dreading this phone call. Knowing what it meant.
“Cara? Are you okay, honey? No, please, let me talk to her again. She’s just a kid. Please don’t hurt her.”
Another pause, then Toni hung up the phone, dropping it into her lap. She buried her face in her hands and gave a low sob.
“What did they say?” Mac reached across the seat and squeezed her arm, feeling the tremors shaking her body.
She looked at him, her eyes sparkling with tears. “They’ve taken Cara. They’ve given me twenty-four hours to find Eric’s missing file or he said they’d kill her.”
“They?”
She nodded and wiped her eyes. “Yes, he said ‘we’ want the file Eric sent you. I think it was a man, but he sounded strange. Like he was using one of those sound synthesizers to disguise his voice. But I think he must have a partner he’s working with. How did he get my cell phone number?”
“Probably from Cara. Does your caller ID show a phone number?”
She checked. “It says payphone.”
“Did they let you talk to Cara?”
“Yes, they let me hear her voice, but only for a couple of seconds.”
“Proof of life is a good sign.”
“She sounded so frightened, Mac. She thinks I’m her enemy. I may never get the chance to tell her how sorry I am and how much I really love her. I don’t think I can live with myself if something happens to her.”
Mac understood perfectly. He still hadn’t been able to forgive himself for what happened in Afghanistan. But this situation was different. It wasn’t Toni’s fault her sister had been taken, but it was Mac’s fault Eric had died.
“What now?” Her voice sounded hoarse.
“Now? We visit the Colonel. You’ve had a demand for ransom and he’ll call in the FBI.”
“But the kidnapper said they’d kill Cara if we call anyone.”
“I understand, but we need their help. This is a military issue. The NCIS and FBI are good at their jobs.”
“Mac, something’s bothering me,” she confessed.
“What’s that?”
“Your savings account. I accidentally saw the balance when we were back at your cabin. Where did you get so much money?”
He hardened his jaw. “It’s not a payoff, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m not a traitor or a spy.”
“No, of course not. But it did occur to me that someone might try to bribe you.”
He snorted. “Would you believe my parents sold our mountain meadow to the Natural Resources Conservation Service? The ambush in Afghanistan scared ten years off their lives. They gifted me with the money so I can go to medical school when my commission with the military expires in a few months. They want me home where they think I’ll be safe.”
Her eyes held a hint of nervousness. “Is that what you want?”
His gaze locked with hers. “Yes. I’m not going back to the military. I’ve applied for admittance to the medical school in Reno.” Mac watched her carefully, letting his words sink in.
“But I thought you wanted to make the military a career.”
He indicated his cane, which leaned against the seat between them. He no longer needed the crutch. “The doc said my leg won’t ever be the same. I can’t jump out of helicopters any more. I think I’d enjoy being a doctor and helping people more.”
“That sounds nice.” She looked away. “I’m very happy for you, Mac. Med school will be hard, but I know you’re up to the task. You alwa
ys got top grades in biology and math. Clarkston needs a compassionate doctor like you. When exactly does your commission expire?”
“In March, but they’ve given me the option of an early out because of my injury.”
“Good. Never again do I want to hear that someone I love has fallen in battle. You’ll have time to get settled before you start med school in the fall.”
Planning the future should be a time of joy. Instead, he felt overshadowed by gloom. “You still love me?”
She exhaled a slow breath. “I never stopped.”
Mac glanced at Toni, opening his mouth to say something more, then changing his mind. It’d do no good to speak of love. Not until this problem was resolved. She waited for his response with the patience of Job.
“What is it?” she finally asked.
“Toni, can I give you a loan for your store?”
She shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, but I can’t accept.”
“I have the money. You can pay it back once your store recovers.”
“That’s just it. The store will never recover. It’s old fashioned, in a bad location, and too far in debt. I’d never be able to pay you back. I only stepped in to run the store after Mom and Dad were killed.”
She clamped her mouth closed, as though she regretted confiding so much.
“Have you told your grandma how you feel?”
“No, I don’t want to hurt her.”
“I have a feeling she’d rather you were happy than spending your life doing something you hate. You should tell her the truth.”
The way Mac should tell Toni the truth. But his situation was much different. Toni’s grandma wouldn’t stop loving her if she knew Toni hated running the shoe store. But if Toni knew about Mac’s part in Eric’s death, she’d despise him. Mac needed more time. Hopefully NCIS would discover the truth soon. Mac awaited the ballistics report with baited breath. His greatest hope was that they proved him innocent of any wrongdoing in Eric’s death.
Chapter Fifteen
The drive from Vegas to Mountain Springs didn’t take long. Maybe forty minutes. Mac scanned the streets, looking for Amber Boulevard. Tall palm trees, cactus and flowers filled the front yards of tidy homes with red tiled roofs. Because they lived in a desert, the law prohibited these newer homes from having any lawns. Instead, decorative rockwork and shrubs filled the yards.
“There it is,” Toni pointed and Mac turned the steering wheel as they drove down Colonel Wilkinson’s street.
Tension increased at the back of Mac’s neck. He didn’t know what to expect from this visit.
He glanced at Toni, noticing she’d applied a hint of color to her cheeks and lengthened her lashes with a touch of mascara. Driving down the road, he realized he loved her. So much that he couldn’t stand to hurt her with his own grief. She’d suffered enough already. He’d find a way to get Cara home safe. Then, they’d go their separate ways.
He parked in front of the Colonel’s spacious home and got out of the truck. He stared at the sandstone-colored structure, not at all what he expected. Knowing the Colonel’s habit of packing light and making do with very little during military operations, Mac expected a compact house with few amenities. The Colonel made a good salary, but how could he afford this sprawling home with tall marble arches over the entryway?
Maybe his wife had money.
It just went to show how little Mac really knew about the Colonel’s personal life. It must be the same for all the men on his MARSOC team. Sure, the men talked about their girlfriends, wives and children, but what did Mac really know about them and their lives at home? Except for Eric and Derek Hooper, Mac had spent little time with his buddies in civilian life. But he knew each and every man would defend his back against enemy fire. As far as Mac was concerned, that kind of courage said a lot about a man and his true character.
As they walked up the sidewalk, the sprinkler system whooshed over the curving flowerbed and Mac caught the scent of damp earth.
He leaned against the wall while Toni rang the bell. The door opened and there stood Colonel Wilkinson, his hair buzzed short, his face clean-shaven, a tall man with not a bit of a paunch. Mac almost didn’t recognize him out of uniform. Dressed casually in khaki slacks and a blue shirt, the Colonel reached out and clasped Mac’s hand and grinned.
“Sergeant MacKenzie, this is a pleasant surprise. I couldn’t believe it when Gwynne told me you wanted to see me.” The Colonel lifted his bushy eyebrows at Toni. “And I guess this lovely lady is Eric’s sister?”
“Yes, this is Toni Hamilton.” A feeling of pride surged through Mac’s chest. He wished he could introduce her as his fiancée. But she wasn’t. Not anymore.
His smile faded.
The Colonel took Toni’s hand in a gentle grip and pulled her inside. “You’re just as pretty as Mac said. Come in. Sorry about Eric. He was a good man. One of the best. I could depend on him to get the job done.”
Mac almost groaned. Had he told the Colonel Toni was pretty? What was he thinking?
“Thank you,” she spoke in a quiet voice, glancing at Mac with uncertainty.
Mac followed them into the spacious entrance and an older woman dressed in shorts, a tank top and slim sandals greeted them. “Hello, Mac, how have you been?”
“Mac, you remember my wife, Gwynne.”
“Of course. It’s good to see you again, Mrs. Wilkinson.” Mac nodded respectfully.
“And you, too. I was so happy to hear you were safe.” Gwynne embraced him and he felt the heat of a blush stain his face. He couldn’t forget this was his Colonel’s wife no matter how informal the setting.
The Colonel led Toni into the kitchen. Gwynne and Mac followed behind.
“How about something cool to drink?” Gwynne offered.
In the kitchen, she poured glasses of lemonade from an iced pitcher and handed one to Toni and Mac. The ice chinked as they took a sip.
An uncomfortable silence settled over them.
Gwynne laughed. “I still can’t get used to having RJ home. Sometimes I feel as though I should salute my own husband.”
Mac chuckled. “I understand. When I’m at my father’s cabin, I keep forgetting not to salute him. He’s got a gravelly voice like the Colonel’s.”
They all laughed and he realized he respected these two people. It seemed odd to be out of uniform and casually drinking lemonade in their home.
“Let’s sit out on the patio,” Gwynne urged. “There’s a nice breeze in the shade.”
She urged them through the vast family room and out the wide French doors onto the patio. Toni carried Mac’s glass of lemonade so he could negotiate the steps with his cane.
A swimming pool gleamed in the back yard, clear and inviting. Colorful purple sage, yellow prickly pear and red cholla blooms filled the flowerbeds.
“This is beautiful,” Toni breathed deep and fidgeted with her handbag. No doubt she wished Mrs. Wilkinson would leave so they could speak frankly and seek the Colonel’s help.
“Thank you.” Gwynne sighed as she gazed at the yard.
They sat in comfy lawn chairs. The gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of prickly pear blossoms on the air. Toni shifted nervously in her seat and Mac could tell she was anxious to question the Colonel about Eric’s file. So was he.
A veteran at discretion, Gwynne seemed to sense they wanted time alone with the Colonel. “I’d love to sit here and talk all day, but even a Colonel’s wife has laundry to wash.”
Both the Colonel and Mac came to their feet. Mac braced one hand on the table to steady himself without the cane.
“You two sit down and relax,” Gwynne urged as she headed for the house.
Mac sat beside the Colonel. Wilkinson leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together. He looked directly at Mac, his friendly smile replaced by narrowed eyes and a furrowed frown. Mac knew this piercing look. The Colonel was no nonsense when it came to business.
“What’s
going on, Mac? I can tell this isn’t just a social call.”
In soft tones, Mac explained the situation, including the fact that Cara had been kidnapped and they had less than two days to find Eric’s missing file.
Toni reached inside her purse and withdrew some papers and the picture of Mac posing with Eric and Lieutenant Andrus. She handed them to the Colonel. “This is a replica of Eric’s stolen letter. I tried to write down everything I could remember from what he said, word for word. I read the original enough times that I think I got it right.”
The Colonel withdrew a pair of reading glasses from his breast pocket and put them on before he scanned the pages. He grunted. “Hmm, you have no idea what file the letter is referring to?”
Mac quirked his mouth. “No, we were hoping you might be able to pull some strings and get a look at his military personnel file. We don’t know where else to turn.”
The Colonel handed the letter to Toni, then sat back in his chair and crossed his legs, looking over the rim of his spectacles. “You realize Eric’s personnel file won’t have anything in it. I’m retired now and don’t have access to that info, but I’ll do everything I can to find something out.”
“That’s all we ask,” Mac said.
“But what about my sister? Please help me.” Tears beaded in the corners of Toni’s eyes.
“The man you described with the ponytail sounds like he’s from the Middle East. If what you say is true, you could be dealing with the Taliban and they won’t think twice about harming the girl. I’ll call in the FBI and NCIS. They can tap your phones and stake out your house. In the meantime, you and Mac should do everything you can to find Eric’s missing file.”
Mac shifted in his seat. “You and I know if the kidnappers want to harm Cara, they’ve probably already done it.”
Toni made a small sound in the back of her throat and he reached for her hand. The gesture didn’t go unnoticed by the Colonel, who eyed their clasped fingers with a thoughtful frown.
Mac hated adding pain to Toni’s anguish, but she had to know the worst-case scenario if she was going to help resolve the problem. The warmth of her fingers seemed to burn his flesh. He couldn’t let her down. He just couldn’t.
