Chapter 13
13
Sisco's gaze dropped to their hands clasped together. He watched as she twisted her neck to focus on his face. Her lips curved ever so slightly as her fingers squeezed his. And he knew that whatever he was feeling, she was feeling something, too.
“Okay, what about when you got away?” Agent Dundee's question cut through Sisco and Lenore's moment.
She turned back to face the others, and Sisco immediately felt the loss of her attention.
“I had watched as the sun began to move toward the west by following the direction that the shadows of our crossing of rocks were. I didn't know where we were, but I imagined that southeast was a good possibility for me to try to get somewhere. Anywhere. I didn't have a plan, but as soon as I got outside, it became evident I only had about an hour of daylight left. I didn't recognize where I was, but I headed southeast.” She snorted, shaking her head. “As long as there was still a little daylight, I could tell the direction I was heading because of the shadows. I was partially on a trail but sometimes just on loose gravel. I rolled into a ravine.”
She jerked her gaze over to where Vivian stood in the kitchen as though she just remembered something. “Thank you, by the way, for the bandages.”
Sisco frowned, wishing he had been the one to offer that assistance to her. But at the thought that she might have other injuries, he hoped he could convince her to let him look at her ribs. She didn't appear to have a concussion, but he inwardly cursed that he hadn't checked.
“Eventually, it became too dark, and I knew it was too dangerous to keep going. Of course, I knew it would be dangerous to be out in the elements at night, but I didn't really have a choice. As soon as it looked like I might have a signal, I pressed the emergency button on Freddy's phone and tried to tell them to get in touch with you, Sisco.” She turned her head to look at him, squeezing his hand again.
He nodded, his lips curving slightly. “That was good thinking.”
“I had no idea if it would matter, but I didn't know where I was. I thought if you… or… someone knew who had escaped, you might be able to get some kind of signal off Freddy's phone.” Her voice tapered off with each word, and a crinkle formed between her brows. “Maybe that was dumb…”
“Nope, it was perfect thinking,” he assured.
The others in the room chimed in, and Sisco watched as a light pink blush filled her face. He tightened his arm, hugging her from the side. Leaning in, he repeated, “It was perfect.”
She swallowed. “If you hadn't shared about your job, I would have never known you or what to do.” Her body jerked, “Oh God, they would have taken both me and Evie and then?—”
“No, Lenore,” he said firmly to move her out of the world of what-ifs . “Let that go. You can only deal with what happened and how you escaped. Any other thoughts don't matter because you and Evie are safe now.”
She blinked rapidly, and he saw moisture gathering in her eyes. Then he leaned deeper and brushed his bearded cheek along hers until his lips were at her ears. “You don't have to prove you're brave by not crying. Go ahead and cry all you want. We'll… I'll be right here to hold you while you do.”
As he leaned back to look into her eyes, he watched as a lone tear slid down her face, and he gently wiped it away. She swallowed several times, then inhaled a shuddering breath and nodded.
“Lenore, we appreciate all you've been through and the information you're providing. I promise we're almost through for now,” Agent Dundee said.
Lenore took another deep breath, let it out slowly, then nodded. Sisco glanced around, noting how impressed his coworkers were. She was made of stronger stuff than she realized, but he'd recognized it early on. She was beautiful, but what he'd learned from her in the chapel let him know just how amazing she was.
“I got a call back from someone who said they were Sadie.” She looked over at the woman sitting nearby. “Is that you?” At the nod from Sadie, Lenore added, “It's nice to put a face to the name. Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” Sadie acknowledged. “But the kudos goes to you.”
Lenore's lips curved again, and she turned back to the agents. “The next thing I know, a helicopter landed, and Sisco came to me.”
“What was said about their business or drugs or plans?” Agent Tomey pressed.
She shook her head and lifted her shoulders. “They mentioned a knife fight in the jail that was planned. That was how Raul was injured. But they didn't discuss their plans, where they were going, or who was picking them up.” She looked down, then suddenly startled, and jerked her gaze up again. “They mentioned a helicopter was coming for them. I assumed it was different from the one that had brought us there, or else there would have been no reason to be dropped off in that remote location. They also didn't talk about…” She let out a ragged breath. “Um… what they were going to do with me when they left. Freddy spent most of his time being annoying or playing games on his phone. He was on his phone a lot.”
Dalton said, “We've downloaded everything from his phone. We'll analyze it. You'll be the first to know if we come up with anything.” He held out the cell phone to the agent sitting closest to him.
Agent Tomey took the phone from Dalton, held his gaze, and turned to look at Landon. “Are you on this?”
Landon corrected, “I'm not in charge. Just the liaison with the Bureau. Logan runs this operation.”
Agent Tomey shifted his gaze to Logan. “My apologies. But I'll now ask you the question. Is LSIMT on this case? As far as I know, the Bureau hasn't officially asked for assistance.”
Logan's face was hard as he stared unblinking toward the agents. “One of my men was held at gunpoint. And he continued to be held at gunpoint when he was unable to defend himself because he was protecting a child in his arms. And a friend of his was also taken at gunpoint, kidnapped, abused, and when she had the chance to escape, she thought of my man and my organization as her chance at rescue. So, yes… I'd say that constitutes LSIMT as on this case.”
The entire room fell silent, and Sisco felt his lungs depress at Logan's announcement. He'd already decided to search for Raul and make him pay, but to hear that Logan already considered the organization to be on the trail took him by surprise. Inwardly shaking his head, he knew Logan was still the same man he'd served with years ago as a SEAL. No way would Logan not consider Raul's actions to be worthy of a mission. Glancing around the room, he noted the same expression on each Keepers' face. Pride filled his chest, and his arm tightened around Lenore again.
Agents Tomey and Dundee shared a look, then nodded. “We'll notify our superiors, but I'm sure they'll appreciate the assistance, considering the Bureau is stretched thin. And considering the cartels are sending the drugs to Canada, the DEA will also be on the case.” Agent Tomey turned his attention back to Lenore. After a few more questions, the agents stood after thanking Lenore, then walked out of the room, escorted by Logan and Landon. The other Keepers said good night and once again waved away Lenore’s effusive thanks.
Vivian moved closer. “You're welcome to stay in another guest room, but I understand you want to sleep with Evie. So, please, make yourself at home, and I'll see you in the morning.” She turned to Sisco. “I trust you'll make sure she has everything she needs.”
“Absolutely.”
Lenore opened her arms and wrapped them around Vivian in a heartfelt hug. Lenore then bent to offer Mary the same warm hug.
Sisco was again filled with how right it felt to have Lenore on the compound. Before he knew it, everyone had left the room except him and Lenore. “I'll see you to your room if that's okay. I'd like to check in on Evie again before you turn in.”
She nodded. “I'd like that.” With their hands still clasped, they walked down the hall together. Once inside the room, their footsteps were muffled by the thick rug covering the wooden floor. Evie was still asleep, her arms clutching a stuffed animal.
“Your friends have been so good to us,” Lenore whispered. “Vivian said that one of the men went out and bought her some pajamas and clean clothes. I see that he returned with that stuffed toy.”
He assumed Bert must have gotten the stuffed animal, but Sisco vowed he'd be the one who would buy whatever Evie's heart desired next.
“They also said she'd been playing with the kittens,” Lenore continued.
“I work with some of the best people I've ever met in my life,” Sisco admitted easily. “I'm pleased you've had a chance to meet them and understand both their dedication and kindness.”
She sucked in a deep breath, and he noted it was shaky as it left her body. Her tongue darted out and dragged her bottom lip. He turned more fully toward her with his hands on her shoulders and peered into her eyes. As a medic, he wanted to assess her pupils, but he also wanted to drown in the blue orbs that held him captive.
“You mentioned falling down a ravine. Are you sure you're not injured? Ribs hurt? Did you hit your head?”
“No. Some scrapes and bruises, that's all. Vivian left ointment and bandages for me when I took a shower.”
Her hair had dried, and the dark tresses waved gently to her shoulders. He liked the unruly look and wondered if it was as soft as it appeared. Unable to help himself, he lifted his hand and slid it along the back of her neck, his fingers gliding along the silken strands. Then focusing on her eyes again, he asked, “How are you… really ?”
Her gaze met his, and her eyes were filled with concern. “The past day has been insane. I don't know how to make sense of it, and I don't know how to help my daughter make sense of it, either.”
“I think you can do anything, Lenore, but never be afraid to say you need help. I would expect some PTSD from what you've gone through. Let me know if you need to talk to someone who specializes in this.”
“Evie and I have a counselor that we see because of her cancer and even abandonment issues. I'll give them a call tomorrow when I get back home.”
He hesitated, battling whether to tell her what to expect when she returned home tomorrow. She and Evie had seen Freddy kill a deputy, and she’d been held at a temporary hideout with a known drug transporter for one of the large cartels. LSIMT was already in the process of setting up security for her.
Then staring into her eyes which could barely stay open, he figured that news could wait until she'd had a good night's sleep. Leaning forward, he touched her forehead with his lips and kissed her gently. “I'll be close by since I'm spending the night in the bunkhouse. I'll see you in the morning.” She nodded and smiled, and then he squeezed her hand before turning and walking out of the room, afraid if he didn't leave her then, he might crawl in bed behind her so that as her arms wrapped around Evie, his arms could wrap around both of them, knowing they'd be safe.
Trusting that he'd see her the following morning, he walked away with a smile. He left the room, and Vivian stopped him as he approached the front door. “You can stay in another guest room if you'd like?—”
He started to protest, but she continued. “Or sleep on the sofa just in the den. That way, you'd be close if she needed you. And if not, then you'd be close in the morning. I know Evie would like to see you bright and early.”
Suddenly, the desire to remain close was all he could think of. Smiling again, he nodded. “Thanks. The sofa will be fine.”
“Good. I thought you might say that. I have a pillow and blankets there already. Good night, Sisco.”
Chuckling, he nodded as she headed upstairs to her and Logan's room, and he headed into the den. Logan had found a good woman who fit perfectly with the life they had carved out for themselves here. Thinking of the woman in the room down the hall, he knew he'd also found a good woman. And Evie already had him wrapped around her finger.