Face in the Mirror

by Paula Mowery

  Charlie flinched. Her gaze met Jordan’s, and his brow crinkled.

  “I’m not going to pull him from this mission. There had been no red flags prior to this and I wish him success after overcoming such difficulty. He never got into trouble with the law that showed up on in any background checks.”

  “Thank you, Captain.” The call ended and Charlie sat in silence for a moment, collecting her thoughts.

  Charlie frowned. “Is this why I’ve felt uneasy? Can we trust Nathan?”

  Jordan swiped his hand down his face. “We have no choice. Maybe we need to give him the benefit of the doubt. He could be totally rehabilitated and he’s trying to make a new life and career for himself. The captain seems to think so”

  “I pray you’re right.”

  ~*~

  Nathan jogged to the entrance of the bed and breakfast. He ducked inside.

  “Afternoon.” An older man greeted him.

  “Afternoon. I believe we have reservations. Greene? Mr. and Mrs. Greene?” Nathan tried to calm his pulse. He didn’t want to give any indication that what he was saying wasn’t the truth.

  “Yes, right here. Bill’s all clear. Just need to give you your key.” The man turned around and slipped a key from a hook. He whirled back around and smiled, extending the key to Nathan. “Room number five. Right up those steps and down the hall on the right. Enjoy your stay.”

  “Thank you.” Nathan hurried back out to the car. He needed to secure Sydney inside. “Come on. We’re set.” He opened the trunk and grabbed his small overnight bag.

  Sydney nodded and hopped out her passenger side door and scurried to the walkway. She obviously wanted to get out of sight too. She stayed close on his heels all the way up the stairs to their room. He closed the door behind them, and she collapsed on the bed.

  “Whew. I feel like I have a big red target painted on me.”

  He bit back his agreement. “Look, you take the bed, and I’ll sleep on this couch.”

  She sprang to a sitting position. “Oh no, no. You need to be able to sleep. You take the bed.”

  Nathan put up his hand in protest. “No ma’am. I insist.”

  Her cheeks pinked. “Thanks. And thank you for doing this for me.” Her hazel eyes gazed at him with such deep sincerity.

  “You’re welcome. As a precaution, stay away from the windows. He pulled he drapes closed.” He glanced around the room, diverting his stare from her. She was attractive, but he needed to remain focused. He cleared his throat and looked back at her. “Why don’t I run for some food? I think I saw a fast food drive-thru just up the road.”

  Sydney smiled and her dimples reappeared. “OK.” She sucked air through her teeth and shrugged. “I’ll be here.”

  “Don’t open the door until you hear my knock.” He demonstrated the rhythm of his knock and left, waiting in the hallway until he heard the deadbolt move.

  Nathan picked up burgers, fries, and soft drinks and decided on two chocolate milkshakes as well. He spotted a convenience store with t-shirts in the window and purchased a pink one in a size small.

  He returned to their room.

  Sydney lay propped on her elbows on the bed, reading a book. He tossed her the bag with the shirt. “Thought you might want something else to change into. Sorry I can’t find a whole change of clothes.”

  “That was so thoughtful. Thank you.” She held the shirt to her chest.

  Nathan raised the paper bag. “Not too nutritious but it’ll have to do.”

  She joined him at a small round table near the window. Before unwrapping her burger, she bowed her head and closed her eyes. He remained still until she opened her eyes again.

  Sydney pulled the paper off her straw and pushed it into her soda. She picked up the other straw and waved it. “What is this one for?”

  “Chocolate milkshake.”

  Her eyes lit up. “My favorite. How did you know?”

  Nathan shrugged one shoulder and bit into his burger.

  She plucked the lid off the milkshake and dipped a fry into it.

  “What are you doing? French fries dunked into a milkshake?”

  “Yeah. You gotta try it. It’s salty and sweet together.” She yanked the lid off his milkshake. “Go ahead.”

  Nathan hesitantly picked up a fry and immersed the end in the ice cream. He bit into it. “Mmm. What a surprise. Not bad.”

  Sydney tilted her head and raised her eyebrows. “Didn’t trust me. I told you. I wouldn’t steer you wrong.”

  He smiled back. He couldn’t help it. “So noted.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the cookie cutter. “I believe this is yours.” He studied it, turning it over. “What is it? What does it mean?”

  “It’s the sign for I love you. See?” She copied the sign with her hand. “Here, give me your hand.” She pressed his middle and ring fingers down and drew a line down his little finger. “This is the I.” She drew a line down his pointer finger and across his thumb. “That’s the L for love.” Then she drew her finger from the tip of his pinky to the tip of his thumb. “That’s the Y for you.”

  “OK?”

  “I’m an interpreter for the deaf.” She glanced down in her lap and back up. Her facial expression morphed into downcast. “Or at least, that’s what I’m studying to be. But I’m missing my last semester, and my new job is dependent upon my completion of school.”

  “You’ll be able to make it up.” He didn’t like her saddened expression. He longed to wipe it off her face.

  “I hope so. This has been a nightmare all the way around.” Her voice cracked a bit.

  Nathan patted her arm. “I’m sure. It should be over with soon.”

  She brushed his hand and gazed into his eyes. “Thank you.”

  He was on an official job. A dangerous one at that. Why did she have to be so endearing? She moved with the grace of a ballerina. Her voice enchanted him. Shake it off, Greene. You don’t need to be distracted.

  His cellphone buzzed, and he jumped. He didn’t check the caller before answering.

  “Nathan, it’s your old buddy, Raul.”

  Nathan’s blood froze.

  “Listen, if my sources are right, you can’t talk to me because you have company. The company that I’m looking for. The way I see it, we can make a swap. I won’t tell anyone about your illegal drug use and you slip me the girl. Everybody gets to live their normal life. When you deliver her to the airport, I’ll text you the hanger where I’ll be awaiting the two of you. It’ll look like a simple slip-up, where I got the upper hand.” The call ended.

  Nathan stared at the phone. Raul could ruin any chance he had at making police work his career. He gazed up into Sydney’s eyes.

  “What’s the matter?” Sydney’s forehead crinkled slightly.

  Nathan inhaled and blew out the breath. “Nothing. Everything’s fine.” His voice shook.

  Her facial expression softened. “I trust you.”

  An ache shot through his chest. “What were you reading? Novel?” He gestured toward the book still open on the bed.

  “That’s my Bible.”

  He shook his head and frowned.

  She leaned in. “What? You don’t believe it?”

  “No, I mean, why would you say that?”

  “Your face when I mentioned the Bible kinda did a thing.”

  “A thing?”

  “Sorry, I’ve become very observant in body language. Part of the whole interpreting thing.”

  “Oh, I see.” He shook his head and chuckled. “Not really.”

  “Well, to a deaf person whose language is sign that includes not only the signs made with their hands but also their body language and facial expression.” Her hands moved in sync with her spoken words.

  “I guess I could see that. I’ve always heard about other senses becoming more acute when one is lost.”

  Her eyes danced. “Right.”

  This signing was obviously her passion. She came alive just speaking about it.

&nb
sp; Sydney swished a block of hair behind her shoulder. “I like using my interpreting skills in the schools, but there’s something about signing God’s Word in church that touches me in a different way.”

  “How so?”

  “Signing the songs and the sermon involves much different vocabulary. Spiritual words. And the fact that I believe in what I’m expressing makes it an act of worship for me. You know what I mean?” She gazed straight into his soul, or so it seemed.

  Nathan rubbed the back of his neck. Years ago, he would have said yes, but he wasn’t sure he believed anymore. “I guess I don’t. At least not now.”

  “Why? There’s pain in your eyes.” Her voice was soft with a comforting tone.

  He diverted his gaze away from her compassionate eyes.

  Her hand covered his. “Please tell me.”

  A slight twinge of electricity shot up from where their hands connected. He looked back into her eyes. “Long story short—I was injured pretty seriously in the military. Basically, I was told I might not walk again. For a while I believed that but finally decided that I wanted to do something. It wouldn’t be the military career I had planned. You know, the whole following in my father’s footsteps. But I worked until I could get into the police academy and well, here I am.”

  Sydney’s eyes widened. “How could you not have faith in God? Look what He’s done for you. I would have never known.”

  Nathan stood. “He didn’t do anything for me except ruin my career in the military. I worked my tail off to get to where I am today.”

  “From your reaction and tone, I’d say you’re grappling with whether you actually believe that or not.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You may have strayed from God, but you’ve known Him. I can see it.”

  “Sure, I was raised in the church by my parents. But that got me nowhere, especially when I needed it the most.”

  Sydney rose and crossed her arms over her chest. “Really? I think you’re like the man in the mirror in James 1.”

  Again, the reference about the man in the mirror. He had shared too much. “Look, we should probably get some rest. I’m sure they’ll expect us at the airport early. I’m going to check the car. Make sure I locked it up.” He practically ran down the steps and outside.

  He plunked into a rocking chair on the big front porch and stared at the sun as it dropped behind the trees in the distance. Grappling with whether he believed in God wasn’t on the schedule right now. But memories dislodged from deep in his mind.

  An image flashed across the screen of his mind. His parents knelt by his hospital bed, pleading for his life. Another picture of his father laying his hands on Nathan’s motionless legs and praying for healing.

  Nathan squeezed his eyes and erased the memories. He jumped up and hurried back upstairs. The room was dark. He could barely make out Sydney’s form in the bed. He eased the door closed, tiptoed to the couch, pulled off his shoes, and hoisted his legs onto the short sofa, leaning his head onto the pillow propped on the arm.

  “I’m sorry if I upset you. I can be rather outspoken. Good night.” Sydney’s voice was barely above a whisper.

  “It’s OK. ’Night.”

  9

  Nathan jolted awake. His cellphone was vibrating. He snatched it and answered before checking the caller ID.

  “Nathan, it’s Charlie.”

  He let out a breath and sat up. “Are you ready for us now?”

  “No. You’ll need to stall one more day and night to ensure safety.”

  “What do we do?”

  “Ask Sydney. She’s lived here. Just keep your eyes open and stay in contact. We’re counting on you to do the right thing and keep her safe.” Charlie’s voice held a curious tone.

  Nathan’s mouth went dry. He struggled to clear his throat. “OK. I’ll text when we leave here. I’ll text you updates on our whereabouts.”

  “Sounds good.”

  The call ended. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. His gaze met Sydney’s. She was sitting up in the middle of the bed, staring at him with wide eyes.

  He stood. “Little change in plans. We have to stall another day and night.”

  Sydney’s brows rose. “Here?”

  “Actually, I need your help. Is there someplace we can go? I was told you probably know the area.”

  She clapped her hands together and held them in front of her chest. “I know the perfect place.”

  “Let’s at least catch a shower here since I’m not sure what lies ahead. You go ahead.”

  She hopped from the bed. “A nice hot shower sounds so good.”

  He settled back onto the couch. She bounded into the bathroom, and he chuckled. She was so animated. He relaxed with eyes closed. The water ran for about fifteen minutes and then cut off.

  Ten minutes later Sydney emerged from the bathroom with a white towel wound around her head and another wound around her body. “That was heavenly. Your turn.”

  Nathan forced his gaze from her and jogged to the shower. As the water ran over his body, his mind wandered back to his short phone conversation with Charlie. Was she doubting him? Why would she reiterate that they were counting on him to do what was right? Wasn’t that a given? Unless they had discovered more about his past. But there wasn’t any way they could dig those details up. Was there? Of course, if he didn’t help Raul, more might be disclosed about him than he could afford.

  He stepped from the tub and dried off. His face was scruffy for lack of a razor, but that might be to his advantage. He eased the bathroom door open and peeked into the bedroom area.

  Sydney stood in front of the closed drapes. The sun escaped through the material and her skin glowed. Her eyes were closed and her arms were waving in smooth, graceful movements. He watched in silence for several moments.

  Finally, he cleared his throat. She opened her eyes and turned toward him, smiling.

  “What are you doing?”

  Her cheeks pinked. “Oh, sometimes I sign my prayers to God or even sign praise songs to Him. It’s more expressive for me but still quiet. It’s just more meaningful for me.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to explain. I guess that’s probably strange.”

  “No. You’re…I mean, it was beautiful.” His neck heated. He diverted his attention from her and concentrated on putting on his shoes. “Guess we better get going.”

  “Right.”

  “Let’s get checked out and then you can tell me about where we need to head.”

  Sydney giggled. “I haven’t been there in a while. I’ve been wanting to return some time.”

  “Here, let me have your bag.” His hand brushed hers and a little charge seemed to surge up his arm. Not the time, Nathan. You can’t afford to have feelings for her no matter how this plays out.

  ~*~

  Charlie fidgeted in her chair trying to quell the surge in her stomach that had let loose earlier that morning. Jordan entered the small conference room near the lobby at the small airport terminal for smaller and corporate planes. He slid a small bag and a Styrofoam cup with a lid in front of her.

  Jordan plopped into the chair across from her and reached into the paper bag in front of him. “I was getting a bit hungry.” He peeled back the paper from his sausage biscuit and bit into it. He sipped from his cup. “So how did the call go? How did Nathan sound?”

  “He seems OK, but I don’t like it. I think I’ll try the captain and see if we can push this on.” She punched in the number.

  “Thomas. Do you have an update?”

  “Yes, sir. I contacted Officer Greene. He’s supposed to text me when they leave and give me an indication of where they end up.”

  “Good.”

  “Um, captain, I’m wondering if we could just arrange a rendezvous with them. That way I know we have Sydney.”

  “No, we need to stay with this plan. I understand your concern, but this is still the better way. I’m going to have you and Jordan camp out tonight in an unmarked van the
re at the airport instead of going back to the hotel. We need constant surveillance there.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And I’m sending Marshall and Colton early tomorrow morning. We’re grateful the good doctor has given permission for us to use his plane for this mission. Once they are there, we’ll be ready to snatch her away. I’m hoping this new plane will not be readily identified by any of the traffickers.” The captain paused. “I’ll let you know when I want you two back in the airport terminal.”

  “All right. We’ll be discreet and wait for further instructions.”

  The call ended and she looked at Jordan. She filled him in on what the captain had said.

  Jordan swiped his mouth with a napkin. “How do you want to play this out getting into the van?”

  “You go ahead. I think I’ll freshen up in the restroom here and join you in a bit.” She had to make sure her stomach had calmed since losing its contents earlier.

  Jordan nodded. He walked to the door and grabbed the knob but turned back around. “It’s going to be OK, Charlie.” He smiled and slipped out of the room.

  Lord, please lead us. And please let Nathan be on our side.

  10

  Sydney settled into the passenger seat. “There’s this little island town not far from here that my family used to enjoy. Just head south.”

  Nathan nodded. “Sounds like a good choice. I have to admit I wondered how you ended up with Amish friends. I mean, aren’t they people who prefer to stick to themselves?”

  “Well, yes and no. The Amish here have their way of life, but they do interact with the outside world. You saw one way when you picked me up at the market.”

  “Yeah, wow, all of the produce and everything looked really good.”

  “They have the biggest cantaloupe I’ve ever seen. And the corn—good stuff.”

  Nathan motioned behind him. “I completely forgot about the apple pie. It’s still in the back floor.”