No Safe Haven

by Kimberley Woodhouse

  As the words formed sentences, and those sentences came together in her mind, Jenna gasped. No. It couldn't be. Page after page she read. Scrolling down, down until she reached the end.

  She stared at the computer screen. In black and white, the screen taunted her.

  "Marc . . . he was a good man. But something inside him changed. He did something I never thought he'd do." Cole stroked her arm. "He sold out to the highest bidder. Yes, our group started out thinking that we could change the world. But greed and selfishness and the appeal of power took over."

  "How dare you tell me what kind of man my husband was." Jenna spit through clenched teeth, breaking from his grasp. "It's all a fabrication. Marc would never do anything like that." Her heart sank. She could defend her husband all she wanted, but the facts glared at her.

  Cole gripped her shoulders, hurt evident in his eyes. "Believe what you want, Jenna. But those e-mails are real. AMI is real." He turned away, the planes of his face hardening. "And you have a little girl whose life is in danger because of your husband's choices."

  "Why didn't you tell me? Or are you not really who you say you are?" She knew it wasn't fair, but her heart ached. How could she have been so stupid? So blind? Cole played a part, just like Marc.

  "I'm sorry, Jenna. I should've told you. But I didn't know if I could trust you."

  Tears streamed down her cheeks. Marc never trusted her with the really important stuff either. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten involved with such a greedy group of men. She might've stopped it.

  Anesia held the laptop, the compassion in her eyes telling Jenna she'd read the thread. Her friend knew. It was true. All of it. How could Marc do this to her? And why? Just for the money? Could her husband really have changed that much?

  "Jenna?"

  She couldn't bear to look at Cole.

  "Jenna. Look at me." His voice softened. Not a command, but a plea.

  Closing her eyes, she shook her head. No. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing—

  But Cole continued on anyway. The bed creaked as he lowered the side rail. The mattress sank as he sat next to her. "Jenna. Marc was a good man. I'm here because of him." His warmth seeped over to her. His breath tickled her face. "I know you hate me right now. I know you're mad at Marc. But listen to me. Please." His forehead touched her cheek for a brief moment.

  Then he pulled back with a jerk and walked across the room.

  She dared to look at him.

  "Jenna, I confronted Marc near the end. He told me the truth about what our operations were doing. And then he realized what a crazy mess he'd gotten himself into. He tried to fix it, Jenna. He wanted to set things straight. To hand over the systems to the U.S. government, and tell you the truth. I promise."

  Tears streamed down her cheeks. How could Marc have done that? How could she not have known what he was involved in? Was Cole telling the truth? What if he created the e-mails to cover up for himself?

  "Jenna. There's more."

  Those beautiful brown eyes no longer begged her to drown herself in them. They were hard. Just like his expression.

  She looked away. "I'm listening."

  "Marc contacted the FBI. I don't know all the details, he didn't get a chance to tell me, but they were working with him to bring down the whole enterprise. That's what he was doing . . . when he was murdered."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  ANDIE

  April 12

  ER—Providence Hospital

  Anchorage, Alaska

  8:55 a. m.

  My head throbbed.

  Pain was such a strange sensation.

  Something beeped next to me. A few hushed voices whispered in the distance. Babies cried.

  What's going on? Memories flashed through my head.

  Cole, Mom, Zoya, anger, fear. Broken-hearted pain.

  I shuddered as the anger gripped my heart.

  Where's Cole?

  I was in some curtained-off little room somewhere in the hospital. And I was mad?

  I was sorry for what I did, but then again, I wouldn't have minded landing a blow or two on Cole.

  God, what am I thinking? What's going on? I was sure that if God hadn't been holding my heart together, it would have ripped in two.

  And then it came again. That memory I'd tried to forget . . .

  ———

  "We have to hurry, North Korea is anxious to get the prototype . . . All right, I'll see what I can do." Dad hung up the phone and I took a step forward.

  "Daddy, whatsa prototype? Where is North Korea? And why do they want it?"

  Dad spun around. "Oh, boy." Rubbing his forehead, he sat down in his office chair. "Come here, Squirt." He patted his lap and I ran over. Pulling me up onto his muscular leg, he kissed my cheek. "Squirt, I need you to do me a favor."

  I started messing with his buttons and smiled up at him. "I'll do anything for you, Daddy."

  He smiled back and tugged my braid. "I knew you would. But, I need you to keep a secret for me."

  "What kind of secret?"

  "Well . . ." He frowned. "A very, very, very important secret."

  "Like what you're getting Mommy for Christmas?"

  "Even more important than that."

  "Well, okay, Daddy. I guess if it's that important I can keep this secret." I leaned against his shoulder and smoothed out his shirt.

  "I need you to . . ." He pulled me closer. "You can't tell anyone, not even Mommy, about what you just heard, okay?"

  "Why not?"

  "Because"—He took a deep breath—"because it's important that nobody knows. Nobody can hear about it. All right?"

  "Okay, Daddy, I guess I can keep it for you . . ."

  ———

  The memory faded.

  I'd kept his secret. But what did that mean, now? Time to figure it out.

  I slid my eyes open but they fell shut. A warm hand held mine and squeezed. Again, I tried to open my stubborn eyelids.

  "Hey, you're awake."

  Squinting, I tried to make my eyes focus. "Zoya?"

  "It's me."

  "Thank God." I sighed. "Will you help me sit up?"

  "I guess . . . but if you get dizzy or anything, tell me, okay?"

  I nodded as the back of the bed started moving up. "I'm glad you're here. I don't think I would make it without you."

  Her eyes clouded over. "Oh, Andie! I've been so worried, I didn't think we'd ever find you! When you didn't show up at the airport I didn't know what to do and—"

  "Hey! Calm down, it's okay, I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere." I patted her hand and smiled.

  "I'm sorry. But I couldn't help but worry, Andie. You know that. You were missing for six days."

  "I know." I shuddered. "But, I'm here now, so let's not worry about it, okay?"

  "Okay. But what happened?"

  "Brace yourself, this is going to take awhile."

  Zoya nodded and leaned back in her chair. I told the whole crazy story, Zoya asking questions here and there.

  ". . . the helicopter came and took us here, then . . ." I spaced out, staring at the white curtain surrounding my bed.

  "Andie?"

  "Cole and Mom were talking. I overheard the last part of their conversation. Cole accused my dad of being one of the bad guys. That's why I was so mad. But . . ."

  "But?"

  "I don't know. I mean, he could have been telling the truth." I sighed. "I'm just trying to figure this out."

  "It's okay." Zoya grabbed my hand. "I'll help you. And so will Dasha and Sasha, if we can find a way to get them inside the hospital."

  "Dasha's here?" I smiled. My dog could cure just about anything.

  "Between God, you, me and our
łic'aes, we can do it."

  I prayed she was right.

  April 12

  Providence Hospital

  Anchorage, Alaska

  9:01 a.m.

  "So . . . how do you feel? I mean, you really had a rampage in there." Zoya's eyes glistened with tears.

  "I feel fine. And I'm sorry. To tell you the truth, I don't even remember what I was thinking at the time. Everything just happened. All I really remember is being so angry. And . . ." Cole's worried, kind face popped into my head. I shook the memories away and fiddled with my hands. Think about something else. I couldn't look at Zoya; she'd see my doubt.

  "It's okay, Andie. Just remember"—she grabbed my cold hands—"I'll always be right beside you, okay?"

  "Thanks. You've always been there when I need you. You've been an awesome friend."

  "Well, you've been awesome-er. I mean, awesome-est."

  I laughed. God, thank You for Zoya.

  "So, what's with that Cole guy? What does he have to do with anything?"

  "Well . . ." Good question. "I don't know the—"

  "Are you, Andie?"

  Zoya and I jumped at the sound of a gruff voice, and we turned to look at the end of the bed. A tall man in scrubs stood with his hands clasped in front of him, staring at us as if we'd just pulled all the fire alarms in the building.

  Where did you come from? And what kind of doctor are you?

  He may have been wearing scrubs but I didn't see any badge-type-thing that all of the other staff wore. I stared. My stomach tied up in knots. Uh, Cole? This would be a good time to come save the day.

  The man's eyes were dark and held an air of authority. If he had been a lady, I was sure his name would be Cruella de Vil.

  No, he looked more like the Grinch.

  He cleared his throat and asked again. "Are you Andie?"

  I looked at him from head to toe, and Zoya squeezed my shaking hand. Well, who are you little mister appear-out-of-nowhere-I'm-in-charge-and-don't-you-dare-pull-all-the-fire-alarms? His eyes narrowed.

  Go ahead . . . if you can. I'm not scared, Grinch.

  The curtain pulled back and Dr. Baker walked through.

  As quickly as he had appeared, the Grinch was gone.

  "Who was that? And . . . where's the nurse?" Dr. Baker's eyes narrowed and worry etched his face as he clutched his notebook, like he would bang it on the Grinch's head if he ever set foot in the hospital again.

  Go Doc Baker!

  He turned back to me. "Andie?"

  I shook my head. "We don't know who he was."

  Zoya's voice chimed in. "Whoever it was, he was super creepy!"

  I shuddered as I remembered looking into his dark eyes. God, please tell me he isn't another bad guy trying to kill us.

  Doc walked over and looked toward the exit. "From what I saw he did look a little . . . scary."

  I stared at the white curtains again.

  "And evil."

  * * *

  COLE

  April 12

  Providence Hospital

  Anchorage, Alaska

  9:03 a.m.

  Jenna's head snapped up. "Murdered?"

  He watched her choke on the word and cast a glance at Anesia. "You mean, Marc's death wasn't an accident?"

  Pain.

  Her face filled with pain. And he'd put it there.

  Cole raked his hand through his hair. How much to tell her. Hadn't he done enough already? Looking down at Jenna's expectant face, he saw the tears shimmering on her cheeks. The questions hovering on her lips. She'd trusted him. Fat lotta good it did her.

  He moved away from the door and headed to the window. Couldn't bear to look into her eyes. This next part would be hard.

  Cole took a deep breath and plunged into the story he'd hoped to never have to tell. "Marc e-mailed me the morning he died. Said we had to meet ASAP. Said his encrypted transmissions had been compromised, so there was no other choice but to give me the information in person." His heart sank in his chest remembering that fateful morning. His friend . . .

  Shaking his head, he lifted his chin and continued. "We met at a coffee shop. Marc handed me a piece of paper, but said it was imperative to show me everything. And fast. The paper didn't make sense—some sort of hidden clues in the text, protect with my heart—but Marc and I climbed in his vehicle and he said he would explain. Was tired of carrying the burden around. As he gave me the details surrounding the threats against him—against you and Andie—he cried. I've never seen a man cry from his gut like that. Pouring out his regrets, wondering how he ever allowed it to go so far."

  Cole stared out the window. Seeing Marc so broken began the thawing of his own icy heart. And now here Cole stood. Trying to fulfill a promise.

  A promise he desperately wanted to carry out. But didn't think he could.

  "Cole? Please . . ." Jenna choked on a sob. "Please continue."

  The pleading in her voice just about did him in. He turned to face her. "He loved you both so much, Jenna. He was worried. Knew what they were capable of. That's when he made me promise. To protect you. Take care of you."

  She wiped her face with tissues. Anesia stood with her arm around Jenna's shoulders, a scowl on her face.

  "I promised him I would do everything in my power. We'd had it out several weeks prior. When I confronted him about what we were doing, how many lives were at stake, we actually got into a fight." His chuckle sounded sad and raw, even to his own ears. "Marc was a solid, tough man. He could've taken me out, but he stopped mid-swing. His face changed, and he just sat down. Shook his head. And then? Then, he had the gall to bring up his God. About how he knew better. And how I needed that God too."

  Bitterness seeped into Cole's heart—and his words. "I asked him why, if his God cared so much about him and his family, had He let Marc venture down on this path? How could this hypothetical great God let his family be in danger? And why couldn't Marc trust Him?" Sarcasm spewed out. "Marc tried to convince me that he alone was responsible for his mistakes. That God gave him free will to do as he pleased. He sat there, a smile on his face, praising his God for forgiving him even though he'd done some really horrific junk."

  "Cole—"

  "Don't say it, Jenna. I didn't want to listen then, and I definitely don't want to listen to it now. I'm supposed to protect you and I can't do that with some fairy tale in my head—"

  At Jenna's gasp, he knew he'd gone too far. But that didn't change things. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. After watching you and Andie . . . I understand a little better, but . . . never mind. That doesn't matter right now. Anyway, in Marc's car that morning, he talked about God again. And I wanted to run. Marc was scared. But also at peace. Something I'd never seen in anyone. Ever."

  He stiffened his spine. Stood at attention. Time to just spit it out. "Marc had just put the car into drive. We were going to your house. He said he wanted to show me everything, call his contact at the FBI so we could meet. But I jumped out of the car. I'm not even sure why. I was angry. I needed time to think, couldn't take the anger churning in my gut. He yelled out the window to me. I told him I forgot something in my truck."

  Cole struggled with his next words. Suck it up, Maddox. She deserves to know the truth. "I planned on going back, but the other vehicle came out of nowhere. By the time I turned around, it slammed into Marc's car. The explosion threw me off my feet."

  He finally faced the woman who had captured his heart, but he could never have. "That bomb was meant for both of us."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  COLE

  April 12

  Providence Hospital

  Anchorage, Alaska

  9:08 a.m.

  "Bomb? What are you talking about? Marc was killed by that car hitti
ng his gas tank!" Jenna's voice was broken. Shrill. Angry.

  "That's what the police report said, yes. But I was there. I knew. They wanted a quick and easy way to get rid of us."

  "But . . . how do you know it wasn't an accident? How do you know it was a bomb?" Her eyes were desperate. She didn't want to believe the truth.

  "Trust me. The bomb went off a full four seconds after the car crashed into Marc. It was rigged. It's what they do."

  "So they killed him for this . . . this . . . AMI?"

  "Yes."

  "And it's not a woman?"

  "No."

  She trembled, tears streaming down her face. He had no idea the torture she'd endured all this time. Thinking her husband unfaithful. Now she dealt with the details of her husband's work all these years. And that he'd come close to betraying his own country.

  "Advanced Missile Interceptor. That's what AMI stands for. Only it's not just a—"

  "Jenna." Dr. Baker's voice broke into the room. "I've brought Andie back. Only nineteen stitches."

  Cole moved away from Jenna's bed as the doctor came up to stand beside her. What would happen when they found out everything? What he'd done? What he'd been capable of doing?

  "She lost a lot of blood, but she'll be just fine." The doctor looked around the room at each of the adults. When his gaze came to Cole's, the doctor frowned. "I've adjusted her medications, but let's try to keep her calm, shall we?"

  "Thank you, Doctor." Jenna swiped at the tears on her cheeks. "Thanks for everything."

  "I'll be back in a little bit." Dr. Baker left the room as the nurses wheeled Andie's bed back into position. Zoya followed.

  Andie looked at him with sad eyes. "I'm sorry for trying to hit you, Cole."

  His throat locked with emotion. Chloe's face swam in front of his mind. They were so much alike.

  "I'm still mad at you, but I'm really sorry."