Race Against Time: A Novel

by Kimberley Woodhouse

  Best time ever.

  And no murders.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  RICK

  Fairbanks, Alaska

  11:31 a.m.

  Great race. And a record time, too. She was as good as her dad.

  The crowd continued to press in as more racers crossed the finish line. But he saw what he came to see. Now . . .

  Regret. Deep and searing.

  After all the years of distance, should he even risk dropping into her world now?

  Rick melted into the crowd. Another day, perhaps.

  His cell vibrated in his pocket. Digging it out with gloved hands proved to be a trial.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Boss. We’ve got news from the big man. Looks like another project.”

  Great, just what he needed right now. “And?”

  “I’m sure it can wait until Monday, but knowin’ how much of a workaholic you are, I thought you’d want to know.”

  The kid was right. He was a workaholic. He just hoped this new project didn’t have to do with what he feared.

  “Thanks. Leave it on my desk. I’ve got a long drive ahead of me, but I’m on my way.”

  “Sure thing. Does that mean I can take the rest of the day off?”

  He sensed the eagerness in the young man’s voice. “Go ahead. I’ll call Christy in if I need her. I’ve got it from here.”

  “Thanks, Boss. See ya Monday.”

  Rick ended the call and shoved his phone back in his pocket.

  As he reached for his keys, the tightness in his chest started up again. He stopped in his tracks and took some deep breaths.

  Not now.

  With slow steps, he made it to his truck and grabbed his pills out of the console.

  * * *

  ZOYA

  11:37 a.m.

  “Great job, Zoya!” Andie ran over and we high-fived. “I can’t believe you cut that much time off!”

  “I can’t believe it either! That’s my best time ever!”

  “You are one special racer.” Andie winked and grabbed my hand. “What do you say we celebrate?” We looked over to the moms.

  Auntie Jenna and Mom nodded. “Sounds great. What’ll we do?”

  “Could we watch Pride and Prejudice?”

  “Yeah!” My smile grew. “Pleeeeeease?”

  “Zoya, we just watched the five-hour version.” Mom put her hands on her hips.

  Andie and I danced around in circles. “Or we could watch Persuasion.” I threw over my shoulder.

  Mom glanced around. Like she was nervous about something.

  “Okay, then. Persuasion it is.” Mom nodded, then turned to talk to Sean. She was way too serious. Wasn’t she happy for me?

  My thoughts went back to my time. 18:58, I can’t believe it!

  “I can’t wait for the next race. Did you see how fast the dogs were going?” I stared off into the crowd and felt a smile—a real smile—fill my face. “Dad would be proud.”

  Andie nodded. “I’m sure he would be. Your mom sure is. I haven’t seen Auntie smile so big in a long time.”

  “Yeah, next I’ll be on my way to the Junior North American Championships.”

  “Whoa, girl! You’ve got awhile until the biggies.”

  “But I know I can do it. I know I can win. I have to make Dad proud.”

  “You already have, Zoya.” Andie frowned.

  “No, not really.” I looked down at my shoes and swallowed. Then shook my head. “Just wait until I win.”

  “Zoy—”

  “I will, Andie. I have to make Dad proud.” My stomach churned. “I will win.”

  * * *

  COLE

  January 22

  Naltsiine Kennels

  7:02 p.m.

  Happy voices floated across Anesia’s house to him, but Cole had trouble joining in. He couldn’t even stay in the moment. This encryption mess was eating him up. And he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone stalked Zoya. Why couldn’t he figure it out? And why hadn’t Marc left him a clue about AMI?

  “Hey, handsome.” Jenna wrapped an arm around his waist. “What’s got you so distracted?”

  He attempted a smile. “You, of course.”

  Jenna pulled back and punched him in the arm. “Liar. Nice try, big guy. Spill it.”

  Thank God for that woman. “You know me too well.”

  “Don’t you forget it. Now, I’m waiting.” She cocked an eyebrow and tapped her foot.

  “All right, all right. But let’s grab the others and gather in the living room. I think this is going to take everyone’s help.”

  Jenna wasted no time with a response. She grabbed his hand and practically dragged him into the other room. What a woman. When she meant business, she meant business.

  “Anesia? Can everyone come in the living room?”

  Her head popped around the corner. “Sure.” She turned back to the kitchen. “Come on, girls.”

  Jenna, Andie, Anesia, and Zoya all sat on the couch. Eyes on him.

  He paced in front of them. “I need your help.”

  They all sat a little straighter.

  He took a deep breath before plunging into the rest. “I can’t give you any details, but I need to figure out words or phrases, verses, numbers, anything that Marc could’ve used as an encryption code.”

  Zoya raised her hand. “This has to do with AMI, doesn’t it?”

  “I’m not at liberty to say.” He raked a hand through his hair.

  Andie nodded. “It’s got to be. That’s what Dad was working on. That’s what they’ve got you working on now.”

  “Einstein, stop trying to figure out what this is for. I need your help to figure out what he could’ve used for an encryption code.”

  “Sorry. We’ll help.” She scrunched up her forehead.

  “Think of anything that was special to your dad. Something he could’ve hidden. Some kind of clue—like the ones he left for the code on the bunker.”

  “But he gave us hints for that.” Jenna cocked her head. “Do you have any hints for this?”

  Cole sighed. Deep and heavy. “Not one.” He started to pace again. “This is where it’s tricky.”

  Andie and Zoya glanced at each other, then his stepdaughter raised her hand. “So our national security is at risk?”

  “You’ve been reading too many suspense novels, Einstein. Like I said, stop trying to figure out what it’s for and help me figure out a clue or code.”

  “Could you get in trouble?”

  Teenagers. Didn’t they listen? “This isn’t about me. Right now we need to figure out the encryption.”

  Jenna planted her elbows on her knees and leaned her chin on her hands—and then covered her face. The devastation of losing Marc had been tough enough, but learning what he did for a living just about destroyed her. With a swipe of her hands, she lifted her face, a new determination in her eyes. “Okay, let’s figure this out. What do we know?”

  Atta girl. Cole connected gazes with his wife. “Nothing.”

  “It’s gotta have something to do with us.” Andie’s blue eyes stared up at him.

  Made sense. He’d been thinking the same thing. “Go on.”

  “Well, the passwords to get into the bunker had to do with me. My nickname, medic-alert number, and the dog tags he gave to Mom. Dad was a super-genius. And way too good at impossible riddles. But he’d know you needed to figure this one out, right? So I bet that whatever the code is, it has something to do with us. With family.”

  Cole’s gut told him she was right. Now all they had to do was figure out what it was. Before time ran out.

  * * *

  SLIM

  January 22
>
  Fairbanks, Alaska

  10:52 p.m.

  Only the glow from the laptop lit up his tiny room. As he scrolled through file after file, he found the full description. In full detail he read the military specs on the Advanced Missile Interceptor.

  A smile split his face. Just what he was looking for.

  He read through the document. Jackpot.

  Then found another.

  And another.

  Plenty of details. Enough for him to show that he’d acquired the program. And could sell it. To whomever he wanted.

  Ma had always warned him about playing with fire. But this time, he couldn’t get burned.

  Because he controlled it. He held the matches. And could fan the flame however he wanted.

  Let the whole world burn.

  He looked forward to watching.

  * * *

  ZOYA

  January 23

  The Tikanni-Gray-Maddox Home

  9:05 a.m.

  Andie jumped off the bed and walked over to the dresser. “My toes are cold. I’m gonna put on some socks.” She dug around in the drawer then sighed. “This thing is way too jammed!” She started removing pairs and setting them on the dresser’s top.

  I tried to hold back a yawn. I’m so tired . . . I blinked back the sleepiness and sat up straighter. Do not fall asleep.

  Andie set one pair of socks after another on the smooth wooden surface of her dresser. A familiar little black box sat next to her hairbrush.

  I cocked my head. Maybe there’s something in there. “Hey Andie, what’s in that box? It belonged to your dad, right?”

  Andie nodded, reached for it, and tossed it to me. “We found it in the plane after our crash. It has his initials. But I can’t figure out how to open it.” She took out more socks.

  I fiddled with the odd, shiny thing. I wonder what’s inside. “Looks like it needs a key, but maybe we could pick the lock or something.”

  “You can if you really want to, I’m gonna find those—ah-ha! Here they are.” She pulled out a pair of purple monkey socks, then started jamming the others back into the drawer.

  “Andie, you can’t wear those crazy socks to church.”

  She smiled. “Who cares?”

  I giggled and went back to studying the small saeł. Uncle Marc’s initials were carved onto the lid in bold letters. My finger traced them. I squinted.

  “Hey Andie?”

  “Yup?” She shoved more socks in.

  “These initials, there’s something wrong with them.” Again I traced them with my fingers. It felt funny.

  “What do you mean?” Andie walked over and took it, turning it over in her hands.

  “See the letters? It looks like there was something underneath them.” I stood and peeked over her shoulder.

  Andie turned to me and smiled. “Yeah, it does. Almost like—”

  “Like someone sandpapered over it.”

  “Exactly.” Andie rubbed it under her thumb. “We may have just found a clue.”

  “Well, let’s go tell—”

  “Girls, are you ready? We need to leave!”

  “Snap!” Andie huffed and sat down onto the bed.

  “Well?” I sat down next to her.

  “Girls!” Cole’s military-man voice snapped us to attention. “Let’s go.”

  “Uh oh, we better ‘hut-two.’ You know Cole, we have to be on time for everything. We’ll have to wait.” Disappointment sank into my stomach.

  “Andie! Zoya!”

  “We’ll tell them after church.” Andie clutched the small black object to her chest. “The moment we get out those doors, we’ll show them.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  ZOYA

  January 23

  Naltsiine Kennels

  11:44 a.m.

  “I loved the sermon this week. Especially his joke.” Andie giggled, walked over to her backpack and began pulling out everything, throwing it on the floor. “Baby elephants in a bathtub . . .” Her giggles turned into gasps as she snorted and laughed.

  “You’ve got stuff to change into, right? If we want to go out with the dogs you’re gonna need to change.” I ignored her mirth and sat down on the bed. Stay focused, Zoya.

  “Yup! Got ’em in here . . . somewhere.” Andie smiled and passed me the week’s bulletin. “Will you put that in my Bible case?”

  “Sure.” I nodded. Don’t pay attention to what it says. It won’t help. I tried to smile. I can’t wait to go riding. Excitement bubbled up.

  “Zoya, Andie, come eat!” Auntie Jenna’s call for lunch brought another round of giggles from Andie.

  “Perfect timing.”

  I placed the bulletin back inside her Bible’s cover where a sheet of paper lay. Andie and my scribbled notes caught my attention. “Oh! We forgot to show Cole the box!”

  Andie bounced off the bed and opened the door. “Well? Come on!”

  We ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. Mom, Auntie, and Cole stood waiting for us.

  “Ready to say the blessing?” Auntie Jenna smiled.

  “Not yet!” I smiled back and jumped up and down. Hurry up, Andie!

  Andie grabbed my hand. “Mom, do you remember when you gave me that little black box with Dad’s initials on it?”

  “The one I found in the plane? Yes.” Auntie Jenna looked from Andie to me, question written on her face.

  Andie giggled and reached inside her pocket. “Zoya and I found it this morning and thought it—”

  She dug around in her pocket some more.

  Cole nodded. “Thought it . . .”

  “Well, we think it’s a—”

  My brow furrowed. “What’s wrong, Andie?”

  “A what?” Cole took a step forward.

  My heart beat quickened. Eyes widened.

  Andie looked to me and nodded.

  No!

  “It’s gone!”

  * * *

  ANESIA

  11:51 a.m.

  “Oh no.” Her daughter gripped Andie’s hand.

  “What’s gone?” Cole stepped even closer to the girls. “The box? How did you lose it? What was in it?” Military man just crossed the line.

  Tears formed in Andie’s eyes and her bottom lip trembled. Then words spilled out. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened. I put it in my pocket this morning before church, ’cause I knew we were coming over here for lunch, and we wanted to tell you all about it, and then I lost one of my shoes this morning, and my jeans ripped, and Dasha wanted to play in the snow and didn’t want to come in and—”

  “Andie”—Jenna wrapped an arm around her daughter’s shoulder—“it’s okay. Breathe. Just calm down. We’re not upset about it.” Her friend drew out her words and shot Anesia a pleading look that clearly said, save the day before I kill my over-interrogative husband.

  Time she stepped in. “Andie, Zoya, why don’t we sit down at the table. Get some food in us and hash it all out, okay?”

  Andie sniffed. “Thanks, Auntie.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart.” She shot a glare at Cole that he couldn’t miss. “No one is going to grill you over a little black box.”

  Cole frowned.

  Go ahead. I dare you. She stared him down. Good thing their relationship had a good foundation. Otherwise, she’d be really mad.

  Everyone took their seats around the table.

  Zoya glanced around. “Where’s Sean?”

  “He had to make a phone call, so he said to start without him.” Each person reached for the hand of the person next to them until they were all joined around the table. Anesia inhaled and absorbed the sweetness of having family. “Cole, would you please say the blessing?”

/>   “Huh?” His furrowed brow relaxed. “I’m sorry. Of course.”

  After a brief prayer, the platters of food were passed, and quiet settled on everyone. The silence was so thick, she wanted to slash it with a knife. As soon as everyone had food, silverware clattered and they started to eat. “All right then, now what is this about Marc’s black box?”

  Zoya chewed for a minute. “We were gonna try and figure out what Uncle Marc could’ve used for the code when we spotted his shiny box on Andie’s dresser.”

  Andie nodded. “Yeah, and I’ve never been able to open it, so we thought maybe the secret was inside.”

  “I turned it over and saw Uncle Marc’s initials, but the more I rubbed, the more I noticed that it looked different under the light.”

  “It wasn’t as shiny. You know, a little duller.” Andie shoveled more roast beef into her mouth.

  “And one of the letters was longer than the others. But the closer I looked, I realized the long part wasn’t attached.”

  Anesia felt like an observer of a tennis match. Andie and Zoya volleyed their words back and forth across the table. She shook her head. “Okay, so let me get this straight. You think Uncle Marc’s box holds the clue for whatever Cole is looking for?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Yes.”

  “All right. But what does the dull part about his initials mean?” Anesia poured herself more tea. “I’m a bit confused.”

  “Don’t know. Just thought it was interesting.” Zoya shrugged.

  Jenna and Cole set their forks down and stared across the table at each other. Uh oh. What did they know?

  “Girls, we need to find that box.” Cole wiped his mouth with his napkin.

  Anesia had to give him credit. At least he remained calm. For the moment.

  “Where did you last see it?” Jenna asked. “Was it at home when you placed it in your pocket?”

  Andie shook her head. “I remember rubbing the smooth surface during the sermon. Sorry. I got a little distracted and started thinking about how to open the box and what could be in the box . . . I hadn’t thought about it in so long. It was kinda fun. Like a mystery that needed to be solved.”