Conrad put a hand on Maria’s shoulder.
She looked up into his warm smiling eyes. “And thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything. You and Layla did all the hard work.”
“You promised you’d bring Layla home and you did.”
“I always keep my promises. Or at least I do my best. I can’t say it always works out this well.” Conrad winked. “This is a really, exceptional day.”
“I don’t understand. I…thought you were in there.” She hugged Layla close.
“We were, but we heard the bad man kicking on the door so Mr. Grappler took me to his house to keep me safe.”
She didn’t want to know the answer but she had to ask the question. “Did you see the bad man?” If her daughter had to mourn the death of her father again, it would be a tragedy. Maria changed her thought—sad but not a tragedy. With God’s help, Raymond’s hatred would never touch Layla’s sweet heart again.
Mr. Grappler shook his head. “No. We heard a lot of screaming, but we couldn’t see what was happening. We sneaked out the back and went to the house just before the bad guy got in.”
Maria stood up. “Oh, no. Your gas station is practically destroyed.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ve been looking for an excuse to move to warmer weather, anyway. And now I can say I’m a bona fide hero.”
“Yes, you can.” Maria hugged him. “In fact I seem to be surrounded by heroes.”
Marcus Hanks walked up.
She glared at him. “We need to talk.”
“And we will, but not in front of Layla. But I do want to tell you that I didn’t lie. I had no idea.”
Did she believe him?
The answer to her question came unbidden. There were good people who wanted to help her. If only she would let them.
She smiled at Marcus. “I believe you.”
He smiled back.
No one was meant to be alone. It was time to trust the people God put in her life. Her hand moved to Conrad’s.
His strong, warm fingers encircled hers.
55
“Wake up, sleepy head.” Maria sat on the bed she shared with Layla at Suzanne’s. It would be awhile before she let her daughter out of her sight—if ever. “I have a surprise for you.”
“What’s the surprise?” Layla rubbed her eyes.
“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise. Now get up and get moving.” She smiled at the recollection of Suzanne using those same exact words a few days earlier. “And besides, I don’t know what the surprise is, either. Miss Suzanne told me to get showered and get ready for a surprise. A really, big surprise.”
Layla jumped off the bed. “Let’s hurry, Mommy. I love surprises.”
Maria was glad to see Layla had no apparent trauma from her ordeal.
According to Marcus, heads were rolling in very high places. Even though it was widely spread that Raymond had died from the gunshot wound, it had been a lie—a hoax. An elaborate sting operation was planned with Raymond helping catch terrorists from a country that was considered more of a threat than his. Somehow, Raymond faked his death during the operation.
David Hamed called his brother’s friends to take vengeance for Raymond and Josef’s death. That set the wheels in motion for Raymond to come back and take his daughter. His fellow terrorists contacted Raymond.
Thankfully, it had taken more time to set up the operation than they’d believed or Layla wouldn’t have still been at that broken down motel that day.
Raymond died this time, a shot straight to the heart from Suzanne’s gun as he’d struggled with Marcus and Suzanne inside the gas station’s mechanic’s bay.
With that knowledge came peace. Raymond, so filled with hate and evil intent towards his enemies, would never see his daughter grow up.
Maria towel-dried Layla’s hair and waited for her to dress.
Maria’s jaw dropped as she entered the room, to see Jamie Jakowski and her twin, Patti. Jamie’s daughter was Layla’s cousin since their fathers had been brothers. Maria hadn’t been allowed to contact them after she and Layla disappeared.
Jamie and Patti jumped off the couch and yelled in unison. “Surprise!”
Layla ran to her aunts, if not in blood in spirit.
The three women had made the choice to be sisters in spite of the pain that bound them together.
Maria smiled—there was that beauty for ashes thing again. A definite theme in her life.
“Where’s Sabrina?” Layla shouted, not waiting for them to answer as she started telling them about the bad man.
Patti and Jamie asked questions and told her what a brave little girl she was.
“My name is Jasmine now. But I like to be called Jazzy.”
Patti hugged her. “No need, Layla. Everyone knows that’s your name.”
She turned towards her mother. “But I love the name Jazzy.”
Maria laughed. “Fine, then you can keep it. Use it as your nickname. How’s that?”
Layla put her hand on her hip and gave her mother a look.
“How’s that, Jazzy?”
“Thank you, Mommy. Where’s Sabrina?”
“She’s in the barn with Miss Suzanne.”
“Can I go?”
Maria nodded and watched as she ran out the sliding glass door. “Oh my goodness.” Maria exclaimed. “That is quite the surprise. How did you even know where I was?”
“We saw the whole thing play out on TV,” Patti said as she hugged Maria again. “We would have been here sooner, but a certain FBI agent said it would be better if we waited.”
“Marcus?”
“Yeah, and then he came up here without us.” Jamie gritted her teeth. As a former FBI agent, it was obvious she didn’t like being out of the loop.
“That was probably a good thing knowing how much trouble the two of you can get into. I can’t believe you’re here.”
She looked at the twin sisters who looked nothing like each other. Jamie’s hair had been chopped short and dyed red. Patti’s brown hair was long and curly with blonde highlights.
“That’s quite the do, Jamie.”
Jamie fluffed at ginger-colored bangs. “Like it?”
“It’s an interesting look.”
“Even though I’m a stay-at-home mom right now, I decided to do something wild with my hair. According to Patti, I’m simply in denial about my age and the fact that I’m getting old.”
“That is not what I said.”
Jamie shrugged. “Really? Cause that’s what I heard.”
Conrad called from the kitchen. “Breakfast will be ready in a minute.”
Maria extricated herself from Patti’s hug and walked to the kitchen.
She wouldn’t have survived Layla’s kidnapping without Conrad and Suzanne. One or the other had been with her every moment. “Hey, I didn’t know you were here.”
“Where else would I be?” He smiled and touched her cheek. “Not only here, but assigned to cooking detail.”
“Good, I’m starving.” Jamie called from the living room.
“Nothing new about that, sis. You are always starving. I wish I could eat the way she does.” Patti laughed.
“You could. We have the same genes, remember?”
“So you say, but I’m pretty sure if I ate the way you do, I’d weigh five hundred pounds.”
“So, what? Now that you’re happily married what difference does it make?” Jamie laughed. “Carter’s so in love with you that he won’t care.”
Maria poked her head out of the kitchen. “You’re married?”
Patti nodded. “We are. It was a beautiful wedding. We would have invited you…but well…you know. We didn’t know where you were. It’s been three months now.” Patti held up her hand. An antique diamond solitaire rested on her finger.
“That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for the two of you.”
“Not as happy as they are.” Jamie winked. “The two of them are so happy it’s almost sickening.”
“You�
�re just jealous.”
“Am not.”
The back door opened. Sabrina and Layla ran in ahead of Suzanne. Layla skidded to a stop, grabbed her cousin’s hand, and looked up at Maria. “This is a good surprise, isn’t it, Mommy?”
“The best.”
Conrad walked in with plates. “OK, I’ve got sausage and bacon. Now eat before all my hard work gets cold.”
****
After breakfast, the girls ran outside to play with the promise of the back yard only. No woods.
Maria still needed to see Layla at any given moment.
The adults sat around the table listening to how Patti and Jamie met Maria.
Jamie grabbed Maria’s hand. “I am so sorry for all that you’ve gone through. I can’t believe the FBI lied to—”
“I know, Jamie. It was tough, but it ended well. And it’s not your fault. I’m done dwelling on the past.”
Jamie nodded. “I know, but…”
“Face it. We made stupid choices for the fathers of our children. It’s something we will always have to live with. But I’m done letting it define me or Layla.”
“Wow. That is a great attitude, Maria.” Patti placed her coffee cup on the table.
“It is, isn’t it? It’s all about God and trust. If you believe God loves you and you believe God is good, the trusting Him in the bad times comes a lot easier.”
“How’d you get so wise?”
Maria pointed back towards the kitchen where Conrad and Suzanne were. “God put some amazing people in my life right when I needed them the most. I couldn’t have survived without them.”
“I’m glad about that and I have no plan of letting you disappear from our lives again.” Jamie told her. “Family sticks together, right?”
“That’s right. We are sisters by choice.” Patti smiled as Conrad and Suzanne walked back into the room.
Suzanne gathered up dirty dishes. “I still can’t believe Raymond’s brother refused to give up.”
“At least the policeman he shot will live. Unlike him.” Conrad’s voice held no sympathy. “I guess he didn’t want to go to an American prison for killing the newscaster.”
Patti shook her head. “The whole thing is crazy. I can’t believe it. A few weeks ago he was just another college kid here on a visa, and then he turns into a homicidal maniac with only one goal.”
“To kidnap Layla,” Maria said.
Suzanne walked out to the kitchen, but stopped at the doorway and turned back to them. “Talk about family loyalty.”
Conrad put his hand over Maria’s and smiled at her. “Yeah, family loyalty is all well and good, but that’s a little extreme.”
Maria stood up. “I’m sorry, Suzanne. How inconsiderate of us to be talking about all this.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m thrilled that Emily and Layla are back at home with their parents where they belong. One day it will be my turn.”
“I know, but it still has to be tough.”
“Why is that?” Jamie looked from Maria to Suzanne.
Suzanne turned towards her. Her violet blue eyes were shiny, but her voice was in control as she explained, “My husband kidnapped my son two years ago. We haven’t been able to find either of them yet.”
Jamie half-stood, but then sat back down. “Really. I want to hear the details—if you don’t mind. “
Patti shook her head. “No, Jamie. You’re retired, remember?”
Jamie smiled. “I know that. But if I can help, what would be wrong with that?”
“Nothing, if you don’t put yourself in danger.”
After Jamie hugged her sister, she grabbed some plates to help clear the table. “I have no plans to do that.” She looked at Suzanne. “We’ll talk later.”
Patti and Maria looked at each other, and then at Jamie. At the same time, they said, “You’re retired.”
“Someone probably needs to tell her that.” Conrad told the women with a smile.
Patti sighed. “I do—all the time.”
****
Maria stood at the window watching Layla and Sabrina playing outside Suzanne’s house. The others sat around the table laughing and talking while having a second up of coffee.
Conrad walked over and placed his arm around her shoulder. “She’s safe now.”
She smiled up at him. “Call me a helicopter mom if you will, but I like my eyes on her.”
“Can’t say that I blame you. So…what are you going to do now?”
“Witness Protection wants me to stay in the program. Even with Raymond dead, they can’t be sure there aren’t others out there like his brother.”
He nodded. “Makes sense.” His voice was noncommittal.
“But I really like Sunberry and the people who live here.”
“Anyone in particular?” He gently picked up her hand
“Several come to mind. Emily and her parents. Suzanne. Ben Martin. Even my nosy neighbor.”
“That’s it. What about me?”
“I…” She looked away, suddenly feeling shy and unsure.
Conrad clasped her hand tighter. “Let me make this easy on you. I like you and I want nothing more than to get to know you and Layla, but staying here will put you at risk. I can’t ask that. I understand that your job is to keep Layla safe. “
Maria turned towards him. “You’re not asking. I’m not running anymore. If I’ve learned anything over the past few weeks, I know I can’t hide. If someone wants to find me, they will. This is a good town with good people. And I like it here.”
“You’re not going into Witness Protection?”
“I told them yesterday.”
His arms went around her. “That is the best news I’ve heard in a long time. I might just get to ask you to one of the Bucks’ games after all.”
She stepped closer, not sure what the future held. But it would be good whatever it was. God had promised beauty for her ashes.
“And I might just say yes.”
REDEMPTION
Lillian Duncan
Redemption
Dedication
To my Creator.
As always, to my beloved husband, Ronny. I couldn’t do this without your love and support.
A special thank you to my medical team at Cleveland Clinic, including Dr. Gene Barnett, Dr. Jill Schaeffer, and especially to my nurse, Gail Ditz, who was there every time I needed her.
1
“You’re retired from the spy business. Remember?” Patti stood with hands on her hips, demanding an answer.
“I was never a spy and…” Jamie paused. Nothing she said would satisfy Patti. “I don’t want to discuss it.”
“Not a spy? Really, you want me to believe that? Do you want to get yourself killed?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course not.”
Jamie’s twin sister worried too much. True, in the past she may have had good reason, but not any longer. Jamie was done with danger. She’d barely survived her last assignment, and that was only by the grace of God. The last thing she wanted was to orphan her daughter. She understood Patti’s worry.
The two of them were identical—at least physically. Wavy brown hair. Five feet five inches. Both slim, but Jamie was more muscular than Patti, thanks to her vigorous training schedule. Their temperaments, on the other hand, were polar opposites. She was the risk-taker, and Patti was the rule-follower.
“Well, whatever you were, you said you were retired. Remember that?”
“I do remember, dear, sweet sister of mine. But I didn’t retire from life.”
Jamie faced Patti. Through the window, she could see her sister’s guests enjoying the Florida sunshine. Little did they know the entertainment was inside.
She and Patti were supposedly getting the food ready, but Patti didn’t appear to be interested in that task. Her twin’s goal seemed to be to have an argument with her.
Jamie didn’t want to leave after an argument with Patti. The last time that happened, they hadn’t seen each other for years—man
y painful years. She wouldn’t do that again.
Patti’s forehead wrinkled as she glared. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I can’t sit back and do nothing if I think I can help someone. And Zink needs my help.”
“I know that, but…” Patti rolled her eyes. “That is not the point.”
Jamie picked up a knife, and stabbed through the clear cellophane of raw burgers. “I think it is the point, Sis.”
“I don’t understand this need for putting yourself in danger.” Patti’s lip trembled. “Why isn’t being Sabrina’s mother enough for you? Why do you insist on doing this?”
Those were good questions—fair questions.
But how was she supposed to tell her sister about the regretful things done in the name of patriotism? Her motives may have been right, but shame burned inside for her choices—no, not choices. “Mistakes” was a much better word.
Even after renewing her commitment to God, Jamie had done things she was ashamed of. If she could just help people, then maybe she could find some peace for her own soul. “This has nothing to do with Sabrina. Besides, I have no plans to put myself at risk.”
“Yeah, just like last time?”
“That’s not true. I knew that was dangerous. I did it because I had no choice.” Jamie looked over at her sister. “Patti, let’s not fight. You and I both know I’m getting on that plane tomorrow and flying to Ohio. And just for the record, I don’t believe I’m putting myself in jeopardy.”
“I know you don’t think so, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a dangerous situation. The woman’s ex-husband is a wanted criminal who kidnapped her son and disappeared almost two years ago. You have no idea what that man is capable of.”
Jamie arched a brow at her sister. “Really, Patti? You don’t think I know?”
“OK, maybe you do know. I’m not saying you’re naïve about that. All the more reason to let the professionals handle it. I don’t want you anywhere near that man.”
“Sooooo…you believe I can find him, too?”
Patti’s face registered surprise, and then her expression went to the stern look she used when she wanted to win an argument. “I didn’t say that. Do not twist my words.”
“But you must believe it or you wouldn’t be worried about what kind of a man he is. If I can’t find him, it wouldn’t matter. Soooo…that means you think I can find him. How could I not go help Zink find her son? What kind of a person would that make me?”
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