She drew away, searching his face. “But you prayed, didn’t you?”
He nodded. Was it possible she could see right to his very soul?
Yes, it was. And, what was more amazing…it didn’t terrify him.
She smiled. “Kiss me, Vicktor.”
Kiss her? Okay. That he could do, even right here in front of Yanna, and Roman, and even Mae. He took Gracie in his arms and showed her how much he loved her. Gently, not letting his hunger overwhelm her, his restraint speaking louder than anything else might. But enough.
And she surrendered. It felt so sweet he hoped it would never end. She kissed him back, knotting her hands in his shirt, holding on tight until he had to pull away and whisper the words that pulsed in his heart. “I love you, Gracie.”
He hoped she could see it in his eyes. He willed her to see it, to know that she had helped set him free and taught him everything, including how to trust.
She traced his mouth with her finger. “I can hardly believe it, but I love you, too.” Then she blushed, washing away the gray pallor of her rain-drenched skin, leaving her breathtakingly gorgeous with her golden mop plastered to her head, her eyes bright and alive.
She loved him, too. He curled her to his chest, closed his eyes and grinned like a silly man.
“What took you so long, Stripes?” Roman clamped him on the shoulder, his eyes mischievous.
Vicktor shrugged. Beyond him, he saw the Wolf’s AN-2 arch in the sky, then nose-dive.
Vicktor yanked Gracie into his embrace and ducked his head just as the plane slammed into the ground. The explosion rolled over the tarmac.
Roman crouched beside them, shielding himself with his arm.
“What was that?” Gracie exclaimed, turning, searching for the source.
“Oh, just some fallout from damage I did to the steering,” Mae said. “Sadly, it was only supposed to incapacitate him, buy the COBRAs some time. But when the Wolf’s pilot caught us…well, Roman and I had to stick around and see if we could save your skins.”
“The Wolf?” Gracie stared at the flames. “Was he on the plane, too?
Vicktor nodded, swallowed. “Yeah.” As Vicktor drew her in tight, Gracie buried her hand in his shirt and pulled him even closer.
And that’s when he realized he’d not only been forgiven, a thousand times over, but been blessed more than he’d ever deserve.
Grace drew back and blinked at Mae. “Who are you?”
A smile inched up Vicktor’s face. “Gracie Benson, I’d like you to meet Captain Mae Lund, United States Air National Guard.”
Gracie struggled to her feet, Vicktor assisting. “Mae?”
Vicktor nestled Gracie against his side as she shook Mae’s hand. “I’ve heard about you.”
Mae laughed. “Glad to meet you, too, Gracie. You’re an extraordinary woman to win Vicktor’s heart.”
Vicktor ducked his head, and heard Gracie laugh at his blush. “He’s got an extraordinary heart.”
The whine of emergency vehicles soured the air. “Let’s get you inside and warmed up before your plane takes off,” he said quietly.
Gracie frowned, her eyes glistening. “No, I can’t leave yet.”
The desperation in her voice tugged at his heart.
Vicktor pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Trust me.”
Gracie sat in the airport cafe, fingering her coffee cup and shooting daggers at the vile clock that ticked down her last moments with Vicktor. Her fingers were threaded through his under the table. His thumb stroked her hand in long sweeps, sending waves of yearning through her. Why, God? Why did You drop someone wonderful into my life, only to yank me away?
Then again, maybe it was enough that God had dropped Vicktor into her life…and saved them both. And now that Vicktor had his shoulder bandaged—pending stitches—she might be able to breathe freely.
Her flight hadn’t been called to board yet, but the announcement was imminent. She tried to focus on the conversation around her, thankful it was all in English.
“So how did you know Yuri was after Gracie?” Yanna asked, leaning toward Vicktor. She kept smirking at Gracie, obviously gleeful that Roman’s and her matchmaking had been a success. Gracie fought embarrassment. It had been ages since she’d been the willing recipient of a man’s affection. It took some getting used to.
“I found a photo of Yuri, Dr. Young and a Korean named Pastor Yee at the Youngs’ flat. When I found out Leonid had killed the Youngs, and they’d been framed, I called Arkady and asked him to ask Pastor Yee—formerly from North Korea—if his visa had ever been stolen,” Vicktor explained.
“Pastor Yee said he lost his passport about a year ago,” Roman continued. “He didn’t know if it was stolen, but we figure the Wolf/Yuri used it to create the fake documents framing the Youngs. Arkady called me when he couldn’t reach Vicktor. He told me you were at the airport, and Yanna and I figured that Yuri might try to ambush you there. We also checked the outgoing flights and discovered that his pilot, a comrade from the KGB era, had filed a flight plan. We couldn’t ignore the coincidence.”
“It’s a good thing you have well-placed friends, Stripes,” Yanna said.
“And she’s not only talking about Comrade Major Malenkov.” Roman’s eyes gleamed. “He authorized the call to Mae, who was thankfully already here, filing her preflight plan.” He thumped Vicktor on his non-bandaged shoulder. “You need to check your cell-phone batteries, pal.”
Vicktor winced and dug into his pocket. The phone hadn’t a spark of life. “Even if you’d called, I doubt I would have thought of Yuri hiding in the bathroom. And it was only when I saw him, and strung together his KGB history and the M.O. of the crimes, that I realized his true identity. I only wish I’d connected the dots sooner.”
“Pastor Yuri was your serial killer?” Gracie winced.
“Gracie, don’t you understand any Russian?” Vicktor asked, shaking his head.
She made a wry face and shrugged.
“Yes, he was the Wolf. He was also KGB and a plant in the Church for over a quarter of a century.”
Shock sent her chin downward. “A plant in the Church?”
Roman folded his hands on the table. “It was common practice for the KGB to assign someone to the Church to watch them. Christianity was a crime in the former USSR. Most nonchurched kids grew up believing it was a cult and members were closely watched.”
“Yuri sent people to gulag?” Horror turned Gracie’s voice whisper thin.
Roman bowed his head. “My guess is yes.”
Silence around the table made his statement resonate. Vicktor squeezed her hand. Roman shifted in his seat. Pity stabbed her heart. Russians had so many reasons not to trust one another.
Gracie shot a furtive glance at the clock. “Who cooked up the plan to get Yuri?”
“The COBRAs had eyes on you all the way from the building to the plane, but no one could get a clean shot with you kicking your way across the tarmac.”
“She does pack quite a wallop,” Vicktor teased. He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
Gracie wrinkled her nose. “Sorry.”
“Mae and I were at the plane and she was cutting the aileron cable to a thread. Under pressure on takeoff it would snap. Sadly, the pilot caught us. We had to subdue him, and she took over controls while I waited in the luggage bay for you to board.” Roman folded his hands on the table. “I’m just glad we were able to get you off that plane before he took off.”
Gracie rubbed the scrape on her chin. “I’m walking away with a few bruises, Roman. Please, don’t ever push me off a moving plane again.”
Roman laughed. “I’ll try to keep that at a minimum.”
“Well, I’m glad I got to meet the woman who snared Vicktor’s heart,” Mae said. She combed her hair with her fingers, then fastened the red mane into a bun. “I can leave knowing he’s in good hands.”
“I’m in very good hands,” Vicktor echoed. “Thanks to Gracie, and Roman, and you, Mae.”
“And Yanna,” added Mae. “She was the one who dug up the file on Yuri, and confirmed his status as inactive/active KGB plant.”
Vicktor tipped his head to Yanna. “Thanks, Yanna. But I was referring more to your faithful prayers, Mae.”
Surprise limned Mae’s face. Gracie had the sudden urge to let out a Russian “ooh-rah!”
“I became a Christian this morning.”
Mae’s gape turned into a joyous smile. “Will miracles never cease?”
Vicktor shrugged, and Gracie noticed a hint of blush on her stalwart cop. It tickled her heart. Oh, underneath that hard-as-granite exterior, Vicktor was a big softie.
“Flight 248 to Anchorage, now boarding.”
Gracie went cold. She raised her gaze to Vicktor. His tortured expression made her want to weep.
“C’mon,” he said in a low voice. His face chiseled out a smile.
She dredged up one to match.
He held her tight until the last person had passed through Customs. Then, in front of all his friends, Vicktor cupped Gracie’s face in his hands and kissed her. Thoroughly, with enough love for her to carry with her, and hopefully believe, deep inside, that he meant his words. “Hope dies last in Russia, Gracie. I will see you again.”
She nodded. Then she turned and ran through Customs, taking his heart with her. He waited until she was through, then shuffled back to his friends.
“I can’t believe you’re letting her go,” Yanna said, her eyes sparking. “Just like that.” She snapped her fingers.
“No, it’s not ‘just like that.’” He imitated Yanna’s actions. “She’s the one. She’s the woman I’ve been waiting for.”
Roman rested his hand on Vicktor’s shoulder. “Do you trust her?”
“Absolutely.”
All three friends stared at him. Vicktor pressed the floor with his shoe.
“There’s always the Internet,” Roman said.
“We can put her on our chat list,” Yanna added.
Vicktor swallowed with difficulty. How was he going to live beyond this moment? He felt a chill creep over him.
“Well, gang, the fun’s over.” Mae fitted on her cap. “I need to run. I have a fistful of soldiers and one very crabby major to fly home.” She one-finger saluted them. “I’ll see you on the Net.” Whirling, she speed-walked away.
Vicktor followed her with jealous eyes.
Abruptly, she turned, cupped her hands and yelled, “You know, when you fly Aeroflot, you’re considered on Russian territory until you get off the plane in America.”
The seat belt light dinged off as the plane leveled. Gracie stared out the window for a last glimpse of Russia before they ascended into the clouds. “Goodbye, Vicktor.” Her heart constricted and she blinked back tears. The plane jetted into the cloud cover, obscuring Russia in a fog.
Disbelief twisted her empty stomach. Yuri Mikhailovich, head of the Russian Church was a spy, a traitor.
All the good friends she’d had in Russia had either betrayed her, or given their lives to protect her. She knew she had barely skimmed the grief that would come. For the moment, her rawest emotions had to do with missing the man she had thought, five days ago, that she could least trust. But she’d learned trust was a choice, and not only that but God had seen her fears and given her life into the hands of a man who’d proved himself worthy.
Imagine that. She thought of Vicktor’s arms around her, and how he’d trembled with relief when he’d found her alive on the runway. She closed her eyes, aching as if a chunk of her heart had been ripped out of her chest.
She loved him. She’d started loving him when he’d tracked her down and scared the life out of her on the train, and when he had bought her a new dress and her reflection had sparkled in his eyes. Most of all when she’d unlocked her secrets and seen his compassion. She wanted to love him more, know him more. He’d abandoned his plans for revenge, and instead had prayed. Vicktor had so much potential to be a man of God. She ached to watch the Almighty take over Vicktor’s life and change it.
That would be loads of fun across the ocean.
She leaned her forehead on the Plexiglas window. The sun glinted brilliantly across an endless landscape of fluff. Below the mantel, these same clouds wept upon her Russia.
Gracie reached down, slid the laptop computer from under her seat and plopped it on the seat beside her. Overwhelmed with regret, she rubbed the case with her palm. “I’m sorry, Dr. Willie.” His life work lay in cinders in Khabarovsk Airport. Her eyes burned at the injustice. So many lives sacrificed for nothing.
She wondered if her office really had been trying to contact her, or if Yuri had been simply trying to oust her from Vicktor’s protection that day at the lighthouse restaurant. Lowering her tray, she hoisted the computer onto it and grabbed the air link hookup.
She unzipped the leather case and opened it.
A thick sheaf of papers had been wadded inside. Clipped to them was a small note.
Gracie, I hope these turn out to be worth it. I know they brought me to you—and you to me. Remember me when you are drinking coffee in Duluth. I love you. Vicktor.
Gracie unclipped the note and clutched it to her chest. Then she peered at the title page of the stack of A-4 paper: “Scientific Explorations and Experiment Results of Trichinosis Virus Vaccination by William Young, M.D.”
Trust me, Gracie. Vicktor’s voice, with the slight accent that curled her toes and sent ripples down her spine, reverberated through her mind.
Gracie closed her eyes. Hope dies last. She pressed her fingers to her lips, remembering the sweet taste of Vicktor’s kiss, promising, loving. She would pray and wait, just as she had for Vicktor’s salvation. Oh, God, thank You. Thank You for adopting Vicktor into the family.
Her eyes fluttered open. She had finally led someone to Christ. God had used her for the work of Vicktor’s salvation.
The thought made her tingle. So maybe she wasn’t a joke. Maybe, in fact, it was more about her needing God and God doing His thing in amazing ways. Using the darkest moments to bring light, and joy, and salvation.
Simply because they’d needed Him.
“The poor will eat and be satisfied. They who seek the Lord will praise Him—may your hearts live forever.”
So, maybe this wasn’t goodbye. Maybe, in fact, God was just getting started.
She leaned back, closed her eyes and let herself rest.
“Okay, Captain, you’re free to unbuckle.” The flight attendant freed herself from the jump seat, leaving Vicktor to wrestle himself out of the restraining harness. He got to his feet and peeked through the blue curtain separating the seats near the cockpit from first class and coach. “I don’t see her.”
Humor played on the flight attendant’s face. “Seven-A, sir.”
Standing tall, Vicktor smoothed his still-damp suit coat and entered the compartment.
Gracie sat slumped in her seat, her eyes closed, clutching Dr. Young’s notes. He smiled. So she’d found them. While Gracie had waited in his office at FSB HQ, he’d emptied the envelope, made a copy of the first page, then tucked the real notes in with the computer, just in case.
Leaning over, he tapped her on the shoulder. “Miss?”
“Yes?” She didn’t open her eyes.
“Can I sit with you?”
Slowly, she looked at him. Now, that was the smile he’d been hoping to find.
“You see, I’m with the KGB and I’ve been searching all over for you.”
This time, she didn’t kick him.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
In Sheep’s Clothing opens with Gracie confronting the end of a season of her life. What seasons of life have you experienced? Gracie also feels as if she hasn’t accomplished anything with the opportunities God has given her. Have you ever felt like a failure on the inside when others consider you a success on the outside?
Vicktor is a man who has regrets in his past that compel him to go on the hunt for his friend’s killer. Do you think regre
ts are a good motivation for actions or behaviors? Have you ever had a regret that has motivated you to do something out of your comfort zone?
Vicktor has a group of friends that he considers his closest—yet his best friend, David, is only available online. With the advent of the online world, more and more good friendships are located online, with many of these friends never meeting. Do you have a good friend online that you have never met face-to-face? How has e-mail changed your relationships, either local ones or long-distance?
After seeing her friends’ murder, Gracie tries to flee for the American consulate, via the train. In the same situation, what would you have done? Would you have trusted an FSB agent if he came after you on the train?
Gracie has a spiritual revelation while hiding at Andrei’s mother’s house. What is it? Discuss how it changed her outlook. Does it have any application to your own life?
When Vicktor changes Gracie’s appearance, how does it change the way she feels about herself? Why? Have you made any appearance changes that have changed the way you feel about your life, or your circumstances?
Vicktor is deeply affected by the revelation of Leonid the Red’s cure. Why? Discuss how his mother’s death affected him spiritually. Have you ever felt that God betrayed you? Why did Gracie’s spiritual answer to him on the way to the dacha make him angry? What might you have said to Vicktor’s questions?
Gracie comes to believe that she’s been using her fear of men to not fully trust God. Why? How does she make a leap of faith?
Gracie believes Andrei is in heaven. Why? Not that we can judge a man’s heart, but do you agree with Gracie’s thinking? Why or why not? Why does her faith in grace upset Vicktor?
Gracie is finally able to make an analogy about grace that affects Vicktor. Discuss that analogy and why it made a difference, finally, in Vicktor’s relationship with God. Does that analogy have an impact on you, and why?
In Sheep's Clothing Page 30