“Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She looked out the window. All she wanted was to live long enough to be in Jack Ryder’s embrace again. To see him one more time.
Then she remembered something. She’d been told by her case agent that if ever her life had been in danger, if she was afraid and not sure she could do another mission as an HLCI, she could break her cover and make a single phone call. At that time the agent with her would allow a one-time use of a bureau phone. Something that couldn’t be traced back to Eliza.
She felt the tears on her cheeks. Her breathing was still not back to normal.
This was that time.
“Please, Camille.” Her teeth chattered. “Please… can I make a call?”
“Of course.” Camille looked concerned. “I’m sorry. About what happened.” She checked her phone. “They did the raid. If that helps you feel better. They’re still making arrests and rescuing children.”
Eliza nodded. She was glad.
“Who would you like to call, Eliza?”
This was what she had signed up to do and she would do it again. But right now there was only one person she wanted to talk to. She stilled her trembling long enough to answer the question.
“Jack Ryder.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
—John 3:16
There were days when Eliza seemed more like a dream to Jack, like a figment of his imagination, or a vision he couldn’t quite figure out. Not like someone real at all. But today, after twenty months, Jack was in the back of a black SUV two hours from finally seeing her.
And that felt better than real.
Eliza lived in Houston now, where she’d just finished an assignment in the city’s most crime-ridden neighborhood. Jack leaned back and closed his eyes. The FBI loved Eliza Lawrence. She was becoming a legend, not just in Texas but all the way up to headquarters in Washington, D.C.
As informants went, Eliza had it all. She was nearly twenty-two now, but she looked young enough to pass for a junior in high school. And she was incredibly intel ligent. She had an uncanny sense about traffickers and danger. So far she had helped take down eight trafficking rings and one drug cartel, all while looking like the picture of innocence. But her work had come at a cost.
She’d been nearly killed three times, and once she had been bound and gagged, stuffed in the trunk of a trafficker’s car. Each time God had saved her. Jack was sure now. He hadn’t doubted that since his time at Lake Grapevine.
And his missions had been just as dangerous.
They were meeting up today for one reason only. For the next four days they were set to do another mission as a married couple—this time in Cancún.
At first, Eliza hadn’t wanted to do this operation. She wanted to see him, she had written in her email. She looked forward to finding someplace in the world where they could spend a few days catching up. Something to fill in the miles and months of distance between the letters they had exchanged.
But she wasn’t sure she could pretend to be his wife.
It was only after their last email exchange that Jack had felt her attitude toward the mission change. She mentioned that maybe it had been long enough to not let feelings get in the way. I really only see you as a friend, Jack. Those were her words.
Like always, Oliver had been in on that communication. So had Eliza’s case agent.
Oliver had talked with Jack just a few days ago, mak ing sure there was no reason to call off the trip. “I want her to have time with you. I think she needs it.” He leveled his gaze. “She’s a machine. Just like you, Jack.”
“I know.” Jack was proud of her. But he worried about her, too. “So the mission… it’s also time for her to have a break. Is that it?”
“It’s soft surveillance. No contact needed. We want information about buildings and points of entry.” Oliver hesitated. “But to answer your question, no.”
“No?” Jack was confused.
“She has one more year on her contract. You need her on this one.” Oliver stood and walked around his desk. “Also… we have possible information on her family.”
Jack hesitated. “Eliza’s mother and brother?”
Oliver took a folder from his desk and handed it to Jack. “Here. You can read about it. There’s a slight chance they could be in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.” Oliver went on to explain that a Belizean police officer had gotten a tip from someone in Little Belize. A woman and her young son had come to the village around the time of the disappearance. But not long after, the two had left with a few other families and started a new outpost deeper into the mountains.