She could see it all, like it was happening for the first time. Jack spotting her, seeing that she was drowning and running across the beach toward her. And his brother chasing after him. Because not another soul on the beach had done anything about it. Not cruel Betsy or some other tourist. Not the armed guards on the hillside.
Only Jack and Shane.
Again and again she played the scene over until she had no more tears, until the image of that teenage Jack became the man. The one who had baptized her and run after her and held her in his strong, safe arms. The one she loved.
And finally, fully, her sadness lifted and she accepted the truth.
Jack was right. God hadn’t made some colossal mistake when Eliza was rescued from the ocean that day. God had ordained Jack to save her. For the work she was doing to bring down trafficking rings, for such a time as this, and for the life she had yet to live. And for the man she would love as long as she drew breath. The one who had rescued her not once but twice, along a distant shore.
Jack Ryder.
* * *
THE SURVEILLANCE MISSION was more difficult than either of them had expected, but Eliza wasn’t worried. God was with them. He had brought them to this point. He wasn’t going to abandon them now.
They walked hand in hand along a tourist street just off the strip and after a few minutes Eliza recognized the men. The same ones who had walked by them on the beach. God had given her eyes to see, and she was thankful for the chance to use them.
“The men on the corner up ahead. They were on the beach yesterday.” She smiled at Jack, as if she hadn’t a care in the world. “That building behind them. I think they’re operating from there.”
“Have I told you how beautiful you are, my love?” Jack was playing the part. But he wasn’t, all at the same time. She could see that in his eyes. He pulled his phone from his shorts pocket. “Let me take your picture. With those trees in the background.”
Of course, it wasn’t the trees he wanted, but the men on the corner. The building behind them. Eliza kicked up one heel and smiled while Jack snapped the shot. “What should we do now?” Eliza walked past the surly-looking men and straight up to the door of the building. She tugged on it a few times.
Immediately one of the men turned around. “Get away from there!” He took a few sharp steps toward her, but Jack stepped in front of her.
“Back off.” Jack was taller than the guy. Obviously stronger. “We’re shopping, okay?”
The man retreated, but his scowl remained. “That’s not a store.”
Eliza pretended that was all she needed to hear. “Sorry.” She tugged on Jack’s hand. “Come on. Let’s find some ice cream.”
Jack didn’t look away from the guy until they were a few feet down the sidewalk. The next shop on the strip read “Sweet Treats.” Eliza was laughing again by the time they ducked inside.
“Go out the back door.” Jack stayed behind her. In case the guy on the corner followed them. Then with an ease she’d learned these past two years, Eliza hurried past the ice cream counter, down a narrow hallway and out the back door.
When they were in the alley, they jogged by a few stores and walked through the back of a souvenir shop. The place was bigger than most, so the two were safe here. Eliza could feel it. She was breathing hard as they found their spot between two racks of discount T-shirts.
“Your instincts are uncanny.” He had his arm around her again. “Which is another reason I love you, by the way.” He lowered his voice. “The question is, where are the girls?”
Eliza believed she knew. “There was a hotel across the street from where that guy was standing.” She took a bright pink T-shirt from the rack and held it up. “Let’s get ice cream and sit on the bench just down the street. That’ll tell us.”
Ten minutes later they were eating chocolate chip ice cream cones, acting like they were the only two people in the world, but Eliza had a view of the hotel. Again she’d been right. Three teenage girls appeared near the front door wearing short skirts and high heels. A man in a Hawaiian print shirt approached and one of the girls disappeared with him behind the hotel doors.
“There it is. Plain as day,” Jack said as they walked back to their hotel. No question they were being watched. He kept his tone and expression light. “But it took you, Eliza, to know where to look.”
Yes, Eliza thought. Because in another lifetime the girl standing outside the hotel had been her friend, Alexa. Or Rosa. Girls she had been forced to bring to the Palace. Eliza could accept that now. The past was behind her… she was a new creation because of her faith.