Freedom Does Matter (Mercenaries Book 2) (45 page)

“Can… can you do that?” Tears began to flood Alisha’s eyes.

“You are less than twenty weeks?” Alisha nodded. “Then the doctor can certify your mental state justifies it. Of course, you’ll have to discuss it with her.”

“I can do that.” Alisha took a deep breath. “She can’t just do it based on the rape?”

“Not legally, though it will certainly be a factor.”

“I hope so!”

“Thank you, Sarah. Where… Oh, you said the Bahamas? Can I see Labeeb?”

“Of course. The Nest is about five hundred kilometers east of Nassau. If he can get time off, we’ll taxi him over. And if he can’t, we’ll take you over after, for as long as you want.”

“I’m going, too.”

Voices vied for recognition, but Sarah ignored them. Beckie watched in awe as the girl worked her magic.

“She doesn’t have anyone with her she knows, or who knows her, and that’s important.”

“Her brother…”

Sarah sneered. “Brothers. Sorry, Dave, but this is not what a brother is good for. Look, I might only be a kid, but I can help Alisha through this. Please? Mom, you and David can come too. I’ll bet there are beaches there.” She looked over the arm of her chair to Beckie. “Are there beaches there?”

“Indeed there are. One of the nicest beaches in the whole world lies fifty feet from my back door.” Not gonna worry about Ian right now. “It’s not as close to Shalin’s door—maybe a hundred feet. You are all welcome if you’d like to visit. I thought I heard someone say you’d been in London?”

Deborah nodded as she said, “Yes. Last week.”

“Then you’ll all have a passport. You must as well, Alisha.”

“I have one, yes. I’ll have to find it.” Her phone sounded a polite alarm. “Oh, my! It’s quarter of. I have another student coming by at three. She has a performance tomorrow night and asked for—”

“Of course,” Deborah said. “We can wait in the front room. Or do you think a long walk would be better?”

“It’s okay either way. She’s performed in front of an audience before so you could probably sit in here without bothering her.”

“Well, I didn’t expect to be going on a trip quite so soon. The kids and I can run home and collect our passports, assuming you also want to go, David?”

Beckie stifled a laugh. David’s expression was the prototype for “Are you kidding?”

“Yeah, Mom,” he said. “It’d be great! Maybe I can help Alisha, too, though I’m not sure how…”

“Just come and talk to me, that’s all I need from you. Unless you want to sing?”

“Okay. Deborah, do you need Sarah to do that? If not, Shalin and I will take her with us. She can lead us to ice cream.”

Sarah apparently liked the idea of ice cream; she nodded her assent.

“I’ll throw some of your clothes in a bag. Don’t be upset with my choices!”

“I won’t. Thanks, Mom!”

As Deborah and David left, Beckie said, “The lesson lasts until?”

“About ten of four or so. Thank you again, both of you.”

“No need to thank us for doing the right thing,” Shalin said. “Now, go find your passport!”

It didn’t take long before Sarah, freed from any familial influences, began talking, first about the match in London, which she’d enjoyed though the teams played to a draw, and then about her grandfather, whom she loved but didn’t understand. His refusal to accept scientific arguments, his vilifying women who sought abortions, his belief that homosexuality was a sin against God and nature, all confused and upset her.

“And that’s for starters!” She slumped in the booth where they were having scoops of chocolate or, in Beckie’s case, strawberry, ice cream.

“Was… You said the Temple, right?”

“Yeah. The Love and Faith Temple. He’s the… Well, he says just the pastor, but he’s really the boss.”

“Were they sponsors of the match?”

“Yeah! That’s why we went. They gave a lot of money for it.”

“Did your Granddad know you were going?”

“No…” Sarah slumped a little further; her eyes barely visible over her glass dish. “I kinda got in an argument with him…” She sat straight up. “… about Alisha. He said she lied!”

“Well, I guess he doesn’t know her.”

“He doesn’t, and that makes it even worse, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, I have to agree.” Beckie turned to Shalin. “Call Jean-Luc and give him the list of people going. I’m staying here, though, so he—”

“What! What are you thinking, Beckie?”

“I’m thinking I need some spiritual enlightenment.”

“Better look somewhere else,” Sarah said, almost under her breath. Both Beckie and Shalin looked at the girl and laughed.

“As long as Ian doesn’t want me there… Ask Maurice to let Sarah use my room. Tahirah can move over to the hospital with Noorah—maybe that’ll keep her away from Haleef!—and Sarah’s mom can stay where she was. David… Maybe you could take him in?”

“We’ll work out the little nitty details while you’re off being ‘enlightened.’”

“Maybe I should stay and help you?”

“No, Sarah. You made an excellent case for being with Alisha. David was good, but you did a super job.” Beckie nodded to Shalin who slid out of the booth and walked away, fishing her phone from her bag.

As Shalin went through the door, Sarah said, “Yeah, Dave was funny. I didn’t think he really cared, you know? And singing. Wow. He never sings. In public, anyway.”

“You all seem to be…I don’t know, exactly. Very convincing, I guess.”

“Maybe we get it from Poppy. He gets whatever he wants.”

“In his case, if it’s true, it’s because he’s able to persuade other people to agree with him. By himself, he couldn’t do anything.”

Sarah didn’t answer that, just finished her treat.

It took Beckie ten minutes to convince Jean-Luc she would be staying in Kansas City while he ferried the others back to the Nest.

“I’ll be fine here. I’ve got more money than God, I’ve got a car, and the beginnings of a plan.” Beckie smiled at him as she pushed him toward the plane.

Alisha walked down the steps carrying something. Jean-Luc give her a worried look as he passed. “We have but a few moments, mademoiselle.”

“I’ll just use one of them, thank you.” Alisha continued to approach Beckie. “Thanks to your help, I will not need this.” Beckie was stunned when Alisha took her hand and placed in it a Smith and Wesson Airweight revolver and five shells.

Beckie couldn’t speak for several seconds. Her gaze flipped back and forth between Alisha’s face and the gun now resting in her own hand. “Okay,” she forced the word out. “I can take… this.” She pushed the bullets into a pocket and broke the gun open to verify the chamber was empty. Satisfied, she shoved it into her back pocket. “Do you want me to keep it for you, or get rid of it?”

“I am certain I will no longer have a use for it,” the woman said. The woman’s head twitched toward the plane and Beckie realized how few options Alisha had thought she had. She blinked back a tear.

“Okay. Thank you.” As the woman turned to climb the steps, Beckie called, “Shalin!” Once Shalin’s head appeared at the hatch, Beckie said, “Please make sure you let me know what happens with Alisha, or if any of my guests causes a problem.” She smiled at Sarah, now peering around Shalin’s shoulder. “Yes, that means you.” She spoke to Shalin again. “Or if… if anyone’s looking for me, I can be there… You wouldn’t believe how fast I can be there!”

She waved until the plane lifted off, then slid behind the wheel of the rental and drove south, back to Kansas City.

A mall caught her eye and she considered her outfit. She had pulled on jeans against the early morning Minneapolis chill, and a flannel overshirt with a tee-shirt underneath. The overshirt was open, now, in the warmth of the August evening. And sneakers. I could grab a bite to eat, too.

The stop delayed her an hour, but she drove away having finished a chicken salad sub and a bottle of water. A bag in the trunk held the Minnesota clothes; she wore a summery shirt and skirt combination from the Junior Miss selection in one of the brand name stores. The skirt was a little short, but she’d liked the red and orange pattern and it coordinated perfectly with the tan and orange shirt.

In town, she parked in the first lot she saw after she’d passed the building. She’d found the Temple’s business address first; her nascent plan called for her to examine the offices and find the church itself in the morning. Don’t expect anyone’ll be around either place now, she thought, glancing at the dash clock as she left the car.

The front door was open, so she was surprised to find no one on guard inside. She glanced around the cove. Of course, security cameras. Don’t look suspicious, now! She laughed at herself and walked to the directory. Confidently!

A single line filled the case. Reverend Billy - The Love and Faith Temple Reception: Ten.

The elevator shot her to the tenth floor. She wondered why the man had selected a floor halfway up the building rather than one at the top, but decided she didn’t know enough, yet.

The sidelight of the main door to the church’s offices was dark and the door—tested by twisting the knob using the tail of her skirt to cover her hand—was locked. She peered in, but without a flashlight, could see nothing. She wandered the hallway, checking four other doors, all locked. None had identification; neither did any have the impressive appearance of the main entry.

As she dropped her skirt after testing the last handle, a man, a janitor, wheeled his cart around the corner. When he saw her, he stopped short. He sounded a little short of breath when he asked, “What are you doing here?”

Cool! I thought about this question. “I’m looking for the Ladies room and I must have gotten off at the wrong floor. Can you point me right?”

The man gave her a skeptical look, but replied, “Go down to the Lobby. The restrooms are to the left out of the elevator. Can’t miss ‘em.”

“Okay, thank you!” Beckie said with a big grin, making sure her skirt flared as she spun to find the elevators.

The ride down was quick; mere seconds later, the doors opened. She stepped out and turned right, toward the building entrance. She glanced at the clock: 8:55.

Chapter Forty-Two

Day Forty-six - Kansas City

BECKIE CAME THROUGH THE GLASS doors at a brisk walk. As the warm air hit, she saw a couple of men approaching and swerved to give them room.

One changed direction slightly and his arm caught her in the belly.

“Ooof!”

As the man pulled her in, she reacted. She grabbed his arm tight and yanked him even harder. Still acting by rote, she dropped her shoulder and dove for his leg, planning to roll under him as he fell, ready to drop her knee in his throat. Her hip struck well enough that the man’s foot came out from under him; she landed and rolled to her hands and knees.

The man was off-balance, but while he didn’t fall as awkwardly as she’d hoped, he did land on his back. She pounced, driving her knee into his neck.

God damn! she thought as her breathing slowed to normal, This is why we don’t wear skirts! The man’s head was underneath the garment. She started to move when she heard, “Rebecca. Rebecca, please be calm.”

She spun, fighting to keep her balance as all at once she attempted to stand, to turn, to face… “Ian! What the fuck are you doing here? And…” She scowled at the man on the pavement; it was Kevin. Her blush lit up the whole area.

“Hey! What’s going on over there?” From across the street, a man had turned, approaching them.

“It is all right,” Ian said. “A surprise meeting between friends. We startled her.”

The man gave Ian an unbelieving look before turning a sympathetic face to her. “If you say so… Are you okay, Miss? Are these guys bothering you?” He held up his hand, holding a phone.

“I’m fine. It’s as Ian said. Kevin…” Kevin had recovered himself to stand beside her. “Kevin caught me by surprise.” She patted his arm. “I’m fine, really I am,” she repeated, hoping the man would get the message.

“Okay, if you’re sure?”

“I am. And thank you for worrying about me. The next time might not be so… inconsequential.”

“Okay. Have a… good evening.”

They watched the man leave. After he’d turned the corner, Beckie rounded on Kevin. “What the fuck do you mean, grabbing me like that? And what are you guys doing here? You do remember Elena trained me in hand-to-hand, don’t you? What did you think—”

Beckie felt lips against hers. Must be Ian; Kevin’s over there. She tried to say a few more words, but then chose kissing.

A lifetime later, or perhaps thirty seconds, Beckie was calm but not mollified. Kevin, on the other hand, was disheveled, trying to straighten himself out. She grinned self-consciously when Kevin looked at her and said, “You do know better than to use the knee hold wearing a skirt. But, full marks, I think. How did you judge her, Ian?”

“Ten from ten, I agree. And she is absolutely correct. What were you thinking?”

He dropped his head, which didn’t hide his flushed cheeks. “Well, you know, she turned to go round us, so I stuck out my arm to catch her.”

“Didn’t think of tackling me? Or sticking out your foot to trip me?” She spat. “How about calling my name? Too much trouble? Pfaugh! I should have crushed your windpipe, the way I was supposed to.”