The Belial Library (The Belial Series) (21 page)

Jen gestured farther down the coast.  “I think there’s a beach about a mile down that way.”

Laney looked in the direction Jen had pointed with a sigh.  Right now, one mile might as well be a thousand.  She felt tired just thinking about the swim.  “Okay.  Let’s get going before we run into some sharks.”

“Sharks?” Elena’s voice came out as a squeak.  She tightened her hold on Jen’s neck. 

Jen glared at Laney.

Laney grimaced.  “Sorry.  That was just a joke.  I’m sure there are no sharks near here.” 
Although with our luck
, she thought looking around,
I wouldn’t be all that surprised to see a fin cutting through the water
. 

Shaking her head, Jen turned and began swimming towards the coast, Elena riding on her back.  Laney flipped onto her back.  Pulling Eddie's torso onto her own and trapping him with her legs, she began a slow backstroke following in their wake.  She knew she should be thrilled they’d made it.   And she was.  It was truly a miracle.

But those mercenaries had done everything in their power to try and kill them.  What was going to happen when they realized they’d failed?

CHAPTER 46

Jake watched the canopy of trees fly by beneath him.  He’d always loved flying in helos.  There was something incredibly freeing about it.  But right now, he felt like he was encased in a layer of lead.  It was hard to breathe.  His limbs each felt like they’d gained ten pounds. 

Jake and his group spent the better part of the afternoon helping the Shuar at the riverbank and dealing with red tape.  The U.S. Consulate and the Ecuadorian government had been called.  Getting the tribespeople to trust the military had taken some time.  Patrick had finally managed to broker a tentative peace.  Apparently, Laney had spoken with the tribe's leader about him.  Trust in Laney is what had sealed the deal.

The U.S. Consulate was working on smoothing the waters with the Ecuadorian government.  They hadn’t been thrilled when they learned about Jake’s group’s actions.  Of course, they’d been less thrilled to hear about the looting of a priceless ancient site and the killing of Ecuadorian citizens by a group of mercenaries.  Finally, the government men had thrown up their hands and ordered Jake's group out of the country. 

Wind blew through the open doorway of the chopper and Jake closed his eyes.  Laney was gone.  It didn't seem real.  She was so full of life.  She couldn't just be gone. 

He used to hate when people said death had them all ripped up inside.  It sounded so melodramatic.  But now he got it.  His chest felt empty, and yet, at the same time, it felt like something was trying to claw its way out.   

He crushed his fist in his hand.   And somehow Derek Collins was the reason.  He couldn’t wrap his mind around it.  Derek had been a member of his platoon in Afghanistan.  He’d been a SEAL.  And he was supposed to have died seven years ago when his Humvee hit an IED.  They’d never found the body, but they’d found his dog tags and part of his uniform.  How could it have been Derek?

He closed his eyes, picturing Derek when they’d started SEAL training together.  They’d bonded, been good friends.  Took leave together.  He and Yoni had even gone home with Derek a couple of times to stay with Derek’s family for holidays. 

Of course, everything had changed after Derek had been wounded in Iraq.  It was a massive concussion. Derek’s whole personality shifted overnight.  He became cruel, violent.  Jake knew Derek had been a breath away from being kicked out of the military, if not locked up, right before he died.  Had he faked his own death to avoid it?

His chest thudded painfully.  And now, Derek was responsible for Laney’s death. 

He turned from the door and watched Patrick in the back of the chopper.  Laney's uncle sat with his head leaning against the bulkhead, his eyes closed.  An occasional tear would slip from underneath his lids and strike the floor.  Patrick didn’t wipe them away. 

Jordan and Mike sat on the other side of the helo, their shoulders touching, but each lost in their own world of grief.  They’d always looked out for Jen, their little sis.  Jake knew how close the Witt family was.  He couldn't imagine how they were going to get through this. 

Henry sat stone-faced in the helo’s other door, glaring at the ground below them.   Even Yoni sat lost in grief, with none of his usual jokes.     

Jake turned away as the airport came into view.  He knew the Ecuadorian government was searching their plane.  When they were satisfied that they weren’t trying to sneak anything out of the country, they’d be allowed to lea
ve.  Actually, forced to leave.

He hated leaving without Laney's . . .  He stumbled over the word, even in his mind.  Without Laney's body.

The Huey touched down with a little bump.  Jake jumped out.  He turned to help Patrick down.  The priest seemed to have caved in on himself.  Jake wasn’t sure if he would stay upright.

Yoni slipped an arm around Patrick’s wa
ist.  “I’ve got you, Padre.”

Jake nodded his thanks as Yoni walked Patrick towards the hangar.  He grabbed his gear from the open doorway. 

Jordan and Mike walked towards the hangar, their arms slung around each other.  Jake wanted to say something to them, but what the hell could he say?

Henry walked over to h
im.  “What do you need, Jake?”

Jake shook his head, tears gathering in his throat.  He swallowed them down.  “Nothing, Henry.  Nothing.” 

Henry clapped him on the shoulder and stood with him, giving him his strength.  Taking a deep breath, Jake turned towards the hangar.

“I wonder what’s happeni
ng over there,” Henry mumbled.

Jake glanced up, noticing for the first time the commotion on the far side of the runway.  An ambulance was waiting on the tarmac next to a few other cars.  A rescue helicopter landed.  Paramedics rushed to
open the doors of the chopper.

“Any idea what’s going on over there?” Henry asked the
pilot as he came to join them.

“There was a sea rescue not too far from where you
were.”

Jake’s head
jolted up.  “Who was rescued?”

“Two women and two children.”

Jake went still.  He met Henry’s eyes.  Without a word, the two started running for the ambulance. 

Jake slowed as they neared.  Two children, a boy and a girl, were carried from the helicopter and placed into the waiting ambulance.  A tall, dark haired woman appeared next, her warm skin tone unnaturally pale.  And then behind her, looking even smaller wrapped in a large coast guard blanket, a pale woman with a riot of red
hair stepped onto the tarmac. 

Jake’s heart slammed to a stop in his chest, his knees almost giving out. 

She looked up and her piercing green eyes met his.  Shock crossed her face, before a smile appeared.  

Jake bulldozed past the startled paramedics and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her off h
er feet.  He breathed her in. 

“Laney.” 

CHAPTER 47

The blood pressure cuff woke Laney.  Her eyes flew open, her hands rolled into fists.  The nurse jumped back from the bed. 

Laney shook her head.  “Sorry.”

The nurse smiled as she unwound the cuff, patting Laney’s arm, before leaving the room. Laney rubbed her eyes, a thin film of sleep covering them. 

“You’re awake,” her uncle said from the chair next to the hospital bed.  From his red eyes and rumpled clothes, he’d obviously slept there. 

“I’m awake,” she agreed with a small smile.  They’d all been taken to the hospital after touching down at the airport.  Laney had fought against being kept overnight but her uncle had insisted.  One look at his pained face and she’d given in.  If it gave him peace, she’d stay in the damn hospital.

She glanced at the window.  It looked like dawn had broken a few hours ago.  “What time is it?”

Patrick glanced at his watch.  “Just after nine.  You slept for over fifteen hours.”

Laney looked at Jen, who sat on Patrick’s other side.  “Where’d your armed guard go?”

Jen smiled.  Her brothers had refused to leave her side since they’d found her.  “I convinced them to go get something to eat.”  She nodded towards the other bed in the room.  “But they stood next to my bed last night while I slept.  They should be wolfing something down right now and sprinting back up stairs to join me in about thirty seconds.” 

Although her tone was sarcastic, Laney could tell she was comforted by her brothers’ concern.  She glanced through the doorway, trying to keep her look casual.

“He stayed here last night, as well.” Jen said quietly.

Laney nodded, a small comfort taking root in her stomach.  She fell back on the pillows, her body aching.  No particular pain stood out, just an overall ache.  “How’s everyone else?”

Patrick stood.  “The kids are asleep in the room next door.  Eddie woke up some time last night.  Jen, here, has already checked herself out.”

“What about Julian?”

“Back in surgery this morning.”

Laney glanced over sharply.

Patrick put up his hands.  “Not an emergency.  They knew they’d need to do a follow-up surgery on him.  He was stable enough that they were able to do it this morning.”

She nodded, closing her eyes.  She supposed that was the best they could hope for.  “What about the Shuar’s court case?  Did they get an extension?”

“Yes.” Jen said.  “But only a few days.  And now writing up our description of the cave and documenting their claim is more important that ever.”

“The pictures from the site actually survived,” Patrick said.  “Henry’s having them developed.  And I told Jen I would be happy to help write the report for court.”

Laney knew how important that report was going to be.  Without it, the Shuar would never be able to prove the contents of the cave belonged to them.  That was, if the contents were ever found.

Patrick leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.  “I’m going to call the diocese.  There’s much work that needs to be done.  Arrangements need to made.”

Laney took his hand.  “You’re going to stay down here a little while, aren’t you?”

He nodded.  “It wouldn’t be right for me to leave.  I’ve seen the devastation here. I can’t turn my back on it.  I have to go make some calls.  I’ll be back in a little bit.”

Laney watched her uncle leave.  She sat up with a groan.  “I don’t suppose you feel as lousy as I do?”

Jen gave her a little smile.  “One of the small benefits of being whatever it is I am.”

Laney stretched her back and rolled her neck.  Not too bad.  “A hot shower and I’ll be good as new.”

“Well, I already had one and I think lukewarm is the best you can hope for.”

Laney laughed, and looked up when Jen didn’t join her.

Jen’s eyes were worried.  She leaned forward resting her arms on Laney’s bed.  “I wanted to ask you a favor.”

Reaching over, she gave Jen's hand a squeeze.  “You don’t have to ask.  Like I said, your secret’s safe with me.  But I think you should tell your brothers.” 

Jen sighed.  “Maybe one day.”

“Am I interrupting?”  Henry asked from the doorway.

Laney started, hoping he hadn’t heard their conversation.  “No, you’re good.”

Henry stepped into the room. 

Laney looked over at Jen who was staring at Henry, a look of shock on her face.  Laney smiled.  Henry’s gigantic stature often had that affect on people.  “Jen, this is Henry Chandler.”

Henry walked over to Jen, clasping her hand in his.  “Your brothers have spoken very highly of you.  I’m glad to finally put a face to the stories.”

“Um, it’s good to meet you,” Jen stammered.

Now it was Laney’s turn to be shocked. In all the time she’d known Jen, she’d never seen her lose her cool.  Amazing.  Someone had actually broken down Jen’s indestructible façade. 

Laney cleared her throat.  Henry dropped Jen’s hand like it was on fire.  Even more interesting.  “Any word on who that group was or where the artifacts were taken?”

Henry shook his head.  “No.  I’m pulling as many strings as I can to find out.  We think they're heading for North America.  We're checking along the way to the States, assuming that's their destination.  But they could really be anywhere.”

“We have to be able to find a trace of them.  That operation was too well coordinated. Have you tracked down Deveraux?”  Laney asked.

“I’ve got people at his university, his home, and all his haunts.  No one had any indication where he'd gone.  He took a leave of absence and didn't leave any contact information. According to his financials, he’s up to his ears in debt: his credit cards are maxed, he’s upside down on his mortgage, and to top it off, he seems to have a gambling problem.”

“I guess he did need the money,” Jen said.

"What about that behemoth that ran the group?"  Laney asked.  "They called him Hugo.  A monster like that has to have a colorful background."

Henry opened his mouth to say something, before glancing over his shoulder at Jake down the hall.  He stepped closer to Laney, lowering his voice.  “That guy we know.  Or at least, Jake and Yoni do.  He’s a former Navy SEAL, but he was supposed to have died seven years ago.”