Page 24 of Healing Love

Miriam’s eyes met the nun’s as she walked nearby to wet the cloth again. The older woman opened her mouth and closed it quickly several times.

“Are you alright?” Miriam asked.

“I should be asking you that,” Sister Genovia said, referring to the tale that Miriam told her when she returned to the infirmary that afternoon.

No words came and the older woman seemed to understand that. Walking over to Miriam, she bent down closely to her face. “I have seen you with the large man.”

Miriam gasped, and her eyes widened in fright.

“No, no, it is all right. You have beencompletely discrete,” the nun assured her. “I’m more in tuned to others than most.”

Not willing to admit anything, wanting to trust Sister Genovia but the events of the day still too fresh to face betrayal, she just stared into the warm eyes holding her gaze.

“If God gives you an opportunity to leave this place, you must take your chance at freedom.”

Miriam’s gaze darted over to Lorainne’s cot.

“You cannot hold out hope for anyone else, my child. Lorainne will soon be joining God, and my duty is to keep her comfortable until that happens. Sharon has made her bed and will lie there until she realizes it is not all that it seems. But you? You must take whatever opportunity you can to find freedom.”

Miriam opened her mouth to speak but found no words came, so she sucked her lips inward. A short nod of her head was all that she would give. Sister Genovia patted her arm and then stood, walking back over to Lorainne’s cot. Now she knew sleep would not come easily. That was the last thought she had before exhaustion took over and she fell into a fitful slumber.

Marc placed the video conference call to the Saints. Luke immediately patched him through, and he could see Jack’s face on the monitor.

“What d’you got for us?” Jack asked.

“Cam is going to try to get her outtonight. A huge storm is coming in and, while the weather will hinder their travel, it will also make tracking them difficult.”

“Who’s he bringing in?”

“Just Miriam. The others are no longer able to travel,” Marc reported. The video camera panned back, and he could now see Bart and Blaise at the table as well. “How’s your case?” he asked, referring to the serial killer case they had been working on when he and Cam were reassigned.

“Got him. Details will wait until you’re home.”

Nodding, Marc agreed. “I’ve got several landing places that I can try to get to once they’re out but, until the storm lets up, I’m going to be grounded.”

Bart commented, “So, the thing that gives Cam a chance to get out will also put you on the ground? Jesus, that’s fucked.”

“In case my plane can’t work, I’ve got my contact here who says I can have use of a helicopter.”

Jack nodded, “Good. Use whatever you can from him. With you and Luke having been in the CIA, he’s using contacts to make sure you can get what you need and feeding into your man there.”

Finishing their conference call, Marc checked his phone one more time. Nothing from Cam, but maybe that was a good thing—it meant he was on the move.

10

The howling wind began around dinnertime, forcing the men to eat inside of their tent. Cam had just enough of the drug added discretely to the jug of beer sitting on the makeshift table to make the men slightly ill, which would force them constantly outside the tent seeking the latrine.

Within fifteen minutes, one by one of them felt nauseous and rushed outside. By now the pelting rain was coming down, making the paths muddy and forcing all others to seek shelter.Perfect. This is perfect.

He slipped out of the back side of the tent, the dark night and pouring rain masking his movements. It took him almost thirty minutes of jogging to approach the compound where Miriam was located. He stayed in the shadows of the trees lining the road, finally seeing the tall wall and gate ahead. The rain pounded his broad shoulders and ran rivulets down his face. Wiping his eyes he could see that the regular guards that stood around the outside of the gate had sought shelter. Hescanned the left side, trying to discern the best way to scale the wall. A copse of trees was near the compound on that side, so he headed toward them.

Looking left and right, he was now out of sight of the guard shack but was uncertain if there would be others walking the perimeter. He stayed still for a long time but was finally convinced the perimeter check was not occurring, or it was not going to happen in the dismal weather.

He chose the closest tree and climbed it quickly, maneuvering out to the branch that was nearest to the wall. Tying a thin rope to the limb, he attached the lose end to his belt.

Several attempts later he managed to get his large body swinging so that he was able to propel himself from the limb to the top edge of the wall. He grabbed the concrete with all his strength, hauling himself up to the top.

Lying flat, he scanned the area once more, blinking the water from his eyes.Not a soul around.He leaned over and counted the buildings from the gate. The third one was almost right in front of him.Right side on the front,she had said.

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