Page 124 of Enthrall Shadows
“That’s beautiful.”
“After being hospitalized, I went straight to live in Big Bear. Never went near the ocean.”
“Why?”
I gave a shrug, not wanting to dwell on the memory of that suffocating cell in the Middle East.
“You need to fulfill that promise to yourself,” she whispered.
A flutter of wings disturbed my musing.
A tall white bird spread its feathers and flew over our heads. We watched in awe as it ascended.
“An egret!” Lotte called out.
“Of course, you should recognize much of the wildlife.”
“I’ve lived in L.A. a long time. I’m familiar with many of the birds, though.”
“This is certainly an interesting place,” I said.
“It really is special.”
I glanced at the SATCOM—the connection was understandably down. We were surrounded by trees shading our signal.
“A once in a lifetime experience,” Lotte piped up.
“Never to be repeated.” I shook my head. “This place. Not you, obviously.”
“That’s lovely of you to say.”
I searched her eyes for the truth that she felt the same about me. “You’ve seen me at my worst.”
She reached up and cupped my face. “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in,” she whispered.
“Hemingway?”
“Leonard Cohen. See.” She pointed her fingertip. “I can teach you something, too.”
The ever-changing scenery offered up a brilliant backdrop of mystery.
“I wish you’d known me back when I was in the military. I had some neat skills.”
“Still do.”
“Let’s get you home first.”
“I see you, Henry,” she said, her tone sincere. “I love what I see.”
“I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“Friends always take care of each other.”
I studied her face. “We’ve gone beyond that, right?”
She fixed her attention on the dense forestry. “We find her, then regroup.”
Reese had become a complication that needed resolving.
