Page 73 of Wait for Me

“That’s their choice.” Marie wasn’t entirely certain that beefing up security was enough to protect anyone. However, Zaid seemed to think it was plenty, especially since they suspected that their boy was not in any danger.

In fact, Zaid had made it clear to her that she had brought danger to the cruise.

“I shouldn’t have come,” Marie said.

“You had no idea it wasn’t completely over.” Logan didn’t say more, but he seemed to indicate that he could put two and two together.

“Now we know it isn’t.” Marie was still waiting for a reply from Mendenhall Security. As soon as she could, she had sent an encrypted message to Esperanza.

She had also contacted her INTERPOL office in France, who had connected her to the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Ottawa.

Everyone had been informed.

But Esperanza’s concerns made Marie worry. To her credit, the security specialist did not trust anyone else to go after Buchanan. She wanted to do it herself.

Marie had thought Esperanza would be satisfied that Molyneux was finally behind bars, but apparently not. As long as the terrorist was still alive, her associates thought they could roam free and rule the world.

Buchanan seemed to be one such prideful creature.

“We can always return to Victoria,” Logan said.

Marie nodded. “Of course. It’s only a flight away.”

“Sometimes a child needs to know that we parents do things for their safety.”

“And they may not understand it at first—much like how we might pitch a fit at God whenever He tries to keep us safe.”

Logan stopped walking. “Did you just saypitch a fit? Going southern belle on me?”

Marie ignored his small talk. “We need to talk to Mrs. Ping about tomorrow.”

“Why? Isn’t she coming home with us?”

“Technically you paid for the entire trip. If I go home with you until Sunday, there’s no reason she can’t stay for the rest of the trip and enjoy what little cruise is left.”

“We’re assuming she’s in no danger.”

“She can protect herself.”

Logan raised his eyebrows. “Something else you’re not telling me?”

“She has a black belt in martial arts, as we know,” Marie said, not giving anything else away. Like the five one-week weapons training that Esperanza had given Mrs. Ping, who had been in the police force—albeit a desk job—in Hong Kong before her family emigrated to the USA twenty years ago. She was rusty in the weapons department, but Esperanza polished off the grime.

“Maybe she should be with us, then, to help us keep Jonas safe.”

“Espy is sending someone to your house as we speak. We’ll be fine.”

“We will?” Logan smiled. “I can’t believe you’ll be spending a couple of days at home.”

“Your home.”

“It’s also yours. It will always be yours—if you want.”

Marie didn’t want to go there. “The most important thing right now is to make sure Jonas is safe.”

“Our safety is in God’s hands. Remember the verse you gave me yesterday?” Logan swiped his phone. “Let me read the email back to you. ‘For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.’ Psalm 61:3.”

“Amen.” Marie turned around.

---