Page 14 of His Witness To Love

“I don’t know, Mack; you have to believe me. It looks like there is a “B” embroidered into it; it could be an archer’s guard or someone working with eagles. I’ve known a few people who do at least one of these things over the years.”

“You really have no idea who you could have made it for?”

“No, Mack. You have to believe me.”

“I do, Brie. Trust me, I do.”

Mack didn’t know what to do or say. Brie had no reason tolie; she could have kept quiet about it, but she spoke up. Whatever it was they needed from her; she had genuinely forgotten about it. No matter how he looked at it, it posed a problem. The clock struck 11p.m. This was a problem for another day.

“Get some sleep, Brie; it’s late,” he kissed her forehead and started to walk off.“You’ll be fine; we’ll all be fine.”

Brie’s head nodded in time with the clock’s chimes. She needed sleep, and Mack had already walked off. She picked up her book to return It to its shelf. Something pricked Brie; she believed she could do more than struggle to remember who she could have made the guard from.

Try as she may, she couldn’t conjure up a face regarding that guard. It made her feel useless.

The book was left on the table, and she left for her bed.

***

The next morning came much too early for any of them. Mack sat at the table nursing a cup of tea when Rachel turned on the TV from the other room. Brie was the last to rise, emptying his cup as she walked past and made them some more. It was peaceful. Then the announcement came in:

“Just in: Two women known to be missing and presumed dead after a missing person's case was declared passes the two-week mark with no results.”

The television went off immediately, and Rachel walked off. Brie pushed at her mug and massaged her head.

“Brie…” Mack started.

“We should smoke them out,” she said suddenly.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me, Mack. I’m tired of everything; they want me, don’t they? Let them come – all or nothing. Tag me with a wire track where I’m taken. They’re obviously not going to kill me; they need me from something. Find out what it is. End it all.”

Mack stared at her silently for a few minutes before he suddenly exploded, “Absolutely not.”

“You either do it yourself, or I suggest it to Peter or the Rodgers man you all hate so much,” Brie said obstinately.

“Brianna, this is stupid.”

“No, Mack. Innocent people dying is stupid. Kamal on the loose is stupid. This new character playing mind games is stupid. I’m not, none of us are, and I’m tired of being made to look like I am. For God’s sake, all I did was see a face. I want it all to end;I just want it all to end. I’ve made my decision. This has to happen, Mack, please; I want you to do this.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking me, Brie.”

“Yes,” she took his face in her hands. “Yes, Mack, I know, and I am sorry. You’ve thought about it, and so have I; it makes perfect sense. You’ve put yourself in danger for me; why can’t I do the same? Please, please, Mack.”

He fought with himself as he started to give in, “Okay, okay! Okay, Brie, fine. We’ll do it if you’re so sure.”

“Thank you…” she started to say.

“Don’t thank me yet; I don’t like any part of what’s about to happen.”

“You can’t both be serious!” Rachel yelled from the doorway, startling them both. “It's madness; you’ll get her killed, he’ll get you killed!” she screamed at both of them, switching her gaze from one sullen face to the other.

“It’s the most likely option to succeed, Rach; that’s the risk,” Mack offered weakly.

“Don’t you dare talk to me, you bastard! You’re the reason she’s started thinking like this.”

“No, he’s not, Rachel. You know this, I can’t do it anymore, cry, run. I can’t be scared,” Brie replied.

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