Page 56 of Gwen's Delta
The headache that had started with the phone call still pounded in her temples. The Tylenol she’d popped hadn’t made a dent. She doubted anything would. Most of her initial panic had subsided as the morning went on, but now, the later it got, the more of her fear returned. Time was passing too quickly, and it freaked her out. What if Luke couldn’t arrange a flight? How would she get to Cairo?
She didn’t even want to contemplate the whole money exchange. What if the kidnappers took the ransom and didn’t release her parents? Or what if they had killed them already?
Gwen’s mouth dried out, her stomach twisted, and a wave of nausea hit her hard. Sweat dotted her forehead, and she reached for the edge of the desk. Grasping it for support, she took slow, measured breaths until the panic subsided. It had been years since she’d had a panic attack, but it looked like they were back.
Finally, her breathing relaxed. She pulled the stool out to sit down and had just rested her forehead in her hands when her phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and checked the screen.Luke.
“Hi, Luke. Is everything all right? I’ve been so worried.” Words poured out of Gwen’s mouth.
“Hey, princess. Yes, everything is fine. I’m sorry it took me so long to call, but I have some good news.”
“Did you find my parents?” She tried to hold back hope.
“Unfortunately, no, but we secured a plane, and the CIA has agreed to supply the ransom money. Your family doesn’t have to worry about it.”
“Why would they do that?” Warning bells rang in Gwen’s head. The US Government had a no negotiation policy. Something else had to be going on.
“I’m not sure, but I’d rather risk their money than your family’s money.”
“Very true. I’ll let Gramps know. So when do I leave?” Just thinking about sitting on the plane by herself, and her breathing hitched. Gwen counted to ten slowly, a trick she’d learned long ago to help her stay calm. She’d have to find something to keep her busy, or by the time she landed, she’d be a basket case.
“We leave at nineteen hundred—uhh, seven.”
“We? You’re coming, too?” Relief that she wouldn’t have to go alone eased the tension in her neck. She would be strong in front of everyone else, but Luke would see right through her charade.
“Not just me, you get the entire team. You won’t be alone, princess.”
“Wow, what did you say to your boss for him to allow you all to come?”
When he didn’t answer immediately, her stomach turned over. First, the CIA agreed to help, and now, he was hesitating before answering. She wasn’t stupid, and it was obvious there was a lot more going on than Luke could tell her. She didn’t know what he did in the military, but the more she learned about him, the more she suspected he was part of a special operations group. Still, she didn’t appreciate being kept in the dark.
Luke said, “We have to check into some intel in that region, and we always go as a team. We’ll be there for the money exchange, too.”
She may not know him well, but she recognized bullshit when she heard it. He may not have had a choice, but it was still a lie. If he knew something about her parents, she had a right to know. Didn’t she?
“That’s a relief. It’s been worrying me. I don’t know how to deal with any of this on my own. I can’t afford to screw it up,” Gwen said, struggling to remain calm.
“I would have figured out a way to go with you, princess. You’d never have had to go alone.”
“Thank you. And you’re sure there’s nothing else going on?”
“Nothing that affects you and your parents,” Luke answered.
Until this point, he’d given her no reason not to trust him, but the niggling doubt wouldn’t go away.
“Should I meet you outside of Fort Hood?” Gwen asked. “I still need to pack. Damn. What should I wear? I probably should have paid more attention to what Mom brought on her trips.”
“Long pants and light-colored clothing are probably best. It’ll be warmer there than it is here. Good walking shoes or hiking boots if you have them. You’re not required to wear a head covering, but a hat would be a good idea.”
“You’ve been there before?”
“Maybe a time or two. I’ll come and get you. I’d feel better picking you up, and then you don’t have to leave your car here.”
Gwen frowned. “Are you sure? You’re already doing so much I hate to make you drive out here and then drive back.”
“Don’t worry. Just try to relax, although I know that’s probably impossible.”
“I’ll try. I really appreciate all you’re doing. I don’t know what we’d do without you.” Gwen’s eyes filled with tears.
