North Dakota Weddings (20 page)

“I’ve got to warn Vance.” Andi feared too much time had passed, her only hope being that Bodybuilder hadn’t made it back to the warehouse with the car yet.

“Honey, just call him.” Freya indicated her cell phone.

Andi opened the screen door and didn’t answer until she was on the other side of it. “I will, don’t worry.”

Fearing they’d already upset poor Freya’s schedule, Andi allowed Elisa to come with her. Andi started the car and screeched from the drive, sending dirt and gravel flying.

“Why don’t we go to the police station?”

“We have to make sure Vance is okay, too!” The words came out too loud and forced. “Please, just call him and tell him we’re free, to get out of there.”

“But…but…”

“Just do it.” Andi took a deep, calming breath. “Look, you get ahold of him, and we won’t go to the missile site, okay?”

Andi relayed Mr. E’s number as she swerved off the dirt road and onto a busy street.

The way she was driving, she might have a cruiser on her tail any minute, which was good. Wasn’t it?

N
itro Project?
Deep in his gut, Vance had hoped he’d made a mistake. That his fears he’d stumbled onto something nefarious were unfounded. He cradled his head in his hands. “Lord, forgive me. I made all these decisions without really asking You, waiting on Your answer. Thinking I knew how to fix things. Now I’m in deep. Please protect Andi and Elisa, show me what to do.”

He stared at the corrected code he’d written, but it only presented another dilemma. If he delivered as requested, would he see Andi and Elisa safe? He’d need assurance before he uploaded. Despite his eagerness, he needed to pray for direction, for the right words before he made the call to let them know his conditions.

Lord, help me. Their lives are at stake. What do I say?

Impatience needled.

Footsteps in the tunnel alerted him to intruders, though how would they have gotten in? Vance bolted from the sofa, adrenaline pumping through him. His heart drummed, his palms grew moist.

Andi appeared in the doorway.
How—

“Vance!” She ran to him.

He caught her up in his arms, squeezing like he’d never let her go, his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent of watermelon and vowing to keep her with him always.

Vance released Andi and gripped her upper arms. “What happened? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. We escaped and called the police. Called you, too, but you didn’t answer.”

“What? You know I’d have answered had it been you or the kidnappers.” Vance skimmed the caller ID. “Only a Freya somebody called. I don’t have time to talk to someone I don’t know.”

“That was me. I borrowed her phone.”

Idiot
. “Oh Andi. I’m so sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter. The police should be here soon.”

Elisa dashed through the blast door, panic written across her face. “They’re not the only ones. I thought to hit the lockdown button, but it’s too late. The elevator’s moving.”

“A bomb shelter won’t be much protection from the kidnappers unless we’re locked in.” Vance began pacing.

“Maybe it’s the police,” Andi offered

“I’m thinking the police would have hailed us first on the intercom,” Vance said. “We can’t take the chance. Come on.”

He jammed his laptop into its soft case and slung it over his shoulder, then tugged both women behind him to the equipment building. They stepped through the blast door that was propped to remain open.

“Why are you going in here?”

“You got lost in here before. Let’s do it again.” Vance managed a grin.

“I know where we can hide. First, let’s close the blast door. They won’t be able to sneak up on us this way.” Door secured, she located a place in the wall—a panel she easily removed.

She found a flashlight next to a ladder and signaled for Elisa to climb inside the wall. Though Vance believed it could prevent the bad guys from finding them, he hoped they wouldn’t get stuck if things went wrong. Next, Andi squeezed into the small space.

She reached her hand out to Vance. “Come on, hurry.”

Vance stepped in, keeping his back to the opening. He took her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “In case…things don’t work out…”

“Don’t.” Andi’s eyes filled with moisture. “For Elisa,” she whispered.

“I want to tell you what an amazing woman you are.”

“Vance, what are you doing?”

Though it seemed like the wrong time, if they were discovered, it could very well be his last opportunity. Vance pressed his lips against hers, soaking in her goodness, her beauty, her essence, remembering her. Aware that Elisa was watching, he ended the kiss.

“I never did tell you how impressed I was with all you’ve done, remodeling this launch facility. It doesn’t look anything like the old military site it was—I know, I looked up the original images.”

She sucked in a breath. “Thanks. Now will you come inside before they see us?”

He’d done everything he could to share how he felt about her and try to give her confidence in herself and her work. Now he knew what he had to do.

Slowly shaking his head, he said, “I’m not coming in. I know how to end this. You wait here until the police come.”

Andi grabbed his arm, pleading in her eyes. “Don’t do this…”

Vance freed himself from her grip and put the panel back in place, securing it with enough screws to keep it in position. He exited the equipment building, closing the blast door behind him. That should give the women enough warning if someone entered the room.

He’d never been in a position like this—where he was literally trusting God with his life. But regardless of what happened to him, it was important that Andi and Elisa were safe. The police would be here soon. The goons Peter had sent had every reason to get rid of Vance because he could talk. And he would talk if he made it out alive. At this point, only God could save him.

He entered the living room and immediately felt the barrel of a gun against his neck. He lifted his hands in surrender. “Easy. I have the program. If you kill me, I can’t give it to you.”

A large, bulking man stepped from behind him, still pointing the gun. “Bring it then. We don’t have time to wait. The police are probably on their way. You’re coming with us.”

A shorter man stepped beside him. “You take him. I’ll find the women. They’re around here somewhere.”

“But what about the police?”

“You want those women describing us? They’ll be insurance in case the program doesn’t work.”

Vance’s heart sank. So, this was it…

Andi kept strong for Elisa, refusing to give in to fear. In fact, she held on to the anger she felt at Vance for wanting to play hero. He could have stayed hidden with them until the police arrived. She wished she could come up with her own plan. Andi pressed her fists against the walls, frustrated. She had planned to explore this space at the right time, searching for her grandfather’s secret. But now, all her thoughts were on Vance. She prayed for him. Hard. Harder than she’d ever prayed for anything in her life.

His life was in danger. Their lives were in danger, too, but he’d gone to face the bad guys alone. To protect them.

She couldn’t keep up the anger long though.

He’d said all those things to her in case something went wrong and he would never see her again. The words had been sincere, from the deepest part of his heart. She’d allowed herself to see everything through his eyes, and because of that, she realized, maybe she was good enough, after all.

Good enough for a brilliant man like Vance. Allowing her hands to slide down the wall behind her, she felt a slight variance.

Gasp
. Could it be? She turned her attention to the place where she’d felt the inconsistency and examined it with the flashlight. A four-way cut had been made in the metal sheeting. There was definitely something different here. Her heart fluttered.

“Elisa,” she whispered, “I think this is it. This is where Grandpa hid…whatever.”

“Why do you care about that now?” Some of Elisa’s resentment returned.

“I wasn’t looking for it, but I think this is it.”

Elisa moved to her side. “Well, aren’t you going to open it?”

Andi ran her hand over it. “To think those guys were so bored down here, they’d go to this much trouble.”

“Yeah, either that or Grandpa really wanted it hidden.”

“He could have dug a hole in a field somewhere.”

“But this would have been torture for someone who wanted to find it but couldn’t get inside—it being a military launch control center.”

Thoughts of Vance accosted Andi. “I can’t do it. I can’t open this without Vance. He has to be here.”

“You love him, don’t you?”

Andi gave a slight nod. “Yeah, I think I do.”

“Have you even told him about the letter?”

“What’s he going to think when I do?” What was taking the police so long? “You have to stay here, Elisa. I’m going to find out what’s happening?”

“No, don’t leave me. Vance told you to stay here.”

“And I’m telling you to stay. Something could have happened to Vance. Maybe the police are here but don’t know where we are.” She hated saying the words but had to admit them. Why else hadn’t anyone come to let them out?

Oh Vance
. Except for Elisa, Andi had lost everyone dear to her. She wouldn’t lose Vance, too.

Vance had loosely secured the screws into the panel—enough to keep it in place, but not tight. Andi easily popped them out from her side, climbed out, then secured the panel back to hide Elisa. Noticing the same mallet she’d once used to threaten Vance resting against the wall, she grabbed it to use as a weapon. As quietly as possible, she opened the blast door, all the while believing this was probably a mistake. But she couldn’t wait any longer. What if Vance needed her help?

Things couldn’t end this way. She wouldn’t let them.

She crept through the tunnel connectors and past the elevator and stairwell. Before entering the tunnel she listened for voices. Footsteps. Anything. She heard…

Breathing
.

She screamed. A hand clamped over her mouth, stifling
it
.

D
on’t be afraid. I’m working undercover,” the man whispered, then released her. “Where’s your sister. Is she all right?” Andi turned to face the slimmer of the two kidnappers. She held the mallet high. “You!” She eyed him, still suspicious and unwilling to give away Elisa’s hiding place. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

He raised his hands as though she were holding a gun rather than a mallet. “If you don’t believe me, let’s go above ground where they’re apprehending the assailant as we speak.”

“What about Vance?”

“Your boyfriend is safe.”

Andi’s hand began to shake. She needed to see for herself. In the meantime, Elisa would remain hidden. “Let’s go, then.”

Once Andi exited the elevator into the night, she witnessed flashing lights, cars, and suited men along with police everywhere. The lights blinded her as she searched through the commotion for Vance. Looking behind as she moved forward, she stumbled into someone.

“Andi!” Vance embraced her with his strength, comforting her. All the words he’d said before he left to find the bad guys came gushing back to her. Though she thought he’d been sincere, doubt crept in. Were the words only prompted by the distress of their dangerous predicament?

A man spoke to Vance. “Mr. Young, we’ve confiscated your computer and will need you to come with us to give us a statement.”

Andi pulled from his arms to listen.

Vance nodded, his expression grim. “Right now?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Give me a sec, okay?”

The man looked from Vance to Andi. “Sure thing.” He left them alone.

“What’s going on? What was this all about? Are you in trouble?”

“Hold off on the hundred questions.” Vance kissed her forehead. “It’s complicated. I can’t tell you the details, Andi. It’s all…”

“Classified?” She searched his face.

“Something like that.” He grinned.

She loved his grin and wasn’t sure what she was going to do when he left. Elisa either. She gasped. “Elisa!”

Vance’s eyes grew wide. “Is she okay?”

“Yeah, probably still hiding. I need to go find her.”

Vance grabbed her hand. “And I have to go give them a statement.”

She frowned, unsure what to say.

“Don’t worry, I’m not a criminal.”

“So, you won’t be here when I get back with Elisa?” She could only manage a small smile.

“I don’t know. They’ll question you, too, I’m sure.”

Andi sighed, for some reason afraid she wouldn’t see Vance again.

He brought his face near and kissed her, allowing his lips to linger. All too soon he released her.

“Go get Elisa. She has to be worried,” he said, a huskiness in his voice. “I’ll call you when I’m done.”