River of Secrets (6 page)

Juan headed to his private staff room to shower and get ready for supper himself.

“Senhor?”

Juan stopped and turned. Jonathas approached him and asked, “
Senhor,
did you find out about the darts from the gym?”

Juan studied the young man. “No, we haven’t heard anything yet. Why?”

Jonathas shrugged. “I was just wondering.”

Was he really just wondering or was there more to it than that? After all, the darts were gone when he and Lucas arrived on the scene—and Jonathas was there. But he had a legitimate reason for being there. Juan himself had told the boy to come find him when he was ready to work on the orphanage wing. And yet…

Juan clapped Jonathas on the back and said, “I’ll let you know when I hear something.”

“Okay. See you at supper.” The boy turned back. “Oh, hey, don’t forget the picnic tomorrow.”

“What picnic?”

“The one I hear they have every year. They even have a dunking booth. Get ready to get soaked.” He disappeared around the corner.

Juan grumbled, “Oh, yeah, that picnic. Who says I’m gonna volunteer?”

The next morning, right before sunrise, Amy continued her daily tradition of her dockside quiet time. Her stomach was still in knots, and she needed some guidance. After calling the McKnight family again—and again getting no answer, she gathered her Bible and notebook and headed out, only to come across Jonathas in the jeep driving toward her. She called, “Good morning. You’re up early.”

The seventeen-year-old pulled up to a stop next to her and said, “
Bom dia, senhorita.
My morning routine. I am driving down to check on the cows.” The cattle meant a lot to the orphanage as they provided milk and meat. Often they were sold to raise money for other necessities that the orphanage needed in order to keep running efficiently.

Amy smiled. “You’re doing a great job, Jonathas.”

Bright white teeth flashed in the morning light. “Thank you.” He disappeared in a trail of dust, and Amy continued on to the dock. Walking to the end of the fifty-foot pier, she sat and looked out over the muddy brown water, catching glimpses of the wildlife that never ceased to amaze her. A caiman floated past. Then another. And another. Nocturnal creatures, it was still early enough for them to be out and about. They looked like alligators, their snouts skimming the top of the water.

The first time she’d had her quiet time out here, she’d had her legs hanging over the edge of the dock. Then she’d seen her early-morning companions and nearly had a coronary. Today, she didn’t even flinch. This was her favorite time of the day. The sun rose with a blend of orange, yellows and reds, first peeking above the horizon, then coming forth in its full glory to proudly display God’s handiwork. It never failed to take her breath away.

When the sun finished its climb, she pulled out her Bible and just sat without opening it. Instead, she went straight to the point.
What do I do, Lord? What do I say? Should I talk to Lucas and ask him what to do? Would it do more damage to Micah—er, Juan—no, Micah, if I bring up the past and…
She groaned and dropped her head in her hands.

“Problems?”

She jumped. It was Micah’s voice—but it wasn’t. It was deeper, with a rasp he didn’t used to have. Due to the damage from smoke inhalation, no doubt.

Amy turned and looked up at him, seeing the resemblance all over again. She’d noticed it in the beginning, but had never entertained the possibility that he might actually be Micah. Because Micah was dead. Only now he stood looking at her with a frown creasing his forehead.

She frowned back. “Problems? A few. God and I were just having a conversation about them. Well, actually, I was talking and He was listening.” Then she smiled. “What are you doing here so early?”

Micah sighed and dropped his head. “Looking for you. I was wondering if I could join you.”

“Sure.” Amy could see he had something on his mind. “What’s up?” She did her best to sound cheery and carefree. No need to let him see her turmoil until she could talk to Lucas and get in touch with his family. Surely one of them would see she’d tried to call and call her back. She’d gotten a satellite phone, and both Cassidy and the ambassador had the number. Hopefully, he’d check in with his office and they’d give him the message that she wanted to talk to him.

Micah sat down beside her, crossed his legs and rested his elbows on his knees with his hands clasped loosely in front of him. Silent, he stared down in the muddy water.

Amy waited and inhaled his freshly showered scent. He looked good this morning, muscles gleaming in the morning sun. He had on short sleeves and didn’t seem to mind the scars prominently displayed on his left arm. Silent, she remained patient, allowing him to find the words he seemed to be searching for.

Finally, he blew out a breath and said, “I’m sorry if my scars offended you.”

Was
that
what he thought?

“Oh, no,” she reached out impulsively and laid a hand on his scarred left hand. “Why would you think that?”

He looked her in the eye, “Because of the way you reacted in the woods after the dart incident. You were…repulsed. And I’ve noticed you’ve been avoiding me these last few days.”

Amy caught her breath and stemmed the tears that threatened to fall. Although she had been avoiding him, it wasn’t because of his scars. She protested, “I wasn’t offended or repulsed, I…hurt for you. I can’t believe what you’ve been through. You…you’re…I wish…” She stopped, sucked in air and said, “I can’t even explain the feelings that went through me yesterday. I wish I could, but, please believe me, your scars don’t bother me. No, they’re not pretty, but they represent your strength, your courage. The fact that you can even walk shows what a fighter you are.”

A thought occurred to her, and she grabbed her Bible, flipping the pages, “Here, I want to read you something. It’s in I Samuel 16:7. The last part of the verse says, ‘The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’”

Micah reached out and ran a finger down the page in her Bible. Softly, he asked, “And you think He’s looking at my heart?”

Amy nodded. “I know He is…and I promise, I am, too.”

Light flared in his eyes, hope, tenderness…fear. Micah stared back out over the water, clearing his throat. “Thank you. Amy, I know we haven’t known each other that long, and I’m not sure what the future holds for me, but…” He caught her eye, and Amy sucked in a breath at the look. No, no, she couldn’t let him say anything. Not yet. Not until she told him everything.

“Here,” she blurted, “this will help. Start with John.” She handed her Bible over to him. He took it reluctantly, obviously wanting to finish what he’d started to say. She stood. “I’ll just leave you and God to have a talk.”

He hefted the Bible and smiled up at her. “You don’t have to leave.”

“I need to go in and help get the little ones ready for breakfast anyway. You can give me the Bible later.”

“All right. I think maybe I will just sit here for a while—see what God has to say.”

Amy walked up the dock and turned up the path, passing the gymnasium. She looked back to see Micah sitting with the Bible in his lap. At least it was open. She whispered a prayer. “Reveal Yourself to him, Lord. Show him Your love and goodness.”

Only a few steps later, she heard a rumble in the distance and saw the jeep heading back her way, occasionally catching a glimpse of it between the trees. Jonathas must have finished with the cows early. She picked up her pace, stopped and looked back. The trees were in the way, but it looked as if the jeep had stopped on the dock. The front faced the end where Micah still sat. How strange. It just sat there, idling…no, wait, it was moving. Why would some one drive the jeep on the dock? She moved to get a better look.

Then the vehicle was rolling on the downward sloping dock, down toward the end where Micah sat. Picking up speed quickly, soon it would be right on him!

“Juan!” she screamed.

Surely, Micah would feel the vibration of the dock and look up, hear it as it got closer. Who was driving? A quick glance showed an empty driver’s seat. Horror swept over her. Sure enough, the jeep was bearing down on Micah and he had no where to go except into the river where the caimans still swam.

FIVE

A
my screamed his name again as she raced back toward the dock. She saw him turn around and frown as he caught sight of the jeep heading toward him. He waited, puzzlement creasing his forehead. He was thinking the vehicle would stop, but he didn’t know what Amy did—no one was driving. Realization dawned for him almost too late as she watched him make the split-second decision to roll into the water. The jeep slammed into the river a few seconds later, grille first.

“Juan!”

Where was he? Had the jeep landed on top of him when it hit the water? She climbed down the bank and waded into the shallow part of the river, desperately searching for him.

Scanning the surface of the murky river, she still didn’t see any sign.
Oh, God, please let him be okay. Help me find him.
She went under and opened her eyes, but visibility was nil. Terror choked her as she pushed aside thoughts of caimans, piranhas and other dangers while reaching, feeling for Micah. Nothing. She searched until her burning lungs forced her back to the surface.

Breaking through, she spat, gasped and breathed in air. Something grabbed her ankle and she screamed, choked on more water and kicked at the vise around her lower leg. But it held on. Then she was free as Micah surged before her. Her pounding heart eased as she realized he was the one who’d grabbed her foot. He’d latched on to her to help him find his way up.

“Are you okay?” he demanded. “Are you crazy coming into the river like this?”

She gasped, “I had to find you.”

“I’m fine. Swim for the shore.” He looked around and froze. Amy looked in the direction he stared and choked back another scream as one of the caimans she’d watched earlier headed their way. Fast. “Oh, Lord, help.”

“Swim, Amy.”

She swam.

Micah stroked behind her slightly to her right, protecting her. He could have easily passed her and reached the shore first, but he stayed behind making sure the caiman didn’t catch up with her. She swam harder, reaching as far as she could with each stroke, making each pull through the mucky water count. Finally, she could put her feet on the bottom of the river; slogged through and flopped on the sandy edge looking behind her. The caiman had slunk away.

Micah collapsed beside her, breathing hard.

“
O senhor, senhorita,
are you all right?” Jonathas ran toward them, eyes wide with the horror of witnessing the events. First, Micah and the jeep, then the threat of the caiman.

Were they all right? Amy wasn’t sure. “What just happened?” She reached up to wring the water from her hair, hands shaking violently. Micah stood, sloughed the wetness from his face and eyes and looked out over the water. The tail end of the jeep stuck up out of the river, but it was disappearing fast. “I’m not sure, but I don’t think that was any accident.”

David Ruibero, the chief of police, arrived about an hour later. Juan then called Lucas from the medical mission to come check out Amy, even though she insisted she was fine and that
he
was the one who needed checking out. Lucas confirmed her self-diagnosis, and Juan relaxed a little.

They gathered in the main building in the cafeteria where they sipped freshly brewed coffee and talked about the incident.

“I want that jeep hauled up and examined,” Juan stated. “That was no accident. In order for it to drive so straight and right up the dock, the steering and the gas pedal had to have been jammed.”

“Did you see anything, Jonathas?” Lucas asked.

“No,
senhor,
I’m sorry. I was taking care of the cows, and I heard the jeep start up. I chased it, but it was too fast and I could not keep up. I also couldn’t see who was driving. I followed the tracks and got there in time to see the jeep going down the dock toward you.” His voice choked, and he cleared his throat. “I thought you were dead.”

The chief eyed the teenager suspiciously. “Are you sure about your story?”

Jonathas blinked, all sign of worry gone, his face now a blank facade. “Believe what you will. I do not lie.”

David drew himself up, and a muscle twitched in his jaw. He kept himself under control with obvious effort. “I would appreciate your cooperation, not your disrespect.”

Juan translated most of the conversation for Amy since it was all in Portuguese.

Jonathas calmed down, but not much. Instead, the sullen look Juan knew best slid over the teen’s face. The chief said, “Well, if you happen to remember anything else, would you please get in touch with me? I can’t catch a criminal I can’t find.”

“Right. Can I leave now? I still have chores to finish then I want to get ready for the picnic.”

Juan slapped the boy on the back and thanked him. Jonathas left, and Lucas brought up another subject that Juan had been wondering about. “Have you gotten any information back about the darts?”

David nodded. “Yes. I was going to e-mail or call you, but when I got the call about this situation, I brought the report along.” He reached in his back pocket and pulled out a paper, unfolded it and said, “The lab said that the tests they ran confirm that it’s poison from the poison dart frog. If any of those tips had hit you, you would have been paralyzed. The poison affects the nervous system almost immediately. Very serious stuff.”

Amy shuddered, the information and damp clothes chilling her. Juan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “So, what do we do now? That’s three times someone’s tried to kill me and I don’t have a clue why. We need to find this person before he tries again and manages to succeed.”

David said, “I’ll have a truck get out here and see if we can get the jeep pulled out of the river. It could take a while.”

Lucas piped in, “Tell them I’ll double their hourly wage if they’ll do it today.”