Blood Covenant (26 page)

FIFTY-TWO

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 7:09 A.M. (PST)
LOS ANGELES, CA

Ashley stepped from the private jet and drew in a deep breath of LA smog. It seemed like a million years ago since she and her father had left for their trip to the RD. Even the hot shower she’d taken at the embassy had done little to wash away the grime of the past week. Or the raw reality that she’d returned without her father.

Her mom stood at the bottom of the mobile staircase, dressed as if she were going to one of her charity fund-raisers. Hair coiffured by Bobby, perfect French nails. Ashley felt her heart pound. This was her world. Had been her world. But as much as she wanted to simply erase the past week of her life she knew she never would be able to forget. And that because of it she’d never be the same.

Ashley slid on her sunglasses, hoping the dark lenses would cover her red, swollen eyes. “Mom. Thanks for picking me up.”

Her mom greeted her on the runway and kissed her on the cheek.

Grief engulfed her until she could hardly breathe. “Daddy’s gone. I’m so sorry …”

“I know.” Her mom pressed her lips together. Her tears would come later and only in private.

Hanging on to the last bit of composure she could muster, Ashley scanned the quiet airfield as they walked toward the private terminal. “Where’s Mitch?”

“Mitch couldn’t come.” Her mom looped her arm through Ashley’s. “He had something come up he had to take care of, but he promised to come over later tonight. We’ll have a family dinner. Your brother and sister-in-law are flying in later today. We have funeral arrangements to discuss.” Her mother’s voice choked up. “I know your father and I didn’t always agree on things, but I never stopped loving him.”

“I know.”

Her mom stopped just inside the entrance and handed Ashley a small, zippered bag. “You’ll need to redo your makeup in the car. There is a press conference scheduled in less than an hour at your father’s house. I told reporters you were flying into another airfield, or they’d be here right now.”

Ashley shook her head. “A press conference?”

“When you and your father leave on some crazy mountain climbing adventure halfway around the world and one of you returns in a coffin it makes international news.”

“I’m not doing a press conference.”

“You have an obligation to your fans, and besides, it’s good publicity.”

“I’m not obligated to tell the press anything. My father died along with a good friend of mine. I’m not looking for publicity out of this.”

Her mother’s heels clicked against the tiled floor. “Don’t be a fool, Ashley. Despite the horrors of the situation, this could help skyrocket your career.”

Disgust washed through her, but before she could respond, an older woman stepped forward. Her clothes were plain, black slacks and a white-flowered blouse. Hair neatly combed, not styled like her mother’s.

“I’m sorry.” Ashley’s mom stopped in front of the woman. “This is Mrs. Michaels. The mother of that boy who died over there in the camp. She called and asked if she could see you — ”

“Taz?” Ashley’s breath caught in her throat.

“I’m sorry to bother you. I just needed … wanted to meet you, and your mother graciously agreed. I understand that you were with him the past few days.”

Ashley nodded, then stepped forward to give the woman a hug. “I’m so sorry for your loss. I didn’t know Taz for long, but he went out of his way to help me in a very difficult situation. He was a good friend.”

“Taz was always like that. He could never pass up helping anyone in need.”

Ashley glanced down at her wrist, then tugged off the giraffe bracelet. “This was Taz’s. I think he’d want you to have it. He loved you, and while I’m not sure I’ll ever completely understand why he did what he did living over there, he died doing what he believed in.”

Mrs. Michaels slid the bracelet back onto Ashley’s wrist. “Somehow, I think he’d want you to have it.”

Ashley felt the unexpected connection with the older woman. “We could go get some breakfast and talk.”

Relief showed in the woman’s eyes. “I’d like that.”

“So would I.”

Ashley’s mom was shouting instructions to their chauffeur when they caught up. “Hurry up, Ashley. We’re going to be late.”

Ashley took Mrs. Michael’s arm and felt the first sense of peace she’d experienced in days. “Coming, Mother.”

FIFTY-THREE

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 4:59 P.M.
KINGANI REFUGEE CAMP

Paige slipped off her rubber gloves and popped them into the trash before sliding into the chair at her desk. She drew in a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. For the past three days, they’d handed out vaccination cards and administrated the vaccine to the majority of the camp.

Every minute a child died from measles somewhere in the world. Maybe after their work the past three days, they’d been a part of slowing down that statistic. She rolled her shoulders to work out some of the knots in her neck and back muscles. Tomorrow they’d finish dealing with the mountains of used syringes and needles, but for now, with the clinic finally closed for the day, she was looking forward to a few moments of quiet.

Three of her national nurses worked quietly, checking on patients, administering medicine, and giving her the short reprieve she needed. She flipped on the radio, hoping to catch the hourly news brief — and hoping even more that Nick managed to make it back to the camp before dark.

… On Saturday, about fifty U.S. soldiers, primarily special ops, in conjunction with the Dzambizan military, carried out a daring surprise attack that included helicopter-borne paratroopers who landed both at a refugee camp in the north being held by hostile rebels and the rebel base camp itself, where ten hostages had been held since the previous Tuesday. It ended with the arrest of dozens of rebel leaders.

The decision by the U.S. to send in military reinforcement came after the execution-style murder of an American aid worker, with threats to continue executing hostages if rebel demands were not met. Including the three Americans who lost their lives during the conflict, it is estimated that over one thousand people were slaughtered during the rebels’ month-long rampage in an attempt to gain amnesty for their leaders arrested earlier this year.

American actress Ashley James, who was in the country to climb Mt. Maja with her father and was taken hostage by the rebels, arrived back in LA early Sunday morning. She immediately cancelled a scheduled press conference, much to the surprise of the media, who are still waiting for the details of her ordeal and the tragic death of her father. It is also rumored that she has called off her engagement to Mitch Peterson.

Brandon and Jodi Collins, the American couple also taken hostage, have now been reunited with friends and family in the small town of Cherry, Illinois, where townspeople held a welcome-home parade in the city center over the weekend …

“Paige?”

She flipped off the radio and turned to see Nick standing in the doorway. “You’re back.”

“I brought you a surprise.”

She crossed the room and offered him a wide smile. “I thought you agreed that there would be no more catered meals — ”

He held out the box he was carrying and popped open the lid. Meat, cheese, olives, onions …

Her eyes widened. “Where did you get this?”

“I had to make a run to the capital before coming here, and I know this little restaurant in the hotel district that makes a decent pizza.” He cleared his throat. “It’s not deep-dish and it’s cold — ”

“I love cold pizza.” And she was starving. She reached for a piece, then stopped.

Nick laughed. “It’s all yours, Paige. After what you did this weekend, I’d say you deserve it.”

She dropped the box onto her desk and took a piece. “Wow, this is good, but you’re spoiling me again.”

“That was part of my plan.”

Nick’s smile reached his eyes and brought a warm blush to Paige’s cheeks. Maybe she had found her Mr. Right.

“Tell me about what’s happened since I saw you Saturday.”

She swallowed the first bite and reached for her water bottle. “With the rebels gone, we’ve been able to send out an exploratory team into the surrounding villages to assess how far the cholera had spread. While they’ve diagnosed a number of cases, the crisis seems to be over.”

“That’s wonderful news.”

“We finished vaccinating the camp this afternoon, and while we’re still handling a number of measles cases, it does seem to be slowing the spread of the disease.”

“What else?”

“Last night, Samson’s wife and daughters showed up at the registration tent in the camp. They’d been hiding in the forest, foraging for food, unable to enter the camp because of the rebels.”

“Are they okay?”

Paige took another bite, then sat down on the edge of the desk. “The emotional scars of the situation will carry on for a long time, but after Asim is released in the next few days, they’re going to go back to their village and try and rebuild their new life. Not a fairytale ending, but seeing some closure helps. For all of us.”

“I’ve got another surprise to add to your good news.”

“Dessert?”

Nick tapped on his pockets. “Only if you want a handful of Tic Tacs.”

Paige laughed. “Okay. Then what’s the good news?”

Nick grabbed her hand. “Get the pizza and come with me.”

“Nick?”

Two of the nurses giggled in the background as he hurried her out the clinic doors.

“I promise you’ll like this.”

He led her toward the airstrip that was adjacent to the camp. Instead of rebels, all she could see now were the wisps of white clouds lining the horizon beneath a pale-blue sky. And in the middle of the airstrip sat a bright-yellow plane.

Paige stopped. “What is that?”

“What is it? It’s my brand-new Kodiak 100. Seats ten, including the pilot, doors open wide to allow stretchers to be boarded easily — you’ll like that feature — the landing gear can be removed — ”

“I mean where did it come from?”

“A rather generous donation from our favorite actress, Ashley James.”

Paige stopped at the edge of the runway and let the wind tug at her hair. “You’re kidding.”

“Not at all. Apparently the woman has a lot of pull. She made some phone calls on the long trip home, and, well, there it is.”

“I don’t know.” Paige wrinkled her brow. “I’m surprised they’re actually letting you fly it considering your history of crashing — ”

“Rebels don’t count, and the other times — ”

Paige laughed and nudged him with her elbow. “I’m kidding. It’s wonderful. Really.”

“I know. Ashley set up a memorial fund in honor of Taz so the legacy of what he did here will continue. And she’s planning to return next year on a goodwill tour to promote the needs here.”

“Wow.” She followed Nick to the plane, then stopped to rub her hand across its sleek belly. “God really does work in mysterious ways.”

“And that’s not all.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s a surprise inside for you as well.” Nick flipped open the side door of the plane. “It was loaded with over a thousand pounds of supplies for the hospital in Bensi, including a generator, an infant incubator, anesthesia machines, OR lights, a portable X-ray unit — ”

“Nick!” Paige handed Nick the pizza before stepping into the pea-green cargo hold of the plane and pulling open one of the boxes like a kid at Christmas. Scalpels, scissors, needle holders … “All this was Ashley as well?”

“Like I said. The woman has connections.”

And apparently a heart.

She set the box of supplies down and grinned. “When can we go?”

“First thing in the morning, if you’re up for it.”

“Oh, I’m up for it.”

“In the meantime, I have a question for you.” Nick grabbed a piece of pizza, then handed her the box before sitting down in the wide doorway of the plane. “Are you still planning to stay?”

“I don’t know how I could leave. There are too many Taylas and Samsons and Rainas for me to run.” She took another piece of pizza and sat down beside him, letting her legs dangle over the edge of the cargo hold while the fading sunlight glistened against the side of Mt. Maja.

“I agree.” He wiped off a dab of tomato sauce from the side of her mouth. “I’m finally ready to stop running, Paige.”

“I like hearing that.” She looked up at him and smiled. “Because I know this incredibly handsome pilot who once told me that all I had to worry about was one person at a time.”

“He must have been a smart guy.”

“Maybe a bit cocky at times.” Paige laughed and leaned into his shoulder. “I think I’ll always struggle over the suffering I see here, but I’ve decided the bottom line is that my circumstances, and the circumstances of those around me, don’t dictate God’s goodness. Nothing I do can ever change who He is. And He’ll always give me the strength I need to make it through each day.”

The ball of sunlight sank beneath the mountain, spilling its golden rays across the white tents that dotted the vast savanna in front of them and promising hope for another day.

And for this moment, that was enough.