Chapter 11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trevor began to panic. Orfali must have realized the man in the picture was an imposter and not Carpenter. Honor was going to be killed and he was helpless to stop it. He had failed. As a trained SEAL, he learned to always maintain his composure but it was infinitely more difficult when you were so emotionally attached. Still, he needed to keep it together.

“What’s the problem?” he said, his phone sounding cool and calm even though it felt like he was dying inside. He felt like he could hear his own heartbeat while waiting for a response.

“My man tells me your truck cab is too dark and the picture is fuzzy. Turn on your overhead light and hold the camera steady. Also, my technical expert wants Mr. Carpenter to open the book so he can see the contents.”

“I’m not showing you the contents of the book,” Trevor said with authority.

“Just one page,” Orfali insisted. “Mr. Carpenter can pick which one. Even he will tell you we could not learn what we need from a single page of notes. No games. Do it now.”

Trevor breathed a slight sigh of relief. He had a reprieve, even if only momentarily. He instructed Snake to open the ledger to a page he had modified to pass just such a test. Trevor turned on the overhead light and snapped the picture. He held his breath waiting for the response.

Another full minute passed and with each passing second Trevor felt he was dying a thousand deaths.

Finally--- Orfali came on the phone.

“You have done well, Mr. SEAL,” he said.

The lump Trevor felt in the back of throat dissipated and he lay his head back momentarily, exhaling. He had just dodged a huge bullet. The mild euphoria would be short lived, however.

“I will let you speak to your woman, but only for a minute. Hold on,” Orfali said.

He put his phone on mute again and pointed an accusatory finger at Honor.

“These slaps to the face you have received,” he said, “are nothing compared to what you will receive if you do not cooperate. Tell him you are fine. Nothing more.”

Honor nodded.

“I have men outside their hotel room now,” he lied. “If anything goes wrong you will die. Do you understand?”

Honor bit her lip; she nodded. Orfali released the mute button and held the phone up to her face.

“Trevor, are you there?” Honor said, her voice weak and anxious.

“I’m here, sweetheart,” he said. “Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m just scared,” she said, trying to think of a way to let Trevor know that her captors had no intention of letting any of them go, with or without her father.

“Hang in there, Honor. I’m coming for you. I will be there soon. I love you.”

“I love you, too. Is my father with you?” she asked.

“Yes, he’s with me,” Trevor lied.

“Can I speak to him?” she asked.

Trevor cringed, hoping this would be avoided.

“Yes, I’ll put your dad on the phone,” Trevor said. He tried to place a tiny amount of emphasis on your dad without being obvious. Another moment of truth had arrived. He had to allow Snake to speak to Honor. It would only be natural for him to want to speak to her. They would be suspicious if he didn’t allow it.

“I’m going to put you on speaker, Honor,” Trevor said. “He is coming on the line now.”

“Honor!” Snake said. “This is your dad. Have you been treated well?”

There was a pause. Trevor held his breath Snake pinched his lips together. Honor will get it, Trevor thought. She has to. She has to.

“Honor?” Snake repeated.

Another 10 seconds passed. Snake could hear Honor breathing. He looked at Trevor with an expression of concern. The expression conveyed, trouble. Finally, after yet another five seconds she broke the silence.

“They have not hurt me, daddy,” Honor replied. “I miss you.”

Trevor let out a breath of relief.

Good girl! he thought.

“Enough talk,” Orfali said. “You know she is well… for now.”

“When do we make the exchange?” Trevor asked.

“I’ll call you tomorrow with instructions.”

“No!” Trevor protested. “We are here. We do this tonight.”

“We do as I say!” he screamed into the phone.

The line went dead.

“Damn! That was tense,” Trevor said.

“You’re right,” Snake said. “Honor is an exceptional woman. She didn’t miss a beat. That was a nail-biting moment but it’s a good thing. When she sees me now she will be prepared to see a man that is not her father.”

“You’re right,” Trevor replied. “She is exceptional.”

“They are demonstrating that they are in control,” Snake said.

Trevor agreed, “I knew they would string us out. I was counting on it. Did you reach your resource?”

“Yes,” Snake replied. “Barkley gave me an address. We are to meet him at an event once Wolf arrives.”

“What event?” Trevor wanted to know.

“I assume we’ll find that out when we arrive,” he replied.

“You really believe this Baby Barkley character will know where Orfali is hiding?”

“I think it’s our best shot at gathering additional intel,” he said.

“Are we far from where we are to meet him?”

“It’s not far,” Snake said. “It’s in a community of Yelm called Nisqually Pines. When Wolf is five minutes away, he will call me. He will meet us at a roadside diner and we will go there together.”