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The leader turned around at her words, as they were about halfway up and growled. “Let her get her bag for the little one.” He looked at Noah. “You, carry him or we’ll shoot him where he stands.”
“I got him,” Noah said immediately and carefully lifted Emmanuel onto his shoulders, who cried out in pain.
She looked at the leader as he turned back to her. He took her arm, meeting her gaze, making her feel the blood in her veins, the beat of her heart in her throat. She lifted her chin, and said, “You’re not going to get away with this. Not you or your prime minister.” She registered his surprise. “Yeah, I know who sent you, and I know why.”
“Maddy,” Shark warned, but it was too late. She’d given away that they had some secret intel. She let her anger get the best of her. She couldn’t imagine who was going to pay for her slip.
“Where are you taking us?” she demanded as they reached the top and waited for the rest of them to join them.
“Home,” he said, and she closed her eyes, looking out into the shadowed landscape. It was going to be a rough trek back to the residence, but at least they would be somewhere safe from aftershocks. The house had been built to the strictest of codes.
As they all assembled, Muddy T-shirt growled, “Walk.”
She had no choice; none of them did. They were lucky to be alive as it was after that terrible crash. She turned her head and looked out at the ocean. The possibility of a tsunami after such a strong earthquake was a reality. She agonized over her father’s welfare, and that of the team and embassy staff. Had they made it to the airport in time?
She looked at Shark, met his eyes, and there was nothing but assurance and confidence in them. Without words, he told her that no matter what, he was getting her out of this alive.
That promise made her just as uneasy as these thugs.
16
Ellie stood at the window. The night had flowed easily into day, too many of those for her to notice. All she had at home was a cat, and her neighbor took care of it for her when she worked around the clock. Ellie didn’t need entanglements. She was an overachiever, and it was difficult to find someone who could understand that. It had rained in the wee hours of the morning while she’d attempted to get some sleep on her couch. But now, the sun lit the gray rooftops, washing the world clean. Well, for a few minutes anyway.
“Ma’am!” Emily said excitedly, as she rushed into Ellie’s office. “Ambassador Towson is on the line. We finally got through on the SAT phone!”
“Thank God!” She rushed to her desk and picked up the phone. “Clay. I’m so very glad to hear your voice. We were hoping you’d make it to the airport. What happened?”
“We were just about to leave when the quake hit,” he said, sounding weary, worried, and distressed, his words solemn. “I’m assuming you’re sending aid. We need it desperately.”
“Your security?”
“Intact. The gate held, and to be honest, there are more people here for assistance than for hostilities, but that could change any time. We lost Dr. Casey. He was helping an injured SEAL, Petty Officer Shane Reeves who was caught under some rubble when the quake hit. Ellie, the SEAL—Twister—he’s bleeding internally and we’re running out of plasma. The other SEALS are donating blood but there’s only so much they can give and still function. There’s no one here to operate on him. What is the ETA for help?”
She bit her lip. “I’m so sorry to hear about Dr. Casey and Petty Officer Reeves. We’ve deployed the Comfort, and they will be there in approximately a day and half.”
“I’m not sure he has that much time. What about USAID? We all need immediate attention…water and food. The Haitians are exposed to the environment. Most of their structures have collapsed.”
“There’s a problem.”
“What is it?”
“The prime minister survived, but his connection cut out before he could offer us permission to enter the country.”
“Oh, no. Ellie. Do you think he’s doing that on purpose? Do you think he suspects we know?”
“I’m not sure. He was evasive and wanted to make sure Corporal Cassidy was brought to justice. I was ambiguous in my answer, but?—”
“Corporal Cassidy, the first lady, Fabrice Baptiste, her son, and a palace guard were last at the residence with my daughter. They would have been on the road when the quake hit. I’m so worried about them. But we’re trapped here, Ellie.”
“I’m so sorry to hear about that. We will look for them on satellite and see if we can find out what happened to them. I won’t hold you on the line for the details. We can debrief once we have you all safely back. I will consult with the president, and get back to you as soon as I can.”
She cut the line and immediately rose from her desk. “Emily! Get my motorcade. I’m going back to the White House.”
When she entered the Situation Room, she took her chair and said to the communications officer. “You get me the prime minister. Now!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The president entered and everyone stood until he was seated. “Ellie?” he said.
